The Strengths and Weaknesses Within My Medicine Wheel Essay

Another social determinant of the aboriginal health is the poor compatibility linking the core values of their customary health beliefs and the modern health system. The westernized medical system is mostly interested in the detection and treatment of diseases and illnesses. On the other hand, the traditional aboriginal medication seeks to offer a meaningful justification for illnesses and reacts to the family, personal, and community issues related to the illness (Broome, 2002). This explains why

In Aboriginal teachings, the medicine wheel is very sacrosanct because it symbolizes entirety and motion. Mussell (2005) stated that “The Medicine Wheel is a symbol used to represent the dynamic system of mind, body, emotions, and spirit, and the needs related to each of these aspects that must be met for the development of human potential” (p.115) Also, it is a powerful tool to build up wisdom and apprehension. The Medicine Wheel is split up into four categories includes Physical, Emotional Intellectual and Spiritual that numerous of Aboriginal exploit the medicine wheel as a structure to illustrate their life journeys. This paper will indicate as a method to evaluate my own intrapersonal communication in each four categories applying the medicine wheel that illustrated in Mussell (2005).

Anne Fadiman’s novel, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, addresses key concerns regarding health and medicinal relationships with cultural beliefs. She challenges readers to consider what is known about western medicinal practices and beliefs, based on science, and recognize its effectiveness when paired with cultural understanding. This novel portrays some of the greatest medicinal and health challenges and cultural failures of western societies. There were several cultural competency themes integrated throughout the book, however, it surprised me at how distant western practices and the Hmong’s healing methods were at the beginning. It seemed as if it would be a stretch to form a connection between these two extremities,

1.Describe your current level of physical activity. How often do you participate in moderate to high intensity activity in an average week?

5. Activity/Exercise: How much exercise do you get in a typical week? What types of exercise do you do?

For centuries, Medicine Wheel teachings have been used by Indigenous peoples to guide their life’s journey. The delicate balance of the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects of a Medicine Wheel, when influenced can become imbalanced. Such influences on a Medicine Wheel may be the social determinants of health or historical determinants. If the Medicine Wheel becomes imbalanced due to these determinants, it has the potential to “…reverberate through individuals, families, and entire populations,” (National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health, 2015, para. 1). Unfortunately, many individuals who have experienced this kind of multi-generational trauma are at a higher risk of becoming depressed or turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism. By addressing the four components of the Medicine Wheel through culturally appropriate means and time, hopefully, the on-going healing process will continue.

Communication with the American Indian culture can vary from different tribe types. Some of the most important aspects to note is that this culture tends to use many anecdotes or metaphors to discuss their health issues (Galanti, 2008). Sam D. Gill (1983) author of Native American Traditions writes about communication, noting, “Even ordinary daily speech is colored by complex and sophisticated principles of construction and usage, which often reflect world view and religious

Alvord observed the power of belief could have positive or negative influence in her Navajo patients. One of her patient, Carolyn, had a breast cancer that she believed that was caused of her bad deed. Carolyn was hesitant to have a surgery to remove her cancerous tumor. However, having a medicine man performed a Night Chant ceremony made her feel calmer, as if her body’s harmony was restored, and prepared her mentally for her lumpectomy. Many of her patients dealt with cancer in different ways but a sing performed by a hataalii gave a dimension to their cure that helped those patients cope better with their conditions. Dr. Alvord discovered that patients undergoing chemotherapy reacted well to the presence of a traditional healer at bedside. Thus, help with the healing process (Alvord, 1999, pp. 94-102). She also explained that the feelings of both the patient and the surgeon could affect recovery time, postsurgical complications, and even whether the patient lived or died. Evelyn, was one of Dr. Alvard patient to suffered a stroke complication that might be cause by lack of harmony during her surgery. Dr. Alvord thought that the combination of her anger, the nurse’s inattentive and defensive posture, and Evelyn’s fear had influence the complication to happen. Later, she attempted to create harmonious relationships within my personal life and within the staff at the hospital (Alvord, 1999, pp.

In relation to Aboriginal health, this will require nurses to develop greater awareness of culture and the influences that affect it including racism, colonialism, historical circumstances, and the current political climate in which we live. Nurses working with aboriginal communities need to understand the history, socio-political climate and culture within the specific community (Foster, 2012). Nurses must emphasize the need for solutions that will strengthen cultural identity, identify and promote both existing and traditional sources of strength within First Nations communities, incorporate traditional healing methods, and rely on local control and self-direction by First Nations communities (Mareno & Hart, 2014). In addition to placing a high priority on cultural awareness, nurses should also understand the concept of respect in aboriginal terms and apply respect in all their encounters. Self-awareness of their own beliefs and assumptions are important in order for nurses to have an effective relationship with the community (Foster, 2012). It is important for nurses to reflect on their own cultural knowledge, awareness, skills, and comfort in encounters with a diverse population of

As we have coming to realize over the years, the Aboriginal people of our nation are one of the more inferior race and they continue to be today. Through analyzing the historical political impact on their health by also taking into account the social determinates of health. To do this, by discussing bills that have been passed by the Canadian government such as the Indian Act and the residential school system. Then looking at the effects it had then and still to today on their mental, physical and spiritual health then linking those factors to their social determinants of health.

One will either come out of a situation with a positive or negative concept of these surroundings. Poor communication can cause one to have a poor perception of oneself. One's emotional state, dislikes, likes values and body image are affected by the opinions of others and can render one to have an inferior and insecure self-concept.

One type of communication is interpersonal, including in groups and face to face interactions. In every type of communication each person has both strengths and weaknesses. One of my strengths is I am good at starting conversations. On campus I work for SPiRiT, I work in the admissions office and help to give tours on weekdays and on event days on the weekends. Giving these tours I have to know how to talk to the students and their families. Also, when I am trying to befriend people if I want to I am good at finding conversation topics at picking up the conversation if it fades off. One of my interpersonal communication weaknesses is being able to put my opinion in. If I am in a big

2). There are three aspect of intrapersonal communication. “Self-concept is the basis for intrapersonal communication because it determines how a persona sees him/herself and is oriented toward others. Self-Concepts (also called self-awareness) involves three factors: beliefs, values and attitudes.” (Intrapersonal and Interpersonal” p. 2). Beliefs we base upon our religion, our upbringing and our personal knowledge on things that we know about. We have values that by being up brought have been instilled inside of us and we base right and wrong not only on values but beliefs as well. Attitudes are how we view a particular topic and/or person and they way we feel about a topic is the way we present ourselves and our attitude. “Other things that can affect self-concept are personal attributes, talents, social role, even birth order/” (Intrapersonal and Interpersonal” p. 2). Self-concept looks inward into a person. The next aspect looks outward and this is called perception. “Perception of the outside world also is rooted in beliefs, values and attitudes. It is so closely intertwined with self-concept that one feeds off the other, creating a harmonious understanding of both oneself and ones world” (“Intrapersonal and Interpersonal” p. 2). Both perception

People judge each other on a daily basis. The way an individual presents themselves, speaks, and behave are all qualities other people base their perception off of. Consequently, these inferences are quite useful in determining who you would and would not enjoy being in any type of relationship with based on surface appearance. However, people may take judging people on surface appearance too far. Therefore, although making a judgement on about a person may not be a negative inference, people take their judgmental attitude to the extreme. Consequently, they have placed themselves in a negative lifestyle which negatively impacts their mood and social interactions.

On the other hand if you see yourself as an individual who can communicate without a problem and you see that you can keep others interested in a given conversations, your reaction is more positive. Through this looking- glass self we develop a “self” concept. Depending on the observations we make concerning the reactions of others we develop feelings and ideas about ourselves. The reflection we see in the mirror is either negative or positive depending on the feedback we get back from those around us. Misjudgments of the reactions of others become part of our “self” concept also the misinterpretations of how others think of us.