The Wellness Tree

06/16/2025

You have the power to help yourself!

05/07/2025

Today is Fentanyl Awareness Day. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the leading cause of deaths among Americans aged 18 – 44. We offer no-cost Naloxone at our clinical locations. Learn more at https://pinellas.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/wellness-programs/substance-use-prevention/index.html

05/05/2025

What do you do to 💚Be Kind to Your Mind💚?

💚Be Kind to Your Mind💚
Take some time for peace and quiet. Rest, relax, and restore your mind and body with a little self-care. 🧘‍♀️Try a Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong class at the Dunedin Community Center or Hale Senior Activity Center. 🌳Or step outside and explore one of our beautiful city parks- take a calming walk, a refreshing bike ride, and soak in the fresh air and nature. Your mental health matters. Take time for you today. ➡️Find a park or try a class: www.dunedin.gov/parksandrec


Florida Recreation and Park Association, Inc.
National Recreation and Park Association

04/23/2025

When delivered to someone who is experiencing an overdose, can help save a life, giving time for first responders to arrive. We offer it at no cost at our clinical locations. Learn more about the program at https://pinellas.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/wellness-programs/substance-use-prevention/index.html

03/23/2025

Let’s talk about brain fog.
That frustrating, hard-to-describe feeling of mental fuzziness, slow thinking, and lost words isn’t just “in your head.” It’s real, and it’s way more common than you think.

In The Atlantic, researchers describe brain fog as “a squishy term for cognitive dysfunction,” often dismissed by doctors but profoundly disruptive to daily life. For many, it became a new normal after COVID-19—lingering for months or even years after infection.

And according to a recent MSN article, this phenomenon isn’t fading. If anything, it’s becoming a lasting feature of modern life, linked to long COVID, stress, poor sleep, hormonal shifts, and more.

Want to dive deeper into why this matters and what we can do about it?
Tune in to the Slate podcast episode: “Brain Fog is Here to Stay” for a fascinating and validating conversation.

Have you experienced brain fog? What has helped (or not helped)? Let’s talk in the comments.



Resources:
Article: The Atlantic – What Brain Fog Feels Like
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/long-covid-misunderstood-symptom-brain-fog/671435/

Article: MSN – Brain Fog Is Here to Stay
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/brain-fog-is-here-to-stay/ar-AA1AQ52A

Podcast: Slate – What Next: TBD
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brain-fog-is-here-to-stay/id1708072320?i=1000699223006

03/22/2025

Remember that old riddle?
Would you rather have $1 million today, or a penny that doubles every day for 30 days?

Here’s the math:
$0.01 × 2^29 = $5,368,709.12
On Day 31? $10,737,418.24

One penny becomes ten million.
That’s the power of small steps compounded. Start small. Stay steady. Watch it snowball.
Trying to change your life? You don’t need a massive overhaul. You need one page, one step, one choice at a time.

1. Want to read more? Start with one page before bed.
Want to start running?
2. Jog the first and last minute of your walk.
3. Want to meditate? Set a timer for 2 minutes.
4. Want to eat better? Add one veggie to your plate.
5. Want to drink more water? Start your day with one glass.
6. Want to stretch more? Do 3 movements while your coffee brews.
7. Want to write more? One sentence a day adds up.

We get paralyzed by perfection and try to execute the whole plan at once. But consistency > intensity. Start small. Stay with it. Big things happen.

03/20/2025

Are You Really Protected?

With the recent uptick in measles cases, now is a great time to check your vaccine immunity—without needing unnecessary repeat shots.
Many people assume they’re protected because:
✅ They got vaccinated as a child.
✅ They had the illness before.
✅ They had a booster at some point.
But here’s the truth: Immunity wanes over time, and some vaccines don’t provide lifelong protection. Antibody testing can confirm if you’re still protected or if a booster is needed.

🔬 You can check your vaccine status easily through Quest Diagnostics as a direct-to-consumer test—no doctor’s visit is required! This panel tests for:
✔️ Measles (Rubeola)
✔️ Mumps
✔️ Rubella
✔️ Varicella (Chickenpox)
✔️ Tetanus
✔️ Diptheria
✔️ Polio

Knowing your immunity status is especially important if you:🛫 Travel internationally (measles outbreaks are common in some areas).
👶 Are around newborns or immunocompromised individuals who rely on herd immunity.
🏥 Work in healthcare or education, where exposure risk is higher.
👵 Were vaccinated decades ago, as protection may have decreased over time.
🔗 Check your immunity with this simple direct-to-consumer test:
👉 Quest Vaccination Status Panel
Stay informed. Stay protected. 💉



https://www.questhealth.com/product/vaccination-status-test-panel-basic-14087M.html

03/17/2025

Have you done your body repair motions today?!!!

02/20/2025

At The Wellness Tree, we believe in a holistic approach to mental health—one that prioritizes sleep, movement, and nutrition as key pillars of well-being. But let’s be clear: there is absolutely no shame in taking antidepressants when needed.

Recent statements by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have falsely claimed that SSRIs are more addictive than he**in and linked them to school shootings—claims that have been debunked by experts. Millions of people rely on safe, effective medications like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft to manage their mental health. These medications have saved lives and reduced su***de rates, and stigmatizing their use is harmful.

We support all paths to healing, whether through acupuncture, lifestyle changes, or medication. What matters most is that people get the help they need—without shame or misinformation standing in the way.

💚 Mental health is health. Let's support every step of the journey.

01/23/2025

The government has told federal health agencies to stop sharing updates and reports about the bird flu outbreak.

Meanwhile, the outbreak is still hitting poultry supplies hard, sending egg prices to record highs.

When access to reliable information from trusted sources like the CDC is restricted, it can make it harder for people to stay informed and make the best decisions for their health. History has shown that controlling information can shape public perception in ways that aren’t always in our best interest.

Stay informed and take care of your health!

Trusted Health Information Websites for Americans:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – www.cdc.gov
• The go-to source for reliable public health information, including disease outbreaks, vaccines, and health guidelines.
2. National Institutes of Health (NIH) – www.nih.gov
• Offers research-backed health information and updates on medical advancements, treatments, and wellness tips.
3. Mayo Clinic – www.mayoclinic.org
• Provides easy-to-understand medical information and advice on symptoms, conditions, and healthy living.
4. Johns Hopkins Medicine – www.hopkinsmedicine.org
• A trusted source for expert medical articles, research, and health tips from one of the top hospitals in the U.S.
5. MedlinePlus – medlineplus.gov
• A service of the NIH, offering free, accurate, and up-to-date information on over 1,000 health topics.

These sites provide accurate, up-to-date health information so you can stay informed and make the best choices for your well-being.

Amid a deluge of executive actions, the Trump administration has asked federal health agencies to pause external communications, such as regular scientific reports, updates to websites and health advisories, according to sources within the agencies.