March is National Nutrition Month

Wellness Center Services

Did you know the Wellness Center has a free nutritionist on staff?

Danielle Munn, MS, RDN, CDN is available to see all students that pay the Student Health Fee. If you are interested in engaging in services call the Wellness Center to set-up an appointment 518-255-5225.

The Problem with Endometriosis

Written by: Sara Harrison, Wellness Center Physician Assistant

Endometriosis is a menstrual cycle condition that affects approximately 10 percent of people assigned female at birth. Although there is still much research to be done regarding the cause of this condition, it is suspected that it occurs when tissue that is typically found on the inside of the uterus, travels outside the uterus into the abdominal and pelvic cavity. This tissue may grow on many different areas within the abdomen including, but not limited to, the bladder, intestines, or the inner abdominal or pelvic wall. Endometriosis can cause painful and heavy periods, pain with urination, pain with bowel movements, and pain with intercourse. These symptoms can have a significant impact on a person’s life, including their mental health. Research has shown that 87% of people with endometriosis report symptoms of depression and 88% report symptoms of anxiety. The cause for this may be directly related to pain during the menstrual cycle affecting quality of life during that time. Endometriosis can also cause infertility, in fact up to 50% of people presenting with infertility are suspected to have endometriosis. Endometriosis is thought to be related to fluctuations in the hormones called Estrogen and Progesterone. The good news is that there is a known treatment for the pain – oral contraceptive pills, also known as birth control! Oral contraceptive pills can help regulate hormones throughout the menstrual cycle to decrease inflammation caused from the condition, and therefore decrease the symptoms associated with it. If you think you may have endometriosis or are experiencing some or all of these symptoms, call the Wellness Center to schedule an appointment to talk to a healthcare provider about your treatment options!

Schenken, R. S. (2023, January 5). Endometriosis: Pathogenesis, epidemiology, and clinical impact. UpToDate. Retrieved January 20, 2023, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/endometriosis-pathogenesis-epidemiology-and-clinical-impact

Sepulcri, R.deP., & do Amaral, V. F. (2009). Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life in women with pelvic endometriosis. European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, 142(1), 53–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2008.09.003

Kintsugi- Meaning Golden Joiner

Written by Daniell Reu, Wellness Center Senior Counselor, LMHC

The Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the area of breakage with lacquer dusted with or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.

For centuries broken items have not been discarded in Japan, but rather mended with kintsugi. Instead of considering broken items to be trash, the practice focuses on the breakage as part of the authentic nature of the item. Think about how this can be applied to mental well-being. We cannot reasonably make it through our lives without experiencing our own moments of breakage. Breakage may come from a fight with a loved one, a mistake at work, a lost job or loved one, etc. Yet, life moves forward as it must. Work continues, new relationships come and go, and opportunities change. We are not meant to feel like trash and be disposed of. We are meant to put the pieces back together and forge on with our unique purposes. These experiences that can serve to break us down, can also be seen as moments that highlight our strength. Moments that tested us, but showed pain is temporary. And these moments become golden cracks that say to others- I am strong and so are you. It gives us each an understanding, and an ability to have empathy for others. So when you feel broken- please take a moment to remember, these cracks are a beautiful representation of the story of your strength.

Please join us Wednesday, March 8^th for a Kintsugi Workshop

6 p.m. @ the Unity Center

Supplies to create your own piece will be provided

This semester the Wellness Center is collaborating with departments across campus to bring “Culture of Living Well: Honoring Well-Being Practices from Around the World.” Our goal is to highlight healthy habits, concepts, and/or practices from around the world. As we educate ourselves and one another on well-being practices, we hope to spark ongoing conversations where we can learn from one another and share our experiences of what can contribute to living well. We will be presenting topics based on our own research but must acknowledge that those running these programs and events may not be from the respective cultures we are honoring. We invite any individuals, students, or faculty/staff, who would like to share more from their own experiences and cultures to speak up to help further these conversations. This wellness campaign will involve programs throughout the semester.

To learn more about Kintsugi and how this beautiful metaphor can be applied to your life please watch the video below:

The Wellness Center
Call to schedule an appointment
Phone # 518-255-5225 | Fax # 518-255-5819
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
For after-hour emergencies call University Police at 518-255-5555 or 911
UPD Anonymous Tip Line https://secure2.cobleskill.edu/tipline.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) – 1-877-269-6699 or 1-844-732-6228 (24 hours a day/7 days a week)
If you have a concern about the care you received at the Wellness Center, contact Director Lynn Ontl at 518-255-5225