The Power of Belief PP
Every day, whether we know it or not, we alter our brain chemistry. We do this through what we eat, what we do, and what we think. These changes in brain chemistry cause transformations in mood and intellectual performance that range from the subtle to the profound. As science has proven, if we change the condition of the brain's neurons and chemistry, our thoughts and emotions change. The reverse is also true: change our thoughts and emotions, and the chemicals within our brains are also changed.
Thoughts and ideas that are maintained consistently over time cause changes in brain chemistry and function. We are shaped by what we think- especially if we think those thoughts consistently over a long enough period of time.
Wisdom for living
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.
Watch your actions, they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Anonymous
One of the secrets to making long-term changes in brain chemistry is through consistent types of thinking- optimism, faith, and so forth. Certain daily practices such as meditation, prayer, and relaxation exercises, can foster these long-term, positive changes in biochemistry.
Top ten tips for mind/body Health
1. Your body is your subconscious mind.
2. Your thoughts, beliefs and emotions have biochemical effects in your body.
3. Optimists live longer.
4. Social connections lower your risk of dying at any age.
5. Humility is linked to lower heart disease risk and better relationships.
6. Laughter is good medicine.
7. How well you THINK you are is a strong predictor of your disease risk.
8. Music has powerful healing properties.
9. Group therapy can increase life expectancy in patients with severe illness.
10. Your mind is located in every cell of your body... be careful, your body is
listening!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Health Meaning and Purpose
1. There many changes happening every day in the scientific world that are changing the way we think about our own health. New connections are constantly being discovered between science, consciousness, and spirituality. Lately, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on how so many parts of ourselves are due to genetics. It is important to realize that our genes do not determine our destiny. We can do things to change what we have inherited. We are all connected in this world, even things once thought to be so isolated. An example of this is that new studies are showing that animals and humans can interact over long distances. There really is a global consciousness. My favorite part of this lesson was that spiritual health begins with understanding the natural laws, and obeying those laws. We need to find our true purpose and then begin to use that knowledge to serve others.
2. Within all of us there is a force, which is the body's constant drive to heal itself, just as nature has a constant drive to heal itself. It is our Inner Light, however effected by our thoughts, emotions, our relationships, environment and our beliefs. We all have an "Informational Matrix" that maintains the harmonious integrity of our body, mind, subtle system, and spirit. When this is corrupted by negative thoughts of emotions, by toxins or other interferences, we can see illness develop. We age because these information systems become corrupted over time.
Health is the natural order of things. The maintenance of health and well-being comes from re-establishing balance and harmony not just in ourselves, but also in our relationships with others, society, and the environment. We are experiencing an extraordinary rate of change in every area of our lives. Our health and wellness are the result of an interplay of neurobiology of culture and of choice, of subtle systems and of spirit. It is interesting to know that environmental factors are responsible for 1/4 to 1/3 of the global burden of disease. An example of this is overexposure to light. Constant exposure to light, particularly artificial light, can produce aberrant signals that disrupt our natural rhythms (mood disorders, and insulin resistance).
BIOFIELD: Our inner light
Hindus refer to it as Prana
Chinese refer to it as Chi
Japenese refer to it as Ki
A biofield is the organizing informational matrix
After Newton had published his laws of mechanics, optics, and gravity, he spent many years looking for the source of life in alchemic experiments. His search was not irrational, given the knowledge of the day. Still, Newton and others who followed the same trail never managed to uncover a signal for a special substance of spirit or life.
Fritz Albert Popp discovered biophotons
BIOPHOTONS: cells and whole bodies emit coherent light
Scientists believe that biophotons may be involved in various cell functions, such as mitosis, or even that they may be produced and detected by the DNA in the cell nucleus.
This light may be the organizing principle in cells
As Latter Day Saints we understand the light of Christ, could this light be that?
We may at our central core all have a holographic structure = our spirit.
Our memory is not just a video of our life events; it is dynamic and malleable and is constantly being edited…
Therefore, we can change our stories and with that remove some of the restrictions that they have imposed upon us.
No surprise, then, that alternative practitioners find many eager listeners when they announce that they go beyond materialism and mechanism, and treat the really important part of the human system - the vital substance of life itself. People's religious sensibilities and images of self-worth are greatly mollified when they are told that they are far more than an assemblage of atoms - that they possess a living field that is linked to both God and cosmos. Furthermore, the desperately ill will quite naturally seek out hope wherever they can find it. So a ready market exists for therapists who claim they can succeed where medical science fails.
2. Within all of us there is a force, which is the body's constant drive to heal itself, just as nature has a constant drive to heal itself. It is our Inner Light, however effected by our thoughts, emotions, our relationships, environment and our beliefs. We all have an "Informational Matrix" that maintains the harmonious integrity of our body, mind, subtle system, and spirit. When this is corrupted by negative thoughts of emotions, by toxins or other interferences, we can see illness develop. We age because these information systems become corrupted over time.
Health is the natural order of things. The maintenance of health and well-being comes from re-establishing balance and harmony not just in ourselves, but also in our relationships with others, society, and the environment. We are experiencing an extraordinary rate of change in every area of our lives. Our health and wellness are the result of an interplay of neurobiology of culture and of choice, of subtle systems and of spirit. It is interesting to know that environmental factors are responsible for 1/4 to 1/3 of the global burden of disease. An example of this is overexposure to light. Constant exposure to light, particularly artificial light, can produce aberrant signals that disrupt our natural rhythms (mood disorders, and insulin resistance).
BIOFIELD: Our inner light
Hindus refer to it as Prana
Chinese refer to it as Chi
Japenese refer to it as Ki
A biofield is the organizing informational matrix
After Newton had published his laws of mechanics, optics, and gravity, he spent many years looking for the source of life in alchemic experiments. His search was not irrational, given the knowledge of the day. Still, Newton and others who followed the same trail never managed to uncover a signal for a special substance of spirit or life.
Fritz Albert Popp discovered biophotons
BIOPHOTONS: cells and whole bodies emit coherent light
Scientists believe that biophotons may be involved in various cell functions, such as mitosis, or even that they may be produced and detected by the DNA in the cell nucleus.
This light may be the organizing principle in cells
As Latter Day Saints we understand the light of Christ, could this light be that?
We may at our central core all have a holographic structure = our spirit.
Our memory is not just a video of our life events; it is dynamic and malleable and is constantly being edited…
Therefore, we can change our stories and with that remove some of the restrictions that they have imposed upon us.
No surprise, then, that alternative practitioners find many eager listeners when they announce that they go beyond materialism and mechanism, and treat the really important part of the human system - the vital substance of life itself. People's religious sensibilities and images of self-worth are greatly mollified when they are told that they are far more than an assemblage of atoms - that they possess a living field that is linked to both God and cosmos. Furthermore, the desperately ill will quite naturally seek out hope wherever they can find it. So a ready market exists for therapists who claim they can succeed where medical science fails.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Why Diets Don't Work
Reasons Diets Don't Work
1. Diet is a lifestyle-not an event
Most people enter into a diet thinking it is going to be a short-term change to lose weight and they can go back to their old lifestyles after they finish losing weight, Wrong! To make a diet successful, people must understand that it is a lifestyle change-not an event. They need to realize that their old lifestyle is what made them gain weight in the first place and that is what needs to be the ultimate change.
2. Food Deprivation and Failure
People also choose to start diets suddenly removing various foods from their diets all at once. This causes a trigger in the mind to want the food more because it knows that it can’t have it anymore. Suddenly the mind only concentrates on the food it can’t have and the cravings start. If at first a person can resist, eventually they may give in and ‘cheat’ which can lead to feelings of failure causing the person to give up altogether.
3. Crash Diets and Metabolism
Another problem is crash diets, or diets where a person stop consuming enough calories to sustain them in the daily activities. This causes the body to ‘freak out’ and lower its metabolic rate and hold on to fat cells incase it needs more energy later. In some cases, a person can gain weight or lose their muscle tissue and not fat cells.
4. Loss of Nutrients
Diets that are limiting remove important nutrients from the body. No one-food group should be limited, especially a basic food group such as fruit or bread, which are popular to not eat during diets. By labeling these foods ‘bad’, people have categorized them into their mind and believe that eating them ever again will cause them to gain weight and fail.
5. Diets Equal Failure
Some people also feel that having to go on a diet means that they failed at life but that a diet will fix the problem. However, they have labeled a diet as a failure meaning they see themselves as a failure just for having to go on one.
6. Eating Disorders
Diets can also lead to eating disorders, which are lead to very serious health problems. A person may start limiting the calories they intake to dangerously low levels. When sustained for more that a short time such as a day of fasting, it can be deemed anorexia nervosa and leads to serious complications. A person may also focus mentally on the food they can’t have and eventually give in and binge on ‘bad’ foods. Feelings of guiltiness can follow with the desire not to fail so they then purge, known as Bulimia Nervosa. In some cases the person does not purge but feels guilty and eats even more. This leads to weight gain and is called ‘compulsive eating’.
Recommendations for Losing Weight
1. Diet is a lifestyle-not an event
Most people enter into a diet thinking it is going to be a short-term change to lose weight and they can go back to their old lifestyles after they finish losing weight, Wrong! To make a diet successful, people must understand that it is a lifestyle change-not an event. They need to realize that their old lifestyle is what made them gain weight in the first place and that is what needs to be the ultimate change.
2. Food Deprivation and Failure
People also choose to start diets suddenly removing various foods from their diets all at once. This causes a trigger in the mind to want the food more because it knows that it can’t have it anymore. Suddenly the mind only concentrates on the food it can’t have and the cravings start. If at first a person can resist, eventually they may give in and ‘cheat’ which can lead to feelings of failure causing the person to give up altogether.
3. Crash Diets and Metabolism
Another problem is crash diets, or diets where a person stop consuming enough calories to sustain them in the daily activities. This causes the body to ‘freak out’ and lower its metabolic rate and hold on to fat cells incase it needs more energy later. In some cases, a person can gain weight or lose their muscle tissue and not fat cells.
4. Loss of Nutrients
Diets that are limiting remove important nutrients from the body. No one-food group should be limited, especially a basic food group such as fruit or bread, which are popular to not eat during diets. By labeling these foods ‘bad’, people have categorized them into their mind and believe that eating them ever again will cause them to gain weight and fail.
5. Diets Equal Failure
Some people also feel that having to go on a diet means that they failed at life but that a diet will fix the problem. However, they have labeled a diet as a failure meaning they see themselves as a failure just for having to go on one.
6. Eating Disorders
Diets can also lead to eating disorders, which are lead to very serious health problems. A person may start limiting the calories they intake to dangerously low levels. When sustained for more that a short time such as a day of fasting, it can be deemed anorexia nervosa and leads to serious complications. A person may also focus mentally on the food they can’t have and eventually give in and binge on ‘bad’ foods. Feelings of guiltiness can follow with the desire not to fail so they then purge, known as Bulimia Nervosa. In some cases the person does not purge but feels guilty and eats even more. This leads to weight gain and is called ‘compulsive eating’.
Recommendations for Losing Weight
***Start small
Don’t expect to plan on losing 20 pounds in two weeks. Set small weight loss goals. Start by just losing 5 pounds and when that is done, try to lose 5 more.
***Get Active
Move around. It is recommended to get 30-60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Don’t expect to run a marathon after the first week but try to start walking quickly for 30 minutes and work up to a harder work out.
Habits of People who Have Successfully Lost Weight and Kept it Off
1. They establish reasonable goals for themselves such as 5 pounds first not 30
2. They plan
3. They get adequate sleep. Recommended 7-8 hours a night
4. They participate in regular physical activity. It is recommended to get as least 30-60 minutes .most days of the week
5. They eat a well balanced diet but calorie controlled
6. They eat 5-6 meals a day. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2-3 snacks in-between
7. They self monitor- by keeping a journal and weighing themselves frequently
8. They participate in some sort of stress management such as yoga, tai chi, etc
9. The don’t let a ‘lapse’ become a ‘relapse’. If they mess up they recover from it and keep moving forward
10. They have a clear motivation and strong personal reasons for wanting to change
11. Persistence- they keep working at it even when it didn’t work the first time
12. They watched less TV. On average, they watch only t10 hours of sleep a night. The average US citizen watches 28 hours a week
13. They also eat plenty of fiber and calcium and drink lots of water
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Pregnancy & Depression
What is Postpartum Depression?
After giving birth a mother will experience both psychological and physiological changes. Depression felt after giving birth is believed to be caused by the change of hormone levels within the mother’s body. Within the first 24 hours after giving birth, estrogen and progesterone decrease rapidly. Thyroid levels may also drop which lead to symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe and last anywhere from hours to months.
Three Types of Postpartum Depression (PPD) Baby Blues can occur within days after childbirth and may last a few hours to two weeks after giving birth.
The “baby blues” does not always require treatment, but support groups and talking with other mothers often helps.
General Postpartum Depression can occur within a few days to months after giving birth. Symptoms are similar to “baby blues” but more severe. They can last up to a year if not treated through medication, counseling, or both.
Postpartum Psychosis, considered a mental illness, may occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Symptoms are very severe including auditory and visual hallucinations, anger and abnormal behaviors. Medication is almost always needed in treatment.
Signs and symptoms
-trouble sleeping
-sleeping too much
-lack of interest
-feelings of guilt
-loss of energy
-difficulty concentrating
-changes in appetite
-restlessness, agitation or slowed movement
-thoughts or ideas about suicide
-feelings of sadness
-headaches
-difficulty remembering
-excessive worry about the baby
-being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself
Coping with Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare. Women diagnosed with postpartum depression often focus more on the negative events of childcare, resulting in poor coping strategies.
Four coping strategies:
Avoidance coping: denial, behavioral disengagement. Avoidance coping is one of the most common strategies used. It consists of denial and behavioral disengagement subgroups (for example, an avoidant mother might not respond to her baby crying). This strategy however, does not resolve any problems and ends up negatively impacting the mother’s mood, similarly of the other coping strategies used.
Problem-focused: active coping, planning, positive reframing
Support seeking: emotional support, instrumental support
Venting: venting, self-blame
Realize this isn’t a disorder. In fact, it’s quite normal. As many as 80% of the moms have experienced some form of these baby blues. It’s important that you recognize feelings of anger, restlessness, irritability and low self-esteem and address them as best you can.
Keep your doctor informed. Most cases of postpartum distress (baby blues) are mild, but sometimes the symptoms are more severe and last for longer periods of time. PPD can affect your emotions as well as your sleeping patterns and appetite. It’s important to you and your child’s health that you communicate with your health care provider.
Medication is an option. In nearly 85% of postpartum depression or psychosis cases suffering women are relieved by this choice.
Support groups can be very successful at mending your sorrows. The objectivity of outsiders can help you work through some of your more difficult feelings. Sometimes sharing is easier when it’s with a stranger who can empathize with your situation.
Above all else, remember to pamper yourself. You can enlist outside help—your mom, mother-in-law, sister, best friend and anyone else who’s interested. Schedule regular visits so that you can get in a peaceful shower or nap. Take the time to paint your toenails or give yourself a facial. These age-old pick-me-ups can be lifesavers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Now is the time to use your support system. Talk to your spouse about your feelings.
About two weeks after the birth of my daughter the panic set in. What on earth was I thinking when I convinced my husband that it was time to have a baby? I wasn’t ready for this and I sure as heck didn’t know what I was doing. All I knew was to change my daughter's diaper whenever she started to crank and if that didn’t work, I could try to feed her. Frankly, I felt overwhelmed by my new responsibility. By nature I knew I needed to talk about my feelings. I let my family and friends know that I was freaking out and they were there to support me. My husband received countless calls to his pager in the weeks that followed. My mom called daily to see how I was doing. Even our birth class instructor got a couple worry calls in the middle of the day when I couldn’t get a hold of any one else.
Reach out. Your family and friends want and expect you to. You would want your loved ones to lean on you when they need, so don’t deny yourself the strength of your support system.
Natural approach to coping with Postpartum Depression
1. Maintain proper sleep
2. Eat a well-balanced diet
3. Manage anxiety as advised by your health care professional
4. Participate in an exercise program
5. Set realistic goals for yourself
6. Create small and manageable tasks
7. Let others you can trust such as family and friends help you
8.Take some risks. Reach out for experiences and relationships you need if you are to be happier.
9. Do something for someone who is in need.
10. Don’t measure yourself against everyone you meet
11.Take responsibility for your depressive feelings. Recognize they might be doing something for you, protecting your from failures or other consequences you fear. Begin to control these feelings.
12. Don’t hesitate to seek help from trained professionals
13. Engage in physical activity
14. Get together with people – people who are important to you.
15. Talk it out. Let someone you can trust get to know you better.
16.Take time to appreciate yourself and others. Savor the dignity and worth implicit in being a unique human being.
17. Don’t let feelings of hurt and anger smolder inside. Learn to express them appropriately.
After giving birth a mother will experience both psychological and physiological changes. Depression felt after giving birth is believed to be caused by the change of hormone levels within the mother’s body. Within the first 24 hours after giving birth, estrogen and progesterone decrease rapidly. Thyroid levels may also drop which lead to symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe and last anywhere from hours to months.
Three Types of Postpartum Depression (PPD) Baby Blues can occur within days after childbirth and may last a few hours to two weeks after giving birth.
The “baby blues” does not always require treatment, but support groups and talking with other mothers often helps.
General Postpartum Depression can occur within a few days to months after giving birth. Symptoms are similar to “baby blues” but more severe. They can last up to a year if not treated through medication, counseling, or both.
Postpartum Psychosis, considered a mental illness, may occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Symptoms are very severe including auditory and visual hallucinations, anger and abnormal behaviors. Medication is almost always needed in treatment.
Signs and symptoms
-trouble sleeping
-sleeping too much
-lack of interest
-feelings of guilt
-loss of energy
-difficulty concentrating
-changes in appetite
-restlessness, agitation or slowed movement
-thoughts or ideas about suicide
-feelings of sadness
-headaches
-difficulty remembering
-excessive worry about the baby
-being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself
Coping with Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare. Women diagnosed with postpartum depression often focus more on the negative events of childcare, resulting in poor coping strategies.
Four coping strategies:
Avoidance coping: denial, behavioral disengagement. Avoidance coping is one of the most common strategies used. It consists of denial and behavioral disengagement subgroups (for example, an avoidant mother might not respond to her baby crying). This strategy however, does not resolve any problems and ends up negatively impacting the mother’s mood, similarly of the other coping strategies used.
Problem-focused: active coping, planning, positive reframing
Support seeking: emotional support, instrumental support
Venting: venting, self-blame
Realize this isn’t a disorder. In fact, it’s quite normal. As many as 80% of the moms have experienced some form of these baby blues. It’s important that you recognize feelings of anger, restlessness, irritability and low self-esteem and address them as best you can.
Keep your doctor informed. Most cases of postpartum distress (baby blues) are mild, but sometimes the symptoms are more severe and last for longer periods of time. PPD can affect your emotions as well as your sleeping patterns and appetite. It’s important to you and your child’s health that you communicate with your health care provider.
Medication is an option. In nearly 85% of postpartum depression or psychosis cases suffering women are relieved by this choice.
Support groups can be very successful at mending your sorrows. The objectivity of outsiders can help you work through some of your more difficult feelings. Sometimes sharing is easier when it’s with a stranger who can empathize with your situation.
Above all else, remember to pamper yourself. You can enlist outside help—your mom, mother-in-law, sister, best friend and anyone else who’s interested. Schedule regular visits so that you can get in a peaceful shower or nap. Take the time to paint your toenails or give yourself a facial. These age-old pick-me-ups can be lifesavers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Now is the time to use your support system. Talk to your spouse about your feelings.
About two weeks after the birth of my daughter the panic set in. What on earth was I thinking when I convinced my husband that it was time to have a baby? I wasn’t ready for this and I sure as heck didn’t know what I was doing. All I knew was to change my daughter's diaper whenever she started to crank and if that didn’t work, I could try to feed her. Frankly, I felt overwhelmed by my new responsibility. By nature I knew I needed to talk about my feelings. I let my family and friends know that I was freaking out and they were there to support me. My husband received countless calls to his pager in the weeks that followed. My mom called daily to see how I was doing. Even our birth class instructor got a couple worry calls in the middle of the day when I couldn’t get a hold of any one else.
Reach out. Your family and friends want and expect you to. You would want your loved ones to lean on you when they need, so don’t deny yourself the strength of your support system.
Natural approach to coping with Postpartum Depression
1. Maintain proper sleep
2. Eat a well-balanced diet
3. Manage anxiety as advised by your health care professional
4. Participate in an exercise program
5. Set realistic goals for yourself
6. Create small and manageable tasks
7. Let others you can trust such as family and friends help you
8.Take some risks. Reach out for experiences and relationships you need if you are to be happier.
9. Do something for someone who is in need.
10. Don’t measure yourself against everyone you meet
11.Take responsibility for your depressive feelings. Recognize they might be doing something for you, protecting your from failures or other consequences you fear. Begin to control these feelings.
12. Don’t hesitate to seek help from trained professionals
13. Engage in physical activity
14. Get together with people – people who are important to you.
15. Talk it out. Let someone you can trust get to know you better.
16.Take time to appreciate yourself and others. Savor the dignity and worth implicit in being a unique human being.
17. Don’t let feelings of hurt and anger smolder inside. Learn to express them appropriately.
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