A Single Word Can Affect Your Reality!

I have experienced chronic health issues in the past.  Actually for years in my twenties I was extremely ill.  During this time I became very sensitive/allergic to things most of us aren’t, or don’t realize we are.  I had your “normal” pollen allergies, but I also became sensitive to molds, and chemicals, and foods that until that time I never had a problem with.

Now what’s amazing is how this and other experiences we have can change and affect us.  And affect me it did.  I fought and worked like I never had before with such passion to get well, but I also was thrown into a world of survival, literally.  I reacted to everyday things with such intensity that they made me incredibly ill.  My body was in such a state that it simply couldn’t process/detox things we take for granted.  Everything became a threat.

Today I took a supplement that I have taken in the past, and felt for a brief time, extreme tingling sensations, a flushing throughout my body and into my extremities, a speeding up of my breathing.  All of these were automatic responses to what I had taken.  *  They did not last long because I simply allowed myself to feel them, without distress.  I allowed myself to relax and breathe, and noted how my body RESPONDED to the substance.  

After some time I noticed how the word RESPONSE better fit the experience I was having at this time, but also helped me to accept the experience, in contrast to the word REACT, if I had chosen to use that.

How can you see situations in your life differently by using words with different meanings, and what meanings do you ascribe to your words?

Best Regards.

* Note:  These can be responses to other problems that may be serious.  This is not meant to be a medical article offering advice.  If you experience health issues/symptoms, please advise your health professional.

Also note some responses for some or to some things can be life threatening.  In the past mine were, as can be peanuts or any other substance to someone else.

Your Food is Your Medicine

What if you believed the above statement?

Would that change the way you look at food?

Would it change the choices you make when going to eat or shopping for food?

What does that statement really mean?

What does food do?

What is the definition of medicine?

Food does many things.  On a very simple level it provides our bodies with the fuel to function.  Fuel in this case being the Carbs, but also the Fats and Proteins.  Each serves a different purpose, however, each is essential for suvival.

As an example we receive proteins from various sources; grains, beans, nuts, seeds, meat, and dairy.  Some are complete proteins, some incomplete, meaning our bodies have to build them together to make a complete protein.  These then are used in many functions in the body.

Besides the main nutrients or building blocks, there are also a multitude of micronutrients our bodies need for optimal health; including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, etc.

What if I told you that many of us are not only lacking in the essential nutrients our bodies require, but also the the micronutrients they need? 

What if I told you that many people are actually starving, and yet they not only look well fed, but even over fed.  

Your body can't tell you what it needs, it can only let you know that it's hungry.

I’ve Got Bipolar

How many times do I hear that? Daily, weekly, monthly. 

Bipolar has become the new ADHD, and everyone has come down with it. Why the sudden rise in Bipolar? And finally, could this be an epidemic?

First I don’t mean to make light of Bipolar, or any other mental health disorder. My goal in writing this is to take an objective look at Bipolar and provide a better picture of this complicated diagnosis.

In the medical field there is no explanation for the sudden rise of Bipolar. However, some might say that our ability to diagnose the disorder has improved, and therefore also the number of those being diagnosed. For someone in the field of Mental Health, a Counselor like myself, the answer is not as easy.

I have had years in the medical field, more specifically the Integrative Health Field because of my own chronic health problems in the past. During that time I studied many modalities of healing, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Herbology, Massage, CranioSacral Therapy, as well as others. I found that with any illness there are multiple causes. Think of it as a wheel, with each spoke on the wheel relating to a different area or factor. These include genetics, psychological/emotional issues, stress, chemicals in our air/water/foods (silver amalgam fillings, herbicides, pesticides, silicone breast implants, etc.), vitamin/mineral/amino acid deficiencies, viruses/parasites/bacteria, structural problems (spinal misalignment especially after trauma, accidents, etc.), hormonal abnormalities (hypothyroidism, menopause, etc.), and lastly allergies (pollens, foods, etc.).

The problem any time we make a diagnosis is that it’s complicated which becomes part of the problem. Western medicine tends to want to make things simple; often just treating the symptoms. Bodies are broken down to their individual parts and then we forget about the whole. You have one doctor who treats your knee, another who treats your colon, a third your heart, a fourth your brain, etc. We have made incredible advances at treating acute problems using this model; heart transplants, brain tumors, hip replacements, the list goes on. We are not so good at treating chronic problems.

This leads to my final point. In order for a Psychiatrist to give you meds he/she has to give you a diagnosis first. Most people have times they are angry, and moody. If you are someone who has used drugs you would have experienced these and other symptoms; extreme high feelings, anxiety, insomnia, etc. Maybe you’re just overworked, and running on adrenalin all day, you can’t sleep, are irritable, moody, and have times of depression and lack of concentration.

I share these examples because all of these can be Bipolar symptoms when viewed individually, but when taken in context and seen as part of the whole picture they can all be normal reactions to life’s stressors.

What if you were exposed to chemicals at work that caused you extreme anxiety, or if you lived in a building that had a mold problem, or you had hidden food allergies that caused you to become moody. Is that Bipolar? No. What if you had been sexually abused and traumatized as a child, and now had severe mood swings, and depression. Is that Bipolar? No.

Many of these are everyday examples of people that are either diagnosed or treated for Bipolar, when other underlying factors could be the cause for their problems.

If these examples don’t meet the criteria for Bipolar, what or who does? To have a diagnosis of Bipolar, you have had to have at least one Manic Episode which includes, besides anger and mood swings, feelings of grandiosity or an inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, spending sprees, pressured speech, among other symptoms. And before you say, “that’s me”, these symptoms must last at least ONE FULL WEEK. Also being a rapid-cycler does NOT mean you go from being happy to sad a couple times a day. Rather it means you have had episodes of Mania that meet the previous criteria, as well as episodes of Depression that meet the criteria for that diagnosis, and have had 4 or more episodes in a 12 month period.

If you or someone you know meets the criteria for the Bipolar diagnosis, then I would advice treatment. If on the other hand you don’t, you may instead be suffering from Anxiety, Depression, adult ADHD, or some other health problem. Sometimes adults with ADHD look like they are in a Manic Phase, though on further evaluation, you find out they’re always like that. Other people suffer from Anxiety, either through heredity, or any number of other factors. This too may look like Mania at times. It’s important to separate out the symptoms into their individual categories, but then you have to view them within the whole picture. ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression, all can be treated with medications successfully if necessary without resorting to Bipolar medications.

If you are like many of us, either overworked, stressed, possibly harboring unresolved issues from the past, then before resorting to any medications, there are Counselors, Psychologists, Life Coaches, Fitness Trainers, Massage Therapists, Nutritionists, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, as well as other professionals who can help you get on the right course by learning to take care of yourself. Prevention is often the best medicine in these cases, but if that’s not possible, don’t wait till it’s too late. Start taking care of yourself today.

There are also many self care techniques, tools, or modalities you can use as well, a hot bath with 2 cups of Epsom salts, a good book, a 20 minute walk, Yoga, Meditation, journaling, art, exercise, gardening. It all works; you just have to learn to take the time for yourself. What’s stopping you? What would others say if you started to take care of yourself? How would you feel if you started to take care of yourself?

If you think you have a medical condition that is contributing to your overall health or mental health problems, I would suggest seeing a doctor, or Nurse Practitioner. I have often found that NP spend more time with you then doctors, and in today’s world that can be a real plus. As I said earlier there can be many issues that cause us to feel unwell. In my time spent at a local Mental Health facility, the most common factors were structural abnormalities, caused by car accidents, and hormonal problems, most commonly hypothyroidism.

Breathing

So you think you know how to breath. You probably don't think about it at all, right. Yet breathing, or rather controlled breathing can be the most valuable tool you have to feeling centered, grounded, and stress-free.

Controlled breathing? Breathe slowly in through your nose, and hold, exhale out your mouth as if you were blowing out a candle, and hold. Repeat. Sounds easy, and yet that alone will be helpful in creating a feeling of peace and relaxation for you. (hold each time for the count of 1 or 2)

Much of the time we go through our day unaware of simple things like breathing and eating. Sometimes we do even more complex activities like driving to work without being aware of what we're doing. It's like we are on auto pilot. Bringing more awareness into your life will help you to not only feel more relaxed but also more present.

As this becomes easier, you can add diaphragmatic breathing to your repertoire. Next time you have a moment to relax, start by first observing where you breathe from when you breathe in. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly, just below your bellybutton. If the hand on your belly moves out as you breathe in, good for you. If the hand on your chest moves out as you breathe in, you may want to continue reading.

If you watch little children they naturally breathe with their bellies. With their bellies pouched out they move out as they breathe in, and in as they breathe out. This action utilizes the muscle in our torso called the diaphragm.

Breathing like this will help you in a number of ways;

1. It will help you to relax by stimulating your parasympathetic nervous system.
2. It will help you to feel more "grounded".

Often we tend to hold more energy in the upper part of our bodies, either because we don't want to feel certain emotions or we have a disconnect with our bodies. Many of us live stressful lives and excessive worry keeps us in our heads. Many of us have grown to distrust our bodies and the feelings and emotions they/we have, thinking that they may fail or overwhelm us at any time. These ways of being prevent the proper flow of energy through our bodies which affects how we feel on every level. Controlled breathing with awareness can help us to feel and live healthier lives.

The best way to learn to breathe with our diaphragm, or belly breathe, is to lay down on our backs with our knees up. You can do a simple exercise I call Body Awareness to scan your body, which will help you to get in touch with areas you may be holding tension/energy. I call these Holding Patterns. It's my experience that as you bring awareness to areas of tension they change or start to let go. To put it simply, it gives them room to move. (See Blog on Body Awareness) This will help you to relax.

When relaxed it's easier to belly breathe. Again belly breathing happens when our bellies move out as we breathe in, and in as we breathe out.

If you still find it difficult to accomplish this, try placing a book on your stomach and pushing it out as you breath in.

Finally remind yourself to take breaks throughout the day to help yourself use controlled breathing with awareness.

It is sometimes helpful to work with a professional such as a Coach or Counselor as you learn such techniques in a safe environment. When you begin to open yourself up to more energy and feelings of well-being, old patterns and emotions may surface.