Why Sleep Is So Powerful For Mental Health

In this fast-paced western society we are constantly connected and available 247, we have information flowing into us on a daily basis and there's an increasing expectation for us to respond instantly. Given all of this, there a growing need for us to be operating or functioning in terms of our mental health not just at 'normal' or 'acceptable' levels, but 'optimal' levels.

Optimal means we are functioning at the highest levels mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, such that we're able to cope well with the demands of life. If we are operating at sub-optimal level, it's much harder for us to perform even the basic of life's functions.

So how do we ensure our health and wellbeing levels are what they should be?

One key contributory factor for long-term mental health and wellness is to ensure we have 7-9 hours of good quality sleep per night.

Repair

Sleep repairs the body. This has a positive knock-on effect to how you function cognitively the next and following days. When we sleep, we sleep in cycles of 60-90 minutes. During that time we oscillate between deep (so-called delta) sleep where the body repairs itself and the lighter REM sleep.

Recall

REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep, or lighter sleep, moves information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. This helps you to better recall information you absorb on a daily basis. It is during this REM phase of sleep that your eyes move rapidly from side to side (hence the name) and that you dream.

Rhythm

Getting to bed at the right time (ideally 10pm) and getting the right amount of sleep every night keeps your circadian rhythm in check. Your circadian rhythm is your natural body clock that gives you signals when it's time for you to sleep and when it's time for you to wake up. Working shift patterns (especially night shifts) can knock this out of balance which can have major consequences not only for your mental and physical health but also for your gut health.

Lack of good quality sleep means that instead of being fully awake and energised during the day, you may find yourself sleepy, sluggish and unable to focus for any significant length of time. In addition, when you're in bed at night you may feel 'tired and wired' (meaning your body is physically tired, but your mind is wide awake and you're therefore unable to sleep).

Melatonin, the hormone that prepares your body for sleep, and serotonin (your awake hormone) need to be in balance for you to function at your best in the day. This means melatonin kicks in naturally from around 9pm (to help you sleep) until about 7am when serotonin is released to take you through the day. When this melatonin, serotonin cycle is in balance you are fully awake during the day and sleepy at night (when you should be). This in turn means you get a better night's sleep.

Immune Booster

So never underestimate the power of sleep if you value your health and wellbeing. Good quality sleep not only helps us function more effectively, it also boosts our immune system, helping us to stave off viruses and other infections that we would more easily catch with an inferior level and quality of sleep.

Sleep is therefore one of the fundamental pillars of amazing health and wellbeing. Without it we may over time find ourselves not only operating under par but opening ourselves up to chronic exhaustive conditions such as ME, chronic fatigue syndrome, or fibromyalgia. These conditions can be debilitating and could, if not kept in check, leave us either bed bound or wheelchair bound.

So a key way to look after your mental health over the long term is to ensure that you not only get your 7-9 hours but that you ensure that you go to bed at the right time to increase your chances of getting a much better night's sleep.

Carmen Gilfillan is the founder of Stimulus Development & Training. Stimulus specialises in helping people overcome emotional trauma, experience emotional breakthroughs, boost their health naturally and live their best lives. We do this through Life & Wellness Coaching, Emotional Freedom consultations and training in the areas of personal, professional and spiritual growth. Check out our website at http://www.stimulus.uk.com to book your free Emotional Breakthrough consultation.

Handling Bullying or Abuse

Creating beliefs

Something happens. The human being looks at the situation and interprets it based on previous experiences. Then something similar happens again and the human being interprets it like before. If that kind of situation is repeated enough times, the human being will often confirm the interpretation and end up taking it as "this is the way things are." The first time the situation happens, the interpretation might be based on something apparently unimportant, a comment, a circumstance, even a movie or a book. But then, once the seed is planted, the belief starts taking root and becoming stronger with each confirmation. That is one way in which beliefs are created.

The other way has to do with emotions. When something causes a very strong emotion in us, be it positive or negative, that emotion can be strong enough to establish a new interpretation in our minds. Let's take the example of a near-death experience, an accident or a serious illness. How many people change their beliefs because of something like that?

Sometimes the interpretation confirms an already existing belief, which is then strengthened and reaffirmed, like a building block being placed on top of an earlier one, making the structure more solid and sturdier.

Let's now imagine a bullying situation, or any other kind of abuse for that matter. Everyone involved has their own beliefs growing stronger day after day. The bully harasses the victim and the witnesses watch. All the characters in this plot have their own beliefs guiding their actions.

Common Victim Beliefs

Most victims believe that they somehow deserve what's happening to them. When an abuser abuses them, they justify it in their minds, thinking things like... 'Yeah, I shouldn't have done that.' 'I don't deserve any better.' 'If only I could do things that way.' 'There's no way out; I am the weird one.' As a result of their previous experiences, they end up believing that they are at fault or that the situation is their fate. Which is why they can rarely defend themselves from their abusers: they think it's the way things are.

Abuse often starts in childhood. Many of those abused later already started developing this victim mentality in their early years by interpreting situations at home or at school. Abusers and victims were normal roles played by those in their surroundings. When they finally encounter their first abuser, their belief system is ripe to accept that view of themselves. Thus, children raised in environments in which abuse is common, are more likely to become victims or abusers than other children who grow up in environments without that kind of behavior.

Victims grow into victimhood. At the beginning, when the abuse is still mild, they start questioning their original beliefs... 'Could it be true that I am what this person is saying? Could I truly be like that?' When those original beliefs are shaken, the abuser increases the intensity of the attacks and the victim thus confirms the new interpretation. That is the reason why most abuse usually starts with verbal or psychological attacks; so that the victim's original beliefs, which act as defence mechanisms, are weakened and the abuser can move on to harder techniques.

Victimhood is also a self-fulfilling prophecy. Victims, when already believing their role, will indadvertedly attract abusers. For example, victims immediately change their physical posture upon meeting their abusers or other possible ones, adopting a victim attitude they might not be even aware of. A bullied child, for example, might cringe or try and hide while looking down whenever a bully or other possible bullies enter the child's space. The abuser will immediately perceive those invisible signs and identify and use that child as a possible victim if needed. Thus, the underlying beliefs of the victim end up confirming themselves over and over again.

Common Abuser Beliefs

'I need to be stronger and more popular to show the world that I am the best.' 'They're all going to see that I am in charge.' 'I will show the world that I am important.'

Most abusers crave respect and admiration. They believe that only by having them will others like them. Their actions are often focused on helping them shine or on helping them feel bigger, stronger, more powerful or mightier. They believe that others are there to serve them and support their growth. They don't even see their victims. Those other human beings are nothing but stepping stones on their way to glory.

Many abusers come from abusive environments and have abusive role models while growing up. The most important message they get is that being stronger and louder than others results in rewards. That is how beliefs such as, 'fortune favors the bold,' 'when the going gets tough, the tough gets going,' or 'if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself,' and other similar ones become their guiding principles.

Some others become abusers just for the opposite reason; because they don't want to be like the victims they see around them. To prevent being abused, they abuse others themselves. In this case, the underlying beliefs can be something like, 'weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character,' 'it's a sign of weakness just to let things happen' or 'big fish eat the small ones.' By believing this, they need to be stronger than others or else, they will fail. There is no other way in their minds.

Common Witness Beliefs

Something happens. Witnesses look and do nothing. What are they thinking? Many of them will be telling themselves, 'better them than me,' 'I don't want to attract anybody's attention,' or 'it's none of my business.' Some could even think something like, 'that person probably deserves it.' They justify their actions or lack of that way, so they can keep their peace of mind. Their beliefs offer them an excuse to do nothing about the situation. Fear, worry, self-righteousness or even a certain moral superiority are like this justified in the minds of the onlookers.

How should bullying and abuse be tackled, then?

All kinds of abuse need to be tackled from every perspective to effectively disappear. If abusers are only punished, they will abuse again. If victims are sent away, they will encounter new abusers. If witnesses are not considered, they will react the same way in the future.

There are two ways in which this type of violence can be approached, and both need to be done by professionals who are trained in these techniques. When working with each of the persons involved in a violent situation or with all of them in a group, no judgement should be made and no opinion should be criticized. After all, many of our beliefs we are not even aware of and very few people know that they actively believe certain things.:

One by one: working individually with the victim, the abuser and each of the witnesses, to help them first identify and then question and change their underlying, limiting beliefs. That is easier said than done, as people deeply believe their beliefs and can find many justifications and proof that their opinions are right and fair. Helping a person question beliefs is a slow, complex process than can cause insecurity, uncertainty and pain. But unless the underlying belief is changed, chances are that the same behavior will happen again. Many different tools can be used to help abusers, victims and witnesses; from coaching and mentoring to positive psychology, nlp and others. Some of the techniques that can be used to support those tools are roleplaying, story-telling, absolute forgiveness or mindful feeling, just to mention a few. A good professional will be able to use and apply a big variety of them, so as to choose the best approach with each individual.

As a group: working with all those involved in aggressions or violence is something I only recommend when the professional in charge has a very wide experience, as the situation will combine the fear and insecurities of all of them. Story-telling, roleplaying, mindful feeling and the victim's chair are some of the techniques that can be experimented with in combination with personal development methodologies in order for those people to identify, question and change the beliefs that lead them to their specific behaviors.

If violent behavior is to be erased from our societies, a joint, common effort needs to be made to help all those involved change their beliefs. If a teacher observes that a child acts in an abusive way or displays victim attitudes, the whole group of peers should be considered, and not just the kids involved. Likewise, if there is a case of violence at home, not only should the perpetrator and the direct victim be worked with, but also any other members in the household.

No human being is born an abuser. No human being is born a victim. We learn to behave the way we do because we adopt certain beliefs that lead us into behaving that way. Every human being has the capacity to learn throughout life. If the beliefs we learned to have before serve us no more, new ones can be learned.

Enjoy life... ALL of it,

Learn more in my book: What Story do You Tell Yourself? https://www.amazon.com/What-Story-You-Tell-Yourself/dp/1539414949

Healthy Mind In A Healthy Body

Healthy Mind Healthy Body

I want to always remind you that we are Spirit, Soul and Body, and we can only enjoy holistic health when all three areas are given attention. We need to be nourishing our Spirit, Soul (Mind) and Body to cope with much stress and anxiety that life bring.

Having and maintaining a healthy sound mind in a healthy body, will help you to unwind after a long day, and allow you to regain your focus, and enable you to develop an overall health and well being.

Self Care For A Healthy Mind

Self-care is just as it says, taking care of yourself. It is not just about getting a massage. It is any action you take to preserve and improve your health, well-being, happiness, peace of mind and a fulfilled life.

I want to emphasize something very important many self-conscious persons don't seem to be aware of.

Self-care is not for fools. Self-care is not for the weak. It is not a luxury, and it is not self-centered.

When you don't take care of yourself, are too hard on your body, or don't take care of your emotional needs, you are at a much higher risk for burnout, a variety of mental health issues including anxiety and depression, physical injury and illness.

Not taking care of yourself will always catch up to you sooner or later.

Sound familiar? May be you have had a wake-up call of your own.

I want to share with you 30 Self-Care Habits from Tracy Kennedy of Lifehack.org

She has combined 30 Ways to Take Care of Yourself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Of course I put my personal tone and touch in there, but the original is credited to Tracy

1. Breathe

Deep breathing increases circulation by bringing oxygen to your muscles and brain. This increased oxygen content leads to greater energy and healthier muscles, organs and tissues.

Breathe deeply more often. In fact, experts recommendation is to develop the habit of practicing deep breathing every day.

What happened when you started to read this? Did you take a deep breath? Great, you're already practicing self-care.

2. Eat Well

Your body is a machine and food is your fuel. Simple as that. I've learned two main things studying diets over the years and working with top health doctors:

First, focus on eating real, whole, nutrient-dense food; avoid processed foods and refined sugars. The truth is you should avoid all forms of sugar.

Secondly, find what works for you. There are lots of options out there - Paleo, Mediterranean, plant-based, you name it.

3. Stay Hydrated

The human body is composed of 50-65% water. Some parts of our bodies, like our brain, heart and lungs, are more than 70%. Drinking water is a simple, effective way to take care of yourself.

You should practice to start your day before breakfast, with a glass of warm water with some lime or lemon juice in it. That's a most effective way of activating your cell to fight and combat the many battles throughout the day.

Aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses daily. It takes no extra time, energy and effort, so grab a glass and start hydrating.

4. Sleep

I used to wear it as a badge of honor that I didn't sleep much. However, increasingly more studies are coming out on the importance of getting enough quality sleep and, more importantly, the consequences when you don't.

The world over, people are being deprived of necessary sleep, and they are doing more harm than good to their health.

Make sleep a priority. Your mind and body will thank you.

5. See Your Doctor

How long have you been putting off making an appointment, tolerating constant pain or dealing with something that just isn't right?

Most things can be dealt with if they're caught early - and are much harder to manage if you wait. Grab your phone, schedule an appointment now.

6. Express Gratitude

In order to live a life we love, we must first love the life we live. Research continues to surface on the science and benefits of gratitude.

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; we should be always ready to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Being grateful is one of the simplest, yet most powerful, things you can do to take care of yourself. Here're 40 Simple Ways To Practice Gratitude.

7. Take Supplements

Name what ails you and research or ask your doctor (preferably an alternative medical practitioner) what vitamins, minerals, or herbs can support your health and well-being.

For example, those with a B-12 deficiency are much more likely to experience anxiety and Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to all sorts of health problems.

I take turmeric/curcumin to reduce inflammation, and B2 and magnesium supplements recommended by my neurologist for hormonal migraines.

You should be willing to include supplements in your diet. Because what you are doing is supplementing your diet with those nutrients absent from your daily consumption that the body requires.

Always make sure to check the quality and efficacy.

8. Hug Your Kid, Spouse or Loved Ones

Based on scientific findings, the benefits of hugging go beyond that warm feeling you get when you hold someone in your arms. Scientists say that giving another person support through hug, can reduce the stress of the person, especially in difficult moments.

They believe that the stress-reducing effects of hugging might also work to keep you healthier.

Hugging boosts your oxytocin levels (the love hormone), increases serotonin (elevates mood and creates happiness), strengthens the immune system, boosts self-esteem, lowers blood pressure, balances the nervous system and releases tension.

Only a few seconds can put you in a positive mood.

9. Meditate

Yep, you knew this was coming, didn't you? However, when I think of meditation, it has nothing to do with practices that have Eastern mysticism as their foundation.

From the Holy Bible, Psalm 19:14 states, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

My meditation is to focus solely on the Word of God and what it reveals about the God of the Word. So, if you're one of those people who think you can't meditate (I feel you, I was one of you!), no more excuses. Try it.

10. Get Bodywork

I said that massage wasn't the only form of self-care, but it is a good one!

Bodywork is a staple of my self-care routine. Our bodies store emotional tension in ways that we don't even realize, and bodywork allows us to release that tension.

Options include chiropractic, stretching, cranial-sacral therapy, myofascial release work, osteopathy and reflexology.

11. Take a Hike

Get the blood flowing. We all know the benefits of exercise. This might be a walk, run, hike, trip to the gym, yoga or stretching. Whatever you do, get your blood and body moving.

Ever year the Men's Ministry in the church where I worship, plan a hike to the Blue Mountains. That is the highest peak in the island of Jamaica.

That is indeed a good workout, because if you are not physically and mentally ready for it, you might not make it to the top.

12. Spend Time with Those You Love

Schedule a date night with your partner, a special day with your kiddo or happy hour with your BFF. We are biologically hardwired for relationships and connection.

Studies prove that people who socialize often have higher levels of happiness. This doesn't have to be face-to-face; sometimes a phone call is all you need (and can fit in!).

13. Take a Vacation (or a Staycation)

More than 50% of Americans don't use all of their vacation days. Take time off away from the routine of life. Make time to have fun, recover and re-energize.

Especially for partners who are experiencing some challenging situations. Be it relational, marital, family or job related, breaking away from your familiar environment can heal.

14. Do Something Just for Fun

When was the last time you did something because it was fun or gave you joy? Not because it had a tangible benefit, purpose or ROI?

Crank up the music and dance. Laugh with your kids. Head to the bowling alley. Play a game. Write. Buy flowers. Follow your passions. Attend a fun event.

The real ROI? A better, more energized, happier self.

15. Treat Yourself and Your Body

When you look good, you feel good. You are what you think about yourself.

Get a haircut, have your nails done, enjoy a facial, manicure or pedicure. When we take care of how we look physically, we feel better emotionally.

16. Spend Time in Nature

Studies have shown spending time in nature has a wide range of health benefits including lowering your stress hormone levels.

Get outside, create a backyard garden and mingle with nature.

Head to the forest, hit the beach or take a hike. Walking barefoot and 'grounding' can be especially healing.

17. Eliminate Toxicity and Negativity

Toxic people are contagious. Make a conscious effort to hang out with people who feed your soul and make you feel energized and alive. Eliminate or reduce the amount of time you spend with people and situations that drain you or leave you feeling exhausted.

Surround yourself with love, encouragement and positive energy.

18. Take a Bath

This is a simple and inexpensive way to take care of yourself.

Add in a little Epsom Salts, essential oils or that bath bomb you have lying around. Light a candle, sit back, relax and unwind.

19. Practice Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is about taking a step back and reflecting on your life, behavior and beliefs.

Take time regularly to hop off the hamster wheel of life. Think about what's working and what's not, acknowledge your wins and successes; identify what to keep and what needs to change.

Try journaling or check out tips for self-reflection here: How Self-Reflection Gives You a Happier and More Successful Life

20. Feed Your Mind

The number one way to positively feed your mind is to read the Word of God every day. Another way to feed your mind and educate your philosophy is through the writings of influential people. Maybe you can't meet the person, but you can read his or her books.

Learn something new! As humans, we have a need to use our full cognitive capacity. We are here to grow and evolve and learning is a huge piece of us feeling energized and alive.

Take a class or online course. Read a book. Listen to a podcast.

Healthy mind

21. Lend a Hand

We also have a need for significance, contribution and making a difference. Among many other benefits, volunteering has been shown to help people feel healthier and happier.

22. Unpack your Baggage

Self-care is about taking care of your whole self. Often this means dealing with emotional trauma, past events or limiting beliefs.

See a therapist. Talk to a coach. Have the conversation you need to have with that person you've been angry with for decades.

23. Be Adventurous

Get outside your comfort zone. Be brave. Challenge yourself.

Whether that be a backpacking trip, trying a new activity, or pushing yourself physically, mentally or emotionally, you'll feel proud, confident and strong.

24. Tidy up!

There's a reason Marie Kondo has become a sensation. When we seek minimization in our homes, schedules, and lives, we feel more at ease and less stressed.

Try simplifying one area of your life and experience a new level of peace. Have a read on Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, it may inspire you a lot!

25. Feed Your Spirit

Remember you are Spirit, Soul and Body. Ignoring any one can cause your life to be unbalanced. How are you feeding your soul? This can be anything that relates to you feeling inspiration which means, 'in spirit'.

Connect with what makes you feel close to something deeper, bigger, higher - or makes you feel more connected to yourself. This might include Christian meditation, spiritual or religious study.

26. Get Creative

We all have a need to grow, use our creativity and express ourselves fully. Find your creative outlet. Paint, dance or take photos.

Not artistically creative? Ask questions, problem-solve or build something.

One of my daughters loves building. When she ideates, draws up plans and brings them to life, she is noticeably happier and more confident.

27. Be True to Yourself

Self-awareness and being true to yourself are essential to living a happy, fulfilled and successful life; therefore, these are critical elements of self-care.

Listen to your inner voice. Identify what you need. When we are out of alignment with ourselves, we are more stressed, overwhelmed and at higher risk for health issues.

You can only be true to yourself when you have found your true self. You can only know yourself through your creator. And the creator has revealed Himself through His Son Yeshua.

28. Set Boundaries

This is important to healthy relationships, a strong sense of self-esteem and healthy life. You must know what you will and won't accept.

Identify where energy is leaking out from your life. If you continue to give when you have nothing to give or say 'yes' when you mean 'no', you will continue to suffer.

Know, acknowledge and honor your limits and boundaries - physically and emotionally.

29. Escape

While avoidance and numbing can be detrimental, a little escape can help recharge your batteries.

So watch that reality TV show without guilt, catch the latest movie, delve into that novel, or head to the museum. What transports you and completely allows you to shut off?

30. Be Nice to Yourself

Be kind, patient and understanding. Treat yourself like you would a close friend. Speak to yourself as you would someone you love.

You are enough. You are doing enough.

Give yourself a break, a little more love and a lot more compassion.

You are doing a great job - time to tell yourself that.

Healthy Body and Mind

Eight Hours Work Week For Healthy Mind

Research findings show that eight hours per week (or one day) work is the optimum for your mental health. The study revealed that in order for you to stay mentally healthy, or healthy overall, you should only be working for eight hours per week.

Those researchers are from the Universities of Cambridge and Salford. They "say that is the most "effective dose" of work in order to reap the mental health benefits of paid work."

I believe these research findings and results are in keeping with the order in which the world is turning. By that I mean, robots and technology are gradually taking over the work human use to do.

Therefore, all these things are being done to mentally prepare the population for a take over.

So when the time comes for little or nothing for us to do, we are already prepared for the little or no work and I am fine.

The article carrying the report in the Shields Gazette ask the question, "is any work good for my health?"

The reporter said that the study was carried out in order to establish the ideal amount of work a person should do each week for their well being.

Anxiety and Depression in the UK

Anxiety and depression are a deadly combination, they will destroy you in no time if allowed to run unchecked. Here is how one woman in the United Kingdom described her ordeal with...

Her name is Arin West who struggled with this problem for a decade. She said "sometimes, even getting out of bed became an overwhelming struggle.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.

Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life and this can be quite normal.

However some people find it hard to control their worries, making their anxiety more constant and can affect their daily lives.

In 2013, there were 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK according to the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Depression is more than simply feeling 'unhappy' or fed up for a few days.

It's a real illness and can make you feel persistently sad for weeks or months.

According to the National Institute for Health and Social Care Excellence, depression affects nearly one in six people in the UK.

Studies have shown that about four per cent of children aged 5 to 16 in the UK have anxiety or depressed."

To conclude, here is a healthy mind quote from Goodreads.com: "Don't let sickness, depression, and disease THUG YOU OUT. Eat healthier, think healthier, speak healthier, and more positively over your life.

When you do so, you will soon begin to conquer your life and your health through new found empowerment- mind, body, and spirit."

It is Adrian T Brown here your health enthusiast with a profound question for you: Why Are People Sick?. You may or may not be responsible for your present health status.

One thing is for sure, you can do something about it. What you think, say and do, believe it or not is creating or destroying your health.

Starting today, right here, right now, can be the beginning of a disease-free, pain-free life. Tips To Your Health is where you should start, take action...

Are They Real? Breaking Free From Scary Intrusive Thoughts That Drive Anxiety

I have to guess as to what you really, exactly mean but I'm going to presume you mean something along the lines of 'do they mean anything? Or 'are they true'? Or 'Is this who I really am?'

In that context, NO, the thoughts are not real. They are just thoughts that have no real meaning on any level. They are not real on a conscious or a subconscious level. They are just some particular thoughts, or even just one particular thought that crossed your mind and gave you a jolt of fear when you were in an anxiety state.

Now, here's where they are real. Your body thinks they are real. No, you are not going to lose control of your bodily functions and act out on whatever your brand of intrusive thoughts is. I mean, your body is reacting to extreme fear just the way it's supposed to. You see, your body doesn't know if something is fear from imaging something or seeing something. Your body reacts the same way. Adrenaline picks up. Your fight or flight reactions kick in. Blood flows from your head and other organs and systems that aren't needed for fighting or running away.

Back in the cave man days, we needed those reactions to either fight that sabre tooth tiger or run away from it. All of your energies are diverted to your hands and legs because those are the functions that are going to save you.

And this is why facing your fears and letting your body go through with its physiological response is a key to recovery from anxiety and even panic attacks. When you sit there are tell your body to do its worst you are also telling your body you aren't afraid. Your body interprets this as 'there's nothing to fear here, carry on.' And then all those symptoms and feelings that are freaking you out, fade away.

It takes time though. It takes time for your to prove to your anxiety brain that there's nothing really to fear here. Everything is okay. You don't have to stand at the door like a watch dog

You can also find a safe haven at within the private Facebook Group call Intrusive Thoughts OCD Answers... and Peace! You are welcome to join. If you have no one to talk to, or you're too ashamed to say anything to anyone, including a doctor, you'll be comfortable here. 
.

DJ Patterson has successfully recovered from Intrusive Thoughts, Anxiety and now coaches others to peace of mind. Get more insights. Request the Natural Ways to Heal Your Anxiety email series.

Also,you are invited to join a private group on Facebook called Intrusive Thoughts OCD Answers... and Peace!

Understanding Suicide

If the human body were a house, etheric energy would be its electrical system. Multiple shorts or breaks in the circuitry can prompt thoughts of suicide. When a fuse blows (actual or emotional), chaos is released through outlets like amps and anger.

No one is designed to survive alone. Feeling isolated and detached from a primary family unit causes overwhelming fear for certain people. They are the artists, writers and empaths of society-the 'sensitive' ones. They are the first lost during tough times.

Even the subtle threat of being separated from a family system can kick survival tactics into gear. Panic starts to rise at all the scary possibilities. The option of surrender starts to whisper to the unsettled mind. Later, it looms as the only possible way out.

Before the suicidal ideations begin, which is usually quite young, a DNA code arrives at birth. That is the 'nature' that meets 'nurture' and often courts disaster. The odds against some surviving, much less thriving, are minute.

The blessings are the 'Dandelion Children.' These are the survivors that thrive against all odds. They came here with an understood mission and begin early in life. Most continue an underlying vocation for life-like music, art, writing or preaching.

Others leave this world for '15 minutes of fame.' Online reports of the mourning and attention given suicide victims offers the fantasy of finally getting some much-needed attention. 'Attention Deficit Disorder' is what many family relationships should be called. No one is being heard in some family units-the weakest will silence himself.

Others experience suicidal ideation as the end of a long, painful journey. Many have suffered the entire duration. No one ever dreamed of walking sad, alone and in pain through the course of life. Only a few understand that we all walk in pain, focus is the difference. Re-living disasters and losses keeps them alive, fresh and still wounding.

Every person that survived jumping off a major bridge said the same thing, each regretted it the moment the hands left the rails. To date, not one challenged his own life again.

Suicidal ideation can be chemically caused and corrected. Emotional imbalances are more of a challenge because the root of the depression, OCD or PTSD must be found and eradicated for healing to begin.

Other countries are finding a form of guided meditation effective in dealing with PTSD or 'war fever.' The U.S. is finally offering desperate war veterans some relief with changing cannibas use laws hopefully lowering their daily suicide toll.

Everyday fear and worry can be so intense, they exhaust the sufferer. Potentially, peace or purgatory could be on the other side of suicide. When the pain is enough, the decision gradually takes shape and a plan is formed. At that point, doctors hospitalize for safety.

If a patient is self-aware enough, she can check herself in when suicidal ideation becomes pervasive thought. Anger and depression which began with hurt and frustration eventually festers until expressed-either inwardly or outwardly. Turned inward, it can trigger suicide. Homicide is on the other end of the spectrum; it is anger and rage turned outward.

The great unknown stops some suicide attempts. Religious beliefs come forth with different strength when the soul is on the line. To some, purgatory may sound better than 'hell on earth.' Deciding to stay may require a new set of skills to process pain, trauma and loss.

danielsherry56@gmail.com

Sharing Problems, Seeking Guidance Make It Easier to Deal With Dual Diagnosis

By Barbara Odozi

Dual diagnosis is one of the most complex brain disorders. Usually a combination of psychiatric illness and substance use disorder (SUD), it is comparatively severer and more complex than either of the two disorders as it involves the interplay between two equally complex conditions. Dual diagnosis, known as co-occurring disorders in the common parlance, is characterized by errant behavior, petty criminal offenses, and fluctuating moods due to the comorbidity of SUD and mental disorder.

Depending on the kind of substance abused, users develop different combinations of coexisting disorders, such as alcoholism and depression. The repercussions of dual diagnosis are not restrained only to the individual grappling with the challenges of the disorder but equally impacts family members and friends as well.

The family of the person suffering from dual diagnosis finds itself struggling with a new challenge every now and then. These problems can include arranging a ride to the hospital in odd hours, finding funds for treatment, and dealing with his or her exaggerated and irrational hallucinations or paranoia. This could be cumbersome for the members of the family, leaving no time for recreation and rejuvenation. Most are harried and hassled, and heave a sigh of relief when it is time to send the patient to a recovery home for treatment.

Though they may not show it explicitly, family members could feel resentment and hatred toward their condition due to the patient. Despite all efforts, there is an increased risk that things could turn for worse, spiking the likelihood of a relapse. They feel let down by the patient, when he or she expresses no gratitude for their all help and care.

Ways to handle dual diagnosis patients in family

The risk of exacerbating the problem runs high when family and friends use violence and intimidation to control the patient. In order to nip the problem in the bud, the family should instead try the following tips:

Keeping control over spending: Instead of giving money to a dual diagnosis patient, which could fuel addiction, the family should appoint a caregiver to take care of his/her expenses. It is necessary to keep money away from the reach of such patients. Furthermore, with the help of a community mental health worker, counsellor or therapist, a person can be dissuaded from splurging money on drugs and alcohol.

Dealing with agitation and paranoia: The families of people living with the co-occurring disorders must learn to deal with the most common symptoms of dual diagnosis, such as agitation, paranoia and hallucinations. In certain conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the signs of an impending flare up are evident prior to the actual episode. Therefore, it is vital for the family to develop mechanisms for dealing with such episodes, such as providing medications or taking help of a community organization or health care center. In case, there are children in the family, it is necessary to keep them out of harm's way. Such psychotic episodes can have a deeper impression on the mind of a child compared to adults.

Staying firm: Although people with dual diagnosis have as much right to decide their lifestyle and way of living as any other person, it is necessary for their families to stay firm and communicate clearly in case their habits are negatively impacting the members, especially children.

Taking professional help when required: One should not shy away from taking professional help, not just for the patient but also for himself or herself, if needed. Participating in community awareness and skill training programs related to dual diagnosis keep one abreast of the latest developments. Also, one can develop better coping mechanisms and feel more stressed out by meeting other families living with the same set of problems through such community programs. These community programs related to harm minimization strategies help people in keeping the patient and the family safe.

Progressive family members support each other

Dual diagnosis is a complex problem that requires treatment by a clinical expert in addition to the love and support of the family. In certain instances, when the condition is beyond control, the person suffering from dual diagnosis would be required to prolong his/her stay in inpatient settings.

If you know someone suffering from addiction and a co-occurring mental disorder, contact the Dual Diagnosis Helpline 855-981-6047 for information on appropriate rehab centers near you. Call at our 24/7 helpline for drug detox programs to access the finest dual diagnosis program.

Article Source:  Sharing Problems, Seeking Guidance Make It Easier to Deal With Dual Diagnosis

Manage Stress Without Stress

Manage Stress Without Stress

By Nitika Mehra

Stress is an uneasy experience which affects our health in a negative way. The simplest way of coping up with stress would be modifying or removing its source, which is not always possible. However there are some techniques which decrease your stress level significantly. Successful coping with stress is dependent on many factors. A person's perspective of control on the situation, his personality, availability of support from friends and family and social circle are some very important factors which play a crucial role in the moderation of stress. Resilience of a person also makes him more or less susceptible to stress. More resilience, tolerance and optimism are some individual qualities which help a person to handle stress effectively. Under a stressful situation a person can utilize many strategies which focus on taking steps to alleviate or modify stress. Let me explain to you about them.

1. Management of body reactions

When you are stressed your muscles feel tightened and heart rate increases. You can feel tension building up in your body and mind as well. Now here in this condition, relaxing the body may help to a great extent. Do this by the following ways:

a. Exercise: This can range from anything like swimming or running, yoga etc.

b. Meditation: this is a spiritual and scientific way of balancing your intense emotions. Meditation promotes clarity of thoughts and improves concentration and the power to think and act rationally.

2. Modifying effective behavior by the following methods:

a. Slowing down. Try to do things in the natural and relaxed pace. Trying to do things in a hurry and worry makes us make mistakes which in turn increase stress even more.

b. Organize. Set your priorities and manage your schedule so that you can get things done in time with minimal confusion and time lag.

c. Accepting and identifying one's limits and abilities. Set up realistic expectations and goals for self. Don't take too much pressure.

3. Seek Social support. A close and healthy relationship with our friends and family keeps us emotionally stable and happy. Talking and sharing about problems with close ones gives us inner strength and guidance.

4. Practicing mindfulness. Whatever activity you do during the day, may it be work, eating or even drinking a glass of water, do it mindfully. This helps us in refraining from negative and intrusive thoughts and also helps us in completing the activity for maximum benefit.

5. Being Optimistic.

By having a positive outlook towards life, we seek opportunities even in difficulties. It becomes easier to find a way out of difficult phases of life. Along with this acceptance also helps a long way.

6. Revaluating Goals. Many people work so hard to achieve their goals that one day they reach the burnout point and reach to the point of a breakdown. This is not a good thing as we need to be healthy and free enough to reap the benefits of our success. So we need to identify our limits and restructure our expectations and be little gentle on ourselves.

7. So the next time you feel tensed and stressed, remember to take long breaths, count to ten and think about following the above mentioned techniques. Hope they will help!

Stress Management depends on several factors and is not based on one parameter. Hence managing stress involves a diverse set of techniques which if implemented will give significant decrease in present stress levels. I hope this article proves out to be helpful.

Article Source: Manage Stress Without Stress

How to Cope With Common Mental Health Problems

Do you want better mental health? Are you looking for simple, yet effective tips on how to cope better with your mental health diagnosis? Many people with mental illnesses struggle with anxiety, isolation, and obesity. If you are dealing with any one of these problems and want solutions please keep reading.

The first problem I would like to discuss is anxiety. Anxiety can make living a nightmare depending on its severity. Many people have a continuous cycle of anxiety because they have trained their brain to think as such. Anxiety can be caused by many factors like nutritional deficiencies, but the one I want to focus on is the one where people have picked up the habit of worrying simply because they had no knowledge of anything better to do instead of worry. One solution to this problem could be to simply train your brain to replace what you are worrying about with something positive. For example if you are worrying about losing your job you could replace it with I don't know if I will lose my job, but there are many jobs out there and I will find another if this happens. Also, I have been through difficult times I can get through this too. This kind of thinking will put you in a place of peace to come up with a solution instead of focusing on the negative, which only makes you worry more. Start thinking this way and your anxiety is sure to improve. Another effective method is to journal. Yes, journalling has many great benefits.Just Google it and you will see. Journalling for anxiety is very effective because you can get all your troubling thoughts onto paper and look for a solution to your problems instead of them being jumbled up in your mind. Journalling for anxiety will definitely give you peace of mind and help you think clearer. Also writing in a journal everyday in general is a good way to improve mental health because you will start to see patterns that keep you stuck in your daily life you wouldn't normally see.

The second problem I would like to discuss is isolation. Many people with mental illnesses live in isolation because of the shame of their diagnosis and many others because they just don't have the social skills to build new relationships. So I want to shine some light on how to overcome this problem. One way is to educate yourself. Educate yourself on how to build self-esteem especially when it comes to the stigma of mental illness. Also, educate yourself on how to build social skills. Yes, this will take some work on your part, but it is worth it. Another way to come out of isolation is to volunteer. Yes, you heard me right, volunteer. There is no better way to overcome loneliness than to do what you love and learn valuable job skills that can be beneficial for a future job. Also, as you learn social skills you can practice them on your co- workers. Last, but not least join a support group. This will help to put you around others who understand what you are going through and it will be easier to make friends because you have things in common. Also, more than likely it will be very therapeutic.

The last problem I would like to discuss is obesity. Many people with mental illnesses are obese because of their medications. They complain, but they never get around to doing anything about it. So, what I would like to do is give some suggestions on how to improve this condition. First, realize that this does not have to be the state you have to stay in. Awareness is the first step toward change. Next, make goals on what you want to achieve. This can be how many pounds you want to be, how often you will have to exercise, the kinds of foods you will have to eat, beverages you will have to stay away from and etc. Then make a list of the resources you will have to get like exercise equipment, fitness books, fitness gear and etc. After that, figure out how you can reach your goal the most fun. Also, have a fitness journal to track progress and if you fall off for a day or two or however many, write how you can improve. See if you can get others to help you. Two is always better than one, but if you can,t no worries you can do it alone also. Also, consult with a doctor before exercising.

Remember, it is vital we take care of our mental health. Yes, medications are important, but we also have to take it a step forward and do things like exercise, eat well, drink water, and manage anxiety because no one else is going to do it for us. You only get one body, mind, and spirit and it's up to us to take care of them. So, make sure you do your best to do so.

Quanisha Green's author page is http://www.amazon.com/author/quanishagreen and she currently has one book titled Living above the stigma of mental illness. She will soon be releasing another book related to mental health and if you are interested check her out and please leave a review.


 By Quanisha N Green


Article Source:  How to Cope With Common Mental Health Problems

What Are Bad Dreams Showing You?

All dreams have a protective function. They protect your mental health and your life.
The main messages contained in nightmares and bad dreams usually show you that you are making mistakes because you are not paying attention to all dangers, you are listening to the absurd thoughts sent by your anti-conscience to your conscience, and you are not analyzing your reality with objectivity.

Bad dreams usually show you that you think based on past conclusions, which were influenced by various traumatic experiences. They also show you that you are not able to control your behavior in numerous situations.

In the past you believed that you were intelligent and that you were a good person besides your defects, but today you know that your conscious level is too low and you are in fact a mentally retarded. The biggest part of your brain belongs to your satanic anti-conscience, and your tiny conscience must be developed.

This is a very unpleasant and disappointing truth, but you can become a sensitive genius by doing what God shows in your dreams.

God sends you important warnings in dreams because you have to stop doing what works against you. You have to eliminate your anti-conscience through consciousness and become a wise and sensitive human being. This is how you will find peace, sound mental health, love, and happiness.

Otherwise, you will be exposed to numerous dangers and you will probably acquire a severe mental illness like most people in the world. Many people believe that only a small percentage of the world population is mentally ill, but the truth is that we are mentally ill from birth. Only those who manage to attain sanctity are mentally healthy.

Not all mental disorders are diagnosed and many of them were not discovered by the doctors of our historical time, even though they keep discovering new mental health problems all the time.

Today you know that every mental disorder must be cured based on the cultivation of goodness in our hearts because Carl Jung discovered how to translate God's words in dreams and how to cure mental health problems thanks to this information, and I managed to continue his research by obeying the guidance I had in my dreams after following his steps.

This is a privilege. Your ancestors couldn't understand how and why mental disorders were formed, or how they could be cured.

Today you know that the biggest part of your brain belongs to your satanic anti-conscience, which is as self-destructive as a bomb ready to explode. Your tiny conscience is a cover that covers the primitive and self-destructive demon existent in your brain to help you transform it into a peaceful and moralistic human being.

The fact that you can think is a very dangerous matter.

You must learn how to organize your thoughts based on goodness and show compassion to all human beings in all situations of life.

However, since you are a terrible demon with a tiny human conscience you have to make many efforts to preserve your conscience and transform your evil self into a human being.

The bitter truth is that when you are betrayed you hate compassion. You want to get revenge.

You have evil thoughts and reactions. You are constantly misled by your anti-conscience and by the hypocritical world. You merely pretend to have human feelings. Your goodness always depends on secondary intentions. You are a good person only with those you want to impress.

All human beings are in fact vampires with a microscopic human side. If you didn't attain sanctity, you are not an exception. Therefore, you tend to be extremely selfish and have negative reactions like everyone else.

This is a bitter truth, but now that you have this knowledge you can open your eyes and see that the human behavior really is absurd and evil, and protect your poor conscience.

Until today you didn't know that your mental health was in danger, but now that you have this knowledge you can preserve your sanity through dream translation and become an admirable human being.

Christina Sponias continued Carl Jung's research into the human psyche, discovering the cure for all mental illnesses, and simplifying the scientific method of dream interpretation that teaches you how to exactly translate the meaning of your dreams, so that you can find health, wisdom and happiness.
Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com

Click Here to download a Free Sample of the eBook Dream Interpretation as a Science (86 pages!).



By Christina Sponias


Article Source: What Are Bad Dreams Showing You?

Anxiety and Movies

During my twenties, I loved thriller movies. The more exciting they were, the better. Tom Cruise all the way! It would give me a couple of hours of escapism, a rest from the everyday, and a sense of participating in life's most exciting events.

Then my 'dark years' began, and my world was stalled by anxiety and depression. Unable to care for myself, others, or sometimes even to get out of bed. Unexplained pains led me to the Emergency Room, and life felt like it was a painful waste.

This went on for half a decade, and needless to say that all the while, I was disinterested in watching exciting movies. Nervous excitement, tension and adrenaline rushes were my everyday and I had no need of additional 'pumping up' in search of entertainment.

Physical effects

My pulse would race, my heart ache, my head spin, and the excitement in the movie soon made me feel claustrophobic, so that I had to be out of the room. It can be so hard to explain that anxiety brings real, physical effects, but they go undetected and disbelieved because doctors can't distinguish the changes in chemicals that we carry naturally. This leads to the frequent assumption of their being no obvious 'cause'.

It's not only us mortals that suffer from anxiety attacks though. We may be sitting there watching a movie star who themselves has experienced the stress of an anxiety disorder.

Friend-of-the celebrities Joe Beleznay is among the many celebrities who ave spoken out about their anxiety and its physical effects. He told Rolling Stone: "It was heart palpitations, shortness of breath, coldness and shivers, strange stuff, and we'd be like, 'You're totally fine. You're not having a heart attack.'"

Symptoms

Mental health charity Mind backs up these observations on its website, which lists the physical sensations of anxiety:



nausea (feeling sick)

tense muscles and headaches

pins and needles

feeling light headed or dizzy

faster breathing

sweating or hot flushes

a fast, thumping or irregular heart beat

raised blood pressure

difficulty sleeping

needing the toilet more frequently, or less frequently

churning in the pit of your stomach

experiencing panic attacks

The list is long and fairly general, and rather than focusing on the nature of your symptoms, it is better to consider how much they affect your life: a severe anxiety disorder will be having a severe impact on your day-to-day living, and the enjoyment of simple pleasures such as an occasional movie are included in this.

While my own symptoms eased in time and with understanding, treatment and support from others; I still have a lower tolerance for excitement. So there's no Tom Cruise in my life any more!

If you're suffering from debilitating anxiety, please know that you are not alone.

At anxiety.town we provide a place for the sharing of feelings and experiences by those who live with anxiety on a daily basis.

With our psychologist blogger, webhost Jemma who has her own lived experience, and the words and support of others who know just how you feel, together we can find a way to cope, to adapt, and to renew our hope for a life lived with pleasure and contentment.

Visit anxiety.town to meet your new neighbours.


 By Jemma Town


Article Source: Anxiety and Movies

Mental Health Issues Sleep Deprivation May Cause

How often have you faced the situation when you are trying to sleep, but you are not able to? You might end up spending the entire night tossing and turning in your bed. Situations like this may occur to anyone, maybe due to some worry or out of excitement for something that's going to happen the following day. However, if it becomes a usual affair, it can be terrible, indicating sleep problems, such as insomnia, sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, etc. It can do more damage than one could imagine.

Since the mind and the body rely on correct sleep pattern to function normally, a good eight-hour sleep is much needed for a healthy life. Cutting corners on sleep could be detrimental for both mental and physical health. In other words, compromising on sleep to meet certain responsibilities or to get a bit of extra leisure time can have severe negative effects on both mental and physical health, causing a high stress level, irritability, cardiac morbidity and numerous other health issues.

While a lot of people are unable to get their forty winks owing to significant changes in their lifestyle, a few others may go through the ordeal due to various social or environmental factors. But whatever be the reason, sleep deprivation can be dangerous, resulting in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.

It has been observed that most Americans are sleep deprived, and the condition is alarming for those with psychiatric conditions. Clearly, there is a strong relationship between sleep deprivation and the development of numerous mental health issues. Some common health issues that develop in people who are constantly sleep deprived are:



Depression: Generally, an individual dealing with depression is first monitored for any symptoms of sleep disorders, following which the diagnosis for depression is made. Studies have shown that people dealing with insomnia are more likely to develop depression later in their lives as compared to those without any such problem. Moreover, depressed individuals with sleep problems are more prone to commit suicide than those who get a proper sleep.

Anxiety: Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues that can be triggered by the lack of adequate sleep. A person may experience problems such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder when deprived of sufficient sleep. On the other hand, if a person with an anxiety disorder has sleep problems due to it, can see the symptoms worsening, leading to delayed recovery.

Bipolar disorder: Also known as manic-depressive illness, this disorder can make an individual either sleep excessively or experience restless sleep. Studies have shown that dealing with a manic or depressed episode of bipolar disorder along with difficulty in sleeping can pose significant hindrances in treatment, and hence, delay in recovery. The person might also feel low on energy, less motivated, and lack of interest in daily activities. Suicidal thoughts due to a combination of bipolar disorder and lack of sleep are also common in such individuals.

Recovery road map

A sound sleep not only ensures physical and mental health, but also helps in preventing the development of various mental illnesses. It is quite possible that mental disorders and physical illnesses coexist, but the cause-and-effect of this relationship may not be clear. A discussion of all symptoms with the doctor can help in identifying if a physical illness can be attributed to a mental ailment, or vice versa.

If you feel that someone around you is suffering from any mental condition, it is advisable to seek professional help so that it does not worsen the individual's physical and mental health. The Colorado Mental Health Help can assist you in finding the best mental health treatment centers. Call us at our 24/7 helpline number 866-899-5063 to get in touch with one of our representatives who would be happy to connect you with the best mental health rehab.


 By Barbara Odozi


Article Source: Mental Health Issues Sleep Deprivation May Cause

ADD and ADHD Treatments That Help With Concentration

Children are subjects to a wide range of distractions and stimuli that can have an adverse effect on their concentration. This can happen at home and in school settings and for those who suffer from ADD and ADHD, the effects from these distractions can be severe. It can impair their ability to form relationships and it certainly can impact their educational potential. While removing distractions can help, children with ADD and ADHD require additional skills to help maintain their concentration. The best way to provide these skills is by engaging with programs that are designed to foster concentration and thereby give those with ADD and ADHD the skills the need to succeed.

Helping Them, Help Themselves

There are two main ADD and ADHD treatments that are proven to help increase concentration in those with ADD and ADHD. Both Interactive Metronome Therapy and Neurofeedback Therapy have a proven track record in helping those with ADD and ADHD maintain higher levels of concentrations long after they have discontinued the treatments. What these treatments do is provide those with ADD and ADHD the brain training necessary to help them maintain concentration and focus and thus it also improves their personal wellbeing as they are able to concentrate on their own. While not a cure, it is a way for those with ADD and ADHD to manage their symptoms to help them in other areas of their life and thereby improve their ability to succeed.

Interactive Metronome Therapy

Interactive Metronome Therapy (IMT) uses hand and foot motions to coincide with a computer generated tone. The repetitive motions to the tone provide an immediate feedback and a score is tabulated allowing the participant the opportunity to improve their reaction time score. As more and more correct timings are made, the score improves. This trains the mind to develop the skills relating to concentration and as more and more sessions are performed, the corresponding skill level also increases. Interactive Metronome Therapy has been proven to work with both children and adults and peer-reviewed research has shown that the skills are long-lasting. In addition, a recent 2016 paper in Brain and Language titled "Incorporation of feedback during beat synchronization is an index of neural maturation and reading skills" Carr, Fitzroy, Tierney, White-Scwoch, Kraus; indicates that IMT can also be used in addressing language based learning concerns.

Neurofeedback Therapy

Similar in some respects to IMT, Neurofeedback approaches the development of concentration skills using both visual and auditory signals. Using a computer, the participant is provided with visual and auditory stimuli that generate a brain wave response and as this response is monitored, the participant is rewarded each time their brain wave patterns are maintained in the optimized training patterns, thus providing an increased level of concentration. While the exact methodology can vary from provider to provider, the end results of increased levels of concentration and focus are identical. Neurofeedback therapy is backed by over twenty-five independent, peer-reviewed studies published in science journals, including a recent article in the journal Nature, titled "Closed-loop brain training: The Science of Neurofeedback" that also discusses the long-term viability of this ADHD treatment and the science behind it.

Finding the right ADD and ADHD treatments can seem challenging but there are highly skilled providers that can help you achieve the skills that you or someone you know who suffers from ADHD need to succeed. Both Interactive Metronome Therapy and Neurofeedback Therapy are proven ADHD treatments that improve concentration and focus. This leads to a better outcome for those who have to deal with ADD and ADHD and an increased opportunity for a bright future. If you are looking for a way to help you or someone you know manage ADD or ADHD, then contact a provider today.

Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson is a chiropractic physician and medical writer and lecturer in Shelby Township, Michigan. "Digging Deeper To Find Answers To Your Chronic Health Challenge" is Dr. Johnson's passion. Dr. Johnson is a graduate of the American Functional Neurology Institute and is also a certified gluten free coach and author of the book, Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body's Life Changing Secrets For Renewed Health, available at Amazon.com ( http://amzn.to/TmPgZW ). Dr. Johnson's areas of expertise include chiropractic, functional medicine, functional neurology, neurofeedback and spinal rehabilitation. Dr. Johnson is also the author of the Ultimate Strategy series of eBooks on the topics of; fibromyalgia, balance disorders, migraine and other debilitating headaches and well as unresolved thyroid symptoms. For more information and to receive updates on my informative and useful blog, please visit http://www.DrKarlJohnson.com or call 586-731-8840.



 By Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC 


Article Source: ADD and ADHD Treatments That Help With Concentration

Caffeine and 23 Other Compounds Boost Enzyme That Protects Against Dementia

Researchers from the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Science at Indiana University in Bloomington have identified the role that caffeine plays in boosting the activity levels of an enzyme known to combat dementia. Caffeine and 23 other compounds were found to interact with this enzyme, known as NMNAT2, to protect the brain against dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

According to the leader of the study, Hui-Chen Lu, the new research has the capability to increase the knowledge needed to develop drugs for boosting NMNAT2 in the brain, so as to block out the advances of brain disorders. Lu is a Gill Professor in the Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Science and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, a part of the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences. She worked alongside Yousuf O. Ali, an assistant research scientist, and Gillian Bradley, a graduate student on the project.

Lu and her team of researchers analyzed over 1,280 compounds and drugs before zeroing in on caffeine and the 23 compounds. These compounds were found to boost the production and activity of NMNAT2 to fight off brain degeneration, IU Bloomington news release shows. The study was carried out on lab mice and the results found satisfactory before the authors of the study went public with their research.

Other compounds identified to boost the production of NMNAT2

Apart from the generally-known caffeine, another compound found to help the brain against degenerative factors is rolipram. This was an orphaned drug that was first developed for the treatment of depression, but it has also been found to reduce the effects of tangled proteins in the human brain. Other identified compounds are ziprasidone, cantharidin, wortmannin and retinoic acid among others.

Researcher Lu disclosed that her team was set up to identify the pathways that could be used to block degenerative factors in the brain. Beyond this, the team is also out to identify crucial compounds that could be used to develop drugs needed for treating debilitating mental disorders. So identifying the natural causes of brain decline is also as important as identifying the natural compounds needed to treat the condition.

The authors of the study called for more research into this subject to learn more on the roles of compounds on mental health, most especially dementia. This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Belfer Family Foundation.

Charles Omedo can be contacted on  writers100@yahoo.com for web content jobs. He writes daily news articles for US/UK/Canadian clients and web articles/blog posts/product reviews on various topical niches for paying clients.


 By Charles I. Omedo


Article Source: Caffeine and 23 Other Compounds Boost Enzyme That Protects Against Dementia

How Science And Religion Eliminate Mental Health Problems

Every mental disorder can be cured when we understand that we have to stop having the behavior imposed by our anti-conscience and we do what God shows us in our dreams.

Obedient students and patients always find solutions and evolve. You have to be one of them.

Disobedient patients keep listening to the repetitive thoughts sent by their anti-conscience, and this is why they cannot abandon the vicious circle of craziness.

God repeats the same messages many times in many different ways until the dreamer will finally agree to do what He is showing him or her.

The dreamer must combat the absurd thoughts sent to his conscience by his anti-conscience instead of listening to them, and agree with God.

God is a very patient doctor who never abandons anyone, but if you don't obey his guidance, you are merely wasting your time, while you are exposed to numerous dangers. You have to follow God's guidance in order to evolve and stop being a victim of your satanic anti-conscience.

You must trust your doctor's guidance, and not your personal opinion.

You have to learn how to combat the absurd thoughts sent to your conscience instead of believing in the unrealistic ideas of the modern civilization.

You also have to believe in your religion. God is alive and He created your religion in order to purify your spirit.

When I was a teenager I was an atheist, but God showed me through many ways that He is alive and that I have the moral obligation to transmit this knowledge to the atheistic and materialistic world because God must be respected.

After discovering the existence of the anti-conscience God made me stop writing my scientific book and remember the religious lessons I had in the Catholic school where I had studied. I had to go to the church and follow religious seminars with priests and nuns.

My scientific research was interrupted because I had to understand the real meaning of my religion. I wouldn't be able to deal with a demon that generates invincible mental disorders based only on the scientific knowledge I had acquired.

My religion helped me understand the meaning of my suffering. I realized that everything I had learned in the religious lessons I had when I was a child was true.

All religions help you find God and protect your human side. You have to be humble and respect the meaning of your religion the same way you have to respect the meaning of your dreams.

The scientific translations discovered by Carl Jung really translate God's words in dreams. I merely simplified and clarified his method, proving to the world that the unconscious mind that produces our dreams is God's mind and that we are not human. We are in fact cruel demons. This is why we have to precisely obey God's guidance in our dreams. We must learn how to become really human.

Dream therapy is more than a mental health treatment. This method helps you find God and verify the importance of your religion. All religions teach you the same truths focusing on different aspects of your complex spiritual reality.

God gives you scientific explanations for religious mysteries in your dreams.

Dream therapy according to the scientific method of dream interpretation helps you find sound mental health and eternal peace. This method helps you definitively stop being a wild animal and become an admirable human being.

This is a natural mental health treatment that helps you purify your spirit and become a brilliant human being.

You can learn the dream language thanks to my simplifications and translate the meaning of your dreams yourself. God helps you understand your psychological problems and become a psychologist. You receive free psychotherapy and special information in your dreams forever.

I could find support thanks to the dream messages even before learning well Carl Jung's complicated and obscure method of dream interpretation. You may say that I was a very good student and I had to time to care about this matter because I was a young mother when I started seriously studying Jung's method and I stopped working to stay home with my baby.

I also had an extraordinary literary talent that was inspired by the unconscious mind. The literary book I had written when I was a teen helped me discover the meaning of many dream symbols when I learned Carl Jung's method of dream interpretation because all personages of the story were important dream symbols.

I had many advantages besides having a serious mental health problem, but you have more advantages than I did because you have my simplifications and clarifications.

* You already know that you have inherited a terrible anti-conscience that generates mental disorders within your conscience and that all your dreams help you fight the demon you have inherited in your brain.

* You know that your purpose in life is to become an admirable human being.

* You know that God is the dream producer and that you can completely trust the dream messages because God is your doctor.

So, you are better equipped to triumph over all challenges than me.

Christina Sponias continued Carl Jung's research into the human psyche, discovering the cure for all mental illnesses, and simplifying the scientific method of dream interpretation that teaches you how to exactly translate the meaning of your dreams, so that you can find health, wisdom and happiness.
Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com
Click Here to download a Free Sample of the eBook Dream Interpretation as a Science (86 pages!).


 By Christina Sponias


Article Source: How Science And Religion Eliminate Mental Health Problems

A Holistic Treatment for Depression

According to a 2012 survey of the United States National Institute of Mental Health, about 6.9% of the population or 16 million adults have experienced at least one significant depressive episode. Based on a study conducted by the World Health Organization, over 350 million people across the world suffer from depression.

There are as many types of depression as there are treatments. Not everyone with depressive disorder exhibit the same symptoms. The severity of the condition depends on the person and on the type of depressive disorder he has. More often than not depression is a co-morbidity of illnesses such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes or cancer.

A person diagnosed with chronic depression will most likely opt for medication to control the symptoms of said condition. However, taking medications to treat or at least alleviate episodes of depression is not the only treatment course. A more holistic or rounded approach that entails treating one's body and mind is an additional option that may complement prescribed medications, for a quick recovery from depression.

Diet and Depression
According to the Association of UK Dietitians, good nutrition is an important factor in physical and mental health.

People tend to eat sweet, sugary, and fatty food to "feel" good. The truth is that these types of food may well boost one's mood and energy, but only for a short while. A few hours after, the nice feeling would eventually plummet down, and then it is back to feeling lousy and depressed for the said person.

Natural Antidepressants
There is no magic diet to treat depression, but many specialists agree that eating healthy food such as vegetables, fruits, fish, lean meats, whole grain and beans is recommended for people suffering from depression. Why? Because eating a healthy, balanced diet will keep blood sugar level stable all through the day, helping prop up one's mood. One should eat food that enhances his gut health.

Researches indicate that folate, Omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamin B12 may have positive effects on depression. Though these food items will not necessarily boost one's mental health, they may readily aid with brain functions. Another study indicated that gut bacteria neurochemicals such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobaccilli affect one's mood and neurological functions. Some other food that fights depression are: green leafy vegetables; avocado; walnuts; mushroom; berries; tomatoes; onions; and apples.

Natural Depressants
People prone to feeling extreme sadness, or depression should be careful not to indulge on natural depressants such as alcohol, caffeine, as well high-calorie-low nutrition food. Studies have proven that heavy alcohol consumption is linked to panic attacks and anxiety. It reduces serotonin naturally produced by the body, which in effect makes people prone to depression and anxiety. Caffeine also reduces serotonin (happy hormone) level and therefore also increases the risk for depression, anxiety, and may cause difficulty in initiating sleep. Eating refined sugar, processed food and all other high-calorie food that are low in nutrients, momentarily boosts energy. This food group increases storage of fat, raises blood sugar level and may even prompt a "crash after a rush". Aspartame has also been linked to a decreased serotonin.

Exercise and Depression
When feeling "blue", exercising seems to be the last thing on one's mind; but once a person gets motivated, exercise or any form of physical activity, seems to lift up one's spirit.

Studies indicate that exercise helps in preventing and improving health problems such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure. Scientific researches on exercise, depression and anxiety have shown that the physical and psychological benefits of exercise also help improve a person's mood and diminish anxiety. How?

Endorphins
Regular exercise or any physical activity may ease depression by releasing those feel good chemicals called endorphins. This chemical acts as analgesic and sedative. As this chemical interacts with the brain receptors, a person's pain perception is lessened. Endorphins also make a person feel positive. Notice how after a really good workout a person feels quite euphoric.

Endorphins are produced in the spinal cord, brain and other parts of the body. They are released in response to neurotransmitters, which is another type of brain chemical. As the endorphins bind to the neuron receptors, a person's mood starts to lift up.

Stress Buster
In general exercising regularly will reduce stress, boost self-esteem, fight off feelings of depression and anxiety, and improve sleep. Exercise will take one's mind off worries - warding off negative thoughts that feed depression and anxiety.

Studies indicate that the biochemical changes in the brain due to exercising are similar to those produced when one is taking medication. There is also an increase in serotonin level. Exercise is a good option for children, pregnant and postpartum women, and adults who cannot take medication for depression. Studies show that in these three groups, symptoms of depression were reduced when they regularly exercised. It has been observed that those who developed a regular exercise routine were less likely to have a relapse.

Depression and Talk Therapy
Numerous studied have concluded that psychotherapy or talk therapy can help depressed people bounce back. Talk therapy basically presents a way for the person to recognize and handle his condition. However, for severe depression, a combination of medication and talk therapy is more beneficial.

There are two general types of therapy used for depression - interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavior therapy or CBT. Interpersonal therapy pertains to how one relates to others, helping him to go for positive changes in his personal relationships with others. CBT is more focused on making positive changes in one's behaviors and thoughts.

Mental health specialists who can efficiently give talk therapy are psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals such as trained counselors, social workers, or therapists. It is important to choose a therapist that one feels a rapport with as talk therapy will be more successful if the patient and therapist have a good relationship. This type of holistic approach in treating depression may take from weeks to years.

Depression Treatment Plan
Any treatment course for depression will only be successful if a person gives it enough time to work. The process may take several weeks or even longer, but an improvement is most likely to happen if the patient sticks with the treatment plan. Getting over depression takes a bit of work. It is best to persevere.

If you need to go to a rehab to treat your depression, visit Depression Treatment in Mauritius.


 By Thomas M Johanson


Article Source: A Holistic Treatment for Depression