Archive for the ‘Depression’ Category
photo credit: markhillary
“Fight Truth Decay.” I saw that slogan on a sign along the road on my way home from my brother-in-law’s house. I had to take a picture of it because it meant something to me–albeit something different than it did to the church that posted it on a billboard.
Here’s what it means to me: Our truth is really our spiritual existence, and by spiritual existence, I’m talking about something that goes way beyond our belief systems. Beliefs are what we learn. Core truth is what is and what will always be.
For more on what I’m talking about, check out an article on self-love written by Hara Estroff Marano in Psychology Today.
In it, Marano gets to the heart of what core truth is by nicely summing up what self-love is:
Core Truth 1: Honor who you are. Remember you are meant to be in this world, both having this physical human experience as well as existing as a spiritual being of pure love, peace, and perfection. Honor that core person, for it is the truth of who you really are.
Core Truth 2: As a human, you are capable of creating joy, happiness, pain, sadness and suffering in your life. Choose what you will create. You have the power to control your own destiny through this self-will.
Core Truth 3: You are always evolving and becoming a better and more refined human being. This is your purpose in life.
Ultimately, to understand this core truth, it’s important not to confuse why you are here, your role for existing. As Marano says, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
photo credit: Smabs Sputzer
The media these days has sure created a whole lot of hype about “mindset?” So I’m officially giving my two cents of what mindset development is, and how you can actually change it. You can because there really is a psychology to mindset. Wouldn’t you like to know what it is?
Just do a search in your favorite Web browser for the word “Mindset.” You’ll get thousands of searches, but you’ll also be hard-pressed to find one source online that understands how mindset works. Some might, sure. But with so many gurus and experts claiming to be able to help you evolve just by changing one (not so) teeny thing, wouldn’t it be useful to know the truth? The truth about the psychology BEHIND the curtain of mindset?
I think so too! So here it is. >> More..
Ask a middle school student today if they remember life without the Internet and they will answer, “No.†They have no recollection of using an encyclopedia or card catalogue as their main source of information. In fact, they probably can’t even fathom searching the newspaper for movie times or having to listen to the radio to find out when a favourite band is coming to town. To them, life without the Internet is a foreign concept.
This is how I think most of us are when it comes to illnesses. Whether they are physical (strep throat, headaches) or mental (depression, anxiety),most of us are incapable of considering the variety of treatment options possible. It has become the norm for us to do the same thing anytime something is “wrong†with us: we see a doctor, take medicine/get a shot/get an X-ray/etc., and wait for everything to get better.
Oftentimes we follow this same pattern when it comes to the more illusive psychological aliments with the only possible divergence from our usual routine being that we possibly throw in some psychotherapy or a self-help book.
I’m not saying anything is wrong with this formula. When I realize that strep throat is settling in yet again, I run to the first urgent care clinic I can for an antibiotic script. Even so, it’s good to challenge your standard operating procedures every now and then and at least consider other options. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of alternative therapies available even for something such as depression. Below are snapshots of these treatments methods.
- Herbal Remedies. Herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat illnesses. Some of the common herbs used to treat depression include: St. John’s Wort, Ginko Biloba, Lavendar, Valerian Root, Ginseng, Amino Acid Supplements, and 5-HTP.
- Vitamin and Mineral Therapy. Many people take vitamins and minerals but this alternative treatment may involve taking a wider variety of vitamins/mineral as well as taking different doses than the recommended amount shown on the bottle.
- Acupuncture. This is an ancient Chinese method of healing that prevents and cures specific disease and conditions. The technique involves sticking very fine, solid needles into specific points on the body which prompts the body to produce chemicals that decrease or eliminate painful sensations. The theory is that it stimulates the body’s ability to resist or overcome illnesses and conditions by correcting imbalances.
- Exercise. If you read last week’s article you know why exercise is a “super activity.†Consistent and adequate exercise can do wonders for the body; not just on the superficial level (size 6 jeans) but in other, less visible ways. Exercise reduces stress and strengthens neurons; both good things when treating depression.
- Reflexology. Reflexologists, like many other natural health practitioners, believe that the body has the capacity to heal itself. In this therapy, nerves related to various parts of the body are manipulated by applying pressure to specific points on the hands and feet. Through this it is thought that the healing process is stimulated.
- Art Therapy. Art therapy is exactly what it sounds like: therapy using art. Art therapy uses a combination of therapeutic techniques along with various art techniques and materials (clay, paints, and chalks) to help people express and heal themselves.
- Biofeedback/Neurofeedback. This treatment relies on sensitive computers that are able to “read†a person’s various internal states. Patients who receive this treatment receive information on how their body responds to certain thoughts, activities, and beliefs. Using this information, patients are then taught how to manage their body reactions. For example, let’s say that, through biofeedback, I learned that my heart starts racing and my mind becomes overly active when I encounter dogs. My therapist would teach me how to control my body reactions so that when I encounter dogs I am better able to handle it.
- Emotional Freedom Therapy/EFT. This relatively new therapy is based on the fact that our bodies are composed of energy. Disruptions in our energy fields cause problems and, according to EFT, healing can occur by tapping on established energy meridians while at the same time thinking of negative emotions.
© 2008 I Choose Change
See I Choose Change’s Article Page.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? No problem, as long as you include the following blurb at the conclusion of the article: I Choose Change is helping you live according to your True Self. If you’re interested in having a more fulfilled, balanced, and purposeful personal and professional life, get your FREE information now at http://www.ichoosechange.com.
It’s not unusual to hear about the dangers related to situations such as illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, addition to pornography, and teenage sex. All of these situations can lead to unhealthy lifestyles or consequences that take a toil on physical and mental health. Today, I want to point out something that doesn’t ever seem to be included in the “dangerous†category even though it can cause just as many problems as these other issues can. Surprisingly, what I’m talking about, is boredom.
Now I know that the title of this article is “An Unacknowledged Danger.†This is somewhat misleading although I stick by my decision to use these words. You see, there is quite a bit of research on boredom – what it actually is, what causes it, and how it affects our bodies. But even though this research is there, you don’t hear much about boredom, and certainly not in relation to how it can hurt us. So in many ways this “mood†and what it causes is unacknowledged. Not anymore.
I’m sure you know people (or are one of those people) who learned, as a child, never to say, “I’m bored…there’s nothing to do.†That’s because your mom or grandmother or aunt instantly placed a broom in your hand or gave you some other chore to keep you busy.
Although this usually stopped the complaints, it turns out that there is a better solution. I’ll get to that in a second. But first, let’s discuss the bad effects of boredom. You see, people who are bored are at greater risk of developing anxiety, depression, and drug or alcohol addiction; displays of anger, aggressive behaviour and lack of interpersonal skills; and poor performance at work and school. (Stephen Vodanovich, University of West Florida) Simple boredom can cause all of this?! Shocking? Read on…
Many people, especially men, attribute boredom to a lack of excitement in their environment. But this is actually part of the problem, not the cause of boredom. Our brains are constantly searching for external stimuli that excites us, that is new to us. Yet when our brains get that, they just want more and more. It turns out they’re quite greedy in that respect. This need for more and more external stimuli causes a type of “chaos†in the brain, a longing for external excitement that drives people towards destructive behaviour. So this begs the question, if more novelty doesn’t quench boredom, what does?
Oddly enough, it turns out that the solution to this uneasy state isn’t more activity; it’s less. A current study from Scientific American Mind found that low levels of distraction may cause people to label an activity as boring. On the other hand, participants who didn’t have any distractions found more enjoyment in the exact same activity.
This supports a few theories regarding attention and boredom. One theory says that boredom is essentially the struggle to maintain attention…in essence, “to go within.†Another theory touted by Waterloo Psychologist, Al Cheyne, says that, “Attention is the common link between lack of meaning, depression, and boredom.†So in other words, boredom may be caused in part by a lack of attention. Another way to say this is that distraction may cause boredom.
So here’s the way I look at it. If being in a state of boredom brings about negative consequences to our body, mind, and possibly our futures then we need to find ways to stay away from it. And if attention is the solution to boredom, we need to increase our capacity and ability to pay attention. Although I know this sounds like an uncomplicated answer to a complicated issue, it really makes perfect sense. Attention is linked with the ancient practices of yoga and meditation which are considered by many to be as necessary as eating food or drinking water for vitality and health. And attention is linked with many spiritual practices such as prayer, fasting, and sacred ceremonies; things that cause peace and contentment for many.
Since this “skill†is so valuable, let’s try and nurture it so that we can grow in our ability to pay attention. Here are my suggestions to do just that:
- Train yourself to see the world differently. Look at things through a new lens of appreciation and gratitude. Doing this tends to bring your attention to the present.
- Become mindful. Do this by becoming aware of what is taking place inside and outside of you. Notice these things but don’t engage in making judgements or forming opinions. Just become aware of what is happening.
- Learn from boredom. When you feel bored, stop and accept the experience. When you become aware that you are feeling that, it means that you are paying attention to the actual moment. The more you do this, the less boredom you should experience.
So, the next time you are bored, it turns out that you don’t need to find something to do. Instead, just be. Just be aware of the moment and sit with it. As crazy as it sounds, doing nothing may stop complaints such as:
“There’s nothing to do; I’m bored!â€
© 2008 I Choose Change
See I Choose Change’s Article Page.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? No problem, as long as you include the following blurb at the conclusion of the article: I Choose Change is helping you live according to your True Self. If you’re interested in having a more fulfilled, balanced, and purposeful personal and professional life, get your FREE information now at http://www.ichoosechange.com.
