SIBO TESTING AT LECZENIEJELIT.PL – DIAGNOSE AND TREAT INTESTINAL DISORDERS

At LeczenieJelit.pl, we specialize in diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal disorders, including Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Our comprehensive approach to digestive health ensures that patients receive accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. One of our core services is SIBO testing, which plays a crucial role in identifying the underlying causes of digestive symptoms and guiding appropriate therapies.

WHAT IS SIBO?

SIBO, or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, is a condition where an excessive amount of bacteria grows in the small intestine. While the gut naturally contains bacteria, an overgrowth in the small intestine can disrupt normal digestion and nutrient absorption, leading to various symptoms, such as:

• Bloating

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Nausea

• Unexplained weight loss

If left untreated, SIBO can contribute to nutrient deficiencies, malabsorption, and even more serious gastrointestinal issues. Identifying and treating SIBO early is essential for maintaining digestive health and overall well-being.

Why is SIBO Testing Important?

Accurate SIBO diagnosis is key to developing an effective treatment plan. Many gastrointestinal symptoms can mimic those of other conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or food intolerances, making it difficult to determine the exact cause without specialized testing. SIBO testing helps confirm the presence of bacterial overgrowth and guides targeted therapies to alleviate symptoms and restore gut health.

SIBO TESTING AT LECZENIEJELIT.PL

1. State-of-the-Art Diagnostic Tests

At LeczenieJelit.pl, we use advanced breath tests to diagnose SIBO. Our testing procedure involves measuring the levels of hydrogen and methane in the breath after consuming a specific sugar solution (usually lactulose or glucose). These gases are produced by bacteria in the small intestine, and elevated levels indicate the presence of bacterial overgrowth.

2. Safe and Non-Invasive Procedure

The SIBO breath test offered at LeczenieJelit.pl is a non-invasive, simple, and painless procedure. Patients are required to follow a pre-test diet and fasting guidelines to ensure the accuracy of the results. During the test, breath samples are collected at regular intervals, allowing us to detect any abnormal levels of gases that may suggest SIBO.

3. Comprehensive Analysis and Accurate Results

Our team of specialists at LeczenieJelit.pl performs a detailed analysis of the breath test results. We provide accurate diagnoses based on the latest clinical guidelines, ensuring that patients receive a clear understanding of their condition and the appropriate recommendations for treatment.

4. Personalized Treatment Plans

After diagnosing SIBO, our experts design personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Treatment may include:

• Antibiotics or herbal antimicrobials to reduce bacterial overgrowth.

• Probiotics and prebiotics to restore a healthy balance of gut flora.

• Dietary changes such as the low FODMAP diet, helps manage symptoms and prevent recurrence.

At LeczenieJelit.pl, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive care for patients with SIBO and other gastrointestinal disorders. Our holistic approach not only targets overgrowth but also addresses the underlying factors contributing to digestive problems.

Why Choose LeczenieJelit.pl for SIBO Testing?

1. Experienced Specialists

Our clinic is staffed with experienced gastroenterologists, dietitians, and healthcare professionals who are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders. We understand the complexities of SIBO and offer expert guidance throughout the testing and treatment process.

2. Advanced Diagnostic Techniques

We use the latest diagnostic techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the accuracy of our SIBO tests. Our breath test procedure is one of the most reliable methods available for detecting small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

3. Comprehensive Gut Health Solutions

At LeczenieJelit.pl, we go beyond just SIBO testing. Our clinic offers a range of services aimed at improving digestive health, including:

• Helicobacter pylori tests

• Food intolerance tests

• Treatment for IBS and other digestive conditions

• Nutritional counseling and diet therapy

By addressing the root causes of gastrointestinal symptoms, we help patients achieve long-term relief and improved quality of life.

4. Personalized Approach to Care

We understand that every patient is unique, and so are their health needs. Our personalized approach ensures that each patient receives a tailored treatment plan designed to address their specific symptoms and health goals.

What to Expect During a SIBO Test at LeczenieJelit.pl

Step 1: Initial Consultation

Before the SIBO test, you will have an initial consultation with one of our specialists to discuss your symptoms and medical history. This step ensures that the SIBO test is the most appropriate diagnostic procedure for your condition.

Step 2: Preparation Guidelines

You will receive detailed instructions on how to prepare for the SIBO breath test, including dietary restrictions and fasting requirements. Proper preparation is crucial for obtaining accurate results.

Step 3: Performing the Test

The SIBO breath test is performed by drinking a sugar solution (usually lactulose or glucose) and then providing breath samples at regular intervals. The procedure typically takes between 2 to 3 hours, during which our team will guide you through each step.

Step 4: Results and Diagnosis

After the test, our specialists will analyze your breath samples to measure the levels of hydrogen and methane. Based on the findings, we will provide a diagnosis and recommend a personalized treatment plan.

Visit LeczenieJelit.pl today to learn more about our SIBO testing services and schedule an appointment. Let us help you get to the root of your digestive symptoms and find relief through accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

EMPOWERING WOMEN: OVERCOMING DAILY CHALLENGES AND ENHANCING WELL-BEING

Our daily lives are often filled with challenges and stressors. For women, these challenges often multiply as they try to balance professional responsibilities with the demands of home and family. This ongoing balancing act can significantly impact overall well-being and quality of life. However, adopting specific strategies can help women not only overcome these daily challenges but also enhance their overall wellness. Here are some tips for pushing past difficulty and achieving greater well-being courtesy of this article hosted by fitforjoy.org.

Embracing Adversity as an Opportunity for Growth

Life’s adversities and challenges should not always be seen as obstacles. A different perspective can transform them into opportunities for personal and professional growth. This shift in mindset involves fostering resilience and adaptability, allowing women to rise above the adversities they face. This reframing can significantly impact how women perceive and manage difficult situations, changing them from hurdles to stepping stones toward success.

Start a Business

Starting an LLC can be a powerful step toward empowerment for women. Owning a business provides economic independence, allowing women to have control over their financial future. It enables them to bring their unique ideas and perspectives to the market, fostering innovation and contributing to economic diversity. As business owners, women can create inclusive work environments and promote gender equality in the workplace. Running an LLC can develop leadership skills and confidence, inspiring other women to break barriers and pursue entrepreneurship.

Market Your New Business

If you do decide to start your own business, you'll need a great marketing strategy. For startups operating on a tight budget, navigating cost-effective approaches is key, and leveraging online tools can be a game-changer. Rather than investing in pricey logo design services, creating a useful text logo is easy if you utilize an online logo maker that allows you to craft a captivating and distinctive image. With diverse styles, icons, and customizable text options, these platforms offer a range of designs, empowering you to tailor the logo to your brand identity. By utilizing these accessible resources, you can create a visually appealing logo that resonates with your audience without straining your startup's finances, setting the stage for a strong brand presence in the market.

Seeking Professional Mentorship

The professional world can be a complex maze to navigate. The presence of a mentor can serve as a guiding light, offering support and insights that smooth out the journey. A mentor can offer advice from their own experiences, provide constructive criticism, and share their professional network, enabling women to overcome workplace challenges and boost their careers. Importantly, a good mentorship relationship can result in a mutual exchange of ideas and growth, benefiting both parties involved.

Finding Calm Through Nature-Based Stress Relief

Incorporating plants into your routine can significantly reduce stress and improve mood. Gardening offers a unique blend of physical activity, mental engagement, and a connection to nature. Planting flowers, vegetables, or herbs provides a sense of accomplishment and serves as a peaceful retreat from daily stresses. The act of nurturing plants and watching them grow can instill a sense of purpose and mindfulness, and having the right tools can enhance the experience. Houseplants, on the other hand, contribute to a healthier living environment by improving air quality and absorbing toxins. Caring for houseplants encourages mindfulness and promotes a routine, both of which are beneficial for mental health. Studies have shown that interacting with indoor plants can lower physiological and psychological stress, enhancing overall well-being.

Make Your Fitness a Priority

Establishing and sustaining a fitness routine serves as a potent tool for conquering daily challenges and elevating your overall wellness. Engaging in a consistent exercise regimen not only enhances physical health but also fortifies your mental resilience. For example, outdoor activities like hiking, running, or cycling provide a refreshing and invigorating way to stay active while enjoying nature. Home workouts, utilizing online resources or fitness apps, offer the convenience of exercising at your own pace and schedule. Participating in community sports leagues or recreational classes can also be a great way to stay motivated and build a sense of camaraderie. By committing to a routine that suits your lifestyle, you’ll not only build physical strength but also cultivate mental endurance, equipping yourself to better navigate life's hurdles with increased energy, focus, and overall well-being.

Building a Balanced Schedule

Maintaining an equilibrium between professional responsibilities and personal pursuits is essential for comprehensive well-being. Women, in particular, can create a healthy work-life balance by diligently organizing their time, setting realistic objectives, and making sure that both their personal and professional spheres are given equal focus. Including downtime, hobbies, and self-care activities into their routine not only helps to stave off burnout but also fosters an all-encompassing sense of wellness.

Managing Screen Time

As we navigate through an ever-evolving digital landscape, interaction with screens has become a substantial component of our daily routines. Nevertheless, overindulgence in screen time can have detrimental effects on both our physical and mental well-being. Women can counter these harmful effects and promote a more balanced lifestyle by consciously cutting down on screen exposure and placing greater emphasis on participative, non-digital activities. Furthermore, this deliberate shift toward offline engagement can also enhance interpersonal relationships and improve overall quality of life.

Incorporating Regular Breaks

Taking consistent breaks is crucial for sustaining efficiency and holistic health. Integrating brief pauses into the daily grind, be it for a brisk stroll, a moment of mindfulness, or simply savoring a cup of tea, can serve to refresh both mind and body, thereby boosting productivity and mitigating stress. Moreover, these regular intervals of respite can foster a better work-life balance, contributing to improved job satisfaction and overall happiness.

Fostering a Gratitude Practice

Cultivating a mindset of thankfulness is a helpful strategy for boosting personal wellness. Consistently recognizing and valuing the positive elements in life can strengthen happiness, alleviate stress, and elevate overall health. This habit may include keeping a gratitude diary or participating in daily introspective exercises. Additionally, this practice can also foster a more positive outlook on life, making it easier to navigate through challenges and setbacks.

 

It is essential to remember that challenges are an inherent part of life. However, women can overcome these daily challenges and improve their overall well-being by adopting the right strategies. By committing to a fitness routine, adding some houseplants, working with a mentor, and starting a business, women can enhance their resilience and success. In embracing these strategies, women empower themselves to handle any challenge that comes their way and to live fulfilling, balanced lives.

EMBRACING THE JOURNEY: UNDERSTANDING AGING WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY

Aging is a natural and inevitable part of life, yet it is often accompanied by fears, uncertainties, and societal pressures. However, by embracing the journey of aging with grace and dignity, individuals can cultivate a positive and fulfilling experience that honors their unique journey and contributions. In this article, we explore the concept of aging with grace and dignity, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and strategies for navigating this journey with resilience and purpose.

Shifting Perspectives on Aging

In many cultures, aging is often viewed through a lens of decline and loss, focusing primarily on the changes associated with growing older. However, a shift in perspective is underway, challenging traditional narratives and celebrating the strengths, wisdom, and resilience that come with age. Embracing the journey of aging with grace and dignity involves reframing aging as a time of growth, fulfillment, and continued learning rather than a period of decline and limitations.

Cultivating Self-Acceptance and Self-Compassion

Central to the concept of aging with grace and dignity is the importance of cultivating self-acceptance and self-compassion. As individuals age, they may experience changes in their physical appearance, health, and abilities, which can trigger feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, and inadequacy. By practicing self-compassion and embracing their inherent worth and value, individuals can navigate the challenges of aging with greater resilience and confidence, maintaining a sense of dignity and self-respect.

Building Supportive Networks

Navigating the journey of aging with grace and dignity requires support from family, friends, and the community. Building supportive networks of relationships can provide emotional, practical, and social support that buffers against the challenges of aging and promotes well-being, that might be joining local hobby groups or moving into Aliso Viejo memory care. By fostering connections with others and nurturing meaningful relationships, individuals can cultivate a sense of belonging, connection, and resilience that sustains them through the ups and downs of aging.

Finding Meaning and Purpose

Aging with grace and dignity involves finding meaning and purpose in the later stages of life despite the limitations and challenges that may arise. This may involve exploring new interests, hobbies, and passions, focusing on engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment, and nurturing meaningful connections with loved ones and the community. By embracing opportunities for growth, contribution, and self-expression, individuals can cultivate purpose and vitality that enriches their lives and enhances their well-being.

Maintaining Independence and Autonomy

Preserving independence and autonomy is an essential aspect of aging with grace and dignity, allowing individuals to maintain control and make decisions that align with their values and preferences. This may involve planning for the future, accessing supportive services and resources, and advocating for one's needs and rights. By taking an active role in their own care and decision-making, individuals can retain a sense of agency and empowerment that enhances their quality of life and preserves their dignity.

Conclusion

Aging with grace and dignity is about embracing the journey of life with courage, resilience, and self-compassion. By shifting perspectives, cultivating self-acceptance, finding meaning and purpose, maintaining independence and autonomy, and building supportive networks, individuals can navigate the challenges of aging with grace and dignity, embracing the opportunities for growth, connection, and fulfillment that come with age. Ultimately, aging with grace and dignity is about honoring the richness of life's experiences and embracing the journey with open hearts and minds.

HOW TO MANAGE STRESS AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING DURING PREGNANCY

HOW TO MANAGE STRESS AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING DURING PREGNANCY

 

Pregnancy is a stressful time, especially if it is your first pregnancy or if complications meant that previous pregnancies did not go to full term. To ensure that you look after yourself and your baby, you need to find ways to reduce these stress levels as much as possible and promote a sense of well-being.

Of course, with everything else that is going on, this might seem easier said than done, but there are some key areas you can look at to help achieve this. These combine both emotional and practical elements, which could give you a head start that can keep stress at bay.

Here is a guide on how to manage stress and promote well-being during pregnancy.

1. Get the appropriate exercise, rest, and relaxation

Although exercise may have been a key part of keeping stress to a minimum prior to pregnancy, now you should only undertake exercise that your doctor has approved. This might include walking or some specialist exercises such as prenatal yoga.

You will also need to rest more and do what you can to get enough sleep. The amount of sleep that you will need is likely to increase, so you might need to augment any you get at night with daytime naps if possible. Part of this new regime will include finding comfortable sleeping positions and support as your body changes shape.

If you haven’t got any relaxation techniques that you have previously used, then you might want to explore meditation as a first port of call. There are a huge number of resources online to aid you with this, and they also cover subjects such as deep breathing or visualizing a calm environment. You might also choose to explore more physical methods including massage, although again, you will have to seek medical advice as to which type of massage you should have.

2. Find the right balance between practicality and positivity

While you might be of the opinion that the best way to avoid stress is to only expose yourself to positive news and avoid stressful situations, this might not provide you with the best outcome, as there are always unknowns in any new situation, and educating yourself about those might relieve stress more than ignoring the facts. For instance, understanding the pregnancy process, labor, and delivery might allow you to prepare yourself for the event. As part of this, though, you should also understand possible complications that could occur and where to get support in these instances.

If these complications occur due to medical negligence, then you will need to contact a birth injury attorney to ensure that you have the financial means to get the right people involved as soon as possible. Knowing that you have the support if a problem occurs can give you peace of mind and lower your stress levels as a result.

3. Get support

As well as legal support, you will also need emotional support from friends, family, and your partner if you have one. In addition to this, there are going to be other pregnant women you can communicate with at prenatal groups or in chat rooms and forums online. This gives you access to a wealth of experience and advice that can fill in any gaps left by those closest to you.

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Written by Atil Kum

UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF KRATOM: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE

Kratom is a mysterious herb that has developed a passionate following in recent years due to its ability to relieve chronic pain, anxiety, and other physical or mental ailments. Used traditionally as a stimulant by tribes in Southeast Asia, this unique plant has now made its way around the world, offering people an all-natural option for addressing health concerns that were once only available through conventional medicine.

 

If you've been considering trying Kratom but are still determining how it may benefit you and what strains best suit your needs, look no further. In this comprehensive guide to Kratom, we will not only uncover some of the mysteries behind this ancient remedy; but also explain why it's growing in popularity and explore how different types of Kratom can be used safely and effectively.

 

What Is Kratom and Where Does It Come From

Kratom, known by its scientific name Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical evergreen tree belonging to the coffee family. It can grow up to 82 feet tall and is mainly found in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Kratom has been traditionally used in these countries for medicinal purposes, including relieving pain, reducing anxiety, and as a stimulant.

 

Today, it is gaining popularity as a supplement in the United States and has raised concerns due to its potential for abuse and addiction. Kratom contains alkaloids that interact with the brain's receptors, producing effects similar to opioids and stimulants. Due to its controversial status, many countries have either banned or heavily regulated its use. Buy Kratom Online USA is a reliable option for people looking to source the compound from a trusted provider.

 

Understanding the Different Types of Kratom

Kratom is available in various strains, each with its own unique set of effects. Let's look at the most common types of Kratom on the market. The most commonly used strain of Kratom is Red vein kratom, which is known for its analgesic properties and can help with stress and fatigue. Additionally, red vein kratom can help with sleep and relaxation.

 

White vein kratom is known for its energizing effects and is commonly used to increase focus and alertness. Green vein kratom is known for its balanced effects, providing an energy boost and relief from minor pain or stress. Lastly, yellow vein kratom is a rarer strain that does not have the same intense effects as other strains but can still be beneficial in promoting relaxation and improving mood.

 

Potential Health Benefits of Consuming Kratom

Kratom has been used for centuries as a natural remedy to help with various physical and mental ailments. It is known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and mood-boosting properties. Research suggests that Kratom can effectively relieve chronic pain from conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, or injury due to its ability to bind to opioid receptors in the brain responsible for blocking pain signals.

 

Additionally, it may also reduce anxiety and stress and improve sleep quality. Though further research is needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of consuming Kratom regularly, growing evidence suggests that it could be an effective treatment for specific medical conditions.

 

How to Use Kratom in Your Daily Life

Kratom is available in various forms, including capsules, powder, and leaf. The method of consumption will depend on your desired effects and personal preferences.

 

For those looking for an energy boost, consuming Kratom in a tea or capsule form can be beneficial. For those seeking relief from minor aches or pains, consuming Kratom in powder form may be more suitable as the alkaloids are absorbed faster. Kratom can also be smoked, but this is not recommended as it increases the risk of lung irritation and other health problems associated with smoking.

 

It is important to remember that each strain has unique effects, so you should research before deciding which one to use for your needs. Also, start with a small dose and gradually increase as needed to avoid potential side effects such as nausea or dizziness. Please consult your doctor before using Kratom or any other supplement, as it may interact with certain medications or underlying medical conditions.

 

Potential Side Effects of Taking Kratom

Although Kratom has been used traditionally for centuries, there is still a lack of scientific evidence to support its use. Additionally, it can have some potential side effects if taken in high doses or with other substances.

 

Common side effects include nausea, constipation, dizziness, headache, and agitation. Additionally, Kratom may also cause increased heart rate and blood pressure. It is crucial to take Kratom in moderation and consult your doctor if you have any underlying medical conditions or are taking any medications, as it may interact with certain drugs.

 

Ensuring You Get Quality Kratom Products

When purchasing Kratom, it is crucial to ensure that you buy from a reliable source. Look for vendors who provide third-party lab results to confirm the quality and purity of their products. Additionally, look for vendors that offer customer support if you have any questions or concerns about their products.

 

Finally, please read up on Kratom safety and set realistic expectations for its effects before making your purchase. Doing this can help you determine if Kratom suits you and ensure you get the best possible experience.

 

In Conclusion

Kratom is an increasingly popular herbal remedy with a long history of traditional use in Southeast Asia. It has gained traction as a supplement thanks to its potential health benefits ranging from reducing pain to improving mood. Understanding the different types of Kratom, how to consume it, and potential side effects can help ensure you get the best possible experience. Finally, always purchase Kratom from a reliable source with third-party lab results.

Written by Boris Dzhingarov 

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HAVING INDOOR PLANTS

In today’s fast-paced digital world, we can often feel disconnected from nature. However, there is a simple and beautiful way to bring the outdoors in - indoor plants! They do more than just brighten up a room or provide a touch of greenery amidst the urban concrete jungle. Indoor plants have a myriad of health benefits too, some of which you might not even be aware of. 

Here are 15 health benefits of having indoor plants, proving that bringing nature indoors is not just aesthetically pleasing, but beneficial to our health as well.

Improves Air Quality

The first and most well-known health benefit of indoor plants is their ability to improve air quality. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, creating a fresh and healthy environment within your home or office. 

Some plants, like the snake plant and spider plant, even work overtime by filtering harmful toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air. You can easily get these plants from a reliable plant delivery company, and start reaping the benefits of cleaner air.

Reduces Stress And Anxiety

A number of studies have shown that being around plants can significantly lower feelings of stress and anxiety. The calming influence of nature, even in small indoor doses, can have a profound impact on our mental health. This is particularly helpful in office environments where stress levels can run high. A simple potted plant on your desk can act as a natural stress-buster.

Increases Productivity And Concentration

Green is a color often associated with productivity, and there’s some truth behind this. Research has shown that having indoor plants can boost your concentration, productivity, and even your creativity. The sight of plants can stimulate your mind and keep it focused, improving your work or study output.

Helps Improve Sleep

One of the most unexpected yet pleasing benefits of having indoor plants is their role in promoting better sleep. Some plants, like soothing lavender and jasmine, are renowned for their sleep-inducing properties. They achieve this through the release of calming scents that can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels - all of which are key elements in facilitating sound sleep.

Notably, these types of plants produce oxygen primarily at night. While all plants produce oxygen during the day, specific varieties, like the snake plant and orchids, continue this process when the sun goes down. This increase in oxygen level at night can improve the overall air quality in the room, making it an environment conducive to restful sleep.

Boosts Humidity

Indoor plants also naturally increase humidity levels by releasing moisture vapor into the air. This can help in environments where air conditioning or heating can make the air dry, causing discomfort and dry skin. Plants like the Boston fern are excellent at boosting humidity indoors.

Promotes Healing

You might have noticed that hospitals often have indoor plants. This is because certain plants can contribute to faster recovery. The presence of plants in a room has been linked to lower blood pressure, less need for pain medication, and shorter recovery times, especially in post-surgical patients.

Improves Mental Well-Being

Aside from the physical health benefits, having indoor plants can also contribute to your mental well-being. Taking care of plants can give a sense of purpose and act as a form of therapy. Also, the feeling of satisfaction as you see your plants grow and thrive is immeasurable.

Encourages Mindfulness And Relaxation

Tending to your indoor plants can be a form of mindfulness practice. The simple act of watering, pruning, or just observing your plants can keep you anchored in the present moment, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.

Enhances Memory And Concentration

Indoor plants can also have a positive effect on your memory and attention span. Being around nature, even indoors, can help improve memory performance and attention span by 20%, according to a study by the University of Michigan.

Natural Noise Buffer

Indoor plants can serve as natural noise buffers. They can reduce background noise levels by absorbing and reflecting background sounds. This can be particularly useful if you live in a busy city or near a busy street, making your home or office a more serene and tranquil place.

Boosts Immunity

Many indoor plants have antibacterial properties. For instance, the Snake Plant, also known as Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, emits oxygen while also filtering toxins from the air, thereby improving overall air quality. This can help to boost your immune system, keeping you healthier.

Fosters A Positive Outlook

Surrounding yourself with plants can help foster a positive outlook on life. Studies have found that nature can boost our mood and make us feel more optimistic and refreshed. The simple act of nurturing a plant can also give us a sense of achievement and satisfaction, promoting a more positive mental attitude.

Enhances Cognitive Function

Indoor plants can also enhance cognitive function. A study from the Royal College of Agriculture in Cirencester, England, found that students demonstrated 70% greater attentiveness when they were taught in rooms containing plants. This is thought to be due to the plant's ability to control humidity levels and reduce CO2, improving concentration and alertness.

Aids In Faster Recovery From Illness

Exposure to greenery and nature has been shown to aid in recovery from illness and surgery. 

The positive psychological effects of having plants around contribute to a general feeling of well-being, which can help speed up recovery processes. This is why many hospitals and health facilities incorporate plants and green spaces into their decor.

Creates A Healthy And Sustainable Environment

Lastly, keeping indoor plants is a sustainable way to keep your environment healthy. By filtering air and requiring minimal care, they're a great eco-friendly choice. This also offers a chance to educate children about nature, nurturing, and sustainability.

In Conclusion

The simple act of adding indoor plants to your home or workspace can have profound effects on your physical and mental well-being. They are not only a joy to look at but also hard-working, silently improving our health in numerous ways. With a multitude of benefits and endless varieties to choose from, there’s a perfect plant for everyone. Start your journey towards a healthier, greener lifestyle today by adding some indoor plants to your surroundings. You will not only have a more beautiful living space but also a healthier environment to thrive in.

Written by Kyla Stewart

5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP QUALITY

Sleep quality determines how satisfying your sleep is. Good sleep quality is characterized by falling asleep immediately after you get to bed (within 30 or fewer minutes), sleeping through the night and not waking up more than once a night, having the ability to sleep for hours advocated for your age group, falling back asleep in 20 minutes in case you wake up, and feeling rested, energized, and restored after getting up in the morning.

Poor sleep hygiene, anxiety and stress, chronic health issues, undiagnosed sleep disorders, and sleep apnea may contribute to your low sleep quality. Finding methods to improve it can help boost overall health. This post discusses five ways to improve your sleep quality.

1.   Use Delta-8

Based on why you're unable to sleep, delta-8 products can help you sleep. Its calming effects help reduce the anxiety and stress that causes sleepless nights, resulting in deep, revitalizing sleep. Delta-8 activates the brain neurotransmitters responsible for promoting consistent sleep patterns. If you suffer from common sleep disorders like insomnia, Delta-8 THC products can help you fall asleep sooner and boost overall sleep quality. They can also help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and lower anxiety, which may cause sleepless nights.

When using delta-8 for sleep, take it 30 minutes to one hour before bedtime and leverage the best consumption option based on your preference and needs. You can also add delta-8 to other substances or products that promote sleep to facilitate sleep and relaxation.

2.   Create a sleep schedule and follow it consistently

Following a sleep routine consistently enables you to get enough quality sleep, making you feel refreshed after waking up. This helps maintain a healthy weight and reduces the possibility of developing chronic health conditions. When you actively cultivate a healthy sleep schedule, consistently getting the quality sleep you require becomes easier. A good sleep schedule should include ideal bedtime and wake-up times. To maximize your sleep routine, remain consistent daily, and give yourself around seven to nine sleep hours.

3.   Be careful with daytime napping

Napping helps one relax, reduce fatigue, boost mood, increase concentration, and improve performance. However, napping at the wrong time or for extended periods can negatively impact your sleep quality. If possible, avoid daytime napping. However, if you must nap, keep it short and sleep in early afternoons to prevent interference with your nighttime sleep. Make your napping environment restful by ensuring that it's dark and quiet, has few distractions, and the temperature is comfortable.

4.   Exercise regularly

Regular workouts are an excellent way to boost your sleep health. Exercising reduces stress, develops a complete sleep-wake cycle, relieves sleep disorder symptoms, makes you fall asleep faster, and enhances sleep quality. Working out helps you sleep better by releasing endorphins to ease and prevent sleep issues, reducing daytime sleepiness, and improving slow-wave sleep.

5.   Focus on what you eat or drink

Avoid over-eating before bedtime or sleeping hungry to prevent sleep loss. Don't take large or heavy meals a few hours before bed because it may cause discomfort, keeping you awake longer. Avoid caffeine or nicotine close to bedtime as their stimulating effects take time to wear off, which can interfere with your sleep.

Endnote

Quality sleep promotes overall health and well-being. Applying these tips can help improve your sleep quality.

 

 

Written by: Patricia Lee 

HOW CAN WOMEN FEEL INNER PEACE BY PRACTICING HEALING AND YOGA

Yoga is a group of mental, spiritual, and physical practices that promote physical and psychological well-being. As practiced in the United States, yoga emphasizes meditation (dyana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and physical postures (asanas).

Regular healing and yoga practice bring about physical benefits such as increased flexibility, improved respiration, and increased muscle strength, and psychological benefits such as reduced stress, improved sleep, and relief from depression and anxiety. But that is not all; yoga also helps individuals feel inner peace a. Many women find that with these benefits also comes the unexpected benefit of improved sexual health. 

Below, we discuss how practicing healing and yoga can help women feel inner peace and improve their sexual health. 

How Practicing Healing and Yoga Improves Women’s Sexual Health

If your time in bed with your significant other is a little lackluster, practicing healing and yoga may be what you need to breathe new life into your sex life. Here is how healing and yoga help improve women’s sexual health.

Reduce Stress and Fatigue

Feeling stressed and tired can put you “out of the mood” like nothing else can. Practicing healing and yoga reduces stress and, like other forms of exercise, gives you more energy.

Be in the Present

Healing through a Yoga practice can help improve a women’s sexual health by keeping you mindful. Mindfulness keeps you in the present. You are more fully engaged in sexual activity when your mind is present, obviously not thinking about the kids, the laundry, and the world.  This is not always easy to achieve. If your thoughts do drift to other things during sex, yoga can teach you techniques to help keep you present.

Improve Your Body Image

Feeling good about and being comfortable in your body is one of the main contributors to healthy sex life. 

When you practice healing and yoga, you familiarize yourself with your body on an intimate level. At the same time, you develop strength and muscle tone, so you will look better and feel better about yourself.

Increase Your Body Awareness

Yoga poses such as the child’s pose, cat pose, and happy baby require you to move your body in specific ways and teach you how to move certain parts of your body while others remain still. With time, you become more in tune with your body.

Increase Your Control, Sensitivity, and Flexibility

Most yoga poses can increase your flexibility, especially yoga poses like the happy baby.  The Happy Baby pose is an excellent beginner pose. This pose can stretch the inner thighs, hamstrings, and groin.  It can also release the tightness in the hips and back. These poses can help you gain more motion and, improve blood flow and circulation through the pelvis. Increased blood flow is so important to pelvic health.

Let me say this another way…

Increased blood flow to the pelvic region may help reduce sexual pain.

Some common problems that Women may experience as sexual dysfunctions include

●      Pain during intercourse;

●      A lack of desire for sex;

A Healing and yoga practice may significantly improve your arousal level and thus your level of lubrication.  Incorporating healing and yoga into your daily routine also increase your desire for sex as you might feel more energized, and feel better about your body. 

May Relieve Sexual Difficulties

Practicing more advanced specific yoga poses like the moola bandha may help relieve sexual difficulties in women and thus may improve a  women’s sexual health. Moola bandha can be likened to Kegel exercises, which can help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor.

Actually, many sex therapy centers recommend the moola bandha pose to help women become more self-aware, thus improving sexual desire and sexual experience.  

— How Practicing Healing and Yoga Helps Women Feel Inner Peace 

If you are looking to find inner peace, here is how practicing healing and yoga can help you:

Helps Relieve Daily Stress

A Healing and Yoga practice teaches you to pause, be honest with your body and yourself, and live in the moment. Once you start practicing healing and yoga, you do not stop encountering stressful situations, but your perception of stress changes completely. 

You become more aware of how you react to stressful situations, and you begin to accept things as they are. The inner peace that healing and yoga bring helps rid the exhaustion, chaos, and frustration that commonly flood the mind. 

Ridding the mind and body of stress will help you achieve inner peace and prevent you from spreading negativity to those around you.

Heightens Intuition

Yoga allows you to find answers to daily problems from within. Not only does this enhance the development of internal intuition, but it also helps you make decisions that unite your mind and heart. 

In modern society, our voices and opinions can be drowned out by others’ voices and opinions. By practicing healing and yoga, you can achieve heightened intuition that can help you make decisions that are reflective of who you are, helping you achieve inner peace. 

Enhances Circulation

The circulatory system is one of the most important body systems, as it helps keep your heart and blood vessels strong. Healing and yoga stretch your muscles and get your blood flowing to all parts of the body. 

The more you practice healing and yoga, the more you will be able to hold poses longer (a sign of improved circulation) and feel more at peace when doing the different poses. 

Provides Discipline

Most people have a negative perception of the word “discipline” and associate it with a type of punishment. Healing and yoga give the word “discipline” a new meaning. 

Practicing healing and yoga naturally teaches you about commitment and enables a sort of discipline. You get a newfound will to improve on the progress you made during practice, which can only be achieved through discipline. 

Discipline in healing and yoga is not forced. Instead, discipline is something that is cultivated with practice and trickles into other areas of your life, helping you become well-rounded. As a well-rounded individual, you will make better decisions that will give you inner peace. 

Regulates Breathing and Attention

Healing and yoga regulate breathing and attention, lowers anxiety and stress, and regulate parasympathetic nervous activity by activating the part of the nervous system that tells your body to pause, relax, and rest. 

These effects are associated with improvements in breathing and attention, and when you can breathe better and give all your attention to the tasks you want to complete, you are more likely to feel inner peace since your mind will be in a relaxed state. 

Healing and yoga are practices that can be traced back to 1,500 B.C. Since then, it has been used to help people with different types of mental conditions such as depression and physical conditions such as arthritis. 

But that is not all. Healing and yoga also improve women’s sexual health by countering stress and fatigue, improving body image, and heightening body awareness.

Adopt Regular Healing and Yoga Practices for a Better Life

If you are looking to feel inner peace, you can achieve this goal through regular healing and yoga practice. At the same time, if you are looking to breathe new life into your sex life, yoga may also be helpful.

Written by Jane Silverstein. Jane is the owner of Soul Source Therapeutic Devices located in Los Angeles. She is committed to women’s health issues and to helping women worldwide regain and/ or maintain their sexual health. She is passionate about helping others and has always been involved in a multitude of charitable causes.

Written by Jane Silverstein. Jane is the owner of Soul Source Therapeutic Devices located in Los Angeles. She is committed to women’s health issues and to helping women worldwide regain and/ or maintain their sexual health. She is passionate about helping others and has always been involved in a multitude of charitable causes.

BREATHING BETTER — LIVING HEALTHIER

A NOTE OF APPRECIATION!

I recently had Darren Lopez on my podcast show. He is a wonderful human being who deeply cares about helping others live their best lives.

In that interview, Darren introduced me to a nasal spray that made my husband’s life much healthier! He has been dealing with allergies for years. The first time my husband used the nasal spray he felt incredible relief and breathing became instantly easier for him! In addition to breathing better anywhere he goes, this amazing nasal spray is also helping him sleep deeper! Thank you so much, Darren!!!

— WHAT CAN BE-ONGUARD NOSE SPRAY DO?

Just like washing our hands, washing out our nose and upper airways often with Be-OnGuard Nose Spray can be vital at getting the upper airway to function at the highest level. I know from firsthand experience that keeping these passages clean has many benefits.

— UNDERSTANDING THE NOSE AND WHY YOU NEED TO KEEP THE NOSE CLEAN WITH BE-ONGUARD NASAL SPRAY

The nose and upper airway are an amazing part of your body. They are the first filter your body uses to clean the air you breathe. The nose is so good at cleaning the air that it will pick up allergens and pathogens by catching them in the mucous. This helps to protect our bodies from becoming sick from these diseases.

But like all filters, if we don’t clean them out, they will continue to build up with dirt and debris. What happens to our car’s engine when the air filter fills up with dirt and debris? It doesn’t run as well because it can’t get enough clean air. With our cars, we can just change out the air filter. We can’t do that with our nasal airways.

Would you let your car run on a dirty air filter? Of Course Not, you Replace it. You can naturally help your body function better by keeping your nose filter clean.

— NATURAL REMEDY

Be-OnGuard Nose Spray is a combination of patented mineral oxides that harnes the power of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide to naturally battle viruses, bacteria, nasal dryness, inflammation and existing viral and bacteria load. It is safe to use daily and multiple times a day.  There is no age limit. 

— HOW TO USE BE-ONGUARD NASAL SPRAY FOR BEST RESULTS?

First thing in the morning, insert the Nasal Spray tip into each nostril and fully pull back the trigger once or twice.  Try to avoid blowing your nose for 5 to 10 minutes after you use it.  Repeat as needed through the day.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPENDING TIME IN NATURE DURING ADDICTION RECOVERY

The natural environment has a pure and healing quality to it. 

Just imagine you are hiking across the mountains on a cool October morning. 

You are sitting on the beach, watching the waves pound the sand, or just looking up at the starry night sky. 

These visuals elicit strong emotions in us.

The theory behind nature therapy for depression and drug addiction is that spending time outside can help you recover more quickly. So if you're trying to overcome a drug or alcohol addiction, nature could be the perfect remedy.

Ascendant, a popular New York rehabilitation center, states the benefits of spending time in nature during addiction recovery, which is why they have included nature therapy in their treatment approach.

Why Should You Spend Time In Nature During Addiction Recovery?

Spending time in nature to recover from drug addiction can have great benefits and help you focus on healthy living and sobriety. Once you plan some activities outside, you can identify how they help you stay sober during addiction recovery:

1: Strengthens Immune System

Nature aids in strengthening our immune systems, which might be impaired as a result of addiction.

Going outside will provide your body with Vitamin D, essential for your immunity. People who don't receive enough vitamin D are more likely to get sick, develop diabetes, develop atrophic arthritis, and develop heart disease.

A person's immune system is also vulnerable to the same risks if they spend all of their time indoors. 

The body cannot create a new form of reaction without experiencing the outside world and meeting new people. As a result, spending time outside and in nature will significantly aid in the development of your immunity during your addiction recovery.

2: Improves Sleep

It is prevalent for people in recovery from addiction to lose sleep.

However, because you are burning up your energy, indulging in outdoor activities in nature that make your heart pulse faster can help with sleeplessness. As a result, you're more likely to feel tired and sleepy

A good night's sleep is also essential for keeping a healthy lifestyle. 

Unfortunately, almost everyone has fallen victim to a faulty sleeping system at some point in their lives. 

Spending too much time indoors, in front of artificial light from TVs and computer screens might disrupt your sleeping cycles. The simplest solution is to spend more time outside. Going outside, especially in the early morning sunshine, can help you find your natural daily rhythm.

3: Manages Anxiety And Stress

Nature assists us in coping with stress and worry. Stress is processed differently in the body when you are surrounded by nature, and it becomes more bearable. 

Even the scenery outside your window can help you calm your mind because seeing green instead of a screen is always a good idea to reduce stress and manage anxiety. 

Nature can help us relax and think more creatively, just as it can help us relax and think more creatively. 

Take your diary outside and write poetry while relaxing in nature if you enjoy reading and writing. Another advantage of the outdoors in addiction therapy is mental serenity and new coping skills.

4: Improves Focus

Staying outside and being surrounded by vegetation will also help you concentrate. 

Even looking at greenery for 40 seconds, whether in an urban or natural setting, can boost our focus, which is beneficial for addiction treatment.

You can also employ mindfulness to help you focus on the sights, sounds, and smells while also generating sentiments and excitement. Additionally, because spending time outside refreshes one's mind, it can increase one's function and problem-solving abilities.

Hence, when you are in addiction recovery, you must focus on something, and spending time in nature can help you do that.

5: Encourages Exercise

We will be more likely to exercise if we stay outside. Nature gives us the freedom to move, walk, run around, or at the very least take a stroll and enjoy the landscape. 

Physical activities like exercising outside can also help you get in better shape, allowing you to feel stronger, more robust, and more confident.

We can also work out outside with individuals we enjoy. 

Loneliness can result from spending time alone at home. Instead, surround yourself with people, share your thoughts and ideas, and enjoy nature while distracting your mind from your addiction. Meeting new people and mingling can sometimes provide the most beneficial healing sessions.
 

Nature Activity Ideas

— Outdoor journaling is one of the most popular activities to do in nature. When you come out of rehab, you must have a lot of emotions piled up inside you, and if you start writing them in your journal, you will feel a lot better  

— Gardening is also one of the best activities to do outside after addiction recovery. When you dig the soil, plant the seeds, water, and take care of the plants, you release the piled-up energy in a positive manner.  

—Going for a hike is also a good way to spend time in nature, and it is one of the best exercises to do outside. So instead of taking a stroll around the block, head to the forest or mountains, and when you reach the top, you will feel a lot better.

—Getting creative with your artistic nature is another good suggestion to spend your day outside. You can sit in your backyard and draw the scenery you see in front of you. You can also let mother nature inspire you to write poems or song lyrics. 

—Exercising in nature is indeed a good activity to adopt post-recovery. So instead of hitting the gym, do 30 minutes of exercise in nature. It will help you breathe fresh air. You can also go for a jog in the local park because staying in touch with greenery can help you commit to sobriety better.

Go Green!

Once you find out how spending time in nature helps you grow, you can recover from addiction and commit to your sobriety better.

Even if you are not undergoing recovery, spending time in nature is always a good decision.

So, if you want more information on these, reach us in the comment box. We will get back to you with an answer in no time.

WHY OWNING AN ANIMAL MAY BE THE BEST THING FOR YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

Have you ever found yourself hugging or cuddling a pet during a particularly difficult time? If so, you’re not the only one! Most pet owners find their pets’ presence comforting. An article on emotional support by SymptomFind outlines that animals provide a sense of comfort for people with anxiety or depression. And here’s some even better news: animals can help you with your physical health as well!

So, let’s look at how animals can be beneficial for both mental and physical health (as if you needed any more reasons to hug your dog or cat).

How can pets help with my mental health?

Studies on NCBI show that a dogs’ presence can reduce cortisol levels, the hormone that plays a huge role in stress. Petting a purring cat or a smiling pup is an immediate stress reliever. Also, taking time out of your day to tend to your pets can give you a much-needed= break from work, especially if you’re in a WFH situation.

Having a pet means that you’re never truly alone, a sentiment that has proven more important than ever during lockdowns when we find ourselves isolated from loved ones. Pets also help take your mind off negative thoughts associated with isolation and other situations that have arisen during the pandemic. According to studies, older people who walk their dogs on a regular basis experience fewer symptoms of loneliness compared to those who don’t have pets.

Can pets help with my physical health, too?

Of course! The most obvious way is by walking your dog. Not only do you get a few extra steps in during dog walks, but you also get to enjoy nature. In our previous post on ‘Nature’s Sophistication is Omniscient in its Simplicity’ we’re reminded that nature surrounds us and grounds us, making sure we remember to enjoy the here and now. It’s like dogs want to make sure we get our daily dose of nature and exercise every day, even if we grumble while we do it.

It might be hard to imagine how cats help us with our physical health. After all, they laze around all day, poster children for that lazy Sunday when you stay home and vegetate until Monday morning. But did you know that a cat’s purr can lower your blood pressure and calm your nervous system, according to scientific? So the next time you’re feeling a bit frazzled, take time to cuddle up to your purring cat and it will lower your blood pressure in the process. And if you need a quick mood boost, give a toy to a cat. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive: my cats go insane for the measuring cups that come with cough medicine.

Conclusion:

Pets aren’t the easiest to take care of, but they offer both mental and physical health benefits for their owners, so don’t get too angry when your cat wants to sleep directly on your face and purr the whole night. You’re getting smothered with love and health benefits!

 

Written by: Heather Hughes

THE AMAZING BENEFITS OF YOGA

Yoga has long been held as one of the most beloved wellness regimens globally - and for a good reason. Not only is yoga highly regarded for its physical benefits, but also its positive contributions to mental health.

For those with sleep problems, finding the right solution may be challenging, and with so many advantages, it’s understandable to wonder if yoga improves sleep as well.

What is Yoga?

On the surface, yoga may appear to be a trendy workout format, but its origins are much more intricate.

It is a spiritual discipline that focuses on creating a harmonious balance between the mind and body, though it is not associated with a particular religion. According to Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, yoga’s roots date back thousands of years in South Asia, eventually flourishing in India. The word ‘Yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Yug,’ which means ‘to unite.’

The practice of yoga incorporates breathing, concentration, and physical poses. While physical and mental health improvements can result from yoga, experts emphasize that the overarching goal is to connect with the universe.

Does Yoga Help You Sleep Better?

Research has found a link between practicing yoga and better sleep, and there are a variety of likely reasons behind this evidence.

— Yoga and Relaxation

It’s no secret that stress can cause your mind to race, making it that much harder to fall asleep. This sleep deficit will prompt many who cope with stress to seek out relaxation techniques to quiet the mind for sleep.

One of the ways yoga may improve your rest is by helping you relax. Breathing is one of the core components of yoga and is also very calming.

You can practice yoga any time of the day, but health experts suggest choosing either the Hatha or Nidra format for those specifically looking to do this before bed. Hatha focuses on body positions, while Nidra is all about breathing and restorative poses. The experts add that these are better for inducing sleep than Hot Yoga or Vinyasa, which can get the heart pumping, giving you more energy instead of calming you down.

— Improved Mood

Depression and sleep problems are closely connected, with one typically triggering the other. For example, sleep deprivation increases your chances of developing depression, while depression can lead to sleep disorders such as Insomnia.

Yoga may reduce depression symptoms by boosting your mood, which could result in better shuteye.

— Exercise and Sleep

Many folks also rely on yoga as a form of exercise, and according to sleep health experts, physical activity should help you sleep.

Exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety, both of which can prevent you from getting quality rest. Therefore, yoga, which incorporates therapeutic breathing and concentration with the physical activity of poses, packs a one-two punch against stress.

Furthermore, exercise helps promote sleepiness by tiring you out. As mentioned, Vinyasa and Hot Yoga may be too energetic at night, but they’re perfect during the day. By expending more energy, your sleep drive should increase come nighttime.

Experts add that outdoor physical activity could help you sleep since exposure to natural light could help your body’s internal sleep-wake cycle - also known as the circadian rhythm. With summer soon arriving, it may be the ideal time to consider an outdoor yoga class.

— Pain Relief

The discomfort that results from back pain or arthritis can make it challenging to have a restful slumber, but according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, yoga may alleviate both.

Yoga incorporates light stretching which is reported to minimize pain and improve mobility for lower back issues. Furthermore, yoga is recommended as an initial form of treatment for chronic lower back pain.

Yoga is a considerably more gentle form of exercise than other fitness regimens, which is why it could be helpful for arthritis patients. The Arthritis Foundation reports that yoga may increase joint flexibility, reduce joint pain, build strength, improve balance, and lower tension.

— Self-Care

The discipline of yoga empowers people to become more mindful and make healthy choices. Self-care isn’t just about spending a day at the spa but instead taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Not only can be yoga be part of your self-care routine, but it can serve as a reminder to find additional ways to take care of yourself. These might include spending time outdoors, reading a book, meditation, eating well, or cutting back on smoking or drinking. Prioritizing sleep may also be part of your self-care routine, and the good news is that leading a healthy lifestyle should help you rest better since sleep and health are closely intertwined.

 

Written by Jill Zwarensteyn

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PHYSICAL THERAPIST FOR YOUR NEEDS

Physical therapy can help you in more ways than you can imagine, but in order to get the most benefits out of your physical therapy exercises and consultations, you need to make sure that your physical therapist is the right one for your needs.

There are some general guidelines laid down by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for choosing the right physical therapist, and we will be walking you through them below.

First Off, Your Rights

Before discussing other factors, let us first have a quick word about your rights here. Well, you can directly go to a physical therapist without the need of any referral from a physician, as all the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, allow you to do so.

That said, your insurance policy may have a say here, as it may require that you visit a physician first before seeking the help of a physical therapist, or may limit your options to only its preferred physical therapists.

However, if your physician says that you will need to have your physical therapy sessions in their office or a facility that is financially connected to them, then know you don’t need to follow their advice here.

You’re free to choose any physical therapist you want, and the same goes for the facility in which you have your physical therapy sessions.

Choosing the Right Physical Therapist

Performing a simple Google search may help you find quite a few physical therapists serving patients like you in your area. Many of them would also have a “Google Business” page, where you may be able to find reviews of their past customers.

Yelp is another platform that will help you both find the physical therapists in your area as well as understand the experience of their past customers.

While not necessary, you would have a better much chance of finding a good physical therapist if you limit your search to those that are members of the American Physical Therapy Association.

The next step would be to get an idea of the services the physical therapist offers, as many of them specialize in a certain area, like sports, pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health and more.

Another important thing to keep in mind is whether the physical therapist participates with your insurance provider. You would have a much lower financial responsibility to take care of if they do.

Apart from that, certain physical therapists also specialize in particular parts of the body, such as the knee, back, neck and more. So if you’re dealing with any kind of health issues specifically related to a particular part of your body, then you may want to visit a physical therapist that specializes in it.

Similarly, the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) has introduced 8 specialty areas for physical therapists, including neurology, sports, pediatrics, orthopedics and more. So again, you would ideally want to approach the right specialist professional based on your needs. It’s the same way an individual approaches a dietician for specific purposes , like a person who specifically wants to follow a ketogenic diet has to visit a Keto specialist and not a normal dietician.

Written by Dr. John Mullen

TELEMEDICINE IN HEALTHCARE

What Is Telemedicine In Healthcare?

Telemedicine is a novel new way of getting you healthy without having to see the doctor in person. Offering you innovative solutions and twenty-four-hour access to your medical records and results, you have the best opportunity to meet with your doctor and talk about your concerns without stepping outside your house. That offers great benefit to those who suffer from anxiety and fear of getting sick during the pandemic.

Using Technology

Technology is your friend when using telemedicine. By using the app or the patient portal, you can talk to your doctor quickly. You also have access to your complete set of files and full knowledge of what is going on with your health. In addition to that, you have an easier time understanding your lab results, medication, and notes from the doctor.

You also have the chance to speak with your doctor freely through text or call them from your phone. That saves time and frustration because you can call them anytime, no matter what location you find yourself in.  It will work when your parked and waiting for the kids at school, at home, or if you are walking somewhere. The service is around the clock, so you never go without professional help should you need it. When you need instant urgent care telemedicine options, service anytime is what you need.

 

A Virtual Appointment

The way telemedicine works for an appointment is that you call your doctor's office like usual, and then on the day of your appointment, they will call you on your phone when it's time. If you are using video calling, you will be able to see them, and the same is true with Skype.

That option works better for people because they don't have to go to the doctor's office in person. It helps them retain their schedule, and it's more convenient, which is something they appreciate. It also works for people stuck in areas that make it hard to get to the doctor or people who are not well enough to make the trip to the doctor. Those at risk with the pandemic can't leave the house either but still need medical help. This system was put in place with them in mind.

 

Try Telemedicine

It’s easy to have appointments virtually instead of in person. It’s easier on you, your car, and your time. It also helps the doctor help you medically. Insurance isn't a problem; there are no hidden fees; it is the perfect way to see a doctor when you need assistance during this pandemic.

Written by Charles Kitchens

7 REASONS BASEBALL IS GREAT FOR YOUR BODY AND MIND

It has long been known that physical activity is not only good for your body’s health, but for your mental health too. While we all know how important it is to exercise regularly, many of us struggle to find the time or motivation to do so, or wrongly believe that we need to pay for a gym membership in order to stay fit. If you are looking for alternative ways to exercise, here are some reasons why you should consider playing baseball to keep healthy.

1— It is a Social Sport

Compared to going for a run or working out at the gym, baseball is a social activity. Playing a team sport fosters a sense of belonging, something which is important for mental and emotional health, and playing baseball is fun, releasing endorphins and making you happy. Being part of a team and playing baseball regularly also gives you a reason to exercise, as well as support, meaning you are more likely to keep it up.

This is not to say that baseball cannot be practiced alone. There are many products on the market which enable you to practice and perfect your baseball skills. First Pitch is a well respected manufacturer of such items, including pitching machines to help your batting.

2— It Improves Cardiovascular Fitness

The bursts of running associated with playing baseball contribute to cardiovascular health by increasing your heart rate. Batters and outfielders in particular will regularly have to run, which not only keeps your heart healthy by making it work harder, but also increases lung capacity to keep your body provided with enough oxygen to sustain it.

3— It Builds Strength

Baseball provides a good whole-body workout, but is especially good for building strength in the arms, chest and shoulders through throwing and catching, and in the legs through running, and even squatting when playing in the position of catcher.

4— It Helps to Maintain a Healthy Weight

On average, at least 350 calories are burned an hour when playing baseball, although this can vary depending on how much you weigh, and how active you are during the game. Maintaining a healthy weight is important, as many health conditions are associated with being overweight, and it is also easier to stay fit when we are within an optimal weight range.

5— It Benefits Mental Health

Playing baseball is good for your mental health, not only because of the positives associated with physical exercise and team sports, but also because it is a powerful stress relief tool. It provides a healthy outlet for stress, takes your mind off worries, helps focus, and having to make split second decisions while playing keeps your mind sharp.

6— It Improves Coordination

Having good coordination is important to keep your body working optimally, especially as you age. Good coordination, as well as core strength, keeps your body working well, and reduces the risk of accidents. Throwing, catching, and hitting a baseball are great ways of improving hand-eye coordination.

7— It Gets You Outside

Generally, baseball is an outdoor sport, which is another benefit of the game. Being outdoors has multiple benefits, both physical and mental. Exposure to sunlight increases your intake of vitamin D, which is difficult to get from other sources. Fresh air is good for your lungs and immune system, and is known to reduce stress and improve mental cognition.

Team sports such as baseball are a fantastic way to encourage children to keep fit, as it fosters positive feelings – being more about having fun than specifically exercising. Baseball is also something that anyone can get involved in; even if they are not taking part themselves, watching baseball games can be a great way to socialize.

Written by Joniel Suezo

8 TIPS TO KEEP ASTHMA UNDER CONTROL

Asthma can have a big impact on your life. It can cause instances of wheezing or coughing. When this happens, it can be hard for you to get your breath back. At these times, many asthmatics will use a puffer or breathing exercises. At present, though, there is no cure. Because of this, the best option is to try and keep asthma under control. Let’s look at some of the ways that you’ll be able to do this.

1.    Exercise Regularly

One of the best ways to keep your asthma under control is by regularly exercising. This has a few benefits. First, it boosts your immune system. Often getting colds or other diseases can cause breathing difficulties. Exercise will also help to improve the muscles that are associated with breathing.

For some people, exercising can trigger shortness of breath and asthma attacks. To prevent this, you’ll want to make sure that you are warming up and cooling down properly. This will give your body some time to adjust to the changed activity levels. If you ever feel that the exercise is too intense or an asthma attack might be coming on, you should stop. Take some time to get your breathing back under control, then try it again. If these issues continue, you might want to talk to your doctor. They will be able to create a routine that will allow you to exercise safely.

2.    Be Aware Of Your Asthma Triggers

One of the most important pieces of information that you need to know is what triggers your asthma. This will allow you to avoid these things. The most common triggers can include things like dust and smoke. However, you might have things that will be specific to you. If you can’t avoid the trigger, you’ll need to come up with a plan about how to deal with it. For example, you might want to do some breathing exercises.

3.    Monitor Your Mental Health

The interaction between mental and physical health can often be overlooked. But it plays a big role. For asthmatics, panic attacks or periods of high stress can occasionally trigger an attack. The best way to prevent this is by monitoring your mental health. For example, it might be a good idea to take up yoga or meditation. This can help put your mind at ease, putting you in a more positive frame of mind.

4.    Monitor Pollen Levels

For many asthmatics, spring is one of the worst times of the year. Pollen is one of the most common allergens which can trigger a powerful reaction. When you’re outside, you won’t be able to control the amount of pollen in the air. However, you can monitor it and be prepared. Various websites will be able to use sensors to determine the amount of pollen in the air. They can then send this out to you. This will tell you what days you are at the highest risk of having an asthma attack. On those days, you might want to consider limiting the amount of time that you spend outdoors.

5.    Keep Your House Clean

You should be able to control the environment in your home. This will allow you to create a space that has a low risk of triggering an asthmatic reaction. One of the best ways of doing this by keeping your house clean. This will ensure that dust won’t be able to build up. It’s important to vacuum frequently. When picking your vacuum cleaner, you’ll want to get one that has a HEPA filter. This will pick up the smaller dust particles, for a more thorough clean.

6.    Wash Sheets Frequently

You’ll need to make sure that you’re regularly changing your sheets and pillowcase. This is because they might be able to trap dirt. They might also be able to trap in the dust mites and dead skin cells. These allergens have the potential to trigger an attack. It’s recommended that you do this at least once a week.

When picking your pillows, try to get some that you’ll be able to put through the machine. This will make them easier to clean. To keep the mattress clean, you might want to use a mattress protector. This is a thin sheet that goes over the mattress. It should be machine washable. You might also want to vacuum the mattress; this should remove any remaining allergens.

7.    Use A HEPA Air Purifier

One of the best ways of preventing an asthma attack is using a HEPA air purifier. This will suck in the air, cleaning it. The HEPA filtration system will be able to catch even small particles. This system will be able to weed out things like bacteria and mold, keeping you healthy. These air purifiers will be easy to keep clean. In some cases, you’ll need to wash the filter. In other cases, you’ll need to replace it.

One of the best things about a HEPA air purifier is how small they are. This ensures that you’ll be able to have one at home and one in the office. However, for this to happen, you’ll need to know what you’re looking for. This HEPA air purifiers compilation will help you pick a good one.

8.    Use A Humidifier

Cold, dry air can often present a problem for asthmatics. It might irritate the lungs, or cause their throat to become itchier. There are a few ways to deal with this. If you’re planning on going outside, you might want to wrap a scarf around your face. If you’re staying indoors, you’ll be able to use a humidifier to bring a lot of moist air into the house. During the summer months, you might want to use a dehumidifier. This will remove moisture from the air, lowering the chances that mold can grow in your home.

Conclusion

You don’t need to let the fact that you have asthma control your life. You’ll still be able to do all the activities that you like. So, use these tips to keep your asthma under control.

 

By Stacey Collins

BREATH HYGIENE: KEEPING THE MIND AND BODY HEALTHY

Over the past few weeks I’ve seen numerous social media posts counseling people to stay calm and stay clean. In my experience, employing good breath hygiene is the most effective way to both remain grounded and support immune and respiratory health. The breath is our greatest inner resource and with a little breath education, you too can develop the capacity to settle yourself, even when fear is gnawing at your gut!  Initially, breath hygiene may feel unfamiliar or awkward (much like learning to wipe down everything you touch with disinfectant) but the more you work with it, the easier it gets. Here are five valuable tips for how you can use the breath as a powerful BFF to enhance emotional regulation, while simultaneously giving your immune system a boost:

 

1)     Breathe Through Your Nose:  I’m going to actually write that again in all caps to implore you: PLEASE, BREATHE THROUGH YOUR NOSE. The nasal cavity is the miraculous starting point for your immune system. Your nose is designed to protect your lungs from foreign particles, including germs. Within the nasal cavity are tiny turbinates that work hard to filter out substances that are not intended to be ingested. Inside the sinus cavities you have pockets of Nitric Oxide, a potent anti-microbial gas that has been shown to have anti-viral capacities as well. With each nasal inhalation you ensure that the air you are taking into your body has passed through your natural TSA check-point, weeding out potential biological terrorists.

I suggest employing nose-breathing 24/7. For me this means taping my mouth each night before bed. Nose breathing at night supports deeper, more restful sleep. Sleep is an incredibly important factor in sustaining your health. Mouth-breathing is linked to snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia, dental decay, and poor gum-health. Mouth and chest breathing also foster anxiety and panic by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. To employ mouth-tape at night, use hypo-allergenic paper tape, like 3M Micropore or Nexcare Paper Tape.

 

2) Breathe light : Although common lore says that when you feel nervous or upset that you should take a deep (implying BIG ) breath, I’m going to suggest the opposite. Here’s why:

 

Big breathing stimulates your sympathetic nervous system. You tend to take big sighs or gulps of air when you are stressed or physically working-out. When you are relaxed your breath is slow and soft. I routinely ask anxious clients, “How would Buddha Breathe?” Can you imagine Buddha huffing and puffing his way through meditation?  If you invoke your inner-Buddha and settle the breath, you will find that the mind follows and settles in-kind. This is the key to the power behind yoga pranayama practices. When you quiet your breathing, the nervous system resets into relaxation mode. If your internal alarm system isn’t being fired off by hefty rounds of big breathing, your mind will likely cease and desist from agitating stories of impending doom.

 

3) Breathe slow:  It’s not always easy, but the companion to a light breath is a slow, rhythmic breath.

 

Fast breathing correlates with a higher heart rate and the fight or flight response. It tends to give rise to shallow, chest-generated breathing. When you override the urge to breathe rapidly, you exhibit personal agency over your reactivity in the present moment. This is empowering! Regardless of the circumstances happening outside of yourself, you can choose to maintain a slow, light cadence: Inhale 4 seconds, exhale 6 seconds, pause for 2. This keeps your mind from being hi-jacked by fear while reinforcing resilience.

4) Breathe like a Jelly Fish:  Imagine your diaphragm, which sits right in the center of your body expanding and contracting like a beautiful jelly-fish floating through the ocean. When you breathe in, your diaphragm flattens, expanding your rib-cage laterally. When you exhale, your diaphragm draws inward narrowing the dome into the concave space between the ribs. This action formulates the basics of functional breathing bio-mechanics.

The abdominal muscles also attach to the lower rib-cage and work synergistically with the diaphragm. You can actively engage your abdominals to amplify healthy diaphragmatic movement. To do this, span your hands around the lower side-ribs and upper belly. With each exhalation, draw the belly inward as if you were hugging your viscera and giving it a good squeeze. On inhalation, relax the belly and allow it to passively expand. Visualize the undulating movement of a jelly-fish and train your belly and diaphragm to dance with the breath, much as a jelly-fish propels itself through water. Jelly-fish breathing enhances your parasympathetic nervous system by gently pumping the vagus nerve and replacing the chest-breathing habit. It massages your heart and supports lymphatic drainage. When you jelly-fish breathe, the lower lobes of the lungs are better activated which improves ventilation and profusion with far less effort.

 

5) Short Breath Hold Practice - Your ER Breath Remedy:  It may sound counter-intuitive, but the absolute most effective way to short-circuit the panic button is to voluntarily stop breathing.

 

Employing Short Breath Holds (SBH) in a repetitive fashion rebalances your oxygen and carbon-dioxide levels. This in turns, increases oxygenation to the tissues, reducing tension. The arteries dilate, airways reopen, and nervous impulses quiet down. All of these systemic responses support you feeling more in control and less likely to be emotionally de-railed.

 

Here’s how to employ a SBH practice: 

a)     Always work with the pause after exhale.

b)     Take a gentle nasal breath in and out (light, slow, and low).

c)     Seal your nostrils with your fingers and count gently up to 5.

d)     Release your fingers and take another gentle breath in and out through the nose.

e)     Take a second or third ‘recovery’ breath between breath-hold cycles as needed.

f)      Repeat the short breath-hold process.

g)     Gradually increase the hold to 6, 7, or 8 seconds.

h)     Build gradually over several breath cycles until you feel a return to calm.

 

NOTE: Short breath holds are never to be done after the inhale. Only sustain the suspension of the breath to a level that feels slightly challenging, not to the point that you’re gasping for the next in-breath. Be sure that the inhalation that follows your breath-hold is nasal - through the nose. Also, feel free to adapt. If a 5 second initial hold feels too long, drop it down to 1, 2 or 3 seconds and build from there. If you feel comfortable extending the breath hold to 12 or 15 seconds, work at that level. Honor where you are with this process. As your respiratory system calms down, you’ll find it easier to volitionally suspend the breath for longer periods of time.

 

Why it Works: The intention of the SBH practice is to allow your CO2 levels to raise back up re-establishing homeostasis. CO2 has a sedative effect on your nervous system. It acts as a vasodilator and relaxes the smooth muscle in the body which is embedded in the airways, arteries, and organs including the brain. When you stress-breathe for a period of time, you can temporarily hyper-ventilate. This means you’re breathing too much and lowering CO2 levels below normal. The lower levels of CO2 can make you feel like you’re having a heart attack or possibly dying. SBH practice offers a safer and less-cumbersome alternative to paper-bag breathing. The paper-bag method (dramatized in movies as a response to panic attacks) is intended to restore CO2 levels, offering immediate relief.

 

SBH practice can also be used to stave off coughs, wheezing, or chronic congestion. I encourage my clients to sway, dance, or jog in place while practicing their breath-holds. This offers a useful and playful distraction, enabling more comfort while learning this technique. Others find accompanying SBH practice with the repetition of a silent mantra like, “Om Shanti”, or “Light, Love, Joy and Peace” to be very soothing.

 

To summarize, remember these salient points:

Breathe through your nose;

Breathe Light

Breathe Slow

Breathe Low (Jelly-fish breathing)

When feeling anxious, worried, or restless - reach for your innate rescue remedy: Short Breath Holds!

 

The brilliant thing about good breath hygiene is you can practice all day long and no wipes are required! Learning to breathe this way offers potent sustenance to embody a calm, relaxed, and responsive state of mind. May we all find our way through these turbulent times and model our commitment to health and sanity through proactive self-care like good breath hygiene.

Written by Robin Rothenberg

To learn more about Robin please visit: www.EssentialYogaTherapy.com

HOW TO BETTER MANAGE YOUR STRESS

Do you know anyone like this?

“Stress level: extreme. It's like she was a jar with the lid screwed on too tight, and inside the jar were pickles, angry pickles, and they were fermenting, and about to explode.” --Fiona Wood

It's a great visual. My brothers and I used to come home from school on hot, August afternoons when Mother was canning bread and butter pickles. They were angry pickles. The acrid odor of vinegar engulfed the entire kitchen and we'd sprint, eyes watering and throats tightening to keep from gagging, out the back door in pursuit of a breath of fresh air. The thought of being around a jar of fermented pickles ready to explode today is enough to send me running.

Imagine your stress-induced emotions as acetous pickle juice just waiting to explode from a pressure-filled jar. Maybe it's how you're feeling right now...as if you're on the brink of detonating into an eruption of anger, or find yourself jetting quickly toward an emotional melt-down. Prolonged stress can do that to the best of us. And while stress most likely won't be going away any time soon, we can learn to make choices which will help us better manage it.

The Negative Impacts of Stress

Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but if we don't learn to get a handle on it, it can wreak havoc on our mental and physical health. Based upon results of a stress study done by the American Psychological Association, 66% of people regularly experience physical symptoms of stress, and 63% experience psychological symptoms. Because our natural stress response is not designed to be continually engaged, we must find ways to shut it off. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered that prolonged stress disrupts the balance in the brain, throwing off the normal cadence of brain cell communication. (https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-stress-affects-mental-health/) A study done by Columbia University Medical Center researchers found that negative impact of stress could be likened to smoking more than five cigarettes a day! (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2250106/Stress-bad-heart-smoking-cigarettes-day.html).

"Learn how to cope, sweet friend. There will always be dark days."

-- Kris Carr

Your Stress Triggers

Developing awareness around your stress triggers is a good place to start. Grab a journal, ask yourself these three questions, and note your responses:

• Which situations occur on a regular basis which cause you to feel stressed?

• Which people in your life could you name as sources of your stress?

• Which circumstances turn routine situations into stressful situations? (For example, do you feel more stressed when you haven't eaten, or when you've overeaten? How does sleep (and a lack of) affect your stress levels? When you let your worries run rampant, do you find you're feeling more stressed?, etc.).

If you can become aware of your triggers, there's a good chance that you can avoid escalations, shifting behaviors before they turn toxic.

What are you feeling?

Do you recognize what stress feels like in your body? Those who have strong stress management skills are able to detect rising stress before it reaches a dangerous level. Physically, you may experience headaches, fatigue, or shoulder pain. Other common symptoms are stomach aches, excessive sweating, back pain, and a racing heart. Behavior-wise, you may find you are taking a habit to an extreme, like overeating or excessive smoking. You may find you're short-tempered, grinding your teeth, or driving too fast. Emotionally, you may find you are bothered by unimportant issues, getting the cry-feeling more often, or feeling depressed and dejected. Cognitively, you may have trouble thinking clearly, or struggle to translate your thoughts into clear words. You may find it hard to concentrate or find yourself more forgetful than normal.

Learning to recognize how stress rears its ugly head in your body is something you want to tune into. Next time a stressful situation arises, take a moment to notice what you're feeling and write it down.

"Everyone has the ability to increase resilience to stress. It requires hard work and dedication, but over time, you can equip yourself to handle whatever life throws your way without adverse effects to your health. Training your brain to manage stress won't just affect the quality of your life, but perhaps even the length of it." --Amy Morin

Stress Reduction Techniques

Though you may not be able to make the stressful situation or person go away, you can learn how to control your own responses. Here are some techniques you can try to reduce the feeling of stress. Which of these could you undertake, in the moments when stress arises?

• Practice gratitude.

• Take long, deep breaths.

• Exercise.

• Get some extra zzzz's.

• Remind yourself that this too, shall pass.

• Rediscover your sense of humor and laugh.

• Listen to relaxing music.

• Spend some time in nature.

• Meditate.

• Become a realistic optimist and focus on positive outcomes of the current situation.

• Have a good cry.

• Forgive...yourself and others.

• Eat healthy food and resist junk food/stress eating.

• Do something you find to be fun.

• Slow down.

• Practice boundaries (learn to say no when needed)

• Forgive others' poor behavior.

• Refuse to let irrational ideas and thoughts swim around in your head.

• Visualize yourself in a peaceful place.

• Pray or other spiritual practices.

• Quit procrastinating and tackle some items on your to-do list.

• Call a friend who is able to put you at ease.

• Fill in the blank (what works for you?)

Create an Action Plan

Now that you're aware of your triggers, understand what you're feeling, and have a few techniques to use, it's time to create a plan. Grab a journal and write about these prompts:

1-The stress symptoms I need to notice and pay attention to are:

2-My current stress triggers, including both situations, people, and circumstances, are:

3-How do I currently deal with these stressors?

4-What's a better way I could respond to these stressors?

5-What is one technique I can incorporate to remind myself to engage in stress management, as I begin to recognize my symptoms?

6-When do I anticipate the next stressful situation to happen?

7-What will I do when it occurs?

If you're struggling with creating an action plan, consider teaming up with a social + emotional intelligence coach to walk alongside you.

I get it--changes are hard--but remember the jar of pickles. Who wants to be splattered by pungent negativity every time you lose control of your emotions? Sure, it's tough to adjust how we respond to the stresses of life, but well worth the effort to learn to open that lid slowly and carefully so can enjoy its contents.

“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.” --Steve Maraboli

Written by Amy Sargent.

http://the-iseiblog.com/contributing-authors/amy-sargent/

AFFIRMING THOUGHTS

What do you spend your time thinking about?  Does your mind wander and fall into self-defeating thought patterns or do you choose liberating and empowering thoughts? Emotions are as transient as the weather, but we have the ability to choose our thoughts. We do this by paying attention to our thoughts and replacing those that don’t serve us well with affirmations.

 Affirmations are clear, short statements of who we are and who we want to be. Don’t waste any time or energy thinking about your shortcomings or what you need to do to change.  Instead, accept yourself exactly as you are. Be kind to yourself. Use affirmations.

I first heard about affirmations 20 years ago through a friend who was suffering from severe depression.  Her therapist suggested she try affirmations, but really didn’t explain to my friend how to write powerful affirmations or how to use them effectively.  It wasn’t until I became a parent that I began to study how affirmations work and how to use them effectively.

I realized as a new parent that I would be no better at disciplining my child than I was at disciplining myself.  That’s when I decided to develop my own parenting affirmations.  I posted them on my bathroom wall and began saying them every morning and every night:  I am a loving, nurturing parent.  I practice proactive discipline.  I respond calmly to all situations.  I explore and discover the world with my child.  I wrote ten parenting affirmations in all that are still posted by my bathroom mirror.

Whatever it is you need, whatever it is you want, put it in the form of an affirmation.  Pay attention to your thoughts throughout the day.  Whenever you find yourself feeling worried or afraid, repeat your affirmations.  Whenever a negative thought comes to mind, acknowledge and release it.  Then think instead of a positive affirmation:  I am safe.  I am healthy.  I am prosperous.  I am loved. By directing your thoughts to positive things, you will create positive experiences in your life.

The most effective affirmations are the ones that you choose and create for yourself.  Whatever it is that you’d like to change or improve, put it into affirming words.Tape your affirmations to your bathroom mirror and repeat them frequently throughout the day. 

Make sure your affirmations are completely positive.  If you say, “I am debt-free,” you are continuing to affirm debt whether you mean to or not.  Take out all negative words (no, not, stop, refrain) and negative ideas (debt, need, fear, want).  Write your affirmations in the present tense:  “I am strong.”  If you write your affirmation in the future tense, “I will be strong,” that keeps the strength you want out in the future instead of accepting it into your present being.

I put my favorite affirmations into a short poem that I’ve used every day for years:

I am grateful. I am kind.

I create what’s on my mind.

Perfect health.... Prosperity....

My world reflects the change in me.

 

Written by Laurie A. Gray, JD

http://www.socraticparenting.com/

A PERMANENT CURE FOR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

If you are suffering from PTSD then the very first thing you are looking for is ‘safety’.  One of the biggest problems about suffering from PTSD is that you feel as if people do not understand you, what you are going through, or what you have been through.  Most often, they do not!  How could they?  What you have been through is something that most people in the world could not conceive of.  People can debate it, study it, talk about it, but unless they have been through it, they have no idea what someone who suffers from PTSD is going through.

So the very first thing you need is to feel safe, understood, and appreciated for what you have been through.  You need to know that there is reverence for you, appreciation for something that may not be understood, yet still appreciated (this is reverence).  Most therapists are textbook-driven, which means that they do not have an integral understanding of what real trauma is or feels like.  The problem is that they cannot understand you and do not have the tools to bridge the gap between where you are and where they are.  In fact, it’s more like a chasm in that it is just too broad of a gap for them to span consciously.

A therapist, who has spent his or her life studying textbooks and accumulating credentials, working with average every-day people, is not a good match for you.  If you are a war veteran, rape victim, or refugee from a third world atrocity then there are precious few people who are going to understand and have the necessary reverence for what you have been through.  In fact, more likely than not, only around 7% of therapists will actually be able to relate to you in a way that makes you feel appreciated for the sheer gravity of what you’ve been through.  This is due to the fact that most therapists have not been exposed to any sort of extreme adversity within their own lives.  In other words, it’s virtually impossible for them to relate to what you have been through from within the confines of an ‘atypical lifestyle’.

So you need to know that you are appreciated and respected for your ability to simply survive what you’ve been through.  Instead of feeling isolated due to the sheer gap between what you and the average person have experienced in life, you need a safe place to be able to open and up express yourself.  Without that feeling of safety then you may never be able to fully open up.  This would seem to be obvious, yet most therapists are not quite there yet.

Emotional Integration on PTSD

The essence of pain and suffering is due to the suppression of painful emotions by your psyche.  The psyche, in its inability to deal with extremely emotionally painful situations that arise, will attempt to protect you from this massive amount of pain by suppressing the emotions created from the experience.  When this happens you are temporarily protected from the emotion of the experience and thus able to maintain your societal functionality.  However, due to the fact that these painful emotions are suppressed in your psyche, they are not gone, but still present.  Now, instead of being at the surface of your awareness where you can access them and know where the pain is coming from, they are deeply buried within your own subconscious.  Here they will start to manifest adversity for you in the form of unconscious reactivity (which means to begin to feel badly and not know why, but further, to physically act out on this in ways that are attempts for you to not feel pain; drinking alcohol, taking drugs, and/or depression/violence/suicidal tendencies).

One of the trickiest aspects of deeply suppressed emotional charges is that they are suppressed because your psyche is trying to protect itself.

In other words, there is a part of you that feels as if it needs to keep you from ‘re-experiencing’ this trauma from the past.  Further, that if you do not keep it repressed within your subconscious, you will be doomed to relive this trauma over and over again.  So, in essence, your psyche does not want to let these suppressed emotional charges come up to the surface for fear of having to relive the event/s.

Emotional Integration is one of the first forms of therapy to cut straight through to the source of the problem; which is your deeply suppressed emotional charges from the traumatic experiences.  Additionally, Emotional Integration is one of the first forms of therapy to recognize how the psyche operates and use this operational foundation as a vehicle for permanent healing.  In other words, Emotional Integration respects the psyche’s right to protect itself and through honoring it, allows the psyche to actually heal itself.  The technique offers an unprecedented breakthrough in healing due to the fact that it addresses healing at the actual source.  The source of all pain and suffering comes from your suppressed emotional charges.  Once this has been healed you are free to live a normal, happy, and productive life again.

You need no longer remain imprisoned within your own mind.

Emotional Integration has one aim and one aim only: to access and release (integrate) your suppressed emotional charges.  When you can access, in a safe place, your deeply suppressed emotional charges and allow them (in a safe place) to fully surface, magic can and will happen.  This magic is the integration of one of your deeply suppressed emotional charges.  The result is also an integration (bringing back into one) of the part of your psyche associated with this emotional aspect of yourself.  When this occurs, you will not only feel more at peace within yourself and less emotionally reactive, but you will also experience a greater sense of ‘self’.  This means that a part of your personality has been ‘freed up’ and can now bring additional intelligence back into your psyche.

Emotional Integration is powerful in that, quite often, you may experience complete healing in only one session.  Often, total healing can be accomplished in as little as 6 sessions.  This is because Emotional Integration bypasses the ‘why’ which would enable your ego to continue to create ‘phantom reasons’ for your pain and suffering.  The ego loves statistics, reasons, logic, and rationale due to the fact that it can prolong its life and bolster its sense of ‘self importance’ in this way.  Emotional Integration does not care ‘why’ you suffer, but focuses on the actual healing instead.

An important question to ask yourself is: ‘Do I want to know why or do I want to be healed?’

The ego wants to know why.  The Soul wants to be healed.

Emotional Integration offers the fast track to reclaiming your emotional freedom and reclaiming your life.  It is never too late to take your life back and to feel fully alive again.

To learn more you can join us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmotionalIntegration

 

Written by Christopher Pinckley