You are here: Home / Archives for anxiety

Anxiety Coping Skills For Super Quick Relief

November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Nicole Johnson-Nichols -

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state of mind that manifests itself outward. Anxiety manifests itself differently in different people. Here are some of the symptoms:

  • Feeling out of control
  • Shortness of breath
  • Increased heart rate
  • Dizziness
  • Uncontrollable sweating
  • Difficulties falling asleep
  • Having nightmares when you are asleep
  • Loss of appetite
  • Loss of sexual interest
  • dry, itchy eyes

And the list goes on.

The purpose of this article is to offer you practical anxiety coping skills that can be applied immediately to give you quick relief.

Here are things you can do when you feel an anxiety attack coming on that can cause you to regain control quickly.

Laugh- Watching a funny movie or show diverts your attention from the anxiety and relaxes your mind, allowing you to enjoy whatever you’re watching in peace. Keeping recording from your favorite comedian on your iPod is a great idea also.

Have Fun- Allow yourself to enjoy the fun things of life. Take a friend with you to ride Go Karts, play a round of Putt Putt Golf or just play your favorite arcade games. Doing something fun puts you in a fantastic mood.

Exercise- Working out is a natural way to eliminate stress from your life. Even taking a walk can be very beneficial.

Listen To Music- Music has special powers that draw you into it. It offers you the ability to forget about what’s wrong and lose yourself in the music.

Ask For Help- Many times when we have feelings of losing control, we can regain control by requesting the assistance of someone who can help. Many times, we are not alone although anxiety makes you feel like you are. You do not have to deal with it by yourself.

When it comes to anxiety, coping skills can mean the difference between peace and control verses worry, fear and depression. Put these tips into practice today.

For additional Anxiety Coping Skills [http://www.panicattackcentral.com] please visit [http://panicattackcentral.com/], watch our FREE Video, and see how you can be a panic and anxiety survivor just like the many people you’ll see on the website.

Online universities have psychology classes for people who would like to learn more tips like this.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Johnson-Nichols
http://EzineArticles.com/?Anxiety-Coping-Skills-For-Super-Quick-Relief&id=4132599

 

 

Filed Under: Coping Skills Tagged With: , ,

Happiness – Who Is Responsible For Our Well-Being

August 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Paul Zucker -

A big step towards self-responsibility is the acceptance, the believing and the knowing that both unhappiness and happiness are self-bestowed. It is a choice we make; others do not make it for us. If we are responsible for our own happiness, then we can take the steps to achieve it. If we radiate happiness – and accompanying qualities such as peacefulness, security, and contentment – then our children will embody and radiate these qualities also. If we are depressed and unhappy, then our children will learn and develop these qualities.

How do we know that happiness is self-bestowed? If we agree that we all have the capacity for self-responsibility, then in any given situation we can decide what to think and how to act. When we choose what to think – and we are empowered in this choice as we gain knowledge, understand more, and increase our awareness – we are deciding what it is worthwhile to think. If wisdom is defined as “what is worthwhile thinking” and allows us to direct our responses in any situation, then we realize that through the attainment of wisdom we are in control of how we respond and act, what we feel and do. If we wish to bestow happiness on ourselves, our choice then becomes to be responsible for our thinking and our thoughts, so we may attain wisdom; when we become responsible for what we think, feel, and do, we create a powerful tool that can help us achieve our own happiness and positively influence the happiness of others.

In becoming responsible for our thoughts, we become responsible for our feelings. If we are happy, sad, angry, or hurt, it is because of how we perceive what has happened, and our perceptions are organized by our thoughts. However, we often do this automatically, reacting to the world in a repeated, patterned response. As it is automatic, we may not be consciously aware of what we are doing. In fact, our response may be stored on a subconscious level so deep that certain words and actions automatically trigger an emotional response. They trigger an emotional response because we have been conditioned to associate a specific meaning to an event.

The point of this is not to discourage you from the possibility of assuming control of your feelings, but to create a deeper understanding of why we often react emotionally to the events and people – including our children – in our lives. Understanding the process allows us to take the steps to become active participants. If we understand it as a process, we can make a major shift in our perception, and decide that each of us is individually responsible for our feelings. In that shift of perception we create the space, allow for the moment, to utilize our increased awareness and change our response to the world and the people in it (especially our children). In that moment we realize we may be angry or hurt, but we have chosen to be so because we are responsible for our feelings; we are choosing to react in an angry and hurt way. We gain the ability to distance ourselves from blame and judgment, from playing the victim. We separate ourselves from the process in which we often seek to justify and rationalize our anger and hurt, causing our anger to persist and perhaps intensify. In the moment of taking responsibility for our feelings, we can express the feeling and then let it go, let it dissipate, because we no longer feel justified in holding on to it. This is very powerful; it can transform the manner in which you interact with your kids, spouse, parents, friends, co-workers, and all other relationships.

In the past, little things and big things would make me angry. In fact they still do, only less and less. I would be angry on or off – mostly on – all day. I would get angry waiting in line at the supermarket because the cashier was talking to someone and taking too long. I would get angry at the doctor’s office because I felt that he had a lot of nerve to make me wait so long. I would get angry in my car because someone honked at me or tried to cut in front of me. I would get angry at work because someone spoke to me in a tone of voice that I felt was disrespectful. I would get angry with my kids because they walked, talked, or responded in a way I didn’t like. How could I possibly be happy and peaceful if everywhere I went I found a reason to be angry? And that is what I realized. I was finding a reason to be angry. It was my choice. I could also find a reason not to be angry. And that is what I began to do.

Of course bigger challenges may rise up before us. Someone may steal our car, break into our home, or hurt our children. We could get fired, get seriously sick, or have a bad accident. These types of events are serious challenges for our developing authenticity, our self-responsibility. However, as we really come to understand and know that our psychological suffering is caused by our perception of these events, we can begin to change our perceptions and to respond to these serious challenges more effectively without completely debilitating ourselves emotionally.

Taking responsibility for our feelings can also transform the relationship we each have with ourselves: how we view and feel about ourselves. We express and define our relationship with ourselves when we talk to ourselves through internal dialogue. Often when we talk to ourselves about ourselves, we are sending and reinforcing negative messages that cause us to be fearful and unhappy. Without internal dialogue, we would be free to live spontaneously in the moment, free of worry and fear.

Although specific events outside of us can trigger unhappy thoughts and feelings, often it is the anticipation of events and a negative way of thinking that causes our happiness. We may become depressed or melancholy because of the continuing, repetitive negative thoughts we have about ourselves and others. In order to achieve our own happiness and fulfillment we need to monitor and observe our thoughts and perceptions. Then, we need to change those thoughts and perceptions that are not serving us so we may change our feelings and actions.

As we become self-responsible, we can decide to seek the tools, knowledge, and help to break our fearful thought patterns and cycles of anger which lead to our unhappiness. We can begin by deciding to be responsible for our thoughts, feelings, and actions. We can begin by moving away from judgment and blame towards others and ourselves. We can begin by freeing others from our expectations and attempts to control and change them. We can begin by becoming aware of what we can influence and what we can not, and then choosing to focus our energies where it can effect the most change. We can begin by realizing that happiness is a choice we make and is not dependent on others, but what we think and do.

We can also begin by realizing that it is only through repetition and reflection that we learn and master subjects. It is through repetition that we change the negative programming of our thoughts, the tendency of our mind to repeat the fearful loops that cause us pain. As we learn, we become aware: self aware and aware of others. Changing our negative programming, or patterns, and becoming more aware empowers us for continued positive growth and ultimately the realization of our full potential.

Paul Zucker, Author of “Loving Our Children, Loving Ourselves”

Learn more about Paul Zucker and how he can help you create a more peaceful, positive, and conflict free home and family life here:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Paul-Zucker

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Zucker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Happiness—Who-Is-Responsible-For-Our-Well-Being&id=4861110

Filed Under: Happiness Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Release Stress and Anxiety – Learn to Breathe Fully to Live Fully!

December 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Donna Packard -

Do you know that most people are breathing barely enough to be alive? Most people breathe in a shallow manner, just bringing the breath barely into the chest. We have been conditioned to hold in our stomachs, and to wear tight clothing, inhibiting our ability to breathe fully. Have you watched a new baby breathing? The baby’s belly rises with the inhale and falls gently with the exhale. It’s kind of like watching the ocean waves rising and falling in a natural rhythm. There is no pause between the inhale and the exhale. This is our natural breathing rhythm.

Many of us have shut down our breathing, and no longer breathe in this natural rhythm due to stressors, repressed emotions, fears, anxiety, etc. that we have experienced throughout our lifetimes. Think of what happens when you get anxious in traffic, for instance. Chances are you are holding your breath.

Our culture has taught us to repress many of our emotions and feelings. If someone is crying, what do we do? We try to get them to stop, where, if we simply allowed them this space to feel, they would move through the feelings, or ‘storm’, clearing them from their emotional and physical bodies. It’s like the ocean that has storms and clears to peaceful sea. Unfortunately, when we repress feelings, they are held in the body’s memory and we begin to breathe in a more shallow way to hold the feelings in.

Additionally, we carry a lot of stress in our bodies. If we are breathing fully, we cannot hold stress in the body. Yet, most of us carry stressors around for many years! For instance, let’s say you have an argument with a loved one or a boss or friend. Your stress level goes way up, and, ideally, it would be best to find a way to relax and bring it back down as soon as possible. Instead, you carry it with you.You think about it later in the day and your stress level rises again. You may think about it the next day and the same thing happens, or months later. Sometimes years later, you are still carrying that residual tension around with you. And, chances are, you are not breathing as fully because of it. This is where we get into trouble, for carrying this stress around with us leads to dis-ease. Most diseases are related to stress in one form or another. I have heard that cancer cannot live in cells that are oxygenated and there are studies that show that heart patients have not had reoccurence of their problems once they learned to breathe fully.

It’s also fascinating how when we learn to breathe fully, not only do we learn ways to relax and relieve stress, we begin to live more fully. It is as if we get back in touch with what is in our hearts, our True Selves, and, often, we also reconnect with our Source, in whatever form and way we each view that. In working with hundreds of people over the years, teaching them how to repattern their breathing, I have witnessed many many people finding a place of inner serenity, of peace. Oftentimes, they were embraced by the consciousness of pure Love.

So, I ask you, in this moment, to take a breath in and out. Does your breathing feel restricted? Ideally, a full breath fills your belly like it is filling a balloon, then rises up through your chest and then releases freely. It may be likened to the ocean waves, where the wave rises in the belly, flows into the shore (the chest) and then flows back out, as the exhale. And, then flows in again, with no pause between the inhale and exhale, in a perfect circle of breathing, flowing in and out freely.

It may be helpful to imagine you are filling a jug with your breath. You fill all the way to the bottom when inhaling, the bottom being the top of your pubic bone, and then filling the jug with the air all the way to the top, which you may imagine as the throat area or even to the top of your head.

I invite you, in this moment, to practice breathing fully and freely.

Exercises:

1. Lie down and place one hand on your abdomen and one hand on your chest. Breathe in your normal fashion. Which hand rises as you inhale? Since many people are shallow breathers, breathing only into the chest. You may find that the hand on the chest raises up with the inhale. Practice bringing the inhale deep into your belly and fill your belly with the air, like you are filling a balloon. You may want to place a small pillow on your abdomen to see if it is rising as you inhale. (One woman I worked with would have her small dog lie on her belly to watch to see if it she was raising him up and down as the breath moved into her belly:-) ) This type of breathing may take practice and, at first, may seem like a lot of work. Yet, in the end, you will be happy you learned to breathe deeply. Getting the breath into your belly is the first step.

2. Once you are able to breathe deeply into your belly, as in step 1. above, next you want to practice bringing the breath into your belly, as above, and then continue to bring it from there up through your chest and heart, and then release it. Breathe in, pull up and release. Do not force the exhale, let it fall like a sigh. Then breathe in again, with no pause between the exhale and inhale and breathe again deeply into your belly. Practice for 5 minutes to start.

3. Begin to notice throughout the day whether you are breathing or not. You may find various times you are holding your breath or not breathing fully. Remind yourself from time to time to take a deep breath! The more fully you breathe, the more fully alive you will be.

When you begin breathing more fully, at first, you may experience different sensations in your body which may not be used to getting as much oxygen. You may feeling tingling in your hands, or face, or feet, or other places. You may feel uncomfortable feelings in various parts of your body at first. You may feel feelings! Just feel what you feel and keep breathing through it! Know it is safe to breathe! The breath carries what gives you life.

Breathe Fully and Live Fully!

Many blessings and remember to Breathe Peace in each moment, Donna Packard, M.Ed., “The Inspirer” http://www.BreathePeace.com

Copyright 2009 Donna Packard. All rights reserved. Please feel free to pass this lesson along, or reprint it, and invite/encourage others to be a part of the Breathe Peace movement. Just be sure to include my name as the author and the website contact information as listed above.

I invite you, in this moment, to Breathe Peace, Donna L. Packard, M.Ed., “The Inspirer”
http://www.BreathePeace.com
E-mail: info@breathepeace.com

Relax, reconnect, move into a consciousness of Love. Learn to Breathe Peace.http://www.breathepeace.com for free mini-lesson series, information, resources,
and more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_Packard
http://EzineArticles.com/?Release-Stress-and-Anxiety—Learn-to-Breathe-Fully-to-Live-Fully!&id=2296262

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

6 Tips for Handling the Stress of the Holidays

November 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Tracie Hammelman -

In addition to the joy and fun that the holidays can bring, you and may also encounter stress, depression, or anxiety. Here are some tips to handle the sometimes hectic events of the next couple of months:

1. Be an advocate for yourself. It is not uncommon for those who tend to be overachievers to increase expectations that they have for themselves. Just because there may be more to do, does not mean that you have to be the one to do it all. Delegate those extra duties to family members or friends so that you are not overwhelmed and exhausted.

2. Be proactive. Along with festive events, comes food and drink that would throw your healthy lifestyle out the window in a heartbeat. Overcome your urges to indulge in those high calorie snacks or drinks by eating before you get hungry, drinking a large glass of water, consuming small amounts throughout your day, and taking in foods that are going to sustain you.

3. Prepare. If you will be spending time with family, friends, or other people who you have unresolved emotional issues or conflicts with, the stress of the holidays may intensify or trigger these issues. Be aware of this ahead of time, make a pact with yourself that this may happen, and devise a plan of action to take care of yourself if it does.

4. Keep a routine. Maintain your day as close to your usual schedule as possible. When you know that there will be extracurricular activities, be sure to also build in time outs or “breathing time” for yourself.

5. Maintain flexibility. Expect the unexpected. Your children and pets function the best also when they have a routine to follow. When that changes, their behavior may change also-they may become withdrawn, or they may act out. If you understand and expect this to happen, you will be much less likely to react to them in a way that you might regret later.

6. Make a plan. Not everyone looks forward to the holidays. some, people are alone, have had negative experiences, and may even become depressed or suffer from increased anxiety during this time. A way to cope is to devise a plan-know that these feelings may surface, acknowledge them, and build self soothing or other activities that provide comfort into your day.

Tracie L. Hammelman, LCSW has 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist and is known as “The Advocate for Mental Health Professionals”. She specializes in helping clinicians improve their clinical skills and how to double or triple their income online using passive residual income and continuity programs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracie_Hammelman
http://EzineArticles.com/?6-Tips-for-Handling-the-Stress-of-the-Holidays&id=5375271

Filed Under: Self Improvement Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Rocky Road of Perfectionism – Reduce Stress & Anxiety by Changing Unrealistic Expectations

October 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Sharon S. Esonis, Ph.D. -

Perfectionism is an unhealthy way to live. I have witnessed the emotional turmoil of too many people who have this particular belief system with its ridiculous expectations. Believing that only one outcome (the perfect one!) is acceptable is incompatible with emotional health and creative living.

I’ve worked with many perfectionists over the years and have found that convincing them of the insidiousness of this particular mindset presents quite a challenge. If you are a perfectionist, changing your beliefs, expectations and behaviors won’t be easy, but it will open the path to greater health, happiness and self-confidence.

Perfectionists generally fit into three categories: those who expect perfection from themselves, those who expect perfection from others only, and those who expect it from both themselves and others. You or the others you impact with these expectations will never be perfect or attain perfection in any desired goal. It’s not going to happen, no matter what.

Expecting the impossible is a straight shot to trouble, disappointment and rocky interpersonal relationships. It consumes so much energy to follow this particular brand of dead-end thinking. Harriet Braiker, author and psychologist, warns, “Striving for excellence motivates you, striving for perfection is demoralizing.”

Think about it for a moment. If something has to be done to a tee, there’s not much room for exploration, discovery, spontaneity and joy. Costly, debilitating and not much fun! Keep in mind that the perfectionist is worried about all the details of the outcome. That’s a powerful way to put out the fire and marginalize whatever gains you or anyone else make. This also makes it hard to be open to unexpected and/or disguised opportunities. It affects other people adversely because it’s “your way or the highway.”

Signs of Perfectionism

  • Unrealistic expectations of self or others
  • Narrow idea of what success is
  • Broad definition of failure
  • Fear of disapproval
  • Fear of failure
  • Fear of making mistakes
  • All or nothing thinking
  • Long list of “shoulds”
  • Setting goals that are unachievable
  • Conflict in relationships because of unrealistic expectations and disappointment when others don’t meet those expectations
  • Unwillingness to show others their vulnerabilities
  • Strong need to be in control
  • Excessive need for achievement
  • Focusing on mistakes, missteps, failures
  • Procrastination because they don’t want to complete something that isn’t perfect
  • Inordinate amount of worrying and guilt
  • Main focus on details not big picture
  • High sensitivity to criticism

Beliefs

  • If I can control myself and my world, the likelihood increases that I will be perfect
  • I need to be perfect in order to gain the respect and approval of others
  • Success comes more easily for others than for me
  • Whatever I do is never good enough
  • Anything worth doing is worth being done perfectly
  • My self-worth is directly related to my performance

What the Perfectionist Often Experiences

  • By focusing on unrealistic goals, the perfectionist is set up for failure
  • Unresolved relationship conflicts often occur for perfectionists who want others to do things their way
  • They have difficulty feeling successful and peaceful
  • They often apply this philosophy even to leisure activities: “anything worth doing is worth doing right”
  • Perfectionists ultimately find that their productivity suffers
  • They too often experience loneliness, sadness, frustration and feelings of inadequacy
  • They experience sensitivity to what others think and are negatively affected if there is disapproval
  • Instead of finding what is important to them, perfectionists become hung up on the dreaded “shoulds”
  • Finding peace is allusive to perfectionists
  • They often feel stressed, anxious, depressed; many perfectionists have symptoms that rise to the level of a clinical diagnosis of a stress, anxiety, depressive or eating disorder
  • They can be mired in procrastination
  • They may have Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
  • Perfectionists may experience headaches, gastrointestinal difficulties, muscle tension, and cardiovascular problems

What To Do About It

  • Change your belief that perfectionism is something to strive for; dispute it when the thought comes to mind
  • Identify and admit the perfectionism beliefs and behaviors that are a major part of your life
  • Dispute the beliefs and expectations that are out of line with reality
  • Understand that the mistakes and failures are opportunities to learn and get stronger; adopt that as part of your new belief system
  • Give yourself permission to be imperfect and to make mistakes; learn to see the humor in your mistakes; think of mistakes as chances to learn
  • Accept your weaknesses. See them as part of your uniqueness
  • Inject a humorous approach to your life and goals; so many things in life just aren’t that serious or important; develop a 10 point scale for importance and make sure when you assign a number that there are few or no tens
  • Resign as CEO of the universe; it will be a relief for you and others
  • Learn more about mindfulness and living in the moment; spend time with people who live in the moment
  • Be kinder and more patient with others. Learn to listen to others and have empathy
  • Understand that procrastination is a form of avoidance; the perfectionist avoids finishing a project because it will lead to an evaluation of its perfection by him/herself or by someone else
  • Set realistic, achievable goals; congratulate yourself when you complete any part of your goal
  • Get to know what you really want in life
  • Look at life and your goals as a journey, not as a destination
  • When something bad happens have an optimistic attitude: don’t take it personally, don’t think it’s permanent and don’t allow it to affect unrelated parts of your life
  • Figure out what fears lurk behind your perfectionism and face them directly
  • If this is too difficult to do alone, talk to a psychologist or other health care professional

You can be excellent, but not perfect, at some chosen goals, and just plain mediocre at others that don’t matter much at all. Make the decision to be selective about what endeavors merit your finest efforts, and then plan to revel in your accomplishments, even the ones that may fall short of the mark.

To learn more about Positive Psychology, look for my latest book, It’s Your Little Red Wagon… Six Core Strengths for Navigating Your Path to the Good Life (Embrace the Power of Positive Psychology and Live Your Dreams), available on Amazon.com

Copyright 2009. Sharon S. Esonis, Ph.D.

Sharon S. Esonis, Ph.D., has spent close to three decades helping individuals thrive and improve their lives through her work as a licensed psychologist, author and life coach. An expert in human behavior and motivation, Dr. Esonis specializes in the burgeoning field of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of optimal human functioning and the core strengths that can lead to the achievement of one’s personally-defined goals.

Her most recent book, “It’s Your Little Red Wagon… 6 Core Strengths for Navigating Your Path to the Good Life (Embrace the Power of Positive Psychology and Live Your Dreams!),” is Dr. Esonis’s contribution to the field of Positive Psychology, presenting proven success factors and strength-building techniques that can lead individuals to a life of purpose, motivation and happiness. It is available on Amazon.com.

Dr. Esonis earned her doctoral degree at Boston College and currently maintains a life coaching practice in the San Diego area. She also teaches Positive Psychology in the Extended Learning Program at California State University San Marcos. To learn more about the power of Positive Psychology and to order her latest book, visit her website at http://www.PositivePathLifeCoaching.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_S._Esonis,_Ph.D.
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Rocky-Road-of-Perfectionism—Reduce-Stress-and-Anxiety-by-Changing-Unrealistic-Expectations&id=2255480

Filed Under: Self Improvement Tagged With: , , , , , ,

10 Simple Ways to Bring Peace to Your Life

October 12, 2010 By 1 Comment

By K Lowe -

Life is chaotic, at best. We rush, we multi-task, and we try to be all things to all people, often failing to save anything for ourselves. We crave peace – but usually aren’t willing to do what it takes to achieve peace, or we take the alternative route and look for ways to find peace that generally only bring more chaos. Here are ten simple ways that you can bring peace to your life…no matter how chaotic your life may be.

1. Realize that you cannot control anything other than yourself in this world. You are the only thing that you have complete control over. When we realize this, and adjust our outlook and our actions accordingly, life becomes much more peaceful. Trying to control other people, or situations that really are beyond our control, only serves to suck away our time and adds to the chaos and frustration of life.

2. Cut some ties – and make new ones. This one isn’t easy, but if you want a peaceful life, it must be done. For most of us, there are one or two people – possibly more – that are in our lives, but bring very little to our lives on an emotional or support level. This isn’t a question of ditching friends who haven’t done anything for you.

It’s not about what they ‘do’ for you. It’s about what they bring to you on the emotional level, and what they take away from you on the energy level. It’s about ‘friends’ who live their lives on the basis of ‘it’s all about me.’ It’s about friends who constantly have drama in their lives (usually imagined), and who proceed to suck the life right out of you by bringing their drama to your door – and then, in the end, really don’t do anything for you on the emotional level (they aren’t there for you when you need them, every conversation is about them, they don’t have anything of real value to offer the friendship).

Cutting people out of your life is very hard. In some instances, you won’t be able to cut them completely out, but you can limit their access to your time – which you are in complete control of. You can replace those people with others who actually do bring something of value to the relationship, and to your life – and you will be amazed at the difference this makes in your energy level, your peace of mind, your happiness, and to your life in general.

3. Reduce the clutter in your life. Clutter does not represent peace. This doesn’t mean that you have to give away all of your worldly goods. It means that you need to clean and organize the closets, drawers, shelves, and other nooks and crannies in your home and office. As you organize, get rid of anything that you don’t use, don’t need, and can easily live without. Donate items to charity, hold a yard sale, throw it in the trash…just get rid of the junk that you don’t need.

4. Clear the air. If you’ve had any disagreements in any of your personal relationships, and you are still smarting from them, clear the air. Go talk to that person. Let them know how you feel. Apologize and ask for forgiveness if this is needed. Request an apology and forgive if that is what is needed. Lay your cards – and feelings – on the table. If the relationship is worth saving, you will work it out. Otherwise, it is causing discord in your life – even if that discord is only in your mind – and you might need to cut ties.

5. Re-evaluate your budget and finances. Money makes everything very complicated, and does little to garner peace. It has been said that money cannot buy happiness, but that isn’t necessarily true. Are you going to be happy if you can’t pay the mortgage, and you have to live on the street? No. Are you going to be happy if you can’t afford a college education for your kids? No. Are you going to be happy if you can’t pay the power bill, retire, take your annual vacation, or purchase new clothing for your kids? No, no, no and no.

Money buys security, and security plays a big part in our overall happiness. Cut down on unnecessary expenditures. Save more money. Look for a better paying job. Make adjustments to your investments. Simply make sure that you have the financial security that you require.

6. Forgive yourself. Think about past mistakes that you have made. Reflect on them for a bit. Be clear about where you went wrong. Forgive yourself, and promptly remove it from your mind. We do learn from our mistakes, and we take those lessons into the future. It doesn’t mean that we have to dwell on those mistakes and constantly beat ourselves up for them. We are all human, and even the smartest and brightest have made their fair share of mistakes. You are not alone. Forgive yourself and move forward.

7. Turn off the news. Obviously, you do need to keep up with what is going on in the world. Most of us don’t have to do it on an hourly basis, or even a daily basis. Use the Internet and services such as Google to have news delivered to your email inbox. Make it a point to only read those news stories once or twice a week – and never in the evening hours, when you are trying to unwind from your day. The world is a scary place, and the news reminds us of that each minute of each day. This doesn’t contribute to a peaceful life.

8. Take the time to make a schedule for your week, each week. Stick to that schedule as closely as possible, but also understand that plans sometimes must change. Make a note of free time and instantly schedule in some ‘you time’ or something fun, instead of waiting for other people to fill that time for you. Set priorities to the items on your schedule. Make detailed notes that you will understand. Plan, but don’t over plan. When something new comes up, put it on the following week’s schedule, instead of rearranging this week’s schedule. Learn to say ‘no’ and ‘I can’t do that this week, sorry.’

9. Limit the technology in your life. Technology does not bring peace. The computer looks innocent enough – but you have the entire world at your fingertips right inside of that little box. This is overwhelming when you actually think about it. Learn to turn the box off, turn the television off, turn the cell phone off, and simply get out and enjoy the world up close and personal.

10. Take time out for yourself. Most people really fail to see the importance of this. When we take time to simply be by ourselves, without doing anything else to occupy our minds, we are able to reflect, dream, and simply relax. This brings the ultimate peace.

In the grand scheme of things, life can only be as complicated as you want it to be. It all comes down to what you accept for yourself, how you view the rest of the world, and the actions that you take. You can create peace in your life, no matter how chaotic it is.

Kelly Lowe offers more tips and information on Simplifying Your Life [http://letmetellyouwhat.com/2008/06/chaos-and-simplicity-do-not-mix/] On her site, Let Me Tell You What [http://www.letmetellyouwhat.com], you can learn more about simplifying your life, bringing peace into your life, dealing with day to day problems, and learning to be happy and healthy in general.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K_Lowe
http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Simple-Ways-to-Bring-Peace-to-Your-Life&id=1260992

Filed Under: Self Esteem Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Creating and Maintaining Health in Mind, Body, and Spirit

October 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD -

As you will recall in Alternative Healthcare verses Western Medicine, Western Medicine perceives the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged against invaders (viruses, bacterial infections and tumors). What Western Medicine fails to recognize is that diseases are not separate from the person. In fact every disease can be more accurately called an expression of the patient’s lifestyle, beliefs, and energies. Cancer is not a tumor, for example: it is a systemic disorder that can only truly be cured by helping to support the body, not by attacking it with chemical bombs or knives. The tumor is merely one physical expression of the systemic disorder, and simply removing the tumor does nothing to cure the disease. The body is designed to heal itself-given it has the proper care-nutrition, herbal supplements, spiritual and emotional well-being.

The first step in creating a healthy Mind, Body and Spirit is making a philosophical shift-creating a new paradigm regarding your relationship with your Mind, Body and Spirit. For some this shift will be something they have read about, thought about, but didn’t know how to begin or follow through. For others this shift might be analogous to jumping off the Empire State Building. Let me assure you no one has ever died as a result of making this shift-the consistent results are better more vibrant health. No matter your age or ‘unhealthy’ condition making this shift will create better health. The most effective and powerful way to better health is to completely shift everything at once; Mind-Set, Emotions, Nutrition, Exercise, Spirituality, However, I appreciate the fear of the unknown holds the majority of people back from such a ‘radical’ change. Most people begin making changes gradually. Needless-to-say, making changes gradually hampers the immediate results you want to see. If you make changes gradually you may not see results for several months. If you made changes on all levels simultaneously you will see results within a week or sometimes even hours.

The second step is a big leap of faith-giving up the idea that Western Medicine is the end-all-be-all to create and maintain a healthy body. The United States ranks 16th or more in the world on effectively treating health related issues. If Western Medicine was as effective as the commercials on TV purports it to be, one would think the United States would rank number one in treating all health issues. Your guidance on health issues need to be shifted to a Naturopath or Iridologist. There is a plethora of information on the internet on the practice of Naturopathy and Iridology. Do the research.

The AMA and APA does a brilliant job selling the idea that they and only they know your body. Ask anyone from China, India, Japan, Europe and they politely laugh about our beliefs on maintaining health. A Naturopath or Iridologist accesses the level of body health and recommends the required nutrition, herbs and supplements necessary to bring your body back to optimum functioning.

The third step is another leap of faith-literally and figuratively-shifting your belief on spirituality. In Alternative Healthcare verses Western Medicine, I said, “Every Thing in the universe is Energy and Consciousness. How anyone thinks or feels about that ‘Fact’ cannot change it. The purpose of ‘All’ religions is the recognition that humans have a part of themselves that is not physical and there is a need to explore and experience this aspect of oneself. Part of the intent is to discover one’s purpose and to live in the best way possible; part of that goal also includes the attainment of ‘Truth and Spiritual Wellness.’” Religions fail to attain ‘Truth and Spiritual Wellness.’ Proof that religion has failed in this regard manifests through the wars we continue to create; and the emotional dysfunctions people continue to struggle with. Peace of mind is essential to create a healthy body and also to create a healthy world. Peace of mind can be attained through Yoga, exercise, emotional healing and connecting to ones inner-self. Gurus, Avatars, Shamans, Spiritual Leaders can guide you into your inner-self. Spirituality is based on the belief that Every Thing in the universe is Energy and Consciousness.

Where is your Consciousness? It is within you. Therefore, going within is the only way to create Peace of Mind. Also, going within, creates a connection with an ‘Essence’ greater than yourself. In the world of spirituality you are free to call this ‘Essence’ whatever feels right to you. Attaining ‘Peace of Mind’ is an inside job. Find a Gurus, Avatar, Shaman, or Spiritual Leader to guide your Spiritual growth-outside the only religion you have ever known.

The Fourth Step is making a mind-set-a.k.a. values and beliefs-shift. Remember we are including the Mind, Body and Spirit in the quest to create health as they are not separate. Although, you have used your conscious mind to make the previous shifts, there are other mind shifts. You need to access all your values and beliefs. Take inventory….What do I believe? The most important question is: “What do I want to believe?” If you aren’t deciding what you want to believe someone else is. I suspect, the commercials/advertising, the AMA, APA is dictating what you believe. After taking inventory develop a plan to systematically change your beliefs. I facilitate a one-on-one highly focused and structured process called, ‘Creating Your Dynamic Future.’ Decide to create your future.

A mind-set shift is created through listening to the language you use-the tape you run in your head. Your life is created by your thoughts; everything you think and say drives you toward that reality. For example, if you say, I can’t, ____. That is what you will create. If you say, I am working on learning to___. Or I can. That is what you will create.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, “101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life.” Dr. Dorothy has the unique gift of connecting people with a broad range of profound principles that resonate in the deepest part of their being. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one’s daily thoughts and feelings. http://www.drdorothy.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD
http://EzineArticles.com/?Creating-and-Maintaining-Health-in-Mind,-Body,-and-Spirit&id=139594

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Four Steps to Sleep – The Ultimate Health Boost

August 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

sleepBy Donna Houston -

The only people who can really understand the importance of a great nights sleep are those who are not getting any. Lack of sleep or a disturbed rest can have a very detrimental effect on your health, leaving you feeling drained, exhausted and not at your best. Don’t feel that you have to put up with the situation, it is best to nip it in the bud now, to get the sleep you need.

There are many good and valid reasons why you may not be able to sleep:

- A new baby
- Illness or sickness in the family
- Recent changes in circumstances – moving home for example
- Bereavement and grief
- Worry over money (common these days)
- Family arguments and relationship worries

What can you do?

Try and realize that many of your issues are only temporary, a new baby will learn to sleep and most illnesses will resolve themselves in time. A lot of worry is because you feel that you are at the mercy of outside forces of which you have no control over.  You may feel better discussing this through with a trusted friend or counselor. There is a lot you can do to help yourself get the sleep you need.

First step – consider when was the last time you relaxed or felt at peace, many people are too busy trying to cope with their problems that they don’t realize that are on a constant loop of worry and fretting.

Second step – learn to relax, sometimes the you becomes so tense through lack of sleep and worry that even lying down the body is full of tension. There are many different ways to learn to relax, try meditation either classes or self guided via tapes and Cd. This takes time in fact you can feel very uncomfortable at first as true relaxation can feel strange as your body is not used to it.

Third step - Exercise is a great way to help improve your sleep, the body needs to move to get the lymph system moving to remove the waste from the body and prevent you feeling sluggish. Some of the best exercise can be walking, running, gardening (as fresh air is beneficial too) or if you really want to get rid of tension boxing or martial arts.

Fourth step – Try an herbal remedy to help you sleep. They can make a big difference.

Many people try lots of different ways to get to sleep and one or more in combination can help you on your way to a great natural sleep.

I am a registered nurse with 16 years in the health profession which I love. I have a deep interest in the benefits of nature and exercise to promote health.  Some of my other interests are yoga and the health benefits of alternative therapies. I believe there are many easy and simple ways to help people achieve better health and want to educate others about it. I am always on the search for the most up to date research.

If you have a sleep problem or want to know more information about herbal cures, then try my links below. http://www.allnightsleep.info and http://www.squidoo.com/allnightsleep

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_Houston

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

How to Interrupt Fear, Stress and Anxiety by Understanding an Emotional Hijacking

August 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Fiona Adams fear-

She could feel the anxiety rising in her body.

She could hear the negative chatter in her head repeating over and over in an obsessive way. She had been ‘emotionally hijacked’ – entwined in a prickly vine of fear.

For some of us, an ‘emotional hijacking’ can happen every now and then. For others it is a constant companion, forever in the background, just waiting to jump in the forefront and take control.

To deal with an emotional hijacking, some run for cover and deny what is happening by living in avoidance. Others are left feeling completely immobilized – unable to move in any direction. While others indulge in alchohol, drugs or food to numb the fear. These attempts to find relief only result in building false armors of protection.

The only way to successfully move through our fears is to face them with love and compassion. We can shine the light of our awareness on them so we learn and grow from them. Our fears are not a bad thing. They are there for a reason. And if we let them, they can actually serve us.

So, when you have been emotionally hijacked…… STOP and BREATHE.

As you focus on your breath, put your attention on what is happening in your body and your mind. Become the compassionate observer of your feelings. Feel the fear (it’s OK). Feel the discomfort in your body. Look at the dialogue controlling your thoughts. Doing this allows us to create some detachment so we can do a little investigation. What is the fear, or emotion, or limiting belief that has swept us away? Getting clarity on naming the trigger allows us to be in choice. And now we can ask ourselves “Is this our truth?” If it is not, we can replace it with a new truth that supports, nourishes and liberates us.

By interrupting the pattern of an emotional hijacking, we can redirect our energy toward growth. This personal growth leads to our personal transformations.

Fiona Adams is a published author and Life Coach in Los Angeles, California. She is a featured writer in the Cup of Life Newsletter which can help you ‘Create Your Best Life’. The Cup of Life Newsletter is a free email publication focusing on your wealth and happiness. Sign up today to keep you on track to ‘Create Your Best Life’.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fiona_Adams

Filed Under: Happiness, Self awareness, Self Esteem Tagged With: , , ,

Stress and Anxiety Wreak Havoc on Hormones

June 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

wilted-sunflower1By David Naum -

Most of us would like to believe that we live and experience life through our intellect, but this is not so. Our lives are experienced through our emotions and their centers. If our reality does not reflect our beliefs, conflict is created emotionally and becomes what is called stress.

Worrying about a future event is anxiety. Both of these when persistent or ongoing can cause serious hormonal problems.

Generally,the first glands to be affected adversely by ongoing emotional stress are the adrenal glands. These glands sit over each kidney and among other things give us energy when we are active. As they weaken we get tired easily and by mid afternoon can become downright fatigued.

As the glands are weakened the thyroid gland compensates by also weakening, taking you towards a state of hypothyroidism. The thyroid is responsible for your base metabolic rate at rest. As both the adrenals and thyroid weaken, fatigue, irritability, and weight gain may be noticed.

Prolonged stress will increase the amount of insulin put out by the pancreas which over time can result in the desensitization of the insulin receptors on the cells which can lead to the condition of type II diabetes.

As you can see, the entire endocrine system comprised of the adrenals, the thyroid gland, the ovaries, the testes. the pancreas, the pituitary, and the hypothalmus all work together.

As the adrenals and thyroid deregulate, it can cause the pituitary to weaken causing problems like added weight, lessened thyroid function, fatigue, menstrual difficulties, fluid retention, and sleep difficulties.

Added weight can cause a host of other problems including the production of more estrogen leading to a state of estrogen dominance. As some of you ladies may know, this may result in heavy bleeding and clotting, irritability, depression, headaches, insomnia, mental fog, breast lumpiness, fibrocystic breasts, blood sugar instability, weight gain, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovaries, and gall bladder dysfunction.
Too much estrogen has also been associated with an increase risk of cancer.

One very important note. Any excess hormone has the potential to cause deregulation throughout the endocrine system. One of the worst offenders is the birth control pills. Women are told the pill regulates the cycle but this is not true. The pill suppresses the cycle by keeping you in estrogen dominance.

Retraining the endocrine system is possible using specific natural supplementation.

For more information on relieving stress and anxiety, balancing the endocrine system, and overcoming fatigue and exhaustion, go to http://anxiety-stress-solutions.com

Visit me at http://denaum.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Naum

Filed Under: Emotional Health, Health, Physical Health Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts