Yoga Meditation For Chemical Addictions

Yoga has many facets for healing. At the top of the list is meditation. Although Yoga postures help people cope with life's daily problems, the body is being adjusted to bring about states of inner calm. Yoga meditation preserves this feeling of calm by teaching the practitioner how to control the mind. Controlling one's mind is a life saving skill.
A chemical addiction is a serious medical issue with a physical and a psychological component. The body may crave a specific "mind and mood altering substance," but overcoming the physical addiction is just the first step. Ultimately, it is the mental addiction, and the difficulty in changing habits with coping mechanisms, that can lead addicts to relapse.
Accordingly, strengthening the mind is an extremely important step in chemical addiction recovery. Like a toddler learning to walk, the mind grasps for something to cling to. When drugs are removed as an option, the mind is left flailing and must be taught with other methods and new tools. Yoga, in conjunction with meditation, can be a very powerful ally to the mind, which is struggling for new footholds.
Meditation creates states of "mindful awareness." Labeling thoughts that come into the mind as one meditates, and learning to observe them without judging, or becoming attached to them, teaches the meditation practitioner to separate these feelings or cravings from the self. Prayer and meditation are specifically mentioned in step 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous' 12-step program.
Kevin Griffin, the author of "One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps," points out that "in addiction, people turn to drugs to escape from uncomfortable feelings, but in meditation, you learn to do the opposite. You sit with yourself, your thoughts, and feelings, instead of running away." Admittedly, the process can be difficult. Similar to insights in therapy, insights in meditation come at the cost of facing the feelings that addiction has been masking. Yet, only by facing these feelings can they lose their power.
Loving kindness meditation develops a systematic quality of loving acceptance towards others and the self, through regular practice. Addiction mistreats the body and the self, so increasing feelings of self-worth and self-acceptance, faults and all, can be extremely healing. Loving kindness towards those around us also makes us aware of the toll that addiction can take on our friends and loved ones.
Incorporating meditation into an existing Yoga practice can be as simple as setting aside time before or after regular mat time. Practice in a peaceful area, where disturbances are minimized. Remember that meditation alone may not be sufficient support for recovery. Therefore, it is wise to seek other assistance, such as professional counseling or therapy, as needed.
© Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/

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Health Care Systems- What's Happenning in Canada?

Canada is the only G8 nation without a national mental health strategy and mental health is the most under-serviced part of the health care system. This seems rather strange considering the fact that one out of five Canadians will experience a mental illness at some time in life.
But changes are coming.
In 2007 the Mental Health Commission of Canada was formed. Its objectives are to create a practical guide for mental health transformation through a ten year mental health promotion and discrimination campaign. At its base is a goal of developing knowledge for Canadians and conducting research projects involving homeless individuals. Eight national volunteer advisory committees will be formed which focus on various segments including child and youth, family caregivers, First Nation Inuit and Metis, mental health and the law, science, seniors, the service system and the workforce.
It is hoped that the Commission will have a lasting and positive impact on the health and daily lives of Canadians from coast to coast.
Other provincial initiatives are also in progress in Canada . For example, in Alberta, mental health and addictions services are being merged into one seamless service which will provide single entry for assessment and treatment of individuals. This should save time, money and frustration for professionals and clients, especially those who have a dual diagnosis.
The entire health care system in Alberta is changing in a number of other ways. Health regions which were previously localized have now been centralized under one provincial "super" board of directors. This change is being debated by citizens who have been openly expressing their opinions about whether it will help or hinder. Some believe that the centralization under one board will save money whereas others believe that the members of the super board do not have a regional perspective and, because of this, communities will not have their needs met.
The Alberta government has also eliminated premiums for health care services beginning on January 1, 2009. Although individuals and families appear to be happy about this there is always the underlying concern that services need to be paid for and that taxpayers will ultimately end up paying in another form.
It is interesting to note that whenever change is introduced, there are always some who support the ideas while others oppose them. Well, new change is coming, changes are in progress and changes are expected throughout Canada when it comes to health care. So, I guess we had better be prepared to listen to the debates!

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From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker

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Choosing A Mental Health Counsellor

   

Everyone faces situations in life that are difficult and overwhelming. One way to cope is to consult with a professional counsellor. Counsellors can help you make a career change, deal with the death of a loved one, overcome panic attacks, manage stress, get over anger, cope with divorce, chronic pain, bullying, school anxiety - in short, counsellors are trained to help you face a wide range of difficulties.
Counsellors work with people across the life span - from childhood, through adolescence, and adulthood. Counsellors offer their services in a variety of modes: individual counselling, couple, family, and groups.
, Finding the right counsellor is often a confusing process. You can use the following guidelines to identify a qualified, helpful counsellor.
1. A good counsellor is a qualified profession with a university education (often a master's degree or higher) from a recognized university. You can ask to see their university degree, where they did their internship and how long they've been in practice.
2. A good counsellor is part of an association to which they are accountable, has a code of ethics, and which grants certification based on high standards of training and education. The Canadian Counselling Association (CCA) certifies qualified counselors. To find a Canadian Certified Counsellor in Canada, contact The Canadian Counselling Association at 1-877-765-5565 or by visiting their website at http://www.ccacc.ca
A good counsellor has expertise and the necessary training or area of specialization to help with you specific problems.
3. A good counsellor listens more than they speak and keeps the focus on you. A good counsellor is respectful and willing to challenge you when necessary.
A good counsellor is someone you are comfortable with, who is nonjudgmental, someone you can trust with the personal details of your life. A good counsellor encourages and answers your questions.
3. A good counsellor discusses the issue of confidentiality with you, explains when confidentiality might be broken and with whom and under what circumstances the counsellor can discuss your case.A good counsellor helps you set clearly defined goals and a plan of action. A good counsellor gives you an estimate of how long counselling might last and how counselling will end.
4. A good counsellor describes appontment policy with you including the session fees, method of payment, the policy regarding missed appointments, the length of each session and how to reach them in case of an emergency.
5. A good counsellor welcomes your feedback and asks how you feel the counselling process is going and if you have any concerns or questions.

Lucy MacDonald, M.Ed. is a Canadian Certified Counsellor. She is the author of Learn to be an Optimist and Learn to Manage Your Time. Lucy provides phone counselling services and tele-classes on anger management and stress management. Her website is http://www.lucymacdonald.com.

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Mental Illness Help: Stigma, Resources, and Advice

What exactly is a mental illness? I asked myself this question seriously when my brother and mother were first diagnosed a few years ago with Bipolar I and SchizoAffective Disorder. Shortly after, I was forced to reflect on this question once more after my own diagnoses: Bipolar II.
A lot of times, the first ideas that come to mind for the average person of the mentally ill are various images of "crazy" they have acquired from movies such as, Shutter Island, Donnie Darko, Psycho, Girl Interrupted etc. These movies portray the mentally ill in such exaggerated ways that they create a horrible stigma for them.
The Medical Dictionary defines mental illness as, "Any of various disorders characterized chiefly by abnormal behavior or an inability to function socially, including diseases of the mind and personality and certain diseases of the brain. Also called mental disease, mental disorder."
A definition I find more digestible is from the website of an organization called NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, "Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life."
The great news is that it is that mental illness help is possible. Many recover and live productive lives once finding the right resources going through the right treatment.
Besides seeking out a psychiatrist or a psychologist (the latter is medication oriented), joining support groups, or finding more resources such as a local NAMI, we must also seek out understanding and compassion for the mentally ill. Knowledge is the key.
People with mental illnesses are suffering from symptoms or experiences beyond their control. Many people get angry at a depressed person who won't get out of bed, but wouldn't feel the same towards a person with a broken leg. These examples may seem like totally different scenarios, when in actuality they are both physical issues. The second scenario is just less apparent.
With depression, for example, the electrical activity (alpha rhythms) in the frontal lobe of the brain is either very low or non-existent, while other areas of the brain are over active. You can find pictures of a depressed brain vs a healthy brain in many books, or through an internet search. The contrast of the colors representing the activity of the neurons is astonishing! You can actually see what a depressed brain looks like! Check out positron emission tomography scans from Mark George, Terence Ketter, and Robert Post, Biological Psychiatry Brand, NIMH, Bethesda, Maryland and see for yourself! New research has been favoring the "yes" answer to the much debated question, "Is there really such thing as a chemical imbalance that causes mood disorders?" I could go on and on about neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, and how when they are not being properly received by the synapse it causes depression. I could go on about how medication works in the scientific sense, but I'd rather talk about hope. I urge you to look up this information on your own, because you cannot have hope without understanding.
So, what is a mental illness? To a person with the illness fear, guilt and confusion are usually the underlying unconscious answers. These bad feelings dominate their lives. They are dreading and fearing their next episode; they are guilty about how they live their lives and affect the lives of their loved ones, and they are confused about why this is even happening. Why me? Why can I hear voices others can't? Why am I ecstatic one moment, then crying hysterically the next?
I used to get angry at my mom. I used to be disgusted that she couldn't get out of bed and help my dad make the money our family desperately needed, but the more I read and learned, the more I understood that she had a "broken leg" and needed support to heal. She needed understanding with all of her internal chaos, and now I am happy to say that through talk therapy, medication, and a dramatic procedure we had to resort to called ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy), she is almost back to herself. She is on her way to recovery. I have my mom back and she is getting better everyday.
Remember, if you or a loved one has a mental illness, you do not have to accept the stigma that these movies, books, and ignorant perceptions have thrust upon your situation. Join groups that fight against stigma, create your own organization or club, raise awareness, research others who have mental illnesses and are leading productive lives. Become inspired by them and learn from them. I can bet you most of these people have accepted their diagnoses and decided to receive help in the form of treatment, even if it means taking medication. I was very apprehensive about medication, but I discovered that just as diabetes must be treated for life, so does my Bipolar II.
I'll leave you with a quote from Nietzsche, "One must harbor chaos within oneself to give birth to a dancing star," and one from Aristotle, "Why is it that all men who are outstanding in philosophy, poetry, or the arts are meloncholic?"
So get out there, and learn. Start on your path to discovery, healing, and greatness!

Check out this mental health advocacy organization for hope and resources: http://www.nami.org/
Here is a link to a song I wrote about the feelings I've had going through my mother's issues, my brother's, and my own: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3fov4pWSgU Thanks!

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How Can Meditation Help With Depression?

   Currently, we live in a world that is always changing and moving a faster pace. While these changes benefit us in numerous ways, an increasing number of people are becoming stressed and losing their interest to enjoy life. This is no doubt due to the fact that many aspects of life are not certain such as having enough money and holding a job.
   This could lead to relationship and health problems that have to be recognized before they become too serious. Meditation can be very helpful in these situations as you will discover in the rest of this article.
   Meditation was formerly thought of as a mysterious practice that people would observe in isolated mountain retreats. Today, you can find people all over the world who meditate on a regular basis. All you need to do is take some time to go to a quiet place and be there alone. As long as you're comfortable with your particular meditation technique and do it regularly, it doesn't matter which technique you utilize.
   One of the first benefits you will note is that you'll begin to feel mellow every day. It's possible that you will experience less irritation with trivial problems and be able to take on bigger problems without stressing too much. This can happen as you incorporate the deep breathing practices of meditation which enable you to handle stress better.
   Alternatively, you may have found that you are having an anxiety attack as you breathe more shallowly due to the stress in your life. Meditation techniques of any sort can make a difference and help to neutralize stress reactions.
   A further change that should likewise become apparent is how much more energetic you feel as some of your natural vitality returns. With meditation, you will get a different kind of relaxation than the kind you get after sleeping all night.
   Meditation can even help you sleep better every night. It could help to replace some of the hours of rest you have missed if you have had a restless night as well as making you feel less agitated before the nights ahead.
   A large number of meditation practitioners observe increased creativity and inspiration following meditating. This is most likely a result of the way that meditation quiets the mind allowing the creative side to come out. You may find this to be really beneficial if you need help resolving a problem in your life.
   It's a good idea to write down on paper any ideas that come to mind during this time so you won't forget them later on. Integrating meditation into your daily routine is easy to achieve and will help you to feel less stressed while living a healthier life.

Learn more about teenage depression symptoms if you want to help your child to avoid severe depression. Visit http://depressionsymptomsinteenagers.net/ today!

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