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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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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Being Able To Detect Mental Illness

By Mike Ramidden

 

Mental illnesses are biological brain disorders that many people suffer from, through no fault of their own. They cannot be wished away or combated through will power. While there are very real stigmas associated with these illnesses, the best way to get by is to diagnose the problem, study mental health treatment options and seek social support.
One group of mental illnesses is centered on serious depression. The World Health Organization reported that Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar is the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada.
Many people wonder how to tell the difference between serious mental illness and just having "the blues." The American Psychiatric Association characterizes clinical depression by time endured. If "the blues" don't go away within two weeks, then there may be a more serious underlying problem.
Other symptoms prey upon the body and make the simplest of day-to-day tasks almost impossible. These include decreased energy and motivation, loss of pleasure in hobbies, social withdrawal, thoughts of death or suicide, feelings of helplessness, guilt and worthlessness, irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite and persistent emptiness.
It is believed that most depression is caused by the lack of naturally-occurring monoamines like serotonin, norephinephrine and dopamine. Antidepressants can help stimulate production of monoamines and psychotherapy can further prevent relapses.
Another group of mental illnesses are the personality disorders. These involve ongoing patterns of thoughts and actions and create social impairment for the sufferer. For example, the person with Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD) withdraws from social contact and has an intense fear of inadequacy and being disliked.
There are extreme fears of being rejected or of being in social situations, making it much like a chronic phobia or panic disorder at times. In fact, research suggests that approximately 50% of the people who have agoraphobia (fear of open spaces, public settings) also suffer from APD.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of those mental illnesses that leads to a pervasive pattern of instability and failed interpersonal relationships. People with mental illness like BPD may exhibit a wide array of strange behaviors, from self-mutilation, to preoccupation with sex, binge eating, drinking, substance abuse, reckless driving, inappropriate explosive anger, an unstable self image and patterns of anxiety or moodiness that last a few hours at a time.
BPD sufferers are thought to be on the borderline between psychosis and neurosis, and behavior therapy is traditionally used, with other cases requiring medical intervention. Recent research suggests that 56% of the people diagnosed with BPD can show big improvement within one year of mental health treatment.
Schizoid Personality Disorder is fairly rare and occurs in 1% of the population, but results in coldness towards others, lack of emotion, indifference to social norms, odd behavior, indifference to praise or criticism and preoccupation with fantasy. The Schizoid has no sexual drive; few close relationships and may feel superior to others or extremely independent.
Some schizoids may give an outward appearance of giving and receiving, but may in fact give or receive very little because they are merely "playing a part." Schizoids are an interesting breed of people with mental illness because they seldom care to resolve it and feel quite comfortable in their own dueling loneliness and superiority. However, long term mental health treatment can be done through therapy, which involves adopting a whole new way of thinking.
The road to recovery starts with admitting that you may have a problem. Once diagnosed, there are a variety of books you can read, medications you can take or mental health association professionals with whom you can discuss your illness. You may not be able to "wish away" mental illnesses, but you can certainly understand more about them, treat the symptoms and work through your innermost fears and unhappiness.

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Do You Have Clutter Clearing Stress? Here's How To Get Rid Of Clutter Fast

   Do you get stressed out at the thought of clearing clutter from your home? Is clutter making you anxious? Are you reluctant to get rid of clutter?
You look around and see nothing but clutter that never seems to go away. You clean but it doesn't seem to make much difference - not for long, anyway. What's wrong? How can you fix it?
Well, I know exactly what you mean, although those of you with large families with have that many more people making your cleaning stress and anxiety worse.
Over the past 5-6 years, my house has become extremely cluttered. I've been busy with my online business which, in itself, causes clutter believe it or not. And here I thought that working electronically would eliminate all that paperwork - Not.
One day, I turned around from my computer and wondered where the heck all that mess came from. It was closing in on me with alarming speed. I can't remember the last time I sat on my couch or ate dinner at the dining room table.
That's when I made a decision to sort and clear the clutter. To my surprise, it wasn't nearly as easy as I had expected. It shouldn't have been a surprise, though, because I do tend to under-estimate how much work and how long it will take to do things.
After spending several days clearing clutter from one of my spare rooms, I got back to work at my computer to give myself a brief reprieve from cleaning. I needed a break from clutter clearing stress.
A day or so later, I realized that my living room was even more cluttered than it had been when I started my cleaning crusade.
Again I got to work clearing the clutter. I shuffled, sorted, threw out some stuff, actually put away a few items where they belonged, and managed to clear off my dining room table.
The next time I went into the spare room I'd cleared earlier, I was shocked to see how cluttered it had become when I wasn't even using it. That's when I made a startling revelation.
I hadn't really cleared the clutter. I'd redistributed it. What had been in the spare room initially had traveled to my living room and back again. In fact, it probably made its way into several other rooms as well during the process. Instead of finding homes for everything I touched, I put it in another room fully intending to "find a home for it later".
You see, when I'm on a clutter clearing campaign, I can't be distracted. I don't even stop to eat or have a drink. I forge ahead until I reach the bottom of the pile. Stopping to find permanent homes for everything is stressful. It means having to take a moment to think about each item, run it through my emotions to see if I really feel anything for the item, decide where it makes sense to store it, and then create the facility to store it, whether it's a canister, a cupboard or a file folder.
Yes. For some strange reason, that exercise of thinking, sense testing and decision-making stresses me out. Funny, huh?
Decision making is stressful. Doing it repeatedly throughout the clutter clearing process makes cleaning even more stressful. So, to alleviate (or should I say avoid) the stress, I move things around.
Apparently, I'm not alone in this methodology. A long time ago, I was watching a TV show about how to clear and get rid of clutter. The host pointed out that people pick up an item a certain number of times before they actually do something with it. I think it was 7 times. This is the basis of my thinking, I guess. Items won't get a permanent home until I've moved them 7 times.
I can tell you right now that my moves far exceed the norm. I've come across things I was sure I'd tossed out or filed. Yet there they are, making their way back into the spare room.
The solution to this form of cleaning madness is to take each item and make a definite plan for it's destination. Rather than putting it down elsewhere, make that final decision once and for all. Don't delay making that decision because to do so will only add to the stress of cleaning.
Are you ready to clear up your clutter?
Here's what you need to do.
Rule number one is partly taken from a great tip a military friend of mine gave me. Anything you haven't used in two years is probably garbage. Toss it or put it in a yard sale.
In preparation, take a box and mark it "yard sale". For each item you've decided to sell, put it in there right away. Don't put it on another table or in a corner of the room to put in the box later. You and I both know that you'll likely change your mind and you'll have an item that still hasn't been taken care of.
I can't begin to count the number of times I've put stuff in the 'yard sale' box, only to soften my determination and bring them back inside. So the follow up rule is to have a yard sale as soon as possible, so you can't change your mind.
For all your other clutter, you need to go through each item and be harsh in your decision. Do you really need it? If so, for what? And when might you use it again. Is it strictly a piece of nostalgia or is it of true value?
Here's an example.
I just finished cleaning out 3 boxes that held my portfolios from all my work as a reporter. I'd collected every article I wrote, including some very poor quality ones. I had duplicates of articles. I had duplicate copies of the actual newspapers "just in case" - in case of what, I don't know.
I had extremely poor quality photos I'd taken during my early years, some black and white darkroom experiments that didn't work. There were also some old photos I'd taken for certain projects I ran while I worked at the Canadian Mental Health Association. These weren't photos I cared to keep, so why was I hanging on to them?
Nostalgia. Just like the multiple copies of newspapers. I wanted the entire issues so I could have the overall experience of having been published. Well, getting published is no longer that important to me. The thrill went long ago.
Ruthless and determined, I went through each box, tossed out an entire recycling box worth of old articles, papers, brochures, letterhead, graphic designs, magazines and newspapers that were no longer important.
I no longer run a freelance business, so all those promotion kits are garbage. What do I need them for? To fill my closets, never to be seen again? No.
You have to be equally ruthless in your clutter clearing efforts. Be very selective of which items you keep and then find a permanent home for them. If you are reluctant to toss a favorite t-shirt or infant outfit, you could cut out the t-shirt image/graphic or logo, or part of the infant outfit, and frame it neatly and hang it on the wall. Then, you can truly enjoy them for eternityh, rather than having them stored out of sight.
Create file folders for all your paperwork and store them in one of those cardboard file drawers or in a cardboard box.
By the way, if you want a great box for files, drop by your local print shop and ask them for any empty paper boxes they might have. Those are the cartons that hold packages of paper. They make great file boxes because they are sturdy, they are the exact size you need, and they have a lid. They're much cheaper (free, in fact) than buying "proper" file boxes from the local stationery shop.
Clean out your drawers and allot one drawer per 'topic'. My stuff generally finds itself in the handiest or emptiest drawer. This has created drawers with mixed content, which makes it that much more difficult to find homes for things.
A friend of mine used to have a 'gopher' drawer - one drawer where she dumped everything. That's where you looked when you had to go-fer something, especially items that are one-of-a-kind and don't justify their own space.
These are just some of the ways you can get rid of clutter, get over clutter clearing stress and make your life clutter free forever.

Sylvia Dickens is an award-winning journalist who has struggled and overcome , depression, panic and anxiety. Formerly with the Canadian Mental Health Association, she's written, "A Guide to Teenage Depression & Suicide" and offers several books to cure panic quickly and without medication, along with other popular topics. You can learn more at http://www.book-titles.ca Her travel magazine offers family vacation getaway ideas for fun and relaxation. She also runs a blog on Natural Anxiety Relief and related topics at http://www.book-titles.ca/blog/

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