Losses.... hope at the end of the rainbow?

November 30, 2009

Losses…

Losses in my life…
Keeping me behind…
Holding my soul captive…
Engulfed in fear…
Not fear of loss…
Fear of a tabula rasa
That lacks words, visions
It is lonely in the tabula
It is only comforting
Repeating, I relinquish my future
I relinquish my future

Same as saying the serenity prayer:

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference”

Tabula rasa defined in the web: “The mind before it receives the impressions gained from experience.”

It sounds like a very lonely existence lacking a vision. I am visual and lack of vision keeps me in purgatory.

Maybe there is hope at the end of the rainbow!

Remember the less fortunate...

Today is the eve before that famous thanksgiving event that some of us apprehensively celebrate. I will go through the motions and see if in the process I find all the wonderful things that I will be celebrating tomorrow. Obliterating the thoughts that cripple, as many of us refer to as "demons," would be a great place to start. :)

All the books that I have read over the years on self help say that one has to eradicate the negative by forgiveness and then and only then will one be able to free ones soul from the demons. I also learned that we are spiritual beings with a body attached to us. If this is so I evoke the spirit of my son to reach out and touch me and for that thought, I will be thankful tomorrow. I wonder if I will be able to eat the spread of food tomorrow. I wonder. The slight thought of him being hungry takes my hunger away. Not trying to go there as they say... but the thought crosses my mind.

Even though I have seen that America takes care of their hungry during the holidays. Don't forget the less fortunate during the holiday when we are eating. Remember. Contribute to shelters and organizations that what you feel is your trash. It will be someone else's fortune. Donate $10 in any shelter on line. It takes 5 minutes and maybe it is my son that will get a new pair of shoes for Thanksgiving as he did last year. And for that I will also be thankful. There is no way to hide from them. Thoughts of family together and not. Thoughts of who is family and who is not. Thoughts of whether or not they will see your pain and somehow feel sorry for you. No... pitty no one wants to feel from others ... learned that from my son Dustin. Wherever he may be. That is a blessing... his lessons throughout life and he is still teaching me. For that I will also be thankful. He said blessing some homeless person on the streets was signaling him out from the rest and therefore in some way looking at them in a different way as we would look at any other human being. He said, "they did not want to feel singled out from the rest of the society, mom!" He had never been homeless when he said this. Another lesson from my son about the injustice and lack of appropriate admonishment of the homeless and/or the less fortunate. For that I am also thankful.

In the midst of it all I have managed to bake banana/cranberry bread and made some coquito (puertorican eggnog). I have been cleaning the house as if Santa was really coming to town. HO! HO! HO! Will celebrate Xmas this weekend and will get a tree since my baby is going back home to celebrate the holidays with his family. For this I am also thankful -- that he can go spend time with his family. He is very fortunate. Just want to say that I am going to spell out what I envision my loved son doing this holiday. I envision him living under a roof with others that accept him and if do not love him at least do not interfere with him. He is healthy and he smiles and giggles even if out of context. I always found my son to be OK regardless of what health issues he faced. I always accepted him, even when he shaved his head and his eyebrows. He... he... It was his soul that was ok. For that I am also thankful. And with that thought, I would like to extend a warm wish to all out there and enjoy and appreciate your family, you never know when you will not have them around!

Depression Relief...

This is an article in yesterday’s The Huffington Post written by Dr. Andrew Weil. You can either agree with him or not, but he has very good alternatives to Depression Relief.

Posted: November 18, 2009 08:32 AM

Integrative Mental Health: A New Model For Depression Relief
The World Health Organization has predicted that by 2030, more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem. Yet of all the dysfunctions of modern medicine, the way we treat depression may be the worst.

As I outlined in "Are You Depressed, Or Just Human?" normal changes in mood are often labeled as depression, leading to an overdiagnosis of the condition. But even if the patient is truly depressed, the prescribed treatment is almost always limited to a potent pharmaceutical. In other words, a complex, multifaceted problem is frequently treated with an oversimplified, expensive therapy that, sadly, is often ineffective.

The reason? Money. Our profit-driven medical system makes it difficult for doctors to spend enough time with patients to make a correct diagnosis and to craft truly individualized treatments. Also, patients themselves often demand the drugs they have seen advertised, and overworked, harried doctors frequently go along.

There is another reason for this regrettable situation. Many physicians are not trained in other treatment options for depression, though these can be safe, inexpensive and highly effective. So even if both physician and patient favor an alternative to drugs, they often lack the knowledge to employ it. …

At the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, the program I founded in 1994 at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, we're working hard to promote this. Here are a few of the therapeutic options for depression that we teach.
Nutritional approaches:

Omega-3 fatty acids: Studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may be helpful in relieving mild to moderate depression. Fish oil is an excellent source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential fatty acid found in nerve and brain tissue. I recommend doses of fish oil supplements in the range of 2,000- 3,000 mg per day of EPA+DHA.

Vitamin D: Deficiency has been associated with depression, as well as a host of other diseases. I now routinely recommend 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, taken with the largest meal.
St. John's wort: This herbal remedy that has long been used in Europe as a treatment for mood disorders. Standardized extracts have shown an effectiveness greater than that of a placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate forms of depression. It should not be taken with anti-retroviral medications, birth control pills, or antidepressant medications, especially SSRIs such as Prozac or Celexa. Try 300 mg of an extract standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin, three times a day. Its full effect will be felt in about eight weeks.

SAMe: A synthetic version of a derivative of the amino acid L-methionine, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) was judged "superior to placebo and is as effective as tricyclic antidepressants in alleviating depression" in a November, 2002, article by Harvard researchers published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It has the advantage of working more quickly than St John's wort. Use only the butanedisulfonate form in enteric-coated tablets, or in capsules. Try 400 - 1,600 mg a day on an empty stomach.

B vitamins: The B vitamins, especially folic acid and vitamin B6, may be helpful in mild depression, and B vitamins can increase the efficacy of prescription antidepressants.

In addition, follow an anti-inflammatory diet and include an antioxidant multi-vitamin/mineral supplement to ensure you are meeting your nutritional needs for all the essential nutrients.
Somatic approaches:

Aerobic exercise: For more immediate, symptomatic depression treatment, there is no better method than regular aerobic exercise. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of a daily workout for improving emotional health and boosting self confidence. I recommend 30 minutes of continuous activity, at least five days a week for best results.

Phototherapy: Shorter daylight hours can affect sleep, productivity and state of mind. Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, may help. It uses light boxes emitting full-spectrum light to simulate sunlight. Phototherapy has been shown to have positive results for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), women with severe premenstrual syndrome, bulimics, and as a non-drug treatment for pregnant women and others suffering from depression. A meta-analysis has supported modest benefit when compared to placebo for non-seasonal depression.

Acupuncture: The World Health Organization has recognized acupuncture as effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

Massage: Massage therapy has been shown to relieve depression, especially in people who have chronic fatigue syndrome; other studies also suggest benefit for other populations.

Mind-body approaches:
Psychotherapy: Find a psychotherapist, mental health professional or grief counselor who can help you explore the factors that may be contributing to your depression, and who can suggest methods of understanding and changing habitual thought patterns to facilitate recovery. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be especially helpful.

Other mind-body therapies: Yoga, hypnosis, meditation, mindfulness training, "news fasts" and conscious efforts to socialize and bond with people and companion animals may all be of value, and are low-risk.

I don't want to trivialize these approaches by implying that they can be adequately conveyed in one blog post - the information listed above is by no means complete, it is meant only as an overview of some therapies for further exploration and inquiry. Also, keep in mind that while depression may be on the way to becoming the most often-diagnosed mental health problem worldwide, integrative specialists are also investigating the diagnosis and treatment of other mental health conditions including anxiety, psychosis, dementia, substance abuse and sleep disturbances.

So for those who seek in-depth knowledge in the broad, burgeoning field of integrative mental health, here are three resources I recommend highly:

Textbook of Integrative Mental Health Care by James Lake, M.D. The prime reference in this growing field. Dr. Lake's book brilliantly summarizes evidence-based integrative interventions that may be unknown to many physicians.

2010 Integrative Mental Health Conference, March 22-24, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona. This is the first conference of its kind to assemble leaders in integrative mental health, creating a new field and framework in which to promote mental wellness.

The "Depression," chapter in David Rakel, M.D.'s, excellent reference text Integrative Medicine.
Andrew Weil, M.D., is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and the editorial director of www.DrWeil.com. Become a fan on Facebook and follow Dr. Weil on Twitter.

Giving Back - Part II

Giving Back – Part II

Then here is the (link) spill on Slash, who to tell you the truth, I have no idea who he is. Regardless of my knowledge of current music, I appreciate and tip my hat to them for engaging in such a controversial issue and one that we all want to ignore.

\http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/slash-holds-concert-to-be_n_362289.html

"Slash and friends join forces to battle youth homelessness in Los Angeles during the Los Angeles Youth Network (LAYN) Rocks! benefit concert November 22 at the Avalon Hollywood. Hosted by comedian George Lopez, LAYN Rocks! will unite musical talents Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, Perry Farrell, Tom Morello, Billy Idol, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Travis Barker, Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother, Dave Navarro, and many others for a night of music and a step toward eradicating youth homelessness. Causecast's Brandon Deroche had the opportunity to talk with Slash about the night and get his take on the root of the problem. This interview was originally posted on Causecast.org

CC: In recent times there seems to be somewhat of a shift taking place, with an emphasis on volunteering in local communities, and an overall emphasis on giving back. Do you think people are waking up to the idea of service?

Slash: Well, I haven't really thought about whether or not there is a shift taking place and people are all of a sudden deciding to give back. I do realize that there are a lot of people doing that, there are a lot of organizations doing that and a lot of celebrities all doing that, but I'm not sure if that's a new trend or if that's just something I've been more aware of, but I think it's a good thing.

CC: With something like a benefit concert, music is being used as a vehicle for social change. Do you feel music often serves that purpose well?

Slash: I think music is a great communicator, a great way to get people to listen. Musicians seem to be able to pull people together in huge crowds, and be able to actually communicate certain things, and people by and large actually listen. So it is very conducive to get people listen to a particular point or to draw people together on a particular idea.

CC: This is not the first time you've been involved with homelessness. Is there a reason you're particularly passionate about this cause?"


***


Nice. The concept of giving back! What are you doing for your community, state, nation, or the world's brothers and sisters which we have and may never meet?

Giving Back - Part I

November 19, 2009

Giving Back, Part I

Well, well, well! I am excited indeed that in this era of Aquarius the world is becoming somewhat more caring to reach out and do something, as in the 60s. Back to thinking about others beyond our boundaries and care for our own.

A large number of the current homeless population are returning vets. What I am excited about is the amount of talk of the mentally ill and the homeless. The message is getting disseminate into our homes. That is step one to "giving back!"

Below you will see what CNN Political Ticker had to say on November 10, 2009.

"The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey noted at a Senate subcommittee hearing on the subject.

"Veterans' homelessness is a national disgrace," he said. American heroes (are) huddled over a heating grate in the shadow of the Washington Monument, or curled up on a bench by the war memorials on the Mall in Washington, or trying to find shelter in cities across America.

The VA has concluded that 260,000 veterans are homeless over the course of a typical year, he added. An estimated one in four homeless men or women served in the military.The increasing number of servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, combined with the economic downturn, Menendez noted, has contributed to a recent spike in the number of homeless families with veterans."

***

Our heroes are coming home! Are we here to receive them in a way that would show some kind of love for this nation? In my next post I will have some information on Giving back…

to be continued…

MEDS, MEDS, MEDS, an oxymoron...

Today I write to acknowledge something that has been troubling me. It seems that a friend of mine is having problems and has been sharing this with me as he knows I was studying to become a "criminal sex therapist." Many say it is a good thing that I did not become one. I could have settled for "couples sex therapy" if the criminal aspect of the field was too raw to live a peaceful life. I say this because I have another friend who is a criminal lawyer and he had to give up his profession at one point due to the rawness of the job and his sensitivity towards mankind. Some professions get in the way of our balance in our every day living.

Going back to my friend. This person was given antidepressants due to a life changing experience. He shares with me that it seems as if someone has taken the spark of his life away from him. That his eyes dimmed along with his soul and his drive and energy for life and sex were stolen from him, just with one simple pill. His girlfriend feels left out and that he is not the sexually driven man she met a year ago and that he does not express his desire for her anymore. In a way she feels alienated and that this is a stranger in their bed.

He asks me: "What am I to do?" Does he stop taking the meds and risk the emotional turmoil that will bring to the already sensitive issues in the relationship or does he continue to take them and risk losing his lover? It seems as if in both choices he risks loosing his lover. Sad...

Ladies and gentlemen, now I truly understand why the mentally ill don't want to take meds. We have so many homeless who choose this life so people will just leave them alone and at least there is one thing that noone can take away from them... their soul and their sexual drive! They choose to be wandering in their minds and souls rather than risk loosing their libido and life energy in order to be able to join humanity or what I call "be socially acceptable" in this world we live in. They choose abandonment of their lives in order to feel alive within themselves and acceptance from other mentally ill. Something they do not get from the rest of society who does not acknowledge them and even rejects them.

I understand and I understand the trial and tribulations that my friend and his girlfriend are going through and wonder what the answer is. Anyone who can contribute to this oxymoron, I welcome it and so will my friend. He is getting desperate, enough to share with me such a delicate subject. I am open to discussion. Comment, subscribe and follow this site... its about life!

Schizophrenia and our society's avoidance

Its sad that a few weeks ago it was National Mental Illness Week and nowhere did I find acknowledgemnt to same. Its sad that Americans think about health care reform and still do nothing for preventive medicine with their mentally ill, when in not doing so they spend billions in institutionalizations which cost them more.

Its sad that we fear the mentally ill, when the mind is just another body part!

Its sad that ignorance with regard to the mentally ill is the predominant factor that keeps them isolated and not part of our society. Why? When we allow people with all other illnesses into our society?

The lack of acknowledgement and therefore preventive medicine would benefit all the numbers with regard to the health care reform.

Can’t hear you out there? Or from a schizo’s mind, I hear you too much, help me!

... Attitude a survival instinct

What an amazing statement came out of someone’s lips last night! “It’s about attitude! About 6 years ago I introduced Zumba [www.zumba.com] to the Washington metropolitan area. I was the first instructor who had a huge class at the Gold’s Gym near my home. It was a phenomenal and empowering event in my life, when all the chips seemed to be down. Had to make peace with mental illness in the family and exercise and training others to embark with me in my new journey was very rewarding. My attitude changed.

Each day I taught my class with smiles and with all the energy I had to share. At the end of the class and after we had peacefully and slowly done all our final stretches I asked my trainee’s to breathe in deeply as they raised their arms to the top of their heads as if making a snow angel. Told them to hold and feel the positive energy of the world, their universe inside. “As you exhale, bring your arms down to your sides and let go of any evil, negativity, or any thoughts that kept them from smiling.” We repeated this a few times. Puertoricans and Cubans call these “despojos” or getting rid of the evil spirits. Our cultures’ idiosyncrasies take this nonchalantly without a deep construal of same. Even though it might intimidate some as it being witchcraft, it is not.

I did this letting go of all the negative energy and then said to them: “go out into the world today with the attitude, I am woman hear me roar! Attitude ladies is all we need to endure whatever challenges we are facing or will face. So go out there with the right attitude and you will be unstoppable!”

I needed to remember my own words so here it is… Join me in my quest for balance. How to achieve it? ATTITUDE!