Feel better now

We've been looking at the effects of thinking on our feelings and health. Check out this recent article on how positive feelings affect cardiovascular health as well. Imagery and positive thinking are great, then again, I don't know about you, but sometimes I just need to feel better now!!!  The first step is to become aware of your feelings. A psychologist colleague of mine, Dr. Frank Tornatore, suggested doing frequent "check-ins" to scan your body and emotions. If any negativity or stress is found, then stop for a moment to intervene (with therelaxation response, progressive relaxation, or deep breathing exercise) or re-evaluate thoughts as necessary, then turn it around before the feeling goes further... like so you are not a ticking time bomb of stress!  Then check out and carry on in a better path. "Check in and check out," he says... frequently.  So HOW do you stop and turn around adverse feelings, thoughts, emotions, etc.?  Well here's something cool. Recently, someone gave me an audiobook by Kevin Trudeau called, "Your Wish is Your Command" in which he states we all have a genie within us to get what we want by sending out good vibrations, among other things. Really? It's controversial! There was some valuable information in this work, but personally, I lean toward prayer and goal-setting and accountability... every day!  However, I did like chapter 8 when Kevin talked about a list of 20 ways to FEEL BETTER NOW. He had some great practical tips on how to improve your mood and feelings, so you will begin to feel better, even quickly. It inspired me to start a little garden and even to play Mozart on the piano for the first time in almost 20 years. Bet you didn't know I could do that, eh? I was a closet pianist in my younger days, LOL :)  So here's the list...I'm going to share it with you today before our next series on how FOODS affect your moods. Let me know which ideas are your favorites, I'd love to hear from you! Think healthy, eat healthy, and stay well! Many Blessings

No Worries!

We have been working on positive thoughts and imagery to relieve anxiety, stress, and prepare for upcoming events. It's no secret that thoughts lead to feelings which lead to actions. Thoughts and imagery can even bring forth physical manifestations. Check out this reply that came in from my friend Jack Miller, a Certified Traditional Naturopath. http://www.naturalhealthsciencesofarizona.com/     "Very good info Becky. The opposite is true also. A non-recovering chronically ill person came to see me who perpetually lives in unhappy places. It doesn't even seem that the things this person and some others have gone through are horribly bad but they can recount those bad events in detail, which they do frequently. They live in a place of bad mental imagery and feel sorry for themselves that they had to go through something bad. Bad things are a part of life. I had some pretty rough things happen to me in my life. I won't get into that but the point is that I moved on and choose to focus on good things and a positive future. A few of these patients work on themselves constantly with emotional release therapies but they have been doing so for years and to me it becomes just an excuse to recall bad events over and over. There seems to be a need to do so. I need to learn more about what you do because I may want to send you some people. Do you ever do these sessions in LHC?" Above is an example of someone who ruminates on negative outcomes to the point of physical disease. PTSD is an example of flashing back to traumatic events. Once again, this has its roots in the brain. One of the first things I do with my clients through EEG Biofeedback AKA  neurofeedback is to help them calm down mentally...this offers tremendous relief from stress, anxiety, insomnia and eventually leads to improved focus and attention. Did you know you can train your brain to calm, reduce perception of pain, sleep better, and focus? Really! That's good news! Like Jack, do you want to learn more? Here's some good news... I'm offering a FREE consultation! That's right, you can call, schedule an appointment or even Skype and we can determine how neurofeedback can help you or a loved one. There's also a bushel of information on my websitewww.edgeneurofitness.com so you can get answers now. Need a consult in Arizona? I'm there from time to time, but just send me a reply and I will forward you to my affiliate in Lake Havasu City. http://www.affordablecounselingsolutions.com/braintraining Think healthy, eat healthy, and stay well!

Imagine Success!

In the last email, my colleague Dr. Hillel Mazansky, M.D. offered us a road map to find our "Happy Place" to relieve stress and anxiety.  Have you ever stressed out over an upcoming event or performance?  Well the good news is you can use imagery in preparation and rehearsal! Did you know that athletes use imagery?  It's all about getting into "The Zone"... Allowing yourself to run through the event SUCCESSFULLY       in your mind... Now here are more pearls of wisdom from Dr. Mazansky, our guided imagery expert: Aside from allowing you to rehearse mentally, imagery also allows you to practice in advance for anything unusual that might occur, so that you areprepared and already practiced in handling it. This is a technique used very commonly by top sports people, who learn good performance habits by repeatedly rehearsing performances in their imagination. When the unusual eventualities they have rehearsed using imagery occur, they have good, pre-prepared, habitual responses to them. Imagery also allows you to pre-experience achievement of your goals, helping to give you the self-confidence you need to do something well. This is another technique used by successful athletes. Wow! Now that's the competitive EDGE! When I was studying Exercise Physiology at CSUF years ago, we covered this in Sports Psychology. Because the game starts in your MIND! There is a mind-body connection. It all starts in your brain...that's the point of mental or NeuroFitness training to "Unlock Your Brain's Potential" and I'm here to share with YOU all the tools I have learned! In my next post, I'll share with you a response that came in from another colleague about what can happen to you physically with continued rehearsal of negative thoughts and imagery... For more information on Dr. Mazansky and his work, you can check out his website http://www.gianinc.com