The mind and body react to each other. Functional/Integrative medicine, treating people rather than individual body parts, is a revolutionary field that recognizes body systems work together as a whole rather than separately.
This underlines the importance of healing brain disorders such as ADHD, autism, Alzheimer's, and depression by considering the whole self.
Before the obesity crisis, people as well as medical doctors were indifferent about what goes in our mouths. Even today, few know much about nutrition. What we eat is important since this contains the materials that develop brain cells. Without foods that supply the necessary nutrients, the brain cannot function well.
All of the body parts and every cell in the body are constantly communicating with each other. "Good communication is good health (Mark Hyman MD)."
A good place to start healing ADHD is with nutrition. Use a whole food approach free of chemicals, pesticides, additives, sugar, trans fats, and processed foods. Check for food sensitivities. Gluten and dairy head the list. These are easily detected using a food elimination diet.
Work with your health care professional to rule out or receive treatment for environmental toxicity (lead/mercury/mold), and yeast overgrowth. Also, check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Although doctors specializing in Functional medicine are scarce, it is worth your while to check for one in your area.
Once the root causes of ADHD symptoms are removed, a complete turn-around of mood, behavior, attention span, irritability, and anxiety is possible.
Functional Medicine recognizes and treats each person individually. Each person has a unique genetic make-up. Causes behind ADHD for one person may differ from another. Functional Medicine treats people, not diseases.
Functional Medicine is a fundamental change in thinking. Its role in ADHD and overall brain function is to be applauded.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Change ADHD behavior with body building in the brain
Since ADHD is a brain problem, it seems logical that's the place to build new habits that replace negative behaviors of ADHD.
Similar to weight training for muscle building through repeated practice, new behaviors can be formed in much the same way. The more focus on the new habit is repeated, the more developed the involved parts of the brain become.
Mastery of a new habit results from repetition.
Mastery is correlated to development of the networks in the brain. It's like "body building in the brain."
Like you decide to become a physically better you, you may do the same mentally. The goal is to become a better you by developing good patterns that replace negative patterns. The habits procrastination, losing focus, or impulsiveness may be replaced with perseverance, mindfulness, and control.
Although changing set patterns can be difficult, the brain will adapt to new changes. The first job is to identify the new behavior you desire and get to work setting the pattern.
Visualize and Practice
Do your homework so that you are prepared to visualize. Know specific traits and characteristics of the new habit for use in your visualization exercises. Know how it will feel, look, and sound. Think of people you know or have viewed that are masters of the habit you desire. Model their behavior.
Choose a quiet, comfortable place for your visualization. One where you will not be disturbed. Get comfortable, quiet, gently close your eyes and listen to your breathing as it gets slower and slower, and you feel more and more relaxed. If you have a method for relaxation, perhaps on a CD or on a downloaded file, use it. The main thing is to get relaxed, comfortable, and quiet in body and mind.
Next, visualize yourself using your desired habit. Use as many of your senses as possible, making it real.
If you start to lose focus due to thought or unrelated visuals, remain calm, gently reach up and tap your forehead just above the right eye, and return to your task. No matter how often your focus may be interrupted, tap and return.
Practice your new habit. The more practice, the better. Repeated practice, and visualization will thicken the appropriate networks in the brain, establishing the new pattern. Don't give up, the exercise will pay off.
Keep your focus on the new you.
You may find tips, strategies, and suggestions in previous Let the Energy Flow blog entries that will help you practice desired habits.
Similar to weight training for muscle building through repeated practice, new behaviors can be formed in much the same way. The more focus on the new habit is repeated, the more developed the involved parts of the brain become.
Mastery of a new habit results from repetition.
Mastery is correlated to development of the networks in the brain. It's like "body building in the brain."
Like you decide to become a physically better you, you may do the same mentally. The goal is to become a better you by developing good patterns that replace negative patterns. The habits procrastination, losing focus, or impulsiveness may be replaced with perseverance, mindfulness, and control.
Although changing set patterns can be difficult, the brain will adapt to new changes. The first job is to identify the new behavior you desire and get to work setting the pattern.
Visualize and Practice
Do your homework so that you are prepared to visualize. Know specific traits and characteristics of the new habit for use in your visualization exercises. Know how it will feel, look, and sound. Think of people you know or have viewed that are masters of the habit you desire. Model their behavior.
Choose a quiet, comfortable place for your visualization. One where you will not be disturbed. Get comfortable, quiet, gently close your eyes and listen to your breathing as it gets slower and slower, and you feel more and more relaxed. If you have a method for relaxation, perhaps on a CD or on a downloaded file, use it. The main thing is to get relaxed, comfortable, and quiet in body and mind.
Next, visualize yourself using your desired habit. Use as many of your senses as possible, making it real.
If you start to lose focus due to thought or unrelated visuals, remain calm, gently reach up and tap your forehead just above the right eye, and return to your task. No matter how often your focus may be interrupted, tap and return.
Practice your new habit. The more practice, the better. Repeated practice, and visualization will thicken the appropriate networks in the brain, establishing the new pattern. Don't give up, the exercise will pay off.
Keep your focus on the new you.
You may find tips, strategies, and suggestions in previous Let the Energy Flow blog entries that will help you practice desired habits.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Limiting beliefs stifle success
Most of us with ADHD tend to be sensitive individuals. Sure, it's good to be considerate of others.
However, being sensitive to negative beliefs is a serious problem. Admonitions, threats, and the frustration and anger expressed to us through others impress our minds with negative beliefs: "You're not good enough." "You can't do that." "It will never work." "You are weird, crazy, lazy, and will never amount to anything." "You are a failure."
Limiting beliefs come from parents, teachers, and others who have a role in our care as we progress through childhood.
I'm not excusing those who filled my head with failure, but, in my case, I can understand how symptoms of my ADHD played havoc with them. Most caregivers have our best interests at heart, and would do no intentional harm.
Unfortunately, repeated remarks stemming from others frustration at our ADHD behaviors, become deeply engrained on our unconscious. Therefore, we play out our belief of no-good, trouble-maker, failure who always forgets,and never listens or follows direction.
Or, we change the limiting beliefs.
We do this using the same principle of mind that created the belief in limitations. Of course, we have but one mind, but it serves two functions. We generally refer to the two functions as conscious and unconscious, or objective and subjective. Think of the conscious mind as the thought or thinking component and of the unconscious as making thoughts materialize.
Using the principle of mind, what is impressed is expressed, use the objective mind to reframe negative beliefs into positive affirmations and thoughts. Keep affirmations short and to the point using the present tense. The unconscious mind does not reason, or distinguish nuances. As you say it, is exactly how it accepts it. Avoid words or phrases containing someday, tomorrow, soon, I'd like, etc.
Visualize.
In fact, use all of the senses possible as you see yourself making good decisions, being a good listener, performing responsibly, making good grades, receiving raises, promotions, winning awards, reaching goals, and contributing successfully to your community and country. Feel it, see it, hear it, and taste it.
When is the best time to do this? Anytime is good. But, just before arising while in the drowsy state, and just before falling asleep at night are two of the best times for planting new seeds of thoughts. In addition to this, set aside a few minutes throughout the day sitting quietly, visualizing and affirming new behaviors.
Remember, you are not controlled by remarks, thinking, or actions of others unless you allow it. Appoint your conscious mind as the watchguard for your thoughts. Avoid limiting beliefs.
Let you determine what is true about you.
Readers of this blog know that I endorse the use of the energy modality EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to identify root causes of limiting beliefs. For a limited time, this site offers a FREE EFT Manual Download.
Learn how I convert my articles to LIVE TALKING videos in just 0.97 cents!
http://www.articlevideorobot.com/specialoffer/pkeene
However, being sensitive to negative beliefs is a serious problem. Admonitions, threats, and the frustration and anger expressed to us through others impress our minds with negative beliefs: "You're not good enough." "You can't do that." "It will never work." "You are weird, crazy, lazy, and will never amount to anything." "You are a failure."
Limiting beliefs come from parents, teachers, and others who have a role in our care as we progress through childhood.
I'm not excusing those who filled my head with failure, but, in my case, I can understand how symptoms of my ADHD played havoc with them. Most caregivers have our best interests at heart, and would do no intentional harm.
Unfortunately, repeated remarks stemming from others frustration at our ADHD behaviors, become deeply engrained on our unconscious. Therefore, we play out our belief of no-good, trouble-maker, failure who always forgets,and never listens or follows direction.
Or, we change the limiting beliefs.
We do this using the same principle of mind that created the belief in limitations. Of course, we have but one mind, but it serves two functions. We generally refer to the two functions as conscious and unconscious, or objective and subjective. Think of the conscious mind as the thought or thinking component and of the unconscious as making thoughts materialize.
Using the principle of mind, what is impressed is expressed, use the objective mind to reframe negative beliefs into positive affirmations and thoughts. Keep affirmations short and to the point using the present tense. The unconscious mind does not reason, or distinguish nuances. As you say it, is exactly how it accepts it. Avoid words or phrases containing someday, tomorrow, soon, I'd like, etc.
Visualize.
In fact, use all of the senses possible as you see yourself making good decisions, being a good listener, performing responsibly, making good grades, receiving raises, promotions, winning awards, reaching goals, and contributing successfully to your community and country. Feel it, see it, hear it, and taste it.
When is the best time to do this? Anytime is good. But, just before arising while in the drowsy state, and just before falling asleep at night are two of the best times for planting new seeds of thoughts. In addition to this, set aside a few minutes throughout the day sitting quietly, visualizing and affirming new behaviors.
Remember, you are not controlled by remarks, thinking, or actions of others unless you allow it. Appoint your conscious mind as the watchguard for your thoughts. Avoid limiting beliefs.
Let you determine what is true about you.
Readers of this blog know that I endorse the use of the energy modality EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to identify root causes of limiting beliefs. For a limited time, this site offers a FREE EFT Manual Download.
Learn how I convert my articles to LIVE TALKING videos in just 0.97 cents!
http://www.articlevideorobot.com/specialoffer/pkeene
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