Stress Relief, Health and Wellness Blog

Stress and Self Sabotage:Are You Creating Additional Mental Stress For Yourself?

Though virtually everyone experiences stress, sometimes the way we react to stress amounts to self sabotage! We’ve all found ourselves being impatient with people or taking out frustrations on innocent bystanders, or causing unnecessary conflicts and mental stress because stress is clouding our judgment. And while some people find themselves creating this type of drama in their lives occasionally, others make this self sabotage a way of life, continually creating additional mental and emotional stress for themselves without being aware of their own role in this! The following are some of the most common ways that people create mental and emotional stress in their own lives. Carefully think about whether any of these self sabotage techniques apply to you, so you can make simple changes to reduce significant mental and emotional stress from your life.

There are so many ways to defeat ourselves without any help from anyone else.

www.cliving.org www.stressmarket.com Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com

Chile quake moves city more than 10 feet

(CNN) — The magnitude-8.8 earthquake that rocked the west coast of Chile last month was violent enough to move the city of Concepcion at least 10 feet to the west and the capital, Santiago, about 11 inches to the west-southwest, researchers said.

The quake also shifted other parts of South America, as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil.

The results were reached via global positioning satellite measurements taken before and after the February 27 quake by teams from The Ohio State University, the University of Hawaii, the University of Memphis and the California Institute of Technology, as well as agencies across South America.

NASA scientists have also credited the quake with shifting the Earth’s axis enough to create shorter days. The change is negligible, but still worth noting: Each day should be 1.26 microseconds shorter, according to preliminary calculations. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.

Chile quake moves city more than 10 feet

Wow that is amazing. It makes rational sense with colliding plates and the history of the earth but to think of a whole huge city moving 10 feet is ….. amazing.

It would be helpful to have similar measurements to register the shock that life events have in our own life.

Loss of a loved one.

Serious Illness.

Loss of a job.

Infidelity.

There is a ranking that you can give to major life events to guage how they impact your life.

Take a free Life Stress Test

http://www.cliving.org/lifestresstest.htm

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint.

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6 ways mushrooms can save the world: Paul Stamets on TED.com

Mycologist Paul Stamets studies mycelium and lists 6 ways that this astonishing fungus can help save the world. Cleaning polluted soil, creating new insecticides, treating smallpox and maybe even the flu … in 18 minutes, he doesn’t get all the way through his list, but he has plenty of time to blow your mind. An audience favorite at TED2008

The focus of Stamets’ research is the Northwest’s native fungal genome, mycelium, but along the way he has filed 22 patents for mushroom-related technologies, including pesticidal fungi that trick insects into eating them, and mushrooms that can break down the neurotoxins used in nerve gas.

There are cosmic implications as well. Stamets believes we could terraform other worlds in our galaxy by sowing a mix of fungal spores and other seeds to create an ecological footprint on a new planet.
“Once you’ve heard ‘renaissance mycologist’ Paul Stamets talk about mushrooms, you’ll never look at the world — not to mention your backyard — in the same way again.”
Linda Baker, Salon.com

6 ways mushrooms can save the world: Paul Stamets on TED.com

This is a superb lecture. He talks a bit too fast so you really have to focus. He is really on to something. His demonstrated use of mushroom and fungus has major implications for healthier ways to live – natural pesticide that is not toxic, cheap form of fuel, ways to purify contaminated soil, and more.

What is probably the largest living organism on earth has been discovered in the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. A fungus living three feet underground is estimated to cover 2,200 acres. After testing samples from various locations, scientists say it is all one organism.

Man I hope his work is thriving. I love it because it is Restorative, it is not high tech [which often means using deadly metals and solvents] and it projects a hopeful future where we as humans could bond and enhance the natural world around us.

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com

Rare Buddhist flower found under nun’s washing machine

A rarely seen Buddhist flower, which blossoms every 3,000 years, has been discovered under a nun’s washing machine

The Udumbara flower was found in the home of a Chinese nun in Lushan Mountain, Jiangxi province, China. The rare Youtan Poluo or Udumbara flower, which, according to Buddhist legend, only blooms every 3,000 years, measures just 1mm in diametre. Miao Wei, 50, was cleaning when she discovered the cluster of white flowers under the washing machine. At first she thought the barely-there stems were worm eggs, however, the next day she discovered that the stems had grown 18 white tiny flowers on top and smelled “fragrant”. Local temples believe the mini blooms are specimens of the miraculous Youtan Poluo flower – called “Udumbara” or “Udambara” in Sanskrit, meaning “an auspicious flower from heaven.”

Rare Buddhist flower found

How fun and magical. I have never heard of this flower. And wow, every 3,000 years???  That is quit the timer.

Searching the web, I see there are a number of photos of flowers found around the planet. Some speculate that is might be an insects eggs.

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com

Chile Earthquake May Have Shortened Days on Earth

SPACE.com Space.com Staff

space.com – Tue Mar 2, 10:00 am ET

Chile Earthquake May Have Shortened Days on Earth

And here you were worrying about paying taxes, your dead end job, the neighbor’s barking dog last night, you crazy government or whatever happened to your favorite singer…………. Talk about beyond our control. Wowwwwwwwwwwww

These are events and changes are wayyyyyyyyy beyond our control.

What I recommend is focusing on what you can control in your life and what is around you. You can control your reaction. You can control your muscle tension, your breathing, etc. Calm yourself and focus on simple everyday tasks. Worry and concern over these Huge Events……. if you are not living in Chile, may or may not affect you.

Get Help to learn these skills here.

Life is a Wild Ride. Dr Tim Lowenstein

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com

Superwoman syndrome fuels pill-pop culture

Popping a couple of pain pills helped Laurie J. Besden study night after night. They helped her pass the Pennsylvania bar exam. They helped her get more done in a day than many of her colleagues. Then they helped her land in jail.

Besden doesn’t seem like any drug addict you’d picture. She’s smart, motivated — and an overachiever. But she’s one of an alarming number of women who have turned to prescription pills to get ahead — or even just to keep up.

Almost 6 percent of American women, that’s 7.5 million adult women, report using prescription medicines for a boost of energy, a dose of calm or other non-medical reasons, according to the latest numbers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Superwoman syndrome fuels pill-pop culture

There is a tremendous pressure to keep up with this fast past technological culture. We are forced to constantly learn and compete and produce. This  competition is even harder on women and minorities who also face bias and bigotry. “Mother’s Little Helpers” is what they used to be called – speed or diet pills were all the rage in the 60’s and 70’s. I remember women would talk so fast that they hardly breathed when pumped up on those pills.

Sadly, there is a price to pay. Now the pills are much stronger and the price is even higher on the pocketbook, the body and the mind.

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com

Hospital infections killed 48,000, report shows

WASHINGTON – Pneumonia and blood-borne infections caught in U.S. hospitals killed 48,000 patients and cost $8.1 billion in 2006, according to a report released on Monday. The study is one of the first to put a price tag on the widespread problem, which is worsening and which some experts say is adding to the growing cost of healthcare in the United States. “In many cases, these conditions could have been avoided with better infection control in hospitals,” said Ramanan Laxminarayan of Resources for the Future, a think tank that sponsored the study.

Your Hospital Stay May Kill You

Wow…………. in one year. That is more than the H1N1 or swine flu. And yet there is no publicity about this. That rivals the number of deaths from smoking. Plus the hospital bill will drain whatever money you leave behind. Insult on Death.

Wow………… why is nothing being done to address this terrible situation?

Wow……….a few years back traced the main spreader of disease in the hospital to doctors. They see patient after patient and do not wash their hands in between. Seems weird with all the high tech equipment and hi-powered drugs that the doctor still spreads disease the old fashion way – by touching.

Wow……….

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com

America’s Healthiest Superfoods for Women

You love to eat, but you also love to feel great. You can do both if you choose foods that make you smarter, leaner, stronger—and then use them in tasty new ways.

We’ve made that easy to do with Health’s top 10 superfoods for women. They were selected by our panel of experts for their mega benefits—from bone building and energy boosting to fat busting and disease fighting.

What’s even more delicious: When you mix and match these America’s Healthiest choices, you get super combos with even more power—a breakfast that’s good for your heart, a dinner that fights cancer, a sweet treat that helps keep your tummy calm and mind sharp. Plus, we’ve rounded up 15 delicious, benefit-packed runners-up, too. So read on (and start eating) for a super you in 2010.

Super food a good way to power your body for optimal health.

You go Girl Power!

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

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Does Stress Cause Psoriasis?

The Relationship Between Stress, Skin and Psoriasis

Stress can trigger, maintain and exacerbate psoriasis. In turn psoriasis can cause high stress levels in the patients. Exploring this fascinating relationship between stress and psoriasis is of utmost importance in the management of psoriasis.

Stress and Skin

Skin and brain have got the same origin in the womb – the neuroectoderm. Skin as the fifth sense organ, is supplied by millions of nerve endings that are directly connected to the autonomous nervous system and the brain.

These all are interlinked and affected by scores of hormonal secretions from the different endocrinal glands in the body. The immunological system mediated by T lymphocytes is also part of this intricate psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunlogical network.

The stress response is affected by all these pathways. It is but natural that the skin, which is profusely supplied by millions of networks from the brain and autonomic nervous system and supplied by micro-blood vessels throughout the body, will be affected by the stress response in more than one way.

Stress and Psoriasis

Psoriasis is more stress sensitive than many other skin diseases. Many stressful events of daily life may exacerbate psoriasis. The disease itself may cause a ‘reactive depression’ in patients which could further exacerbate the disease process.

Stress causes psoriasis?

This has a good explanation.

Back in the early 70s doing biofeedback training we first had reports of positive remission of psoriasis as a secondary gain. A person came in for biofeedback and relaxation training to deal with test anxiety or headaches. After 4 to 8 weeks of training 3 times a week, they said – Hey my psoriasis is going away.

STRESS THERMOMETER PROGRAM SC945

SC945 - Stress Thermometer Program $29.95

This is an excellent program for you to use. It will teach you basic relaxation skills. The digital thermometer is a very fast biofeedback instrument. You will see stress changes in seconds. Listen and practice a relaxation exercise 3 times a week at least. Keep records of your temperature change. The Stress Thermometer will help you relax and master your brain and autonomic nervous system.

Do not look for changes in your skin at first. Look to find stress and tension that you carry that you did not know you had. Find new ways to drop tension and be more relaxed through out the day. Then after 4 to 6 weeks you can look for small changes in your skin.

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com

Mood and Working Memory Boosted by Mindfulness Exercises

A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers has found a positive link between mindfulness training (MT) and improvements in mood and working memory.

Mindfulness is the ability to be aware and attentive of the present moment without emotional reactivity or volatility.

The study saw a high-stress U.S. military group preparing for deployment to Iraq being trained.

It was found that the more time participants spent engaging in daily mindfulness exercises the better their mood and working memory, the cognitive term for complex thought, problem solving and cognitive control of emotions.

The study also suggests that sufficient MT practice may protect against functional impairments related to high-stress challenges that need an large amount of cognitive control, self-awareness, situational awareness and emotional regulation.

To study the protective results of mindfulness training on psychological health in individuals about to experience extreme stress, cognitive neuroscientist Amishi Jha of the Department of Psychology and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Penn and Elizabeth A. Stanley of Georgetown University provided mindfulness training for the first time to U.S. Marines before deployment.

Mood and Working Memory Boosted by Mindfulness Exercises

We have shipped thousands and thousands of Mood or Stress Cards to various military bases around the US and some around the world. I used to consult for the Fort Riley military base in the mid 1970s. I could definitely see the need for stress management. Also there was a big need for alcohol abuse training. It is a very stressful situation and mindfulness or stress management was a very needed component. I think this kind of training fills in a gap. The military does a lot of education, training and fitness but not much in the way of mental fitness or readiness. That is changing. I am glad to see it.

One day those soldiers will be our neighbors. We want a smooth and healthy transition. We should take care of them because they risk and sacrifice so much for their country.

You might consider Stress or Mood Cards for training you students or employees. They are a great training tool.

Stress Card, Mood Card fast stress test

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Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved

Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. info@stressmarket.com