1. How to Use Dialectical Behavior Therapy to Manage Chronic Headache

    August 9, 2013

    Chronic Headache

    by Julian Kahn

    If you suffer from chronic headaches and nothing you have tried is capable of relieving the pain, you should consider dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT was developed by a psychologist Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s to treat various mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder.

    The Theory Behind Dialectical Behavior Therapy

    Dialectical behavior therapy was originally developed as a type of cognitive behavior therapy. However, due to the nature of its principles and strategies, DBT is quite effective in treating chronic physical pain as well.

    This is mainly due to the fact that physical and emotional pains are closely related. While a physical problem can create emotional pain, emotional problems can also encourage the development of physical pain. With that said, it is believed that by accepting reality as it is rather than what we wish it to be, we can effectively turn our focus elsewhere and thus, relieve or reduce our pain.

    Four Components of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

    Dialectical behavior therapy consists of both individual and group therapy sessions that focus on four essential skills. These skills, as described below, are the main components of DBT, and within each one of them are several lessons that can help you manage chronic pain.

    • Mindfulness: The essential part of all skills taught in skills groups are the core mindfulness skills. What these skills basically teach you is that you have a choice of where to focus your thoughts. While you can choose to focus on the negative aspects of life, you can also choose to focus on the positives.

    These skills also teach you that anything that is happening to you is only fleeting, and you are not powerless. You can make use of mindful awareness to keep yourself in the present without worrying about the future. Furthermore, when you practice mindful awareness, you can better prepare yourself for many of the other essential skills.

    • Interpersonal effectiveness: Interpersonal effectiveness training is quite similar to classes that teach assertiveness and problem-solving skills. During this part of therapy, you will learn effective strategies to handle conflicts, to find out what others want and to say no.

    Actually, many people are aware of these skills and know what others should do in various situations, but they are incapable of implementing these skills on their own. However, during this module, you will learn such useful lessons as how to make requests and how and when to say no without damaging the relationship you have with the person(s) in question.

    • Distress tolerance: While some treatment programs focus on changing stressful events and situations, DBT teaches distress tolerance and acceptance. You will learn how to accept the stress you are experiencing without letting it damage how you feel.

    One way to accomplish this is through distraction. In other words, participate in an enjoyable activity that will take your mind off of your pain. Another way to distract yourself from stress is through self-soothing activities. These activities can include relaxation exercises, soaking in a bubble bath or getting a massage.

    • Emotion regulation: If you can learn to control your emotions, you can often keep yourself virtually stress-free. With that said, this module teaches you how to identify your emotions, identify any obstacles to changing them and how to change them by focusing on increasing positive emotions.

    These are the main lessons of DBT that can help you manage your chronic headaches. Controlling your physical and emotional pains is largely possible once you have the right tools.

    Image Source/Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/2235473537

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  2. Human Energy Field: What Is It and How Does It Affect Your Body?

    February 19, 2013

    energy healingby Debra Wright

    Reconnective healing, energy healing, and healing through Reiki has become highly popular. These types of alternative healing are said to help individuals have a better physical well-being by clearing or smoothing out a person’s energy field. But what is this energy field they are talking about? How does this affect your body?

     

    Energy Field Explained

    An energy field, also called an aura, is the force of energy found outside your physical formsurrounding you.Each person has their own aura and they differ in shape and colour. Some have colourful auras that are well defined, while some have dull auras with spiky or fuzzy edges. The size of the aura is also different which each person and it changes from time to time. It expands or tightens up depending on a person’s current emotion, mood or life experience.

    The aura is said to have many different chakras which are energy centres. They play an important role in the physical, emotional and mental health of a person. These chakras are said to connect the hormones, nerves and emotion.

    There are 7 major chakras found in the human energy field and each of these has a direct correlation to a person’s physical body.

     

    7 Chakras and their Physical Correlation

    The 7 major chakras found in each person’s aura are represented by different colours and are connected to different physical body parts.

    • Base or Root Chakra – This is represented by the colour red. This is located at the base of the spine and physically relates to the legs, feet, bones, kidneys, intestine and rectum.If this chakra is imbalanced it can lead to constipation, arthritis, weight gain, spinal tension, knee problems and insecurity.
    • Sacral Chakra – It is represented by the colour orange and relates to the sexual organs and the reproductive system. This chakra is located below the navel and its imbalance leads to sexual problems, jealousy, anger and allergies.
    • Solar Plexus – Represented by the colour yellow, it is related to the muscles, nerves, liver, stomach and digestive system. It is located right above the navel. Its imbalance leads to ulcer, diabetes, fear and lack of confidence.
    • Heart Chakra – It is located at the middle of the chest area and is represented by the colour green. It relates to the lungs, respiratory system, arms and hands. If imbalanced may lead to high blood pressure, heart problems and being emotionally unstable.
    • Throat Chakra – It is represented by the colour blue and is located at the throat. It relates to the throat, neck, thyroid glands and arms. If this chakra is imbalanced it may lead to communication issues and physical problems with the throat, neck and ear.
    • Brow or Third Eye Chakra –Represented by the colour indigo, it is located between the eyebrows. It physically relates to the lower brain, left eye, nose and nervous system. If imbalanced it may lead to eye problems, headaches, unpleasant dreams, lack of concentration and detachment.
    • Crown Chakra – This is represented by the colour violet. This chakra controls the whole being and is located above the head. It relates to the upper brain and right eye. If imbalanced may lead to migraines, depression, being confused and uninspired.

     

    How it Affects the Body

    A person’s energy and life force flows through the chakras. If the chakra is blocked, the life force can’t flow freely and this will then manifest physically. When the chakra’s energy flow is disturbed, the person’s health, mind, spirit and emotion are also disturbed. Chakras because they are interconnected, need to flow freely without blockages. The overall health of a person would depend on the chakras functioning properly. Just like the physical body where it needs all of its organs to function properly, the chakras’ energy system need to have all of its chakras working correctly.

    One reason why chakras become blocked or disturbed is due to unprocessed, unresolved and unreleased emotions. These may be pent up emotions such as anger, resentment, fear or guilt. So what you don’t deal with emotionally, you’ll have to deal with physically.

    For your energy system to function well, you’ll need to clear the blockages in your chakra. One effective method is through Reiki healing. A person’s energy field may be positively influenced through this type of energy healing. Other methods people follow are acupuncture, yoga, qi gong and Tai chi. These methods clear out the blockage of a chakra and help the person achieve emotional balance.Once you have emotional balance and your energy field is free-flowing, you not only have a healthy emotional self, you also maintain a healthy mental and physical self.

    Your energy field may not be something youevidently see, like your physical body, but it is just as important. If you wish to have an overall healthy self, your physical body is not the only thing that you should take care of. You also need to take care of your energy field.

    Article Credit: ReikiHealingSydney.com

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