Documentary on the Effectiveness of Integrated Treatments Methods - "The New Medicine"

The New Medicine is a documentary about the direction in which modern medicine is evolving.  Gradually, scientific evidence is being gathered to support the theory that holistic or integrated medicine is more effective than treatments relying solely on drugs or surgical procedures.  Holistic or integrated medicine incorporates the mind, emotions, and spirit, as well as the body, into the treatment process.  It also emphasizes preventative health care as part of the overall treatment system.

If you are skeptical about the effectiveness of meditation, guided imagery, exercise, behavioral psychology, yoga, working with a spiritual healer, or pursuing an unconventional form of treatment then this is a good film to watch.

The Film is available on Netflix:

"Before her death in 2006 from lung cancer, Dana Reeves filmed this thought-provoking program exploring the use of holistic remedies in modern medicine. Moving beyond traditional treatments and examining more lifestyle factors, an increasing number of doctors are supplementing their work with a host of healing alternatives -- including meditation, hypnosis and acupuncture -- to treat the whole body and restore their patients' health." (netflix.com Oct 29, 2009)

Or you can purchase it from the Amazon site:

 

A side note: remember to keep in mind that just as there are poor quality doctors - there can be poor quality guided imagery recordings, psychologists, yoga instructors, or spiritual healers.  So make sure that you take your time and be choosy when you look for someone or something to help you in your treatment.  If it doesn't feel right at your core then don't do it.  But don't be afraid to try new things.  Just don't over-invest yourself in anything.  Also, if you decide to use herbal supplements or non-conventional medicine - check with your primary care doctor first to avoid any complications and make sure that what you're doing is safe. If you don't feel comfortable discussing these things with your primary care doctor because he/she does not take them seriously - then find a new primary care doctor!  Your primary care doctor should be respectful and take you seriously; he/she should also be forward thinking enough and in tune with the rapidly developing body of evidence supporting integrated and holistic medicine.

Recommended Guided Imagery Audio Recordings

Belleruth Naparstek has pioneered "guided imagery" as a form to heal from depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  In this post, I go over some of the guided imagery audio recordings that I have used and find useful.  I hope that you will also find them useful.  If you are on a tight budget then consider looking for them at your local library - my library had several of them.  Some libraries even take requests from users, so you can request that they purchase them. 

Before I begin, let me briefly describe guided imagery.  Guided imagery is basically a form of meditation where symbolism and your imagination are used to explore and process deeper underlying emotions.  For some people, especially people with depression or deep inner turmoil, it can be a very powerful tool to work with your own subconscious.  It also has the added benefit of being something that you can do in the privacy of your own home where you can feel safe and protected and able to really open up and dig deep inside of yourself.  

If you are new to meditation, guided imagery can be a good stepping stone.  Most of the audio recordings come with a set of affirmations that are designed to help you develop positive thinking; these work best if you quiet your mind and block our negative thoughts and truly open up to the positive messages in the affirmations.  Since guided imagery and affirmations work on a subconscious level, they work particularly well when you listen to them right before you go to sleep. Guided imagery also has the advantage that you can do it from the comfort and safety of your own home where you can really relax, focus inwards, and open up to yourself.

I have to admit that the first time I lay down with my head phones on to listen to the guided imagery, I felt skeptical and a little silly.  At first, I couldn't help but laugh a little at the deep, soothing, articulate, and dramatic voice that came on.  I think I laughed more at myself then at the voice, since I felt so nervous and out of my element.  But gradually I settled in and really gave the recordings a chance.  Things were really bad for me when I checked out my my first guided imagery CDs from the library and I was completely destroyed - I spent the days sobbing uncontrollably in my room and drifting in and out of an exhausting series of flashbacks.  Half the time, I couldn't tell if I was alive, in a dream, or had traveled back in time to my childhood self.  I felt isolated, alone, and abandoned.  I felt terrified, enraged, and saddened.  I felt hopeless, powerless, worthless, and defeated.  The world stopped making sense and the future grim if at all imagined.  It was a very dark time as I felt that I was losing my grip on everything - even my own mind was out of my control.  Time ceased to exist.  Everything suffered - I couldn't think, my memory was disjointed, I couldn't focus on a conversation, I would slip in and out of thoughts even if I was in the middle of a conversation.  I felt numb and I lost interest in anything and everything that had ever given me joy.  I felt like a shell of a human being - like some strange phantom.  

I have felt these things and trust me when I say that things can get better and that they will get better.  Have faith.  Look for help from your family, friends, lover, books, audio, spiritual leaders/healers, therapists, travel, writing, exercise, meditation, yoga, etc - do anything and everything that you can.  I hope that my experience can give you ideas and a framework with which to work from.  Guided imagery was one of the first things to help me - it made my mind calm down and it helped me relax.  It especially helped me late at night when I would lie awake in my bed terrified - in a state of panic and hyper arousal - unable to sleep and sobbing as bad memories resurfaced in the form of vivid flashbacks.  The audio recordings became something comforting and soothing that I could focus on.  Many times when listening to them, I would fall asleep, but that didn't matter - they helped me get a deep and restful sleep at a time that that was nearly impossible.  Research also indicates that since the recordings function more on a subconscious level that dosing off or falling asleep while listening to them can actually make them more effective.

Below I list some guided imagery or guided meditation recordings that are designed for people experiencing depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and the associated feelings of anger, stress and grief.  There are many more designed for specific needs like preparing for surgery, getting through cancer, insomnia, alcohol/drug abuse, and weight loss, so you should browse their selection to decide which one is best for you.


Combat Depression



Healing Trauma (PTSD)

 


Panic Attacks




Healthful Sleep



Anger and Forgiveness






Ease Grief



Relaxation and Wellness



Relieve Stress



Self Confidence



NOTE:  To learn more about how guided imagery can specifically help with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) then please refer to Belleruth Naparstek's book, Invisible Heroes where she discusses the scientific evidence that supports its effectiveness:

Inspiration for Making Your Own Guided Imagery Audio Tapes

Below I provide several ideas or concepts around which you can create your own audio tapes.

(1) One concept is what I like to call “Forecast, Dream, and Aspire” and in this concept you imagine who you are and your life, and then you describe it to yourself. You can include details like how much you’re enjoying your yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices, and how those are making you a healthier and happier person. You can describe how beautiful, clean, and great feeling your home is now that you’ve consciously tried to make the space around you more harmonious. You can include concrete details like how many kids you will one day have or the awesome job you’ll eventually enjoy, but remind yourself that it’s not the number of kids or gender or the exact job and company that will make you feel fulfilled, but rather it’s the sense of community, love, pride, or purpose that it gives your life.

The idea is not to create goals that you’re waiting to achieve, but to recognize and hope that life will get better because it can. You will never achieve a better life situation if you can’t envision it, so start there and the rest will follow. Just don’t get frustrated because things aren’t precisely how you envisioned. The idea here is not to create a checklist of details you can check off, but rather to create a vision of love, warmth and power. It should be a vision of hope and optimism.

I recommend using the active voice and describing the situation as if it was true right at this moment – that you are living it. I also recommend emphasizing the love and compassion that you give to yourself constantly and discuss the awareness and mindfulness that you are constantly cultivating.

(2) Another idea is what I call “symbolic dreaming” audio tapes. For example, I like to imagine myself as a dolphin swimming through the ocean. It’s good to describe what you’re experiencing that you enjoy – the water running over your body; the freedom of the wide, open ocean; the sense of being part of a special community; the magic of the ocean; the exhilaration of jumping and twirling up over the water. Other times, I like to imagine myself as a fairy flying over the world or the ocean or even to other galaxies and make believe lands. I imagine the peace and quiet of the wind passing over my ears and the thrill of souring. I imagine travelling down into redwood groves and exploring under leaves and around streams. I imagine falling in love with another fairy and travelling on adventures together.

(3) Another idea is what I fondly call the “Patronus Charm,” a term that I am borrowing from Harry Potter. In case you haven’t read Harry Potter (which you should! It’s such a fun, imaginative, and light-hearted read!), the Patronus Charm is used to combat Dementors who are basically monsters that feed off of people’s fear and pain. The Patronus Charm can only be conjured up by thinking of the most powerful happy thought that you have and yelling “Expecto Patronum” and then an avatar of sorts bursts out of your wand and staves off the evil Dementors. In this case, our bad memories or thoughts are dementors and we need to combat them with good thoughts. So first, try to express what scares you – maybe try doing it metaphorically if it’s too difficult to talk about. For example, I describe my pain, anger, and fear with images of ripped flesh, blood, screams, silent screams/sobs, lying prostrate on the ground, the sense of not existing or ceasing to exist. But you can also use more synthesized descriptions of your thoughts like stating that you feel lonely or scared. You can also describe a bad experience that happen to you – like a rape or beating – and express your fear of it happening again.

Then you need to counter these bad thoughts with your best memories. For example, the love you feel for your significant other, the sweet embrace of a lover, the kind nudge of a pet, the thrill of running or biking up a mountain, the warmth of true friendship, the respect and admiration of coworkers or something along those lines. You can also remember less powerful memories that still bring good feelings – like a fun party you went to or a great laugh you had with some friends or a great concert you went to or listening to your favorite comedian.


The purpose behind all of these exercises is to remind ourselves that there are bad things in the world and bad things have happened, but there are also good things in the world and good things have happened to us. And most importantly – that good things will come to us again if we just start believing that then can and will.

Below is something that I wrote in my journal and I find it useful to look back at every once in a while – I hope that it will help you too.

What is innocence? What does it mean to lose it? I think when considering these things it is important to differentiate between what it means to be naive and what it means to be innocent. To be naive is to believe the world is all good and to lose naivete is to gain sight. However, to lose innocence is to lose the desire to live...to lose the ability to see good in the world...to lose the belief that life is supposed to be good...the conviction that it SHOULD be good.

To lose naivete is to reach adulthood, but to lose innocence is to die.

Video Journaling as a Method to Increase Compassion and Love for Your Self

Video journaling is a very powerful way to allow yourself to recognize your own pain. You can’t lie to yourself, so doing this can be particularly helpful in breaking the cycle of numbness or disassociation you are feeling. The first few times you might find that you just sit there staring into the camera unable to speak. But give it time – the emotions will be released and you will be awakened to a new perspective of yourself. Video journaling is a great way to open up a greater sense of compassion for yourself – particularly if you’re the type of person who has a lot of compassion for other people, but not much for yourself.

The first time I made a video journal, I talked about what was causing me pain and since I was in so much pain and I felt so uncomfortable talking about it, there were many long pauses. I was aggravated with my inability to talk and felt a little silly doing this, but when I played the video back to myself, I was struck with a deep sense of compassion. Somehow, sitting there, watching my own face and looking into those delicate, yet incredibly pained eyes made me feel a great rush of love for myself. Suddenly, more than anything else in the world – I just wanted to help myself.

I would recommend against posting your video journals or sharing them with other people. They are intended for you to get to know yourself better and knowing that they will not be shared with anyone will make you more honest with yourself.

You can also create your own audio tapes with positive statements, prayers, messages, quotes that you love, journal entries you’ve written, or papers you’ve read that resonate with you. Hearing your own voice will help you create more compassion and love for yourself.
 
Most laptop computers come with built-in video cameras and microphones, but if yours does not have these features included or you have a desktop then you can purchase an inexpensive set at Best Buy, Amazon, Radio Shack, Fry’s Electronics Store, or any consumer electronics store in your neighborhood.

Tao Te Ching - Chapter 74 – Acceptance

Chapter 74 from the Tao Te Ching. New English Version, with Foreword and Notes, by Stephen Mitchell. Click here for a free online copy of the Tao Te Ching.

If you realize that all things change,
there is nothing to hold on to.
If you aren’t afraid of dying,
there is nothing you can’t achieve.

Trying to control the future
is like trying to take the master carpenter’s place.
When you handle the carpenter’s tools,
chances are that you’ll cut your hand.

Take a couple of minutes and read over this passage. What comes to mind? What emotions are evoked? What images do you see? What concepts resonate? For this exercise, it’s best to write down your reaction, or make an audio or video recording of your reaction.

For me, many images are evoked. I think of the ocean, the awesome power of nature, the expansiveness of the universe and time, the relative smallness of my own life, and the notion of a supreme being. I question truth and reality and I wonder what, if anything, is certain in life. Acceptance of fear is acceptance of uncertainty and change.

We do not want to live a life of fear. Fear numbs us and paralyses us – it makes us dissociate from our lives and live a frightened and depressed existence. One of my favorite quotes – maybe my very favorite quote ever is this:

Una Vida de Miedo es Media Vida – A Life of Fear is Half a Life.

Write this down somewhere and tape it up where you will see it every day.

I have found that my trauma and corresponding fear of powerlessness has resulted in me acting on fear or acting against it. Some ways are healthy for me, but other ways are not. Below is a partial list of ways that I act on fear and ways that I react against fear.

Ways that I act on fear

• Intense distrust and suspicion of other people
• Paranoia
• Seeking solitude
• Fear of Sex
• Negative Perception of others
• Being extremely selfish and self-protectionist by always putting my needs first as a matter of principal
• Fear of dying
• Fear of going outside
• Fear of close relationships
• Over-reacting when criticized (overly sensitive)
• Lacking confidence

Ways that I act against fear

• Controlling my time and more specifically what I do with it and how I spend. This is because I feel like time is the only thing that we really have on this earth and we don’t have much of it, so why waste it? Why waste it on other people because other people will ultimately only hurt you or disappoint you?
• Fascination with Power
• Fascination with the power of appearances and the role of marketing in society
• Keen interest in the power of expression and the importance of fluency with language to truly express oneself and protect oneself
• The power of voice and tone
• Realizing that weak does not mean good
• Power can be good, but power can be uncomfortable
• Fascination with group power dynamics and who makes the decisions and how they position themselves to be able to get the outcome that they want

As I mentioned before, some of these ways are good for me in the long run because they help me become more powerful and able to protect myself in healthy ways.

I have come to realize that in my worst states of depression, anxiety, and paranoia, the root of all my pain is in the feelings of powerlessness and fear that overcome me. I have come to realize that when I am in a severely depressed state that it is fear that is running my life. Fear of re-experiencing the sense of complete powerlessness that I suffered as a child…fear of being unable to protect myself by either fleeing or fighting my way out of it. Ironically, now in my adulthood, it is fear of fear itself that is paralyzing me, since the memories of my childhood invade my consciousness without my control and create in me a deep sense of panic, anxiety, fear, and pain.

The sensation of reliving one of these memories is like dipping below the surface of reality. Suddenly, the room disappears and my adult body and mind turn to icy statues as I sink into the panicked and lonely mind of my childhood self. The “Now” is suspended and my senses of smell, touch, taste, sight and sound explode with their own perspectives-making the memory all that more real and vivid. It’s unlike any typical memory and feels more like a strange and terrible time travel phenomenon that anything else.

I have realized through my treatment that I no longer need be afraid of a terrible memory – of being afraid of re-experiencing fear. There is no actual threat – just the memory of feeling fear…or the thought that I could feel fear like that again. I hope that if you who are reading this suffer from these sorts of memories that you too can find a way to accept fear and realize that by accepting it you are destroying its hold on you.

The point is that it is our fear that is our greatest limitation – make “No Fear” be your and my new motto! 

Note: See the link below to purchase a copy of the Tao Te Ching as translated by Stephen Mitchell.

 

Good and Bad Ways to Process Emotions

Emotions need to be processed, but there are good ways and there are bad ways to do this. One of the problems of being a survivor of childhood trauma or having grown up in a dysfunctional family is that you become afraid of expressing emotions because you don’t want to become like your parents. I find myself afraid to feel anything because I attribute my parents’ violent and uncontrolled outbursts with them feeling their emotions. My parents are not spiritual people and they refuse to give their emotions much credence; this leads to them numbing themselves with intermittent bursts of brutality. I also find it difficult to feel my emotions because I have a habit of disassociating or numbing myself – something I have done ever since I can remember as a defense mechanism. Disassociation, as any licensed professional psychologist or spiritual guide will tell you, is terrible for you. Emotions need to find a way out and if you don’t provide a healthy outlet they can erupt and hurt someone or you can numb yourself so badly that the people who care and love you will be hurt by your negative presence.

I’ve come to realize that repressing emotions is extremely unhealthy. Depression is stuck energy and it’s usually anger or sadness. We need to find healthy ways to express our anger, sadness, rage, fear, or sense of helplessness. I recommend making a list with two columns where you contrast the BAD ways that you, your parents, or people you know have expressed their emotions (or failed to) with the GOOD ways that exist to process emotions.

Here is my list in case you need some inspiration:

BAD

• My Dad slapping me when he’s angry or upset.
• My Dad destroying furniture around our house.
• My Dad swearing and using very hurtful language.
• My Dad drinking himself into a stupor and doing or saying stupid things.
• My Dad driving drunk and denying it.
• My Dad punching me.
• My Mom hitting me manically with her hands, broom, shoes, or whatever was readily available because she was upset about some random, stupid thing and she was so sad and angry that she didn’t know what to do, so she just lashed out at a small, defenseless child.
• Escaping to TV for hours and hours.
• My Mother blaming me for her missed opportunities
• Breaking a gift that my Dad gave me because I was really mad at him.
• Causing myself physical pain out of anger (hitting, cutting).
• Parents trivializing my pain, anger, and fear, and making me feel stupid – because acknowledging my feeling would make them feel ashamed – it was easier to take their pain out on a child than be strong.
• Being passive aggressive.
• Misdirecting anger towards other people.
• Isolating oneself.
• Avoidance – avoiding certain things to such an extent that it massively changes you life.

GOOD

• Running, swimming, biking or doing some sort of physical activity by yourself to let out your emotions and let them run their course.
• Screaming or crying to a pillow.
• Screaming or crying in a sound-proof room (lots of University campuses have sound-proof music rooms that you can check out for a couple of hours-usually to practice singing or an instrument-if anyone asks any questions just say you're going for the Guinness world record for screaming).
• Writing freely in a journal or diary that you keep well hidden. Sometimes, I find that it helps to write in the 3rd person about truly horrific experiences.
• Buy a beautiful wooden box with a lock on it. Whenever you have a bad memory or thought – write it up and put it in the box. Every once in a while, honor those memories by taking them out and reading them.
• Video journaling is a very powerful way to allow yourself to recognize your own pain. You can’t lie to yourself, so doing this can be particularly helpful in breaking the cycle of numbness or disassociation you are feeling. The first few times you might find that you just sit there staring into the camera unable to speak. But give it time – the emotions will be released and you will be awakened to a new perspective of yourself. Video journaling is a great way to open up a greater sense of compassion for yourself – particularly if you’re the type of person who has great compassion for other people, but not for yourself.
• Listen to guided imagery. Guided imagery is a sort of guided meditation that uses symbolism to help you process emotions. This can be very effective for some people. Particularly people who are exhausted, weary, tired, and down-trodden.
• Listen to affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that are intended for repeated listening to change the thoughts you produce.
• Do Yoga.
• Do meditation.
• Pray (to Gaia, Buddha, God, Elvis, Allah, or whatever you want).
• Create your own guided imagery tapes.
• Practice mindfulness or consciousness where you let feeling or emotions flow through you. Sometimes it helps to prepare the space around you – play some mood music, light some candles, dim the lights, and pick a time of day when nobody is home and no neighbors are snooping around.
• Remind yourself that sometimes your parents said cruel things that were really abrasive thoughts due to their own problems, rather than some true insight into you.
• Remind yourself again and again that: YOU ARE NOT YOUR PARENTS!
• Read self-improvement books.
• Read your own best journal entries.
• Write and read about your good memories (think Tinkerbell – if you just think happy thoughts…you’ll be able to fly!) =)
• Paint, draw, do art. Even if you’re not artistic, I find that it can be really help to create abstract art. Particularly with gummy pastels or paint because it’s a physically exerting experience and can help you churn out a lot of negative feelings.  Who knows-you might eventually be discovered!
• Sing songs or listen to songs that resonate with your negative emotions – maybe they’re sad or angry songs
• Sing songs or listen to songs to get you out of a negative state and into a more joyous emotional state (songs that remind you of good times or whose lyrics inspire you).
• I you are really, really angry – a good way to cool off is to take a freezing cold shower. This can actually be kind of painful, but by the time your heart is racing and your blood gets going – it can really help you process extreme anger. You should stay in the shower until you get pretty cold, but don’t be silly and get hypothermia. I usually turn on the warm water after I’ve let the rage run its course and I’m thinking more calmly. It’s almost the equivalent of going for an intense run, but it’s easier because you can do it from the privacy of your home. If you don’t have annoying neighbors and you’re alone at home – it can also help to yell or scream in the shower. The sound of the water will make it easier. If you’re still embarrassed – try playing loud music too.
• Write out letters that you’re not going to send to the people you’re angry at and express your full anger. It’s best to do this by hand and not while you’re drunk, so that you don’t accidentally e-mail it in a fit of rage.
• Write down your fears then write out counterarguments to them or statements expressing your acceptance for the fears that you cannot change. It’s particularly useful to make audio recordings of both the negative concern and positive rebuttle. It’s best to make the audio recording when you feel strong and to speak in a strong voice, so that when you listen to them later, they’re more impactful.

Do Not Believe Everything You Think – Choose Your Thoughts

One of the greatest fallacies out there today is that we are our mind. We are not our minds.

Even though this might not be obvious to you right now and it may make you feel skeptical or uncomfortable – this is true. And not only is it true, but it is possible to monitor your mind and change your perception.

Like a spiritual healer once told me, your mind is like a computer and when you have depression it’s like your mind got infected with a virus and you can no longer believe or trust in all the thoughts that it spits out at you. You need to learn to recognize between the good thoughts and those infected by the virus.

Like my spiritual healer, Annelene Decaux, recommended, there are several things you can do to help yourself move from “things that serve you” to “things that do not serve you” and I have listed her recommendations below:

1. Make a list with two columns: one of “things that serve me” and one of “things that do not serve me.” Things include behaviors, habits, people, conversations, patterns, thoughts, etc. Start writing items down in both columns and do this regularly. Do this many times per day if you’re severely depressed, every day if you’re moderately depressed, every few days if you’re feeling sad, and once per week if things are going good.
2. Write down the phrase “Don’t believe everything you think” on several pieces of paper and post them in places that you see regularly (i.e. your bathroom mirror, your car dashboard, your computer, by your bed, etc.)
3. Recognize the patterns or ‘clusters’ of thoughts that don’t serve you (e.g. childhood memories, pessimism about the world/future, thoughts of losing control, fear of injury or dying)
4. Gradually, you will start to recognize patterns and be able to identify thoughts that do not serve you. When a though that does not serve you arises, use it as a wake-up call and realize that it’s just the virus in your mind pooping out bad thoughts. Then consciously redirect yourself towards thoughts that serve you.

Please refer here for more information about Annelene and how to get in touch with her: Click Here

My Life Coach, Spiritual Healer, and Career Coach Annelene Decaux

Someone who has helped me greatly in my journey so far is Annelene Decaux.  In just three sessions with her, I have experienced a profound shift in how I view the world and I have great respect for her.  She is very kind, intuitive, and she uses her personal life story to open up and connect with me.  The relationship feels authentic and what helps the most for me is that I genuinely believe she cares about me.  She has great success working with people over the phone or skype, so even if you live far away - it's something you should really consider.  To view more reviews of Annelene - check out her LinkedIn profile below (there is no end to the people who sing her praises).



Annelène Decaux
Evolution Guide - Coach - Intuitive

adecaux at yahoo.com 
http://www.linkedin.com/in/adecaux

Annelène accelerates entrepreneurs, executives, healers and others worldwide on their journey to reach their full potential, make their unique contribution to the world, and embrace fearless and joyful living in these transformative times. While working with her, her clients often experience life-changing breakthroughs.

“Annelène is at the leading edge of the future of personal and management consulting. She has the power to absolutely transform lives.” Matthew Lyon, Executive Director, Integral Life Center of Charlotte

“Even one session with Annelène can bring about entire paradigm shifts.” Alison Macondray, Principal and Co-Founder at Alimat, Inc.

Tao Te Ching – Chapter 79 – Failure is an Opportunity

Chapter 79 from the Tao Te Ching. New English Version, with Foreword and Notes, by Stephen Mitchell. Click here for access to an online reproduction of the book.

Failure is an opportunity.

If you blame someone else, 

there is no end to the blame.

Therefore the Master 

fulfills her own obligations 

and corrects her own mistakes.

She does what she needs to do 

and demands nothings of others.

Take a couple of minutes and read over this passage. What comes to mind? What emotions are evoked? What images do you see? What concepts resonate? For this exercise, it’s best to write down your reaction, or make an audio or video recording of your reaction.

When I read this some concepts come to mind:
- Have the strength to recognize when you make a mistake.
- Failure is part of life. Mistakes are part of life. We need to recognize and fix them.
- If we learn from our failures then they can become great opportunities for growth.
- We need to focus on our own failures and our own mistakes, rather than focusing on those of others.

This passage invokes in me a deep sense of humility. I think everyone understands the strength that it demands to realize when you have failed or made a mistake and the strength that it takes to rectify the failure or correct the mistake. 

I recall different incidences when I have had to admit to failure and the times that I corrected my mistakes and the times that I did not. I am proudest and fondest of the moments when I found the strength to correct my mistakes. And I remember with shame those moments that I shirked away from my responsibilities.



Note: See below to purchase a copy of the Tao Te Ching as translated by Stephen Mitchell.

Recommended Books, Websites, and other Valuable Resources

Note: I will be updating this post as I become aware of resources that can aid you and me on our path towards inner peace and personal growth.

Books

The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The complete guide to psychological and spiritual growth for the nine personality types. By Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.

A very dear and wise friend recommended this book to me.  At first I was skeptical when I read the name and took a look at the odd symbol on the cover, which was suggestive of some sort of strange cult or religion.  But once I dove into the book, it did not disappoint and I now consider it one of the most pivotal books I have ever read.  The Wisdom of the Enneagram is insightful and does not export any specific doctrine, but rather encourages personal development through the development of mindfulness and awareness by promoting self observation and understanding the deeper factors at play in our experiences.  This is the kind of book to keep by your nightstand and pull out whenever you feel anxious, vexed, or in a negative spiral.


Available on Amazon:
The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine  Personality Types

The Power of Now; A guide to spiritual enlightenment. By Eckhart Tolle.

This book was recommended to me by my life coach who has helped me make amazing progress just in the past few weeks by helping me see myself and the world in a different way. The book did not disappoint and as an interesting sales point, not only has this book spent substantial time as a #1 New York Times Best Seller, but when Oprah delivered her commencement speech at Stanford University this past June, she bought every graduating senior a copy of the book and she made it a central theme in her speech.  At the core of the The Power of Now is the idea that we are not our mind and that we shouldn't believe everything we think.

Available on Amazon as a paper book or audio book set:

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

The Power of Now Unabridged on 7 CDs in Box [Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment]

Tao Te Ching By Lao Tzu. New English Version, with Foreword and Notes, by Stephen Mitchell.

I stumbled on the Tao Te Ching in high school while I was doing a project on Asian philosophies and religions.  The Tao Te Ching (pronounced Daw Deh Jing) translates roughly into The Book of the Way.  The book has 81 chapters or sections that offer advice to reach spiritual enlightenment.  The Tao Te Ching goes hand-in-hand with the concept of "Wei Wu Wei," which, literally translated, means "doing nothing" or non-action.  However, the idea that you're supposed to literally do nothing and sit around all day with your thumbs in your ears is a gross misinterpretation of the true meaning of the words.  The true idea behind wei wu wei is to do things and achieve the right movement effortlessly without interference by the pernicious mind or the sense of conscious will.  I will also be using different chapters from the Tao Te Ching to discuss important ideas.

Available on Amazon:
Tao Te Ching Persona

The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A guide to healing, recovery, and growth.  By Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D.

This book was recommended to me by a survivor of childhood trauma who is now a clinical psychologist with a PhD.  She has a thriving practice and three children who she loves and nurtures with utmost empathy, care, and attention.  This book takes a very practical approach to treatment and makes for a very good self-help book. 

Available on Amazon:
The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery, and Growth

Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal.  By Belleruth Naparstek

This book was one of the first books that I read after my doctor diagnosed me with post traumatic stress disorder and depression.  It was a relief to read because at first I thought that I was going crazy, since terrible flashbacks would take hold of my body and the sense of pain, fear, and terror would completely unhinge me.  This book is a good place to start if you've just found out that you have PTSD because it offers an overview of the symptoms, a biological/chemical explanation of what your body is experiencing physically, and the reassurance that you're not alone and that other people have made full recoveries.  The latter chapters of the book focus on treatment techniques, in particular guided imagery, which is a form of powerful guided meditation.

Available on Amazon:
Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal

 

Healing from Trauma; A Survivor's Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life. By Jasmin Lee Cori

This book digs deep, so be aware of that before you dive in.  It includes chapter-by-chapter exercises to help you process your trauma.  I recommend that you find a professional to help you work through the chapters in this book.  Also, make sure you're in a safe place physically before starting work on this book, as it can bring up a lot of strong feelings. 

Available on Amazon:
Healing from Trauma: A Survivor's Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. The Clinically Proven Drug-Free Treatment for Depression, By David D. Burns.

My therapist recommended this book to me because it focuses on treating the root issues surrounding depression.  Although drug therapy is indispensable in some cases, many doctors and some therapists jump to drug treatments too quickly, rather than doing the hard work to fundamentally change your life for the better.  Remember - you have to take an active role in your treatment and that means doing the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical things that need to get done.  Drugs are ultimately a band aid that offer a numb sense of temporary relief, but they will not provide you with genuine joy.  Feeling Good helps you identify and understand your moods.  At the core of the book is the idea that feelings are not facts and that your emotions are a result of your thoughts.  This book is a good complement to The Power of Now because in The Power of Now, we are taught to not believe everything we think and that we are not our mind.  I know all of this sounds rather far-fetched, but if you invest yourself in your personal development and spiritual enlightenment then I know these words will soon resonate with you as well. 

Available on Amazon:
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

Websites

Health Journeys:Here you will find a collection of guided imagery audio recordings that can help you on your path to recovery.  To learn more about how guided imagery can help with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) then please refer to Belleruth Naparstek's book, Invisible Heroes (see details above).  If you are new to meditation, guided imagery can be a good stepping stone.  Most of the audio recordings come with a set of affirmations that are designed to help you develop positive thinking; these work best if you quiet your mind and block our negative thoughts and truly open up to the positive messages in the affirmations.  Since guided imagery and affirmations work on a subconscious level, they work particularly well when you listen to them right before you go to sleep.

Dealing with Depression: This site offers synthesized self-help and coping tips.  It's a really good place to start if you're suffering from mild depression or an extended low-mood.

HELPGUIDE:  This website provides a brief overview of PTSD symptoms treatment methods.

PTSD Forum Organization: This site includes a short assessment test to help you determine if you may have PTSD
Click here for the PTSD assessment test
 

Steve Pavlina's Blog: Personal Development for Smart People: Steve's blog has many interesting pieces. The home page provides a good intro as well as where to start reading his blog.

PTSD.org (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder): This site it not yet running, but I felt that it would be useful to keep an eye on it.  I will provide a more thorough review when they debut.

Why I Started this Blog: To Help Other People Suffering From Depression and/or PTSD

I suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and depression. I know how crippling these states of mind can be for a person and I have created this blog in the hopes that what I have learned and continue to learn will serve to help other people. I would like to share a quote with you that inspires me; it is from the book, The Wisdom of the Enneagram,

"Always remember that it is your birthright and natural state to be wise and noble, loving and generous, to esteem yourself and others, to be creative and constantly renewing yourself, to be engaged in the world in awe and in depth, to have courage and to rely on yourself, to be joyous and effortlessly accomplished, to be strong and effective, to enjoy peace of mind and to be present in the unfolding mystery of your life."