Fitness. All about fitness » anxiety

Getting Away From a Bad Companion: Battling Low Self-Esteem

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:11:00 +0000

It’s not an inherited trait, it’s a learned skill. Anyone can possess high self-esteem if they really want to. But for some, building positive thoughts about oneself is often difficult. Most people feel bad about themselves from time to time. Feelings of low self-esteem may be triggered by being treated poorly by someone else recently or in the past, or by a person’s own judgments of him or herself. This is normal. However, low self-esteem is a constant companion for too many people, especially those who experience depression, anxiety, phobias, psychosis, delusional thinking, or who have an illness or a disability. If you are one of these people, you may go through life feeling bad about yourself needlessly. Low self-esteem keeps you from enjoying life, doing the things you want to do, and working toward personal goals. Everyone has the right to feel good about themselves. But sometimes, it can be very difficult to feel good about oneself when one is under stress, and having situations that are hard to manage such as dealing with disability, having a difficult time financially, going through a bad relationship, or when others are treating you badly. At these times, it is easy to be drawn into a downward spiral of poor self-esteem. Feeling good about oneself is the most important part of living a life full of joy and vitality. Self-esteem is based on how you see your abilities and your worth as a person. People with low self-esteem are often shy, anxious, and often battle depression. They are negative about themselves and their abilities. Because they don’t feel worthy, they are more likely to do things that are not good for their health, such as going on starvation diets and smoking. People with high self-esteem tend to be secure and confident. They see themselves and their abilities positively. Because they know it is important to take care of themselves, they are more likely to eat well and to have a healthy lifestyle. However, gaining self-esteem is not as hard as anyone thinks, so why not start doing something about it right now. All steps, big and small, towards gaining self-esteem fall into two main categories: Avoid the negative and accentuate the positive. Here are some steps to improve self-esteem: Be positive about yourself and accept compliments that point out your strengths and abilities. Be realistic about what you can do. Trying to be perfect and comparing yourself with other people can damage your self-esteem. Recognize that everyone makes mistakes. When you make a mistake, do not put yourself down. Learn from your mistakes. Listen carefully to others, without judging. Respect people’s differences. Recognize their strengths and accomplishments. Acknowledge the things others do that help your family, your workplace and your community. Support and encourage other people’s efforts to learn new things. Give people in your family unconditional love. Spend time with people who make you feel good. Do things that make you feel worthwhile. But, most of all, exercise can be a practical choice to help one improve self-esteem. It’s hard to feel negative when all those endorphins are all pumped up. Plus, anytime you feel as though you are doing something positive for yourself —- you are actually building your self-esteem.

Counselling: Salvaging Your Happily-Ever-After

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 05:01:00 +0000

They say a healthy and harmonious relationship promotes well-being to the people involved in it. But what happens when the marriage starts dwindling? When the sparks seem to have disappeared? Anxiety builds up – anxiety that will destroy the couple’s general outlook on relationships. And what’s the first solution that comes to mind? Marriage counselling. But before trying to save a dwindling relationship, we need to understand how many stages marriage passes. There are 4 stages that every successful marriage goes through. These are: Romance or Honeymoon stage; Reality stage; Accommodation stage; and the Transformation or Success Stage. Stage one, the honeymoon stage. Newlyweds are still caught up by the excitement and romance of their relationship. At this point, sexual attraction is still at its strongest. At this point in the marriage, partners disregard differences, sometimes even taking it as a good thing, as they discover each other and sharing a life together. During this stage, couples think that the marriage will go smoothly and will work itself out naturally. Couples, at this time, think that their relationship will last forever as they are overflowing with love. Stage two, the reality stage. This stage is where reality starts setting in. This is when the couple start learning more about themselves and each other in different situations they haven’t gone through as a couple before. Some of the situations the couple may encounter may not agree to their prior expectations and may end up causing conflict. Oftentimes, couples notice that there are more things they disagree on during marriage as compared to when they were still dating. This stage is the most challenging part of the relationship, and puts the marriage at higher risks of affairs and divorces during the first two years. The reality stage brings about certain feelings of disappointment, isolation and a let-down after the excitement of the wedding period. Couples start harboring feelings of anxiety towards the whole marriage and often misinterpret this natural transition as incompatibility and start thinking that they’ve chosen the wrong partner. Also, during this phase, sex feels more of a routine as the excitement fades away. Some couples equate this to losing the so-called “spark” of the relationship and is also misinterpreted a lost of times. Couple who have not foreseen this stage of the marriage begin feeling alienated and start drifting apart at this point in the relationship. Stage three, the accommodation stage. This is when couples work out their differences to renew the strength of their bond. This includes learning the needs of both partners and how to manage differences and areas of conflicts, and it should be done in a humble, down-to-earth manner. Stage four, the transformation or success stage. At this part of the marriage, the couple gets to enjoy the benefits of the marriage that is both capable to satisfy their needs and provide them mutual support. This eventually lead to a longer lasting intimacy as the couple shares all the experiences of ups and downs. This is the part where the couple enjoys the rewards of the hard work they put in during the reality and accommodation stage, and work to keep the relationship working smoothly. As mentioned earlier, during the reality stage of the marriage, couples grow anxious of each other as differences and conflicts of interest start resurfacing. As feelings of anxiety grow, so does the fear of having chosen the wrong partner. Couples then experience more and more difficulty getting along with each other and tend to want to break free from the marriage. This is where marriage counselling comes into play. During marriage counselling, doctors or trained professionals help the couple understand each other’s differences and help them work through it. This may also entail discussing the couple’s sexual activity and how each partner feels about it. Couple’s therapy may touch on sensitive issues such as infidelity, divorce, substance abuse, physical or mental illnesses, finances & unemployment, infertility; which could all end up harmful to the partners both physically and mentally. Counselling helps restore the intimacy and prosperity of the relationship. Of course, no amount of counselling or help will work without both partners consent to undergo such a process. Keeping a relationship, to be more specific, a marriage, is difficult and requires work. Love may be the reason couples are together, but it isn’t the only thing that binds them together until the end. It is important for would-be couples to understand these normal stages of marriage development before tying the knot to be prepared for whatever may happen during the marriage. Understand these development stages minimizes adjustment issues and helps set more realistic expectations of the relationship.

Ophidiophobia and Anxiety Disorder

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:23:00 +0000

I believe most people, if not all, are afraid of snakes. Unless one is a snake charmer, the sight of a snake would instinctively bring terror in our hearts. Though some would even make a pet out of these reptiles, most of us would still find it hard to get near tamed or caged snakes. But what I cannot understand is why even just the mere mention of “snake” would make my 31-year old buddy scream the hell out of his lungs. I found it a bit amusing at first. But when he kept being unreasonably afraid about it, it was then that I knew it was a serious source of fear, for him at least. Seeing his flushed face, goosebumps, and the uncontrolled shivering made me look for more information about what was exactly causing his extraordinary fear of snakes.. Ophidiophobia or the fear of snakes does not only refer to the fear of actual contact with live snakes but also even without live encounter such as seeing them in pictures, on tv or just the thought or mention of snakes would cause a full blown anxiety attack. Phobia and Anxiety We fear something because we sense imminent danger. And if the fear is valid, sometimes it helps us avoid the danger that is bound to happen. Our fear of getting scorched keeps us from touching anything hot or burning. Such fear is good. But irrational fear, also known as phobia, is something that becomes excessive and unreasonable. It is not just a petty quirk about food, person, or situations but a persistent, troublesome fear. It could be about something very real or simply a product of one’s wild imagination. But when situations are getting out of hand, has interfered with living a daily normal life, and is already beyond one’s control, it’s about time that the problem is addressed. All of us have experienced to be anxious whenever we are faced with stressful activities, problematic situations or traumatic events. Anxiety is our body’s natural reaction when face with a challenging situation or threat. However, if anxiety is keeping you from living a normal life, it becomes anxiety disorder Ophidiophobia may be experienced by both children and adults alike. And adults who realize that such fear is irrational may actually consider facing their fears. However, the thought of conquering the fear oftentimes bring them severe anxiety. Some are even so wrapped up with their phobia that they wouldn’t want to give it up. Treatment Common phobias, like fear of snakes, would seldom cause a disruption on your normal daily function as compared to severe phobia such as claustrophobia or the fear of being in confined spaces which can be an occupational problem when you are working in a small office. The most frequently used treatment for ophidiophobia involves re-programming your subconscious, which entails the “de-listing” of all the fear patterns stored in your memory. According to psychiatrists, this procedure is called Hypnotherapy, a scientifically sound technique used to decrease in symptoms of ophidiophobia.

Why Do People Get Depressed?

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:38:00 +0000

Many people identify the feeling of being depressed as being blue, feeling sad for no reason, or having no motivation to do anything.It occures when human endure feeling sadness or melancholy for long periods of time, it can last for several weeks to several years if left untreated. Sometimes we feel tired from working hard, or discouraged when faced with serious problems. This too, is not depression. These feelings usually pass within a few days or weeks. But, if these feelings linger and begin to interfere with work, school or family responsibilities, it may be depression. There is no single cause for depression. Many factors play a role including genetics, environment, life events, and certain thinking patterns that affect a person’s reaction to events. Research has revealed that depression runs in families and suggests that some people inherit genes that make it more likely for them to get depressed. But not everyone who has the genetic makeup for depression actually gets depression. And many people who have no family history of depression have the condition. So, although genes are one factor, they aren’t the single cause of depression. Life events – for example, the death of a close family member or friend – can go beyond normal grief and can sometimes lead to depression. Family and social environment also play a role. For some teens, a negative, stressful, or unhappy family atmosphere can affect their life and lead to depression. Social conditions like poverty, homelessness, and community violence can make it more likely for people to become depressed. We have to say that People who are depressed shouldn’t wait and hope it will go away on its own, because depression can be effectively treated. Although depression is one of the most common emotional problems, the good news is that it’s also one of the most treatable conditions.

Getting A Grip On Your Panic Disorder

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:11:00 +0000

Despite their superstar status and larger-than-life personalities, the rich and famous are not immune to phobias or having intense fear. By being as prone to fear and anxiety as the rest of us, they reveal how normal they can be. These celebrities have fears that hound millions of other non-celebrities. What do these celebrities fear the most? Michael Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jennifer Aniston share the same fear of flying. Orlando Bloom is scared of pigs and Johnny Depp is afraid of clowns. Nicole Kidman is afraid of butterflies. And would you believe that Pamela Anderson is afraid of mirrors? Celebrities and non-celebrities can break out into panic attacks whenever they encounter that which they fear the most. While it is common to be just uncomfortable about facing a certain fear or scary situation, there are some cases when the fear can be so overwhelming that it causes total panic. What is a panic attack? A panic attack is a sudden intense fear followed by an overwhelming feeling of danger. It is often accompanied by anxiety, sweating, rapid breathing, and rapid heart beat. Panic attacks are sudden and unprovoked. It can even worsen into a debilitating condition that pose a devastating impact on a person’s family, work, and social life. An attack can occur at anytime and it can interfere with day-to-day activities. An untreated panic disorder can possibly lead to substance abuse, depression and, in rare cases, even suicide. Panic disorders can develop during the teen years or early adulthood. People with panic disorder have this dreaded fear of danger or terror and it could repeat without warning. It is far more intense than the feeling of simply being ’stressed out’. A panic attack includes: l trembling l shaking l sweating l chest pains l hot flashes l racing heartbeat l light-headedness l Fear that you are going crazy or about to die People who have full-blown, repeated attacks can be psychologically disabled by their condition and should seek treatment. They should also avoid places or objects that could trigger another panic attack. A panic attack is not dangerous, but it can be terrifying, largely because it creates a feeling of being ‘out of control’ on the part of the person who is suffering from it. Only a licensed therapist can diagnose a panic disorder. Occasional bouts with worry and moderate levels of anxiety are still considered normal. However, panic attacks that occur more than four times in a row is a sign that a person is under extreme psychological stress. Persons who experience frequent, debilitating panic attacks should immediately seek the assistance of a mental heath professional. Most insurance plans and health management organizations (HMOs) provide coverage that includes treatment for anxiety disorders. To make treatment more effective, people with panic disorders are advised to join a support group or undergo sessions with a psychiatrist. Even something as simple as talking to a trusted friend, a loved one, or a church counselor can do wonders. Stress management techniques and meditation can help people with such disorders. Regular exercise can also have some calming effect on a person saddled with worries.

Overcoming Media Sensationalism: Finding Calm In A World Of Irrational Fears

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:35:00 +0000

The media and the modern world both seem to be incredibly adept at inspiring fear and anxiety in people. Between reports of possible terrorist threats to the mundane possibility that your food could carry several bacterial infections, it can be very hard to find anything that can’t be connected with something unpleasant. All of this paranoia and anxiety can sometimes take a toll on a person’s mental health, even if the effects aren’t particularly obvious. This serves quite an amazing contrast with some many people espousing the message of “living life to the fullest” filling the airwaves. Of course, nobody really seems to have paid that much attention to how, exactly, to carry that out in today’s environment. The fact is, there are a lot of things that can cause fear and anxiety in the world. However, it should be kept in mind that people have been living and dealing with those problems for thousands of years. Europe had to endure the widespread infection remembered as the “Black Plague” and eventually recovered. The Chinese have carried themselves well through the turmoil and self-destruction of countless periods when the country was divided into warring states. The honest truth here is that, for the sake of your mental health if nothing else, you should just try not to worry too much. There is a certain level of risk that is to be associated with pretty much anything, but that doesn’t mean those things should not be done. There is no argument that the media has some influence over the mental health of people, although just how much is something left to speculation. There are some that theorize that, with the right combination of fear and anxiety caused by the media and environmental conditions, people can become exceedingly paranoid.

Cyber-Bullying: Threat and Intimidation Online

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:51:00 +0000

Ahh…the Internet…the amazing portal to a vast world of information, entertainment, and everything else in between. Internet technology has revolutionized the way we work, play, learn, and communicate. What started out as an experiment in a Harvard University laboratory is now one of the primary means by which people in the 21st century do business, exchange information, and relate with other people. Aside from its use as a research tool, the World Wide Web provides other services such as email, instant messaging, file sharing, online forums, and blogging. As a technology, it has made an impact on the social structure and behavior. As an example, there now actual cases of people who met online and later got married. But even the Internet is not immune from misuse or abuse. Like other inventions of man, it too has been subjected to various forms of wrong application. One good example is cyber-bullying, a term that refers to bullying and harassment by use of electronic devices. Cyber-bullying and harassment is actually done through e-mail, instant messaging, blogs, mobile phones, text messaging, and other electronic media. In a survey done by Pew Internet and American Life, it was found out that at least 33% of teenagers had been the victim of some form of cyber-bullying. These acts involved sexual harassment, threats of harm, name-calling, and other harmful and unwanted acts. Online bullies use their computer and Internet skills to shock, intimidate, insult, and control unsuspecting online users. These acts of intimidation cause embarrassment, fear, stress, and anxiety. Some people who have become victims of online harassment also suffer from depression. The depression has caused many of these victims to either retreat in isolation or seek revenge through their own brand of harassment. Since surfing the Web can be done outside of school or out of the watchful eyes of teachers and parents, many young people need to be re-educated about “Web Safety.” School authorities, guardians, and parents must help young people and other individuals who use the Internet to learn the following Web Safety Measures: · Don’t use your real name every time you sign up for a web service; · Don’t give personal information such as your gender, age, address, school etc.; · Don’t send photos or post photos on the Internet; · As much as possible, avoid entering chat rooms. Most people who are in the chat rooms are not truthful with their profiles or identities. They are not who they say they are. · Keep a copy of the offending email. You may need the copy if you decide to take legal action about it. · Never easily agree to meet with anyone that you just met online. One of the worst things that can happen to a victim of online harassment or cyber-bullying is to be neglected. If a victim feels that he or she does not have anyone to go to for help, that person may fall in a deeper state of depression. Much worse, the victim could even develop a serious anxiety disorder, which, in turn, might lead to suicide. It will take the joint effort of school authorities, parents, and the community as a whole to stop cyber-bullying. Everybody must take part in preventing the cyber-bullies from using one of the world’s most important inventions into a cyber-tool for threat and intimidation.

To Sleep Or Not To Sleep

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:29:00 +0000

A teacher wrote this note in one of her students’ records; “Always late in class. Seems inattentive during discussions. To inquire regarding his situation.” One day after class, the teacher met with this student to ask regarding his condition. She was expecting that her student might relate some problems with his family or financially that interferes with his academic performance. She was surprised, however, to learn that the reason for her student’s constant tardiness and poor performance in school is lack of sleep and difficulty in sleeping. She thought that her student was just making up a lame excuse and reprimanded him severely. Later that week, when she casually related this to her friend who happens to be a doctor, he told her that her student may actually have a serious medical problem called insomnia. Insomnia is defined as a sleeping disorder where a person has difficulty sleeping or remaining asleep, thus, lacking a high-quality of sleep. The length of time that this condition persists may vary; from a single night to possibly a week or more. This condition may be caused by different factors such as physical illness or psychological problems. Moreover, its effects may largely impair a person’s life which is why this condition must be regarded seriously. However, like most health problems, insomnia is manageable or cured given proper treatment. The length of time that the sleep problem is experienced serves as basis for classification of the different types of insomnia. The first type which is called transient insomnia or short-term insomnia may last one night, a few nights or a few weeks. Another type of insomnia which persists for a longer period of time, a few months or even years, is termed as chronic insomnia or long-term insomnia. Another classification of the condition depends on the factors or causes related to it. If the problem exists without any underlying condition and is mainly caused by harmful sleeping habits, it is considered as primary insomnia. On the other hand, when sleeping disorders arise as a symptom of another preexisting condition it is then classified as secondary insomnia. The latter method of classification helps a lot in determining what form of management or treatment should be applied to cure the problem. As mentioned earlier, insomnia may be brought about by different factors or causes. It can be triggered by mental conditions, food or drugs, sleeping behaviors or habits, sleeping environment and medical or health condition. When a person is under stress, anxiety or fear, this may have an effect in his or her quality of sleep. Some medications, caffeine, nicotine and some herbal supplements may also affect sleep. Sleeping can be hindered or interfered by events such as a change in time zone or work shifts and by activities such as napping during the day, exercising before bedtime and eating or drinking too much before sleeping. A noisy environment, disruptive sleep partner, uncomfortable type of bed and unwanted room temperature can also make it difficult for a person to fall asleep. Lastly, trouble in sleeping may also be experienced when a person has any illness or pain, undergoes hormonal changes or has medical conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Having this condition can greatly disturb or trouble a person’s sleeping and waking hours. Usually, people with insomnia will undergo undesirable changes in their mood and daily activities. They may feel irritable and impatient most of the time and experience difficulty in concentrating and focusing on tasks. This condition may also lead them to often feel depressed and anxious. As a result, they exhibit poor performance in school and at work, and somehow become more accident-prone. Those who are diagnosed to have insomnia, however, should not panic or feel hopeless because of their condition. Fortunately, various treatments or solutions are already available to address this problem. Medications such as hypnotics and sedatives such as benzodiazepines, ramelteon and anti-depressants can be prescribed by sleep doctors to help decrease or eliminate difficulty in sleeping. Another therapy available is called cognitive-behavior therapy where a person is advised to modify his or her daily activities towards having better sleeping habits. Alternative and traditional Chinese medicine such as acupuncture and aromatherapy as well as other substances like herbal supplements can also be used to treat sleeping disorders. These treatments, however, should not be taken or undergone without proper prescription or advice from medical professionals. Inappropriate use or application of these may cause untoward reactions and side effects such as nausea, dizziness and diarrhea, cognitive and memory disturbance, substance abuse and even death. It is therefore necessary to always seek professional advice regarding matters of treatment. Insomnia is probably one of those unfamiliar or misunderstood health problems. This does not mean, however, that the condition is uncommon. Everyone probably has experienced or knows someone who had experienced one or more causes of insomnia. Everyone is also vulnerable to having it. Therefore, it is important to be knowledgeable of this condition to be able to address it properly. Had the teacher in the situation stated earlier known what insomnia is, what causes it, how it affects one’s life and what treatments or solutions are available, she may have appropriately done something to make her student’s life better.

Getting High… Can You Get Off It?

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:46:00 +0000

It is often said that each person is unique and totally distinct from the eight billion other people on the planet. Different people have different interests, biases, wants, needs, and desires. Where these interests and desires take a person in life totally depends on each decision that is made every day. For example, a typical teenager in college can choose between being a “do-gooder” whose life revolves around the home and the classroom; or going just a bit wild and experiment with all sorts of new things. Experiencing new things can be as simple as meeting girls, having intimate relationships, to drinking alcohol, or to something as risky as taking drugs. Teens who experiment with drugs often do so because of peer pressure and the need to belong. Poor choice in friends can lead an otherwise normal teenager to go over board and become addicted to illegal drugs. Sometimes, the pressure and bad influence from peer groups can overcome a teenager’s sense of right and wrong, or the values and principles taught to them from the home and the church. Some who do not get hooked on drugs say that they tried doing drugs just to satisfy the curiosity about how it feels to “get high.” The usual period for a person to experience and try new stuff would be during their teenage years, since their curiosity for the world is at its highest point around that age. Almost all of us have been exposed to drugs and alcohol at some point in our life. Alcohol is considered as a social drink for some, but this could lead to a more difficult alcohol addiction, or alcoholism. A more alarming fact would be to know that a certain number of teenage boys and girls get addicted to drugs, such as marijuana, “crystal meth”, or even LSD. This addiction could lead into a more dangerous position, causing them to go into drug rehabilitation. Of course, a recovering addict would naturally be anxious or frightened by the prospect of being confined in a drug rehabilitation facility. Anxiety is present and felt at all times since they do not know what to see and think after they get out of rehab. Turning them into rehab may also cause depression, not just for the patient, but for the parents as well. Of course, the addict does not want to be into rehab because of the fact that they cannot use their drug inside the premises and that they will be separated from their drug- addicted friends. This isolation or separation would naturally cause depression. It would be a hard time for both the parents and the patient since this would be a time for detoxification, counseling, and basic addiction treatment. Being inside a rehabilitation center would be like punishment for the addict. In this scenario, they are required to attend, listen, cooperate, and learn the benefits of having a healthy, drug-free life, instead of being addicted and enslaved by a chemical substance. In case they have to stay there for a set period of time, thoughts of depression and feelings of withdrawal from their drug may arise. These patients may be hard to talk to or communicate with due to their withdrawal symptoms. By having a relaxed and calm environment, this could help in releasing stress and anxiety from the patients, as well as giving them a fresh perspective on life. Whether the addict is registered in the rehabilitation center as an out-patient, short term in-patient, or long term in-patient programs, they would have to deal with drug counseling activities, open forums, and educational facilities that might help in decreasing their need for drugs. Depression should decrease as time flies because through the rehabilitation sessions, the patient would learn how to be set free from the addiction and get back on the road to recovery.

Alleviating Anxiety With Zensight Process

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:53:00 +0000

Rachel looks in the mirror and notices a mark on her cheek. Immediately her breath becomes shallow, her heart races, her chest tightens, and she feels nauseated. She checks the spot more closely, and sees that it’s just a speck of dirt. She washes it off and tells herself firmly that she is fine – it wasn’t the beginning of skin cancer, it was nothing. It’s gone. She is okay. Although she keeps telling herself she is okay, hours later, Rachel still doesn’t feel okay. What if seeing that spot was a “sign”? What is she is about to develop skin cancer? What if she already has skin cancer and she just hasn’t seen it yet? Should she go see her doctor? Recurring thoughts of cancer hover in the back of her mind for the rest of the day. Weeks later she notices she is still spending an increased amount of time inspecting her skin for unusual marks or blemishes. Like an estimated 13-16.5% of adults, Rachel has an anxiety disorder. Types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. At times the symptoms of anxiety can become so debilitating that those affected will not leave their home or attend social functions – and their lives may become consumed by the effort to avoid people, places or situations which are likely to trigger feelings of anxiety. Traditional treatment for anxiety disorder has involved medication to help to lessen the symptoms of anxiety, and behavioral therapy to assist with coping and challenging irrational thoughts. Treatment is generally expected to be long term. Zensight Process offers new hope to those with anxiety. In many cases, a practitioner who is very skilled with both Zensight and in working with those with anxiety, can help someone to experience dramatic improvement – and in some cases a complete elimination of symptoms – in just a few sessions. In most situations, many individuals will be able to use Zensight on their own – without ever consulting a practitioner at all – to considerably improve and sometimes even eliminate their symptoms altogether. Those who do choose to work with a therapist or practitioner to help support and accelerate their healing will also benefit from doing Zensight self-healing in between sessions, in order to obtain the best results. How to Use Zensight Process Zensight Process involves working with the subconscious mind in a way that is similar to hypnosis – and yet no hypnosis is actually used. Instead, we begin by creating a “healing symbol”. This symbol can be a word, picture, or colour. Some people choose to use a symbol such as “ocean”. They then can focus on the word “ocean” when that feels right, and at other times may actually visualize the ocean. When this healing symbol is used or focused upon with intent, it allows the fears, concerns, and “blocks” that someone is experiencing to gently heal and transform. The healing symbol is then used together with healing statements and visualization, to soften, dissolve and release the concerns that are being experienced. In a situation of anxiety, the individual is instructed to stop and notice any visual image that comes to mind when she or he thinks about one of their specific concerns – and then focus upon this image while connecting with the healing symbol that was chosen. This use of visualization helps to greatly accelerate healing because it does not rely upon the limits of our conscious mind and awareness. The visual image that comes up may be an actual representation of a specific fear or issue that is being experienced, or it may be something that is metaphorical in nature. I have had people tell me that they suddenly see a picture of themselves with their leg caught in a trap, or that they see a large grey object that they can’t identify or make sense of. The different images that come up are highly variable and are not always understood by the person. The beauty of it is that they don’t need to be understood. The image is simply focused upon while connecting with the healing symbol, and is allowed to transform. What generally happens is that the image spontaneously transforms in a way that feels healing. The individual watches as the trap that was holding the leg simply dissolves and disappears. They see themselves then being able to move about freely and with a sense of contentment and peace. The big unexplained grey object morphs into a big egg which opens up and releases light and a feeling of peace that the person senses themselves absorbing as she or he watches. If the picture doesn’t change, if no picture is seen, or in order to resolve any remaining upset, the individual uses healing statements. After each statement, the person takes a deep breath and lets it go, and focuses upon the healing symbol. Upsets are then healed and transformed, as positive feelings grow and strengthen. Examples of healing statements are: I heal all of the fears that any parts of me have, that I can’t get free of this problem I heal any and all feelings that any parts of me have, that I am trapped. I let all of the parts of me know, deeply and completely, that I am safe. All of the different parts of me now experience a growing sense of peace and comfort. My entire body is relaxing now. Sound simple? It is – extremely simple, and yet powerfully and deeply effective. Best of all, the effects are lasting – providing that energetic imbalances are addressed and healed, results will in most cases be permanent. Energy Balancing Zensight can be used for much more than simply targeting specific symptoms. In the case of anxiety – especially experiences of pervasive fear and anxiety – it is best to begin by targeting energetic imbalances that are most likely being experienced. Someone who experiences frequent and/or pervasive feelings of fear has an imbalance in his or her triple warmer meridian. The energy meridians have been widely recognized in Eastern medicine as impacting upon our emotional, physical, and mental concerns. Acupuncture is only one of many modalities which focus upon bringing healing to the energy meridians. The triple warmer meridian is the meridian in the body which governs the fight/flight/freeze response. Sometimes – often in response to an original event or series of events in which the individual felt intense fear or terror – the triple warmer meridian becomes overenergized. In the case of anxiety, the emphasis will be upon the “flight/freeze” response, and the individual will quickly respond with fear to many situations which may to others appear innocuous. Trying to talk someone out of their fear often has little effect. Rachel rationally knows that the mark on her face was simply dirt and was no more an indicator of cancer than is a stain on her jeans. However, in spite of this awareness, and in spite of her logical mind which tells her she is safe and is overreacting, Rachel can not let the fear go. The problem that Rachel is experiencing is not in her mind so much as in her body and in her energy system. Often patterns of triple warmer overenergization begin in childhood, in response to repeated experiences of terror. Sometimes this may be due to experiences of abuse that were either experienced or witnessed, and sometimes it may be connected with less obviously traumatic experiences that were nevertheless fear-producing for the particular child involved. Rachel knows that she is safe – but her body and energy system need to know it too. In a sense, they need to be reprogrammed. With Zensight, this “reprogramming” can occur gently and easily during a rapid yet extremely relaxing process. Other energetic imbalances may also be involved. Homolateral energy (where the energy runs straight up and down the body rather than crossing over it) may also be involved. Once any energetic imbalances that are involved are addressed, many symptoms of anxiety will lessen immediately. The work then becomes focused on targeting the concerns more directly. Bringing Healing to the “Whole” Person The emphasis whic
h Zensight Process places upon using both visualization and verbal “healing statements” ensures that both hemispheres of the brain are involved during the healing process. This assists people in linking logic with emotion. After using Zensight, not only does Rachel logically understand that the spot on her face was not a sign of impending doom – she emotionally “gets it” as well. Zensight also addresses the experience of parts of self. All of us have parts of self. In many situations where healing is not experienced even when highly effective modalities are being used, the issue is that the person on some level – in some small part of them – may believe that it’s not safe to heal the concerns. Rachel may be afraid to completely heal her anxiety because some small part of her may fear that if she stops worrying about and expecting to develop cancer, that she will pay less attention and will miss warning signs and thus be unsafe. Zensight allows the individual to access and bring healing to – through the use of visualization and targeted healing statements – to even those parts of us that are afraid to heal, or believe it is not in our best interests to do so. By ensuring that the individual is treated at as a whole – physically, emotionally, mentally, and energetically – Zensight enables even concerns that are usually considered to be difficult to impossible to resolve, to be as gently and quickly healed as possible.