“The Drug Store in Your Brain Can End Suffering” by Bonnie Groessl, MSN, APNP

July 17, 2012 at 9:09 pm | Posted in Migraine Headaches, Mind Body Medicine, Pain Management, Pain Relief | 2 Comments
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The Drug Store in Your Brain Can End Suffering …End Suffering By Using the Drug Store in Your Brain

Many of us have had a headache, but some of you know what it’s like to have the “monster headache.” About 30 million people suffer from migraine headaches in the United States alone. Many migraine sufferers find that medications are not as helpful as publicized. What about the people who do not find the relief they need from prescription medication alone? Are they doomed to suffer? The pain and disability of migraine is real, but suffering is optional. We all have more drugs in our brain than any pharmaceutical company could ever make.

Migraine sufferers can learn to use their own drug store to take control of their lives again and not rely solely on prescription medications. What we eat and how well we sleep, what we think, our emotions, how we move our bodies and handle stress all play significant roles in our experience of the migraine. This is largely due to the natural drugs we make in our brain.

Five foundational concepts are essential in learning to use the natural drug store effectively and successfully manage migraines. These include lifestyle, nutrition, learned associations, the power of the mind-body connection and stress management.

Here are some tips for you or the migraine sufferer in your life:

  • Eat three meals a day (Yes, breakfast is the most important meal!)
  • Stabilize your blood sugar by eating in balance
  • Eat real foods and avoid processed or fast foods
  • Drink at least eight glasses of water each day
  • Avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame (NutraSweet)
  • Move your body; exercise in some way
  • Don’t just count the hours of sleep, make sure it’s restorative sleep
  • Notice the thoughts and feelings you have most of the time
  • Learn to journal your migraines in a beneficial way
  • Be aware of your stress, present and past
  • Practice gratitude every day

The next 90-minute and interactive “Control Your Migraine” webinar  with Bonnie Groessl, MSN, APNP will be on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. (EST), 6:00 p.m. CST, 5:00 p.m. (MST), 4:00 p.m. (PST).  Click HERE to register for the Webinar.

Golden Slumbers under Attack

June 18, 2012 at 2:51 am | Posted in Insomnia, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Sleep Health | 6 Comments
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           The United States faces an epidemic of fatigue with 60 million people suffering from insomnia and 23 million people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. 

            Poor sleep causes people to suffer mentally, emotionally, relationally, vocationally, physically and medically.  Sleeplessness also leads to significant health problems with lasting personal, economic and social repercussions. 

            For example, insomnia sufferers are 73 percent more at-risk for anxiety and 69 percent more at-risk for depression. These disorders are even more pronounced for the elderly, with over 50 percent of the elderly experiencing some form of insomnia. Further, poor sleep health is associated with obesity, diabetes, viral infections, cardiovascular problems, cancer, increased pain, memory loss and impaired judgment.

            The good news is you can self-regulate poor sleep health.

            Here is a three-tier plan for restoring a deeper, more rejuvenating sleep as you were meant to naturally live and sleep. You can learn more about the three-tier plan by participating in the 90-minute webinar “Effective Clinical Self-Regulation Strategies for Restorative Sleep Recovery.” This webinar will be broadcasted live for the first time Sunday, June 24th at 7:00 p.m. EST.  Click on the following link to learn more and register: www.mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html. 

            The three-tier plan for restorative sleep is designed to return “Golden Slumbers” to your life. The three-tier plan consists of taking care of your (1)Body, (2)Mind, and (3) Bedroom. 

            This three-tier plan has been researched, honed and tested by Rubin Naiman, Ph.D., with the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine. (UA-CIM).  Dr. Naiman is one of Dr. Andrew Weil’s integrative sleep health colleagues at UA-CIM.

            Dr. Naiman is the mentor to the new Integrative Sleep Health Certification program being offered through the Mind Body Medicine Network, starting with the June 24th webinar on “Effective Clinical Self-Regulation Strategies for Restorative Sleep Recovery,” with Linda Cammarata, RN, and Ed Glauser, LPC.

            Below is a brief outline of the three-tier plan along with a few helpful tips for each tier that will alleviate sleeplessness, increase self-regulation, and lead to restorative and rejuvenating Golden Slumbers.

(1)Attending to the Body:

  • Lifestyle changes– Learn how to pay attention to natural sleep-awake rhythms and sleep scheduling. Learn how to incorporate exercise and good nutrition into a healthful lifestyle. Learn how to regulate caffeine and alcohol consumption. TIP:  Exercise three to six hours before bedtime and commit to 30 minutes of exercise a day.
  • Medical– Learn how to identify, understand and regulate physical conditions, symptoms, pain and discomfort. TIP: Achieving optimal sleep can increase pain thresholds by 200 percent.  
  • Medication – Learn how to understand medication side affects, ineffectiveness with long-term use, and the effects from reduction and elimination of sleep medications TIP: Increasing adenosine in your brain enhances sleep drive throughout the day.

(2) Attending to the Mind:

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy– Learn how to understand and control your irrational and negative thoughts and behaviors.  TIP: Use positive sleep thoughts to fall into a gentle, deep sleep
  •  Values and Beliefs – Learn how to apply it for a meaningful experience TIP: Use restorative sleep to repair cells and gain a fresh perspective
  • Spiritual/Religious Practice – Learn how to use it to restore at a deep level TIP: Surrender and let go to your higher power and/or to nature.

(3) Attending to the Bedroom:

  • Physical Environment – Learn how to create a calm and restful environment to increase sleep scheduling. TIP: Keep your bedroom cool, dark, quiet and clean. Also, calm your mind by clearing your nightstand.
  • Subtle Environment – Learn about chemical and energy influences on sleep. TIP: Avoid chemicals in mattresses, overly dramatic television before bedtime, late night computer use, and lighting from electronic devices including your alarm clock.  You may even get to the point of not even needing an alarm clock and wake up naturally at your scheduled time.
  • Social Environment– Learn how to improve sleeping with a partner or pet. Tip: Use the healing power of touch, nurturance and love to relax.

            Learn how to restore Golden Slumbers to your sleep health by taking part in the Mind Body Medicine Network’s 90-minute webinar on “Effective Clinical Self-Regulation Strategies for Restorative Sleep Recovery.”

            The webinar takes place on Sunday, June 24th at 7:00 p.m. EST.  For more information on the MBMN webinar and to register, click on the following link: www.mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html.  

            Lastly, you may want to listen to Golden Slumbers by the Beatles as you work toward your own restorative sleep and realize your own Golden Slumbers is once again at peace and no longer under attack. 

Ed Glauser, M.Ed, N.C.C., LPC

Owner & Clinician

Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC

“The BEST Clinical Webinars in Mind Body Medicine in the World. Period.”

www.mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html

Transcending Suffering through Natural Sleep Recovery

June 11, 2012 at 11:34 pm | Posted in Insomnia, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Sleep Health | Leave a comment
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Transcending Suffering through Natural Sleep Recovery

Over the past 15 years, I have been practicing and teaching Natural Sleep Recovery. Natural Sleep Recovery has resulted in a very positive outcome for my own personal recovery from Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition that is quite antagonistic to restorative sleep. I experienced nightly symptoms of RLS for well over 3 years. During that time, most nights were spent pacing around  my home, stretching, and taking hot baths while only getting around 3 to 4 hours of sleep. The physical and emotional challenges of not being able to sleep resulted in what felt like deep suffering. Through my personal research of RLS, I found some relief from various practices and strategies, although they were not enough for maintaining consistent sleep. I needed to go deeper; medications were not an acceptable treatment option for me.

My background in healthcare has been inspired by holistic health practices. Holistic practices tend to approach health challenges by focusing on the mind-body connection. Holistic practices are proactive, solution-oriented and empowering modalities of care. A holistic wellness philosophy was the path that changed my life, restored my health, and returned me to deep sleeping and dreaming.

Today, I am grateful for the ability to sleep an average of 7 hours on most nights. Sleeping well can change the quality of our life, health, relationships, emotions, and physical health. Listed are some of the essential practices that have made the difference in my life.

  • Compassionate behavior for myself and others
  • Believing that my body and mind can return to healthy balance
  • Daily exercise; for me, it includes a 3 mile daily walk
  • Learning to maintain present-centered awareness through practicing mindfulness meditation, which trains the mind to allow thoughts to come and go like clouds without being distracted by them
  • Practicing self-regulation through Yoga, Qigong, and pranayama (breath control).
  • Recognizing, understanding and adjusting personal habits to support emotional and physical wellness.
  • Maintaining an openness to learning about the evolving field of sleep science
  • Making dietary changes that include: less sugar, less caffeine, and fewer carbohydrates, with less overall food intake.
  • Learning how to best strengthen my ability to better cope with stress
  • Using personalized nutritional supplements

There are many conditions that interfere with our ability to sustain restorative sleep. Many people who suffer from insomnia know that there is not a one-way road to recovery. Sleep science continues to teach that there are many treatment options that can reclaim restorative sleep.

Natural Sleep Recovery is a component of the Integrative Sleep Health Certification Program, an educational program that offers a hopeful path towards discovering how to reclaim restorative sleep.  The Intregrative Sleep Health Certification Program will be offered starting with our day long Natural Sleep Recovery Retreat in Asheville, North Carolina on Saturday, September 29th with Linda Cammarata, RN and Ed Glauser, LPC.

In the meantime, you are welcome to continue your journey to natural sleep recovery by joining the Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC for our June 24th webinar on “Effective Self-Regulation Clinical Strategies for Restorative Sleep Recovery” with Linda Cammarata, RN and Ed Glauser, LPC at 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CST/5:00 p.m. MST/4:00 p.m. PST by going to the following link to register for the MBMN webinar at: http://www.mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html.

Our Mind Body Medicine Network’ webinars represent The BEST Clinical Webinars in Mind Body Medicine in the World,” and we look very forward to you joining us for a very engaging, participatory, and effective way of enjoying natural sleep recovery! Register today by going to: http://www.mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html.

(Written by: Linda Cammarata, RN – Healthcare and Wellness Consultant – http://www.Mind-BodyWellness.org)

Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC

Owner & Clinician

Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC

http://www.mindbodymedicinenetwork.com

Quality of Sleep is Vital for Migraine Sufferers

May 28, 2012 at 11:10 am | Posted in Insomnia, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Sleep Health | 2 Comments
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There have been many studies done regarding migraine sufferers and sleep. It’s not just the hours of sleep, but the quality of the sleep that is an important factor. Chronic daily headache sufferers almost always report non-restorative sleep. The bottom line: Our brain needs downtime to rest and repair.

The migraine sufferer can use behavioral changes for restorative sleep, helping to minimize the severity and frequency of their migraine headaches.

Here are some tips for restorative sleep to prevent migraine headaches:

  • Drink enough water in the evening, especially before bed. It’s the longest time we go without fluids and the brain needs to be hydrated. Dehydration is a common trigger for migraine.
  • Balancing the blood sugar is very important. Don’t eat just carbohydrates in the evening, as it this will not maintain your blood sugar all night. The blood sugar could get too low during that period. Since most people don’t eat in the middle of the night, the body needs to regulate this by releasing cortisol, which helps to increase the low blood sugar. High cortisol levels lead to non-restorative sleep.  A balanced diet of protein, carbohydrate and fats is best to keep the blood sugar stable.
  • Take some time to disengage and unwind before trying to sleep. Calm down and relax about an hour and a half before you go to bed. If you plan to get to bed at 10 p.m., don’t still be doing the laundry, vacuuming or working on the computer after 8:30 p.m. Beware that a really good book or movie also might keep you engaged and not prepared for sleep. Reading something boring, meditating or listening to quiet music is better than doing something engaging.
  • Don’t watch an intense drama, thriller or even the news just before bed. You carry this to bed with you and it’s what the subconscious mind has to process all night. Remember, the subconscious mind never sleeps!
  • Your last thoughts of the day just before falling asleep should be good thoughts. Notice what you are thankful for, what went well today, or dream about what you want and pretend you are already there. These are better thoughts than going through the list of things you have to do tomorrow, thinking about what when wrong today, or what you didn’t get done.

There are many lifestyle, nutrition and psychological modifications that migraine sufferers can make to effectively reduce the frequency and severity of their migraine headaches.  Oftentimes, this means they don’t need to rely so heavily on daily prescription medication to prevent attacks.  It is empowering for a migraine sufferer to take some control in their life and not feel at the mercy of their headaches.   For more information on our summer Mind Body Medicine Network’s webinar series featuring “The BEST clinical webinars in Mind Body Medicine in the World,” please take a look at the following:

Starting on June 24th, join us for “Effective Self-Regulation Clinical Strategies for Restorative Sleep Recovery,”with Linda Cammarata, RN and Ed Glauser, LPC. Clinicians will learn how CBT for Insomnia, clinical hypnosis, natural sleep rhythms, yoga, mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, spiritual practice and other somatic practices can help clients and patients have more restorative sleep. Through teaching self-regulating behaviors, clients and patients can experience anywhere from a 100-200% increase in pain threshold with lower rates of obesity, diabetes, anxiety and depression. To join us for this highly engaging, participatory, and evidenced-based webinar, please go to the following link to register at: http://mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html

You are also welcome to take advantage of a FREE sneak preview of our July 29th webinar on “Control the Migraine,” by clicking on the following link. Discover tools and strategies to control your migraine headaches and reclaim your life. This FREE webinar is being presented by nurse practitioner and migraine expert Bonnie Groessl on May 31st, 5 p.m. EST/4 p.m. CST/3 p.m. PST at: http://controlthemigraine.com/ (accessed only through Bonnie’s website)

Ed Glauser, M.Ed., N.C.C., LPC

Owner and Clinician

Mind Body Medicine Network, LLC, http://mindbodymedicinenetwork.com/Webinars.html

“The BEST Clinical Webinars in Mind Body Medicine in the World. Period.”
(Written by Bonnie Groessl & Ed Glauser)
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