Happy Holidays

I was being silly here mostly because I was with a friend who has 5 year old twins.  Kids can always put me in the holiday spirit and make the world seem better.  If you are not feeling so jolly its ok,  you are not alone!

Here are two references that  might help you

The first is a professional article that offers scientific evidence for alternative and complementary treatments for depression.

Below you will find my answer to a question about holiday blues.

Hope you find something helpful here.

According to a great article in the NY times,  “If you have the awful sensation that your body’s stress response has taken on a self-replicating and ultimately self-defeating life of its own, congratulations. You are very perceptive. It has.”

This article needs concentration when trying to understand it, but it well worth it. It explains how your stressed brain tends to be susceptible  to further stress due to its’ own reaction.  But the good news is that is also assures you that the brains reaction to stress can be reduced.  It is worth more then a casual read and also development of a plan to decrease your own stress response.

Are your worries overrunning the good stuff in your life?

Learn life lessons from your cat. Learn to ignore little things and keep them  from taking over your life

Little problems & concerns that often get blown out of proportion:

• Unfair criticism
• Doing the lion’s share of work
• Worry, worry, worry about things you can’t control
• Feeling misunderstood
• Feeling unappreciated
• Unable to change things

Lighten Up

• Surrender to the fact that life isn’t fair
• Don’t make things a big deal of things that aren’t

Crabapple Tree

I needed some personal spring rejuvenation this week. I spent time taking care of myself and I thought I would share these reminders with other women:

•   Reminded myself for the umpteenth time to take care of myself, it will make me more able to help others and feel less taken advantage of.
•   I said lots of “no’s” this week, actually cancelled 2 engagements (boy did that feel good).  Spent some very restful time alone. 
• I napped often

   Buried at Work? 

Research has shown those who are pessimistic have a higher risk of dying young.

Those who are more optimistic have better health, and better immune systems. Although pessimism may not be easy to change, you can tone it down with practice. No one expects or wants you to be a Pollyanna, trying to keep a positive attitude does not mean to tell yourself everything will be ok when you know it won’t.

I would like to thank my financial advisor Jay Cappon of Rochester NY who is the author of this article. It is one of the many good and practical things he does to help people manage their money. Check out his web site at www.capvestfinancial.com 

We all know that a stress-filled existence is responsible for nail biting and dark circles under the eyes. But we may not realize the heavy toll it can extract from our bank account. Chronic stress, the kind you experience when the demands of life exceed your ability to cope, increases your risk of developing ailments ranging from the common cold and gum disease to obesity and heart diseases. This, in turn, will cause you to pay more for medical treatments, insurance and dental work. If you need more incentive to do something about your stressful lifestyle, consider these potential costs:

Did you know that there are at at least four major relaxation techniques to reduce stress. Most people have a particular favorite. I often think that when people tell me they have not had success with relaxation techniques it is because they have not found the one that is right for them! We all respond differently to suggestion.

I personally have tried all 4 before I decided which one is best for me. Let me tell you about them.

Helping Professionals Especially Women, Must Learn to Take Care of Themselves.

This is much easier to say then do! Although there are more men in the helping professions today, in nursing and social work the vast majority are still women.

Womens’ Sense of self is Often One of Caretaker and Nurturer, and Society Enforces This View.

Nurturing and care taking have long been associated with women in general, and nurses and social workers in particular. Empathy is a mainstay of the helping professions, particularly the “women’s professions” such as nursing and social work. Nurturance has historically been intertwined with, and seen as a major function of nursing. Nursing has been called the “practice of professional nurturing”.

We generally think of choices as good, as a way to assert our independence and our free will, it’s about making a statement. While this is certainly true, when are choices just too many? Sometimes I just want Vanilla.

Too many choices can be stressful, even overwhelming and lead to no real choice. Sometimes choices made to assert ourselves can be less then free. Often we believe we need to exercise our “free will” just to prove we have it. Think of the teenager (or adult child !) who does the opposite of what her parent does, even though this may not be what she really wants to do. It appears that a choice that is made just to prove something, is really a restriction on free will.