True gentleness is founded on a sense of what we owe to him who made us and to the common nature which we all share. It arises from reflection on our own failings and wants, and from just views of the condition and duty of man. It is native feeling heightened and improved by principle. Hugh Blair
Inner Journey to Wellness
Adversity
Each person’s peace and happiness, both now and long term, may depend largely on his or her responses to the trials of life. Adversity and trials come from different sources. (1)Trials may come as a result or consequence of a person’s own decisions and actions. These trials can be avoided through learning from mistakes and taking the right actions. (2)Other trials are simply a natural part of life and are not a result of any poor decisions and in fact may come at times when people are doing their best. For example, people may experience trials in times of sickness, uncertainty, or from the deaths of loved ones. (3)Adversity may sometimes come because of others’ poor choices, hurtful words, and actions.
How we face adversity will determine the long term outcome of such trials. When we ask questions like “Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this now? What have I done to deserve this?” These questions have the power to dominate our thoughts. Such questions can overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive ourselves of the experiences and insights we need to learn and grow from trials and tribulation. Rather than responding in this way, people should consider asking questions such as, “What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?”
Different kinds of adversity require different responses. If a person’s trials come because of their own poor choices, he or she should (1) correct the behavior and humbly seek to learn from their mistakes. Remember weakness is not sin. Remorse should be resolved not turned into shame. People who are stricken with illness or other trials may simply need to be (2) patient, positive, and faithful. People who suffer because of others’ words or actions should (3) not take it personally and work toward forgiving those who have offended them, so that the negative energy of anger does not cause more damage than the original offense itself. Victims of abuse however should seek help immediately and set boundaries to prevent future abuse.
still 100% sober here and intending to remain so but wanting to work out some thoughts about relapse so please decide for yourself whether you wish to read this post
Grounding Therapy
Regularly connecting to the earth’s natural, powerful energy is healing and vital for everyone.
This is why “reconnection” with both the earth itself and our body’s own innate healing abilities is the focus of grounding therapy or earthing. The best part about earthing or grounding is that it’s super simple, completely free and can be done anywhere, at any time. It requires nothing but bare feet and willingness.
The basics of how grounding or earthing works:
- Your body is a type of electrical circuit. The Earth’s surface possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free or mobile electrons. The Earth’s negative charges can create a stable internal bio-electrical environment for the normal functioning of all body systems which may be important for setting the biological clock, regulating circadian rhythms, and balancing adrenal functions.
- Your body is naturally able to absorb electrical charges from the earth since your skin acts like a “conductor.” Your feet, have certain points in the balls of your feet that are especially good at receiving the earth’s electricity.
But because of our modern way of living we are losing touch with the earth’s natural electrical force. - The human body is electrical first and chemical second. Our brain, heart beat and neurotransmitter activity, for example, all rely on electrical signals, so when our electrical system is off, so can be certain aspects of our health will be out of balance. being in touch with the planet, the electrical force coming off the earth is able to help lower inflammation and fight free radicals in the body.
Time to hit the beach bare foot, take of your shoes on a hike, or garden bare footed!
4th of July Playlist
Today is considered Independence Day, but everyday in America should be considered Independence Day. This playlist is dedicated to all of the soldiers and people in the Armed Forces. Thank you for all that you do in protecting this great land every day. It is because of you that everyday is Independence Day.
American Pie – Don Mclean
This is Our Country – John Mellencamp
Pink Houses – John Mellencamp
The Bumper of My SUV – Chely Wright
If I Die Before You Wake
If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw
American Solider – Toby Keith
In Color – Jamey Johnson
God Bless the USA – Lee Greenwood
Have You Forgotten – Darryl Worely
Something to be Proud Of – Montgomery Gentry
Lets Ride – Kid Rock
Growth
Chemistry of Addiction
Gray’s BAS/BIS Theory
- Proposes that personality is based on the interaction of two basic systems in the brain:
1. Behavioral Activation System (BAS): The accelerator (“hit the gas”)
– Impulsivity, novelty seeking, sensitivity to rewards and motivation to seek rewards.
–Attraction to a person or a cookie and a desire to approach the person or cookie, especially a “new” one?
- High BAS = Lots of positive affect (PA); Low BAS = Less PA
- High BAS = Impulsive; Low BAS = Reserved and Careful
- High BAS = Extraversion; Low BAS = Introversion
BAS = Left Frontal Lobe:
- Active while experiencing positive emotion (happiness).
2. Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS): “Hitting the brakes”. Sensitivity to potential punishment and motivation to avoid punishment.
–Fear of rejection by someone you fancy or fear of a snake and the motivation to avoid these things comes from this system.
-Avoidance of people, places, and situations that have the perception of causing potential pain?
- High BIS = negative emotions (fear, anxiety)
- High BIS = inhibits movement toward goals
- High BIS = High Neuroticism; Low BIS = Low Neuroticism
But……Low BIS also = High Psychoticism
BIS = Right Frontal Lobe:
- Active while experiencing negative emotion (fear, anxiety).
- Active when presented with an incentive.
How does this effect behavior and coping methods? Can it be the underlying mental processing that fuels addictive behavior, especially when deeper obsessive and compulsive patterns emerge?
Happy Eat your Vegetables Day!!! – What’s your favorite vegetable?
A Neuro-anatomical Model
A Neuro-anatomical Model
Altered stress systems progressively impact on dopaminergic networks to cause the neuro-anatomical “brain signatures” of addiction (17).
Reward – stress activates the DS (87) and substance-related cues elicit dopamine release in DS (88) in line with addiction severity, suggesting the strengthening of substance-related habits as addiction progresses. This reflects a shift in reward processing from the VS to DS.
Stress and dopamine are both involved in habit learning (89, 90). Lesions to the DS dopamine prevent habit formation (91).
Memory – elevated stress triggers excessive engagement of habitual processes, by changing the role of memory systems in behaviour. For example, acute stress before a learning task results in a predominantly habitual rather than a cognition-based role of memory in task completion (35).
Chronic stress causes opposing structural changes in neural networks subserving goal-directed and habitual action, with PFC atrophy and DS hypertrophy (35). Bias toward habitual responding…
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Balance Your Health 