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special feature section concerning disaster relief....
 
South Florida begins picking up after Kristina's sucker punch
BY TIM COLLIE, MADELINE BARO DIAZ & BILL HIRSCHMAN
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
FORT
LAUDERDALE, Fla. - (KRT) - Still
reeling after Hurricane Katrina's costly sucker punch, South Floridians began picking themselves up Friday from a deceptive, borderline tropical storm hose walloping winds and horizontal rains many underestimated.
In Broward & Miami-Dade
counties, residents seemed shocked that a seemingly bush-league Category 1 would topple so many trees, snap so many power
lines and flood so many streets. Coming out of nowhere, in two-day's time, Katrina surprised even the area's storm veterans
with its ferocity and stamina.
Seven people are confirmed
dead because of Katrina - 4 in Broward and 3 in Miami-Dade.
Late Friday evening, more
than a million residents remained without power across the region, according to Florida Power & Light Co. The outages
also crippled major industries and hindered fuel ships from docking at Port Everglades in Broward. In Palm Beach County, where
destruction was far lighter, the state Division of Emergency Management was setting up a distribution center for relief supplies.
"This was a one, a Category
1," said Hal Gunnison, staring at a huge mass of tangled twisted branches and roots covering the street outside his home in
Plantation. "This was worse than Andrew. This is a nightmare."
Damage estimates for the storm
hovered around $600 million, a figure likely measured in tens of thousands of claims for individual cars, homes and businesses,
authorities said. But Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, visiting South Florida with Gov. Jeb Bush, was relieved that damage didn't seem as severe compared to the other storms that have hit Florida over the past
year.
The storm skirted southern
Broward and cut a deep swath south through Miami-Dade. Damage in Broward was mostly done from wind while in Miami-Dade flooding
took a heavy toll. As always with storms, Katrina was capricious. Some areas showed no signs of a hurricane while only a block
away massive trees covered streets and cars and water flowed thru living rooms.
"I think there's a sense of relief and a sense of amazement because this was a Category 1 hurricane,"
said Broward County Mayor Kristin Jacobs, pointing out that about 1/3 of the county lost power. "It's still a big punch that
we took."
Still, many pondered that
if this was a Category 1, what would a Category 2 or 3 have done? Katrina's winds slammed thru the most populous regions of
Broward and Miami-Dade, areas that have largely been spared from the full force of hurricanes for years.
Like many, businessman Al
Cozens didn't do the drill he usually would for a Category 3 or 4. He left up the awning on the front of his building on Hollywood
beach only to see it ripped off - poles and all - and hurled two blocks before it totaled two cars.
"It was gone in a matter of
two seconds," said Cozens. "I thought the building was going to go. It's only a wood frame.
"This was very impressive
for a Category 1," he added. "I bet everyone analyzing their damage today is thinking the same thing."
They certainly were. Some
even made comparisons to Andrew, the 1992 hurricane that wiped out much of Homestead and did an estimated $21 billion in damage.
At the Granby Motel on Garfield Street in Hollywood, where Cozens' awning crash-landed, manager Nicole Bergeron said people
could have been hurt because of lax warnings about the storm. Evacuations should have been mandatory, not voluntary.
"When the police come and
tell me, `You have to tell your people to leave,' I do," Bergeron said. "But this time they said it's up to you because we
don't think it'll be that bad.
"I've been thru Andrew, I've
been thru Frances and it wasn't this bad."
Katrina snapped 60 and 70
foot-tall trees in neighborhoods, parks and on boulevards across Broward. The county's major roads were spared from serious
damage, but the thickly planted residential neighborhoods, especially in southern parts of the county, were choked with fallen
branches.
Three-story ficus trees blocked
both ends of one of the most picturesque blocks in the county: the once heavily shaded Fig Tree Lane just north of Broward
Boulevard in Plantation. Katrina toppled 5 massive trees dating back to the city's founding in the 1940's, dwarfing the residents
who raked alongside them.
Magda Bozkurt and her 12-year-old
son Deniz were raking up debris while recalling the night before.
The first tree fell about
6 p.m. EDT Thursday, recalled Bozkurt. A few minutes later, they were in their garage unpacking a boxed up generator when
Deniz heard a crackle and a bang.
"To me, it sounded like a
gunshot," said Magda Bozkurt. Then a 2nd tree came down. "I thought it was a transformer exploding." She was relieved that the trees didn't come down on her
home, but saddened at the site of something so majestic lying dead and splintered.
"I shared my tears. I was
shaken. But we were blessed," she said.
In Miami-Dade, the storm unleashed
its full fury. Residential streets in Kendall and Cutler Ridge turned into rivers that overran hundreds of homes.
Residents ignored authorities' pleas to stay inside and avoid flooded roads Friday. Teens splashed outside their homes & paddled down streets
in rowboats and on floating platforms. Drivers sloshed down flooded streets sending wakes into front doors. Dozens of cars
sat stranded in the middle of streets with water above doors and engines.
Katrina tossed at least 8
small airplanes upside-down at nearby Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, though there was little damage to buildings there.
The waters off Key Biscayne, Dinner Key and Coconut Grove were churned enough to toss dozens of boats into mangroves and rocks
and sink several more where they were anchored.
Mike Brookins has lived in
South Florida his whole life and lived through several hurricanes, but Hurricane Katrina snuck up on him and his neighbors
in the Devonaire neighborhood of Kendall.
"I didn't even put any shutters
up," he said.
What was more remarkable,
he said, was that his neighbor, who had the easy-to-close accordion shutters, didn't use his, either.
It wasn't until his lights
went out around 8:30 p.m. that he started to think this might be serious after all.
"There was a tremendous amount
of wind and the rain was like pellets on the window," Brookins recalled.
Apolonio Ramon first heard
about Katrina on Thursday when his neighbor told him about it. A longtime resident of Chicago who recently moved to South
Florida, he thought about putting up shutters and draining the pool. But his wife discouraged him, telling him it wasn't supposed to be a very strong storm and it looked like it was heading to Fort Lauderdale.
As the rains grew heavier,
water began coming into his living room. The Ramons put their furniture, which includes antiques and imported pieces, on higher
ground and spent 6 hours sopping up the water with towels and wringing them out.
"I must have dumped 3 or 4
hundred gallons of water," he said.
By Friday afternoon, the couple
was ready to put everything in a moving van and return to Chicago.
"I didn't like it. I was afraid," Ramon said. "Snowstorms I can handle. The city plows the snow and you plow whatever you can to get out. No one is going
to plow water."
Mobile home neighborhoods
suffered some of the greatest damage Thursday and their residents may bear the full brunt of Katrina's wrath. At least 30
mobile homes were destroyed in Pembroke Park and hundreds more were damaged in Davie.
At Haven Lake Estates trailer
park in Miramar, Alva Pino was looking out her trailer park window Thursday night when she saw a funnel cloud speeding across
the lake toward her.
"I froze," she recalled Friday,
surrounded by what was left of her home. At the last minute, a neighbor's son rushed into her trailer and pulled her out just
as the wind tore off the back porch and peeled the roof off of her dining room.
The trailer had been sold
and Pino was planning to move out Friday. Now everything she had was destroyed. When Pino was finally able to reach the buyer on the phone Friday morning, she burst into tears.
"If she says, `This isn't
what I bought,' what can I do?" Pino asked. "I have no idea."
Others suffered damage to
their livelihoods - boats, cars and trucks that represents years of hard work and savings.
The storm turned Finley Drewer's
backyard into a jungle, yanking out a 100-foot ficus tree from the ground and onto his truck and house in Fort Lauderdale.
The 66-year-old rancher was taking a nap when the sound of the roof cracking awakened him just after 5 p.m. EDT Thursday.
"I thought it was the world coming in when I woke up to hear it fall," he said Friday, standing next to roots that towered over his
small frame. With the damage to the truck he uses for hauling, Drewer added, he could be out of work for a while. "The poor
man catches the devil," he said.
(South Florida Sun-Sentinel correspondents Jamie Malernee, Paula McMahon and the Orlando Sentinel's Maya Bell contributed
to this report.)
© 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
 Katrina felt in Florida,
though residents relieved not to be in crosshairs
PENSACOLA, Fla. This time,
Florida seems to be missing the brunt of a hurricane. Nine people died last week as Katrina crossed Florida as a Category One Hurricane. Now, the Category
Four storm is focusing its wrath on Gulf Coast states west of Florida.
But the fringes of the
huge storm are being felt in the Panhandle, in the form of 46 mile-per-hour wind gusts and a 6-foot storm surge.
A Pensacola-area government
official sympathizes with New Orleans & Mississippi but says locals are "grateful" the storm is just brushing their state.
The region was nailed
by Ivan last September and Dennis last month.
The latest storm is undermining
recovery efforts from those two. The storm surge is sucking away sand from the partially restored Pensacola Beach, which was
eroded by Ivan and Dennis.
A utility official says
tens of thousands of people have lost power - but he says it's "not really bad yet."
Copyright 2005 Associated Press.
Duke Officials Studying Hurricane Relief Efforts
First steps are being taken to coordinate cross-campus
activities
Thursday, September 1, 2005
Durham, N.C. -- Duke University, using the template of the work of students, faculty and staff to provide
relief help after the South Asian tsunami last winter, is gearing up to help victims of
Hurricane Katrina.
“This is a disaster
of unspeakable proportions,” said President Richard Brodhead. “We're concerned for those in the hurricane’s path and especially for students and member of the university community whose families
are directly affected.”
Sophomore Andrew Waterman
told The Chronicle that his family left its Bay St. Louis, La., home for Memphis. He said he was
relieved to know his family was safe, but that his community had been devastated. “My friends sympathize with me, but I don’t think they understand how it feels to have no certainty of what happened to the area where you grew up and lived,” he said.
Larry Moneta, vice president
for student affairs, sent an electronic memo to all students letting them know that the office will assist any student directly
affected by the hurricane. “Clearly, much more help will be needed from all of us and I hope that soon we'll have opportunities for all to participate,” Moneta wrote.
Brodhead said Wednesday that
university officials had been told by major relief agencies that at this state of early
response, the best thing the public could do was to make cash contributions to disperse where the needs are the greatest “People across the university are investigating ways that we can best be of service in both the short
and long term,” Brodhead said.
Dr. Victor Dzau, chancellor
of the Duke University Health System, sent an e-mail to his staff on Wednesday alerting them that a team of health care professionals
from Duke Hospital, Durham Regional Hospital and Duke Health Raleigh Hospital was prepared to go to Louisiana as part of the
State Medical Assistance Team.
They could leave as early
as Friday to assist in setting up a field hospital outside of New Orleans, he said. In addition, the health system hospitals
are prepared to receive some of the hurricane victims in need of medical attention, under the supervision of the Federal Disaster Coordinating Center in North Carolina.
Across the campus, various
schools and departments were investigating how best to coordinate outreach efforts. The Pratt School’s Department of
Civil and Environmental Engineering was planning to meet on Thursday to discuss the implications of the water drainage in the area. Department chairs were e-mailing their
counterparts to see if they could offer assistance to students in need of classes to graduate, according to Pratt Dean Kristina Johnson.
Student affairs and the provost’s
office were also considering whether they might be ways for students from Tulane University and other colleges in New Orleans
to attend Duke this fall. The law school was investigating a possible program for 3rd-year law students, according to Provost
Peter Lange.
Members of the campus religious
life staff were going to see whether it would be appropriate to organize a fall break trip in October for students to go help
with repairs. A similar effort was organized after the eastern part of North Carolina was so hard hit by Hurricane Fran in
1999.
Members of the Office of Community
Affairs and the Community Service Center were scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss what university resources might be helpful
in relief efforts. Student groups likewise have scheduled a university-wide meeting for
next Tuesday at noon in Von Canon Hall in the Bryan Center.
The early look at
relief assistance came as authorities in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi continued to
increase the known death toll and damage reports from the hurricane and the subsequent flooding. As of Wednesday evening the
number of deaths stood at 120 people and was expected to rise.
Nine months ago, members of
the Duke community organized a wide-ranging program of assistance to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. The relief effort included money, food, books for devastated universities, as well as students who helped with reconstruction efforts.
Look for this relief page to be completed soon, with:
- a personal commentary from my own personal experience with trauma and how it's associated with what's happening in Hurricane Katrina's relief efforts
- more information concerning feelings that come after one begins to feel a "sense of relief"
- more information on life events that involve the eventual feeling of relief!
Palestinians Relieved,
Bitter Over Pullout
Aug 18, 2005
Associated Press
Behind a once lush expanse of date palm and carnation farms, Palestinian farmer Mohammed Bashir
climbed onto his roof Thursday to witness the forcible removal of Jewish settlers from Kfar Darom.
Like dozens of his neighbors in this central Gaza town, he watched with mixed emotions as Israeli riot police scuffled with settlers barricaded in a synagogue.
He feels
relief because for the first time in years, it is safe for the 42-year-old farmer to be on the roof of his home just 100 yards from the hard-line settlement.
"I'm standing here without any fear that Israelis will shoot at me because their battle today is against themselves," he said.
But
Bashir is also bitter. For more than 4 years, since Palestinian -Israeli violence erupted, he has lived in the direct path of army fire from watchtowers
guarding Kfar Darom.
This small patch of ground has seen some of the fiercest fighting
since the second Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.
In what has become
a Palestinian trademark, dozens of stone-throwing children clashed regularly with Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants
fought many gunbattles with troops here.
Evidence of the clashes is everywhere.
Former farm fields are just sandy desert littered with the remains of demolished greenhouses. Houses are riddled with bullet
holes. Only partial structures remain from a row of food shops and a gas station.
He
is also angry about all the media attention for distraught settlers being carried out of their communities by Israeli troops.
© Iranian.ws
Relieved and Sad
This is the latest from Dave.
A few weeks ago while listening to NPR, I heard of the death of a Marine (& the wounding
of several others) due to a car bomb and my heart skipped. The silence of Dave's parents assured me of his living,
but I prayed for the fallen Marine and his family. In this latest letter, Dave intimates us with SSgt Clark and familiarizes
us with this Marine's contribution to the Corps; his men; the war. He also accurately and informatively categorizes the enemy
he and his Marines are fighting.
Read on.
Dear Dad -
We've been very active since
my last update. Fallujah remains a closed city but we have made real progress in targeting and destroying the enemy where
we find him. We know that our efforts have been effective and have a significant effect on the extremists inside the city.
At the same time, we have gotten better at communicating our desire to improve the lives of the average citizens should they elect to cooperate.
The city remains divided.
It's a lawless sanctuary for all kinds of criminal and enemy elements. It has a history of being relatively incorrigible and
Iraqis from outside the city regularly tell us that "the only solution is to level the city." The history of the city and
the animosity of other Iraqis toward it has cultivated a level of xenophobia that results in astounding levels of paranoia
and isolationism.
Today the city is dominated
by 3 different elements. The most dangerous are the extremists who are religious ideologues. These would be your classic Islamic
Terrorist who's twisted view of the world is one that can't coexist with anyone who doesn't only agree with their beliefs, but who willingly submit to the severe limitations of individual freedoms that the beliefs entail.
To be frank, these elements
will never accept a peaceful coexistence with free people. Their rhetoric and will to enforce their extremist beliefs are mutually exclusive with anything but direct conflict. We'll be fighting them until a clear winner is determined.
Like so many of history's
failed villains, these terrorists truly believe that free people can be broken and don't possess the will to persevere in the face of real adversity. For this very reason, they have adopted terrorist tactics and publicly
celebrate their violent acts like filming beheadings and flying airliners into buildings.
On the local level, they put
these filmed execution on videos and sell them in the markets. In less supportive areas, they give them away. They specifically target disenfranchised young men who feel as though they have no real hope of ever overcoming their current circumstances. These men are without any real opportunity and latch onto the first real thing that
A) offers them something to
do
B) gives them a sense of belonging
It's very similar to how gangs
recruit and survive back in the states. However, these "gangs"
are much more lethal and committed to a global agenda of spreading their fundamentalist ideas. There's no reasoning with these groups.
In fact it's alarming that
mature nations have succumbed so quickly to their terror tactics and have withdrawn their troops in the face of threats. No doubt it's a cultural issue because it's impossible to fathom how these nations can believe that the very people who've acted so wickedly against them and compelled them to bend to the enemy's will on a globally humiliating stage are now capable of restraint and possibly compassion.
The unfortunate reality is
that by breaking ranks, these nations have diminished their own security and those of other nations committed to fight terrorism around the globe.
The second element in the
city is the criminals. There are many of them. These are no different than the criminals that run loose in all of our cities
except that they are better armed. The city is known throughout Iraq as a haven for criminals, smugglers and hijackers. It
has been this way forever. There's simply no way that on our watch, we're going to change the criminal culture of the city. We'll have to endure the second group until we can build up the Iraqi Security Forces to
the point where they can police themselves.
The third and final element
is the unemployed men and those who have had family members killed by the coalition. These guys fight us for a variety of
reasons: to overcome their humiliation of watching their country be "occupied" so quickly; to avenge the death of a brother or son; or simply because they have
very little else to do.
We're working hard to reach
out to the third group and overcome the world media that fans the hatred and resistance in these men. To date we've been relatively ineffective in communicating our vision for Iraq to this element (one of a free & prosperous people who are completely autonomous).
Most of us still believe that if we continue to weigh in and work at establishing a dialogue with this group, they may be less hostile and less willing to pick up arms against us. What they need now are jobs and opportunity to do something other than hang out and fight us.
The first group we will fight.
There's no doubt that we must win this fight. I was going to say that if we lost, the fight would follow us home. However, the reality is
that it already has. Hopefully this group will continue to underestimate our resolve. We'll continue to destroy them where ever we find them while we work
painstakingly to reduce the conditions that permit the third group. This week we've found many and eliminated them from the
fight.
I want to close by telling
you about a Marine that we lost last week. His name was Staff Sergeant Mike Clark. He was with us last year with TF SCORPION.
SSgt Clark was as brave as any man I've ever known.
He was an explosives expert.
Immediately after the ground war last year during the "honeymoon period" he risked his life countless times to remove dangerous
unexploded ordinance from Iraqi yards, playgrounds and farms while crowds of grateful people watched. We were all amazed at his stamina and ability to connect with the people.
As the summer began, we were
moved farther north and found ourselves in the epicenter of the insurgency. He was among the first men to get out and daily
handle the multiple improvised explosive devices that were laid against our Marines. He also accompanied us on countless raids
and detonated thousands and thousands of pounds of insurgent munitions that we captured.
More than all of that, he
was a truly decent man who was immensely popular with everyone in the task force.
He was killed by a car bomb.
One of our units was coming off a raid site while the enemy engaged security elements staged some distance away. After a running engagement that included rockets and small arms, a car that was used
by the enemy was found with rockets around it. SSgt. Clark's unit responded to the scene in order to make sure the car was
not a bomb. Upon his arrival, he improved the standoff of the Marines on security and then made a solitary approach to the car.
As he looked in the window,
he saw a detonation device and radioed it into the rest of his team and told him that he was breaking contact. As he was moving
away from the car, the bomb went off and killed him instantly. He left behind many friends and a family that loved him very much.
We will miss him.
Semper Fi,
Dave Posted by Rae at August 3, 2004 06:27 PM
Miscarriage: My husband seemed relieved!
by Gayle Peterson, PhD
Q. I recently had a miscarriage
after an unplanned pregnancy. I was devastated, but my husband seemed relieved, though he never said so. I have wanted a baby so much
since then that I almost can't think of anything else. My husband can't understand it. I really love him, but this is driving me CRAZY. How can I accept his feelings?
A. Both you and your husband
shared initial upset and ambivalence when you believed you were to become parents unexpectedly. The visceral experience of pregnancy no doubt helped you attach to this reality in a deeper and more immediate way than might have been the case for your husband.
You may have been working
on the bonding necessary to welcome your child, while he was working thru the anxiety you both shared. It's natural that you would be expressing the grief about this sudden change in events, while he would be experiencing the relief.
Your husband's "relief" in no way obliterates loss, however. It's possible to experience both sadness for the loss of the pregnancy & relief that your preparation for parenthood is now
extended. Don't expect him to grieve in exactly the same way you do, but don't mourn in isolation.
Plan a ritual together for saying "good-bye" to this potential child. Take a walk to a special
place in nature, plant flowers or throw a stone out to sea. Create a ceremony to help you release your sadness and crystallize the feelings that this pregnancy has brought forth for each one of you.
Talk together about what this
journey has put you through and the feelings that have arisen. Create a safe atmosphere for differences so that your sharing is productive. Honest expression of feelings and the ability to accept similar as well as different emotions about this experience can provide opportunity for greater closeness instead of distance.
It's not unusual for a miscarriage
to blossom into a commitment to parenthood. In your case, pregnancy has clarified your desire and readiness for motherhood. Share this transformation with your husband.
Perhaps he has experienced
something similar. Your next pregnancy may well be a planned one. Perhaps you'll find that this pregnancy had its own purpose that has been fulfilled afterall.
Kimberly
a patient at Integrated HealthCare Clinics, Inc
"...As
I wrote this article, tears came to my eyes many times because for the first time in my life, I am enjoying life versus being
buried by it. The first time I saw you, I was feeling like I was at the end of a very long rope. I was taking 5 different
antidepressants every day yet my depression was not relieved and the doctors I was seeing were at a loss, being unable to help me. My desperation was so overwhelming and I was so scared about what was going to happen to me if you wouldn't have been able to help me. Thank you for helping me change my life.
I would not be here now nor writing an article if not for your help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!"...
"During
depression the world disappears. Language itself. One has nothing to say. Nothing. No small talk, no anecdotes. Nothing can be risked
on the board of talk. Because the inner voice is so urgent in its own discourse. How shall I live? How shall I manage in the
future? Why should I go on? There is nothing ahead, my powers are failing. I am aging . . . And in the face of this evil - not even to have words to protect one from the vacuum. To grow mute as well as hopeless." -Kate Millet
Depression. The word itself carries an intimidating, gloomy, heavy, raw, isolating tone and meaning. Approximately 12 million people suffer from depression each year. It's also estimated that the combination of treatment and loss of productivity of someone with depression cost Americans $44 billion a year. Depression was once called the "common cold" of psychology, but more accurately, now, is being defined as a chemical imbalance or a
serotonin deficiency in the brain.
An episode with depression can last anywhere from 2 weeks, to a month, to 6 months, to 24 months or more. After an initial episode, the chances one
has in another episode jumps to 50% with 4 to 8 episodes being an average.
My experience with depression's darkness dates back to my adolescents with many episodes that carried through to my adulthood. I am a 28-year-old woman with
many memories of my childhood, teen and young adult years being nothing more of wondering when the pain of my every day life would end. I had always been perceived as a bright student
who got along with everyone, intelligent and always smiling. No one knew how desperate my pleas were some nights to God about not wanting to wake up in the morning.
Through the course of my college
years and career after college, I struggled thru an abusive relationship, abused alcohol and experienced suicidal episodes. During those years, I had sought the help of a therapist who walked with me thru this journey and provided hope when I couldn't find any.
I had started seeing a number
of psychiatrists who always offered higher dosages and cocktail combinations of antidepressants. My diagnosis changed from
depression to bipolar depression. I had also started to grow physically sick and collapsed from what I attributed to the effects of the antidepressants.
About a year ago, I had started
reading, researching and talking with people about alternative, holistic methods in treating illnesses, specifically depression. Through much consideration and prayer, I sought out the help of doctor Tel-Oren at Integrated HealthCare Clinics, Inc. in
Minneapolis.
His experience and his unique
approach have helped me put my life on a completely different course. With the support of Dr. Tel-Oren & his staff, I started reducing the dosages of the antidepressants, while using natural non-addictive
and non-toxic alternatives prescribed at the clinic, until I was completely off the drugs.
Based on the concept of looking
for the reason I was suffering from depression versus putting Band-Aids on the depression with antidepressants, I soon started to learn what my body was lacking which was causing a chemical imbalance in my brain. I found myself learning
about my body's chemistry and what I needed to do to keep myself healthy. I was in control of doing what I needed to do to live a better life.
It has been almost a year
since then and my whole life has changed, from wearing brighter clothes, to changing jobs, to more fulfilling friendships and a greater spirituality. I now look at the potential each day has and I am so thankful to be experiencing the gift of life, the gift I had almost rejected numerous time before.
Depression carries much suffering, shame, embarrassment, isolation and pain. It is an illness some people truly understand and others find burdensome, irritating, annoying and frustrating. Unfortunately, it isn't as easy as pulling oneself up from the boat straps otherwise there would be no such thing as depression.
It isn't always a choice to
feel depression, but there is a choice in looking for ways to integrate it into one's life versus being buried by it. I don't consider myself
healed from depression. I now know what my body needs in order to keep the depression in its place. I am also much more aware of how my body works, what it needs and how to take care of it. Depression is no longer my sole identity nor is it something that keeps me stuck in my pain, isolating me from the potential each day carries with it.
My hope is for anyone wondering if there is a light at the end of a very dark tunnel built by depression to read this and seriously consider looking into alternative natural means to treating this illness. Your body is going to be with you for your whole
life and it's worth learning about what your body needs to maximize the quality of your life. Life is not as difficult as depression leads one to believe. The light at the end of the tunnel is worth the struggle. If not for Dr. Tel-Oren and his clinic, I might have never seen this light.
References:
- Mental Wellness for Woman by Rita Baron-Faust, 1997
- Women's Growth in Connection, 1991
- The Looney Bin Trip by Kate Millet, 1990
- Depression and Gender by American Psychologist, 1997
- Depression in Primary Care, 1997
If the world is such a great place, why
am I suffering?
There's nothing new about complaining how miserable life is. Ancient Romans complained about suffering and pain. The philosophers of that time responded to complaints humorously. For example, Seneca said,
"Remember that pain has this most excellent quality: If prolonged it cannot be severe, and if severe it cannot
be prolonged (because you will soon die)."
Similarly,
Marcus T. Cicero said,
"All pain is either severe or slight, if slight, it is easily endured; if severe, it will without doubt be brief."
A sense of humor not only lessens our burdens, but makes life worth living. Even in the most trying circumstances, we can keep our humor. Saint Thomas More, i.e., expressed his wit even moments prior to his execution.
Before being beheaded on July 6, 1535, he was asked if he had any last words.
Addressing the crowd of onlookers, he told them that although no one had ever seen him lose his temper, today they would see
him lose his head! What can we say to those who believe life is miserable? Well, what if it is? If life is terrible, people need help. They need to be encouraged, uplifted, cheered up and made to laugh.
And if we volunteer to help, what do you suppose will happen? As we brighten the lives of others, won't we experience happiness? Won't those we help also experience the same? And if we're all happy, doesn't that prove that life isn't miserable? Actually, life simply IS. It's neither great nor miserable. It is our ATTITUDE that is sunny or gloomy, not life. Most of our problems come from focusing inward,
instead of outward. Notice the focus on "I" in the title of this article. We need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start feeling sorry for others. We can show compassion and help to reduce their burden. We also need to understand how life works.
Can we have friends if we refuse to be a friend? Can we expect others to smile at us when we don't smile at them? Do we have unrealistic expectations, believing the world will be handed to us on a silver platter? Do we fail to realize that we get out of life what we put into it? What is our purpose? It's
to grow, unfold, actualize, or reach our potential. And the universe's purpose is to help us grow. It does this by giving
us challenges to overcome. Many people are unhappy simply because they miss this point.
They view challenges as hassles, burdens and suffering instead of opportunities for growth. We need to use the difficulties we face to grow better, not bitter. Ask yourself, is my current situation a mountain of dung or a mountain of fertilizer, which is necessary for growth? Granted, overcoming difficulties can be painful, but as Ben Franklin said, "There are no gains
without pains." Besides, which would you rather have, the pain of discipline or the pain of bitter disappointment?
Can we experience the exhilaration of victory without hardships to conquer?
We aren't supposed to grow numb with fear by life's challenges, but use them to discover who we are. Deng Ming-Dao adds,
"Although it is tempting to resent disaster, there is not much use in doing so... Whether we remain ash or become the phoenix is up to us."
More tips on relieving suffering
a) Look at the big picture and stop exaggerating your own importance. Accept the laws of life. Don't resist hardship. Welcome it as an opportunity. When you do so, you disarm it of any power over you.
"It is your resistance to 'what is' that causes your suffering."
(Buddha)
b) When you learn how to overcome obstacles, you become more valuable. You'll be in a position to help others and your joy will multiply. Why be satisfied with the joy of success when you can add to it the joy of helping others?
c) Stop looking for peace & happiness in all the wrong places. The only way to FEEL good is to BE good. The only way to BE good is to DO good. That is, all we
have to do is everything we ought to do. When we do our best, we won't feel regret. When we do what is right, we won't feel guilty.
d) Stop worrying. Face real problems, but don't fret over what MAY happen in the
future. Doing so is a waste of valuable energy. Don't let your imagination run wild. It has a habit of imagining the worse. It doesn't make sense to grow stressful over an imaginary problem.
e) Don't fear fear, welcome it. It can be exhilarating. As Connie Chung said,
"I wanted to be scared again... I wanted to feel unsure again. That's the only way I learn, the only way I feel challenged."
f) Realize that you aren't alone. If you could read the hearts and minds of others, you'd be shocked to learn about their fears. Don't think you're the only one having a tough time. We all experience pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, so get with the program. "Suffering" is the admission ticket to the game of life.
g) Count your blessings. Don't forget to include the misfortunes you avoided. For example, I just lost my job. Yipes! That's a disaster. But my family doctor lost his wife in an auto accident. So, I'm
very fortunate; far better to lose my job than my wife.
h) Hang out with people that will uplift
you, not bring you down.
"I say stay away from the miserable people, because misery does love company. Just look at a fly strip. You never see a fly stuck there saying, 'Go around! Go around!'"
Margaret Smith
Summing up, hardships aren't negative events, but positive opportunities. "Suffering" allows us to develop courage and character. Regarding courage, Aristotle taught,
"Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind."
And regarding character, Helen Keller had this to say,
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through
experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."
By now, we should be aware that the world IS a great place after all.
However, not everyone has reached this understanding. So, when you meet someone complaining about life, show a little compassion and cheer them on their way. Who knows? They may learn from your example.
© Chuck Gallozzi, gallozzi@interlog.com
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Relieved
I feel relieved. At last the house is going to be quiet! I am so fed up with my mum bursting into tears every 5 minutes
and dad going to the pub all the time. They've been cross with me, too. I think they'll be so much better living in two different houses. And they'll have more time for me. You never know, they might turn
into nice people again!’
Katie, 11
Some children feel relieved that their parents
are splitting up. It may mean an end to the horrible atmosphere at home. It could mean no more parents shouting, throwing
things at each other, or sulking.
It's
good to be honest to yourself and to other people about how you feel. Well done!
Talk magic
It'll help a lot to talk to someone about feeling relieved. (Mum, Dad, a friend, anyone close to you).
Remember, it’s not your fault.
Children’s fears and anxieties
(This article was first printed in the December,
2004 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. For more information or to order, please click here)
A child’s world is full
of dangers, real and imaginary, that many adults forget they ever experienced. Most childhood fears are normal, temporary and eventually outgrown, but studies still show that anxiety disorders are among the most common childhood psychiatric conditions.
In a high proportion of cases,
it turns out that the symptoms of an adult anxiety disorder first appeared in childhood, so treatment of abnormal childhood anxiety isn't only important for its own sake but may help prevent adult disorders.
Children’s
minds and emotions are constantly changing and developing and they don't all develop at the same rate, so it isn't always easy to distinguish normal fears from those that require special attention. Newborns typically fear falling and loud noises.
Fear of strangers begins as early as 6 months and persists until the age of 2 or 3. Preschool children usually fear being separated from their parents; they may also be afraid of large animals, dark places, masks and supernatural creatures.
Older children
may worry about death in the family, failure in school and events in the news such as wars, terrorist attacks and kidnappings. Adolescents have sexual and social anxieties and concerns about their own and the world’s future.
These anxieties become a problem only if they persist and cause serious distress, destroy family harmony, or interfere with a child’s development or education.
Selective mutism
This term describes children
who refuse to talk in certain situations where talking is expected, such as a classroom or a doctor’s office. Instead they may communicate by gestures, nodding, or pulling and pushing.
Some children will talk only to their families and close friends. Selective mutism is classified as a distinct disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic
manual, but many experts now regard it as a rare symptom of social anxiety disorder. It was formerly called elective mutism and the name change reflects a recognition that these children aren't stubborn, but scared.
With some adjustments for
age, children’s anxiety disorders closely resemble their adult counterparts. And, like anxiety-plagued adults, children with one of the following disorders often have others as well.
Generalized anxiety disorder. Formerly called "overanxious disorder of childhood," these days generalized anxiety in children is feeling recognized, recognizing feelings as the same disorder of uncontrolled worry that occurs in adults.
Children with
this disorder are self-conscious, self-doubting and excessively concerned about meeting other people’s expectations. They need constant reassurance and approval from adults. They may worry about school grades, storms, burglary, hurting themselves while playing, or the amount of gas in the tank. They often feel restless and tense and complain of headaches,
stomachaches and other physical symptoms.
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia). Children with this disorder are painfully shy and fear exposure to anything unfamiliar. They cling to their parents and may be afraid of other children as well as adult strangers at an age when it's no longer normal. They may be afraid of reading aloud, starting a conversation, or attending a birthday party.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder. This disorder consists of intrusive unwanted thoughts (obsessions) which cause mounting tension that's sometimes relieved by repetitive actions (compulsions).
It's usually classified
as an anxiety disorder because the obsessions often involve a fear, such as contracting a disease or the death of a parent. Adults with this disorder know that obsessions are irrational, but young children may not, so the symptoms overlap with generalized anxiety disorder.
Panic disorder. In a panic attack, a sudden feeling of overwhelming dread or impending doom is accompanied by intense physical sensations - sweating, heart palpitations, chest pain, trembling, breathlessness, dizziness and nausea.
Repeated panic attacks and fear of them can lead to constant worry about future attacks and their implications, including thoughts of losing control, “going crazy,” or dying. A common result of this anticipatory anxiety is agoraphobia - avoiding an increasing number of places and situations in which a panic attack might occur.
Separation anxiety. Fear of being away from home or one’s parents, normal in the very young, is called separation anxiety disorder when it persists in older children.
It may develop
spontaneously or under stress, such as a death in the family and can also result from social phobia or panic attacks. Children with separation anxiety may be afraid to go to a camp, sleep at a friend’s house, or even attend a birthday party without their parents.
They may follow
their parents around the house and even try to climb into bed with them at night. When threatened with separation, they develop physical symptoms. Often they fear that during a separation either they or their parents will come to harm; in older children, this fear may involve specific fantasies of accidents, illness and crime.
Simple phobias. Fear of certain specific objects or situations is common, normal & usually temporary in young children. These fears come and go rapidly up to the age of 10 and require treatment only if they're excessive and unreasonable, persist for a long
time, or occur at an inappropriate age.
Some common objects
of phobias are thunderstorms, water, elevators, choking, blood, large animals and insects.
Drug treatment for anxious children
The role of drugs in the treatment
of children’s anxiety disorders is in question. Because solid evidence of effectiveness is lacking, the FDA hasn't approved any drug for this purpose, with
the exception of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
But some of these antidepressants have been found effective & are approved for the treatment of adult anxiety disorders. Because these disorders seem so similar in children & adults, many pediatricians & psychiatrists also prescribe
SSRIs for anxious children.
Doctors will likely become
more cautious about these prescriptions in the future. Several studies have found that SSRIs raise the risk of suicidal thinking (although not completed suicides) in depressed children & adolescents & an FDA advisory panel has recommended prominent “black box” warnings on the
labels for the drugs. (Only one drug, fluoxetine [Prozac], is officially approved for the treatment
of childhood depression, but other SSRIs have also been used.)
Physicians will continue to
weigh carefully the risks & benefits of prescribing antidepressants for anxious children. When they do prescribe drugs, they'll be watching closely for signs of suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially in the first few weeks, when the risk is greatest.
Post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition is the result of experiencing or witnessing a frightening or horrifying event outside the range of everyday experience, such as a major accident, natural disaster, or physical or sexual assault. Severe child abuse is a common cause.
There are 3 kinds
of symptoms. One is re-experiencing - intrusive memories, nightmares, a tendency to reenact the traumatic event in compulsive play and anxiety when exposed to anything that recalls some aspect of the experience.
The second group
of symptoms results from a desperate need to avoid thoughts and feelings, people and places associated with the trauma. This avoidance may come to include more and more of life, eventually producing numb detachment from one’s own feelings and estrangement from others.
The 3rd set of
symptoms is heightened arousal - irritability, angry outbursts, jumpiness, insomnia and poor concentration.
Causes of childhood anxiety
Children’s anxiety disorders have both genetic and environmental roots. Anxiety disorders run in families and twin and adoption studies show that heredity is a factor. Some children are “behaviorally inhibited” - as early as the age of 4 months, they tend to cry and shrink back in the presence of strangers, while their hearts begin to beat faster.
This temperamental shyness is associated with later development of anxiety disorders. In a recent study, adults who had been classified as behaviorally inhibited at age 2 showed high activity in the amygdala, a center of fear conditioning, when they looked at the faces of strangers.
Fearfulness in monkeys and in humans is associated with irregularities in the activity of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin and with high levels of corticotropin releasing hormone, a trigger of the stress response.
The early environment can
also contribute to anxiety disorders. Child abuse as a source of post-traumatic stress disorder is the clearest example, but less severe stress is also significant. Children must be close to their mothers or other caregivers for physical and emotional sustenance; their fear of separation is rooted in the emotional attachment needed for survival.
Children who are insecurely attached are more likely to develop anxiety disorders and anxious or depressed parents may make their children feel insecure.
According to behavioral learning
theory, fears arise thru classical conditioning. An object, person, or situation becomes frightening by association with something that's inherently frightening (such as a loud noise) and this conditioned learning may then be transferred to other objects.
Operant conditioning, or learning
by reward and punishment, also helps to maintain anxiety disorders; i.e., parents might reward a child with their attention mainly when she shows anxiety.
School refusal
Reluctance to go to school
is one of the most troubling symptoms of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or separation anxiety in children. They may plead to be excused from school, complain of illness and run home if forced to go.
The problem may be a fear of leaving home or a fear of school itself - a place where they must submit to impersonal authority and rules made outside the family, often for the
first time. They're compared with strangers and sometimes shamed by critical teachers or frightened by bullies.
The problem may develop after
a brief illness, an accident, or the death of a relative; sometimes a new school year with new teachers is the trigger.
School refusal is an urgent problem that must be confronted not only with treatment of the underlying anxiety disorder, but also with more immediate action. Depending on where the problem seems to originate, a therapist may want to meet with school staff, parents, or both.
Sometimes a therapist or parent has to go to school with the child on the first day. Some children must be monitored for relapses that occur after
a weekend or vacation.
Treating children’s anxiety
Diagnosing these disorders
in children can be difficult because fear and anxiety are also symptoms of many other conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder. Parents aren't always sensitive to children’s signs of anxiety and teachers often give helpful perspective because they have experience with many children for comparison.
Before diagnosing an anxiety disorder, it's important to find out first whether the child has good reasons to be afraid, such as abuse by a parent or a classroom bully.
The standard treatments resemble
those for adult anxiety disorders, although children’s developmental needs must be accommodated and the family should usually be involved.
Cognitive & behavioral treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the best confirmed treatment for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Its effectiveness has been shown in studies lasting as long as 4 years. A common method is graduated
exposure to frightening objects or situations, with rewards for success in facing fears.
Young children with phobias, i.e., can be placed near the feared object and allowed to do something reassuring and enjoyable like eating or playing with a favorite toy. Older children can
be shown how to use deep breathing or muscle relaxation, or be taught to talk themselves out of self-defeating and fear-provoking thoughts. Another technique is modeling - asking the anxious child to emulate the therapist or another child who shows no fear.
Cognitive and behavioral methods
often work best in groups, which provide shy and fearful children with opportunities for making friends, increasing self-confidence and trying out new kinds of behavior.
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It's strange I'd find this article...
My husband just started drinking cherry juice a few months
ago because he was experiencing foot pain so horrible he could hardly walk anymore. Just a few days of sipping a few ounces
of cherry juice each day, he felt immediately relieved of the severe pain!
Cherries relieved her gout pain
Q. My sister has had two recent episodes of gout.
Because she has no health insurance, she couldn't afford to go to the doctor. I gave her some samples of an anti-inflammatory medicine I had on hand. She took them, but got relief only when
she started eating sour cherries.
Someone told her it was an old
remedy to eat 6 cherries a day. Was this relief all in her mind?
What other gout remedies do you recommend?
Will the gout come back again? It was extremely
painful and left her almost immobile.
A. Gout is a painful condition in which
uric-acid crystals form in joints and soft tissue. The slightest pressure on a big toe or ankle can be excruciating. Once
someone has had an attack or two, he or she may be more prone to others, unless uric-acid levels are lowered.
Many readers have reported
that sour cherries can ease the pain associated with gout & even arthritis. Fresh, dried or frozen cherries, cherry juice
or even cherry-extract capsules may be helpful. None of these home remedies has been clinically tested, however.
There are helpful medicines
to lower uric-acid levels, but they require a prescription. A diet low in red meat, fish or other seafood and high in low-fat dairy products seems to help some people avoid gout attacks.
Alcohol, especially beer,
increases the risk of gout (The Lancet, April 17, 2004).
Does colon hydrotherapy work?
Q. Does internal cleansing (colon hydrotherapy) work? That is, does it improve
health? Is there really many years' worth of fecal matter impacted in my colon? Along the same line, should I try to clean
parasites out of my body? We treat our pets for worms yearly and I've read that intestinal parasites are responsible for just
about every malady known to man.
A. According to
the doctors who specialize in gastrointestinal problems, the idea of fecal matter accumulating in the colon for years is an
urban legend. No studies demonstrate that colon cleansing results in better health. While pets do sometimes pick up intestinal
parasites, modern sanitation makes this unlikely in people in the U.S. If a stool test reveals parasites, appropriate medication
is needed.
We're sending you our "Guide
to Constipation," with tips for staying regular. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with
a long (No. 10), stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. GG-30, P.O. Box 52027, Durham,
NC 27717-2027.
Powdered cocoa's antioxidant power
Q. Does
cocoa powder from the grocery store have the same health benefit as dark chocolate? If so, how much powder might one take
every day for a good health effect?
A. Powdered
cocoa rich in the antioxidant compounds (flavonols) found in chocolate offers many of the same health benefits. Cocoa compounds
help keep blood vessels flexible and prevent blood platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.
A recent study found that
eating dark chocolate increased dilation of an artery in the arm (American Journal of Hypertension,
June, 2005). The scientists conclude that chocolate consumption may help protect the cardiovascular system.
Drinking one cup daily of
hot chocolate made with high-flavonol powdered cocoa should provide some benefits. Alkali processing destroys many of these
compounds, so buy cocoa not processed with alkali.
Write Joe and Teresa Graedon at P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027; click here to e-mail.
Relieve The Pain
A team of researchers from
the University of Sheffield is developing powerful new drugs to relieve the pain of sufferers
of cancer and other serious medical conditions, without causing the toxic side effects of morphine.
The team's research, led by
Professor Sam Ahmedzai of the University's Academic Unit of Supportive Care, is featured on Channel Four's Dispatches documentary,
On Pain of Death, on Monday 18 July 2005 at 8pm.
The documentary focuses on
what it claims are serious shortcomings in pain relief provision in the National Health
Service. However, it highlights the way in which the University of Sheffield team, based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital,
is striving to reverse these shortcomings by developing new research-based treatments for the pain suffered by people with
serious and life threatening medical conditions.
Professor Sam Ahmedzai's team
has pioneered the use of synthetic opioid drugs, such as fentanyl and hydromorphone, as an alternative to morphine and codeine.
These new drugs have been shown to be up to 75 times more powerful than traditional methods of pain
relief and yet have reduced side effects in the patients involved
in trials.
The researchers have also
led the way in using new ways of delivering drugs to patients, including methods such as skin patches, oral lozenges and rectal
suppositories. These new methods of targeting pain relief are beneficial as they ensure
that most patients can continue to receive powerful drugs, even when they can't swallow medication and therefore avoid uncomfortable
injections.
The team has also conducted
extensive research which involves working closely with patients and their families to come to a better understanding of the emotional, social and physiological aspects of different types of pain relief, such
as the devastating results of many morphine side effects.
Professor Ahmedzai explains:
"At the University of Sheffield we are working with patients to develop drugs and drug delivery methods that provide people
with serious illnesses with the best possible pain relief, thus enabling them to face either
life-saving treatments or terminal illness with greater resolve and dignity.
"We are moving away from the
traditional use of morphine, which can be effective but can cause many toxic effects and are working with industry to deliver
synthetic drugs which have been tested in the laboratory to increase their potency but minimize side effects. Many of these
new drugs can be delivered in innovative ways to give effective, flexible and controllable relief
to people suffering great pain from cancers and other conditions.
"Our local and international
research shows that, when given the choice, patients overwhelmingly prefer the newer approaches we have pioneered."
for more information concerning pain relief, visit this source
site by clicking here!
Meditation to Relieve Stress - By Anna Dorbyk
The Connection between Mind & Body
The ancient practice of meditation has long been known as a way to heal the mind & body. In times of mental or physical stress, human beings have turned to the powers of meditation to quiet the mind & repair the body. There's a strong connection between the mind & the body & when one is in pain, the other suffers also. Meditation can help establish a balance.
Research has shown
that meditation can have a beneficial impact on the health of an individual & these positive effects aren't limited to the body. When practiced regularly, it can greatly contribute to the health & well-being of not only the body but
also the mind.
In today’s fast-paced world, the use of meditation to relieve stress is common. In fact, as the practice of meditation gains in popularity, an increasing number of people from the jet-setting executive to the weary housewife are incorporating
the exercise into their lives.
In addition
to using meditation to relieve stress, people practice it to combat the many concerns affecting the mind & there's solid physiological evidence to support its success in doing so.
With the regular
exercise of meditation, you may experience some of the following positive effects: a decrease in:
an increase in -
-
-
emotional stability
-
-
vitality
-
greater creativity
Many people
have also reported a significant improvement in their ability to learn new things & retain information.
You may find
that with continued practice, meditation greatly improves your mental state & contributes to a profound sense of spirituality. The spiritual person often sees the world in a uniquely positive feelings, feeling positive way & is well-equipped to handle life’s challenges.
Though meditation is commonly known for its positive feelings, feeling positive relation to a person’s mind & spirituality, the practice can also have beneficial physical effects. Most likely, the first effect you'll notice after repeated practice
of meditation is an improvement in your flexibility which keeps your body responsive & functioning.
There are other
equally significant changes to your physical self that you might notice such as the following:
- improved air flow to the lungs making it easier
to breath
- a decreased level in blood pressure
- lowered levels of cortisol &
lactate (2 chemicals associated with stress)
- a lower heart rate
- reduction of free radicals which can cause tissue
damage
- a drop in cholesterol
The regular practice
of meditation can also slow down the aging process - especially noticeable in the elderly who often report major changes in their vitality.
Stress relief isn't the only benefit you'll experience with consistent practice of meditation. Meditation also has a profound effect on the mind & body by creating a balance that better prepares you to handle challenging situations.
Meditation is easily exercised & requires little preparation or knowledge. To benefit your overall physical & mental
health, take some time out for meditation & feel the power of a strong mind/body connection.
Alternative Approaches to Pain Relief
by Peter Donald
Pain.
The great leveler. The rich feel it. So do the poor, the happy, the sad, tall, and short. And, of course, article writers, too. It’s therefore not surprising to note that since the dawn of
time, humans have attempted to discover ways to reduce pain. In some respect, our ability to experience pain, and seek ways
to solve it, connects us more than anything else. But what exactly is pain and how do we deal with it?
Pain is a message
sent by the body to the brain, signaling the presence of disease, injury or strain. Without pain, you would be unaware of
many problems - from torn ligaments to appendicitis. Pain is simply, Mother Nature's way of telling you something is wrong.
Many of us kill
the messenger with narcotics, anti-depressants and tranquilizers that take care of the symptoms, but not the cause of the
pain. This kind of treatment cannot only mask symptoms of serious disease, but can also create a cycle of chronic pain.
Not all pain though,
serves a useful function. While acute pain, as described above can alert us to a serious problem, chronic pain can linger
long after an ailment or injury has healed in the body. Examples of chronic pain include backache, migraines and arthritis.
In these cases, pain management, as opposed to a cure, may become the goal of treatment.
The psychological effects
that accompany recovery from a disease or injury heighten chronic pain. A loss of confidence is often triggered by prolonged
periods of rest and inactivity that cause a loss of physical strength, endurance and flexibility. If the injury has prevented
you from performing your usual duties, you may succumb to frustration and depression. Impatience is chronic pain's best friend
as many individuals overexert themselves before they have completely healed, thus triggering more pain.
Various treatments
can help alleviate chronic pain. Some treatments do so on a purely physical level by interfering with signals from the nerves
to the brain or desensitizing the nerves. The following sections are meant to introduce you to some of the ways of dealing
with pain without relying on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, narcotics, tranquilizers or anti-depressants.
For many people,
particularly those in the western world, pain relief solutions such as acupuncture, and
herbal medicine are novel concepts. However, the rest of the world is probably wondering what the fuss is about, because these
traditional approaches to pain relief have been around for thousands of years; Traditional Chinese Medicine, which relies
on various techniques and herbs in order to balance the body’s internal energy, is over 5,000 years old.
The ancient Chinese Practice
of acupuncture is based on the belief that health is determined by the level of chi (vital
life energy) that is in the body. This energy is thought to move through the body through pathways called
meridians, which connect to specific organs in the body.
Acupuncturists
insert needles into points on the body that connect to these channels to release blocked "chi" that might be the cause of
pain. During acupuncture treatment, the acupuncturist inserts thin needles for anywhere from a few minutes to a half an hour
into specific points on the body. This practice is thought to stimulate endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and is
useful for the treatment of a variety of disorders including backache, sinus pain, jaw pain, spinal disorders, withdrawal
and mental disorders.
Another important part
of traditional Chinese medicine is herbal medicine. Herbs have been used for centuries for their pain relieving qualities. Here are some herbs that are recommended for common disorders:
Cramps & Spasms:
angelica, cramp bar, kava, rosemary, valerian root.
Nerve Pain: capsaicin,
chamomile, gotu kola, licorice, white willow.
Back Pain: hops,
wood betony, passionflower.
Migraine: feverfew,
linden, skullcap.
Headaches: peppermint,
spearmint.
Joint pain: ginger,
sea cucumber.
Meditation, which has also been practiced for thousands of years, is a conscious attempt to calm the mind so that it is not cluttered
with thoughts and anxieties that might be contributing to an unnecessary belief in the existence of pain.
There are hundreds
of different meditation techniques, but mostly they all into three categories: concentrative, mindful and transcendental meditation.
During concentrative meditation, focusing on a single sound, object or one's breath, produces tranquil mind that facilitates
the production of pain-relieving endorphins. During mindful meditations, the mind is encouraged to become aware of, but not
reactive to thoughts, feelings and sensations in order to achieve a tranquil state of mind.
Eating a well balanced
diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables is thought to be the best way raise your pain threshold or resistance
to pain. A deficiency in any of the main vitamins (A, B, C, D or E) can cause chronic pain.
Vitamin E is used
to treat joint pain. A deficiency in calcium, iron, magnesium and other minerals may also lower your pain threshold. A calcium
magnesium supplement taken in a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium is thought to relieve joint pain and headaches.
Manganese is a
vitamin that is sometimes used for chronic headaches and neuralgia. A deficiency of the B vitamins is also thought to cause
nervousness, headaches and chronic pain.
As we age our bodies
are said to lose the ability to manufacture or produce certain elements that can help short-circuit the cycle of chronic pain.
Green lipped sea mussels, glucosamine, sea cucumber, spirulina, Sam-e, HGH (Human Growth
Hormone), MSM (Methulsuflonydmethane) and melatonin, are thought to aid with joint, muscle, head teeth, jaw
and general tissue pain.
Sniffing or applying essential
oils is thought to change an individual's brain chemistry so that pleasurable neuro-transmitters called endorphins
are released to relieve pain. Geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, peppermint, rose, rosemary and thyme are oils commonly
used for this purpose.
Research
has indicated that bodily functions that were previously thought to be beyond conscious control, such as chronic pain,
can be controlled thorough the use of visualization.
Guided imagery
encourages the sufferer to think in pictures that eliminate negative thoughts thus raising levels of pleasurable brain chemicals, such as serotonin, decreasing anxiety and increasing the effectiveness of the immune system.
Through guided imagery,
the mind conjures up mental scenes in order to better direct the body's energy. For instance, if an individual is suffering
from a stabbing pain, he or she might want to imagine a knife being removed from the spot and a subsequent glowing feeling of relief. Guided imagery has been used successfully to manage the pain of headaches, sinus
problems, arthritis and cancer.
Biofeedback combines
a variety of relaxation methods, such as guided imagery and meditation with use of an instrument that monitor the individual's responses to the therapy. After many treatments, biofeedback is thought
to train the individual to consciously regulate autonomic functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and other processes
that are commonly believed to be out of our control.
During a session,
electrodes connected to a monitoring unit are taped to the skin. The monitor measures skin temperature, pulse, blood pressure,
muscle tension and brain activity to determine the success of the relaxation technique. Eventually, over time, biofeedback can train an individual to control the pain of such disorders as TMJ, headaches and migraines.
It is difficult to imagine
a world without pain; where would our poetry come from? What would divas sing about? Given that pain is probably always going
to be a part of our world, it is of critical importance that we understand the various methods that exist to manage that pain.
For some of us,
that remedy may lie in the traditional realm, while for others it will be through prescription drugs or some other alternative.
Regardless of what remedy you choose, make sure you inform yourself of the various pain treatment options open to you, and
by doing so, you may just reduce the amount of suffering in your life.
And isn’t that,
in some respect, the goal that we all strive towards?
It is important to note
that the above suggestions do not represent cures for conditions, but more represent strategies and opportunities to manage
your chronic pain. It is also recommended that you consult with your health practitioner before embarking on any new pain
management program.
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