Keesha's Corner

 

The birds are singing and the flowers are blooming and the sun is out in the Puget Sound area! Moods lighten when spring arrives, but nasal passages and waistlines may be heavier.

Many of you have heard me drone on about the role stress plays in your lives. You have heard me speak of the sympathetic nervous system and the fight or flight response which begins in the hypothalamus  (or command center of the brain) and travels to every part of the body. We were endowed with this amazingly intricate piece of hardwiring in order to flee from the saber tooth tiger in the wilds... or to stay and fight. Of course we know saber tooth tigers are no longer around, but our stressors are more pervasive now than they were in our ancestor's time. We now have finances, deadlines at work, relationships, kids, traffic, politics, and more that set off our stress response systems. In addition to what our reactions are to our stressors, we have the toxic nutritional and environmental loads our bodies have to filter day in and day out.

The sum total of all of these stressors on your system over a lifetime leads to wear and tear on the system that leads to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, Alzheimer's, Asperger's Syndrome, memory/brain fog, fatigue, sleeplessness or sleep without rest, heart disease, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, skin inflammation, chronic pain, insulin resistance/diabetes, hormone imbalances and menstrual disorders, arthritis, weight that cannot be lost/obesity, cancers, and more. High levels of cortisol (the major stress hormone that is released when we are constantly under attack from allergens, improper nutrition, environmental toxins, and stress) damages the hippocampus; In other words, high levels of stress and toxicity actually cause brain damage.
Repeated hits to this brain center will cause "ANTs in your head" (automatic negative thoughts). This in turn creates more of the cycle just described. Too many ANTs over time lead to inflammation in the brain and ultimately the body. It's not just those ANTs that are the problem though; it's also corn-fed animal protein sources grown on overcrowded feedlots and given antibiotics and steroids. It's the fumes from our cars and power sources. It's the news you listen to, read or watch every day about the latest crisis in our world.  It's the plastic water bottles we love to drink from these days. It's our dry cleaning, hair coloring/care products and cosmetics, non-organic produce, medications, microwaves, televisions, computers, cell phones, too much sun, not enough sun...the list goes on. It's all of those processed foods that come from bags, cans and boxes.

Why do our foods cause reactivity in our guts and sinuses and brains? Because of all of the other things the body is filtering. Food is the fuel for the body. Your car would not run very smoothly on sugar. Our bodies put up with diets high in sugar for a period of time and then begin to run very inefficiently. Why do we get adult onset allergies or adult onset diabetes or adult onset ADHD or adult onset acne/eczema or adult onset anxiety/depression or adult onset autoimmune disorders, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome/ digestive issues and chronic pain? Because our brains are damaged and our bodies are inflammatory! Luckily it's reversible though!

One of the most profound treatments I can offer my patients is a change in diet. Try an elimination diet for four to six weeks and then begin to reintroduce food groups one at a time once a week. If you begin to feel heavy, depressed, congested, bloated, having hot flashes, or any other symptom beyond balanced energy and health...then you know you have developed a food sensitivity through your lifestyle choices or your genes. The foods to eliminate are gluten, dairy, corn, nuts, eggs, sugar (and all sweeteners), soy, nightshades, caffeine, alcohol, fried foods, beef and pork and high glycemic index fruits. If you go through a detox and Pancha karma and still have symptoms, then it is time to look at your laboratory panels and eliminate/detox in earnest.

Come into Fern Life Center to see me and we will look at your laboratory profiles to see what your nutrition is doing to you. I will detox you and then tailor a diet for you that you can live with that will give you the vitality and health you are meant to have. After I get your physical system calmed down and balanced, then we will start to work on your emotional/mental system. Meditation works directly on the vagus nerve and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, decreasing the levels of cortisol being released into the body and brain. Meditation is one of a number of ways to reduce your body and mind's reaction to stressors. Come in and learn other ways you can attain wellness throughout your whole being.

 

 

 

 

May 7th was National Child Mental Health Awareness Day.   This is the perfect time to provide information about the topic to Fern Life Center readers.

There are two kinds of problem behaviors that children experience. The first is the type everyone sees and comments on because it inconveniences the family. Whether it is tantrums at all ages, emotional intensity, opposition and defiance that manifests in a 100 different ways to tell parents and teachers "no!" This is the type of behavior that causes problems for child development, whether parents want to admit there is a problem or not. This type of behavior problem is known as an "externalizing disorder" and therapists who are not well-versed in behavioral modification techniques and systemic family therapy are likely to suggest medication without looking at how the child is gaining rewards in their relationships and environment.

Another type is known as an "internalizing disorder" and can include depression, anxiety, low-self esteem and a variety of behaviors, thoughts and feelings that tend to not disrupt classrooms, family vacations or parent-child relationships in a way that people notice. But the ramifications of this type of problem for kids is immense and the long lasting problems untreated depression and anxiety pose to development lead to less than promising outcomes and can even be dangerous. Readers of this newsletter should be made aware that untreated, clinically significant depression affects approximately 1% of children and 24% of adolescents. It is also important for parents and teachers to realize that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among youth, ages 10-24 years of age. We screen our children for less deadly problems such as scoliosis and vision in the schools, provide athletic screenings for rare heart problems, and yet allow children to suffer in silence for decades in what is the 3rd most deadly childhood illness we know of?

The rates for less prominent but equally troublesome subclinical depression are much higher, and it is this much larger population that fly under the radar of teachers, parents and coaches. These are kids who struggle with negative thoughts about self, other, and their world. These thoughts color their view of reality in a way that dampens or even ruins completely much of the joy we would want for our children and adolescents.

Clinical Psychotherapy provided at Fern Life Center through Eastside Family Renewal Service takes the mental health of our children and adolescents quite seriously, and has developed an affordable and reliable screening process for both internalizing and externalizing disorders among children ages 4-11 and adolescents ages 12-18. Providing Mental Health Check-ups allows the clinician, Nicole Laurent, M.A., R.C. to give important information to parents on not just clinical relevant issues but also those issues that are not significant today but could very well be on the horizon. Recommendations are made that are preventative in nature and can lead to important referrals to professionals who are able to provide more comprehensive evaluations as needed. Spring is the perfect time to address issues before the new school year begins in the fall. Call 425-654-0641 for more information or to sign up to attend an informative meeting.

 

 

Enneagram Consulting Now

at

Fern Life Center

with

Donna Frindt

 

Donna Frindt is a long time Fern Life Center client, and also an Enneagram Teacher and Certified Somatic Coach.

The Enneagram is a psychological and spiritual system that provides a unique lens for self-discovery and self-development. Using this system you can identify habits of thought and patterns of emotion that are working on "automatic" and driving your behavior, choices and perspective. By building self-awareness of these patterns, they can "relax," allowing for more choice and freedom in your life.

 

Donna is currently offering typing interviews and coaching to help people discern and work with their enneatype. She is available by appointment at Fern Life on Wednesdays. If you are interested please contact her directly at donna.frindt@2130partners.com
 

 

 

Discover Your Emotions Through

Your Cravings

with

Nickole Thornton 

Saturday, May 23rd

10:am - 12:30 pm

Cost: $45

Explore the stages of digestion.  We will examine how each taste relates to our organs and the digestive process.  Emotions live in the organs and create cravings.  Cravings create dispositions in our health.  We will look at different foods and their energetic effect in our everyday lives.  You will leave his class having a better connection with yourself and how to shift your emotions through your diet.

Nickole Thornton LMP, Ayurvedic Practitioner & Yoga Instructor
 

Pre-registration is required; please contact Fern Life Center 

 

 

New on Saturday Night....

Dance Elemental!

Saturdays - 7pm to 9pm
May 23rd
June 27th
July 11th & 25th

 

DANCE ELEMENTAL is...
a musical journey through the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit.
Dance Elemental is sacred space created for a unique blend of free form dance, connection, expression and bliss.
Inspired by the ecstatic dance culture as well as various nature-centered spiritual paths, its purpose is to help you integrate body, mind and spirit into a balanced whole.

Live DJ, with a handpicked mix of world music, pop, tribal, funk, electronica, ethereal, and more...

$10 donation (or love offering)
All ages and genders are welcome to this inspirational, fun and safe environment.
Be ready to DANCE!

Contacts: Tymn & Dakini - 425-577-3296
Email: dakini@dakinidreams.net
Visit our Google Group at: www.DevaGnosis.org

 

 

 

  Spring Yoga with Diana Bonyhadi

Sangha is a Sanskrit word that means community, or a gathering of people with common goals, vision or purpose.  It is traditionally used in the East to refer to a spiritual community.   We are blessed with a caring and compassionate community at Fern Life Center!  Each of you are an integral part of this talented and dynamic group.  Each month we want to feature a service that one of you offers to the community.  We also know that because of our special connection we can help meet each other's needs.  If you have a special need or talent that can meet another's needs, please allow us to give it a voice through our montly newsletter.  We want to connect you and strengthen our sangha.  Think of this as our own local "Craig's List".   Please forward your information to Brenda at Fern Life Center by emailing at info@fernlifecenter.com or call at 425-391-3376. 

 

 

Fern Life Center is looking for a part-time chef.  Please contact us for more information regarding the position.