Monthly Archives: January 2010
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Posted: January 29, 2010Read more »
Hello, Health Journeys!
I had been dealing with infertility for almost four years. After the first dismal try (and “failure”, as they like to call it) with IVF, I realized I was going to need help, because the whole process was upsetting, and I wanted to be able to stick it out. I was feeling discouraged, depressed and, in a way, disabled. I began searching the web for books, CDs and videos that could help me cope.
Before beginning the second round of IVF, I purchased your CD, Help for Fertility. I listened to it every night before falling asleep. It brought me a great sense of calmness and hope. I know you could argue with me about this, but I think this relaxing, positive imagery helped me get pregnant. -
Posted: January 29, 2010Read more »
Researchers from the Oregon Center for Applied Science in Eugene, OR, evaluated the efficacy of a psycho-educational internet self-help tool to educate and support recently (1-6 months) bereaved individuals. The goal of the website was to help users normalize their grief to enhance their adaptive adjustment.
A randomized controlled trial evaluated the gains in social cognitive theory constructs and state anxiety. Compared to the control group (N = 34), treatment participants (N = 33) reported significant multivariate gains (eta-square = .191). -
Posted: January 29, 2010Read more »
I just finished reading your book on intuition and I feel like you were talking to me personally. I relate to everything you describe. I am a 42 year old empath who has been psychic all my life. I am blessed that my gift guides me in everything I do.
My question has to do with a deep knowing that a man at work is meant for me. I knew from the first time I saw him that he was my true soul mate, but he is very shy. He doesn’t respond to our connection. I believe his shyness keeps him at a distance. -
Posted: January 29, 2010Categories: Update from Health JourneysRead more »
Hello again.
I was talking with some V.A. colleagues, and they were telling me how the new vets coming back from Iraq & Afghanistan are a very different breed from the Vietnam vets they saw decades ago.
Of course, it’s a different situation in many ways. With Vietnam, the country was totally divided and we took our anger out on each other, and on the vets, who came back. The vets were very angry about being sent out to kill people and then getting castigated for it once they got home. We traumatized them all over again.
On the other hand, this new group of soldiers are appreciated by society at large, for putting themselves at risk – even by people who aren’t particularly happy about the wars. That’s one lesson we sure learned the hard way: not to take the politics of war out on the troops who fight them.
Of course, most of our Vietnam troops were draftees. Nowadays we have an all-volunteer army. (But then again, a lot of the reservists and National Guardsmen thought they were signing up to get some extra money and help out in national emergencies. Little did they know they’d be away from their families and careers, on their fourth rotation, fighting real people on foreign soil. So this is a complicated point and not as straightforward as it looks.) -
Posted: January 22, 2010Read more »
Researchers from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia conducted a systematic review of studies that compare the impact of various techniques on reducing pain and distress in children getting shots for immunization.
The investigators identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that measured the impact of these interventions during the injection of vaccines in children 0 to 18 years of age. Both self-report and observer assessments were used as measures. -
Posted: January 22, 2010Categories: Update from Health JourneysRead more »
Hello, everyone.
Last week, Beliefnet posted a terrific little piece on migraine triggers and how to avoid or mitigate them. So for those who suffer from this heinous condition, check out the bulleted points, courtesy of Beliefnet, and if you want to see the fleshed out original, click here. -
Posted: January 17, 2010Read more »
Question:
Hello Belleruth, I deal with anxiety. I am managing it pretty well. However, both my husband and I are unemployed and job searching, which is stressful.
Some nights I get monkey brain when I go to bed, and I can't shut it off. It takes me forever to get to sleep and if I do get to sleep, I don't sleep well. I do have your Relaxation and Wellness CD, but I am wondering if Healthful Sleep would be better. Please let me know.
Thank you, Hillary -
Posted: January 17, 2010Read more »
This funny, ersatz testimonial came from a witty blog, called Ovulation Adventures: Tackling Infertility while Keeping My Smile, Wits & Hair Intact (An Attempt).
Like a certain percentage of comments we find here and there on the internet (especially Amazon), the writer at first finds my voice pretty weird, but then gets used to it, and maybe even likes it (hard to say). Either way, it does get the job done of putting her to sleep! Read on, it’s funny and engaging!
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Posted: January 17, 2010Read more »
We thought, given the terrible situation in Haiti, it might be useful to post the results of this classic study of survivors of the great Turkish earthquake of 1999, which points to what makes survivors more vulnerable to PTSD. Subsequent surveys from China, Japan, Italy, El Salvador and Iceland support these findings. , Additional factors appear to be dislocation, subsequent financial difficulties, disruption of social networks, injury, the intensity of fear and/or presence of dissociation at the time of the trauma. Loss of family and friends appear to be more associated with depression rather than posttraumatic stress. Difficulties appear to be fairly longstanding, according to most of these surveys.
Researchers from King's College at the University of London in the UK examined the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in 586 earthquake survivors living in prefabricated housing, an average of 20 months after the 1999 Marmara earthquake in Turkey.
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Posted: January 17, 2010Categories: Update from Health JourneysRead more »
OK, listen up, any weary person in search of a break!
Just got back from my third annual visit to Rio Caliente – a ridiculously low-cost, hot springs spa getaway in the mountains outside of Guadalajara. It’s a small place – only holds about 80 guests or so – and lends itself to wonderful conversations with truly interesting, accomplished and unpretentious guests – that may be the thing I like best about this place: the other people. (And the same friendly, capable, easy-going staff has been there forever.)
It’s a very easy place to go to alone, and many people do. It’s also friendly to couples of all ages (straight or gay) and families with adult kids (no squeezers, though). People come in from all over the U.S. and Canada, and Europe, too. And lots of training teams hold their annual retreats there too.
