Journal More, Worry Less

Keeping a journal helps clarify your thoughts, get solutions.



Health care professionals have long praised the benefits that keeping a journal has on one’s mental health. And it can certainly be proven that journaling or recording one’s life experiences is an aid to self-development and self-awareness, since it records information about one’s innermost feelings and ideas.

In fact, much has been written about the benefits of keeping a journal, including:

• · Journaling helps clarify goals and dreams
• · Journaling helps quiet the mind; it provides you with the ability to focus on anything you want
• · Journaling provides you with “ME” time, time alone with nothing but yourself and your thoughts
• · Journaling provides a private arena to say and feel whatever you wish
• · Journaling provides a written account of where you’ve come from and where you’re going
• · Journaling helps with stress reduction – things don’t seem to bother you as much once they are written down
• · Journaling helps provide a written account of your personal history, something to look back on
• · Journaling can be done any way you choose, daily, randomly, when the spirit moves you, whenever; there are no rules, no musts
• · Journaling helps you speak what’s in your mind and in your heart
• · Journaling is a form a self-expression

Many use the excuse, “I don’t have the time to journal!” Try it for a few minutes a day for a month. See how it makes you feel. Many people admit that they don’t know how they lived without their journals after a month’s time. It becomes a valuable resource, a pleasurable pastime, and a trusted friend to process situations and maintain our emotional balance.

 

 

Safety of Vitamins Confirmed

The use of supplements is increasing without serious adverse reactions.

Safety of Vitamins Confirmed
　

It is estimated that approximately half of the US adult population takes dietary supplements. Alvin C. Bronstein, from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (Virginia, USA), and colleagues analyzed reports of poison-related encounters by 2.3 million Americans. Whereas analgesics were involved in 11.5% of human exposures, and sedatives (including sleeping pills and antipsychotic drugs) were involved in 6% of cases, the researchers report that zero deaths were linked to the consumption of vitamins. In particular, the team notes zero deaths from any B vitamins, zero deaths from vitamin D, and zero deaths from the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E.

Exercise – A Natural High! 


Running, cycling, swimming are all great ways to increase endorphin production and feel better natrually.

Want to feel good on a regular basis and just be “high” on life? Then exercise! Exercise releases endorphins in the brain. What are endorphins? They’re the body’s own natural painkillers that produce feelings of euphoria. Not only are they free, but they’re available without a prescription. But be warned: they are habit forming!

Scientists accidentally discovered the “feel good” benefits of endorphins when they conducted studies on drug addiction in the 1970s. They found that the brain produced chemicals that far exceed the strength of opium, morphine or even heroin.

The body releases endorphins during stressful periods and in response to regular physical activity. It’s why someone involved in a life-threatening accident doesn’t feel any pain. In addition, many athletes claim to feel “great” after a particularly strenuous workout session. These can be explained by the effects of these natural brain chemicals. In fact, many who participate in regular exercise programs become “addicted” to it because of the natural high they experience.

Running, cycling and swimming are all known to release feel-good endorphins. If you suffer from depression, are stressed out or just want to feel better, exercise. Take a walk or jog around a local park, jump on a treadmill, lift some weights, do some Pilates, throw on a workout DVD – anything to get yourself moving. Stay with it long enough and you too will become addicted!



If you are unsure about what exercise you can do, make an appointment with Lisa, our fitness trainer, and she will guide you through what is good for you. 954-9591