Everything You Need To Know About Using Ayurveda for Mental Health

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Everything You Need To Know About Using Ayurveda for Mental Health

Although modern medicine is responsible for many of the incredible advancements that have helped us effectively tackle illness, healthcare professionals believe our current approach to physical and mental health fails to consider one crucial aspect of human existence, spirituality.

In fact, both doctors and mental health experts have recently begun to understand the importance of approaching mental health and well being from a holistic and integrative approach.

In other words, authentic healing begins when healthcare professionals cease to look at their patient as “broken machines” that need fixing and start addressing health related problems from a physical, mental, and spiritual perspective.

And this is where Ayurvedic Medicine comes into play, providing a holistic perspective that allows healthcare professionals to deliver top results.

What is Ayurvedic Medicine?

ayurveda-mental-health

In a way, we could say that Ayurveda represents the science of life, as it’s deeply rooted in the philosophic and religious principles of ancient India.

As for Ayurvedic Medicine, this system is a collection of medical practices that involve various procedures and herbs which are believed to promote health and well being.

But unlike other approaches, Ayurvedic Medicine takes into account both the physical and mental aspects of health, as well as the spiritual aspects of human existence. As a result, this approach can help struggling patients overcome illness, pain, and suffering on all levels.

Does Ayurvedic Medicine work?

In recent years, researchers have gained a keen interest in Ayurvedic Medicine as an alternative and complementary treatment option for patients with arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and even cancer. [1]

In fact, some patients with cancer use practices from Ayurvedic Medicine, aromatherapy, herbs, massage, to cope better with the symptoms associated with this condition. However, experts advise that such methods should only be used after consulting a medical professional, as they may interfere with other ongoing treatment plans. [2]

Although some researchers believe the positive results of Ayurvedic Medicine may be nothing more than a placebo, results are promising enough to hold this approach as a potentially viable alternative to modern medicine. [3]

Overall, it seems that despite criticism, this holistic approach to health and well being may have the potential to revolutionize the way we understand healing.

The fundamentals of Ayurvedic Medicine:

Aside from health related practices and herbs that are generally used in many other systems of medicine, practitioners of Ayurvedic Medicine believe spirituality also plays a crucial role in our overall sense of health and well being.

Each of us is born with a unique constitution, made up of a personalized blend of the three vital forces, vata, pitta, and kapha, known as the doshas.

Vata

Those belonging to vata tend to have a fragile body. Some of the physical traits that characterize this type include narrow hips, small bones, darker skin, small breasts (in women), and visible veins. Furthermore, their hands and feet tend to be cold.

They are generally perceived as ‘gentle souls’ with a rich imagination and an avid taste for travel. They also tend to get bored quickly, shifting from one activity to another, often exhibiting mood swings.

Chaos often characterizes their actions and thoughts, which can cause a lot of stress and stress related problems.

Pitta

Those in the ‘pitta’ category often enjoy taking charge and being the leaders of their group. With intelligence, good oratory skills, and solid self confidence, they quickly capture the attention of an entire room.

Physically, they usually have an athletic figure and a healthy metabolism. They enjoy eating, and their digestive system works flawlessly. Regarding appearance, many of them have green, grey, or blue eyes and darker hair.

Kapha

The ‘kapha’ type is generally described as relaxed, warm, and loving. Even though their energy levels are high most of the time, they tend to be quite reserved when it comes to wasting resources on pointless and ‘chaotic’ activities.

Even though many of them are slow learners, they tend to retain information for longer periods. They also tend to be possessive with people and objects.

Physically, the ‘kapha’ type is massive and imposing. Their metabolism is slow, they tend to build up fat deposits relatively fast, and their hair is thin. Many of them enjoy sleeping, and they’re usually the kind of individuals who perform well in long and boring tasks.

Implications for mental health:

In the context of mental health, Ayurvedic Medicine offers a wide array of practices designed to help people overcome various mood disorders and develop resilience.

We know for a fact that eating nourishing foods and physical activity can significantly improve both our physical and mental health. In a way, we could argue that the practices promoted by this approach serve as viable preventive measures against illness.

In fact, there are a couple of principles which clearly explain how the Ayurvedic approach can impact the mental and emotional aspects of your existence.

Practitioners of Ayurvedic Medicine believe that true beauty, health, and well being derive from our personality. Once you discover your vital force (dosha), you will be able to cultivate significant changes in your overall physical, mental, and spiritual state.

Even though your dominant traits cannot be changed, you can still influence them through a series of practices. Once again, Ayurveda proves to be a valuable set of practices that promote mental health and well being.

Concerns and Limitations of Ayurvedic Medicine:

As you can imagine, the fact that Ayurvedic Medicine takes spirituality seriously has determined some healthcare professionals to look at this approach with a skeptical eye. In general, Western researchers and mental health professionals tend to reject Ayurvedic Medicine, as it fails to ‘fit in’ with modern approaches.

Another concern regarding this system of medicine is the lack of empirical data. But since Western researchers have only recently begun to explore the impact of Ayurvedic practices, time is still a factor that may determine the fate of this approach.

All in all, Ayurvedic Medicine has helped countless patients overcome physical and mental illness, thus proving itself a viable alternative and complementary approach to health and well being.

If you are struggling with a mental health condition, finding a therapist near you or online can be important for a well rounded approach to your mental health care.

References:
[1] A. Chauhan, D. K. Semwal and R. B. Semwal, “Ayurvedic research and methodology: Present status and future strategies,” Ayu, vol. 36, no. 4.
[2] n.a., “Ayurvedic medicine” Cancer Research UK, 4 February 2015.
[3] M. Niemi and G. Ståhle, “The use of ayurvedic medicine in the context of health promotion, a mixed methods case study of an ayurvedic centre in Sweden,” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016.

By Haley Neidich, LCSW.
With nearly 5000 years of history, Ayurvedic Medicine may hold the secret to robust mental health and well being. Haley Neidich, LCSW is a licensed mental health professional and the director of clinical development for ThriveTalk.com.

This Metaphorical Short Story Will Show You The Way To Become Superhuman

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This Metaphorical Short Story Will Show You The Way To Become Superhuman

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April 2019 Rant From The Heart: Lean forward!

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April 2019 Rant From The Heart: <b>Lean forward!</b>

We are all addicted. Not to a substance of any kind. No. To something much more tricky. We are all addicted to comfort.

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It’s so deceiving that we trade our liveliness and joy for a little more comfort. And this craving gets just bigger the more comfort we have.

This comfort we seek is rarely physical. in fact, in most cases we even trade physical comfort for the one we seek, and that is a psychological comfort.

We seek more security, more knowledge, more wealth, more unnecessary items just so we can have a little more of this psychological comfort.

And the more comfort we have the thicker the walls of our mental prison. The more comfort we have the smaller our comfort zone is. We fail to see.

You need discomfort!

We are so addicted to our comfort that we don’t realize the value of discomfort in our lives.

We don’t realize that discomfort is needed in order to grow, to evolve, to move forward. It’s not about removing discomfort is about embracing it.

We hide in our comfort zone and project monsters outside of it. This is just a trick our mind plays on us so we keep being addicted.

It’s because for our mind we have everything we need in our comfort zone. It cannot realize how much our heart and liveliness get affected by this.

That’s why you need to be courageous enough to go past the illusions, to leave your comfort zone, and to save yourself.

Get out of your comfort zone!

Even though it’s uncomfortable you must realize that the comfort you seek is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist.

Don’t you think you would have found it by now if it existed, don’t you think at least someone would have found it? No one does because it doesn’t exist.

You seek safety, security and unconditional comfort in a world where things live, evolve and thrive in midst of unknown, uncertainty and discomfort.

Outside of your comfort zone is where you are your best self!

That’s where magic happens, that’s where you find yourself, that’s where your full potential is unleashed, that’s where you feel most alive.

No comfort is worth this. And this doesn’t mean to avoid comfort either. It’s not about comfort or discomfort.

It’s about finding a good enough reason to be discomfortable for. And comfort is there, but it’s not a place to stay long in.

Find a reason that’s beyond comfort and discomfort!

And when you find one, you will still need to take action. And things might go against you, things might scare you, overwhelm you.

But whenever things start being hard, whenever things start to look overwhelming, do not retreat, push forward.

That’s when real transformation happens. That’s when you prove your mind wrong. That’s when muscles grow!

Just push forward if things start to push you back to your prison!

If things try to scare you, show your teeth and scare them back. Push forward even harder.

If things try to push you back, lean forward!

No matter what the mind says to convince you to stay imprisoned in your comfort zone, remind yourself that it’s just an illusion.

Push forward!

Get out of your prison!

Get out of your comfort zone!

Give yourself a chance to become the best version of yourself!

Here Is The One Healthy Thing That We Learned This April 2019 You Should Know

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Here Is The One Healthy Thing That We Learned This April 2019 You Should Know

As technology progresses our lives become more and more comfortable. We are becoming so comfortable that in some cases it’s even unhealthy.

We are human beings, we were created and we have evolved to be active, to move and be agile, to hunt or gather our food.

But today you can have whatever you want sitting at home. You can order food, accessories, whole spectrum of entertainment with a push of a button.

You don’t walk to work, you sit driving your car, or you sit in a metro, you sit at work, you sit at home, you sit most of your life.

That’s why one of the healthiest activities you can implement in your life is to start walking more. Feel tired, stressed, anxious? Take a literal walk.

The One Healthy Thing For This Month: Take a walk.

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Walking is one of the first things we learn as humans. But it’s often underestimated. We overlook its beneficial potential for our health.

There are countless health benefits of walking. From increasing cardiovascular health to reducing the risk of stroke, walking helps in all.

It aids and prevents high blood pressure, it increases bone mass and muscle strength. That’s just physical health. Walking also helps with mental health.

Walking reduces stress and decreases anxiety. It is really beneficial for cases of depression as it stimulates the body to create happy chemicals.

Walking boosts our mood and increases the feelings of relaxation. Just a 15 to 45 minute daily walks can give tremendous benefits to your health.

One Couple Spends 20 Years Replanting An Entire Forrest And The Results Are Remarkable

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One Couple Spends 20 Years Replanting An Entire Forrest And The Results Are Remarkable

After realizing that an entire rainforest previously housing 500+ endangered species had been cut down, resulting in all the wildlife vanishing from the area, a couple decided to replant it.

Well known Brazilian photographer, Sebastião Salgado had returned to Minas Gerais in 1994, expecting to be welcomed back to the paradise he remembered from his childhood, but instead he was met with a horrifying sight, the land he once knew was now a barren wasteland with roughly 0.5% of the land remaining covered in trees.

The Guardian reported that Salgado had met with a group of religious leaders to discuss climate change after returning from an already traumatic event, experiencing the genocide in Rwanda first hand and that he’d come home to discover the ‘remains’ of the forest.

“The land was as sick as I was, everything was destroyed. Only about 0.5 per cent of the land was covered in trees.” Salgado says.

“Then my wife had a fabulous idea to replant this forest. And when we began to do that, then all the insects and birds and fish returned and, thanks to this increase of the trees I, too, was reborn, this was the most important moment.”

Salgado and his family since set up the Instituto Terra and have successfully planted more than two million trees, offering a home to the 500+ endangered species which once roamed freely in the area, bringing life to the forest.

The photographer says he has found the answer to climate change, including the bonus of creative inspiration.

“Perhaps we have a solution. There is a single being which can transform CO2 to oxygen, which is the tree. We need to replant the forest.”

“You need forest with native trees, and you need to gather the seeds in the same region you plant them or the serpents and the termites won’t come.”

“And if you plant forests that don’t belong, the animals don’t come there and the forest is silent.”

“We need to listen to the words of the people on the land. Nature is the earth and it is other beings and if we don’t have some kind of spiritual return to our planet, I fear that we will be compromised.” Says Salgado.

We are part of Nature, we are following the same laws, we evolved from those same laws. We should see that everything is one in this world.

If there is one thing we need to remind ourselves of, it is that deep within us we will always be connected with Nature.

If we neglect this fact and mindlessly follow our egotistical desires, we are just going against our selves.

We need to start listening to Nature’s wisdom and realign our ways of living with it, globally, not because it needs us but because we need it.

Here is an image that shows the incredible result of their project:

Couple Spends 20 Years Replanting An Entire Forrest And The Results Are Remarkable

Inspired by https://educateinspirechange.org/nature/couple-replant-entire-forest-to-give-homes-to-500-endangered-species/;

5 Necessary Reframes How To Get Out Of Victimhood Mentality And Thrive In Life

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5 Necessary Reframes How To Get Out Of Victimhood Mentality And Thrive In Life

Things are neutral, you choose their meaning.

There are two ways to live, either that things happen against you, or for you. In this article we’ll tell you how to get out of victimhood mentality.

What is victimhood mentality? It’s this flawed way of thinking, a mindset where you think the circumstances are against you for some reason.

It gives us an inflated sense of self importance and that’s why it’s so addictive. We think we are so important that the whole world is against us.

We believe that there are limits, people and circumstances preventing us from being happy. It’s someone else’s fault, not ours. This is a fierce prison.

It’s comforting, but it will enslave you indefinitely. When you get out of this mentality it’s when you will actually start to live again and to thrive.

5 Reframes To Get Out Of Victimhood Mentality:

how-to-get-out-of-victimhood-mentality

1. You do not lack anything.

One of the biggest false lessons we learn as we grow up is that we need something to make us complete.

The world teaches us through media, propaganda and stories that you need a soulmate, you need to be wealthy, you need a purpose to be happy.

The reality is that you do not need anything. You are complete and whole right here and now as you are reading this.

You don’t need anything. You are enough to be happy, to be yourself, to start becoming who you desire to be. The things you think you need are illusions.

They are a carrot on a stick making you endlessly chase your own tail. So stop. You don’t lack anything to give your 100% right here and right now.

2. Nothing is happening to you.

Majority of people like to think that they are so important that when it starts to rain, for example, it’s because something is against them.

Tiny little beings, on a tiny little land, on a tiny little planet out of billions just in our Galaxy, planet that follows massive, interconnected systems.

And we dare to think that we are so important that all the mechanisms in our Galaxy conspired to create this rain, just so it will mess our hair.

Just so it will make our hair look bad on a day we meet with a client. Really? Do you really think you having a good hair is that much of a threat?

The reality is that nothing happens to you. Things are neutral, but we need to feel important. It’s ok, but see things as happening for you not to you.

3. The world is abundant.

There is one flaw in our mentality that makes us think the world is scarce of things. Scarce of resources, opportunities, things.

In reality, the world is so abundant of things that it’s hard for our mind to really grasp all the available options we have constantly around us.

There are countless opportunities every single second, all around you, countless things you can do and experience, countless resources.

There are so many books you can read, movies you can watch, songs to listen, meals to try, places to visit, art to see, it’s not possible to see 1% of it.

Just think about this. No matter what you want, if you go every single second of every single day doing it, you will experience less than 1% of it.

4. Nobody is stopping you.

If you are like most people you would find countless excuses of why you can’t do the things that you want to do. This is victimhood mentality.

In reality and in all probability, nothing and nobody is actively stopping you to do what you want to do. Think about this. Really do.

You want a better job, who stops you from leaving this one? You want to travel, who stops you? Want to find the love of your life, nobody stops you.

Really. No one does. You can get up, right now, and start walking. Go wherever you want. Right now. ‘But I don’t have…’ find a way, hitchhike.

That’s why you have a mind, to find a way. Instead of using it to complain, use it to find a way. Nobody stops you from living the life that you want.

5. No one owes you anything.

We often have this idea deep inside our subconscious mind that the world owes us something. That we deserve to have what we want to have.

And it’s ok to feel like you deserve to have the things that make you happy, but it’s not ok to think you deserve for something to just serve them to you.

Yeah, you deserve to be successful but you still have to work for it. That’s what deserving means, accepting that you would go the distance.

Feeling that you deserve all those beautiful things and that fact to motivate you to take necessary action. Nobody is responsible to give you anything.

The only one responsible for getting what you want to get is you. Just like everyone else is responsible for themselves. Nobody owes you anything.

5 Ways You Can Use Loneliness To Your Advantage

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5 Ways You Can Use Loneliness To Your Advantage

Loneliness is not about the relationships you have with other people, it’s about the one you have with your self.

The greatest paradox of modern society is the fact that we are more connected to each other than ever, and feel more lonely than ever.

Depression, anxiety, loneliness, these are the global epidemics of modern society. And all of these things are a result of one fact, we neglect ourselves.

If we dive deep in loneliness, it is a result of our failure to connect with our own selves, to make a loving relationship, it’s why we cannot relate.

When you don’t have a relationship with yourself, of course you’ll be lonely. No matter how many friends you have, you cannot truly relate with no one.

We need to change the way we see loneliness because it’s not the feeling that’s bad. There are 5 ways you can use loneliness to become a better self.

5 Ways You Can Use Loneliness:

ways-you-can-use-loneliness-to-your-advantage

1. Find your hidden strengths.

Feeling lonely is a great period to do self introspection. In fact, loneliness could very likely be a signal that you are in need of self introspection.

Loneliness is just the label we put on feeling lost, confused, not knowing who we are or where we should go in life, having nobody to tell us.

When you take this time to actually sit with yourself and dive deep into your character you’ll find strengths about you that you weren’t aware of.

These strengths were part of your character you just didn’t know. You can do introspection and realize that you are better person than you thought.

You can find out that you are actually a good listener, a kind hearted individual, a fun person, a great storyteller, a loyal friend, a romantic.

2. Reconnect with your soul.

You can be with thousands of friends and still be lonely deep inside, just as you can be completely alone and not feel lonely at all.

The secret of this conundrum is actually the cause for your loneliness. Nobody is lonely because they are alone.

You are not lonely because you have nobody to be in a relationship with, you are lonely because you don’t have a relationship with your self.

And most likely this is the cause why you are not in a relationship, because your relationships are all reflections of the one you have with your self.

So use loneliness as a sign that you have lost connection with your self. Be with your self, reconnect with your soul, become aware of your purpose.

3. Reevaluate who matters.

We often act rude to the people who actually love us, and beg for attention to people who don’t care one bit about us.

Loneliness is a big sign screaming to you that you need to reevaluate who is worthy of your time and energy. Who really matters.

We spend time with people we don’t even like, people we don’t care about, and ignore the ones who we love the most.

The people who we love the most should be priority on our list of who deserves our attention, and being lonely you have time to see who cares.

The ones who really love you will reach out to you. If nobody does, reach out to people who you really love. In both cases you know who matters.

4. Release emotional pain from the past.

We are lonely for one of two reasons. Either we fail to make a loving relationship with ourselves, or there is emotional pain we need to resolve.

In most cases it’s a mix of these both things. We fail to have a loving relationship with ourselves because there is emotional debris in between.

We can’t see who we really are, we can’t reconnect with our soul because there is emotional pain from the past blocking our way.

And we need to release this emotional pain from the past. We need to face it, embrace it, and let it run its course as we release it.

If we don’t release it, this emotional pain from the past will make us relieve similar situations. So release this emotional weight. Feel it and let it go.

5. Get to know other strangers.

There comes a period in most of our lives when our friends go their way and we are left alone. This can be a big cause of loneliness. But it’s ok.

We all have different journeys in life. The people you call friends were strangers once. And you met them. You became friends.

You are free to make as many friends as you like. And the world is full of people who share your values and preferences.

You can go out and socialize. You can meet new people, maybe even better friends than the ones you have. You can even meet the love of your life.

Being lonely is the last mood where you think of meeting new people, but it’s also the biggest sign that meeting new people is exactly what you need.

The 10 Biggest Signs Someone Likes You

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The 10 Biggest Signs Someone Likes You

There are people who like you and you don’t even have a clue they know you.

No matter who you ask, everyone will do almost anything to have a detector showing them who likes them. In this article we’ll give you such detector.

It’s not some magical device, but rather a piece of knowledge that will reveal to you whenever someone is interested in you.

Most of us think we are unliked and unloved while there might be people in our social circle that secretly like us and are afraid to tell us.

You know you liked someone and you didn’t tell them, so do not judge them, we are all cowards at certain moments. Instead, use this knowledge.

Knowledge is power, you can use these 10 biggest signs to detect when someone likes you. If you like them back, make things simpler, tell them.

10 Biggest Signs Someone Likes You:

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1. They listen to you with full attention whenever you speak about something, even if the topic is unrelated to the conversation.

2. When they look at you, they will either keep their eyes locked on yours or they will glimpse at your mouth.

3. Their pupils will dilate whenever they are with you as pupils tend to expand whenever we are looking at things we love.

4. No matter how stupid and unfunny your jokes are they will try to laugh at them.

5. If you call them to hang out they will make sure they are free most of the time, they will prioritize hanging out with you.

6. When you are together they will unconsciously be more physical than other people, they will touch you by the shoulder as they speak.

7. They might try to tease you and act as if they make fun of you, but as soon as you show no interest they will try to make up for it.

8. Whenever you have an argument with someone they will often take your side no matter if you are right or wrong.

9. Whenever they spend time with you they will radiate with happiness, you will be able to sense this in their energy.

10. They will use words like ‘we’ and ‘us’ more often than usual, they will try to speak as if you are in a relationship.

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