Medical Study of the Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-Being

Laura's Tibetan Bowls for Meditation on the water.
Cape Cod 2016 All Rights reserved

I am ecstatic to see this observational medical study on the use of Tibetan singing bowls. The study was published involving 62 women and men with the mean age 49.7 years of age. I found the results quite interesting.

The study was published in PubMed as well as Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

"Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease. This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Sixty-two women and men (mean age 49.7 years) participated. As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood (all Ps <.001). Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation (P < .001). Feeling of spiritual well-being significantly increased across all participants (P < .001). Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation." 

Although the study results are brief, I find it promising.  I began using tibetan singing bowls in my work in 2015 as something I felt drawn to do on an instinctual basis for my own healing. As a someone who has a history of trauma resulting in PTSD due to repeated abuses stemming from child abuse to rape to domestic violence to systemic abuse, I welcome this study.

I went through the traditional medicinal route and felt I was given a band-aid with a wound that continued to grow and fester with no relief in sight. So since 2005, I began looking into me. Who I am, and how can I heal especially when my very trust for humanity was so broken. I went up and build my trust in my spirituality.

For me, I understand these ideas:

1. The human body is made up of mostly water
2. We are beings that self generate electricity, and therefore vibrate energetically a frequency and vibration out creating a ripple effect.
3. There is a mind/body connection to all illness and disease
4. 75 – 90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems [1]
5. How we resonate with our external experiences affect our internal experiences and vice versa. How we resonate with our internal experiences affect our external experiences.

So no wonder the bowls have a magical feel to them.  When I searching for ways to heal my own trauma, I was led on a very spiritual path. Over the years as I worked with myself and others on healing, subconscious changes began to take affect. The more I began to trust my instincts and intuition, the more breakthroughs I was led to.

Needless to say, I was led to these bowls.  I believe it was a culmination of all the personal spiritual and professional work I have done over the years. I feel it was a calling, and the day I was gifted my first bowl, I knew I was onto something special. It mesmerized me and calmed me.

Laura's Tibetan Medicine Bowl

After the gift of my 5th bowl by another healer as well as my Tibetan bells, I had an epiphany. I was using them in a reiki healing attunement meditation for a group of over 20 healers. I was told how incredibly powerful and amazing the experience was. I was asked if I taught this. I responded 'no', because every time is different, and I would not know how to teach something like this. I realized how I would just allow myself to be divinely guided in the whole process from acquiring these beauties to where to place them to order of sound to implementing them in meditations and healing sessions. I could not even tell you what each bowl's musical note represents. I just know this bowl goes here to acquire this result. 

All I know is the effect they have on me and those around me. This is a modality that has been used by Tibetan monks for hundreds if not thousands of years, but originated in India. 

You can go to bodhisattva.com for a wonderful interview of Lama Lobsang Molam, a monk at a monastery in Swyambu, Kathmandu, Nepal, by Rain Gray on the history of the Tibetan bowls. Here is an excerpt of that interview:

"They say this is a relic that came from India and was used by the previous Buddha, so this is a very precious relic. So, that's why everybody wants to listen to that singing bowl, the singing, you know, sound. So, many people are making offerings to this singing bowl, and offering money to that singing bowl. So, he said that if someone has pure or not pure karma, you know, if someone has negative karma, their self they have to round, they have to play it with a stick. If someone has a lot of negative karma, this bowl won't give any sound. It gives sound but, not so nice, it's very small and not clear. If the person who rings it has pure karma, it gives a lot of singing and a big sound, wang, wang, wang, wang, like this. It gives a big sound. So their saying this is the story of . . . their saying like this. Even he saw, you know. So in Tibet they have three singing bowls only."

If you have been questioning on how to break through that wall and feel stuck, going to a Tibetan bowl meditation may be of benefit. Tremendous healing can be accomplished with the use and help of these sacred gems.

I would air one word of caution, however.  For those with severe PTSD or anxiety, please find the right teacher. Finding the right teacher who not only understands trauma, but has some training and/or experience with it is important.

Because the bowls create a very powerful frequency and vibration, it creates a metaphoric glass shattering effect which can trigger some emotions that many with PTSD or severe anxiety may still want buried. You must be ready to release those fears, traumas, and karmic cords in order to  heal. Finding the right teacher is key.

Healing With Spirit offers private sessions and a variety of classes that many times incorporates the use of Tibetan singing bowls such as, but not limited to:

• Self Care for the Empath Workshop
• Reiki Vibrational Healing Attunement Meditation Groups
• A Soul Partnership Workshop
• Private Reiki Sessions
• Vibrational Healing
• Sound Bath Meditations
• Chakra Clearings and Balancing

Private sessions are offered via in office, phone, and skype. For more information, please contact me at Healing With Spirit.

As always,

With much love and appreciation,

Laura  Healing With Spirit, 

Spiritual Medium, Public Speaker, and Teacher
Usui Reiki Master Teacher
Shihankaku in Jikiden Reiki

To schedule a private reading, to book a private party, or speaking engagement,  please visit www.laurahealingwithspirit.com 

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REFERENCES:

1. America’s #1 Health Problem; The American Institute of Stress; http://www.stress.org/americas-1-health-problem/ 
2. Tibetan Singing Bowl History, An Interview with Lama Lobsang Molam; Bodhisattva Training Co Inc; By; Rain Gray; http://www.bodhisattva.com/singing_bowl_history.htm 
3. Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being
   An Observational Study; Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Tamara L. Goldsby, PhD, Michael E. Goldsby, PhD, Mary McWalters, BA, Paul J. Mills, PhD
1. Tamara L. Goldsby, PhD, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Center of Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Email: tgoldsby@ucsd.edu

Copy right 2016 All rights reserved. Laura Joseph, Laura Healing With Spirit. May not be copied or reproduced without expressed written consent

This Holiday Season Give the Gift Of Self-Care and Health

There is so much in store for you I have planned and so much that I am thankful for. I believe in partnering not only with my soul and spirit team, but with you.

Thank you for being a part of my spiritual journey. We are all connected in some way whether in person, blood, or internet.

The past few days I have been reflecting a lot of what 2015 has meant to me and to those I have served. It has sure proven itself to be one giant roller coaster ride. Wouldn't you agree? I would love to hear from you what your experiences have been, and what you discovered and learned about yourself.

Please check out my latest blog post, Reflections as We Close Out 2015 - 5 Lessons 2015 Taught Me, and as always I would love your feedback.

Regardless of what holiday you celebrate or religious affiliation, the holiday season in itself is a time of giving and thanks for what we’ve been given and to give back. The Gift of Healing is a great way to show your loved ones you care.

Who doesn’t love the look on someone’s face when they open something special from you? But… if we’re honest with ourselves… about half of the stuff we buy won’t be used in any meaningful way.

So this year, instead of buying your loved one a gift from the mall, what about giving them a gift that will change someone else’s life?
Why not give the gift of health, healing, and self-care. 

Here are some Holiday Specials being offered at Healing With Spirit:

Get a FREE $25 Gift Certifcate*

with purchase a gift certificate of $100.00 or more.

Get a FREE Reiki Session*
w/ purchase of 3 Reiki Sessions of equal or lesser value.

Get a FREE Reading*
with the booking of a psychic medium party between now and January 2016.

Contact us to purchase yours today. Gift Certificates can also be mailed directly to your loved one. Inquire for details today!

Have a great day!

With love and light,

Laura

www.healingwithspirit.webs.com

* Restrictions apply. Inquire for details. Offer expires: 12/24/15

7 Spiritual Exercises That Could Change Your Life

This is a great little collage of dialogue with some the world's leading spiritual teachers on Oprah.  The exercises described and presented are brief but quite powerful. Change your life through soul healing.

When Medical Science Can Not Explain Your Symptoms. How To Know If It Is Spiritual?

Do you see it? Picture taken 4/18/15
Laura Healing With Spirit

How have you been feeling lately? Experiencing a lot of unexplainable stomach, digestive, fatigue, emotional or other physical issues lately? If you have then you are not alone.

Springtime marks a time for renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings.  There are lots of changes in the air. Do you feel it? This past weekend was a very powerful weekend energetically and a key turning point. We have all been experiencing huge waves of energy shifts and purges over the past couple years, but especially over the past several months. Some have been quite pleasant and for others is has been quite the struggle.

We are emerging from the darkness where we faced our fears and let go what no longer served us. As we did this, we also re-evaluated our own actions and took responsibility for where we are at in our life. Metaphorically, some of our houses burnt down to the ground, and we are rebuilding starting with a solid foundation. We have purged to our bare nakedness of our soul. The past has shaped us for what is really important in our lives shaping our priorities and placing us on our spiritual path.

For those of us who have been aware of these shifts and purges and did not resist the change, lessons are now emerging and tensions are lifting. For those resisting or ignoring these shifts, the lessons have been in many cases extremely painful.

It is time to shine your true self and have the courage to just be. This period marks a time for a refreshing change. The messages coming from the Universe and our soul are very strong right now and have been so for the past couple weeks since the full moon, solar eclipse, and spring equinox.

Our life purposes are being revealed to us if we are listening and not resisting. It is important to drop the struggle and resistance. Hence, the conflict between the material world and the spiritual world. Yes, we need food, clothing and shelter. However, everything else is what society dictates you should have and should need with enormous pressure. These lessons have been difficult because it was important for us to emerge with greater wisdom and clarity.

Why are you resisting so much? Stop fighting what you clearly do not understand. You can not bury your head in the sand and wish your troubles will go away. In this case time does not take care of your troubles. All this resistance and fighting is only giving power to all those things you have been struggling so hard to get rid of. You empower the very things you do not want. So stop it. Stop it now.

Sunset over Boston 4/18/15 as the energy veil began to lift.
Laura Healing With Spirit.

Your very thoughts create ripples. Your fears create ripples. Your actions create ripples. Your reactions create ripples. The ripple effect is magnified. How we conduct ourselves, act and react have been magnified which in turn creates stronger manifestations and at a faster rate.

These waves of energy shifts come at a time when the Universe has been beckoning for us to follow our soul's path. The Universe has been communicating with us. Have you been listening?

Are we so busy being busy that we are ignoring what the Universe is telling us and ignoring our soul's cries? If so, if you notice, those who have been ignoring and are still ignoring seem to have the more difficult harder lessons.

Over the past six months and extending over the past couple years have been met with huge challenges, obstacles, hard lessons, and enormous purging. None of us are immune to this no matter how connected we are to the Universe nor how well we practice what we preach. We are still human with a soul having a human experience. 

Unexplainable Symptoms? Lately, I have been seeing quite a few people in my office with very obscure symptoms that the medical community deems unexplainable. This is very frustrating to many of those trying to find a solution to their troubles with no answers in sight from the medical community. Here are a couple stories I am going to share with you. Maybe you can relate.

Case #1: There was one client I saw who had been suffering over 2 years with a severe skin rash. They have gone to every specialist and had every test done with no prevail to getting better except the toll it is starting to take on this person mentally, physically, and spiritually. After spending an hour with this person, I began to see a pattern. I am not saying this person does not have a medical condition as I believe there is a medical condition that we are addressing such as some delayed food allergies and vitamin deficiencies. However, what I am saying is whatever the underlying medical condition is, it is becoming magnified and explosive due to the resistance of addressing the spiritual needs, healing past traumas, and forgive those who have wronged them. When addressing the traumas, it was evident that person was not fully ready to heal those old wounds, and not clearly understanding the connection. Science has taught society to disregard the mind-body connection and to treat symptoms disregarding causes. Beginning the healing process is a start for this person. The rest is up to them.

Case #2: This person has been battling reflux and swallowing issues most of their life. However, over the past several months and years, it has progressively gotten worse which began to affect their sleep, moods, and productivity leading them to a deep depression. They began experiencing enormous mood swings which began to affect their internal belief systems questioning their sanity. What they realized they were experiencing were spiritual purges releasing old traumas, abuse, and hurt. Once assessed, we addressed the underlying medicals including a delayed food allergy to over 24 foods with the most offending being baker's yeast and dairy, the vitamin D and magnesium deficiency, past childhood traumas, and spiritual needs. They began to understand the differences between a spiritual purge releasing what no longer served them from the physical body and mental issues.

Case #3: This person suffers from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome which became immensely inflated over the past several months to the point of being debilitating. However, despite the numerous doctors and tests, this person has continued to get worse, and the escalating symptoms unexplainable by the medical establishment which in turn increased the stress, and anxiety levels of this client. With basic medical recommendations and addressing the spiritual needs, the person is finally on the mend.

What I am finding that all these individuals have in common is the underlying medical conditions being explosively magnified a hundred fold with the soul's cries not being heard or ignored. These are all cases where science and healthcare vs the spiritual purges and resistance to change. These cases all were unexplainable medically.

Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing: Today is the Boston Marathon with last Wednesday, April 15th marking the anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing. What a day to have the marathon during these sudden bursts of energy waves of change.

At that time of the Marathon bombing, I was teaching medical classes at a local college near the Marathon finish line. Classes were cancelled that day because of the marathon. I wrote about my experiences of that tragic day and the subsequent events that followed. My journey Boston Strong was quite a spiritual one with many revelations.

We hear so many times about the power of prayer and healing, and many of us I believe sometime doubt how powerful it really is. Well I can attest to you the overwhelming feeling I was experiencing at the growing memorial site was just that. I wish everyone could have felt and experienced the immense love, prayers, healing, and unity on a global scale at the newly developing and growing memorial site that I experienced that day. Words
cannot describe it. It can only be felt.

I returned to the site a couple days ago to help a friend set up for a fitness expo promoting the Marathon. It brought back a lot of memories. What I chose to focus on what the strength, tenacity, and spiritual messages I received from that tragic event in history. It taught me how far I have come personally and spiritually and how important spirituality is to our very health and well-being.

Messages From The Universe: For those who live in the northern hemisphere, we are reminded about what springtime means. The birds are chirping. The snow is almost gone. Flowers are blooming. It is time we let go and trust that our soul is leading us on the right path.

Also over the past few weeks, the presence of messages from the Universe, Angels, our Spirit Guide, and loved ones are increasingly becoming more prominent.  Cardinals, mourning doves, and turkey have been great message bearers confirming what I believed to be resistance to following your soulful path is manifesting into very painful lessons and in many cases explosive illnesses especially in the gut area.

The messages the cardinal has been sending is about brightening your environment. Add some color to our life and remember that everything we do is of importance. The song of the cardinal is reminding us to listen more closely and pay attention. All the answers we seek are closer than we think.

The mourning doves have been equally as vocal too. In this case, they are reminding us to stop a moment, pause and take a deep breathe. They are letting us know we are divinely supported. In order to soar to new heights, we must get out of our own way. Recognize the resistance and blocks preventing us from taking flight and surrender to the higher power ... God, The Universe, Mother Earth ... and allow the Universe to help us, guide us, and be the wind beneath our wings.

Resistance is futile if you have not noticed. So let go of all the chaos, pain, turmoil that is blocking you from soaring the skies and finding the peace you have been seeking within.

Finally, the lessons and messages of the great turkey. Turkey has been quite active as a message bearer since Easter Sunday where 20 of them (including 2 white ones) flew onto the house roof and into the trees in the yard to roost for the night to this very active male courting to females every morning, fluffing his feathers, and making his presence known. 

The turkeys displayed and vocalized with confidence. Hence, have the courage to shine your true self brightly and with confidence. It is important to recognize that what we see right now is reality shifting in ways we never thought possible and that what we are truly looking for is just  around the corner. Most chaos happens just before our dreams come true. These are all gentle reminders from the Universe.

Finally, I was asked to speak at a church over the weekend and I decided to talk about this topic. After service ended, a woman named Kimberley had posted a photo onto my facebook wall with Doreen Virtue's Angel numbers. When I saw her post, it reaffirmed what I spoke about earlier and the path we are all on.

So what do we do now? It is time to press the re-set button. If you have not already, it is important to start to build a sense of awareness and be extra mindful of our actions and our thoughts. Doing so will create the transition with greater ease. This is where we also learn how to use this energy.

Conquer fear with compassion, courage and love. The energies that are shifting are quite magnificent if you are listening to the calls of your soul. If you do not like how you are feeling or where you are at, then it is time to have more faith in your soul's path and create the opposite energetically of what you have been doing. Your soul is crying out to you. Listen to your soul, not what society tells you to do.

In regards to our health, our bodies are designed to heal itself. However, we also have free will to ignore the body's needs, abuse it, and allow it to get sick through bad decisions and poor lifestyle choices.  Let go of any resistance, past traumas, past pains and anything else that no longer serves us. Your unexplainable medical issues just be one of a spiritual nature. However, only you truly know for sure.

We are experiencing the ride of our lives. We have choices. Let's choose to rock this world and enjoy the ride.

As always, I would love to hear about your experiences. Please leave your feedback as it helps me help you.  Have a blessed day.

Laura  Healing With Spirit, 
Spiritual Medium, Public Speaker, and Teacher

To schedule a private reading, to book a private party, or speaking engagement,  please private message me or visit www.healingwithspirit.webs.com 
 

SERVICES: Spiritual Medium Readings, Medical Intuitive Readings, Oracle, Angel and Tarot Card Readings, Energy Assessments and Healings, Reiki, Yuen Energetics,  Spiritual Guidance
 

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(c) 2015 All rights reserved. Laura Healing With Spirit. May not be copied or reproduced without expressed written consent

Meditation and Stress

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life compounded with the every day news of a doom and gloom economy, how does meditation help with these stresses on top of the seasonal holiday stresses? 


Meditation is a practice used to relax the body, calm the mind and center yourself. It is the process of clearing the mind from all its chaos. In short, meditation is the ability to relax the mind and give it freedom to be.

In order to be a successful meditator, you have to be gentle with yourself and do a little meditating each day, until it comes as naturally as breathing. Practice makes perfect.  
When you become one with your body, relax the mind,  and release any tensions, a sense of strength and clarity will emerge. 


Think of a room completely cluttered.  So much so that you are unable to see the floor.  Picture that as your mind completely cluttered.  Just as cleaning that room takes patience, focus, & organization so does your mind.  Now in order to get started on your room, you will need to know what to throw away or if we are talking meditation, what to release from your mind and body.   


As we get started on our room, we remove what we don't want and create a room that we do want.  Meditation can help do the same with your mind and body.  With proper breathing, posture, and technique, you will be able to relax your mind to gain clarity as to what you want and what you want to release. 


If you have ever had a cluttered room, how did it feel once you were able to turn it into what you want?  That same feeling of peace, relaxation and accomplishment can be done as well with meditation. 


Meditation:  It's not what you think!
Meditation is medicine for the mind.


© 2009 All Rights Reserved.

Why Meditation

One of the most common reasons that people cite for wanting to learn meditation is to reduce stress.  Life is always going to be fullof challenges, and a life without some turmoil is not only impossible but isalso undesirable.


A considerable amount of research has shown that meditationhas benefits on mental & physical health, including a reduction inproneness to depression, an increase in emotional positivity, and an increasedability to deal with life’s inevitable stresses.


People often think of meditation as being nothing more thanrelaxation.  Meditation, however, not only involves relaxation (thecessation of unnecessary effort) but promotes mindfulness, which helps thestress-sufferer to recognize unhelpful patterns of thought that give rise to thestress response, and also involves the active cultivation of positive mentalstates such as loving-kindness, compassion, patience, and energy.


Each meditation group session is geared towards the needs ofthe individuals of the group itself.


"Meditation, It's not what you think!"

Conquer Toxic Holiday Stress

By: Laura Bonetzky-Joseph, R.M.T., C.M.A., Managing Director of MedSpa New England, LLC
© 2010 All Rights Reserved.  A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

When we think of the holidays we smile with nostalgic visions of celebrations, roasting chestnuts, caroling, crackling fires, happy Cleaver-like families, and everything we asked for under the 'ol Christmas tree. As much as the holidays bring love, holiday cheer, & family gatherings so do the winter blues, stress, anxiety, and especially the financial pressure to buy gifts, travel or entertain.  For many, the holidays are the hardest time of the year - emotionally, psychologically, financially, spiritually & physically.  With the economy and consumer confidence at its lowest point since the great depression, families are struggling more than ever with finding a healthy balance between work, home & personal needs. Welcome to one of the most stressful periods of the year and this year is bound to be one of the most stressful.  According to a 2006 survey by the American Psychological Association, 44%  of women and 31% of men report increased stress over the holidays. 

Stress is different for everyone and what may be stressful for one person may not be stressful for another and stress appears in many different ways.  Stress is a growing epidemic taking a serious toll on our physical health, mental health, and spiritual health with the majority of Americans are living with moderate to high levels of stress according to the APA.  Stress that is not managed can have dire consequences without help and change. 

According to a University of California at San Diego study from 1973-2001, deaths from heart disease peak in December and January with it spiking on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.¹  Stress is linked to the top six leading causes of death and is another large contributing factor to "Merry Christmas Coronary" and the "Happy New Year Heart Attack". "Although there can be many causes for a heart attack, stress during the holidays has become more frequently associated with a higher number of heart attack patients," says Kelly Larkin, MD, emergency department medical director, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.²

Also the increase of depression and anxiety during the holidays as well. However, despite popular belief, the increase in suicides during the holidays is a myth according to Mayo Clinic.

There is no avoiding stress, but there ways to better manage your stress levels.   Oooooooook?  So how do we conquer this holiday stress? 

 

First, in order to change the effects of your stress, you have to learn to recognize and identify when you're feeling stressed and become more aware of  the signs, symptoms, and triggers. Your body tells you everything you need to know by sending you signs and signals.  Are you listening to them?

Some of the early signs of stress can include:  

• Unhealthy eating habits   
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Muscle tension especially in your shoulders and neck
• Headaches

Here are some statistics from the American Psychological Association's (APA) 2010 Survey*

• Overweight Children report to be more likely to have trouble falling asleep (15%),  have headaches (15%), eating too much or too little (32%),  or feel angry and getting into fights (9%) than non-overweight children, which are often symptoms of stress.
• Money (76%), work (70%) and the economy (65%) remain the most cited sources of stress for Americans during this time of  "Non" Depression.
• Parents report similar sources of stress citing money (80% ), work (72%), and the economy (72%) as stressors, and 73% also report that family responsibilities.
• "While the majority of parents don’t think their children are strongly affected by their stress, children report otherwise. Nearly three-quarters (69 percent) of parents say that their stress has only a slight or no impact on their children, yet 91 percent of children report they know their parent is stressed because they observe a multitude of behaviors, such as yelling, arguing and complaining." *
• The most common reason for not managing stress well enough is "too busy or not having enough time".
• "Two-fifths of adults reported overeating or eating unhealthy foods because of stress in the past month".
• One-third skipped a meal due to stress in the past month.
• More than four in ten report laying awake at night in the past month.
• "The most common physical symptoms of stress reported were irritability (45%), fatigue (41%) and lack of energy or motivation (38%)."

The next step is to choose a way to deal with your stress. For instance, no matter how dire your situation, find something positive in your life to focus on and find gratitude in that.  You can not change how someone treats you or what situations have been given to you, BUT you can choose how you react to them.  Another way, is avoidance. However, avoiding the event or thing that gives you stress is not always possible especially if that is family. So the better way is changing your thoughts and how you react to people, things or situations.

As you go through the holiday season pay attention to you - not the ego self, but the inner you!

Here are some tips for dealing with holiday stress:

1. You can't change what you can not control.  So why worry? How is that going to make your situation better? 
2. Identify your triggers.  Knowing what triggers your stress, gives you time to prepare and prevent toxic holiday stress from ruining your holidays.
3. Stay positive and try to see the good in every situation.
4. Eat a well balanced diet for your needs
5. Get plenty of sleep
6. Avoid toxins such as cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine.  
7. Avoid the foods that could be making you sick.
8. You can say NO. Do not over commit yourself and over schedule
9. Seek alternative therapies such as reiki, meditation, acupuncture or massage therapy.
10. Avoid conflict and try to resolve existing conflict the best you can.
11. See every adversity as a chance to grow, excel and be better than before.
12. Find a healthy outlet to reduce stress such as yoga, exercise, tai chi, painting, or hiking.
13. Find balance - Your mind, body, and spirit equally need relaxation and attention.
14. If you have health issues such as heart disease, don't delay seeking medical attention. The delay in seeking medical attention is cited as one of the reasons for an increase in heart related deaths.

Check out a few upcoming events that can help keep you balanced, increase clarity, reduce stress, and bring more love, peace, and understanding to your life.  Meditation for instance has been clinically proven to reduce stress and is the oldest method for stress reduction around.

Stress, Energy & Your Health Workshop
Create more balance in your physical life, mindful life and spiritual life
 Dates TBA

1.  Doctors Warn Against Holiday Heart Attack Spike; December 3, 2009;  Vanderbilt Medical Center 

2.  Take to Heart; Emergency Departments Prepare to See Higher Number of Heart Attacks on Christmas, New Year's;  Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (December 21, 2009)  

*  Stress In America - 2010 Key Findings ;  2010 © American Psychological Association 

 

Other References And More Information On Holiday Stress:  

How can Meditation Help with Stress? Laura Bonetzky-Joseph;  MedSpa New England; 2009

The "Merry Christmas Coronary" and "Happy New Year Heart Attack" Phenomenon; Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD; © 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.  

Holiday Heart Attack - 4 Ways You Can Prevent a Heart Attack From Happening;  By Burt Amadio; Dec 30, 2009 

Stressful jobs may raise women's heart attack risk, study finds; By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter; Nov 15, 2010

10 Tools for Dealing with Holiday Depression and Stress; Psychology Today; Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D.; November 30, 2009 

Reduce stress, depression this holiday season; By Chris J. Minnick / For the Sun-News; Las Cruces Sun-News; 11/24/2010; 

Stress, depression and the holidays: 10 tips for coping; Mayo Clinic Staff; Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Oct. 20, 2009

© 2010-2014 Laura Bonetzky-Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of MedSpa New England.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.