North Star Mental Fitness Blog

What You Think Means Everything!

We take the importance of thinking for granted.  Thinking is the most important ingredient for determining our behavior and quality of life.

We often take our thinking for granted, because our thinking is often so automatic.  We consciously do not concentrate on changing our thinking, because thinking occurs so quickly without conscious awareness and direction.

We do not question our thinking.  We operate under the principle that what we think is right!

I Am an Awesome Person!

She has large brown eyes and a big smile on her face as she anxiously and then more confidently shocked me with her self-assessment. 

"IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME, I AM AN AWESOME PERSON"!

She went on to tell me how important it is to not allow her past to influence her life.  Although she is only 16, she expressed a mindset crafted by very few people.

You might ask what could have happened to her in 16 years.

Use CPR To Kill Your Ant's (Automatic Negative Thoughts)

Dr. Daniel Amen believes you could have an ant infestation in your brain!  It sure sounds gross, doesn't it?  Before you call an ant exterminator, let me explain what Dr. Amen means.

The Power of Acceptance

There is power in acceptance! 

15 TOOLS FOR SUCCESS IN 2010

SUCCESS = TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOU

If you take good care of you in 2010, you will be successful!  The following 15 tools will help you be successful in any situation in 2010.  These 15 tools provide the resources to guide you through 2010.

 

THE 15 MENTAL FITNESS TOOLS FOR SUCCESS IN 2010

She Said Feeling Good Is Dangerous!

Have you ever wondered what the relationship is between anxiety and feeling good?  Most anxious people have discovered that anxiety destroys feeling good.  People suffering from anxiety worry about insignificant as well as significant issues.  They worry about past, present and future issues.

There are many forms of anxiety.  For some people anxiety takes the form of physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches and other symptoms consistent with any medical diagnosis.  For some people anxiety prevents them from being alone or leaving their home.  Others have social anxiety.  There is no doubt that anxiety destroys feeling good.

Let's look at something that is not so obvious.  For some people feeling good creates anxiety.

I talked to a young woman who has been devastated by anxiety.  She is getting better.  As she talked, she surprised herself as she verbalized a previously hidden key to understanding her anxiety.

Surprised she said "FEELING GOOD IS DANGEROUS"!

She has been unconsciously afraid to feel good.  Whenever she started to feel good, anxiety overwhelmed her.  She recalled childhood experiences of feeling good that were associated with guilt, shame and censure from adults.  Undoubtedly the association of feeling good with danger began in her childhood and this association has unconsciously, constantly been reinforced throughout her adult years.

Now she has an explanation for why she was unable to finish relational, educational and vocational pursuits after she began to feel good about her achievements.

I have also recently been talking to a man who also is consciously aware that FEELING GOOD IS DANGEROUS.  He has had many physical problems that have curtailed his activities.  He is fearful that over- exerting himself will be dangerous to his health.  There are many reasons why people with anxiety may unconsciously or consciously think that feeling good is dangerous.

It is important to confront the automatic negative thought that FEELING GOOD IS DANGEROUS.  If feeling good is not dangerous, then consciously re-program your mind to think that FEELING IS NOT DANGEROUS!

Remember, We Live with the Environment Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

Physical Exercise and Your Mental Fitness

After reading Steve Siebold's book "Die Fat or Get Tough", I began an exercise program.  I was motivated to apply Steve's idea that 99% compliance with my goal was insufficient for success.  I was determined to reach 100% compliance with my goal.  I exercised daily for over three months.  I felt better. 

I felt even better, when I read Dr. Amen's article on the power of physical exercise and mental fitness.  Dr. Amen talked about the 10 ways exercise helps obtain a "mental edge".  Exercise really helps in regard to memory loss and depression.

In my private practice, I have been asked to evaluate many people regarding memory loss.  I also have many clients that wish to depend on themselves rather than medications to improve the quality of their lives.  Regular physical exercise is an important way to nurture your brain.

I encourage you to read Dr.Amen's article if you are concerned about memory loss, depression, attention problems or cognitive anxiety.  Dr. Amen presented numerous research studies that shows physical exercises increase mental fitness.

Studies were reported that demonstrated the power of physical exercise on memory:

• Canadian researchers reported that exercise helps "prevent, delay and lesson the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease".
• Other researchers presented research that indicated that exercise can prevent and delay cognitive decline associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. 
• A study of people over 65 revealed that mild to moderate exercise reduced about 50% the risk of cognitive dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
• Australian researchers reported that memory impaired individuals who participated in a six-month exercise program showed a decrease in cognitive decline over 18 months.
• Indian researchers have stated that exercise provide some of the same benefits as medications used to treat cognitive decline in dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Exercise also reduces the symptoms of depression.  Dr. Amen believes that exercise can be as effective as prescription medication for treating depression.  In a study comparing the effects of exercise and a prescription for Zoloft, exercise was as as effective as Zoloft in reducing depression after 12 weeks.  After 10 months, exercise was more effective than Zoloft.

Exercise is a very important ingredient for mental health and mental fitness.  No matter what how old a person is, it is never too late to start to exercise and improve your physical and mental well-being.

Remember We Live within the Minds and Bodies Created by Our Choices!

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

 

 

INATTENTIONAL BLINDNESS

What is in attentional blindness?  Wikipedia put it this way

"Inattentional blindness, also known as perceptual blindness, is the phenomenon of not being able to see things that are actually there.

What Reduces Posttraumatic Stress Reactions in Survivors of Terrorist Attacks?

What should you do if you are a survivor of a terrorist attack?  What should you recommend to a friend who may become a victim of a terrorist attack?

We all hope that there will be no more terrorist attacks.  We dread the thought that our significant others or ourselves may be a victim or survivor of a terrorist attack.

If there is a terrorist attack, Science News had an article entitled: "Cognitive Therapy Can Reduce Posttraumatic Stress in Survivors of Terrorist Attacks".

 Researchers at the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation evaluated cognitive therapy for people infected by terrorism and civil conflict.  58 people were studied.  Patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorders associated with terrorism and civil conflict were split into two groups.  One group received cognitive therapy immediately and a second group was put on a waiting list for 12 weeks prior to beginning their cognitive therapy.

• "At 12 weeks, patients in the immediate therapy group showed significant and substantial reductions in the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.


• In contrast, patients in the waiting list group showed no change.


• The therapy group also had improved levels of work and social functioning.


• Thirty-eight per cent of those in the waiting list group deteriorated during the 12 week period compared to just seven per cent the therapy group.


• The treatment gains made were well maintained at the follow-up assessments.

These are very impressive statistics.  The statistics validate cognitive therapy as an effective treatment for survivors of posttraumatic stress disorders precipitated by terrorists and civil conflict.  The study also provides hope for people for people who have survived attacks by terrorist and civil conflict.