This also means good stress as well as the bad stress. As many of you already know, the body does not make a distinction between either type. Breathing may become shallow, heart rate increases, or we begin to perspire. In some instances, we may develop low tolerance to frustration and become snappy with another person. Stress can also affect our moods and our health, which in turn can increase stress. This all may sound like a vicious cycle which could turn into a situation that becomes out-of-control.

Most stress is normal, short-term or acute, and is part of our age-old survival mechanism – the flight or fight response. If I see a car run a red light, immediately and automatically my brain and body jump into action to deal with it. My brain and body are on autopilot. Chronic stress affects us for the long term and can affect us emotionally and/or physically. This stress is ongoing and long-term and is not just a response to a recent situation, but something that happened in the past and changed our belief system and thinking. It is so pervasive and eventually becomes indiscernible.

Stress is a natural part of life and, even if we locked ourselves in a dark quiet room, we would still develop stress. The trick is learning to become aware of the stressor(s) in order to deal with it and manage it. Coping mechanisms become key in alleviating some of the symptoms of stress. Social support networks, prayer, meditation, deep breathing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise, good nutrition, decreasing caffeine, sugar, alcohol and/or drug intake, and emotional freedom technique are just a few of the ways we can reduce our negative response to stress. I will write more about that in future posts.

Have a safe, healthy, and happy new year; one that’s filled with good things, ideas, and relationships.

With loving thoughts,

Sara

Where has the year gone?

Was it a good 2011? Did you meet your goals or any part of them? Or did you stop early on? Either way, your life continues and you have the opportunity to either revisit those goals or create new ones.

It’s very possible that your original goals for 2011 changed and you went on to something new. It’s not that anything was wrong with your original goals, just the priority changed.

One of my goals is to review 2011 to see what worked and what I could have done differently. My love for my work has not changed and the payoff is so amazing when I help people get the positive results they were so invested in getting. To have someone say to me, “I FINALLY get it!”, after all our hard work is so gratifying. Here’s an example:

I helped someone understand how setting S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timeframe) become reality — because there is a structure to achieving them. To say, “I think I’ll lose some weight” is not a S.M.A.R.T. goal. To say, “I will lose 1 lb per week by exercising 30 minutes and eating 300 calories less daily for the next 6 months, helping me to achieve my goal of a 20 lb weight-loss” is a S.M.A.R.T. goal.” You know exactly how you’ll get there. This makes life so much easier and who doesn’t like that?

So what is your S.M.A.R.T. goal(s) for 2012?

Have a safe, happy, healthy New Year, filled with vim and vigor and all things possible.

Loving Thoughts,

Sara

Generally, there is little emphasis placed on the addictive nature of opiates and, initially, the patient is eager to lessen their pain. No thought is given to the consequences of continued use. The cycle of “I have pain, I need a pill; I have increased pain, I need more pills” begins and the patient is off and running into the throws of opiate addiction. Does this sound like a fairy tale or your worst nightmare?

If this sounds melodramatic, it isn’t. It is the unwanted reality of many. Doctors are not given enough information about addiction in medical school, to understand their “best intentions.” It is a doctor’s job to help us feel better. The old saying “buyer beware” is just as relevant in this situation. In the coming weeks, I will share my personal, as well as educated, experience with you. Help is here!