Hello Everyone, I just found a very interesting article from John Hopkins Medicine about bipolar disorder and the wiring in the brain.
"A genetic variation linked to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression wreaks havoc on connections among neurons in the developing brain, a team of researchers reports. The study used stem cells generated from people with and without mental illness to observe the effects of a rare and pernicious genetic variation on young brain cells. The results add to evidence that several major mental illnesses have common roots in faulty 'wiring' during early brain development."
Source
Follow the above link for the entire article. Apparently those of us with bipolar were wired differently than our healthy counterparts and this study proves it.
I wonder, my father has MS, a disease where the mylen sheath around nerves deteriorates and signals get crossed, could my brain be misfiring due to MS or just bipolar? Things to contemplate....
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
The Power of Our Thoughts - The Water Crystals of Masaru Emoto
Hello Everyone! Today I wanted to touch on some interesting research that is featured in the film What the Bleep Do We Know? which studies quantum physics. Here's a link to the movie's website: What the Bleep Do We Know?
Masaru Emoto was born in Yokohama
in July 1943. He is a graduate of the Yokohama Municipal University's
department of humanities and sciences with a focus on International Relations.
In October of 1992 he received certification from the Open International
University as a Doctor of Alternative Medicine. Subsequently he was introduced
to the concept of micro cluster water in the US and Magnetic Resonance Analysis
technology. The quest thus began to discover the mystery of water.
He undertook extensive research of water around the planet not so much as a scientific researcher but more from the perspective of an original thinker. At length he realized that it was in the frozen crystal form that water showed us its true nature.
He undertook extensive research of water around the planet not so much as a scientific researcher but more from the perspective of an original thinker. At length he realized that it was in the frozen crystal form that water showed us its true nature.
Below left is an image
of very polluted and toxic water from the Fujiwara Dam. Below right is the same
water after a Buddhist monk (Reverend Kato Hoki, chief priest of Jyuhouin
Temple) offered a prayer over it for one hour. Prayer, that’s sound coupled
with intention, seems to have an extraordinary ability to restore the water
back to its natural, harmonious, geometric symmetry.
 |
Mr. Emoto’s research further found
the affect that certain music did indeed play a role in the appearance of
water. In addition, heavy metal music was found to distort the water, while
classical music created beautiful crystal structures.
The next few photos are
of water exposed to different types of music. Distilled water would be placed
in a bottle between two speakers and specific music would be played for one
hour. The water was then frozen and photos taken.
Mr Emoto decided to see
how thoughts and words affected the formation of untreated distilled water
crystals. This was done by typing words onto paper, then taping the paper onto
glass bottles overnight.
Merely,
writing positive words and affirmations on the sides of water bottles had a
similar effect, where negative words made the water lackluster and positive
words created beautiful formations.
Here is a link to Mr. Emoto's research and web page: Masaru Emoto
Here is a link to his Facebook page: Masaru Emoto
Very insightful interview with Mr. Emoto: Life Enthusiast
I hope you find this information enlightening and helpful! Have a wonderful Thursday!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Abnormal Hormone Level Can Increase Depression in Bipolar Patients
Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing well today. I wanted to bring you some more bipolar news that I have come across on the internet on PsychCentral's website. Apparently there is a link between elevated AND decreased cortisol levels and the poor quality of life of bipolar patients according to a Swedish study. Below are excerpts from the article as well as a link to the source page.
"New research suggests depression is almost twice as common, and poor quality of life almost five times as common, in people with bipolar disorder who have elevated or low levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood. Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, discuss this finding in a study published in the journal PLOS ONE.
“In bipolar depression the stress system is often activated, which means that the affected individuals have elevated cortisol levels in the blood,” said Martin Maripuu, a Ph.D. student and physician at the psychiatric clinic, Östersund Hospital. “We have now been able to show that both over- and underactivity in the stress system, with corresponding elevated or reduced cortisol levels, can impair mental health in terms of depression and poor quality of life in these patients.”
As many of us know, bipolar disorder is a lifelong disease that causes recurrent episodes of both mania and depression. Stress is a known trigger for these episodes, and depression and mania also adds to the accumulated stress load. One of the body’s main stress systems is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which regulates cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that helps us cope with various stressful situations, such as pain, illness and stress at work. Stress causes overactivity in the stress system, resulting in elevated levels of cortisol. If the stress continues in the long-term, it is believed to cause an underactivity in the stress system, which results in low cortisol levels. Previous studies have shown that the stress system is often overactive in patients with bipolar depression."
"Prevalence of low quality of life was six times more common in the group with low cortisol levels and nearly five times more common among those with high cortisol levels, compared with those who exhibited normal activity in the stress system.
The study also shows that people who had low cortisol levels, on average, have had their disease longer than those with high cortisol levels, which could suggest that chronic stress in bipolar disorder can lead to an “exhaustion” of the stress system with reduced cortisol levels as a result. The researchers also believe that the low cortisol levels, once developed, can contribute to a more chronic, manifested state of the disorder."
The researchers think these results are important because they think that in the future they could contribute to a more personally tailored medical treatment of bipolar disorder. "The results may also ultimately lead to the development of new drugs that work by normalizing the stress system and cortisol levels,” said Maripuu.
Source
Let's hope the devlopment of new treatments is sooner rather than later. Have a great Thursday everyone!
"New research suggests depression is almost twice as common, and poor quality of life almost five times as common, in people with bipolar disorder who have elevated or low levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood. Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, discuss this finding in a study published in the journal PLOS ONE.
“In bipolar depression the stress system is often activated, which means that the affected individuals have elevated cortisol levels in the blood,” said Martin Maripuu, a Ph.D. student and physician at the psychiatric clinic, Östersund Hospital. “We have now been able to show that both over- and underactivity in the stress system, with corresponding elevated or reduced cortisol levels, can impair mental health in terms of depression and poor quality of life in these patients.”
As many of us know, bipolar disorder is a lifelong disease that causes recurrent episodes of both mania and depression. Stress is a known trigger for these episodes, and depression and mania also adds to the accumulated stress load. One of the body’s main stress systems is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which regulates cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that helps us cope with various stressful situations, such as pain, illness and stress at work. Stress causes overactivity in the stress system, resulting in elevated levels of cortisol. If the stress continues in the long-term, it is believed to cause an underactivity in the stress system, which results in low cortisol levels. Previous studies have shown that the stress system is often overactive in patients with bipolar depression."
"Prevalence of low quality of life was six times more common in the group with low cortisol levels and nearly five times more common among those with high cortisol levels, compared with those who exhibited normal activity in the stress system.
The study also shows that people who had low cortisol levels, on average, have had their disease longer than those with high cortisol levels, which could suggest that chronic stress in bipolar disorder can lead to an “exhaustion” of the stress system with reduced cortisol levels as a result. The researchers also believe that the low cortisol levels, once developed, can contribute to a more chronic, manifested state of the disorder."
The researchers think these results are important because they think that in the future they could contribute to a more personally tailored medical treatment of bipolar disorder. "The results may also ultimately lead to the development of new drugs that work by normalizing the stress system and cortisol levels,” said Maripuu.
Source
Let's hope the devlopment of new treatments is sooner rather than later. Have a great Thursday everyone!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Possible Therapeutic Target for Select Brain Disorders - including bipolar
Hello Everyone! I found another intersting article about new developments in the treatment of bipolar disorder. I found this information on the National Institute of Health's site. Apparently scientists have been studying different areas in the brain that have not received much attention in the past and finding links between deficiencies in the areas and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
"Researchers have found in mice that a formerly obscure region of the hippocampus called CA2 is important for social memory, the ability of an animal to recognize another of the same species. Identifying the role of this region could be useful in understanding and treating disorders characterized by altered social behaviors such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism. Funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the study was published last month online in Nature."
Results of the Study
"Normally when a mouse encounters another mouse it does not know, it gives it a “sniff test” and is more interested in this new mouse versus a familiar acquaintance. The CA2-inactive mouse, however, shows no recognition of mice it has seen before and ends up sniffing indiscriminately familiar and novel mice. The mice showed no loss in the ability to discriminate social or non-social odors, such as food buried deeply in its litterbox. Although a pronounced loss of social memory is seen in the CA2-inactive mice, the mice did not experience changes in other hippocampal-specific behaviors such as spatial and contextual memory, and could still distinguish between novel and familiar inanimate objects."
Significance
“Because several neuropsychiatric disorders are associated with altered social behaviors, our findings raise the possibility that CA2 dysfunction may contribute to these behavioral changes,” said Siegelbaum.
"Individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have lowered numbers of CA2 inhibitory neurons. Similarly, individuals with autism have altered signaling of vasopressin, a social behavior hormone that interacts with a specific class of receptors found predominantly in this region. However, the CA2-inactive mice did not display classic symptoms of autism as they had normal levels of sociability, providing evidence that sociability and social memory involve different brain functions. Techniques such as the one detailed here are examples of research tools that the NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN ) Initiative hopes to build upon to further our understanding of the human brain."
What’s Next
"Siegelbaum’s group hopes to use the same genetic technology to examine whether there are changes in CA2 function in mouse models of psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. If so, they plan to screen for drugs that restore normal CA2 function and ask whether this drug treatment helps reverse any behavioral changes seen in the mice. Such research offers the possibility of finding new drug targets and approaches for treating the behavioral changes associated with these disorders."
Reference
Hitti FL, Siegelbaum SA. The Hippocampal CA2 Region is Essential for Social Memory. Nature , published online February 23, 2014.
Grant 5F30MH098633-02
Link to Source page
I hope you found this informative. Sooner or later researchers should be able to find something to truly help us with our mental illnesses. This study makes me hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. Have a great Thursday!
"Researchers have found in mice that a formerly obscure region of the hippocampus called CA2 is important for social memory, the ability of an animal to recognize another of the same species. Identifying the role of this region could be useful in understanding and treating disorders characterized by altered social behaviors such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism. Funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the study was published last month online in Nature."
Results of the Study
"Normally when a mouse encounters another mouse it does not know, it gives it a “sniff test” and is more interested in this new mouse versus a familiar acquaintance. The CA2-inactive mouse, however, shows no recognition of mice it has seen before and ends up sniffing indiscriminately familiar and novel mice. The mice showed no loss in the ability to discriminate social or non-social odors, such as food buried deeply in its litterbox. Although a pronounced loss of social memory is seen in the CA2-inactive mice, the mice did not experience changes in other hippocampal-specific behaviors such as spatial and contextual memory, and could still distinguish between novel and familiar inanimate objects."
Significance
“Because several neuropsychiatric disorders are associated with altered social behaviors, our findings raise the possibility that CA2 dysfunction may contribute to these behavioral changes,” said Siegelbaum.
"Individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have lowered numbers of CA2 inhibitory neurons. Similarly, individuals with autism have altered signaling of vasopressin, a social behavior hormone that interacts with a specific class of receptors found predominantly in this region. However, the CA2-inactive mice did not display classic symptoms of autism as they had normal levels of sociability, providing evidence that sociability and social memory involve different brain functions. Techniques such as the one detailed here are examples of research tools that the NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN ) Initiative hopes to build upon to further our understanding of the human brain."
What’s Next
"Siegelbaum’s group hopes to use the same genetic technology to examine whether there are changes in CA2 function in mouse models of psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. If so, they plan to screen for drugs that restore normal CA2 function and ask whether this drug treatment helps reverse any behavioral changes seen in the mice. Such research offers the possibility of finding new drug targets and approaches for treating the behavioral changes associated with these disorders."
Reference
Hitti FL, Siegelbaum SA. The Hippocampal CA2 Region is Essential for Social Memory. Nature , published online February 23, 2014.
Grant 5F30MH098633-02
Link to Source page
I hope you found this informative. Sooner or later researchers should be able to find something to truly help us with our mental illnesses. This study makes me hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. Have a great Thursday!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Inflammation and Depression - new study
Hello Everyone! I hope you are doing well this week. Today I wanted to cover an article I just found online about the effects of inflammation and persistence of depression.
"Researcher N. Vogelzangs et al. reported in a 2014 article in Neuropharmacology that inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation in antidepressant users predicted an outcome of depression two years later. Elevated levels of the marker of inflammation Il-6, low HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood sugar were associated with poor response to medication and chronicity of depression. Of 315 people treated with antidepressants (average age 43), 138 were in remission at 2 years, while 177 (56.2%) were still depressed. People with four or more types of inflammatory or metabolic dysregulations had a 90% chance of still being depressed at 2 years."
I found this very interesting, that maybe with a change in diet I could help curb my depression. The article is continued below.
"Among inflammatory markers including CRP and TNF-alpha, IL-6 alone was associated with chronic depression. Il-6 can cross the blood-brain barrier. We have previously reported that researcher Scott Russo found that in rats in a depression-like state known as defeat stress (brought about by repeated defeat by a larger rodent), blocking Il-6 can prevent depressive behaviors such as social avoidance or loss of preference for sucrose.
Like inflammation, metabolic abnormalities also complicate depression. Lipid dysregulation and hyperglycemia are associated not only with depression persistence, but also with the new onset of depression in humans.
Vogelzangs et al. conclude that these data “ suggest that inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation worsens depression course owing to reduced [antidepressant] response and that alternative intervention treatments may be needed for depressed persons with inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation.”
It is noteworthy that a 2014 meta-analysis of the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib (Celebrex) published by Farhad Faridhosseini et al. in Human Psychopharmacology, showed that the drug, often prescribed for arthritis, is effective for unipolar depression when added to patients’ regular treatment.
It remains to be ascertained whether celecoxib’s effects are seen in depression in general, or if they pertain only to the 30% of depressed patients who show inflammation at baseline. Typical markers of inflammation include Il-6, CRP, TNFa, and Il-1.
Statins, prescribed to lower cholesterol, also have anti-inflammatory effects, and are also effective in preventing depression.
Determining treatment approaches for those patients showing signs of inflammation or metabolic irregularities remains a high priority for study. The preliminary data noted here suggest that treating these dysregulations in those with depression may be useful."
Source
I'm not one for taking more medications, but if an anti-inflammatory drug could help my depression I'd give it a try. Always discuss changes to your medication with your prescribing doctor first, especially to avoid drug interactions.
I hope you found this information useful and enlightening. Have a great Wednesday! Hump Day!
"Researcher N. Vogelzangs et al. reported in a 2014 article in Neuropharmacology that inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation in antidepressant users predicted an outcome of depression two years later. Elevated levels of the marker of inflammation Il-6, low HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood sugar were associated with poor response to medication and chronicity of depression. Of 315 people treated with antidepressants (average age 43), 138 were in remission at 2 years, while 177 (56.2%) were still depressed. People with four or more types of inflammatory or metabolic dysregulations had a 90% chance of still being depressed at 2 years."
I found this very interesting, that maybe with a change in diet I could help curb my depression. The article is continued below.
"Among inflammatory markers including CRP and TNF-alpha, IL-6 alone was associated with chronic depression. Il-6 can cross the blood-brain barrier. We have previously reported that researcher Scott Russo found that in rats in a depression-like state known as defeat stress (brought about by repeated defeat by a larger rodent), blocking Il-6 can prevent depressive behaviors such as social avoidance or loss of preference for sucrose.
Like inflammation, metabolic abnormalities also complicate depression. Lipid dysregulation and hyperglycemia are associated not only with depression persistence, but also with the new onset of depression in humans.
Vogelzangs et al. conclude that these data “ suggest that inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation worsens depression course owing to reduced [antidepressant] response and that alternative intervention treatments may be needed for depressed persons with inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation.”
It is noteworthy that a 2014 meta-analysis of the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib (Celebrex) published by Farhad Faridhosseini et al. in Human Psychopharmacology, showed that the drug, often prescribed for arthritis, is effective for unipolar depression when added to patients’ regular treatment.
It remains to be ascertained whether celecoxib’s effects are seen in depression in general, or if they pertain only to the 30% of depressed patients who show inflammation at baseline. Typical markers of inflammation include Il-6, CRP, TNFa, and Il-1.
Statins, prescribed to lower cholesterol, also have anti-inflammatory effects, and are also effective in preventing depression.
Determining treatment approaches for those patients showing signs of inflammation or metabolic irregularities remains a high priority for study. The preliminary data noted here suggest that treating these dysregulations in those with depression may be useful."
Source
I'm not one for taking more medications, but if an anti-inflammatory drug could help my depression I'd give it a try. Always discuss changes to your medication with your prescribing doctor first, especially to avoid drug interactions.
I hope you found this information useful and enlightening. Have a great Wednesday! Hump Day!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Walk A Mile in My Shoes Rally in Lansing 2014
Hello everyone! I wanted to write to you today about the 10th annual Walk a Mile in My Shoes mental health rally that was held at the Lansing State Capital building in Michigan yesterday. This was my third year going and I had a very nice time. Representatives from all 83 counties in Michigan came. There was a photo booth, DJ, inspirational speakers, and poets. It was a great time. It is also a time to take a moment and be grateful for what you have and the abilities you possess that many others do not.
One speaker was former Michigan State University basketball player Anthony Ianni, who's been touring the state talking about his battle with autism. He's the first ever college basketball player to play with autism. His speech was moving and inspirational. He is currently in the middle of his relentless tour where he goes around to schools in Michigan to talk about autism as well as bullying. Here's a link to his page: Meet Anthony Ianni
The poets that performed were amazing! The men are called Kinect Affect, two men with one voice. Very empowering in your face poetry. Here's a link to check them out, I would definitely go out to see them if you have the opportunity: The Kinetic Affect
Everyone there received a free messenger bag with a pin, snacks, and informational flyers. It was great to have our voices heard, even if it was raining.
Here's a link to a news article that covered the rally: WILX NBC10
And here's a link to the flyer for this year: Walk a Mile Flyer
If you're in Michigan next year around this time of year I encourage you to look up the rally and come out to support mental health awareness in Michigan!
Have a great day!!
One speaker was former Michigan State University basketball player Anthony Ianni, who's been touring the state talking about his battle with autism. He's the first ever college basketball player to play with autism. His speech was moving and inspirational. He is currently in the middle of his relentless tour where he goes around to schools in Michigan to talk about autism as well as bullying. Here's a link to his page: Meet Anthony Ianni
The poets that performed were amazing! The men are called Kinect Affect, two men with one voice. Very empowering in your face poetry. Here's a link to check them out, I would definitely go out to see them if you have the opportunity: The Kinetic Affect
Everyone there received a free messenger bag with a pin, snacks, and informational flyers. It was great to have our voices heard, even if it was raining.
Here's a link to a news article that covered the rally: WILX NBC10
And here's a link to the flyer for this year: Walk a Mile Flyer
If you're in Michigan next year around this time of year I encourage you to look up the rally and come out to support mental health awareness in Michigan!
Have a great day!!
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Inspiration linked to bipolar disorder risk
Hello Everyone! I found another really interesting topic with a couple sources: the study of inspiration and creativity in bipolar individuals. I myself have experienced increased creativity while manic. I normally am not artistic or creative at all, however while manic I wrote an entire coherent 5 verse song in under 5 minutes. Ideas and thoughts flowed freely and ideas just came to me. I miss this. I saw more connections between things, individuals, and ideas. Below I have included text about this interesting study. Enjoy!
Inspiration has been linked with people at risk of developing bipolar disorder for the first time in a study led by Lancaster University.
For generations, artists, musicians, poets and writers have described personal experiences of mania and depression, highlighting the unique association between creativity and bipolar disorder -- experiences which are backed up by recent research. But, until now, the specific links between inspiration -- the generation of ideas that form the basis of creative work -- and bipolar disorder has received little attention.
New research by Professor by Steven Jones and Dr Alyson Dodd, of Lancaster University, and Dr June Gruber at Yale University, has shown people at higher risk for developing bipolar disorder consistently report stronger experiences of inspiration than those at lower risk.
The paper 'Development and Validation of a New Multidimensional Measure of Inspiration: Associations with Risk for Bipolar Disorder', published in PLOS One this week, found a specific link between those people who found their source of inspiration within themselves and risk for bipolar disorder.
Professor Jones, co-director of Lancaster University's Spectrum Centre, said: "It appears that the types of inspiration most related to bipolar vulnerability are those which are self-generated and linked with strong drive for success.
"Understanding more about inspiration is important because it is a key aspect of creativity which is highly associated with mental health problems, in particular bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder highly value creativity as a positive aspect of their condition. This is relevant to clinicians, as people with bipolar disorder may be unwilling to engage with treatments and therapies which compromise their creativity."
As part of the study, 835 undergraduate students were recruited to complete online questionnaires from both Yale University in the U.S. and Lancaster University in the U.K.
They were asked to complete a questionnaire which measured their bipolar risk using a widely-used and well-validated 48-item measure which captures episodic shifts in emotion, behaviour, and energy called The Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS).
They also completed a new questionnaire developed by the team which was designed to explore beliefs about inspiration, in particular the sources of inspiration -- whether individuals thought it came from within themselves, from others or the wider environment. This measure was called the the EISI (External and Internal Sources of Inspiration) measure.
The students who scored highly for a risk of bipolar also consistently scored more highly than the others for levels of inspiration and for inspiration which they judged to have come from themselves.
Researchers say, although this pattern was consistent, the effect sizes were relatively modest so, although inspiration and bipolar risk are linked, it is important to explore other variables to get a fuller picture and to conduct further research with individuals with a clinical diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
The research team is currently inviting UK-based individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder to take part in an online survey exploring associations between inspiration, mood and recovery. Go to: www.thinkingstyle.spectrumdevelopment.org.uk.
Source 1 Source 2
Inspiration has been linked with people at risk of developing bipolar disorder for the first time in a study led by Lancaster University.
For generations, artists, musicians, poets and writers have described personal experiences of mania and depression, highlighting the unique association between creativity and bipolar disorder -- experiences which are backed up by recent research. But, until now, the specific links between inspiration -- the generation of ideas that form the basis of creative work -- and bipolar disorder has received little attention.
New research by Professor by Steven Jones and Dr Alyson Dodd, of Lancaster University, and Dr June Gruber at Yale University, has shown people at higher risk for developing bipolar disorder consistently report stronger experiences of inspiration than those at lower risk.
The paper 'Development and Validation of a New Multidimensional Measure of Inspiration: Associations with Risk for Bipolar Disorder', published in PLOS One this week, found a specific link between those people who found their source of inspiration within themselves and risk for bipolar disorder.
Professor Jones, co-director of Lancaster University's Spectrum Centre, said: "It appears that the types of inspiration most related to bipolar vulnerability are those which are self-generated and linked with strong drive for success.
"Understanding more about inspiration is important because it is a key aspect of creativity which is highly associated with mental health problems, in particular bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder highly value creativity as a positive aspect of their condition. This is relevant to clinicians, as people with bipolar disorder may be unwilling to engage with treatments and therapies which compromise their creativity."
As part of the study, 835 undergraduate students were recruited to complete online questionnaires from both Yale University in the U.S. and Lancaster University in the U.K.
They were asked to complete a questionnaire which measured their bipolar risk using a widely-used and well-validated 48-item measure which captures episodic shifts in emotion, behaviour, and energy called The Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS).
They also completed a new questionnaire developed by the team which was designed to explore beliefs about inspiration, in particular the sources of inspiration -- whether individuals thought it came from within themselves, from others or the wider environment. This measure was called the the EISI (External and Internal Sources of Inspiration) measure.
The students who scored highly for a risk of bipolar also consistently scored more highly than the others for levels of inspiration and for inspiration which they judged to have come from themselves.
Researchers say, although this pattern was consistent, the effect sizes were relatively modest so, although inspiration and bipolar risk are linked, it is important to explore other variables to get a fuller picture and to conduct further research with individuals with a clinical diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
The research team is currently inviting UK-based individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder to take part in an online survey exploring associations between inspiration, mood and recovery. Go to: www.thinkingstyle.spectrumdevelopment.org.uk.
Source 1 Source 2
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Lancaster University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above story is based on materials provided by Lancaster University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
- Steven Jones, Alyson Dodd, June Gruber. Development and Validation of a New Multidimensional Measure of Inspiration: Associations with Risk for Bipolar Disorder. PLoS ONE, 2014; 9 (3): e91669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091669
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
First stem cell study of bipolar disorder yields promising results
I recently came across this information and wanted to share it with you all. We may have more precise treatments individualized to our bodies' chemistry's needs sooner rather than later. As we all know, it is a bit of a crap shoot to find the right medications that works best to control your bipolar disorder. With this new research we are finding more origins of the disorder as well as more possible treatments. I have pasted the below texts with sources so you can read the info for yourself.
The researchers found that the neurons from bipolar patients expressed more genes for membrane receptors and ion channels than the neurons from non-bipolar patients - particularly genes for receptors and channels involved in sending and receiving calcium signals between cells.
Since calcium signals play a significant role in neuron development and function, the investigators say their findings suggest that genetic differences in early brain development may contribute to the development of bipolar and other mental health conditions later in life.
The team also found that the neurons from bipolar patients were "addressed" differently during development than those from non-bipolar patients, meaning signaling could be misdirected. They say this could affect brain development.
Furthermore, the researchers found differences in microRNA expression - small RNA fragments that play an important role in "reading" genes - in the cells of bipolar patients. The teams says this discovery supports the idea that bipolar disorder develops from a "combination of genetic vulnerabilities."
Source
What makes a person bipolar, prone to manic highs and deep, depressed lows? Why does bipolar disorder run so strongly in families, even though no single gene is to blame? And why is it so hard to find new treatments for a condition that affects 200 million people worldwide?
"We're very excited about these findings. But we're only just beginning to understand what we can do with these cells to help answer the many unanswered questions in bipolar disorder's origins and treatment," says Melvin McInnis, M.D., principal investigator of the Prechter Bipolar Research Fund and its programs.
The researchers found that the neurons from bipolar patients expressed more genes for membrane receptors and ion channels than the neurons from non-bipolar patients - particularly genes for receptors and channels involved in sending and receiving calcium signals between cells.
Since calcium signals play a significant role in neuron development and function, the investigators say their findings suggest that genetic differences in early brain development may contribute to the development of bipolar and other mental health conditions later in life.
The team also found that the neurons from bipolar patients were "addressed" differently during development than those from non-bipolar patients, meaning signaling could be misdirected. They say this could affect brain development.
Furthermore, the researchers found differences in microRNA expression - small RNA fragments that play an important role in "reading" genes - in the cells of bipolar patients. The teams says this discovery supports the idea that bipolar disorder develops from a "combination of genetic vulnerabilities."
Source
What makes a person bipolar, prone to manic highs and deep, depressed lows? Why does bipolar disorder run so strongly in families, even though no single gene is to blame? And why is it so hard to find new treatments for a condition that affects 200 million people worldwide?
"We're very excited about these findings. But we're only just beginning to understand what we can do with these cells to help answer the many unanswered questions in bipolar disorder's origins and treatment," says Melvin McInnis, M.D., principal investigator of the Prechter Bipolar Research Fund and its programs.
"For instance, we can now envision being able to test new drug candidates in these cells, to screen possible medications proactively instead of having to discover them fortuitously."
The research was supported by donations from the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund, the Steven M. Schwartzberg Memorial Fund, and the Joshua Judson Stern Foundation. The A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the U-M Medical School also supported the work, which was reviewed and approved by the U-M Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Oversight committee and Institutional Review Board.
O'Shea, a professor in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology and director of the U-M Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Lab, and McInnis, the Upjohn Woodworth Professor of Bipolar Disorder and Depression in the Department of Psychiatry, are co-senior authors of the new paper.
McInnis, who sees firsthand the impact that bipolar disorder has on patients and the frustration they and their families feel about the lack of treatment options, says the new research could take treatment of bipolar disorder into the era of personalized medicine.
Not only could stem cell research help find new treatments, it may also lead to a way to target treatment to each patient based on their specific profile -- and avoid the trial-and-error approach to treatment that leaves many patients with uncontrolled symptoms. New stem cell research published by scientists from the University of Michigan Medical School, and fueled by the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund, may help scientists find answers to these questions.
The team used skin from people with bipolar disorder to derive the first-ever stem cell lines specific to the condition. In a new paper in Translational Psychiatry, they report how they transformed the stem cells into neurons, similar to those found in the brain -- and compared them to cells derived from people without bipolar disorder.
The comparison revealed very specific differences in how these neurons behave and communicate with each other, and identified striking differences in how the neurons respond to lithium, the most common treatment for bipolar disorder.
It's the first time scientists have directly measured differences in brain cell formation and function between people with bipolar disorder and those without. The researchers are from the Medical School's Department of Cell & Developmental Biology and Department of Psychiatry, and U-M's Depression Center.
The team used a type of stem cell called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. By taking small samples of skin cells and exposing them to carefully controlled conditions, the team coaxed them to turn into stem cells that held the potential to become any type of cell. With further coaxing, the cells became neurons.
"This gives us a model that we can use to examine how cells behave as they develop into neurons. Already, we see that cells from people with bipolar disorder are different in how often they express certain genes, how they differentiate into neurons, how they communicate, and how they respond to lithium," says Sue O'Shea, Ph.D., the experienced U-M stem cell specialist who co-led the work.
The team used skin from people with bipolar disorder to derive the first-ever stem cell lines specific to the condition. In a new paper in Translational Psychiatry, they report how they transformed the stem cells into neurons, similar to those found in the brain -- and compared them to cells derived from people without bipolar disorder.
The comparison revealed very specific differences in how these neurons behave and communicate with each other, and identified striking differences in how the neurons respond to lithium, the most common treatment for bipolar disorder.
It's the first time scientists have directly measured differences in brain cell formation and function between people with bipolar disorder and those without. The researchers are from the Medical School's Department of Cell & Developmental Biology and Department of Psychiatry, and U-M's Depression Center.
The team used a type of stem cell called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. By taking small samples of skin cells and exposing them to carefully controlled conditions, the team coaxed them to turn into stem cells that held the potential to become any type of cell. With further coaxing, the cells became neurons.
"This gives us a model that we can use to examine how cells behave as they develop into neurons. Already, we see that cells from people with bipolar disorder are different in how often they express certain genes, how they differentiate into neurons, how they communicate, and how they respond to lithium," says Sue O'Shea, Ph.D., the experienced U-M stem cell specialist who co-led the work.
More about the findings:
The skin samples were used to derive the 42 iPSC lines. When the team measured gene expression first in the stem cells, and then re-evaluated the cells once they had become neurons, very specific differences emerged between the cells derived from bipolar disorder patients and those without the condition.
Specifically, the bipolar neurons expressed more genes for membrane receptors and ion channels than non-bipolar cells, particularly those receptors and channels involved in the sending and receiving of calcium signals between cells.
Calcium signals are already known to be crucial to neuron development and function. So, the new findings support the idea that genetic differences expressed early during brain development may have a lot to do with the development of bipolar disorder symptoms -- and other mental health conditions that arise later in life, especially in the teen and young adult years.
Meanwhile, the cells' signaling patterns changed in different ways when the researchers introduced lithium, which many bipolar patients take to regulate their moods, but which causes side effects. In general, lithium alters the way calcium signals are sent and received -- and the new cell lines will make it possible to study this effect specifically in bipolar disorder-specific cells.
Like misdirected letters and packages at the post office, the neurons made from bipolar disorder patients also differed in how they were 'addressed' during development for delivery to certain areas of the brain. This may have an impact on brain development, too.
The researchers also found differences in microRNA expression in bipolar cells -- tiny fragments of RNA that play key roles in the "reading" of genes. This supports the emerging concept that bipolar disorder arises from a combination of genetic vulnerabilities.
The researchers are already developing stem cell lines from other trial participants with bipolar disorder, though it takes months to derive each line and obtain mature neurons that can be studied. They will share their cell lines with other researchers via the Prechter Repository at U-M. They also hope to develop a way to use the cells to screen drugs rapidly, called an assay.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Michigan Health System. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Michigan Health System. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
- H M Chen, C J DeLong, M Bame, I Rajapakse, T J Herron, M G McInnis, K S O’Shea. Transcripts involved in calcium signaling and telencephalic neuronal fate are altered in induced pluripotent stem cells from bipolar disorder patients. Translational Psychiatry, 2014; 4 (3): e375 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2014.12
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Bipolar and Attempting to Care for Aging/Sick Parents
Hello Everyone!
I am hoping to get some input from others on this post. I am currently struggling to deal with my own bipolar disorder and my parents' failing health has now been thrown into the mix. I'm an only child so all the work falls on me. Both of my parents have severe illnesses. My father still works but he's slowing failing due to Multiple Scerlosis. My mother has had several heart attacks and is now battling breast cancer. Both are in their mid 60s living in their own home.
I have my own small low-income apartment, but I spend most days at my folks place, even sleeping there some weeks on an air mattress. While my mother still had drains in from her mastectomy I was in charge of cleaning them and emptying them. Those are now out, but I still have a lot to keep up with.
I have to now do my folks laundry because my mother cant carry it up and down the stairs any longer. With their old machines this takes a full day. Then another day I spend cleaning their house top to bottom, another day taking my mother to get her groceries, and other days I'm mowing and doing yard work. I also fix most dinners. My crock pot has been a god-send.
The problem is my folks are only going to get worse, and how am I supposed to have a life of my own? I'm the only child and I'm stuck. I can't move away because they need me, but my bipolar is getting worse.
My anxiety had risen and my anger has risen. Its flowing into my other relationships. I don't know what to do. I am on disability and cannot afford to bring in outside help. My folks cant afford to bring in any help either. All of us are over our heads in debt.
I tried finding resources for bipolar adults dealing with aging parents and I couldn't find anything. All the general articles I find say take time for yourself, don't look for thanks because you probably wont get it, know your limitations, and find others to help. I have no one else to turn to. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm going to be stuck here until both my parents die doing everything for them.
Are any of you dealing with some of the same issues?
I am hoping to get some input from others on this post. I am currently struggling to deal with my own bipolar disorder and my parents' failing health has now been thrown into the mix. I'm an only child so all the work falls on me. Both of my parents have severe illnesses. My father still works but he's slowing failing due to Multiple Scerlosis. My mother has had several heart attacks and is now battling breast cancer. Both are in their mid 60s living in their own home.
I have my own small low-income apartment, but I spend most days at my folks place, even sleeping there some weeks on an air mattress. While my mother still had drains in from her mastectomy I was in charge of cleaning them and emptying them. Those are now out, but I still have a lot to keep up with.
I have to now do my folks laundry because my mother cant carry it up and down the stairs any longer. With their old machines this takes a full day. Then another day I spend cleaning their house top to bottom, another day taking my mother to get her groceries, and other days I'm mowing and doing yard work. I also fix most dinners. My crock pot has been a god-send.
The problem is my folks are only going to get worse, and how am I supposed to have a life of my own? I'm the only child and I'm stuck. I can't move away because they need me, but my bipolar is getting worse.
My anxiety had risen and my anger has risen. Its flowing into my other relationships. I don't know what to do. I am on disability and cannot afford to bring in outside help. My folks cant afford to bring in any help either. All of us are over our heads in debt.
I tried finding resources for bipolar adults dealing with aging parents and I couldn't find anything. All the general articles I find say take time for yourself, don't look for thanks because you probably wont get it, know your limitations, and find others to help. I have no one else to turn to. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm going to be stuck here until both my parents die doing everything for them.
Are any of you dealing with some of the same issues?
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Indigo Adults
Hello Everyone! I recently ran across the discussion of Indigo Adults in a forum and I was intrigued. I've looked around the web and haven't been able to find what I deem reliable sources about Indigo Adults, however several sites pointed in the same direction so I'll share them here. Just some food for thought. Do you think you're an Indigo Adult?
The term indigo generation is somewhat of a blanket term that refers to the increased amount of the color indigo present in new babies Auras. Around 30 years ago some babies were exhibiting this phenomena and the number has steadily increased until now where every new baby is an Indigo. Although all indigo babies have this increased amount of indigo in their auras they can vary widely in other ways. The majority of Indigo’s are simply reincarnations of the same group of beings who have always made up the human race. It is not that the Indigo’s are different beings but simply that they are incarnating some energies which were not being incarnated in normal people 30 years ago or more.
One of the most renowned researchers of the New Age phenomena is Ms. Lori Johnson, who worked on the Indigo generation almost scientifically and divided it into five categories according to the date of birth of children.
Source
Happy Thursday!
The term indigo generation is somewhat of a blanket term that refers to the increased amount of the color indigo present in new babies Auras. Around 30 years ago some babies were exhibiting this phenomena and the number has steadily increased until now where every new baby is an Indigo. Although all indigo babies have this increased amount of indigo in their auras they can vary widely in other ways. The majority of Indigo’s are simply reincarnations of the same group of beings who have always made up the human race. It is not that the Indigo’s are different beings but simply that they are incarnating some energies which were not being incarnated in normal people 30 years ago or more.
The grounding of energies that is
being carried out by the Indigo Generation has effects on all of humanity.
Spiritual awakening is now far easier than it has been for over 12000 years and
it is due to the grounding of these new energies. Any person who is not a part
of the Indigo Generation can actually become a part of it through the work of
Inner Alchemy. By clearing the astral layers and incarnating the light body
anyone can incarnate more of the Indigo energy and can even find connections
with various beings throughout the universe and begin acting as a grounding rod
for inter-dimensional forces.
In general the Indigo energy is
one of heightened awareness or more accurately it gives one the possibility of
heightened awareness. It also contains a feeling of personal power, grandeur and
you could say of purity. Because of these characteristics it can bring a feeling
of being royal or of extreme importance, being special. These characteristics
are of the energy itself and so when a certain personality is imbued with these
feelings it can have very different effects. As you can imagine when some people
feel this within themselves they may become arrogant while others may
disassociate from it completely and remain with very low self esteem. As with
all energies and consciousness that is incarnated by an individual, depending on
their early life experiences and past life traumas the energies are often either
disconnected or grossly overemphasized. The other possibility is a balanced ego
which integrates the various energies with a loose and fluid
structure.
As said the Indigo energy
is one of heightened awareness and as such it does contain feelings of being
very special, pure, grand and powerful but it has no arrogance whatsoever. The
Indigo energy in its pure form has 100% love and respect for all other beings
and knows that everything in existence is just as special as itself. This is a
huge difference and should not be overlooked. Just because a child is an Indigo
does not make it a teacher or even spiritually important. Essentially the only
benefit of Indigo energy is that it makes it far easier to look at yourself with
higher awareness and to conduct the true work of inner alchemy. Without the
Indigo energy it would be much harder if not impossible for anyone to awaken to
higher consciousness and to incarnate more of themselves. The Indigo child
described above, if introduced to spiritual practices would certainly excel and
would destroy the ego quickly to incarnate its higher consciousness.
One of the most renowned researchers of the New Age phenomena is Ms. Lori Johnson, who worked on the Indigo generation almost scientifically and divided it into five categories according to the date of birth of children.
Alpha Generation
The first generation, which was called Alpha, includes children born in the period from 1958 to 1968. Their aura was dark blue and green with purple shades and was under the influence of the metallic beige protecting them from external attacks and excessive early showing of indigo potential. Since early childhood, the Alpha had a feeling of being different, as if they did not belong to their place, country or parents. The reasons for this difference were always vague and never found a satisfactory explanation. The period of awakening of the Alpha generation is from 1986 until 1996.Beta generation
They are people born in the period between 1968 and 1978. The colors of their aura are blue – green – purple, but no longer the color of the metal shield. The period of their awakening coincides, roughly the period from 1996 to 2006. A typical feature of both generations, Alpha and Beta, is that they look much younger than they actually are.Gamma Generation
It is the third generation of children indigo, born from 1978 to 1988. This is the first generation with the minimum protective shield. It is usually purple with markings of ocher or crystal color. The period of intellectual awakening of these children coincides with the period between 2006 and 2016.Delta Generation
These children are born from 1988 to 1998. One of the characteristics of the fourth generation is the pure indigo color of the aura. This generation is too sensitive and needs plenty of help. These people are overactive and quite extrovert. They like to show to the world who they really are and often do it with great self-confidence. In their environment they want blue and purple colors, and really enjoy slow music. They avoid crowded places and anything that causes nervousness. Delta generation has usually very difficult teenage years. Many of these kids think that something is wrong with them, they may mess with drugs or have suicidal tendencies. The best remedy for them is the Nature, and it is good to spend there as much time as possible. The period of maturation and spiritual awakening of delta generation coincides with the period from 2016 until 2026.Omega generation
Children born from 1998 to 2008 belong to the so-called Omega indigo generation. Supposedly this is the last “pure” indigo generation. Children born in the Delta and Omega period, are also called Crystal Children because of a particularly bright, crystal color in their aura. These children are particularly vulnerable to various dermatology problems, allergies and diseases (especially to those of upper respiratory tract due to high environmental pollution). Also a large proportion of them is characterized as autistic or suffers from the Asperger syndrome. Autism in children is a way of self protection from attack and neurosis of the outside world. This generation will experience the “Dark Night of Awakening” from 2026 until 2036.The Awakening of Indigo
For each indigo generation the process of awakening begins around the age of 28-29 years and lasts about 7.5 years. The “Dark Night of Awakening” is a period that can be particularly difficult because it is the final return of an indigo person to his mission in this life. This period is full of different problems and various difficult challenges. In the mature age (37 – 39), begins the recovery and prosperity of mental abilities. Until then, the person had enough time to finally learn to trust his psychic powers without being startled or trying to share his experiences with others. These internal experiences may include: having a clear insight, direction and possible internal communication with the spiritual world; identification of thoughts, feelings and intentions of others; understanding the parallel levels of reality; a true insight into the nature of time.Source
Happy Thursday!
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Bipolar Diet - Does Organic Matter?
Hello everyone! I recently saw an episode of Dr. Oz where he explained how potatoes absorb the pesticides used on them, which we then in turn eat. He said something like a regular potato has eight times more pesticides than an organic potato. Ever since I watched this episode I have begun to purchase organic produce and canned goods. There are so many factors to consider when evaluating your diet, but this seemed like a sound choice. The groceries do cost more, but I figure my health is worth it.
I've found some studies that suggest pesticides used on our food supply do end up in our bodies causing neurodegenerative diseases including bipolar.
In the first study focuses on pesticides causing Parkinson’s Disease. However, it explains in the brain the dopamine transporter (DAT) is responsible for the reuptake of dopamine into presynaptic neurons, which terminates dopamine neurotransmission and thus plays a central role in the spatial and temporal buffering of released dopamine and its recycling. Human genetic variability in DAT, the gene encoding DAT has been associated with disorders and behaviors thought to be influenced by dopamine signaling such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorders, and smoking cessation. DAT gene deletion in the mouse results in hyperactivity, and when tyrosine hydroxylase is also inhibited, these animals show physical behaviors (e.g., akinesia, rigidity, tremor) that phenotypically resemble the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Source
The second study explains the dopamine transporter (DAT) is the site of action of stimulants, and variations in the human DAT gene (DAT1) have been associated with susceptibility to several psychiatric disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder. Source
And a third study showed prevalence rates and the risk of having Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and suicide were significantly higher in districts with greater pesticide use as compared to those with lower pesticide use. The multivariate analyses showed that the population living in areas with high pesticide use had an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and suicide attempts and that males living in these areas had increased risks for polyneuropathies, affective disorders and suicide attempts. In conclusion, this study supports and extends previous findings and provides an indication that environmental exposure to pesticides may affect the human health by increasing the incidence of certain neurological disorders at the level of the general population. Source
So do we need to eat organic everything? Not according to Dr. Oz. There are some simple rules to follow when deciding what to purchase:
1. When the skin is thin. Fruits and vegetables with a thin skin that is difficult to remove or that you typically eat should definitely be organic. They have high levels of pesticides even after washing. Produce with thicker skins has a better barrier to pesticides, and when you throw the peel in the trash, the chemicals go with it. But be sure to give all fruits and veggies a good scrub down before eating or peeling them, because cutting them can bring any chemicals on the skin into the flesh.
Go Organic: Apples, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, pears, nectarines, peppers, celery, potatoes, and carrots
Save Your Cash: Avocados, eggplants, pineapples, bananas, corn, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, sweet peas, oranges, grapefruit, and squash
2. Go green with leafy greens. Can you imagine scrubbing every leaf of a head of romaine lettuce? It's too difficult with leafy greens to make sure you remove all of the chemicals, and greens are particularly susceptible to pests, so they are often grown with high levels of pesticides. Fortunately, other vegetables, such as broccoli, either don't retain pesticides very well or don't need a lot to begin with, so it's okay to go with conventionally grown varieties.
Go Organic: All lettuces and greens such as kale, collards, mustard, swiss chard, and spinach
Save Your Cash: Broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, cauliflower, eggplant, melons, and sweet potatoes
3. Milk it! Although much of the hormones and antibiotics used in conventional milk production are washed out before we drink it, the process isn't perfect and some make it through. Plus, there is evidence that organic milk has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep our hearts healthy. But be wary when you see fish touted as organic. Fish grow in the ocean, where it's impossible to know what (if any) pesticides they've encountered, so the USDA has no guidelines for certifying organic seafood.
Go Organic: Milk, yogurt, and cheese
Save Your Cash: Fish and other seafood
Source
I often shop at Meijer's and they do offer some organic choices. I know they offer organic berries and potatoes. They also have a canned line of food, Meijer Organics, which I use. Here are some interesting facts about Meijer's healthy options:
Meijer Organics
Introduced to the shelves in 2007, currently Meijer carries over 200 Meijer Organics products. These Meijer products have at least 95% or more organic ingredients while maintaining good flavor and taste. They must also be certified by the USDA. Meijer certified organic foods are derived using no antibiotics, growth hormones, conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.
Meijer Naturals
Meijer Naturals products are minimally processed and follow these guidelines:
Meijer has teamed up with over 65 local growers and farmers in the five states where we live to provide you with the highest quality fresh produce. Unlike many other retailers, Meijer builds relationships directly with local farmers and inspects product quality before it hits our store shelves. Keep it close to home and get the best produce fresh from the family farm to the family table. There are many benefits to buying home grown including:
Meijer Ecowise is a brand that provides environmentally friendly products to individuals who want to make the earth a cleaner, healthier place for their family and future generations.
Meijer Ecowise products:
Have a great Wednesday! Hump Day!
I've found some studies that suggest pesticides used on our food supply do end up in our bodies causing neurodegenerative diseases including bipolar.
In the first study focuses on pesticides causing Parkinson’s Disease. However, it explains in the brain the dopamine transporter (DAT) is responsible for the reuptake of dopamine into presynaptic neurons, which terminates dopamine neurotransmission and thus plays a central role in the spatial and temporal buffering of released dopamine and its recycling. Human genetic variability in DAT, the gene encoding DAT has been associated with disorders and behaviors thought to be influenced by dopamine signaling such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorders, and smoking cessation. DAT gene deletion in the mouse results in hyperactivity, and when tyrosine hydroxylase is also inhibited, these animals show physical behaviors (e.g., akinesia, rigidity, tremor) that phenotypically resemble the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Source
The second study explains the dopamine transporter (DAT) is the site of action of stimulants, and variations in the human DAT gene (DAT1) have been associated with susceptibility to several psychiatric disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder. Source
And a third study showed prevalence rates and the risk of having Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and suicide were significantly higher in districts with greater pesticide use as compared to those with lower pesticide use. The multivariate analyses showed that the population living in areas with high pesticide use had an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and suicide attempts and that males living in these areas had increased risks for polyneuropathies, affective disorders and suicide attempts. In conclusion, this study supports and extends previous findings and provides an indication that environmental exposure to pesticides may affect the human health by increasing the incidence of certain neurological disorders at the level of the general population. Source
So do we need to eat organic everything? Not according to Dr. Oz. There are some simple rules to follow when deciding what to purchase:
1. When the skin is thin. Fruits and vegetables with a thin skin that is difficult to remove or that you typically eat should definitely be organic. They have high levels of pesticides even after washing. Produce with thicker skins has a better barrier to pesticides, and when you throw the peel in the trash, the chemicals go with it. But be sure to give all fruits and veggies a good scrub down before eating or peeling them, because cutting them can bring any chemicals on the skin into the flesh.
Go Organic: Apples, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, pears, nectarines, peppers, celery, potatoes, and carrots
Save Your Cash: Avocados, eggplants, pineapples, bananas, corn, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, sweet peas, oranges, grapefruit, and squash
2. Go green with leafy greens. Can you imagine scrubbing every leaf of a head of romaine lettuce? It's too difficult with leafy greens to make sure you remove all of the chemicals, and greens are particularly susceptible to pests, so they are often grown with high levels of pesticides. Fortunately, other vegetables, such as broccoli, either don't retain pesticides very well or don't need a lot to begin with, so it's okay to go with conventionally grown varieties.
Go Organic: All lettuces and greens such as kale, collards, mustard, swiss chard, and spinach
Save Your Cash: Broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, cauliflower, eggplant, melons, and sweet potatoes
3. Milk it! Although much of the hormones and antibiotics used in conventional milk production are washed out before we drink it, the process isn't perfect and some make it through. Plus, there is evidence that organic milk has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep our hearts healthy. But be wary when you see fish touted as organic. Fish grow in the ocean, where it's impossible to know what (if any) pesticides they've encountered, so the USDA has no guidelines for certifying organic seafood.
Go Organic: Milk, yogurt, and cheese
Save Your Cash: Fish and other seafood
Source
I often shop at Meijer's and they do offer some organic choices. I know they offer organic berries and potatoes. They also have a canned line of food, Meijer Organics, which I use. Here are some interesting facts about Meijer's healthy options:
Meijer Organics
Introduced to the shelves in 2007, currently Meijer carries over 200 Meijer Organics products. These Meijer products have at least 95% or more organic ingredients while maintaining good flavor and taste. They must also be certified by the USDA. Meijer certified organic foods are derived using no antibiotics, growth hormones, conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.
Meijer Naturals
Meijer Naturals products are minimally processed and follow these guidelines:
- No Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)
- No high fructose corn syrup, refined sugars, or artificial sweeteners
- No hydrogenated oils or trans fats
- No refined flours or milled grains
- No artificial food colorings, flavorings or preservatives
Meijer has teamed up with over 65 local growers and farmers in the five states where we live to provide you with the highest quality fresh produce. Unlike many other retailers, Meijer builds relationships directly with local farmers and inspects product quality before it hits our store shelves. Keep it close to home and get the best produce fresh from the family farm to the family table. There are many benefits to buying home grown including:
- Supports your local economy.
- Contributes to a Sustainable Environment: Home grown produce travels fewer miles, resulting in lower emissions from transportation.
- Home grown is often less expensive, adding to your financial bottom line!
- You get the freshest, best tasting and most nutritious produce available.
Meijer Ecowise is a brand that provides environmentally friendly products to individuals who want to make the earth a cleaner, healthier place for their family and future generations.
Meijer Ecowise products:
- Are nontoxic
- Involve no animal testing or animal-derived ingredients
- Feature recyclable packaging
- Shipped domestically within the U.S. and Canada
- Products that are better for our environment
- Effective items that meet most needs
- Quality equal to or better than national brand at a lower price
Have a great Wednesday! Hump Day!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
New Genes Implicated in Bipolar Disorder
Hello everyone! I recently read a new study which implicates new genes in bipolar disorder. Here's the details:
Two new gene regions that are connected with the prevalent disease have been discovered by an international collaboration of researchers. In addition, they were able to confirm three additional suspect genes.
The causes of the disease are not yet fully understood, however in addition to psychosocial triggers, genetic factors play a large role. "There is no one gene that has a significant effect on the development of bipolar disorder," says Prof. Dr. Markus M. Nöthen, Director of the Institute of Human Genetics of the University of Bonn Hospital. "Many different genes are evidently involved and these genes work together with environmental factors in a complex way."
Using automated analysis methods, the researchers recorded about 2.3 million different regions in the genetic material of patients and comparators, respectively. The subsequent evaluation using biostatistical methods revealed a total of five risk regions on the DNA associated with bipolar disorder. Two of these regions were newly discovered: The gene "ADCY2" on chromosome five and the so-called "MIR2113-POU3F2" region on chromosome six. The risk regions "ANK3," "ODZ4" and "TRANK1" have already been described in prior studies. "These gene regions were, however, statistically better confirmed in our current investigation -- the connection with bipolar disorder has now become even clearer," says Prof. Nöthen.
The researchers are particularly interested in the newly discovered gene region "ADCY2." It codes an enzyme which is involved in the conduction of signals into nerve cells. "This fits very well with observations that the signal transfer in certain regions of the brain is impaired in patients with bipolar disorder," explains the human geneticist of the University of Bonn Hospital. The actual biological mechanism behind bipolar disorder is still not completely understood, although it's likely related to impaired transmission of signals between neurons, as well as imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain. With their search for genetic regions, the scientists are gradually clarifying the causes of manic-depressive disorder. "Only when we know the biological foundations of this disease can be also identify starting points for new therapies," says Prof. Nöthen. Source
This gives me hope that treatment for more than the symptoms of bipolar is on its way. Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
Two new gene regions that are connected with the prevalent disease have been discovered by an international collaboration of researchers. In addition, they were able to confirm three additional suspect genes.
The causes of the disease are not yet fully understood, however in addition to psychosocial triggers, genetic factors play a large role. "There is no one gene that has a significant effect on the development of bipolar disorder," says Prof. Dr. Markus M. Nöthen, Director of the Institute of Human Genetics of the University of Bonn Hospital. "Many different genes are evidently involved and these genes work together with environmental factors in a complex way."
Using automated analysis methods, the researchers recorded about 2.3 million different regions in the genetic material of patients and comparators, respectively. The subsequent evaluation using biostatistical methods revealed a total of five risk regions on the DNA associated with bipolar disorder. Two of these regions were newly discovered: The gene "ADCY2" on chromosome five and the so-called "MIR2113-POU3F2" region on chromosome six. The risk regions "ANK3," "ODZ4" and "TRANK1" have already been described in prior studies. "These gene regions were, however, statistically better confirmed in our current investigation -- the connection with bipolar disorder has now become even clearer," says Prof. Nöthen.
The researchers are particularly interested in the newly discovered gene region "ADCY2." It codes an enzyme which is involved in the conduction of signals into nerve cells. "This fits very well with observations that the signal transfer in certain regions of the brain is impaired in patients with bipolar disorder," explains the human geneticist of the University of Bonn Hospital. The actual biological mechanism behind bipolar disorder is still not completely understood, although it's likely related to impaired transmission of signals between neurons, as well as imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain. With their search for genetic regions, the scientists are gradually clarifying the causes of manic-depressive disorder. "Only when we know the biological foundations of this disease can be also identify starting points for new therapies," says Prof. Nöthen. Source
This gives me hope that treatment for more than the symptoms of bipolar is on its way. Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Mindgames on ABC
Hello everyone! I apologize for my absence. I've had to step up and take care of my mother after her mascetomy. I've been doing all my folks laundry, cooking the meals, cleaning their house, getting their groceries, as well as taking care of my mother's drains and bandaging. It has been taking a toll on me. Honestly I don't know how much longer I can keep it up. I've already broken down twice to my counselor. But I'm an only child so I have to step up and help. No way around it.
Today I wanted to review a new show on ABC which features a main character with bipolar, Dr. Clark Edwards. The synopsis reads as follows:
"With a little bit of science, a dash of con-artistry, plus a smattering of Jedi mind tricks, brothers Clark (Steve Zahn) and Ross Edwards (Christian Slater) and can tailor a plan to influence any life-altering situation, thereby making their clients' dreams come true and their nightmares go away. They are partners in Edwards and Associates, an unusual business based on the belief that people's decisions are influenced by their environment in ways they're not aware.
A former university professor and world-renowned expert in the fields of human behavior, psychology and motivation, the frantic Clark has a checkered history, which stems from his bipolar disorder. Clark's academic career imploded when the university became aware he was having an affair with a 22-year-old undergraduate. He's still unable to reconcile losing the girl, and tries to focus his manic energy on Ross' new fortune-making plan.
Ross, a brilliant schemer recently out of prison after a two-year stint for fraud, has come up with a business model that he believes can make him and his team millions of dollars. The divorced, incurable ladies' man roiling with ideas, often confuses honesty with opportunism. Although his energy is infectious, his tactics can be questionable and his strategies border on the illegal. Now, if he can just keep his manic brother from going off the rails..."
I've watched both episodes and so far so good. I can definitely identify with Dr. Clark Edwards. It's nice to exhibit the brilliance and genius that comes along with bipolar disorder. In moments of mania he spins off the rails and I have definitely done that. Sometimes I too find it hard to control my reactions to situations. Often I find myself screaming in my head because I can't display what I'm feeling without looking totally nuts. For instance, I visit my grandmother regularly for hour visits and when I was there recently we had been there for close to two hours and I could barely stand it. I wanted/needed to get out of there. My anxiety builds and I can barely hold still. I began tapping my leg furiously and finally my father caught the hint and excused us to leave. It's hard to describe. I felt trapped and needed to leave immediately, but I couldn't shout in front of grandma, "I gotta get out of here!"
I'm curious whether or not Clark will ever get on a med regime though. His brother eluded to him trying to get back on meds and Clark blew him off saying taking the meds is like normally walking around with headphones with a soundtrack to life and having the headphones stripped away. I wish I could blow off taking my meds, but I have no idea how I would be off them. I've been on meds since 2010.
I would definitely suggest giving the show a watch. Tuesdays at 10pm on ABC. You can find the pilot and second episodes on the shows website: MindGames . If you have the time I'd suggest tuning into ABC at 9 for The Goldbergs too. It's a great show about growing up in the 80s. Hilarious comedy. Here's a link to the show's site: The Goldbergs .
Have a great day!
Today I wanted to review a new show on ABC which features a main character with bipolar, Dr. Clark Edwards. The synopsis reads as follows:
"With a little bit of science, a dash of con-artistry, plus a smattering of Jedi mind tricks, brothers Clark (Steve Zahn) and Ross Edwards (Christian Slater) and can tailor a plan to influence any life-altering situation, thereby making their clients' dreams come true and their nightmares go away. They are partners in Edwards and Associates, an unusual business based on the belief that people's decisions are influenced by their environment in ways they're not aware.
A former university professor and world-renowned expert in the fields of human behavior, psychology and motivation, the frantic Clark has a checkered history, which stems from his bipolar disorder. Clark's academic career imploded when the university became aware he was having an affair with a 22-year-old undergraduate. He's still unable to reconcile losing the girl, and tries to focus his manic energy on Ross' new fortune-making plan.
Ross, a brilliant schemer recently out of prison after a two-year stint for fraud, has come up with a business model that he believes can make him and his team millions of dollars. The divorced, incurable ladies' man roiling with ideas, often confuses honesty with opportunism. Although his energy is infectious, his tactics can be questionable and his strategies border on the illegal. Now, if he can just keep his manic brother from going off the rails..."
I've watched both episodes and so far so good. I can definitely identify with Dr. Clark Edwards. It's nice to exhibit the brilliance and genius that comes along with bipolar disorder. In moments of mania he spins off the rails and I have definitely done that. Sometimes I too find it hard to control my reactions to situations. Often I find myself screaming in my head because I can't display what I'm feeling without looking totally nuts. For instance, I visit my grandmother regularly for hour visits and when I was there recently we had been there for close to two hours and I could barely stand it. I wanted/needed to get out of there. My anxiety builds and I can barely hold still. I began tapping my leg furiously and finally my father caught the hint and excused us to leave. It's hard to describe. I felt trapped and needed to leave immediately, but I couldn't shout in front of grandma, "I gotta get out of here!"
I'm curious whether or not Clark will ever get on a med regime though. His brother eluded to him trying to get back on meds and Clark blew him off saying taking the meds is like normally walking around with headphones with a soundtrack to life and having the headphones stripped away. I wish I could blow off taking my meds, but I have no idea how I would be off them. I've been on meds since 2010.
I would definitely suggest giving the show a watch. Tuesdays at 10pm on ABC. You can find the pilot and second episodes on the shows website: MindGames . If you have the time I'd suggest tuning into ABC at 9 for The Goldbergs too. It's a great show about growing up in the 80s. Hilarious comedy. Here's a link to the show's site: The Goldbergs .
Have a great day!
Friday, January 31, 2014
Apology
Hello everyone, I apologize that I haven't posted in a while. I'm dealing with some family health issues. As soon as everyone is healed I'll resume my bipolar posts. Prayers for my family are greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful weekend! More snow predicted here. :)
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Emotional Deprevation Disorder
Hello everyone! I find I have the time again today to write another blog, so here it goes. My therapist recently gave me a handout about emotional deprevation disorder. He told me to take it and read it and we'd discuss it the next time I visit. After reading the handout I became aware that I most definitely have this disorder.
Emotional Deprevation Disorder is a syndrome which results from a lack of authentic affirmation and emotional strengthening in one's life. A person may have been criticized, ignored, neglected, abused, or emotionally rejected by primary caregivers early in life, resulting in that individual’s stunted emotional growth. Unaffirmed persons are incapable of developing into emotionally mature adults until they receive authentic affirmation from another person. Maturity is reached when there is a harmonious relationship between a person’s body, mind, emotions and spiritual soul under the guidance of their reason and will. Source
I was not abused, neglected, or ignored as a child. I was harshly critized though. I've been tough on myself since I was a child and it has never gone away. I do know that my relationship with my mother was odd. She was tough on me and at times acted more like a sister than a mother. A sister I don't get along with, lol. When we would fight when I was younger we would race to the door when dad got home to tell him our side of the fight. We still do this, only by phone now.
The symptoms of Emotional Deprevation Disorder are as follows (I've highlighted my particular symptoms):
Insufficiently Developed Emotional Life
Abnormal Rapport
o Incapable of establishing normal, mature contact with others
o Feels lonely and uncomfortable in social settings
o Capable of a willed rapport but not an emotional investment in relationships
Egocentric
o Childhood level of emotional development
o Feels like a child or and infant and others must focus their attention on the individual just as an adult would focus on a young child.
o Incapable of emotional surrender to a spouse
Reactions Around Others
o May be fearful in nature or courageous and energetic
o More fearful people tend to become discouraged or depressed
o More courageous and energetic persons can become more aggressive
Uncertainty & Insecurity
Fear or anxiety
o Can be in the form of a generalized anxiety
o Fear of hurting someone else’s feelings
o Fear of hurting others or contaminating them (e.g. with germs or a cold)
o Need for frequent reassurance
Feels incapable of coping with life
o Worry that they’ll be put in a situation they can’t handle
o Can be easily discouraged or depressed
o May pretend to be in control in order to mask inner feelings and fearfulness
Hesitation and Indecisiveness
o Difficulty in making decisions
o Easily changes mind
Oversensitivity
o Overly sensitive to the judgments of others, criticism or slights
o Easily hurt or embarrassed
Need to Please Others
o Pleases others in order to protect self from criticism or rejection and gain approval of others
o Easily taken advantage of or exploited
o Fear of asking for favors or services needed
Self-consciousness
o Worried about what other people think
o Self-doubt and need for reassurance
Helplessness
o Do not dare to say “no” for fear of rejection
Inferiority and Inadequacy
Feel Unloved
o Believe that no one could possibly love them
o Feel devoid of all feelings of love
o Believe they are incapable of loving others or God
o Suspicious of any token of affection – continually doubt sincerity of others
Physical Appearance
o May have feelings of inadequacy due to physical appearance
Feelings of Intellectual Incompetence
o May have difficult completing projects
o Repeated failure or fear of failure
Show Signs of Disintegration in New Circumstances
o Fear of new situations and challenges
o Difficulty coping with new job, landlord, moving, etc.
Sense Impairments
o Undeveloped or underdeveloped senses (touch, taste, sight, smell)
o Lack of order, disorganization
o Fatigue
Further symptoms found in some individuals with emotional deprivation disorder:
o Deep feelings of guilt
o Kleptomania
o Need to collect and hoard useless things
o Paranoid condition
Source
Apparently the "cure" I've found online is Affirmation Therapy.
Affirmation therapy involves the therapist’s affective, not effective, presence with a client—in other words, it is a way of “being” with a person as opposed to “doing” something for him or her. Affirmation therapy can be formally described as a way of being affectively present to another human person in a therapeutic relationship in which the therapist reveals to the client his or her intrinsic goodness and worth. Affirmation is a profound way of being with someone that should not be mistaken for a set of simplistic techniques such as giving a pat on the back or a superficial or shallow compliment. Any actions or interventions on the part of the therapist are secondary to the therapist’s affective presence and are only healing in the context of the loving and nurturing environment created by the therapist.
All human beings have an intrinsic need for human love. With the exception of Divine intervention, it is essential to receive human love in order for an individual to feel good, worthwhile, and lovable—and have the capacity to love others. In essence, we must first be loved in order to love.
In affirmation therapy, the therapist’s role can be likened to that of a parent—nurturing, loving, understanding, giving example, teaching moral truths according to the capacity and belief system of the client, and seeing to the individual’s intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs.
The therapeutic relationship involves a mutual sharing of the client’s life experiences, emotions, fears and anxieties, as well as an exploration of past and present as it relates to the symptomatology of the client. Most importantly, the therapist reveals the goodness of the client to the client through his or her gentle affective presence, which allows for the client's emotional, intellectual and spiritual growth and allows the client's symptoms to be outgrown and gradually disappear.
Source
I suppose when I meet with my therapist next we'll have to discuss this. I really have doubts that a therapist can fill the hole that my mother has left. I feel that these attributes of Emotional Deprevation Disorder I possess are so engrained in me that I can't be fixed. I guess time will tell.
Emotional Deprevation Disorder is a syndrome which results from a lack of authentic affirmation and emotional strengthening in one's life. A person may have been criticized, ignored, neglected, abused, or emotionally rejected by primary caregivers early in life, resulting in that individual’s stunted emotional growth. Unaffirmed persons are incapable of developing into emotionally mature adults until they receive authentic affirmation from another person. Maturity is reached when there is a harmonious relationship between a person’s body, mind, emotions and spiritual soul under the guidance of their reason and will. Source
I was not abused, neglected, or ignored as a child. I was harshly critized though. I've been tough on myself since I was a child and it has never gone away. I do know that my relationship with my mother was odd. She was tough on me and at times acted more like a sister than a mother. A sister I don't get along with, lol. When we would fight when I was younger we would race to the door when dad got home to tell him our side of the fight. We still do this, only by phone now.
The symptoms of Emotional Deprevation Disorder are as follows (I've highlighted my particular symptoms):
Insufficiently Developed Emotional Life
Abnormal Rapport
o Incapable of establishing normal, mature contact with others
o Feels lonely and uncomfortable in social settings
o Capable of a willed rapport but not an emotional investment in relationships
Egocentric
o Childhood level of emotional development
o Feels like a child or and infant and others must focus their attention on the individual just as an adult would focus on a young child.
o Incapable of emotional surrender to a spouse
Reactions Around Others
o May be fearful in nature or courageous and energetic
o More fearful people tend to become discouraged or depressed
o More courageous and energetic persons can become more aggressive
Uncertainty & Insecurity
Fear or anxiety
o Can be in the form of a generalized anxiety
o Fear of hurting someone else’s feelings
o Fear of hurting others or contaminating them (e.g. with germs or a cold)
o Need for frequent reassurance
Feels incapable of coping with life
o Worry that they’ll be put in a situation they can’t handle
o Can be easily discouraged or depressed
o May pretend to be in control in order to mask inner feelings and fearfulness
Hesitation and Indecisiveness
o Difficulty in making decisions
o Easily changes mind
Oversensitivity
o Overly sensitive to the judgments of others, criticism or slights
o Easily hurt or embarrassed
Need to Please Others
o Pleases others in order to protect self from criticism or rejection and gain approval of others
o Easily taken advantage of or exploited
o Fear of asking for favors or services needed
Self-consciousness
o Worried about what other people think
o Self-doubt and need for reassurance
Helplessness
o Do not dare to say “no” for fear of rejection
Inferiority and Inadequacy
Feel Unloved
o Believe that no one could possibly love them
o Feel devoid of all feelings of love
o Believe they are incapable of loving others or God
o Suspicious of any token of affection – continually doubt sincerity of others
Physical Appearance
o May have feelings of inadequacy due to physical appearance
Feelings of Intellectual Incompetence
o May have difficult completing projects
o Repeated failure or fear of failure
Show Signs of Disintegration in New Circumstances
o Fear of new situations and challenges
o Difficulty coping with new job, landlord, moving, etc.
Sense Impairments
o Undeveloped or underdeveloped senses (touch, taste, sight, smell)
o Lack of order, disorganization
o Fatigue
Further symptoms found in some individuals with emotional deprivation disorder:
o Deep feelings of guilt
o Kleptomania
o Need to collect and hoard useless things
o Paranoid condition
Source
Apparently the "cure" I've found online is Affirmation Therapy.
Affirmation therapy involves the therapist’s affective, not effective, presence with a client—in other words, it is a way of “being” with a person as opposed to “doing” something for him or her. Affirmation therapy can be formally described as a way of being affectively present to another human person in a therapeutic relationship in which the therapist reveals to the client his or her intrinsic goodness and worth. Affirmation is a profound way of being with someone that should not be mistaken for a set of simplistic techniques such as giving a pat on the back or a superficial or shallow compliment. Any actions or interventions on the part of the therapist are secondary to the therapist’s affective presence and are only healing in the context of the loving and nurturing environment created by the therapist.
All human beings have an intrinsic need for human love. With the exception of Divine intervention, it is essential to receive human love in order for an individual to feel good, worthwhile, and lovable—and have the capacity to love others. In essence, we must first be loved in order to love.
In affirmation therapy, the therapist’s role can be likened to that of a parent—nurturing, loving, understanding, giving example, teaching moral truths according to the capacity and belief system of the client, and seeing to the individual’s intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs.
The therapeutic relationship involves a mutual sharing of the client’s life experiences, emotions, fears and anxieties, as well as an exploration of past and present as it relates to the symptomatology of the client. Most importantly, the therapist reveals the goodness of the client to the client through his or her gentle affective presence, which allows for the client's emotional, intellectual and spiritual growth and allows the client's symptoms to be outgrown and gradually disappear.
Source
I suppose when I meet with my therapist next we'll have to discuss this. I really have doubts that a therapist can fill the hole that my mother has left. I feel that these attributes of Emotional Deprevation Disorder I possess are so engrained in me that I can't be fixed. I guess time will tell.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
The Ripple Effect Teachings: Positive and Negative Energies
Hello once again everyone. I've decided to try to be productive in my depressed state so I composed another blog here following Betty J. Eadie's text The Ripple Effect, Our Harvest. Betty has had one of the most complete near-death experiences ever recorded. Yesterday I covered her insights from beyond the grave pertaining to the search for meaning in this life. Today I'd like to cover positive and negative energies. The following contain excerpts from The Ripple Effect, I hope you enjoy.
To understand the power of the "unseen world" we should understand what it is comprised of. Everything in the universe is made of energy, including our bodies and spirits. All that exists materially and spiritually, contains energies which vibrate at different speeds. Each organism and each particle of matter has a unique level of energy.
In addition, associated with the vibration of energy is the possession of sound. Energy of living and non-living entities create unique tones. Light is also associated with energy - particularly life-force energy. An aura of light projects from all living things, sometimes static, but often moving and shifting like the aurora borealis in our polar skies.
The light's intensity increases as the energy producing grows. Life force energy can also expand by merging with other energies, often referred to as synergy.
Spiritual beings can inhabit the space around us and share their energy with us. These beings come from God or Satan, simply depending on which energy we open ourselves up to. Because like attracts like, a spirit's influence always produces after its kind. Whenever we are near someone, we are either affecting them or being affected by them, usually both.
All energy exists in two forms, positive and negative. As mortal beings we have the power and agency to choose which of these to draw from and to create in. We are what we think. We are what we say, what we do, what we fill our lives with.
Betty saw that people who unthinkingly repeat negative phrases are changed and twisted by the power of their own words. They create a disposition of negativity which may grow into true meanness of spirit. Connecting to either form of energy can become habit-forming. People who have suffered major trauma can compound and lengthen their suffering through chronic negativity.
Those (like myself) who suffer from depression intensify and extend anguish through choices that let them taste their pain gain and again. This can cause unrelated negative experiences.
Breaking the cycle of negativity begins with awareness. We need to consciously understand where our energy comes from and whether its is positive or negative. When we feel fearful or discouraged, we need to honestly look at what is happening. Are we adding negativity to an already negative situation, or are we experiencing an opportunity for spiritual growth? The original negativity is natural, but we may make it unnatural by choosing to sustain it. By recognizing this mistake, we may break the cycle much more easily.
Besides awareness, gratitude also helps ward of negativity. Being grateful for the good things in life invites their continued influence. Remaining positive in difficult times requires a maturity that comes from experience. Being positive doesn't mean forcing ourselves to overlook negative ordeals. Failing at something over and over happens even to positive people. It can break our hearts and bring temporary despair, but it can also increase our endurance and strengthen our character. Looking for the positive effects of negative experiences helps us develop higher wisdom. Being positive means opening ourselves up to insights, solutions, and even miracles.
A simple way of doing this is visualization. Ask God to surround yourself with positive energy and then consciously absorb it. Betty envisions a shaft of pure white light coming from God filling her up like a cup.
Positive energies bring us to love, while negative energies bring us to fear, one of Satan's greatest tools. Many of ourselves, including myself, are held back by fear of failure, of the unknown, or of change. I personally am terrified of these things and I'm consciously working to resolve this. It is a daily struggle.
We have to remember that nothing is in vain if we can learn from it. Constant worrying is the fear of life. Having faith in God and his plan for us implies that we don't weaken ourselves or others through chronic anxiety. We must trust that he is aware of our situations, trust that if we have made mistakes, he is able to bless us to do better now and in the future. The anxiety produced by doubting his will or his judgement can literally drive us crazy. We need to learn to walk in faith to smother these fears.
Depression is a natural home for negative energy and can be as crippling as any physical illness. Those of us suffering from depression cannot escape without great effort. We have often lost the energy required to give that effort. The cycle of depression is seductive, so we must be watchful and we must evaluate the little things in life that either sustain or defeat depression. The music we listen to, the shows we watch, the words we use, and the thoughts we let enter our minds must be carefully selected in order to diminish the negative and expand the positive.
True and lasting happiness does not come from circumstance, but from within. Problems may surround us, but we have the power to transform them into teachers. It is never the situation but how we choose to react to it that really matters.
I hope Betty's insights are helpful. I know they have been for me. I'm no where near perfect, or even that positve. But, I'm working on it. I was raised in a downtrotten woe-is-me negative energy household. It's tough to break these negative patterns that have been engrained in me from a young age. One day at a time. :)
To understand the power of the "unseen world" we should understand what it is comprised of. Everything in the universe is made of energy, including our bodies and spirits. All that exists materially and spiritually, contains energies which vibrate at different speeds. Each organism and each particle of matter has a unique level of energy.
In addition, associated with the vibration of energy is the possession of sound. Energy of living and non-living entities create unique tones. Light is also associated with energy - particularly life-force energy. An aura of light projects from all living things, sometimes static, but often moving and shifting like the aurora borealis in our polar skies.
The light's intensity increases as the energy producing grows. Life force energy can also expand by merging with other energies, often referred to as synergy.
Spiritual beings can inhabit the space around us and share their energy with us. These beings come from God or Satan, simply depending on which energy we open ourselves up to. Because like attracts like, a spirit's influence always produces after its kind. Whenever we are near someone, we are either affecting them or being affected by them, usually both.
All energy exists in two forms, positive and negative. As mortal beings we have the power and agency to choose which of these to draw from and to create in. We are what we think. We are what we say, what we do, what we fill our lives with.
Betty saw that people who unthinkingly repeat negative phrases are changed and twisted by the power of their own words. They create a disposition of negativity which may grow into true meanness of spirit. Connecting to either form of energy can become habit-forming. People who have suffered major trauma can compound and lengthen their suffering through chronic negativity.
Those (like myself) who suffer from depression intensify and extend anguish through choices that let them taste their pain gain and again. This can cause unrelated negative experiences.
Breaking the cycle of negativity begins with awareness. We need to consciously understand where our energy comes from and whether its is positive or negative. When we feel fearful or discouraged, we need to honestly look at what is happening. Are we adding negativity to an already negative situation, or are we experiencing an opportunity for spiritual growth? The original negativity is natural, but we may make it unnatural by choosing to sustain it. By recognizing this mistake, we may break the cycle much more easily.
Besides awareness, gratitude also helps ward of negativity. Being grateful for the good things in life invites their continued influence. Remaining positive in difficult times requires a maturity that comes from experience. Being positive doesn't mean forcing ourselves to overlook negative ordeals. Failing at something over and over happens even to positive people. It can break our hearts and bring temporary despair, but it can also increase our endurance and strengthen our character. Looking for the positive effects of negative experiences helps us develop higher wisdom. Being positive means opening ourselves up to insights, solutions, and even miracles.
A simple way of doing this is visualization. Ask God to surround yourself with positive energy and then consciously absorb it. Betty envisions a shaft of pure white light coming from God filling her up like a cup.
Positive energies bring us to love, while negative energies bring us to fear, one of Satan's greatest tools. Many of ourselves, including myself, are held back by fear of failure, of the unknown, or of change. I personally am terrified of these things and I'm consciously working to resolve this. It is a daily struggle.
We have to remember that nothing is in vain if we can learn from it. Constant worrying is the fear of life. Having faith in God and his plan for us implies that we don't weaken ourselves or others through chronic anxiety. We must trust that he is aware of our situations, trust that if we have made mistakes, he is able to bless us to do better now and in the future. The anxiety produced by doubting his will or his judgement can literally drive us crazy. We need to learn to walk in faith to smother these fears.
Depression is a natural home for negative energy and can be as crippling as any physical illness. Those of us suffering from depression cannot escape without great effort. We have often lost the energy required to give that effort. The cycle of depression is seductive, so we must be watchful and we must evaluate the little things in life that either sustain or defeat depression. The music we listen to, the shows we watch, the words we use, and the thoughts we let enter our minds must be carefully selected in order to diminish the negative and expand the positive.
True and lasting happiness does not come from circumstance, but from within. Problems may surround us, but we have the power to transform them into teachers. It is never the situation but how we choose to react to it that really matters.
I hope Betty's insights are helpful. I know they have been for me. I'm no where near perfect, or even that positve. But, I'm working on it. I was raised in a downtrotten woe-is-me negative energy household. It's tough to break these negative patterns that have been engrained in me from a young age. One day at a time. :)
Monday, January 13, 2014
The Ripple Effect Teachings: Searching For Meaning
Hello Everyone. Sorry I haven't posted in recent days. I've been dealing with some personal issues and my depression is getting the best of me. I want to write to you today with some inspirational quotes from one of my favorite books. The Ripple Effect Our Harvest by Betty J. Eadie. I have referenced her work, Embraced by the Light, in previous posts. Her near death experience is one of the most complete ever recorded. In The Ripple Effect she dives into things she learned while in Heaven. Today I'm going to focus on her chapter addressing our missions here on Earth. I've found it comforting in some of my darkest moments. Hopefully it will touch you too.
Betty begins by explaining that a great Awakening has begun. People around the world are opening their minds to their spiritual nature. They are beginning to see who they truly are and have always been - beings with an eternal past and a glorious future. God may or may not let our missions be known to us, but they are missions to be completed regardless.
Leaving the peace and security of Heaven to come to Earth was a willing sacrifice on our parts. We agreed to come here for the same reason we spend thousands of dollars on college in an effort to graduate. As long as we have life here we're learning, our spirits are growing, and we are coming closer to the divine, even by the things we suffer. We may not always know what to do, but we are growing. We are here only for divine purposes, the greatest of which is to love. Even when we are confused or imprisoned by choices we have made, we can always learn to love.
Each of us has come to earth on a personal mission to be loved or give love. We are to learn the value and price of love. Other parts of our mission include learning patience, humility, self-discipline, and other virtues. These attributes are part of love. Every encounter we have, even if brief and seemingly unimportant, may have more significance than we know. A brief encounter may begin a greater ripple that reaches its intended purpose years later. Everyone who comes into our lives may be part of our mission, and we, a part of theirs. Understanding this can give meaning to the common events of life. By being positive and helpful towards others, even in casual moments, we can make the most of our time on earth.
One way to discern if we are on the correct path is that it brings us great joy and fulfillment. Because our spirits remember the plan we chose for this life, we are often drawn to people or situations that impact us in important ways. This is often the force behind "chance" encounters. Betty was told there are NO coincidences. However, making the most of these opportunities is up to us as we exercise our free will.
There is nothing wrong with not knowing your mission. Instead of wasting time trying to figure out our mission we should live into our purposes by following our hearts. Betty was told to follow God's promptings, to be flexible and moldable. Our part is to seek to improve ourselves and, above all, to love others more fully. By praying for guidance and letting love rule our hearts and minds each day, we will eventually accomplish our many purposes.
God desires that we accomplish our missions and return to him spiritually stronger than when we left. But free will causes many people to spend their lives missing the very opportunities they chose in the pre-mortal life. Some are distracted by materialism and worldly appetites. Some let themselves be ruled by fear or negativity - two of Satan's greatest tools.
Even failing is part of our mission. It brings valuable experience and knowledge that facilitates our growth. We need to be careful in judging whether or not someone has fulfilled his mission. A person who appears to be failing may be in fact learning more quickly than a successful person. No one knows what God wills for his children. No one can judge character or intent but him.
On the other side Betty was told that each person's life is like a river. The destination is set, but the method of our journeying is up to us. We can cruise down the middle of the river at top speed, or we can hug the shore and spin in eddies. We can crash over rapids, slum along the bottom in the mire and slime, or we can glide along the sparkling surface where the air is clean. The river is ours from birth to death. How we navigate it is determined by the hundreds of small choices we make each day.
To discover our mission in life we must see challenges as opportunities to grow and face them head on. Each challenge measures our strengths and progress. Suffering focuses our attention on what matters most, and with God's help, we can strengthen our spirits by learning patience, tolerance, and love.
Each soul will attain a different level of accomplishment here. But whatever size ripples we make, we must learn to be grateful for the trials and gifts our Father gives us in our journey. There is magic in gratitude. It frees us from worry and competition in life. It opens our hearts and hands to genuine love, ironically allowing our hearts and hands to be filled again.
Our Father knew that, in trying to find our missions, we would make mistakes. He knew we would hurt each other and follow false ideas instead of truths. So he prepared a way for us to return - each having learned from our experiences and grown from the things we suffered.
I hope this helps you understand why we struggle with bipolar on a daily basis. Only trough strife can we grow and better ourselves to more fully allow love in. It's a learning experience we need to be grateful for. We need to always look for the silver lining. Have a great Monday and please feel free to comment, share, and follow!
Betty begins by explaining that a great Awakening has begun. People around the world are opening their minds to their spiritual nature. They are beginning to see who they truly are and have always been - beings with an eternal past and a glorious future. God may or may not let our missions be known to us, but they are missions to be completed regardless.
Leaving the peace and security of Heaven to come to Earth was a willing sacrifice on our parts. We agreed to come here for the same reason we spend thousands of dollars on college in an effort to graduate. As long as we have life here we're learning, our spirits are growing, and we are coming closer to the divine, even by the things we suffer. We may not always know what to do, but we are growing. We are here only for divine purposes, the greatest of which is to love. Even when we are confused or imprisoned by choices we have made, we can always learn to love.
Each of us has come to earth on a personal mission to be loved or give love. We are to learn the value and price of love. Other parts of our mission include learning patience, humility, self-discipline, and other virtues. These attributes are part of love. Every encounter we have, even if brief and seemingly unimportant, may have more significance than we know. A brief encounter may begin a greater ripple that reaches its intended purpose years later. Everyone who comes into our lives may be part of our mission, and we, a part of theirs. Understanding this can give meaning to the common events of life. By being positive and helpful towards others, even in casual moments, we can make the most of our time on earth.
One way to discern if we are on the correct path is that it brings us great joy and fulfillment. Because our spirits remember the plan we chose for this life, we are often drawn to people or situations that impact us in important ways. This is often the force behind "chance" encounters. Betty was told there are NO coincidences. However, making the most of these opportunities is up to us as we exercise our free will.
There is nothing wrong with not knowing your mission. Instead of wasting time trying to figure out our mission we should live into our purposes by following our hearts. Betty was told to follow God's promptings, to be flexible and moldable. Our part is to seek to improve ourselves and, above all, to love others more fully. By praying for guidance and letting love rule our hearts and minds each day, we will eventually accomplish our many purposes.
God desires that we accomplish our missions and return to him spiritually stronger than when we left. But free will causes many people to spend their lives missing the very opportunities they chose in the pre-mortal life. Some are distracted by materialism and worldly appetites. Some let themselves be ruled by fear or negativity - two of Satan's greatest tools.
Even failing is part of our mission. It brings valuable experience and knowledge that facilitates our growth. We need to be careful in judging whether or not someone has fulfilled his mission. A person who appears to be failing may be in fact learning more quickly than a successful person. No one knows what God wills for his children. No one can judge character or intent but him.
On the other side Betty was told that each person's life is like a river. The destination is set, but the method of our journeying is up to us. We can cruise down the middle of the river at top speed, or we can hug the shore and spin in eddies. We can crash over rapids, slum along the bottom in the mire and slime, or we can glide along the sparkling surface where the air is clean. The river is ours from birth to death. How we navigate it is determined by the hundreds of small choices we make each day.
To discover our mission in life we must see challenges as opportunities to grow and face them head on. Each challenge measures our strengths and progress. Suffering focuses our attention on what matters most, and with God's help, we can strengthen our spirits by learning patience, tolerance, and love.
Each soul will attain a different level of accomplishment here. But whatever size ripples we make, we must learn to be grateful for the trials and gifts our Father gives us in our journey. There is magic in gratitude. It frees us from worry and competition in life. It opens our hearts and hands to genuine love, ironically allowing our hearts and hands to be filled again.
Our Father knew that, in trying to find our missions, we would make mistakes. He knew we would hurt each other and follow false ideas instead of truths. So he prepared a way for us to return - each having learned from our experiences and grown from the things we suffered.
I hope this helps you understand why we struggle with bipolar on a daily basis. Only trough strife can we grow and better ourselves to more fully allow love in. It's a learning experience we need to be grateful for. We need to always look for the silver lining. Have a great Monday and please feel free to comment, share, and follow!
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