Finding books which are written for or about men has always been difficult for me. Throughout my career I had only collected two which I thought were classics and worth reading and sharing. Recently I found another.
There is an interesting concept that can greatly help you get control of your own emotions, thoughts and behavior - the awareness that your body, your thoughts and your emotions all exist as parts within the same system. If you change one, you can affect the other two. Understanding this can help clients get control of uncomfortable thoughts or feelings which may seem too nebulous to get hold of otherwise.
Computer programmers use a term I love - GIGO - Garbage In Garbage Out. If you program garbage into a computer it will spit out garbage in response. The human brain is no different - Garbage In Garbage Out. Yet so few people I work with seem to be aware of this.
Trauma is about being out of control. There was a moment in your life when you were out of control and you got hurt. Trauma is also about getting hurt. This is why it is so important to take back control of your life, your body, your mind and your emotions by developing good self care.
Many people seeking help for mental health issues look first to chemical intervention in the form of a medication. There is another chemical intervention which you can utilize yourself - your diet. Having a healthy diet is crucial when trying to fight for your mental health, especially where mood disorders are concerned. How can dietary changes affect depression, anxiety and mood swings?
A story in the Washington Post reports on a study which found a possible link between the stimulants used to treat ADHD (such as Ritalin) and sudden deaths in children.