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I'm still wading through the archives, reading about Dysautonomia. I'm still not sure my daughter has it, so far none of the symptoms there seem to fit her. I'd like to rule out pituitary tumor or some of the other things, so I'll be taking her to a very good naturopath we have here in town, then probably an endocrine specialist. Maybe I could post what I find out?
We've been doing the whole foods diet leg of the 3 legged stool for several years now, but REALLY need to add the exercise one! The 3LS may have to remain 2 legged for us, though. I can see there are benefits from SR, but it is not an option for us to do it. At least not via the methods outlined in the SR Archives. Transcendental Meditation, self-hypnosis and altered states of consciousness are not options for us--and I'd rather not go into the reasons for that. I think maybe we could use prayer, or listening to peaceful or quiet music in a darkened room and will try that.
I know that stress affects health in a very negative way and exercise can help the body disperse some of that. I read elsewhere that some types of physical exercise result in the brain reaching an alpha state. It may be for short periods of time and not enough to do 'the optimum benefit', but it will have to do.
Thanks for your time and great archives.
In Reply to: SR is Not an Option posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 00:04:02:
What you suggest seems to me a very good alternative to SR and may even be a form of SR. I don't know enough to know if those methods will get you into an alpha state, but conceivably they could.
Just my two cents.
Naya
In Reply to: SR is Not an Option posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 00:04:02:
Hi Becky,
"I think maybe we could use prayer, or listening to peaceful or quiet music in a darkened room and will try that."
These things that you mention are very effective forms of SR. Even just sitting quietly in a chair is SR (that's what I do). There are different methods of doing SR, because people are different. You just choose the way that is comfortable for you.
The idea is to relax in any way you can for 20 minutes, twice a day and reach a fully relaxed state for a few minutes during that time.
Best wishes,
Jan
In Reply to: SR is Not an Option posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 00:04:02:
Hi Becky,
No matter what you choose, you could get it checked with biofeedback to see if you and her are both reaching theta.
If she can sit with headphones on (even without), you can get binaurial beat CDs that are proven to put people into various states of consciousness. There are ones especially for healing and relaxation. I use Hemi-sync, but I know there are other binaurial beat programs on the market. Here is the address to their shop http://www.hemi-sync.com/shop/customer/home.php. You can also find scientific studies on that site and much more info on the net about Robert Monroe.
Once at the website, if you go to CDs, then choose application listings, you will reach this page, in which you can choose CDs based on the health condition and age.
best, thessa
In Reply to: SR is Not an Option posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 00:04:02:
How about biofeedback training? My mom will not do meditation or anything like it for religious reasons, but she was OK with learning biofeedback.
In Reply to: SR is Not an Option posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 00:04:02:
Thanks, Ms. D, thessa, Happy Gal and Naya. I'll address all of your replies here to save time, if that's ok.
Biofeedback would be great--and I'll go for it if my insurance will cover it, not sure they will. I'll have to check. Otherwise, I can't afford it. Maybe someday someone will come up with a home unit I could purchase and use.
I have seen the relaxation CD with certain beats to help a person reach a certain mental state--er--is it theta or alpha that is the goal? For some reason, I thought it was alpha. Anyway, thanks for mentioning it. Right now I think I'll try using our 'Nature Sounds' CDs (they have soft music orchestration added in).
Both my daughter and I brace something fierce, so we need to do this. I really think it will help her be calmer in social situations (her autism kinda kicks into high gear out in public). And I want to see if it helps my fibromyalgia and RA. I'm sure it will.
At any rate, although 'altered states' of consiousness are, ah, something I'd rather not do--at least to the point of hypnosis, I would like to try relaxing, so we will try following Happy Gal's suggestion--and follow the fine excercise and nutritional advice here. It sure couldn't hurt.
Thanks. :)
In Reply to: Thanks y'all :) posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 15:49:57:
beta is your ordinary state aka intensely active brain time
alpha is light to medium trance/meditative states achieved with relaxation, meditation, specific breathing techniques and hypnotherapy
theta is deep trance/meditative states
delta is very deep (some call this comatose)
alpha and theta are what you are looking to achieve. hope that helps
In Reply to: Thanks y'all :) posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 15:49:57:
I think I know why you don't want to do the aforementioned methods as your reasons are probly the same the same as mine. As for the biofeedback I found a device on Ebay made by Radio Shack years ago for just a few dollars that gets me into such a relaxed state I feel like I am floating and I don't mean anything spiritistic, just amazingly intense relaxation. I believe I reach the alpha and/or theta states that are the goal here using it. You might want to try one. It uses two finger attachments with velcro to measure galvanic skin response to tell you when you are tensing muscles by means of a high pitched noise that you can dial down or up to suit you. Also I found and use a light and sound device that uses a sound waves (headset) with glasses that flash lights causing brainwaves to balance out and help to achieve the alpha/theta state. It comes with a booklet that lists the many installed routines for different beneficial effects, like relaxation, better concentration, etc. It was more expensive but still a lot cheaper than some other options.
There's also a downloadable program being sold on ebay regularly for training the brain to reach these states. The item number for one is Item number: 5533697383. Just do a search on ebay for that number. A device similar to the one I mentioned before is Item number: 3851337176. I'm not selling anything. I have just found benefit from mine and hope this helps you and your daughter. Also you might consider getting "The Relaxation Workbook". I don't know if anyone has mentioned it previously. It's very comprehensive.
In Reply to: SR is Not an Option posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 00:04:02:
Some light exercise practices can put you/allow you to go into alpha as well, like walking while purposely counting steps or breaths or repeating an affirmation, yoga, and t'ai chi, combined with breathing techniques. Maybe following a t'ai chi or yoga video or making up your own routine would be an option for you sometimes.
Dr. Stoll often suggests a book that I think is called "Meditating with Children". Maybe there are some techniques in there that would work for you and your daughter. Try to get a copy through your library/interlibrary loan.
A friend of mine relaxed with contemplative prayer. Another woman I know repeats a popular prayer (Serenity Prayer) while using a non-denominational string of beads similar to a rosary to help her focus and work through the prayer. There are a few websites where you can get a copy of a labyrinth (sacred walking path) to print out on paper...then trace the walking path of the labyrinth with your finger while keeping the thoughts free or focused. Search for "finger labyrinth".
Wishing you the best,
Nutmeg
In Reply to: SR is Not an Option posted by Becky [1646.236] on November 11, 2004 at 00:04:02:
Thanks, Becky.
MY prediction is that after you have spent many thousands of dollars ruling out a pituitary tumor, you will recall that dysautonomia is a "functional" problem with the pituitary and comes before any "structural" abnormality that would show in conventionally available tests so far available.
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: brain waves... posted by spike [2953.1577] on November 12, 2004 at 00:42:24:
Thanks, Spike.
It never hurts to repeat stuff like this over and over.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: SR is Not an Option posted by Walt Stoll [9.8] on November 12, 2004 at 06:56:02:
Well, we won't be spending 'many thousands of dollars' to rule out a pituitary tumor. We're fortunate to have a very good insurance that pays 100% for lab tests, MRI's, CT scan, bloodwork, ect and has a low out-of-pocket maximum that once met, pays 100% of medical costs for the remainder of the year. I know many folks don't have that option...
"dysautonomia is a "functional" problem with the pituitary and comes before any "structural" abnormality that would show in conventionally available tests so far available."
So....you're saying dysautonmia indicates a possible developing pituitary dysfunction (could be a tumor?) that won't show up for awhile? So are you saing that the 3LS, doing SR will prevent a tumor from growing/enlarging if there is one? Not quite sure what exactly you meant by that.
We do have brain tumors in her family history--her uncle had one was on the optic nerve, so we're really wanting to be cautious here.
Thanks.
In Reply to: brain waves... posted by spike [2953.1577] on November 12, 2004 at 00:42:24:
Thank you Spike,
I did find those definitions in the long and convoluted messages of the Archives, but some of the posts mentioned alpha as being the goal and some mentioned theta as being the goal. So I wanted to clarify. I appreciate it.
A trance state is something I'm trying to avoid. Will shoot for stress reduction and relaxation and that will have to do. :)
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