Dear Nancy,
One of my own "illnesses" is that I have never cared about money & have done my best to help others without concern for remuneration. As a consequence, I had no money to defend myself from the harassment by the licensing board. I was considered a thorn in their side partly because of my lack of concern for making money. What if that became the standard for ALL physicians? UNTHINKABLE and terribly threatening!
The classes, as described, sound like a good thing AND certainly are reasonably priced. They are even using Applied Kinesiology which indicated advanced thinking on the part of those offering it.
HOWEVER, having said that, I still believe that using the relaxation workbook I have recommended--followed by a visit to the biofeedback instructor--is the least expensive AND most effective for the largest % trying it for achieving whatever their best approach is (see the note on the homepage of this 'site about Skilled Relaxation). For those who need to have someone assisting, this class would be a worthwhile thing to try.
Walt
I've been reading this bulletin board with great interest. I am a nurse and health educator who has been teaching stress management and relaxation for the last eighteen years. I can tell you that Dr. Stoll's book is a valuable tool in your quest for a better life. His recommendation of Kenneth Pelletier's book, Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer and, especially the The Realaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, is a good one. I would additionally recommend Joan Borysenko's book, Minding the Body, Mending the Mind.
I can tell you, both from personal and professional experience, that one type of relaxation will not work for everyone. In my stress management seminars, I teach the relaxation response, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery. I urge people to continue to practice and find the one or two that work best for them. One method will not work effectively in all situations for the same person.
I also recommend bodywork such as Chi-lel Quigong or TaiChi, as this is not only good for the physical body, but is a meditation as well. We need variety as well as discipline. Let's face it, we are all human, and find it easy to lapse into the mode of, I'll do it tomorrow". We need to learn to love and respect ourselves so we do not feel guilty taking the time to nurture and care for ourselves.
Walt is right! This will change you! I call it becoming a more gentle, loving and caring human being. Good luck to all of you in your quest for wellness. We are all in this together. If there is anything I can do to help, please e-mail me or post this BB. I,too, learn alot from reading the board. Linda
In Reply to: stress management posted by Linda Hynds on January 12, 1998 at 11:02:03:
Linda,
What a great post!
I'm familiar with Tai Chi, but I know nothing about Chi-lel Quigong? Can you tell us more?
Thanks.
Jim
In Reply to: Re: stress management posted by Jim Landt on January 13, 1998 at 09:56:23:
Chi-lel is thousands of years old. It is practiced at the Huaxia Zhineng Qigong Clinic and Training Center, better known as the Center. It is a medicineless hospital, the largest of it's kind in China. More information may be obtained from Benefactor Press, 9676 Cinti-Columbus Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45241. The best way to learn about it would be to attend a workshop in your area. Sorry, I don't have a phone number for Benefactor Press. They could probably get you a list of workshops. I do not believe, as some do, that this is the be all and end all of healing and health, but it is another tool for our use. And, I can tell you from personal experience, that regular practice does reap great rewards and leads you further in your quest for that relaxed, general state of well-being and connectedness.
To give a description, Chi-lel is much gentler than TaiChi, but it is very effective. The key, just like your relaxation techniques, is to do it every day! Hope this helps.
Linda
In Reply to: stress management posted by Linda Hynds on January 12, 1998 at 11:02:03:
Dear Linda,
Thank you so much for your wonderful comments. I couldn't agree more with everything you said. I hope many people in need of stress management (Who among us does not?) will be able to learn from you here on the BB AND get to attend your workshops & seminars.
I agree with your assessment of Joan Borysenko. She is another who knows of what she speaks. We referenced her in the article I just coauthored in the International Electronic Journal of Health Education. It is already being touted as the most significant paper in the 20th century & a model for the 21st.
This is a free journal & I would be happy to give the address to anyone interested in reading our article.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: stress management posted by Walt Stoll on January 15, 1998 at 14:18:52:
I would be most interested in reading this article. Would you please post the address?
Thanks
Peter
In Reply to: Re: stress management posted by Walt Stoll on January 15, 1998 at 14:18:52:
Walt,
Thank you for your comments. I,too, hope people will attend my workshops and seminars. I would like to have the address for the journal. thanks, Linda
In Reply to: Re: stress management posted by Jim Landt on January 13, 1998 at 09:56:23:
Dear Jim,
I had one person in my office certified to teach QiGong. He used to demonstrate to the staff by having us go on QiGong Weekend retreats. Linda can explain this all better than I but my experience with both was that the Tai Chi like movements were combined with diet & other things for a more complete approach, with the QiGong, than the Tai Chi alone.
Both are valid & extremely effective for those willing to learn & practice them. The Chinese have had a VERY long time to learn about this stuff. Their recorded history goes back 20 times as long as the USA has existed.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: stress management posted by Peter Wray on January 15, 1998 at 14:33:05:
Dear Peter,
Thanks for your interest! As you read the article I need you to know that my coauthor has written more than 25 textbooks on the subject of health education & is considered a nationally recognized expert. I had to struggle to get him to move in the direction of readability instead of the usual dry academic stuff. I have to grant that he is probably the least likely to write dry academic stuff which is why we work well together. Also, we both had to tone down a lot of what we know in order to not scare off the professors who will be the main people reading the article. We are basing our new book on these premises and will be more open about what we really know there.
The address for this free journal is: HTTP://131.230.221.136/IEJHE/
If you are asked for an ID and password, just use mine:
My ID is stoll & my password is walt.
I would appreciate any feedback you might have. We want to make the book as user friendly as possible & comments like I know YOU would have would help a lot toward that end.
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Re: EMERGENCY: need help for diarrhea (Dr. Walt) posted by Nancy on January 18, 1998 at 17:23:46:
Nancy,
The reason you should read Beth's book is that eliminating refined foods is tricky. A major reason for this is that food manufacturers have a very esoteric language on their "ingredient" labels. They have ways of hiding sugar that ought to be illegal, ditto for msg. The deception goes on and on for the uneducated. Whole wheat bread from the super market, for instance, is only partly whole wheat, and the law says they do not have to tell us that on the label. The book is filled with tips, a clear explanation of what a whole foods diet (and perfect) really is, and a treasure of recipes. In the back allergies are covered, with diet keys for each. I think Dr. Stoll meant to advise you (as well as others) to get guidance for this complicated (at least in the beginning) undertaking. I do not think he meant to tell you to go back to eating carbs.
For sure it is confusing at first. You cannot do it all at once. If you try, you will only add to your stress. You are definitely on the right track. What you CAN do is really get after stress reduction through meditation (or other relaxation techniques) and exercise. The exercise part is probably really hard for you in your present condition. When my knees were bothering me so much, I just took strolls outside, just trying to get in touch with myself, the self who was not sick all the time. It is beautiful and soothing out there under the sky.
Do not be too hard on yourself.
Jim
Craig,
I've been teaching about stress management and relaxation for eighteen years. If anyone has accumulated stress response, it is indeed, you guys. Get a copy of Walt's book. He makes the whole issue so easy to understand. You will be glad you did. Linda
Dr Walt
I have my 6 mo. check-up with my rheumatologist for FMS this week. He is totally closed minded to non-allopathic ideas, but I was wondering if there are any diagnostic tests, such as FSH or liver function tests that might help me and my naturopath to better know how to develop my treatmetn plan?
I don't plan to follow any of his recs, probably, because the last time I went to him, he put me on Prozac and Elavil, which put weight on me. I did feel well on the Prozac, though--much calmer. When I went off the Elavil, then I no longer slept well. I later learned that Prozac interferes with Level 4 sleep. So, I went off the Prozac too, but I still don't think I get the Level 4 sleep ( I know, do the Skilled Rel).
Do you think the Prozac would aid me in getting a grip on the Bracing while I am learning the Sk. Rel? I am constantly catching myself grinding my teeth, chewing my fingernails, and otherwise tensing my muscles over nothing! Just going to the store, doing paperwork, getting ready in the mornings. I am trying to consciously calm myself and relax, so at least I'm ver;y much more aware of it now.
Thanks. Nancy
Dear Nancy,
You seem to be overwhelmed and heading in many directions all at once. When one starts to learn about skilled relaxation, they seem very concerned about if they are "doing it right" or "doing the right thing"(performance anxiety). The object is to relax, not brace against more stress. Be conscious of relaxing your muscles and work with gravity to "sink down". I think if you can learn to just let incoming thoughts and messages flow through your mind as you practice twice a day, don't really concentrate on how you are doing, and just DO IT, you will start to notice that you are calmer and more able to cope. This is an ongoing process which gets better with use. Please, just take some deep breaths and afirm yourself that you are doing good and things are improving! Have a peaceful day. Linda
Dear Nancy,
My new edition WILL have a chapter on "bracing". I guess I just assumed that people would understand that bracing was an appropriate term for total body chronic muscle tension.
ANY stressor that can not be handled by actually running or physically fighting, stores the readiness to do so in the hypothalamus. How many stressors do you know of that can be dealt with in that way? Also, remember, the average number of stressors each of us faces every day in this culture is at least 382,000. Each one causes a little more muscle tension to be stored. This is so gradual that few of us ever feel any of it.
Hans Selye, MD's pioneering work about stress is now accepted world wide as to how this works. I did not invent any of this. I learned it from him. It is very unfortunate that his work is only now being appreciated 50 years after he published it and 10+ years after his death.
There is a "Bell Curve" for EVERY function of the bodymind. There is a story in my chapter about stress, in the book, that explains why this bothers some people more than others.
I appreciate your questions. it means that you are thinking--
the first stage of learning. Congratulations!
Biofeedback research has demonstrated that any individual can learn to control ONE nerve cell or muscle cell in isolation. However, it is not necessary to do this (even though it can be done in an average of a few hours training) to resolve anything. Even though anyone can be taught to control only the colon, it is faster (and more effective) to learn to control the whole body.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Bracing posted by Walt Stoll on January 27, 1998 at 13:06:36:
Dr. Walt
Thanks for the clarification. I'm beginning to catch on a little at a time. How does exercise fit into the picture? Does it really reduce stress, as they say? In the same way that relaxation does?
In Reply to: Re: Bracing posted by Nancy on January 28, 1998 at 19:50:40:
Dear Nancy,
Wonderful questions!
Exercise discharges some of this "bracing" by being something like fighting or flighting. The skilled relaxation discharges the bracing by getting rid of why it is happening
--more effective in the long run.
Also, it takes MUCH more energy to exercise when one is bracing since all of the muscle opposing groups are working against each other. Even if one CAN do the exercise, they are much more likely to be injured by that exercise.
Once people are really bracing a lot, I always recommend skilled relaxation, deep, whole-body, therapeutic massage, Rolfing and the like before even thinking about getting into anything more than wallking.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Bracing posted by Walt Stoll on January 29, 1998 at 13:12:23:
Well, that would explain why I so often hurt myself by exercising. Even walking really bothers the IT band on the outer thigh where I have a nasty set of trigger points right now.
In Reply to: Re: Bracing posted by Nancy on January 29, 1998 at 16:17:17:
Dear Nancy,
You are getting on the beam. This is a good example of how important it is for people to understand things in depth.
Walt