The food we eat can have a dramatic impact on our wellbeing and mental health. If you’ve ever seen how a hungry child responds to a bag of cotton candy and a soda you probably realize that food does have an effect on our moods. The Buddha was outspoken about how food can produce a stable mind. While his philosophy included vegetarianism based on respect for the life of sentient beings, it was also founded on the idea that eating a plant based diet supported a calm and stable mind to aid meditation. In today’s blog I want to discuss the benefits of a wholefoods plant based diet.

For several years now veganism has been growing in popularity. If your go on Netflix or YouTube you can find several great documentary films put out on an annual basis titled Vegan, in addition to several documentaries on the health benefits of a plant based diet, such as Forks Over Knives. It seems that the public is catching up to the conscious awareness that a plant based diet is a truly superior form of nutrition that the Yogis of the East and the Buddhists of the Far East have known for thousands of years. And the greatest aspect of going veg is that it can be done affordably and deliciously.

In general produce and bulk dry wholefood goods are far less expensive than processed foods. There is a book that can even show how this healthy diet can be achieved on a tight budget. It’s titled, Plant-Based on a Budget: Delicious Vegan Recipes for Under $30 a Week, in Less Than 30 Minutes a Meal, by Toni Okamoto. So while you can eat healthy you can also eat delicious plant based foods on a budget.

Another great book, that goes into the science that a plant based diet supports physical wellness and lower the risk of diseases is The China Study, The Most Comprehensive Study Of Nutrition Ever Conducted, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II, MD. This study of nutrition was conducted over a 20 year period and found that animal protein was linked to cancer and higher rates of disease. While plant sources of protein were found not to cause any of these illnesses.

A plant based diet has shown lower rates of cancer, heart disease and diabetes as well as to support more normal levels of body weight. In addition to these wide ranging health benefits eating a plant based diet also lessen the amount of inflammation in the body. This is important because inflammation can cause mucus in the sinuses and cranial cavity. When these fluids build up they can make it harder to function with a clear head.

Now, in a previous blog titled Remaining Alert While on Sedating Medication, I shared how important it is not to self medicate with caffeine, however there is one caveat that I want to make that will help clear the sinuses and flush the bowels. In general I find this as a super way to stay focused, alert and mildly stimulated. And this is adding one to two cups max of Yerba Mate a day to the diet. Yerba Mate is a tea made from leaves of a South American tree in the holly family. It does have some caffeine so it should not be overdone. I would recommend the types that are dried without the use of smoke. My two favorites are Nativa and Guayaki San Mateo. If find that the combination of a small amount of raw turbinado sugar and honey bring out the most flavor of the tea. For ladies, Yerba Mater can also be helpful for cramps. Mate can as be helpful to reduce seasonal allergies.

In Conclusion, what we eat is very important and can support physical and mental wellness. A diet comprised of mostly processed foods, unhealthy fats and refined flour and sugar in addition to high amounts of animal products can lead to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. While a wholefoods plant based diet composed mostly of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and heart healthy oils such as olive oil, avocado oil and walnut oil provides a full spectrum of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to support wellbeing .

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For thousands of years Chi Kung, also known as Qi Gong has been practiced in China as a way to strengthen the body, calm the nervous system and still the mind. While for many hundreds of years these energy practices were held in strict secrecy, they have recently been popularized and made available to the public. And while Chi Kung may seem too simple to have any effect on the body and mind, as many are still poses, within the body tremendous changes are taking place. Today I want to discuss Chi Kung as it can be very beneficial for those suffering from mental illness.

Chi Kung is an exercise that anyone can practice regardless of age or health condition. Chi Kung literally means ‘energy exercise’. And what is so incredible about Chi Kung for people with mental illness is its effect on the central nervous system. Chi Kung can act to pacify and soothe the central nervous system. It does this when one simultaneously exerts energy and strength to hold the body in position while at the same time uses the mind to relax the body to hold that position. This has a uniquely beautiful and pleasurable effect that only experience can describe.

Mental illness is closely related to how the nervous system functions. This is true because trauma responses are imprinted on our nervous system. When we are going through episodes of depression, hypomania, mania or psychosis the nervous system is over active and this makes it impossible to remain centered. Chi Kung has the beautiful effect of integrally relaxing the body, nervous system, mind, and spirit.

There is a form of Chi Kung that most begin their practice with called the 8 Pieces of Brocade. The 8 Pieces of Brocade is a series of 8 simple exercises that are performed 8 to 16 times each accompanied with a specific breathing pattern. The word Brocade is used to describe what one will feel after getting accustomed to the practice. Brocade means ‘silken’, and when one builds up enough momentum from practicing this form of Chi Kung one’s energy will feel just that, silky, like a smooth cloth. Words can only partially describe how beautiful and pleasurable this way of existing feels. In a sense it is a greater experience of Reality.

For best results with the 8 Pieces of Brocade one should practice them every day, first thing in the morning and do so outside. Going through all 8 exercises is the perfect warm up to stand in one or more of the standard Chi Kung positions. There are many books on Chi Kung and the 8 Pieces of Brocade, however my suggestion would be to follow from Master Lam Kam Chuen as taught in his excellent book The Way Of Energy, Mastering the Chinese Art of Internal Strength with Chi Kung Exercise. This priceless book will take one through all the standing forms and the 8 Pieces of Brocade in a safe way. While learning these 8 exercises it may be helpful to refer back and forth to the book with each proceeding exercise until they are completely memorized.

In Conclusion, Chi Kung is an excellent and safe form or exercise that anyone can practice to feel calm, gain more peace, and stay centered. It does require some effort and consistency to experience the benefits of Chi Kung, but it is definitely worth it. Once one becomes accustomed to the practice and starts getting results they will feel propelled to continue. Chi Kung has the potential to restore the nervous system, thereby soothing some of the trauma responses associated with mental illness.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you find this information beneficial please subscribe and follow along towards better mental health and a greater quality of life. Thank you, John

If you’ve ever been admitted to a mental hospital it’s likely that, even if you don’t normally smoke cigarettes, you relished smoke breaks. Going into the hospital can be very scary and traumatizing. You’re around total strangers, many of whom are going through very mentally challenging times. You’re also adjusting to medications that can cause a lot of sedation. The whole process can be very stressful. Smoking at this time seems like a good way to balance out. But it’s not healthy and in a way it’s a form of self-medicating.

When we get out of the hospital many of us naturally end our stint with the “cancer stick”, but we may find other ways of staying alert, and coping with the sedating effects of medication. For many years I consumed caffeinated drinks as a way to lift my spirits, heighten my senses and stay alert. But over time I found that even though caffeine did keep me more alert, it also caused more mood shifts. I found that caffeine was so stimulating that it caused restless sleep and even hypomania. It was also a form of self-medicating to stay alert.

Anything that is not in complete alignment with total wellness will not allow us to reach mental mastery. So I searched for alternatives to stay mentally awake and stimulated enough to maintain my focus, while at the same time not harming my mental health in any way. And this is when I discovered the benefits of working with high frequency crystals. Crystal work has been a tremendous help to stay mentally cognizant while at the same time remaining free from the negative side effects of nicotine and caffeine that can hamper my perception and cause disease.

The crystal I want to share with you today is Phenacite, also known as Phenakite. Phenacite is a rare crystal with one of the highest frequencies that one can experience. It is primarily stimulating to the minds eye and the crown chakra. It is a stone of spiritual awakening that can activate the light-body. By wearing Phenacite the mind will stay stimulated and mentally alert.

Now some may think that crystal work is a scam, but I want you to consider how a watch works. Watches keep time using a quartz crystal. The crystal in a watch keeps time by piezoelectric frequency when pressure is placed on the stone. In a similar way our body’s are alive with a DC of direct current. When the frequency of our body interacts subtly with the frequency of a crystal a resonance occurs that can be felt by those who are sensitive to crystals. Phenacite is one of the easiest stones to feel because it is so powerful. If you’re considering buying a piece of phenacite I would recommend HeavenandEarthjewelry.com as a reputable source.

In Conclusion, if you’re experiencing mental sedation from the side effects of medication, there are better remedies than smoking cigarettes or drinking caffeinated beverages. These forms of self-medicating are unhealthy and can lead to more physical and mental health complications in the future. A healthy alternative to stay mentally awake and stimulated is to consider working with crystal energies. The high frequency crystal that I have discussed in this blog is “big-medicine”, capable of activating your minds eye, crown chakra and the light-body. It you decide to work with it be respectful of its capability to super charge you with Living Light.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you find it beneficial please subscribe and follow along towards better mental health and a greater quality of life…

Have you ever experienced time moving at a faster pace than you expected ? Maybe you were in a mood swing and looked at the clock and realized that 2 or 3 hours of your day just flew by. Or maybe you’ve experienced the opposite ? Like working at a boring job and time seemed to go by at a snails pace. Understanding time and becoming conscious of our relation to it psychologically can be very helpful in allowing us to slow down. And by slowing down we can get behind the movement of time and experience more joy, and more peace as we access the present moment.

The present moment to some people is in constant motion. For them it is moving into the future and leaving the past behind. They may be playing constant catchup with their day, schedule and routine. This psychological map does not allow one the context to access the present. But there is another model that we can reference to gain better insight into the present moment. And this reference is that the present moment is eternal, and still. That it contains everything we need to be happy if we stay present in the moment. And to access this present moment requires only that we stay aware.

This awareness may take some training, because we are not taught how to remain attentive at all times. We are taught to remain present for a few hours of school work, or a job shift, but after that we go from one distraction to the next. With the current mass media, TV time, computer and cell phone addiction and the fast pace of life in the modern day we live in, learning to remain attentive to the present moment will take a new conditioning. But when we increase our attention span our ability to remain present will increase and allow us to experience time in a clear, calm and peaceful way.

One of the techniques that we can use to train ourselves to remain present and increase our attention span is to shift our focus from head thinking to heart feeling. It is interesting that the heart has the capacity to feel in a much greater way than the head has the ability to think. In a sense the heart is its own feeling brain center. Once the connection to the heart is made and recognized enough times a new neural network will establish itself and make it easier to remain centered. And this centering will be pleasurable and peaceful. Your attention to the heart will over time and practice develop an energetic feeling and help to stay in the present moment.

This practice will slow time down as we recognize how we feel and as stay connected to our feelings. In addition to this practice there is a tool that can aid energetically to center. It uses scalar technology to ground the body and nervous system with the electromagnetic resonance of the earth. This tool is a Scalar Home System by EarthCalm.com. I find that this energy tool helps to slow time down and creates a vibrational resonance within the heart and spinal column, which helps to remain present and centered. It also helps detox the body and can be helpful in reducing some of the side effects of medication. I find that while using this tool my mood is more level and consistent. Check it out if you are able to. The investment in this tool is well worth its price.

In Conclusion, psychological time can be experienced in a number of ways. It can move fast, slow or remain still to the degree that we can remain still and stay present to the moment. Our context for how time moves can help us stay present and increase our attention span. By increasing our attention span and applying it to the practice of slowing down we can stay present and access greater peace, gaining greater clarity in our lives. This can help consciously outgrow the limitations of our moods. While we may always have mood swings or mood shifts if we can stay present and connected to our heart these changes in perception can be more manageable and less of a burden. The heart in this sense is our roadmap that can constantly orient us towards mental mastery.

Than you for taking the time to read my blog. If you find it beneficial please subscribe and follow along towards better mental health and a greater quality of life…

Are you aware that mood shifts start long before we are conscious of them ? Having a context for the root causes of mood shifts is the key to being able to acknowledge them. And when we acknowledge the cause of our mood shifts, or trigger, we can start to become clear, and lucid again.

Now, we are constantly playing out conscious and subconscious emotions from interactions with others in our daily lives. For many of us with mental health challenges we are hyper sensitive to our own emotions. I believe that this is true not because of our disability, but because we are more able to access our emotions. And while this may seem like a burden, it also means we live with the potential for a richer internal space. But we must make the effort to stay present with ourselves and not check-out. Resolving uncomfortable feelings is critical to being able to remain centered and get back to a state of wellbeing.

When we are in contact with toxic people, who model that we are less than in some way and stigmatize us for any reason, it can trigger subconscious emotional reactions that leave us ruminating over and over about what just happened to us. This ruminating sends us on an emotional tail-spin that throws us off our emotional center. Any type of unfair treatment can cause this type of trigger that in turn can cause emotional mood shifts. And these mood shifts can last long after the scene of injury is over. As long as we ruminate over the slightest unfair treatment we can struggle to return to our emotional center.

For this reason it is so important to see a counselor on a regular basis. If this is not possible try to find at least one person you can trust and confide in to untangle from triggers. When we can acknowledge and talk out these triggers we will be surprised that many times mood shifts will simply disappear the moment we make the conscious connections.

In Conclusion, any time we interact with toxic people we can become emotionally triggered. These triggers can shake us up and cause mood shifts that push us out of our emotional center. If we can acknowledge the trigger we can start to become consciously aware of our mood shifts. Many times this is all that is needed to regroup, refocus and center. If you’re experiencing mood shifts, please consider working with a counselor to help unwind and untie the emotional baggage that you may be experiencing.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. If you find it beneficial please subscribe and follow along towards better mental health and a greater quality of life.

It may seem strange that a necessary evil could also be a gift from God, but track with me here and I think you’ll agree. Some people think that medication is toxic and a heavy burden that makes life seem impossible. In my case I wasted a lot of years rebelling and going off medication, and it caused a lot of relapses and time in hospitals. It wasn’t until I learned how medication worked that I could square up with how important it is and how it really affects the brain.

I learned that as opposed to what I thought, medication for mental illness is actually holistic, in the sense that it fundamentally changes how the organs of the brain function, rather than just changing brain chemistry. When I fully got this it was the last time I went off meds and it was also the last time I got sick. As of writing this I’ve been stable for almost a decade. A far cry from the years when I relapsed almost every year or two.

Without a doubt, 100% compliance to medication, is absolutely key to staying stable. It sets the foundation for all the self-work one can do to build a solid life. Think about how important not only medication to treat mental illness is, but also medication in general. Millions of lives are saved every year as leading edge medicines are being created. Just consider the life saving vaccines for meningitis that we now have.

While some may argue that Big Pharma is an evil system, and I absolutely agree that the business of medicine has a LONG way to evolve to serve people rather than serving their own pockets, the benefits that modern society receives from medicine create a better quality of life for countless millions of people.

Now concerning medication for mental illness, the importance of a good psychiatrist that listens to you and is proactive cannot be overstated; it’s a must. Just like you would ask questions of a prospective employer to know what their expectations are, take the time to feel out any psychiatrist you decide to work with.

In Conclusion, if you’re going back and forth, on and off medication, until you make a conscious decision to commit to 100% medication compliance, life will be a roller coaster of chaos. It may take time to find the right medication or medications that work best for you, but if you do the work and find the type or types and the right dose life can start to take shape in ways that you cannot begin to imagine. You can have a great and rewarding life. And by the amount you have psychologically suffered your have the same potential for proportionally feeling wellbeing.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you find it beneficial please subscribe and track with me as we grow towards better mental health and a greater quality of life.

Sleep is so important for mental health. It restores the body, decompresses mental stress, reduces fatigue, and it can even help us lose weight. When we get good, deep, regular sleep we feel better, we think clearer, and have more energy for the day. Getting enough good sleep can also help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression; like feeling irritable, and lethargic. In this blog I will outline a sleep routine that will help you get the best sleep on a regular basis. If you make it a routine you will experience better moods, and a general feeling of wellbeing. I hope you try it.

First, we have to prepare for sleep. If we do so, it will be a lot easier to fall asleep. Start by taking a hot evening shower, and try using some Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap. You will feel cleaner than ever ! They’re all great, but I like the peppermint or the rose soap the most. Then put on your night clothing. This will overtime signal the mind that it’s time to wind down.

Next try to get in bed by 10pm every night. This may seem early, but you want some time to loaf and listen to some soothing music. Turn off the lights and turn on a Himalayan Salt Lamp. This will help set the tone for going to sleep. When your ready fall out, which will come easy, turn off all the lights and make sure that the room is completely dark. This will signal the pineal gland to produce the most melatonin naturally, which will help one fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

Lastly you don’t want to be getting up throughout the night, so try to get all your liquids in by 7 or 8pm at the latest. Also you want to have some air circulating in the room. The best thing would be to keep a window cracked to allow for fresh air, but a fan would also work as well. Some people, myself included, find that the ‘white-noise’ from a small fan can be soothing.

It’s best, if on medication, to be able to sleep it off for 12 hours and wake up naturally without the use of an alarm clock or any other pressing needs. The last thing you want is to be jolted out of bed, as it can throw off your mood and the rest of the day, depending on how sensitive one is.

In Conclusion, sleep is one of the best things we can do to support our mental health. And, getting in a good sleep routine will be very beneficial to getting the best sleep possible. The sleep routine outlined here will support one in experiencing the next day with zest and energy. By making this practice a habit, one will build a momentum that will overtime strengthen the nervous system and increase the capacity to have a stable good mood throughout the day.

If you find this routine helpful I encourage you to make it a habit. It really is the difference between Night and Day. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you find it helpful please subscribe and follow along towards good mental health and a better quality of life.

Without air we cannot live for more than a few minutes. But next to air, drinking water is the most critical factor towards maintaining good health. If we go more than a few days without water, we face dire health consequences and can even die of dehydration. Some medications can even cause dehydration by reducing our natural thirst and by acting as a diuretic, flushing water out the body. And because our brain is composed of about 80% water it makes sense that if we become dehydrated our mental health can suffer.

Drinking at least 16 ounces of water first thing in the morning is a great way to start the day. At night we lose water through sweat and going to the bathroom. It’s also the longest period of time we go without water. Thus, morning is the time we need to hydrate the most. Drinking till we fill full first thing in the morning ensures that we start our day off with the greatest potential for physical and mental wellness.

I find that keeping a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle full makes is convenient to stay hydrated. If you are super sensitive to plastic or want a cleaner feel to the water, I suggest getting a case of 32 oz. wide mouth mason jars. Having a large bottle makes it more convenient to consume larger quantities of water throughout the day. As a general rule we should aim to be drinking between 1/2 to 1 oz. of water per lbs. of body weight. For those of us on medication we should strive to hit the upper end of 1 oz. per pound a day as this will help flush toxins out of the body faster and keep the lymph system cleaner.

The type of water we drink is also important. Purified tap water is great because it’s cheap and a good affordable filter can last several months. I prefer a Zero Filter for a number of reasons. The primary reason I like it is because it eliminates all the total dissolved solids to zero parts per million. By doing so it makes the water able to hydrate at the cellular level. This filter is also great because it is certifies to reduce lead and other contaminates.

In Conclusion, staying hydrated is critical to maintaining good physical and mental health. By drinking more H2O we support brain function which uses the majority of water we consume. Drinking copious amounts of water also helps to flush out toxins from our body, which in turn helps to reduce some of the side effects of medication.

Making a habit of drinking more water can easily be done by getting a good water bottle, keeping if full of purified water and using it rather than giving in to the desire to consume sugary drinks, which cause dehydration and weight gain.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, if you find this information beneficial please subscribe and follow along towards better mental health and a greater quality of life !

Did you know that exercise is one of the best ways to improve your mood ? Just 10 minutes of moving and you can feel the stress just drop off. Any type of exercise is better than none, but there is one specific form that is without a doubt the best. Not only is it simple, it’s fun, and you don’t need a gym membership to do it. You can even do it in you house watching tv or even better while listening to some rhythmic music. The form of exercising I’m talking about is Rebounding; also known as jumping on a mini-trampoline. Rebounding for just 5 minutes, twice a day is enough to help you feel energized and relaxed.

Now, all forms of exercise are similar in that they are a repetitious act of muscle against the force of gravity. However, rebounding is unique because every single cell of the entire body undergoes the force of gravity when bouncing on a rebounder. That means not only do your muscles get stronger, but your bones and your tendons do too; even your lymph system benefits from the effect of this amazing form of exercise. This is very important for those of us on medication because moving the lymph fluid faster throughout the body can dramatically lessen the side effects of medication. These side effects can cause one to normally feel fatigued, tired, bloated, and experience weight gain.

I find rebounding first thing in the morning helps to shake off the drowsiness of sleep and give me a natural boost to my day. Also rebounding in the evening before showering helps to decompress any stress from the day and helps prepare for restful sleep.

In Conclusion, Rebounding can be a great way to exercise every cell of the body. It can dramatically reduce the side effects of medication, including reduced fatigue, feeling less stress, helping one lose weight and helping improve one’s mood. There are hundreds of other benefits too numerous to mention that one can enjoy from rebounding, but the most important aspect are the actual results that one will feel from getting a quality rebounder and jumping daily. I used to buy cheap rebounders for around 50.00 but after going through 3 of them (breaking, ie. bungies tearing apart) I did the research for the best rebounder on the market and decided to invest in a Cellerciser by David Hall. I’m very glad I did, it’s the best !!! Check it out.

Our lives are shaped by the decisions we make. The better we are at analyzing outcomes and making solid decisions the better our lives will become. But the best decision is by far the decision to commit to making mental and physical wellness a priority in one’s life. Money can buy things, and it can even provide a higher standard of living, but one does not need money to make mental health a priority.

Things like getting enough sleep, drinking enough water during the day, getting outside and exercising, and eating a balanced wholefoods vegetarian diet are all things that most of us can do if we really want to. In later blog posts I will go deeper in detail on these topics and many more, but for now I want to focus on some simple things we can do to increase the quality of our lives.

Ask Questions. This is so helpful when we don’t have all the answers. None of us know everything. Even Doctors don’t; they are constantly learning and discovering new things. If we commit to being life long learners and continue to ask questions we will improve our knowing and our decision making skills.

Take advice from others who know us best. When the veil of illusion is over our perception we need to surrender our ego and listen. This is easy to say, but very hard to do sometimes. When there is a scale over my eyes and I cannot see the fact that I am in a mental shift, this is precisely the time I need someone else’s perspective. It’s also the hardest time to reach out and ask for it, because the illusion makes it appear that “I am right”. But if we can get over ourselves and acknowledge our error, we will likely snap out of our fog and start to see things clearly again.

Watch out for toxic people. Even though we should take advice from others who know us best and care about us, we must be vigilant that we are not taking advice from toxic people with their own ulterior motives and hidden agendas. Many of us who suffer from mental illness have had some history of being influenced by toxic people. It may even be part of the reason why we developed an illness. If you are consciously aware that you are being manipulated it is best find a strategy to cope with this issue. For me, being raised by a narcissist and an alcoholic I have found that going “No Contact” after becoming an independent adult was the best and only way I could protect my sanity.

In Conclusion. Our mental health is our greatest wealth. Without it the quality of our lives suffers in proportion to the pain of the illness. But by making a decision to commit to making mental health a priority we set the foundation upon which to build a beautiful life. Having a mental illness is like stepping outside the matrix of pseudo reality and into the real world; full of emotional ups and downs, internal pain and joyous elation. It takes tremendous courage to fight for one’s sanity, but it is our only option. We must struggle until we overcome. This is the purpose of this blog; to reach you where you are on your journey to wholeness and guide you to victory, to mastering mental health.

Subscribe and follow along as we grow, until our conscious awareness expands beyond the confines of our current mental limitations. Thank you for reading, John