How to Stop Negative Thoughts from Racing in your Mind - Overcoming Depression

According to the National Institute of Health, 17.3 million adults, 7.1% have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. 5% of adults experience seasonal depression. 1 out of 6 adults have taken an anti-depressant in the past month. In the past 15 years, there has been a 65% increase in antidepressant use. Is our society getting more depressed and unable to deal with the pressures, stresses, and people in their lives? I’ve seen in my practice that a sense of being stuck or too fatigued to deal with life’s challenges can results in depression. It is reported that over 50% of patients who are diagnosed with depression also have anxiety.

What Causes Depression?

-Low levels of serotonin or dopamine

-Elevated or depleted stress hormones such as cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine

-High carbohydrate and high sugar diet

-Lack of physical activity

-Chronic inflammation

-Imbalance in sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone

-Life stress, Type A personality, perfectionism

-Subconscious negative belief systems

-Depleted energy levels in the body, adrenal fatigue.

-Low Qi levels, Liver qi stagnation

-Depleted basic, navel, solar plexus and spleen chakras

-Inability to assimilate and store energy in body

-Weak boundaries, and energetically melding with other people’s problems

Thoughts in Getting to the Bottom of Depression

Taking an anti-depressant is only as good as the placebo effect according to studies. This is approximately 33% improvement. The only problem is that the anti-depressants initially will dull the sensations of sadness or negative feelings that are present making the patient temporarily feeling better. However these medications also decrease happiness, motivation, creativity and other positive emotions. So patients taking these drugs often feel flat. They don’t feel as sad, and they don’t feel happy. This is why some psychotropic drugs are linked to increased suicidal ideation.

To get to the bottom of depression, we do need to correct some chemical imbalances in the body such as hormones, neurotransmitters and dietary nutrients so that the body can make the brain chemicals that contribute to positive emotions and balanced emotional regulation. We also need to work on the thoughts that seem to automatically swirl around the brain. These thoughts include imagination of the worst-case scenarios, sense of impending doom, and those of self-doubt.

Counseling and psychotherapy are helpful in bringing awareness to one’s thought life. But many patients are unable to implement the affirmations, and positive thoughts they are taught to think in their counseling sessions. This can lead to discouragement because negative thoughts just seem to automatically appear and it feels almost impossible to stop the anxious and depressing thoughts. Photo Credit Gareth Williams

What Works Better?

I’ve been blessed to come across some highly effective therapies over the years that have been life changing in so many patients’ moods. I utilized a couple techniques best done when the patient and I are on the phone or video conferencing called Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) and Pranic Healing. Distance does not matter when dealing with these types of healing frequencies. In short these techniques help remove the negative (depressive) information stored in the body and mind. It is like an extraction technique. After giving the body a clean slate, it easier to insert new positive thought patterns.  I also work to energize the patient’s electrical field, because most depressed individuals have a very low energy frequency, and this energizing is very helpful in lifting the frequency of moods. They have measured frequencies of emotions. For example Apathy/Hopelessness logs in at 70. Fear/Anxiety logs in at 100. Optimism/Hope logs in at 310. Love logs in at 500. Higher and healthier emotions have higher vibrational frequencies which is the reason for the effectiveness with energizing techniques.

A study published in the Australasian Psychiatry Journal in 2018 Amelioration of mild and moderate depression through Pranic Healing as adjuvant therapy: randomized double-blind controlled trial, shows amazing results using Pranic Healing, a technique I use with my patients. In the study, one group of patients were given Pranic Healing for 20 minutes once per week for 4 weeks, the other group was given a mock/fake treatment for the same duration of time. Using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale HAM-D as assessment tool, 69% of the mock group improved, and 100% of the Pranic Healing group improved.

I do believe that utilizing physics methods of therapy such as Pranic Healing increases the effectiveness in treating depression dramatically because we are both biological and electric beings. When we influence the electric memory and signally systems, the burden on the patient to “try” so hard to change their thoughts is significantly minimized. They feel lighter, see the world more hopefully, feel more ease associated with daily tasks because proper electric wiring is restored and takes a lot less burden for the system to operate.

 

Frustrated Your Health Is Not Getting Better?

I don't get sick often, but when I catch a cold, it always seems like it happens after something stressful. Have you noticed getting sick after someone close to you has problems you worry about? Or an illness comes on after you feel overwhelmed? Or getting sick after being so busy and running on empty?

With health problems the first thing most doctors and patients think of is to take something like a medicine or natural supplement to help it go away. When we can find something natural that gets to the root of the problem, that is a plus. But I find only 30-50% of patients get 100% better with just "taking something". So what's the missing link most doctors haven't been able to help you with yet?  

Have you wondered why you're still sick even though you've changed your diet, avoided your food allergens, taken supplements, herbs, spent lots of money and feel like you've done everything? That can be frustrating. The good news is I work with patients just like this and help them move out of their health plateau. Photo Credit David Young

Disease first starts in the energetic field, and then physicalizes. What does that mean? When your body notices that something is wrong in your life, which can be emotional, spiritual, your schedule, your diet, your lifestyle, your happiness etc it registers an electric signal that extends about 3 feet surrounding your body like a force field (or the aura). So if you're around toxic people a lot, in a job you don't feel fulfilled, in a relationship you can only tolerate, feel overwhelmed, think negative thoughts and so on, your force field can be contaminated like a city full of smog. This pushes the toxic signals into your physical body contributing to illness and also does not allow disease to escape out of your body.

This may be sounding new or strange to you. To use a different illustration, do you remember the news articles that talk about higher cancer rates amoung people who live near radiation. Or higher rates of brain cancer in people who hold cell phones close to their head? Radiation is a type of damaging electromagnetic field. We create electromagnetic fields, one of them from your heart can be measured by the EKG. That's a normal electromagnetic field. Some of these electromagnetic fields created by our bodies, and can negative, but some can be healthful (give us energy, help us heal quicker, contribute to a good mood).

I have techniques patients can receive over the phone to clean out their energetic field. It's surprised some of my patients who have already invested so much into their health but are at a plateau get huge results from a couple of these types of sessions. Many of my patients recovered from headaches, dizziness, HPV infection, yeast infection, anxiety, back pain, prevented onset of a cold (to name a few) when we addressed their energetic field. 

For Example here's the Energetic Theme for Cold (Stay tuned for energetic themes for other conditions):

COLD: Often occurs during a time when responsibility seems overwhelming. The person may feel personally responsible to make sure everything is perfect, sometimes because of a fear of looking bad or not being good enough. It may be hard for them to let go. There may be a theme of self imposed responsibility. The cold physically forces them to let go, stop and re-evaluate lessons learned. 

If you have that inner feeling that the health condition you're suffering with may be related to something emotional in your life, don't wait because you may be reading this for a reason. When patients receive sessions to help clear these negative energetic patterns in their body, it helps the body to release the disease. This is because the body is designed to heal itself. There are so many amazing mechanisms in our body that were created in us that keeps us healthy so when there is a health problem, it is a sign that something is off. Good news is there is a way to clear the block and also stop the plateu so you can live the life you want and have the health to not hold back. Contact me if you're wondering if this can be something that's an answer to your search.  

Probiotics for Anxiety Lactobacillus Rhamnosus

Gut bacteria can change the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) in the body, because certain gut bacteria thermselves manufacture certain neurotransmitters. Some probiotics have a great effect in reducing anxiety. Another way gut bacteria works to reduce anxiety is by sercreting certain chemical messengers called cytokines that change the immune system/nervous system response. This is called psychoneuroimmunology. Photo Credit Niaid

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and GABA

GABA is a great neurotransmitter. It is the OFF switch of the nervous system and patients with anxiety often do not have enough GABA, or they have too much other excitatory neurotransmitters. GABA helps a person settle down, feel calm, feel safe and stop the fight and flight response. Certain prescription medications that affect the GABA pathway include Klonopin, Xanax, Valium, and Gabapentin. But these medications are often addictive and have unwanted side effects. It’s best that your body makes it’s own GABA. The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus makes GABA. L rhamnosus can be a GABA making machine in the body if a patient has enough of this strain in their gut. 

An animal study shows that treatment with L rhamnosus decreased activity in the hippocampus, amygdala and local coeruleus.

1. The hypocampus is associated with long term memory, spacial relationship, and behavioral inhibition. Excessively active activity such as over firing in the hypocampus or inflammation can affect the above

2. The amygdala associates the 5 senses with emotions. Overactive function may ingrain more traumas such as in PTSD or excessive negative emotional associations with events, smells, sights, people etc.

3. The local coeruleus  is the part of brain involved in stress and panic. It Secretes adrenaline. 

Lactobacillus rhamnosus also reduced the stress response associated with cortisol. Therefore supplementation with L. rhamnosus is promising for supporting the body in making more GABA via the bacteria producing it. 

Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Inflammation

Too much inflammation in the brain is not good and can contribute to anxiety. We are not referring to the type of inflammation like a concussion, but chronic oxidative stress to the nervous system. Patients with higher levels of inflammation in the body such as those with autoimmune diseases, allergies, aches and pains are more likely to also have more inflammation in their nervous system. Anxiety, depression, and memory loss are definite symptoms that indicate an increased inflammatory response in the brain. 

Think of increased inflammation in the brain as increased firing of neurons. Think of an electric cord with too much electricity going through it that it blows the fuse. GABA helps to slow down this rapid firing and regulate it back down to normal. 

A study shows that Lactobacillus rhamnosus inhibits the inflammatory response by increasing IL-10 levels. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine and helps to shut down the T cell response after infections or stressors. If there is not enough IL-10, inflammation can extend long after it is needed, resulting in chronic inflammation. L. rhamnosus probiotic can help support healthy levels of IL-10.

Psychobiotics

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus is a psychobiotic. A psychobiotic is a live organism (probiotic) that when ingested in a certain amount produces a health benefit in patients suffering from psychological disorders. How does this work? The gut bacteria influence the vagus nerve which communicates with the brain. The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, exiting the brain and reaching all the way to the intestinal tract. This nerve channels the communication between the brain and the gut. I use a product, Ultra Flora Women's by Metagenics with my patients which contains L. Rhamnosus. 

Worried About Your World? Homeopathic Remedies for Political, Social Justice and Ethical Related Stressors.

We’ve just had the most talked about presidential election in the US. Many of my patients have been very stressed about their world and future. Of course many people all around the world are experiencing different emotions. Photo Credit Stevesworldofphotos Remember to respect everyone and try to find common ground among differences. In this article, I mention a few homeopathic remedies you can use, if you find yourself stressed. 

For those who are very passionate about the affairs of their world, you may think it is irresponsible to let go a little. There is a fine balance for each individual as to how many actionable steps to take towards an issue and letting go of what is outside of your control. If the worry and stress is eating you up and you want to decrease the anxiety, consider the hoemoapthic remedies above to support you. 

Click Here to read about more remedies  in this article I've written for the NaturalPath Publications.

Causticum (Bothered by Social Injustice)

• ·      Great sensitivity to injustice
• ·      Fights injustice/activist
• ·      World news and events feels very close to heart
• ·      Overwhelmed by sad stories or the news
• ·      Sensitive/Sympathetic
• ·      Sees dark side of things
• ·      Serious and intense personality
• ·      Idealistic Views
• ·      Rebel. Hates authority. Self righteous
• ·      Anxiety
• ·      Fear something bad will happen
• ·      Nervous system/Nerve/Spine health problems

 Ignatia (Grief, Heartbreak, Loss)

• ·      Grief, Loss
• ·      Physical ailments after grief
• ·      Disappointment
• ·      Easily hurt
• ·      Does not want to be consoled. Cries alone often in sadness and anger
• ·      Puts on a strong/cold exterior, hurting on the inside
• ·      Waiting for the good to happen that may never be
• ·      Idealistic, cultured and refined

Cuprum (copper) (Suppressed Emotions)

• ·      Intense emotions that are suppressed
• ·      Difficulty expressing emotions, holds them in
• ·      Feels cramped like they have no way out
• ·      Cramping muscles, spasms. Spasms as a way to discharge suppressed emotions
• ·      Feels attacked and helpless
• ·      Fear if government, police, getting in trouble
• ·      Wants to escape
• ·      May stammer and have difficulty finding words, does not want to say something unintended

Click Here to read about more remedies contained in an article I've written for the NaturalPath Publications.

Generally in my practice, no homeopathic remedy, magic pill or medication will get rid of anxiety on it’s own. Usually there are some deeply ingrained belief systems, or early childhood incidences that have shaped how each individual perceives their world and reacts to it. It is important to heal these aspects. I explore these aspects with my patients with techniques such as with NET (Neuro Emotional Technique) that helps to remove ingrained compensation mechanisms stored physiologically in the body that subconsciously drives a patient’s innate fears and emotions. If you would like to be less triggered by fears of the unknown, things that others do to you, issues out of your control and stress, it would be worth to invest your time to addressing it, so that you get to live feeling some internal peace within. Contact Dr. Emily Chan about how NET can help you get rid of unhealthy stress triggers. 

GUT-BRAIN Connection. Can My Gut Affect My Brain?

I had a teacher see me for memory issues and fatigue. She had a very difficult time:

• focusing
• remembering new information
• making decisions 
• staying on top of her tasks
• experienced brain fog and extreme tiredness. 

Her brain symptoms and difficulty concentrating were so severe that she needed her partner to help her fill out the health history form. She is relatively too young for age related dementia, so what was causing this?

Photo Credit Taylor Maley

Well it turns out this patient also has some digestive problems that new research shows can contribute to the brain symptoms. John Hopkins Center for Neurogastroenterology conducts research about how the Enteric Nervous System is key to the Gut and Brain relationship. This connection was important to my patient’s recovery. So what is the enteric nervous system? 

The brain is controlled by two nervous systems, one is controlled by your brain (CNS Central Nervous System), the other is the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) which works separate from the brain. Think of it as a thin 100 million nerve cell network that coats your entire GI tract and sends “walkie-talkie” messages, commanding the GI tract to secrete enzymes, digest food, interact with microbes in the gut etc. What happens in the gut is then reported to the CNS (brain). So both the ENS (gut-brain) and CNS (brain-brain) talk to each other. 

I’ve observed patients with GI problems often have more issues with mood, such as anxiety, stress and depression. I’ve also seen patient’s who often report that stress or emotions will worsen their GI problems.

So is it the chicken or the egg? BOTH.

The good news is that research is backing up the gut-brain relationship. Signals from a patients gut with GI issues are more inflammatory than those who are healthy. This explains how inflammatory chemicals can alter their brain chemistry. 

A Harvard Medical School article links stress with increased perception of pain. On the flip side, the article also links patients with GI disorders with increased perception of pain. So perhaps both these issues alter the ENS (gut-brain) and CNS (brain-brain) causing disregulation in pain perception both emotionally as well as physically.

There are two things that you can do at home that can calm down your ENS (Enteric Nervous System): 

• Deep Belly Breathing (tells mechanoreceptors in diaphragm to communicate with vagus nerve to calm your stomach and stress down)
• Applying gentle heat to the belly (tells temperature receptors to relax muscles in the gut, if you feel like it is all tensed up in a knott).  

In my practice, I use advanced techniques that help to put the nervous system back in balance, like adjusting the dials on the stereo to the correct volume. These work deeply to release an old body memory stored out of compensation from a previous stressor (physical or emotional) and are specific to re-wiring your nervous system set points. You'll know you need re-setting especially if you've felt, "I was feeling fine until...".

My patient stopped her marathon 2 hr naps, was able to prepare her lessons as a teacher and said she had a much clearer mind after working together on healing her gut. If you are suffering from GI symptoms or Brain issues, please contact me and I would be happy to help you, or point you in the right direction. Stay tuned for Part II of the Gut-Brain connection in a few weeks.