Self-help Quiz #1

Self-Therapy For People Who ENJOY Learning About Themselves

This quiz is based on ideas emphasized in other topics. Some questions are harder than they appear at first glance. Sometimes more than one answer is technically correct, but one answer is always best. The best answers are listed at the bottom.

Click on the topic the question came from to learn about why I chose the answers I did.

CHOOSE THE *BEST* ANSWER

From Guidelines For Emotional Health

1) To be emotionally healthy, the first thing to check is:

A) Your emotions.
B) Your body.
C) Your relationships.

2) Feelings are:

A) Biologically programmed.
B) Messages from your body about how your life is going.
C) Messages from your body about what you want and need.


3) Take Care Of Yourself At The First Small Sign of:

A) A problem.
B) A sad or angry or scared feeling.
C) Discomfort.
D) Conflict of any kind.


4) During our awake hours we should spend most of our time on:

A) Work
B) Play.
C) Rest.
D) Equal time on each.


 



5-9) Match the five natural feelings (top) with the key words about the causes for the feelings (bottom):

5) Sadness
6) Anger
7) Joy
8) Scare
9) Excitement

A) Block.
B) Existence.
C) On Our Way.
D) Got It.
E) Loss

From Who's Healthy?

10) The best measure of our emotional health is:

A) How we handle daily life.
B) A diagnosis by a therapist.
C) Successful relationships.


11) An emotionally healthy person is Spontaneous, Intimate, and:

A) Successful. B) Happy. C) Competent. D) Aware.

From Growing Up

12) A person who has grown up emotionally has a family which consists of:

A) Parents and siblings, selected relatives, spouse and children (if any).
B) The relatives they choose to deal with.
C) People they choose from among everyone they know.
D) Everyone who treats them well.

From Self-Love

13) You can tell if you are self-loving if you look in a mirror and:

A) Know you would like this person.
B) Like how you look.
C) Feel warmth for this person.
D) Don't feel any guilt or shame or anger.

From About Change

14) We can change our values, our thinking, and our feelings in therapy. Which one changes most quickly in therapy?

A) Feelings. B) Thinking. C) Values.

15) Which one takes the longest to change in therapy?

A) Feelings. B) Thinking. C) Values.

From Life Scripts

16) Once someone's subconscious script becomes known to them, a therapist might help them to "shuffle." In this context, "shuffling" means:

A) Doing the same things as always but in a different order.
B) Replacing unhealthy actions by experimenting with healthier actions.
C) Re-deciding about each major element in the script.

From Motivation

17) We get our energy from:

A) Self-Love. (Feeling good about ourselves.)
B) Eating, sleeping, etc. (Taking care of our bodies well enough.)
C) Enjoying ourselves. (Being treated well by others and by ourselves.)
D) Being successful. (Achieving appropriate goals.)

18) When someone has plenty of energy but they think they are "lazy" or "unmotivated" this shows:

A) They don't know what their real motivations are.
B) They are stalling as a way of frustrating someone who made them angry.
C) They are working too hard to please someone instead of pleasing themselves first.
D) They aren't really lazy, they were just taught to believe that are.


THE ANSWERS

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
B
C
C
D
E
A
D
B
C
A
D
C
A
C
A
A
B
A

EVALUATING YOUR ANSWERS

To learn why each answer is correct, read the topic.

Notice if any question or answer (correct or incorrect) shows you something good about how your life is going! Be proud of it!

Notice if any question or answer (correct or incorrect) gives you an idea about how you can improve your life! Be proud you leaned this today!

Enjoy Your Changes!

Everything here is designed to help you do just that!

 


 


next: Self Help Quiz #2

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). Self-help Quiz #1, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/self-help/inter-dependence/self-help-quiz-1

Last Updated: March 29, 2016

Be More Energetic

Chapter 60 of the book Self-Help Stuff That Works

by Adam Khan:

ENERGY IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. A person with a lot of energy can accomplish twice what someone without much energy can and have more fun doing it. You get more life with more energy. And here's a way to crank up your engine: Act more energetic. That sounds like shallow, positive-thinking hype, but it's actually based on solid evidence: It works.

When you act more energetic, it stimulates your body. Lying down is relaxing. Moving around is more stimulating. Moving around quickly is even more stimulating. It gets the heart pumping. It puts the mind in gear.

Our biology has evolved to fit a different kind of world than the one in which we now find ourselves. There were plenty of times in our prehistory when food was scarce. People who wantonly used up energy would be the first to die, leaving no offspring. The bodies following the prime directive conserve energy passed their genes to us.

But times have changed. It's no longer difficult to find food. If anything, food is difficult to avoid. Calories are everywhere, hugely and abundantly available. As a matter of fact, now a major concern for people in America is being overweight. Times have changed dramatically. There's no longer any need to conserve energy, but your genes don't know it. They've still got their orders, like a soldier in a jungle who was never told the war is over.

You can be more energetic, but you'll have to override your feelings. And you can do this. You'll have to essentially ignore the natural laziness we all share.

The way to override your body's prime directive is to act energetic whether you feel like it or not.

The truth is, you are energetic when you act that way, regardless of how you feel. Listen to what I'm saying here. You want to be more energetic? By simply acting more energetic, you immediately become more energetic in reality, in the same way that when you act ethical, you are ethical, regardless of whether or not you were tempted to do the wrong thing.


 


You can become more energetic in ten seconds. Simply start acting more energetic.

You don't have to feel energetic to be energetic. A nice bonus, however, is that often when you act energetic, it will rev you up and make you feel energetic too.

Experiments show that when people walk quickly, it speeds up their metabolism, making them feel more energetic, and this energetic feeling lasts for several hours after the activity. Acting energetic physically changes your body into a more energetic body.

So don't wait until you feel energetic before you act. Act first. The feelings will follow.

Act more energetic.

Would you like to feel more enthusiastic about your work? One way is to act enthusiastic. But there is another, more fundamental principle that can make your work a flow experience more often:
Zoning Out

One of the things that can make us feel tired or listless is small feelings of defeat we get when things don't go the way we expect or when we experience setbacks. Learn how to prevent many of those feelings of defeat:
Optimism

next: Burn Your Own BTUs

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). Be More Energetic, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/self-help/self-help-stuff-that-works/be-more-energetic

Last Updated: March 30, 2016

Removing The Obstacles In Your Way

"Your belief system is the foundation from which all your thoughts, feelings and actions stem."

Now that you've identified who you want to be, and what you want to do and have, let's look at the obstacles you perceive to be in your way of accomplishing those things. I'm here to tell you, although it may appear as if the roadblocks are real, tangible things (time, availability, money, ability, etc), most of the problem is an issue of perception and belief. Nine times out of ten, it has to do with fear. Where there's fear, there's stagnation. Somehow when you transform your beliefs, what was once an obstacle, becomes doable. New beliefs can allow you to see your way around or through the obstacle.

Beliefs

Beliefs are any ideas you think are true about yourself, others, and life. Many of the beliefs you hold today, are the result of a) what your parents/guardians believed, b) what your friends believed and/or c) what you've been told is true by a perceived authority.

Unfortunately, some of those beliefs are not helping you in your life. What if you looked at yourself as the accumulation of all the beliefs you've been exposed to and took on as our own. And what if you made a vow to rebuild yourself with new more useful beliefs? What belief system would you build?

Would it be one that supported your desires and wants? One that gave you the greatest freedom? Encouraged happiness? Some beliefs are counter-productive to what you say you want. Wouldn't it be nice to identify those beliefs? Examine them for validity? There are so many self-defeating beliefs but here are just a few I've identified in myself and others. Do you believe any of the following?

Self Defeating Beliefs

  • I don't have time to do what I want.
  • I can't change. This is just the way I am.
  • I'd be selfish if I focused on my desires.
  • I have to be realistic. People who are optimistic aren't realistic.
  • I have to have [love, sex, new car, money, etc] to be happy.
  • No pain, no gain.
  • You have to do some things in this life you don't want to do.
  • You can't have your cake and eat it too.
  • If my happiness was a priority, I'd be inconsiderate of others.
  • It's a dog-eat-dog world out there.

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Changing Your Beliefs

So far this site has mainly engaged you at the reading level. Changing the beliefs that are causing you pain is where the rubber really hits the road. If you are serious about wanting to turn your life around, you're going to have to go beyond simply reading. You will not experience any lasting change reading about ideas. Oh, I'm all for ideas. I love to read too. But real change doesn't happen until it's personal.

I don't know if you're like me, but I have read a lot of books, attended a lot of programs, listened to umpteen tapes and talked about personal growth an awful lot. But none of this really made any huge difference in how I felt, what I did, or helped me get what I wanted, at least in the long term.

"If you see a difference between where you are and where you want to be - consciously change - your thoughts, words, and actions to match your grandest vision.

This might require tremendous mental and physical effort. It will entail constant, moment-to-moment monitoring of your every thought, word, and deed. It will involve continued choice-making - consciously. This whole process is a massive move to consciousness. What you will find out if you undertake this challenge is that you've spent half your life unconscious. That is to say, unaware on a conscious level of what you are choosing in the way of thoughts, words, and deeds until you experience the aftermath of them. Then, when you experience these results, you deny that your thoughts, words, and deeds had anything to do with them."

- excerpt from "Conversations with God"


I'm telling you this because I've been where you are. If you're reading this, you're searching for answers. I didn't experience any concrete changes in my life until I was exposed to the Option Method. Although the Option Method has been compared to many different types of psychotherapies, it is radically different than anything I've ever experienced.

It's the only process I've found that not only helped me changed my mind, but where you could visibly see the differences in my life. And isn't that what we all want? I mean it's nice to feel inspired and get high off a new realization, but what I really wanted was to feel better about myself and life on a more consistent basis. I wanted to be able to pursue my desires without all the fears (and they were numerous.) I wanted to make more permanent changes where I didn't keep falling back into old habits that weren't working. The Option Method did all that for me.

The Option Method

The Option Method is a series of carefully designed questions, that when asked, help you identify, and change (if you wish) those beliefs that are causing your pain, fear, anxiety, anger, depression, etc.

Although the process was designed as a Self-Help tool, it's my personal opinion that you can't really reap the full benefits of a dialogue by yourself until you've had a few dialogues with an Option Method Practitioner. When I first did the process on my own, I kept getting stuck. After I had had four or five dialogues with a Practitioner I was much better able to do the dialogues by myself.

It certainly doesn't hurt to read about the Option Method, but you won't experience the changes I talked about until you actually have an Option Method dialogue on your own. I make no money if you schedule a dialogue with a Practitioner, but I will have the satisfaction of knowing I helped you. Below are links that will help you learn more about the method. The links will open a separate browser window so you'll easily be able to return to this site.

Learn More About the Questions
The Attitude Behind the Questions
List of Available Option Method Practitioners
The History Behind the Method
Articles About the Method


continue story below

next: How Creation Works

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). Removing The Obstacles In Your Way, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/relationships/creating-relationships/removing-the-obstacles-in-your-way

Last Updated: August 6, 2014

Does Guilt Work?

One day I was feeling particularly miserable and guilty about not working hard enough. I was so sick of feeling guilty I just wanted the feeling to go away.

It was in the summer of 1996 that I decided to put guilt to the test. I wanted to completely understand guilt. Why I felt it, why these feelings were encouraged by others, and what effect it was having on my life.

I do some of my best thinking when surrounded by nature so I put on my sneakers and went for a long walk. A 5 mile walk to be specific. I decided the best way to look at my guilt was to examine specific incidences where I felt guilty. As I made the turn down the street onto the gravel path, I went back to my earliest memory of guilt.

I chuckled as I remembered an early memory. I had gone outside in my bunny slippers when my mother had told me specifically not to. I remembered feeling "What kind of person was I to disobey? There must be something wrong with me. I must be a bad person." I didn't know it at the time, but I thought if I could feel bad enough, maybe it would make me act "right."

In college, I had an 8am Art History class across campus. I wasn't a morning person, the classes were in a dark room, and didn't feel like walking that far. After a month or so into the semester I started missing some classes. I felt guilty every time. I thought about how I was wasting my parent's money, how I was not disciplined enough, how if I was a "good" student, I would MAKE myself go. Consequently, I felt bad every time I skipped Art History.

So I thought of those experiences and every specific example I could remember from age seven on. The examples were numerous. After each example, I asked the following questions.

1) Why did I feel guilty in that situation?
2) What did I hope to accomplish by feeling guilty?
and
3) Did feeling guilty help me accomplish what I wanted?


continue story below

As I went down the list, the answers surprised me. The reason I felt guilt in ALL the situations could be narrowed down into three categories.

  1. To get myself to behave differently
  2. I thought that's what I good people were suppose to feel
  3. To show others that I was a caring person.

The most popular reason was to try and get myself to do something I thought I "should" be doing, or stop myself from doing something I didn't think I "should" be doing.. Now here's the clincher.

Did Guilt Change Me?

The answer was a resounding, NO. In all the cases I could remember, guilt hadn't motivated me to ever make any lasting changes in how I thought or behaved. In some cases I had changed in the short-term, but in all the examples I could think of, I inevitably went back to the behavior I was trying to stop. This made me ask, then why use guilt if it doesn't work? The only times I stopped behaviors was when I simply didn't want to do them anymore or changed my thoughts/beliefs about the situation..

Did I Have To Feel Guilt?

Was there some requirement that necessitated me feeling guilty? I couldn't think of one valid reason to feel guilt if it didn't work! If it wasn't functioning as a tool for change, then why use it? Why feel miserable if it serves no purpose?

Did Guilt Show My Caring To Others?

Unfortunately, sometimes yes. We belong to a culture that believes guilty feelings are a sign of a caring and thoughtful person. But most of the time it was difficult knowing what others were thinking. Most times they could care less what I was feeling. The ones who wanted to try and manipulate me to do what they wanted, liked the fact that I felt guilt. The ones who loved me, and wanted me to be happy tried to reassure me that there was no reason to feel bad. I decided I didn't want to spend time with people that supported me feeling guilty.

Take Your Own Walk

Don't trust my answers for your life. Take your own walk and examine your experiences. Put your guilt through the wringer. See what answers you find using the same questions I did. Look at the long-term results. The answers you reveal will have a profound effect on how you view guilt. And I suspect, like me, you'll discover just how useless the emotion of guilt really is.

next: Interview On Acceptance

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). Does Guilt Work?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/relationships/creating-relationships/does-guilt-work

Last Updated: August 6, 2014

Craniosacral Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders

Craniosacral therapy is an alternative treatment for depression, ADHD, autism, Alzheimer's and other psychological disorders. But does craniosacral therapy really work?

Before engaging in any complementary medical technique, you should be aware that many of these techniques have not been evaluated in scientific studies. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about whether practitioners are required to be professionally licensed. If you plan to visit a practitioner, it is recommended that you choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who abides by the organization's standards. It is always best to speak with your primary health care provider before starting any new therapeutic technique.

Background

In the early 1900s, the osteopathic doctor William Sutherand developed a theory that the relationships and motions of the bones of the skull (cranium), of the fluid that flows through the brain and spinal column (cerebrospinal fluid), of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meninges), and of the bones of the lower back (sacrum) lie at the core of the body's functioning and vital energy. A series of techniques grew out of these concepts, which were further developed in the 1970s by John Upledger, also an osteopathic doctor. Dr. Upledger coined the term craniosacral therapy, which refers to a form of therapeutic manipulation that is oriented to tissue, fluid, membranes and energy.


 


Theory

Craniosacral therapy practitioners touch areas of the patient lightly to sense the cranial rhythm impulse of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), said to be similar to feeling the pulse of blood vessels. Practitioners then use subtle manipulations over the skull and other areas with the aim of restoring balance by removing restrictions to CSF movement, a process that is proposed to help the body heal itself and improve a wide range of conditions. Treatment sessions usually last between 30 and 60 minutes.

There are numerous anecdotes about treatment benefits, although effectiveness and safety have not been thoroughly studied scientifically. Craniosacral therapy may be practiced by osteopathic doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic doctors or massage therapists. This technique is sometimes referred to as cranio-occipital technique or cranial osteopathy (when practiced by osteopathic doctors), although it is controversial whether there are subtle differences between these approaches.

Evidence

Scientists have studied craniosacral therapy for the following health problems:

Effects on heart and breathing rates
Early evidence shows that craniosacral therapy does not appear to have an effect on heart or breathing rates. More information is needed before a conclusion can be drawn.
Pregnancy (labor and delivery)
Preliminary research shows that there is no added benefit for using craniosacral therapy during labor and delivery. Check with a qualified obstetrician before using craniosacral therapy.

Unproven Uses

Craniosacral therapy has been suggested for many uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially life-threatening. Consult with a health care provider before using craniosacral therapy for any use.

Allergies
Alzheimer's disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Aphasia (impaired speech)
Asthma
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Autism
Back pain
Bell's palsy
Birth trauma
Brain disorders
Brain injury
Cerebral palsy
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic pain
Colic
Coma
Congestive heart failure
Coordination problems
Crohn's disease
Dental pain management
Depression
Dermatitis
Dizziness
Dyslexia
Ear congestion
Ear infection
Ear pain
Emotional difficulties
Enhancement of antiseizure drugs
Enhancement of diabetes drugs
Enhancement of psychiatric drugs
Epilepsy
Facial pain
Frozen shoulder
Headache
Hearing problems
Hormonal imbalances
Hyperkinesis (a movement disorder)
Infertility
Insomnia
Joint diseases
Joint pain
Kyphosis (a spinal disorder)
Learning disability
Lower back pain
Lupus
Ménière's disease (an inner ear disorder)
Menstrual pain
Migraine
Multiple sclerosis
Muscle aches and pain
Musculoskeletal problems
Neck pain
Nerve damage
Persistent crying
Postoperative care
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Sinusitis
Spinal injury
Spinal pain
Sports injuries
Strabismus (crossed eyes)
Stress-related conditions
Stroke
Temporomandibular joint disorder
Tennis elbow
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Trauma
Trigeminal neuralgia (a nerve disorder)
Visual disturbances

 


Potential Dangers

The safety of craniosacral therapy has not been thoroughly studied scientifically. Although the movements of this technique are usually gentle, there may be a small risk of stroke, nervous system damage, bleeding in the head, intracranial aneurysm or increased pressure in the brain. The following people should approach craniosacral therapy with caution: those with recent head trauma or skull fracture, those with diseases that affect the brain or spinal cord, those with conditions in which a change in pressure in the brain would be dangerous, and those with disorders of blood clotting. In theory, craniosacral therapy may make some existing symptoms worse. Adverse results have been reported in patients with traumatic brain syndrome.

There are anecdotal reports of diarrhea, headache and increased anger after treatment. It has been proposed that craniosacral therapy may enhance the effects of drugs used for diabetes, epilepsy or psychiatric disorders, although this has not been tested in scientific studies. Craniosacral therapy should not be relied on as the sole treatment (instead of more proven approaches) for potentially severe conditions, and it should not delay consultation with an appropriate health care provider about a symptom or condition.

Summary

Craniosacral therapy has been suggested for many conditions. There are numerous anecdotes about successful treatment with craniosacral therapy, although effectiveness and safety have not been thoroughly tested scientifically. Speak with your health care provider if you are considering treatment with craniosacral therapy.

The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.

 

back to: Alternative Medicine Home ~ Alternative Medicine Treatments


Resources

  1. Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
  2. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research

Selected Scientific Studies: Craniosacral Therapy

Natural Standard reviewed more than 30 articles to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created.

Some of the more recent studies are listed below:

    1. Blood SD. The craniosacral mechanism and the temporomandibular joint. J Am Osteopath Assoc 1986;86(8):512-519.
    2. Ehrett SL. Craniosacral therapy and myofascial release in entry-level physical therapy curricula. Phys Ther 1988;Apr, 68(4):534-540.
    3. Elsdale B. Craniosacral therapy. Nurs Times 1996;Jul 10-16, 92(28):173.
    4. Geldschlager S. [Osteopathic versus orthopedic treatments for chronic epicondylopathia humeri radialis: a randomized controlled trial. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2004;11(2):93-97.
    5. Gillespie BR. Dental considerations of the craniosacral mechanism. Cranio 1985; Sep-Dec, 3(4):380-384.
    6. Green C, Martin CW, Bassett K, et al. A systematic review of craniosacral therapy: biological plausibility, assessment reliability and clinical effectiveness. Complement Ther Med 1999;7(4):201-207.

 


  1. Greenman PE, McPartland JM. Cranial findings and iatrogenesis from craniosacral manipulation in patients with traumatic brain syndrome. J Am Osteopath Assoc 1995;95(3):182-188.
  2. Hanten WP, Dawson DD, Iwata M, et al. Craniosacral rhythm: reliability and relationships with cardiac and respiratory rates. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1998;Mar, 27(3):213-218.
  3. Hartman SE, Norton JM. Craniosacral therapy is not medicine. Phys Ther 2002;Nov, 82(11):1146-1147.
  4. Hehir B. Head cases: an examination of craniosacral therapy. Midwives (Lond) 2003;Jan, 6(1):38-40.
  5. Heinrich S. The role of physical therapy in craniofacial pain disorders: an adjunct to dental pain management. Cranio 1991;Jan, 9(1):71-75.
  6. Kostopoulos DC, Keramidas G. Changes in elongation of falx cerebri during craniosacral therapy techniques applied on the skull of an embalmed cadaver. Cranio 1992;Jan, 10(1):9-12.
  7. Maher CG. Effective physical treatment for chronic low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am 2004;35(1):57-64.
  8. McPartland JM, Mein EA. Entrainment and the cranial rhythmic impulse. Altern Ther Health Med 1997;Jan, 3(1):40-45.
  9. Moran RW, Gibbons P. Intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability for palpation of the cranial rhythmic impulse at the head and sacrum. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;Mar-Apr, 24(3):183-190.
  10. Phillips CJ, Meyer JJ. Chiropractic care, including craniosacral therapy, during pregnancy: a static-group comparison of obstetric interventions during labor and delivery. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1995;Oct, 18(8):525-529.
  11. Quaid A. Craniosacral controversy. Phys Ther 1995;Mar, 75(3):240. Comment in: Phys Ther 1994;Oct, 74(10):908-916. Discussion, 917-920.
  12. Rogers JS, Witt PL, Gross MT, et al. Simultaneous palpation of the craniosacral rate at the head and feet: intrarater and interrater reliability and rate comparisons. Phys Ther 1998;Nov, 78(11):1175-1185.
  13. Rogers JS, Witt PL. The controversy of cranial bone motion. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1997;Aug, 26(2):95-103.
  14. Sucher BM, Heath DM. Thoracic outlet syndrome: a myofascial variant. Part 3: Structural and postural considerations. J Am Osteopath Assoc 1993;Mar, 93(3):334, 340-345. Erratum in: J Am Osteopath Assoc 1993;Jun, 93(6):649.
  15. Upledger JE. Craniosacral therapy. Phys Ther 1995;Apr, 75(4):328-330. Comment in: Phys Ther 1994;Oct, 74(10):908-916. Discussion, 917-920.
  16. Weiner LB, Grant LA, Grant AH. Monitoring ocular changes that may accompany use of dental appliances and/or osteopathic craniosacral manipulations in the treatment of TMJ and related problems. Cranio 1987;Jul, 5(3):278-285.
  17. Wirth-Pattullo V, Hayes KW. Interrater reliability of craniosacral rate measurements and their relationship with subjects' and examiners' heart and respiratory rate measurements. Phys Ther 1994;Oct, 74(10):908-916. Discussion, 917-920. Comment in: Phys Ther 1995;Apr, 75(4):328-330. Phys Ther 1995;Mar, 75(3):240.

back to: Alternative Medicine Home ~ Alternative Medicine Treatments

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). Craniosacral Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/alternative-mental-health/treatments/craniosacral-therapy-for-psychiatric-disorders

Last Updated: February 8, 2016

Colonic Irrigation for Treating Psychological Disorders

Colonic irrigation, colonic hydrotherapy may be helpful for some medical conditions, but for treatment of addiction, chronic fatigue syndrome and insomnia, there's little proof it's effective.

Before engaging in any complementary medical technique, you should be aware that many of these techniques have not been evaluated in scientific studies. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about whether practitioners are required to be professionally licensed. If you plan to visit a practitioner, it is recommended that you choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who abides by the organization's standards. It is always best to speak with your primary health care provider before starting any new therapeutic technique.

Background

Colonic irrigation, also called colonic hydrotherapy, is a variant of enema treatment, which involves flushing the bowel with water in different quantities, temperatures and pressures. Through a tube inserted via the rectum, water may be introduced alone or with added enzymes, coffee, probiotics or herbs. Treatment sessions usually last about one hour. During a "high colonic," water goes in through one tube in the colon and is removed along with debris through another tube called an obturator.

Colonic irrigation may have been used as early as ancient times in Egypt, China, India and Greece. This practice gained some popularity in 19th century European spas, and it has been used in modern times for general well being and a variety of other conditions.


 


Theory

Colonic irrigation is proposed to improve mental outlook, modulate the immune system and eliminate toxic substances. Some practitioners suggest that intestinal flora (bacteria that normally live in the intestine) or waste products can affect the entire body's immune system and may therefore be involved with diseases outside of the gastrointestinal tract. It is proposed but unproven that washing away these flora or waste products may have beneficial effects.

There are numerous anecdotes about the benefits of colonic irrigation, although there is limited published scientific research in this area.

Evidence

Scientists have studied colonic irrigation for the following health problems:

Fecal (stool) incontinence
There is early research regarding the use of regular irrigation of the lower part of the colon in people with fecal incontinence. Further study is necessary to determine if benefits are likely to occur in most patients.

Ostomy care
Special types of colonic irrigation may be used in patients with ostomies (surgically created connections between the intestine and the side of the body). This area has been studied scientifically, and use of colonic irrigation in this setting should be conducted only under the strict supervision of a qualified ostomy health care provider.

Colonic spasm (during colonoscopy)
Evidence from some studies has shown that irrigation with warm water during colonoscopy may help reduce the incidence of colonic spasm. Further research is needed.

Surgical uses
Surgeons or other health care practitioners may use colon irrigation before or during some bowel surgeries (for example, colon cancer resection) for purposes such as cleansing or toward improved healing.


Unproven Uses

Colonic irrigation has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially life-threatening. Consult with a health care provider before using colonic irrigation for any use.

Addiction
Allergy
Altered blood pH balance
Altered eating habits
Arthritis
Asthma
Back pain
Bad breath
Bloating
Bowel cleansing
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Colds
Colitis
Constipation
Cough
Detection of parasites
Diarrhea
Digestive disorders
Distended abdomen
Diverticulosis
Eczema
Epstein-Barr virus
Fatigue
Food cravings
Foul body odor
Gas
Gastrointestinal disorders
General health maintenance
Gout
Headache
High blood pressure
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Improved mental state
Influenza
Insomnia
Irritability
Irritable bowel syndrome
Lupus
Menstrual problems
Pancreatitis
Promotion of regular bowel movements
Prostate conditions
Psoriasis
Screening for colorectal cancer
Shingles
Skin problems
Strengthening colon muscle contraction (peristalsis)

Potential Dangers

Colonic irrigation can potentially cause severe adverse effects and must be carefully administered. People receiving frequent treatments may absorb too much water, leading to electrolyte imbalances in the blood, nausea, vomiting, heart failure, fluid in the lungs, abnormal heart rhythms or coma. Infections have been reported, possibly because of contaminated equipment or as a result of clearing out normal colon bacteria. There is a risk of bowel perforation (breakage of the bowel wall), which is a severe complication. Deaths have been reported.


 


Colonic irrigation should not be used in people with diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe or internal hemorrhoids or tumors in the rectum or colon. It also should not be used soon after bowel surgery (unless directed by your health care provider). Regular treatments should be avoided by people with heart disease or kidney disease (renal insufficiency). Be sure that the equipment used is sterile and that the practitioner is experienced. Colonic irrigation should not be used as the sole treatment (instead of more proven therapies) for severe conditions, and it should not delay consultation with a qualified health care provider for a potentially severe symptom or illness.

Summary

Colonic irrigation has been recommended for many conditions. There are numerous anecdotes about successful treatment with colonic irrigation, although effectiveness and safety have not been thoroughly studied scientifically. Because of the potential risks involved, colonic irrigation may not be safe for many individuals.

The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.

Resources

  1. Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
  2. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research

Selected Scientific Studies: Colonic Irrigation

Natural Standard reviewed more than 40 articles to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created.

Some of the more recent studies are listed below:

  1. Anon. Amebiasis associated with colonic irrigation: Colorado. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1981;30(9):101-102.
  2. Briel JW, Schouten WR, Vlot EA, et al. Clinical value of colonic irrigation in patients with continence disturbances. Dis Colon Rectum 1997;40(7):802-805.
  3. Chen WS, Lin JK. A potential alternative treatment of uncomplicated painful diverticular disease by trans-colonoscopic irrigation technique: a preliminary report. J Chin Med Assoc 2003;May, 66(5):282-287.
  4. Church JM. Warm water irrigation for dealing with spasm during colonoscopy: simple, inexpensive, and effective. Gastrointest Endosc 2002;Nov, 56(5):672-674.
  5. Ernst E. Colonic irrigation and the theory of autointoxication: a triumph of ignorance over science. J Clin Gastroenterol 1997;24(4):196-198.
  6. Istre GR, Kreiss K, Hopkins RS, et al. An outbreak of amebiasis spread by colonic irrigation at a chiropractic clinic. N Engl J Med 1982;307(6):339-342.
  7. Lim JF, Tang CL, Seow-Choen F, et al. Prospective, randomized trial comparing intraoperative colonic irrigation with manual decompression only for obstructed left-sided colorectal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 2005;48(2):205-209.
  8. Sisco V, Brennan PC, Kuehner CC. Potential impact of colonic irrigation on the indigenous intestinal microflora. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1988;11(1):10-16.
  9. van der Berg MM, Geerdes BP, Heij HA, et al. Defecation disorders in children: treatment with colonic irrigation through an appendicostomy. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149(8):418-422.

back to: Alternative Medicine Home ~ Alternative Medicine Treatments

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). Colonic Irrigation for Treating Psychological Disorders, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/alternative-mental-health/treatments/colonic-irrigation-for-treating-psychological-disorders

Last Updated: February 8, 2016

The Midlife Narcissist

Question:

Are narcissists likely to go through a midlife crisis and, if so, to what extent will such a crisis ameliorate or exacerbate their condition?

Answer:

The sometimes severe crises experienced by persons of both sexes in middle age (a.k.a. the "midlife crisis" or the "change of life") is a much discussed though little understood phenomenon. It is not even certain that the beast exists.

Women go through menopause between the ages of 42-55 (the average age of onset in the USA is 51.3). The amount of the hormone oestrogen in their bodies decreases sharply, important parts of the reproductive system shrink and menstruation ceases. Many women suffer from "hot flashes" and a thinning and fracturing of the bones (osteoporosis).

The "male menopause" is a more contentious issue. Men do experience a gradual decline in testosterone levels but nothing as sharp as the woman's deterioration of her oestrogen supply. No link has been found between these physiological and hormonal developments and the mythical "midlife crisis".

This fabled turning point has to do with the gap between earlier plans, dreams and aspirations and one's drab and hopeless reality. Come middle age, men are supposed to be less satisfied with life, career, or spouse. People get more disappointed and disillusioned with age. They understand that they are not likely to have a second chance, that they largely missed the train, that their dreams will remain just that. They have nothing to look forward to. They feel spent, bored, fatigued and trapped.

Some adults embark on a transition. They define new goals, look for new partners, form new families, engage in new hobbies, change vocation and avocation alike, or relocate. They regenerate and reinvent themselves and the structures of their lives. Others just grow bitter. Unable to face the shambles, they resort to alcoholism, workaholism, emotional absence, abandonment, escapism, degeneration, or a sedentary lifestyle.

 

Another pillar of discontent is the predictability of adult life. Following a brief flurry, in early adulthood, of excitement and vigour, of dreams and hopes, fantasies and aspirations, we succumb to and sink into the mire of mediocrity. The mundane engulfs us and digests us. Routines consume our energy and leave us dilapidated and empty. We know with dull certainty what awaits us and this ubiquitous rut is maddening

Paradoxically, the narcissist is best equipped to successfully tackle these problems. The narcissist suffers from mental progeria. Subject to childhood abuse, he ages prematurely and finds himself in a time warp, constantly in the throes of a midlife crisis.

The narcissist keeps dreaming, hoping, planning, conspiring, scheming and fighting all his life. As far as he is concerned, reality, with its sobering feedback, does not exist. He occupies a world of his own where hope springs eternal. It is a universe of recurrent serendipity, inevitable fortuity, auspiciousness, lucky chances and coincidences, no downs and uplifting ups. It is an unpredictable, titillating, and exciting world. The narcissist may feel bored for long stretches of time but only because he can't wait for the ultimate thrill.

The narcissist experiences a constant midlife crisis. His reality is always way short of his dreams and aspirations. He suffers a constant Grandiosity Gap - the same Gap that plagues the healthy midlife adult. But the narcissist has one advantage: he is used to being disappointed and disillusioned. He inflicts setbacks and defeats upon himself by devaluing persons and situations that he had previously idealised.

narcissist regularly employs a host of mechanisms to cope with this simmering, festering incessant "crisis". Cognitive dissonance, over- and de- valuation cycles, abrupt mood swings, changes in behaviour patterns, goals, companions, mates, jobs and locations are the narcissist's daily bread and escapist weapons.

Whereas the healthy and mature adult confronts the abyss between his image of himself and his real self, his dreams and his achievements, his fantasyland and his reality only late in life - the narcissist does so constantly and from an early age.

The healthy and mature adult recoils from the predictability of his routine and is abhorred by it. The narcissist's life is not predictable or routine in any sense of the word.

The mature 40+ years old adult tries to remedy the structural and emotional deficits of his existence either by a renewed commitment to it or by a cataclysmic break with it. The narcissist so regularly and habitually does both that these decisions are rendered flitting and insignificant

The narcissist's personality is rigid but his life is changeable and tumultuous, his typical day riddled with surprises and unpredictable, his grandiose fantasies so far removed from his reality that even his disillusionment and disappointments are fantastic and, thus, easily overcome.

Soon enough, the narcissist is engaged in a new project, as exciting, as grandiose and as impossible as the ones before. The gap between his confabulations and the truth is so yawning that he chooses to ignore his reality. He recruits people around him to affirm this choice and to confirm to him that reality is illusory and that his fantasyland is real.

Such pretensions are counterproductive and self-defeating, but they also serve as perfect defences. The narcissist does not go through a midlife crisis because he is forever the child, forever dreaming and fantasising, forever enamoured with himself and with the narrative that is his life


 

next:    Reconditioning the Narcissist

APA Reference
Vaknin, S. (2008, November 25). The Midlife Narcissist, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/malignant-self-love/midlife-narcissist

Last Updated: July 4, 2018

The Extra-Marital Narcissist

Question:

My husband has a liaison with another woman. He has been diagnosed as suffering from a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. What should I do?

Answer:

Narcissists are people who fail to maintain a stable sense of self-worth. Very often somatic narcissists (narcissistic who use their bodies and their sexuality to secure Narcissistic Supply) tend to get involved in extra-marital affairs. The new "conquests" sustain their grandiose fantasies and their distorted and unrealistic self-image.

It is, therefore, nigh impossible to alter this particular behaviour of a somatic narcissist. Sexual interactions serve as a constant, reliable, easy to obtain Source of Narcissistic Supply. It is the only source of such supply if the narcissist is not cerebral (=does not rely on his intellect, intelligence, or professional achievements for Narcissistic Supply).

You should set up rigid, strict and VERY WELL DEFINED rules of engagement. Ideally, all contacts between your spouse and his lover should be immediately and irrevocably severed. But this is usually too much to ask for. So, you should make crystal clear when is she allowed to call, whether she is allowed to write to him at all and in which circumstances, what are the subjects she is allowed to broach in her correspondence and phone calls, when is he allowed to see her and what other modes of interaction are permissible.

CLEAR AND PAINFUL SANCTIONS must be defined in case the above rules are violated. Both rules and sanctions MUST BE APPLIED RIGOROUSLY AND MERCILESSLY and MUST BE SET IN WRITING IN UNEQUIVOCAL TERMS.

 

The problem is that the narcissist never really separates from his Sources of Narcissistic Supply until and unless they cease to be ones. Narcissists never really say good-bye. His lover is likely to still have an emotional hold on him. Your husband must first have his day of reckoning.

Help him by telling him what will be the price that he stands to pay if he does not obey the rules and sanctions you have agreed on. Tell him that you cannot live like this any longer. That if he does not get rid of this presence - of the echoes of his past, really - he will be squandering his present, he will be forfieting you. Don't be afraid to lose him. If he prefers this woman to you - it is important for you to know it. If he prefers you to her - your nightmare is over.

If you insist on staying with him - you must also be prepared to serve as a Source of Narcissistic Supply, an alternative to the supply provided by his former lover. You must brace yourself: serving as a Narcissistic Supply Source is an onerous task, a full time job and a very ungrateful one at that. The narcissist's thirst for adulation, admiration, worship, approval, and attention can never by quenched. It is a Sisyphean, mind-numbing effort, which heralds only additional demands and disgruntled, critical, humiliating tirades by the narcissist.

That you are afraid to confront reality is normal. You are afraid to set clear alternatives. You are afraid that he will leave you. You are afraid that he will prefer her to you. AND YOU MAY WELL BE RIGHT. But if this is the case and you go on living with him and tormenting yourself - it is unhealthy.

If you have find it difficult to confront the fact that it is all over between you, that your relationship is an empty shell, that your husband is with another woman - do not hesitate to seek help from professionals and non-professionals alike. But do not let this situation fester into psychological gangrene. Amputate now while you can.

 



next: The Midlife Narcissist

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). The Extra-Marital Narcissist, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/malignant-self-love/the-extra-marital-narcissist

Last Updated: July 8, 2016

The Double Reflection Narcissistic Couples and Narcissistic Types

Question:

Can two narcissists establish a long-term, stable relationship?

Answer:

Two narcissists of the same type (somatic, cerebral, classic, compensatory, inverted, etc.) cannot maintain a stable, long-term full-fledged, and functional relationship.

There are two types of narcissists: the somatic narcissist and the cerebral narcissist. The somatic type relies on his body and sexuality as Sources of Narcissistic Supply. The cerebral narcissist uses his intellect, his intelligence and his professional achievements to obtain the same.

Narcissists are either predominantly cerebral or overwhelmingly somatic. In other words, they either generate their Narcissistic Supply by using their bodies or by flaunting their minds.

The somatic narcissist flashes his sexual conquests, parades his possessions, puts his muscles on ostentatious display, brags about his physical aesthetics or sexual prowess or exploits, is often a health freak and a hypochondriac. The cerebral narcissist is a know-it-all, haughty and intelligent "computer". He uses his awesome intellect, or knowledge (real or pretended) to secure adoration, adulation and admiration. To him, his body and its maintenance are a burden and a distraction.

Both types are autoerotic (psychosexually in love with themselves, with their bodies or with their brains). Both types prefer masturbation to adult, mature, interactive, multi-dimensional and emotion-laden sex.

The cerebral narcissist is often celibate (even when he has a girlfriend or a spouse). He prefers pornography and sexual auto-stimulation to the real thing. The cerebral narcissist is sometimes a latent (hidden, not yet outed) homosexual.

 

The somatic narcissist uses other people's bodies to masturbate. Sex with him - pyrotechnics and acrobatics aside - is likely to be an impersonal and emotionally alienating and draining experience. The partner is often treated as an object, an extension of the somatic narcissist, a toy, a warm and pulsating vibrator.

It is a mistake to assume type-constancy. In other words, all narcissists are both cerebral and somatic. In each narcissist, one of the types is dominant. So, the narcissist is either largely cerebral - or dominantly somatic. But the other, recessive (manifested less frequently) type, is there. It is lurking, waiting to erupt. The narcissist swings between his dominant type and his recessive type which manifests mainly after a major narcissistic injury or life crisis.

The cerebral narcissist brandishes his brainpower, exhibits his intellectual achievements, basks in the attention given to his mind and to its products. He hates his body and neglects it. It is a nuisance, a burden, a derided appendix, an inconvenience, a punishment. The cerebral narcissist is asexual (rarely has sex, often years apart). He masturbates regularly and very mechanically. His fantasies are homosexual or paedophiliac or tend to objectify his partner (rape, group sex). He stays away from women because he perceives them to be ruthless predators who are out to consume him.

The cerebral narcissist typically goes through a few major life crises. He gets divorced, goes bankrupt, does time in prison, is threatened, harassed and stalked, is often devalued, betrayed, denigrated and insulted. He is prone to all manner of chronic illnesses.

Invariably, following every life crisis, the somatic narcissist in him takes over. The cerebral narcissist suddenly becomes a lascivious lecher. When this happens, he maintains a few relationships - replete with abundant and addictive sex - going simultaneously. He sometimes participates in and initiates group sex and mass orgies. He exercises, loses weight and hones his body into an irresistible proposition.

This outburst of unrestrained, primordial lust wanes in a few months and he settles back into his cerebral ways. No sex, no women, no body.

These total reversals of character stun his mates. His girlfriend or spouse finds it impossible to digest this eerie transformation from the gregarious, darkly handsome, well-built and sexually insatiable person that swept her off her feet - to the bodiless, bookwormish hermit with not an inkling of interest in either sex or other carnal pleasures.

The cerebral narcissist misses his somatic half, but finding a balance is a doomed quest. The satyre that is the somatic narcissist is forever trapped in the intellectual cage of the cerebral one, the Brain.

Thus, if both members of the couple are cerebral narcissists, for instance if both of them are scholars - the resulting competition prevents them from serving as ample Sources of Narcissistic Supply to each other. Finally the mutual admiration society crumbles.

Consumed by the pursuit of their own narcissistic gratification, they have no time or energy or will left to cater to the narcissistic needs of their partner. Moreover, the partner is perceived as a dangerous and vicious contender for a scarce resource: Sources of Narcissistic Supply. This may be less true if the two narcissists work in totally unrelated academic or intellectual fields.

But if the narcissists involved are of different types, if one of them is cerebral and the other one somatic, a long-term partnership based on the mutual provision of Narcissistic Supply can definitely survive.

Example: if one of the narcissists is somatic (uses his/her body as a source of narcissistic gratification) and the other one cerebral (uses his intellect or his professional achievements as such a source), there is nothing to destabilise such collaboration. It is even potentially emotionally rewarding.

The relationship between these two narcissists resembles the one that exists between an artist and his art or or a collector and his collection. This can and does change, of course, as the narcissists involved grow older, flabbier and less agile intellectually. The somatic narcissist is also prone to multiple sexual relationships and encounters intended to support his somatic and sexual self-image. These may subject the relationship to fracturing strains. But, all in all, a stable and enduring relationship can - and often does - develop between dissimilar narcissists.



next: The Extra-Marital Narcissist

APA Reference
Staff, H. (2008, November 25). The Double Reflection Narcissistic Couples and Narcissistic Types, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/malignant-self-love/the-double-reflection-narcissistic-couples-and-narcissistic-types

Last Updated: July 8, 2016