The Inflamed Mind - Why This BBC Report Matters

One of the mysteries of the mind and brain is why we can be functioning perfectly one day and then - sometimes overnight - fall into a bottomless sense of depression and even serious psychosis. 

A recent BBC report focuses on a new line of scientific investigation into the roles inflammation and autoimmune disorders can play in our mental wellbeing. The new approaches that come from these discoveries may mean better treatment outcomes and happier lives.

What's New and Why Does it Matter?

Problem: For about a third or more people dealing with depression and many additional people dealing with psychotic conditions, talk therapy offers little or no help.

Emerging Science: There is growing evidence that for many people depression and even psychotic

conditions can result from a whole body reaction to inflammation and autoimmune disorders. 

To quote Prof. Pariante, one of the medical scientists associated with this BBC story, 

"It is groundbreaking because, for the first time, we are demonstrating that depression is not only a disorder of the mind, in fact it is not even only a disorder of the brain, it is a disorder of the whole body.

Promising Solutions: As with so many challenging conditions, for many people depression and perhaps other serious mental conditions may best be treated in a holistic way.

A Possible Way Forward

If, after reading the article and listening to the audio report (see below), you conclude it's possible you or someone you know may be helped by exploring the role inflammation and autoimmune activity may be playing in a mental condition, talk with your doctor. Since this may be new information for many medical professionals, you may need to point them toward the BBC reports.

I encourage you to first read the BBC article entitled, "Depression: a Revolution in Treatment?" at http://bbc.in/2bQK8vo.

After reading this article, I encourage you to visit the BBC page that includes the recorded radio exploration of these discoveries at http://bbc.in/2bml8tO.

To your wellbeing,

Steve Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC | www.EFT-MD.com |

How to Use a Simple Tapping Protocol for Emotional First Aid

The more we pay attention to negative events, the more our nervous systems experience a rising baseline of chronic stress that seems to be always present. Chronic stress can negatively affect our emotional and physical well-being in multiple ways.

At the time this post is being written, just a couple of days ago our Elliott City, Maryland community suffered a devastating flood in the old section of the City. At least two people are dead, people lost homes, and businesses suffered millions upon millions of dollars in losses. It's not clear how many months it will take to clean up the devastation and begin rebuilding.

When turning on our televisions or reading news, we see daily reports about terrorist killings. In major cities across the U.S., gang and drug violence are major contributors to the deaths of about 90 people every day. 

All of these events are contributing to a growing sense of high anxiety and stress for many. For many,
feelings of safety continue to erode with each passing day.

Emotional First Aid

There are countless ways of self managing stress: meditation, self-hypnosis, meridian tapping, exercise, Qigong, the Sedona Method, and many other approaches have all shown stress reducing effects in many people.

If you already have experience with a method you like, but haven't been using regularly, I suggest returning to that practice and use it daily. 

Trauma Tapping Technique

If you would like to try a simple, easily applied method for tension and stress release, I suggest using Trauma Tapping Technique, or TTT.

Two Swedish international aid workers, Gunilla Hamne and Ulf Sandstrom, developed this simple tapping protocol that has helped tens of thousands of people across India, Africa, Pakistan, Canada, the U.S., and other regions. 

The beauty of TTT is its simplicity and effectiveness for many people, including people who experienced horrific trauma in Rwanda, the Congo, Chad, Kosovo, and multiple other countries. This is a totally non-verbal technique. There is no need to talk about the experience or (for those of you who use EFT) to voice any affirmation.

TTT IS NOT a substitute for psychological therapy or medical treatment. It is a simple, easy to apply, emotional first aid technique that can calm mind and body in ways that dissolve stress and create a sense of emotional and physical well-being. It is a self-regulation technique that takes only a couple of minutes to use.

How to Do TTT

You'll find a short video below demonstrating TTT. I suggest watching it once and then watching it a second time and follow along through the tapping sequence.

Before starting, I suggest getting a sense of your beginning stress level on a "0" to "10" scale ("10" being the highest level of stress you can imagine with "0" being no stress).

After tapping through the TTT sequence (see the video demonstration for one complete sequence), do another stress level assessment. You'll likely notice a marked decrease. If any sense of stress remains, go through the sequence a second time.

To learn more about the Peaceful Heart Network led by Gunnilla and Ulf, visit  www.PeacefulHeart.se. You'll find instructional videos, information about their wonderful work, a 1-page guide for TTT, and much more on their website.

You can experience TTT for yourself by tapping along in this YouTube video:

For more information about Meridian Tapping and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for Stress Mastery, visit us at www.EFT-MD.Com. 

Blessings,

Steve Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC | www.EFT-MD.com |