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Restoring Resilience. Using Nature and Wisdom to Sustain a Healthy Mood Henry Emmons, MD Consulting Psychiatrist, Penny George Institute for Health and Healing Community Faculty, Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota. Joy. “Surely joy is the condition of life.”
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Restoring Resilience Using Nature and Wisdom to Sustain a Healthy Mood Henry Emmons, MD Consulting Psychiatrist, Penny George Institute for Health and Healing Community Faculty, Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota
Joy “Surely joy is the condition of life.” Thoreau
Depression and Anxiety 100 years Increased 10% per decade Seligman 10 times higher risk Disability US WHO
Causes of Depression/Anxiety If not just genetics, then… Why?
The Enemies of Joy • Physical Imbalance and Toxicity • The Mind Run Rampant • The Illusion of Separation
The Science of Hope • Neuroplasticity • Gene Expression • Cell Turnover
Neuroplasticity The brain is capable of change.
Cell Turnover Cells are programmed to die and be replaced
Gene Expression Genes can be turned on or off.
Resilience The metaphor of the water cooler
The Seven Roots of Resilience BODY MIND SOUL • Balance Brain Chemistry • Manage Energy • Align with Nature • Calm the Mind • Turn Toward Emotions • Cultivate a Good Heart • Create Deep Connections
Balancing Brain Chemistry:The Resilient Diet Eating healthier will ALWAYS help you feel better.
Calming Foods Complex Carbs Moderate Protein Omega 3’s Eat frequently • Beans and Legumes • Root Vegetables • Whole Grains • Lean Meats • Eggs/Dairy • Protein Powders • Fatty fish • Nuts and Seeds • Always Breakfast • Every 3-4 hours
Energizing Foods Think summer Lean protein Fewer Carbs High water foods
Basic Supplements • Multivitamin or B-Complex • Take half the dose twice daily • Look for minimum 50 mg B6 per day • Omega 3 • 1000 mg Fish Oil twice daily • And/or 2 T. ground flaxseed • Vitamin D3 • 2000-5000 IU daily from October through April • Probiotic • Especially if GI symptoms
Managing Energy:Resilient Movement • Non-Exercise • Exercise • Mindful Movement
Managing Energy with “Non-Exercise” • Any movement of daily living • Burns calories • Tones muscles
Managing Energy with Exercise: Calming Anxiety • Any gentle, rhythmic movement • Being in nature is a plus
Managing Energy with Exercise: Increasing Energy More vigorous Increase heart rate Break a sweat Weight training Interval training
Exercise Guidelines: Adults • Weekly minimum exercise: • At least 2 ½ hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week • OR 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week • PLUS muscle-strengthening activity on at least 2 days per week • Source: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html
Exercise Guidelines: Children • At least 1 hour or more per day • Mostly aerobic • Should be vigorous at least 3 times per week • Include muscle strengthening (e.g. push-ups or gymnastics) at least 3 days per week as part of the 60 minutes • Include bone-strengthening activities, like jumping rope or running, at least 3 times per week.
Resilient Sleep Sleep problems are a common trigger for mental illness There is no way to recover fully unless sleep improves
Natural Sleep: How much? Average in 1900 Average today Timing Naps
The Enemies of Joy • Physical Imbalance and Toxicity • The Mind Run Rampant • The Illusion of Separation
Mindfulness • Awareness • Moment to moment • Intentional • Non-Judging and Acceptance • Slowing down, honoring the rhythms of nature • Observing the mind from a ring-side seat
The Psychology of Mindfulness Mindfulness (Vipassana) (The Mind Run Rampant) Heartfulness (Metta) (The Illusion of Separation) • The practice of seeing and accepting things as they really are • Learning to do less harm • The practice of learning to love well • Cultivating a larger self
Adventitious Suffering The Second Arrow
Favorite Flavors of Reaction Reactivity Emotion • Grasping • Aversion • Denial • Fear • Anger • Flat/Dull
Impermanence Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling Is final. -Rilke
Emotional Steadiness • Grounding • Non-Attachment • Opportunities for Mindfulness
Self-Aversion “I am now the most miserable man living.” -Abraham Lincoln January 1, 1841