Nancy (Ayanna) Wyatt, My Get Well Guru
Let's Get Well, Stay Well, and Live Well!
Mindfulness Is For Everyone
Wikipedia Definition of Mindfulness: “Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment,
[1] which can be developed through the practice of meditation.[1] The term “mindfulness” is a translation of the Pali-term sati,[2] which is a significant element of some Buddhist traditions. The popular mindfulness movement was initiated by Jon Kabat-Zinn.”
PTSD is defined by the Mayo Clinic as follows.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s caused by an extremely stressful or terrifying event — either being part of it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
In addition, the Cleveland Clinic states:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic event. It involves symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, negative thoughts and beliefs, hypervigilance and more. The main treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy (talk therapy).
It adds:
People with PTSD have intense and intrusive thoughts and feelings related to the experience that last long after the event. PTSD involves stress responses like:
- Anxiety, depressed mood, or feelings of guilt or shame.
- Having flashbacks or nightmares.
- Avoiding situations, places and activities related to the traumatic event.
These symptoms cause distress and interfere with your daily functioning.
What Are Some Alternative Methods for Helping People who Have PTSD?
The Cleveland Clinic mentions only psychotherapy (talk therapy). However, I am aware of other approaches that can be used along with psychotherapy or instead of that treatment. I’ll share eleven examples that are evidence-supported and/or emerging approaches. There are more, but this already is a long post! Continue Reading →
Anxiety? I promise not to tell you, “Take three deep, cleansing breaths,” or “Count to ten,“ although that, too, would be helpful as a start!
Instead, I’ll recap some points covered in an inspirational Zoom session I had recently with some of my Life Coach colleagues. We talked about ways in which anxiety is a
helpful messenger
motivator
tool for success
in both business and personal situations.
We shall look at some examples. (If you’re in a hurry or just want to – scroll past the definitions to “get to the meat” of the conversation. Look for the heading, “Pain Is the Point – In a Good Way!”) Scroll to the end to find books as reference materials, if you want to learn more from experts on the subject. Continue Reading →
Stress Less and Change Your Life!
I’m about to play a trick on you now. I’m going to take the teachings of Matthew E. May, in his New York Times article, Achieving Mindfulness at Work, No Meditation Cushion Required, and change the utilization of his wisdom. He says,
There are two approaches to mindfulness: Eastern and Western. The Eastern view indeed positions meditation as an essential tool to achieving a mindful state. But the Eastern view is more about quieting the mind and suspending thought. This philosophy is almost the complete opposite of the Western view of mindfulness, which centers on active thinking.
I recommend that you read his whole article, which is thoughtful and well-written. Matthew is the author of a book, entitled, Winning the Brain Game. Let’s explore the above concept a bit first.
Wikipedia Definition of Mindfulness: “Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment,
[1] which can be developed through the practice of meditation.[1] The term “mindfulness” is a translation of the Pali-term sati,[2] which is a significant element of some Buddhist traditions. The popular mindfulness movement was initiated by Jon Kabat-Zinn.”
Gardening
We’re mentioning types of gardens and talking about both mental and physical health benefits related to any style of gardening. 
You don’t have to be a Master Gardener to benefit physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually from working with plants. There may even be value for Alzheimer’s patients and for people suffering from depression. Interestingly, PsychCentral (famous for its personality type tests) mentions gardening in its article, 10 Small Steps You Can Take Today To Improve Bipolar Disorder.
Whether you have one orchid, a Japanese garden, an English Country Garden, a terrarium, a bonsai plant, or pots in a windowsill, gardening can help you feel better fast, at any age.
Maybe you have an indoor or outdoor aeroponic garden, or you want to create a veggie Tower Garden, which allows you to avoid having to dig, weed, use pesticides, and mulch. You could choose a cactus dish garden, a water garden, or a tabletop garden.
Perhaps, you want to attract birds, bees, or butterflies. There are so many options.
We’ll discuss the mental and physical health benefits of gardening in just a hot minute. But first, here is a very short tribute to someone who has been an uplifting blessing in my life for years.
