Kundalini Yoga for addiction

Building self love and confidence takes extreme inner strength--a strength essential for navigating the tempest of life. Kundalini Yoga is both a mental and physical practice that is beneficial for bodies and for life. It isn’t all about the exercise. Kundalini Yoga helps one create a happy, healthy, holy life and is a great fit for both men and women of all ages. Read on to learn how Kundalini Yoga became the driving force in Long Time Sun Apparel owner, Kyla Rose Maher’s recovery from addiction.

This article was originally posted on the Kundalini Yoga Boston Blog

Photo courtesy of Kyla Rose at Kundalini Yoga

There once was a 16 year old girl who desperately wanted to be noticed.  She wanted nothing more than to fit in, be popular, and ultimately feel loved.  

She started a diet to be “more healthy” and started running to get “in shape”.  She lost a few pounds and people noticed.  She soon began to feel a “high” every time she saw the number go down on the scale.  It gave her a sense of accomplishment.  She started to feel attractive.

Food and losing weight quickly became all she thought about during the day.  It consumed all of her thoughts and dictated every decision. She ended up losing 40 lbs off her very normal sized frame that summer.  Her fixation with food became her best friend.  It was what she turned to to cope with life on a day-to-day basis.   

From there came obsession, isolation, depression, anxiety, and eventually hopelessness. Her eating disorder had completely taken over her life by the time she hit college, and she would continue to struggle with anorexia and bulimia nervosa into her mid 20s.   

As you most likely have sensed, that 16 year old girl was me. After living in a world of comparisons, judgments, and competitions, the simple act of closing my eyes during the yoga was an immensely profound and healing experience for me.  Kundalini Yoga was the driving force behind my recovery. The practice allowed me to process a lot of issues I’d never faced and many emotions I’d never allowed myself to feel…. [continue reading...]

The role the thyroid plays with addiction

There are two ways that thyroid function is indicated in the subject of addiction: one is physical and the other is metaphysical.

 

The physical correlation between the thyroid function and addiction is through the thyroid's role in handling blood sugar. If the body has any issue successfully maintaining blood sugar levels, rest assured there is a thyroid issue as well. I have seen through the years that controlling blood sugar behavior in the body is the key to successfully treating many situations previously understood as untreatable without prescription medication.  These include diagnoses like obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit disorder.

Photo courtesy of Thyroid Nation

 

Treatment for the physical thyroid is not something easily outlined. One needs to first diagnose if the thyroid itself as fast, slow, allergic, or even if it is tired and needs food in the form of targeted nutrition. If there is no issue with the thyroid itself as a gland, there may be an issue with conversion of the thyroid hormones into its usable form, which happens mostly in the intestines.

 

When the intestines are overwhelmed by virus, bacteria, mold, fungus, candida, etc.,  this interferes with the production and maintenance of the healthy digestive flora. What follows is interference with the body’s absorption of nutrients, and use of the thyroid hormones, which then interferes with blood sugar handling in the body. This is where we can most easily see the link between thyroid function (or thyroid hormone function) and the steadiness (or unsteadiness) of blood sugar patterns in the body. This information is sourced in a bit more complicated terms in our gold standard for physiology, a medical textbook called Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th edition, Guyton and Hall, in the chapter on thyroid function.

 

Photo courtesy of Thyroid Nation

When nutrient absorption doesn't take place at the needed rate and blood sugar is low, there is a tendency toward impulsive behavior and depression, both of which are underlying contributors to addictive behavior. Because the blood sugar stays unstable, the thyroid is most often compromised in that dance.  Impulsive action, while caused by the imbalance, either does not adequately raise blood sugar (shopping, sex, television, internet, etc.), or it raises blood sugar too much (as with binge eating, and alcohol use). It can also cause a reaction in the physical and energetic systems, simulating a blood sugar high (i.e.: the dissociation typical in the high from drug use). In these cases, modulating thyroid function, coupled with dietary changes to keep blood sugar steady and predictable, are the most effective ways to make significant changes in addictive behavior.

 

Additional treatment will settle around other issues that the individual tries to handle by escaping, but in my practice, I have found that if optimal thyroid function and blood sugar stability are addressed, then the biological roots of addiction can be effectively managed. This has been a regular experience of mine treating alcoholics. I have so far never worked with an alcoholic who ate breakfast regularly, and often they skip other meals as well. When blood sugar is managed through diet and the thyroid is supplemented through modulators that feed the thyroid and encourage it to work efficiently, the biological craving for alcohol is cut completely or almost completely. At that point, the next step is handing the metaphysical issues of addiction.   

 

The metaphysical connection between the thyroid and addiction is the thyroid's implication in the 5th energy center, or 5th chakra. Caroline Myss said that the 5th chakra lines up the head and the heart, and that if the head wants one thing and the heart wants another, you have the 5th energy center "out,” and addiction inevitably follows. I have seen this to be true in my practice. When the 5th chakra is not up to par, or out of balance in some way, always, always always do I find that the thyroid is also "not up to par."

 

According to Under Root Healing, "The thyroid is located in the part of our body that corresponds to the throat chakra.  The throat chakra is the center of energy in the body that is about speaking and hearing your inner truth and the truths of others."

Photo courtesy of Dharma Yoga Center

Aside from the physical thyroid-boosting work, one must ask oneself, “where have I not had firm boundaries on a situation that came back to bite me? Where was there something I needed to say but didn't?  "What do you want that is sanctioned by society?” is a great question for examination, because often I find that people want things that they think they should want but that really don't make their hearts sing. For example, the 17 hour a day job with the fabulous paycheck that does not leave time to enjoy that lifestyle... This type of situation is the basis of the head/heart split.

 

When these issues are identified and resolved to the best of that person's ability, the next step is often to address the physical issue by modulating or adjusting thyroid function to be more efficient through herbs, diet, whole food supplements or other means, and that helps tremendously in the resolution of addictive issues.

 

I hope this information has been helpful. Often the issues discussed in these blog posts are very complex, and I do my best to break them down into readable and understandable essays. If ever there are questions or inquiries about anything I have written, I may be reached at info@drlisaavila.com. As always, these posts are here for information purposes, and never to treat or informally diagnose any issues you may be experiencing individually; only a trained physician can do that in a real time consultation.

 

Lots of love to you..

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Dr. Lisa Avila

 




 

Notes from the Apothecary - Bridging the disconnect

 



Fighting addiction

Image courtesy of Kely Luzio-Cardona

Addiction is a word used very loosely in today’s society. Addiction is a disease that goes widely undiagnosed. When someone you know has an addiction, it affects your life just as much as it does theirs. As someone whose father has suffered from a heroin addiction, I wanted to share a few tips I have found to help them through the process of breaking the cycle.

When most people think of addiction and getting help, they think of the famous twelve steps from Alcoholics Anonymous. I believe that the twelve steps are essential, but I think what is usually left out is that the twelve steps aren’t always moving them forward. Sometimes a person battling addiction can make it all the way to step seven, then relapse and have to start all over again.

The first step for you, as the person outside the disease, is to notice the problem. Once you do, it’s time to get help. Not help for them, but for you. The National Addiction Hotline’s website or toll-free number (1-800-443-4357) can help you approach your loved one in a way that makes them receptive. You have to remember that their addiction is now a part of them, and they aren’t going to just let it go.

Once they finally admit they have an issue, there's a good chance that they are going to backslide. And they are going to lie. They have had to lie to maintain the habits needed to fuel their addiction, so don’t feel bad. Just be strong.

When you are helping someone battling addiction, you must first step out of yourself. At times you are going to feel responsible and want to give up on them, but you can’t. The most important asset your loved one has in this fight is you.

Because my father has been an addict all my life, I have been through the cycle. I know it's not easy but it will be worth it. Battling addiction is hard, but there are tools available to you, use them. Also, don’t be afraid to let your loved one fail and cry sometimes. Ask for help for yourself and don’t be afraid, because they’re not the only one struggling.

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By Ojanae Ellison

Transitions - Transitioning into the best version of you

Our Challenges: The worst or best thing to happen to us?

by Barbara Steingas

Chelsea No.3, by Sean David Wright

When we don’t feel worthy of health, happiness, joy and love, challenges tend to leave us feeling victimized. We end up feeling we have no power over our circumstances and have no choice but come to some form of resigned acceptance of our life. However, we have a choice over what we make of any situation. Instead of becoming powerless victims to our circumstances, what if we realized that we have the ability and power to make a choice of how we respond and deal with the situation, of what we make it mean, and how we are going to move forward?

Stories of overcoming challenges have been part of the human experience since the dawn of man. One story that is consistent in all indigenous cultures was uncovered by Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero With A Thousand Faces; the quest to overcome challenges and evil, thereby ultimately becoming the great hero or warrior. This journey is one we all participate in, but because these stories have trained us to believe only a select few are allowed to be the hero or heroine, we have come to believe that if we don't immediately succeed compared to our peers, we are the victim of our personal stories.

This was true for me when I was confronted with a serious illness that was considered incurable. At first, I believed the story of incurability and quickly fell victim to my circumstances. I didn’t question anything and naively believed what I was told. I felt it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me and at some point I would die an early death.  Over time, I got tired of the blind acceptance and I had my epiphany or ah-ha moment. I refused to be a victim and I set out to become the heroine of my own journey. I found my way back to health by making small changes at first.  Eventually I overcame my demons and challenges, become the victor over a seemingly impossible situation and became more than I could have ever dreamed.

Because I chose to take the road less traveled, I discovered that what I thought was the worst thing to ever happen to me was actually a blessing in disguise and one of the best experiences. It made me the person I am today. I found my mission in life by applying what I learned to help those on similar journeys, hopefully sparing them some of the suffering by sharing my own experiences. That is a wonderful feeling and gives my suffering meaning and purpose.

The challenges of my journey have allowed me to expand my heart and ability to love myself and to love others. I feel that is the ultimate reason we are here and are made to go through life’s challenges. When we ride out the storms of our biggest challenges, we can reap our greatest rewards by allowing our light to shine more brightly, becoming more than we thought we could ever be.

Giving back after a traumatic experience is the final, and one of the most important steps, to any long-term recovery program.  No matter whether suffering from a disease like Crohn’s or a disease like alcoholism, helping others through the stages of their journey to recovery encourages us to continue that personal work ourselves as we become a role model for others.

 

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Barbara Steingas

 

Live a Radiant Life - Tips to improve health, happiness & joy



November's issue: Tempest

Tempest submission by Tanya Fleming, Tanya Marie Photography

This issue covers the idea of tempest, which is also the title of Mind Key’s third anthology, Tempest: Life Upturned.  This theme represents phases of our life when our world seems inside out.  Autumn has faded and the serenity and snow blanketed months of winter have not yet arrived.  Storms turn vicious and sometimes our life seems to follow the same pattern: shorter days and longer nights, colder days and the stress of upcoming holidays. But a storm isn't always so bad.  It can stir us in a different and better direction; it can help us grow into who we need to be.  Even in our youth, we went through stressful times, only to learn and grow into the people we need to be.  

As we begin the month of November, we look at the stormy parts of life and our own troubled experiences. Addiction, losing someone we love, difficult relationships, and mental health awareness are common themes we’ll be covering, as will the tempest of NaNoWriMo--the idea of writing a novel over the course of 30 days despite our already tumultuous lives.  

How can you float through the stormy sea of life and what keeps you afloat?  How has it lead you into tranquil waters of the future?

If you have any thoughts for stories of tempest for this month, or for our anthology, please contact info@mindkey.me, or leave your comments here.