Posts Tagged ‘nervous system’

California 2022 September 24, 20:49; September 25, 21:44; September 27, 22:43; September 28, 14:54; September 29, 14:18; September 30, 12:55

[ Addendum 2022 October 2

On YouTube Plum Village channel

“A Regulated Nervous System: An Orientation by Jo-Ann Rosen | #11″

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GOsXEWuPy-4

(Beloved teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, founder of the International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism, passed away on 22nd January 2022.)

WALKING helps Beautiful Brain produce dopamine, serotonin, etc. for ease of movement.

If you cannot walk… then visualize WALKING.

I, Teresa Jade LeYung, wish everyone wellness, loving kindness, peace and happiness.

Merci beaucoup, Sasa Southard, for the inspiring message on card!

Recovering from illness continues to teach me how to listen to Beautiful Brain/Body and respond with intention. I am so very grateful to everyone who cares about my well-being.

I know now that aftermath of any virus is not for me to dismiss. Living with post Shingles* virus symptoms that impact my nervous system / work life / private life  is sobering and humbling. I am thankful for “healthful” lessons.

[ * Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near the spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. https://www.mayoclinic.org ]

Our beautiful brains. Our beautiful central nervous system!

THIS WEEK, THE TOPIC OF THIS ARTICLE GRABBED MY ATTENTION –

“COVID Raises Risk of Long-Term Brain Injury, Large U.S. Study Finds”

Sept. 22, 2022  By Julie Steenhuysen

[....]

Compared with the control groups, people infected with COVID had a 77% higher risk of developing memory problems.

People infected with the virus also were 50% more likely to have an ischemic stroke, which is caused by blood clots, compared with the never infected group.

Those who had COVID were 80% more likely to have seizures, 43% more likely to have mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, 35% more likely to have headaches and 42% more likely to suffer movement disorders, such as tremors, compared with the control groups.

Full article: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-09-22/covid-raises-risk-of-long-term-brain-injury-large-u-s-study-finds 

[ Addendum 2022 October 19

What this engaging article and many other engaging articles don't offer is a summary of the biology, how this virus is passed around, and what we can all do to decrease spreading this virus and variants.

Inhalation. Exhalation. Outdoors. Indoors. Droplets. Aerosols. Wearing masks. Proper ventilation. Air filtration. Vaccination. Consequences. Getting tested. Isolate. Quarantine. Exposure to people who are exposed to large numbers of other people. Variables. Where is the float plan? ]

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OUR BEAUTIFUL BRAINS

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Danielle Rosenman, M.D. says:

“The brain changes itself constantly throughout our entire lives. All of our experience changes the brain.

“Everything that we experience, think, feel, believe, and learn changes the physical structure of the brain, the chemicals in the brain, and electricity in the brain.

“This ability of the brain to change is called neuroplasticity.

“Neuroplasticity lets us learn through our entire lives.  The more often we repeat a task, the better we learn it. Repetition helps us learn things like reading, adding numbers, or playing a musical instrument. We often call this type of learning ‘practice’.”

During neuroplasticity coaching, Dr. Danielle Rosenman instructs:  “Smile for yourself and talk out loud to your brain. When you learn to talk to your brain, you are opening up a new life.”

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Professor Lorimer Moseley says:

“The mechanisms that cause us to change in a good way can also cause us to change in a way that makes our lives more difficult and more unpleasant….  Our brain produces pain.  Pain is our most sophisticated protective device. Your systems learn how to make pain….” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc

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On page 4 of workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION,

Dr. Michael H. Moskowitz  and Dr. Marla D. Golden enlighten:

“Without your brain, there is no pain. Your brain doesn’t just receive information from your body, but sends directions back out to tell your body what to do.

“Your brain ‘reads’ everything going on in your body 30 times a second for your entire life.

“The adult brain changes throughout our lives based upon the information it receives from our bodies.

“We only experience pain when the electrical signals reach the thinking part of our brains.”

“This is why during surgery, when general anesthesia shuts down the thinking part of the brain, the person doesn’t feel pain.”

And… Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden say: “The more sensation each part of your body has, the bigger the image of that body part in your brain (page 4 of workbook) … Shrink the pain map by flooding the brain using:

…thoughts, images, senses, memories, soothing emotions, movement, beliefs.” (page 13 of  their workbook) 

http://neuroplastix.com/

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Dr. Norman Doidge’s first book – 

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

Dr. Norman Doidge’s second book –  

The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity

https://www.normandoidge.com

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Another book that inspires me to conduct research, collect my data before seeing a doctor, prepare my questions, and trust my intuition –

Victoria Sweet, M.D.’s book SLOW MEDICINE The Way to Healing 

https://www.victoriasweet.com/  Over the years that Victoria Sweet has been a physician, “healthcare” has replaced medicine, “providers” look at their laptops more than at their patients, and costs keep soaring, all in the ruthless pursuit of efficiency.

Victoria Sweet, M.D. is the award-winning author of God’s Hotel: A Doctor, a Hospital, and a Pilgrimage to the Heart of Medicine.

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My deepest gratitude goes to everyone who cares about my well-being, and to all the authors / physicians referenced above, and, since my “adventure” which began in August 2020… to the physicians / healers listed below… in “reverse order of appearance”…

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Stephanie Wilger, NC of HEALTH HAPPENS, LLC says:

“As an internal organ and reproductive organ specialist, I feel the way your internal organs, tissues, fluids, energy, bones are responding, and gently assist to coordinate them for better communication and function.  You relax and let go of tensions, stored emotions, becoming more vibrant, more yourself.  Adhesions and scar tissue:  from C-sections, surgery, accidents, are also released for more energy flow and movement.”  https://stephaniewilgernc.net/

Thank you, Stephanie, for telling me about

Taoist Meditation: The Six Healing Sounds
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7UZa_zhOg9A
YouTube channel: Andrew McCart

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Master practitioner and master teacher Gilles Marin says:

“TaoTouch is the art to help people heal, get rid of pain, and bring back vibrant health by reconciling self, soul and spirit while triggering emotional processing.  This is done through a traditional Taoist monastic healing practice called Chi Nei Tsang, which works with deep and gentle abdominal touch to enhance health and vitality to the internal organs.”

Look for Gilles Marin’s books, lectures, CDs and podcasts.

www.chineitsang.com      http://chineitsang.marin.free.fr/

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Dr. Danielle Rosenman

Dr. Rosenman uses neuroplasticity, imagery, meditation, psychotherapy, and other techniques in her Medical Counseling practice and in the innovative “Tools for Healing” groups.  She counsels people about options, and provides recommendations for standard and complementary/alternative medical treatment, problem-solving, and decision-making, all focusing on how to feel better.

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Dr. Amy Grace Lam says: “Reconnect to your body’s knowing.”

Dr. Lam is a healer, writer and activist committed to supporting diverse global communities for healing and transformation. Through her vibrational energy coaching, Amy creates experiences for individuals to bridge spiritual and physical realities into a magical conversation with each other.

She loves working with individuals to connect to their inner wisdom, step into their leadership and confidently manifest their gifts to the world. Amy’s writing and art have been featured in literary and academic journals and Bay Area performance and artistic venues.  Please visit:   http://amygracelam.com/

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Marie-Christine Cornet (now in France), Chi Nei Tsang and Somatic Experience practitioner, says:

“Connecting to your body and its wealth of intelligence and wisdom is the portal to living Life deeply and authentically.” http://www.mariechristinecornet.com/

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Stephanie Doucette, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. OM,  California Licensed Acupuncturist and Clinical Herbalist is

nationally certified as a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine and practices integrative orthopedic therapy, bringing together acupuncture, deep tissue massage and manual orthopedic techniques to treat neuromuscular injury and chronic pain.  http://www.stephaniedoucette.com/

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A thousand thanks to “Country Doctor LaH” and her petite Gracie for taking excellent care of me during Shingles outbreak in  2020. Your loving kindness was a powerful medicine.

To everyone who wished me wellness and extended your loving kindness, I wish you vibrant health, loving kindness, peace and happiness always!

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Then, there’s the author whose book taught me how to show respect and particular appreciation to everyone when I am in beloved City of Light.

The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World’s Most Glorious – and Perplexing – City 

by David Lebovitz  https://www.davidlebovitz.com/

Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Lebovitz!

Merci beaucoup, author and photographer Margie Yee Webb, for gifting the book in 2016!

Merci beaucoup, world traveler, teacher and author Elisa Sasa Southard www.SasaSouthard.com, for introducing me to the city my heart calls Home!

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Thank you, gardener extraordinaire and world traveler Nan Noonan (mama to Gracie and Kiki), for letting me visit your “wellness center” as often as I need.

Thank you to my sister Maria Kawah Leung (author of LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET) and Happy Dog and ALL precious friends, clients, colleagues, mentors, family members, and readers and writers.

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Thank you for reading my blog post:

“Beautiful Brain Body, Nervous System, Viruses, Wellness, Neuroplasticity Throughout Our Entire Lives”

I wish you vibrant health, loving kindness, peace and happiness always!

Sincerely,

Story Theme Consultant / Photo Historian / Author / Public Library and Public School Advocate

http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa’s Blog

Writing Coach Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”

Love Made Of Heart ®

Blog Post #601

2021 Feb 2, 22:08–22:43;  Feb 6, 22:15–; Feb 8, 00:54–; Feb. 9, 21:21–; Feb. 11, 01:06–; Feb. 12, 01:45; amended Feb. 13; amended Feb. 15

Story Continuity / Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says…

Thank you to all the precious people in my life who have given me joyful memories – elixirs as I journey through the dark side of pain, practice neuroplasticity … to achieve wellness.

The experts and resources for wellness I found in 2015 to help my papa and friends are now helping me as I retrain my Brain to STOP sending my body pain signals and other unpleasant sensations after a bout of shingles last year. (According to Mayo Clinic… “After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles…. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.”)

I am forever grateful to Dusky Pierce, MFT who led me to Dr. Norman Doidge’s books (about neuroplasticity/our beautiful adaptable brains) which introduced me to methods developed by Dr. Moshé Feldenkrais, and, to Dr. Michael Moskowitz.  Also, I am forever grateful to Linda A. Harris for remembering Dr. Danielle Rosenman https://www.medicalcounseling.net/; Dr. Rosenman (trained by Dr. Moskowitz)  has coached me to practice neuroplasticity for wellness.

Techniques are simple, the journey not so easy.  Persistent pain signals and other unpleasant sensations BE GONE BE GONE!

A unique aspect of retraining Beautiful Brain (BB) to rid persistent pain is not to talk about it.  BB is so good at creating pain, my talking about it and thinking about it only sabotage my healing.

During a webinar with Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden http://www.neuroplastix.com, Dr. Moskowitz recommended listening to Professor Lorimer Moseley talk about our brains and neuroplasticity – that Professor Moseley uses humor in his presentations.

This blog post contains my notes from –

“Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley -

Successful Ageing Seminar 2013″

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc

“What we now understand about pain.”

The term “neuroplasticity”  = how adaptable our nervous system is. The other side of neuroplasticity is sometimes called “the dark side.”

“The mechanisms that cause us to change in a good way can also cause us to change in a way that makes our lives more difficult and more unpleasant.

“If you have a brain, you will experience pain. If you don’t have a brain, you won’t experience pain.

“We feel pain in our body, and, we feel it in a particular location, but, it is impossible to feel pain without a brain, and, it is completely possible to feel pain without the body part.”

Professor Moseley tells his story  about encountering a man (with wooden leg) who was in agonizing pain (where his leg would have been). The man experienced SEVERE pain but he had NO tissue damage.

“The brain produces pain.  The brain does not recognize pain coming from something else.”

“Chronic pain is misunderstood.”

All images are from “ Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley - Successful Ageing Seminar 2013″

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc

 World’s most burdensome Health Issues

#1 Chronic back pain

#2 Depression

#4 Chronic neck pain

#8 Migraine and headache

#9 Diabetes

#11 Osteoarthritis

“Pain is our most sophisticated protective device.”

Nociceptors – detection of tissue damage or danger = danger receptors

[  Example from me, Teresa - at age 8, I touched a hot iron.  The nerves in my finger sent messages to my brain which then instantaneously sent pain to protect me; the pain stopped me from continuing touching the source of danger. ]

Professor Moseley gave example:  Violinists.  Pain threshold of their left little finger is lower than pain threshold of their right little finger. Why? Left little finger is used to play the instrument while right little finger could be missing but musician would still be able to hold the bow. Fingers on left hand need more protection; brain is more protective of left hand.

For Professor Moseley’s talk “Getting a grip on pain and the brain” go to:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc

**

You can experience SEVERE pain but have NO damage.

AND

You can experience NO pain but have severe damage.

Brain produces pain.  Brain is the most trainable we’ve got!

Pain depends on how much danger your brain THINKS you are in, not how much danger you are really in.

Information gets stored in the brain. Brain uses information to evaluate danger to your body. Does Brain think this situation is more dangerous or less dangerous? If Brain’s conclusion is “this is dangerous”, Brain sends pain.

[  Teresa here…

Even though shingles rash healed completely last year… the scar tissue is red.  The color “red” has meaning for my Brain.   “Red” represents “hot” and “dangerous”.  My Brain remembers the hot iron incident from my childhood, and, all my experiences with pain. Brain evaluates all that information and concludes that I still need protecting, so, Brain does what Brain does so well . . . create pain signals to protect me. I can’t sip hot tea or stand in front of a hot stove for more than a minute … before Brain sends signals to “protect” me.  How I retrain my brain (“interrupt” unpleasant signals) are summarized in my blog posts published on November 6, 2020, January 3, 2021, and January 13, 2021. Since our brains are unique (the way our fingerprints are unique), what works for me might not work for someone else. Not only do our brains record our experiences, but also incidents we’ve witnessed, heard about, read about.

If my brain had ignored what I had read and heard …

(from Mayo Clinic site, medical experts, and my own memory of a loved one describing her experience with shingles) – “that the condition can be very painful … that the most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia, which causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared…”

then I wouldn’t be feeling pain now. ]

All images are from “ Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley - Successful Ageing Seminar 2013?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc

**

What you’re seeing is produced by the brain.  According to meaning!

At about 19 minutes and 39 seconds into his talk, Professor Moseley shows this slide on the screen to demonstrate how our “visual experience depends on the evaluation of sensory input.”

We see a checkerboard of white and gray squares; the greenish cylinder is casting shadows on some of the squares.  The square that has “A” on it appears to be gray. The square that has “B” on it appears to be white.

Retinal information is sent to the Brain,  then the Brain gathers everything else we’ve learned in our entire life – for meaning.

Professor Moseley then extracts these two squares from the board – the two square are the same color!  They are the same color when no other data are presented to create meaning.

Our brain produces a different picture when it evaluates our experiences, contexts, and environment … for meaning.

You are seeing this, but, it’s not really there. Like pain. You are feeling it because the brain produces it.

Professor Moseley shows  more examples . . .

” … the nature of your relationship, the roles that you have in society, the role in that context affects your pain. Not how you cope with your pain…  It doesn’t change the ‘danger message,’  it changes the pain. ”

How dangerous is this, really?

When Brain concludes that the situation is dangerous, Brain will send pain signals, even when reality is not dangerous.

And vice versa . . .

 At about 22 minutes and 30 seconds into his talk, Professor Moseley shows the slide of the runner who fractured his leg during triple jump at American Olympics Trials.  The runner’s brain evaluated his priorities and ignored the danger messages. Even though his body was experiencing severe damage … his brain didn’t send pain … until he looked down at his knee.

Pain depends on how much danger your brain THINKS you are in, not how much danger you are really in.

At about 25 minutes and 10 seconds into his talk,  Professor Lorimer Moseley shares personal experience.

He was walking in the bush, felt something on his outer leg.

How dangerous is this, really?  He has walked in this setting hundreds of time.

Danger receptors in Body and Brain; nerves influence other nerves.  His visual cortex plus memory circuits concluded that the sensation is the result of a twig scratching the skin of his leg.

He swam. He woke up 4 days later, had been bitten by Eastern Brown snake.

High danger but felt low pain.

Nine months later, walking in the bush again. He felt something on his outer leg. This time his brain sent harsh pain to protect him. When he looked down, this time it was just a twig.  Very low danger but felt severe pain.

**

at 34 minutes, Professor Lorimer Moseley talks about “The Brain’s evaluation of danger.”

All these systems that end up producing pain become more sensitive the longer you have pain.

Your systems learn how to make pain, so, you need less and less to aggravate your pain.

Things that don’t seem related can aggravate your pain.

Need to untangle the system.

Pain depends on how much danger my brain THINKS I am in, not how much danger I am really in.

[ Teresa here …  Our neighbors are modifying their house to “age in place” – construction workers hammering, using power tools … Monday through Friday.  The noise is impacting everyone’s tranquility, but, not everyone is experiencing pain the way I am.  Thank you, Dr. Amy Grace Lam, for helping me decipher why my brain has concluded that noise is dangerous. I had (but my brain and body have not) forgotten … about another time in my life when noise from neighbors impacted my health, forcing me to leave a lovely home.  So now my brain protects me by sending me pain and other unpleasant sensations. What beautiful brain-body communications we have!]

At 35 minutes, Professor Moseley gives additional data regarding the Dark Side of Neuroplasticity

“One in five Westerners  have chronic pain that disable them. The majority…  we can’t explain in their bodies. Understand what contributes to pain….”

What implies “Threat” to body tissue?

What implies “Safety”?

at 38 minutes and 20 seconds into his talk, Professor Moseley says:

“Aging system, less responsive. Sensitized system, more protective. Not just activity that Brain is exposed to. Anything that the Brain finds as threat.”

[ Teresa here … I was studying two Charles Chaplin  movies – both scripts are brilliant. However, the themes in MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947) sparked pain signals; two scenes in A KING IN NEW YORK (1957) did the same. ]

The longer you have pain, the better your system gets at producing it.

The good news:  My body and brain are adaptable and will change if I train them.

I am determined to walk and imagine my way to wellness!

This is my journey. All that I have learned from people who care about people have brought me here. I thank you with all my heart.

I wish everyone excellent health, kindness, and sweet laughter.

Thank you for reading my blog post “Brain / Pain Scientist Professor Lorimer Moseley uses humor to help us understand the Dark Side of Pain” 

Again, thank you, Dr. Michael Moskowitz, for recommending Professor Lorimer Moseley’s talks.

Having been coached by Dr. Danielle Rosenman, and, remembering what I’ve learned from Dusky Pierce (Byron Katie https://thework.com/), and . . .

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now using the workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION  by Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden . . . I am keeping my BB busy!

Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden http://www.neuroplastix.com

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What else had helped me?  Having learned the Feldenkrais Method when my right hand was on pain scale of 8 out of 10.

https://feldenkrais.com/

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2021 January 30 Haiku poem  by  Teresa Jade LeYung

Brain much too busy

to send Body pain signals

during walk, must walk.

If I cannot walk

I imagine legs walking

step by step by step

For other posts in my blog, please go to: https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog   If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to our our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity.

Love Made Of Heart ®

Story Continuity / Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung offers resources regarding our beautiful  brains  / persistent pain / depression  / wellness through her Blog: http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/

Teresa Jade LeYung, an American naturalized citizen of Chinese ancestry, is a story/theme consultant, author of LOVE MADE OF HEART:  Journey Through Mental Illness (daughter-mother novel archived at the San Francisco History Center and used by college professors), BUILD YOUR WRITER’S PLATFORM & FANBASE IN 22 DAYS (a workbook), and TALKING TO MY DEAD MOM Monologues (the first monologue received an award from Redwood Writers Ten-Minute Play Festival), an advocate for public libraries and public schools, creator of http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ , and, admirer of City of Light. Composing Haiku poems is a new love for LeYung.