Posts Tagged ‘neurological disorder’
2021 December 12, 13:37
Addendum: The techniques in Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s and Dr. Marla Golden’s workbook helps me “outgrow” persistent unpleasant sensations including pain.
2021 December 9, 15:18 – 16:18; December 10, 18:00 – 19:58 California
Dear Reader,
I have been watching episodes of The Jack Benny Program (TV series 1950-1965) and laughing out loud; thank you to the folks who post them on YouTube.
Laughing out loud is good medicine – a mighty elixir – for me.
The world continues to be impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. How can I think about laughing?
I am still dealing with a neurological disorder. How can I think about laughing?
Smiling for one’s self; laughing for one’s self; walking; imagining walking; moving to soothing thoughts – are some of the activities which help our beautiful brains produce beneficial chemicals. What I have learned as an advocate for my papa since 2015 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease … and what I’ve learned and continue to learn – as a patient of persistent unpleasant sensations including pain - is that there are things I can do for myself to feel better. Even if the sensation of wellness seems ephemeral… I’ll take wellness moments. Thank you very much!
I remember sitting with Vicki Weiland https://vickiweiland.wordpress.com …knowing that it took our dear friend many days (oftentimes many weeks, even months) to prepare herself for visitors. Awful persistent pain was the symptoms.
On two occasions, I witnessed how laughter was a mighty elixir for Vicki. Someone in the room said something funny; or Vicki herself said something funny and we all laughed … at that moment Vicki’s entire body expressed wellness.
How we all wished that our pal would have millions of wellness moments.
Angel Vicki,
I’ve been watching my favorite episodes of The Jack Benny Program again and again. Interestingly, several of them feature James Stewart and his wife Gloria. More about that … at the end of my blog post.
This afternoon – Thursday, December 9, 2021 – while organizing my inventory of greeting cards, I found a note I had written to myself. You had called me on October 8, 2012 at 19:00 from your new home. You said “The trees and mountain are glorious. But my pain is not going away….”
Even though you were ill, you gave your time to call and to ask about Sasa Southard https://sasasouthard.com and other friends at Women’s National Book Association and San Francisco Writers Conference. How I wish a physician with Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s insight about persistent pain was your physician. The workbook that Dr. Michael Moskowitz co-wrote with Dr. Marla Golden was published only three months after your phone call (in January 2013), however, I didn’t know about it until last year (2020) when I was battling persistent pain myself.
I wish you Bliss, mon amie, and humbly ask you to help more people find Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION
With deep gratitude,
Teresa Jade
TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION
written by Michael H. Moskowitz, MD and Marla D. Golden, DO
http://neuroplastix.com
Your Brain On Pain
Why doesn’t the pain stop?
Listen to your body talk.
Use your brain to stop your pain.
Below are chapter / section titles of the workbook:
Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s Instructions for Using this Workbook
“This worbook has been designed to be helpful for practitioners and people experiencing persistent pain. It is a practical, visual guide to neuroplastic treatment approaches for treating persistent pain.”
“Neuroplastic Transformation provides a model that approaches persistent pain where it transforms from a symptom to disease. It also gives the person experiencing pain’s relentless persistence, a chance to treat it with the same neuroplastic phenomena that created it, restoring balance to pain processing.”
At the end of each section is “Reining in the Runaway Brain” (patients share techniques they use)
Sections in the workbook:
pages 4 – 16 Section 1 – Introduction
Brain Facts (page 4); Brain Change (page 5);
Neuroplasticity Definition
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New Learning Changes the Brain
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The Brain Changes the Body
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The Body Changes the Brain
Neuroplasticity Rules
Workbook page 5
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What Gets Fired Gets Wired
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Use It or Lose It
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When You Break ‘Em You Make ‘Em; When You Make ‘Em You Break ‘Em
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Fight Fire With Fire
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Reverse the Forces That Have Caused Pain to Persist
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Restore Normal Pain Responses
R.A.F.T. (page 9)
– Rescue
– Adjustment
– Functional
– Transformation
Persistent vs Acute Pain
Workbook pages 10, 11
Counter-Stimulating Pain
Worbook page 11, 12, 13
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Pain Reassigns Brain Cells
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Take Back Brain Cells
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Use Graphics to Counter-Stimulate Pain
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Become Active in Your Own Care
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Counter-Stimulate Your Brain
Shrink the Pain Map by Flooding the Brain (page 13)
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Push Back Against Pain Spikes and Intrusions
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Get Inside Your Own Head
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Always Counter-Stimulate Your Pain
Active vs. Passive Treatment
Practice Makes Perfect
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Brain is Most Accessible Organ
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Avoid Pain; Pursue Pleasure
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End Pain’s Tyranny
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Reject Pain’s Inevitability
M.I.R.R.O.R. (page 14) MIRROR is:
– Motivation
– Intention
– Relentlessness
– Reliability
– Opportunity
– Restoration
N.O.R.M.A.L (page 14) NORMAL is:
Neuroplastic Optimization and Reduction of Medication for Adaptive Living
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Rebalance Pain Processing Circuits
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Body and Brain Act Together
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Persistent Pain is a Learned Activity
People Taking Back Control of Their Pain (page 16)
pages 18 – 24 Section 2 – Touch
Mom the Neuroscientist – It Takes a Mother’s Touch (page 18)
Hands That See (page 21)
Healing Touch (page 22)
pages 26 – 33 Section 3 - Neuroplastic Brain and Body
NO BRAIN, NO PAIN. Nociception. (page 26)
The Brain Learns Pain; Too Smart for It’s Own Good (page 27)
Brain and Body (page 28)
Fire and Wire … Or Not
Cause and Cure for Pain Persistence (page 29)
pages 35 – 41 Section 4 – Pain Gone Wild
Limbic Activation (page 35)
Pain Makes Pain; Making a Bad Thing Worse (page 36)
Unpleasantness – As if the Pain Wasn’t Enough (page 37)
BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE – Over the Edge – Amygdala and Hippocampus (page 38)
IN THE AMYGDALA – Where the Wild Things Are (page 39)
Pages 43 – 52 Section 5 - Soothing
Oh That Smell; The Nose Knows (pages 47, 48)
BELIEF IS RELIEF (page 49)
Pages 54 – 64 Section 6 - Mood and Pain
Pain and Mood Circuit (page 54)
Relax, Calm, Soothe – GABA to the Rescue (page 55)
Limbic Deactivation – Emotional Calm (page 57)
Access the Brain with THOUGHTS IMAGES SENSATIONS MEMORIES SOOTHING EMOTIONS MOVEMENT BELIEFS (page 58)
[ This wonderful workbook helps me understand just how awesome the beautiful brain is, however, my initial success was due to the coaching I received from Dr. Danielle Rosenman who was trained by Dr. Michael Moskowitz. The techniques helped me "outgrow" persistent pain. ]
Pages 66 – 74 Section 7 - Pleasure – the Antidote for Pain
BLISS – Anandamide (page 69)
WELL BEING – Endorphins (page 71)
ALL WE NEED IS LOVE – Oxytocin (page 72)
Page 75 Section 8 – Conclusion – A New Beginning
Below are names of the writers who were credited for these particular episodes of
The Jack Benny Program which brought healing laughter
Written by Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Al Gordon, Hal Goldman -
James and Gloria Stewart are celebrating their wedding anniversary at a restaurant; Jack has invited himself and has brought girlfriend Mildred who sings (loudly) to Mr. Stewart when the band plays the French song “La Vie En Rose” (according to https://frenchmoments.eu/je-vois-la-vie-en-rose-the-story-of-the-song/ the music was composed by Marguerite Monnot and Louis Guglielmi aka Louiguy, lyrics and also sung by Édith Piaf)
”Jack In Paris” (guests: Mary Livingstone, Maurice Chevalier) – according to https://www.imdb.com this show is Season 7, Episode 14 – Oh to see Arc de Triomphe et la Tour Eiffel!
Written by Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Hal Goldman, Al Gordon -
“The Income Tax Show” is hilarious! - Season 15, Episode 4; October 16, 1964
“Jack Directs Film” Season 14, Episode 6; Oct. 29, 1963 Jack finds out that Gloria Stewart is in James Stewart’s new movie and wants to congratulate her on the set.
Written by Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Milt Josefsberg, John Tackaberry
Jack Benny Program “The Jackie Gleason Show” is hilarious! Wanting to impress Jackie Gleason, Jack and Rochester are staying in the penthouse suite in the Saint Regis Hotel. Yes, Jack is staying there (at no cost)
Again, thank you to the folks who post them on YouTube.
Thank you for reading Teresa Jade LeYung’s blog post: “Wellness, Laughter, Writers, Jack Benny Program, Dr. Michael H. Moskowitz, Dr. Marla D. Golden, TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN Workbook”
For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains, Pain, and Neuroplasticity in my blog https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog … If you scroll to top of page, 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 the topic.
I wish you new vitality, total wellness!
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
(formerly Teresa LeYung-Ryan)
Story Theme Consultant / Photo Historian / Author / Public Library and Public School Advocate
http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog https://LoveMadeOfHeart.com/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 ®
“MIT new study – Time spent indoors increases risk of COVID at 6 feet or 60 feet…”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/23/mit-researchers-say-youre-no-safer-from-covid-indoors-at-6-feet-or-60-feet-in-new-study.html
To read Chi Nei Tsang Master Healer and Master Teacher Gilles Marin’s tried and true methods to attack viruses and neutralize them
https://www.chineitsang.com/post/prevent-getting-the-flu-and-help-eradicate-covid-19-contagion?mc_cid=186e80f0ec&mc_eid=ad8adb3075
2021 August 14, 21:08 California
Dear Reader,
I hope you are well.
Several people I care about are struggling with illnesses and side effects of medications. This blog post is to share what Dr. Danielle Rosenman has taught me – to retrain Beautiful Brain to wellness.
Dr. Rosenman herself needs our prayers and well wishes right now. She needs her “bag of tricks”. I hope Dr. Rosenman’s family members have photos of her in every room, in her field of vision, so that her Beautiful Brain can “register” her own vibrancy. “Seeing” one’s vitality helps Beautiful Brain relearn wellness. May Dr. Rosenman enjoy complete wellness soon.
[When we don't have photos or when we have weak or no eyesight or when no one is around to help us - we send our thoughts to memories of our vibrant selves. ]
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.”
A thousand thanks to Dr. Rosenman for the coaching sessions, and to Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden for their magnificent workbook and webinars, to Professor Lorimer Moseley for his wonderful presentations (find him on YouTube), to Dr. Victoria Sweet for instilling appreciation of “slow medicine”, to Dr. Norman Doidge for his books (find him on YouTube), Dr. Amy Grace Lam for extraordinary healing, and, of course to all the dear hearts who care about my well-being.
Thank you, Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, for leading me to Dr. Doidge’s books. Thank you, Linda Harris, for remembering that Dr. Rosenman uses Dr. Moskowitz’s techniques.
Prior to August 2020 . . . “Shingles” “chickenpox reactivated” “postherpetic neuralgia” “persistent pain” “neurological disorder” “keloid scars” were just words to me.
When Shingles rash broke out, and the pain, oh the acute pain (thank you dear Linda Harris and GH for your loving care) . . . my primary care physician prescribed Gabapentin, in addition to Tylenol and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. After the rash began to heal … but the pain would not go away (persistent pain) and depression set in …. I was in bigger trouble.
In his engaging talks, Professor Lorimer Moseley explains:
“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.
“Pain is our most sophisticated protective device.”
“The term ‘neuroplasticity‘ refers to the adaptability of our nervous system. 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.”
Unpleasant sensations? Pain. Depression. Anxiety. Dizziness. And, what I call “Ick”
Truths help me persevere in retraining “Beautiful Brain” (“BB”)
From Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s workbook, from Dr. Rosenman’s guide, from Professor Moseley’s talks, from (Teresa Jade LeYung) my own experiences:
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The brain doesn’t just receive information from the body, but sends directions back out to tell the body what to do.
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The brain “reads” everything going on in the body 30 times a second for an entire life.
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The adult brain changes throughout our lives based upon the information it receives from our bodies
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The brain changes whenever we learn to do something new or when we stop doing something
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The brain stores not only all my experiences, but also, everything I’ve watched and heard, in addition to genetic information
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The adaptable nervous system – adaptability which scientists call neuroplasticity.
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Without the thinking conscious brain, I wouldn’t feel any sensation – pleasant ones or unpleasant ones.
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What is the antidote for pain, depression, anxiety, and other unpleasant symptoms? PLEASURE.
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Beautiful Brains (doing their jobs to protect Body Tissue) can make mistakes, mistakes that deplete vitality.
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Thank goodness BBs (even when stubborn) can be retrained!
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The simple act of smiling for myself helps BB’s natural production of chemicals that include GABA, Anandamide, Endorphins, Oxytocin.
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My BB is THE expert of my experiences; however the expert can and does make mistakes; I can retrain BB to gain wellness
I was successful retraining Beautiful Brain (“BB”) to stop sending pain signals. My troubles were over . . . so I thought.
Gradually, pain morphed into another unpleasant symptoms / awful sensation. It even spread to parts of the body that never had Shingles rash.
[2021 August 15, 12:03pm Addendum –
Also, Beautiful Brain reactivates pain signals from past injuries (in my hand and in my knee). BB’s wanting to protect body tissue, so BB sends signals to grab my attention, except grabbing my attention this way saps my energy. It’s like an alarm clock’s “snooze” setting in malfunction, going off at random.]
Remembering what Professor Moseley said - that “Pain is our most sophisticated protective device” – and what my mentor (author Margaret Davis) said to me: “Teresa, can’t you apply the very same techniques you used to retrain your brain on pain to rid this undesirable sensation?”
YES, I can.
Through their workbook, Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden instruct: ” … harness the power of our brains.” On the last page of their workbook, they leave us with plenty of hope: “Neuroplastic Transformation opens a new approach to treating people living with persistent pain …. The overarching message is that persistent pain can be challenged and defeated by using the same principles that have created it.”
Interrupt unpleasant signals with pleasurable …
- THOUGHTS
- IMAGES
- SENSATIONS
- MEMORIES
- SOOTHING EMOTIONS
- MOVEMENT
- BELIEFS
Dr. Michael Moskowitz and Dr. Marla Golden http://neuroplastix.com/
My February 11, 2021 blog post “Brain / Pain Scientist Professor Lorimer Moseley uses humor to help us understand Dark Side of Pain” is at:
which highlights “Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley - Successful Ageing Seminar 2013? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc
I am convinced that one safe place is my own thoughts. However the same place could be my enemy, so, it’s up to my will power to go to safe thoughts, beautiful thoughts, healing thoughts. The words in my thoughts hold much power.
I am one of the fortunate ones – to live with housemates who care about me, in a pleasant environment, and in a position to shelter-in-place during this pandemic.
Other folks are not so fortunate – their external world could be chaotic, even traumatic … The only safe place could be their beautiful thoughts.
I remember Dr. Danielle Rosenman telling me during neuroplasticity coaching: “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.”
Also I remember how she taught me to create my unique “bag of tricks” to retrain Beautiful Brain (small items to look at, to smell, to touch…to recall pleasure, vibrancy, peace). But, what about when there is no physical “bag of tricks”? I have my thoughts! Thoughts of Beauty! No no can take that away from me.
This blog post has taken many hours over many days – this is what it’s like to work while retraining Beautiful Brain with a neurological disorder
2021 August 4, 02:02-02:38; 15:54; August 5, 18:48; August 6, 14:55, 23:56; August 7, 00:10; 21:57; August 8, 13:56; August 10, 12:58pm; August 11, 17:17, August 12, 13:44; August 13, 17:14; August 14, 20:45 California
Thank you for reading this blog post “Retraining Beautiful Brain By Rewriting My Personal Truths With Wordplay” by Teresa Jade LeYung
For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity in my blog 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 the topic.
I wish you and your Beautiful Brain safety, kindness, excellent health.
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
*****