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Inspiring and empowering people to maximize their quality of life in spite of a chronic health condition or a disability |
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STEPS TO CHANGE |
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Issue # 16 |
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This ezine is 100% opt-in. You are receiving it because you subscribed but may cancel by using the link at the end of this message. |
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IN THIS ISSUE |
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A chronic health condition can be a catalyst for personal growth and self-discovery. Are
you ready to break free of the bindings that are holding you back from
discovering your
own personal level of optimal health? We all have one – no matter what the condition is that ails us. I
challenge you to want to discover yours! I take people from an overwhelmed existence to a comfortably paced lifestyle.
Contact me today for a fr~ee sample coaching session and get started on living your maximum life. |
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TRAVELS WITH TRISH |
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here's to a year filled with optimal health, gratitude and sheer joy! I hope you had a warm & wonderful holiday season. I also hope that you didn't stress too much and instead found a way to accept everything as it came (or didn't come). Now begins the arduous task of breaking from the "holiday head-space" and gearing up for "back to work mentality". Yesterday was my first day back to work and I must say, it was slow-going. December was a full month for me. Along with everything else, I did a couple of Disability Awareness workshops down at the University of Toronto's Career Centre. Great bunch of people. They are especially motivated to accommodate the varied needs of their students - a good example to many. My hat's off to them! This month's feature article is about a topic that I suspect many of you either deal with personally or experience the impact of through a friend or family member. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short, is far more common that you'd think. This is the worst time of the year for it so please read, be informed and be sensitive. Thanks. To those of you who subscribed to my newsletter just recently: Welcome to my readership! I truly appreciate your interest. Feel free to forward my newsletters to anyone who you think may benefit from them. Till
next time, take care and God bless.
~~
Trish :-)
trish@changingpaces.com
~~ 905-967-3014 ~~ www.ChangingPaces.com Uncertain what coaching is all about? Check out my "Audio Library" and listen. |
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POST-DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT |
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AFTER
THE DIAGNOSIS:
WHAT'S NEXT?
Brought to you by "My Optimal Health Solutions" POST-DIAGNOSIS
SUPPORT PROGRAM AN
8-PART TELECLASS SERIES Over this
8-week intensive, we'll walk through the critical steps necessary to
achieve positive and powerful living despite being diagnosed with a
chronic illness. You will: ·
Have a chance to see that you’re not alone, ·
Find comfort in the discovery that others have
the same difficulties that you do, ·
Learn about both unique and similar perspectives
to your own, ·
Decide how you can make the transition from
denial to acceptance, ·
Be invited to approach life in a way that will
enable you to transform your outlook from uncertainty to hope, ·
Create a healthy emotional foundation so that you
can shift from reactive to proactive living, ·
Learn tried and true
strategies to be empowered to take control of your life. This is an
opportunity to break down the anxieties and the isolation that
are inherent for many who live with chronic illness.
RESERVE YOUR
SPACE! All sessions are on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30 pm (Eastern/NY time) This series will be limited to ONLY 6 participants so register NOW by emailing postdiagnosis@changingpaces.com with “Sign Me Up” in the subject line OR call 905-967-3014.
The
next series will start in MARCH.
Email
me today to add your name to the waiting
list. Cost: If you're ready to move past the
trauma of your diagnosis and through the steps to finding your optimal
health, then email
me NOW and we'll travel that
journey together. |
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FEATURE ARTICLE |
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SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER ~~ The following has been adapted from an article on the Canadian Mental Health Association's website. Visit www.CMHA.ca for more information. Weather
often affects people’s moods. Sunlight breaking through clouds can
lift our spirits, while a dull, rainy day may make us feel a little
gloomy. While noticeable, these shifts in mood generally do not affect
our ability to cope with daily life. Some people, however, are
vulnerable to a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. For
them, the shortening days of late autumn are the beginning of a type of
clinical depression that can last until spring. This condition is called
“Seasonal Affective Disorder," or SAD. A mild form of SAD, often
referred to as the “winter blues," causes discomfort, but is not
incapacitating. However, the term “winter blues” can be misleading;
some people have a rarer form of SAD which is summer depression. This
condition usually begins in late spring or early summer. Awareness of this mental
condition has existed for more than 150 years, but it was only recognized
as a disorder in the early 1980s. Many people with SAD may not be aware
that it exists or that help is available. What
Causes SAD?
Research
into the causes of SAD is ongoing. As yet, there is no confirmed cause.
However, SAD is thought to be related to seasonal variations in light.
Other research shows that neurotransmitters, chemical messengers in the
brain that help regulate sleep, mood, and appetite, may be disturbed in
SAD. What
are the Symptoms?
SAD
can be difficult to diagnose, since many of the symptoms are similar to
those of other types of depression or bipolar disorder. Even physical
conditions, such as thyroid problems, can look like depression.
Generally, symptoms that recur for at least 2 consecutive winters,
without any other explanation for the changes in mood and behaviour,
indicate the presence of SAD. They may include:
Who
is at Risk?
Research
in Ontario suggests that between 2% and 3% of the general population may
have SAD. Another 15% have a less severe experience described as the
“winter blues." SAD
may affect some children and teenagers, but it tends to begin in people
over the age of 20. The risk of SAD decreases with age. The condition is
more common in women than in men. Recent
studies suggest that SAD is more common in northern countries, where the
winter day is shorter. Deprivation from natural sources of light is also
of particular concern for shift workers and urban dwellers who may
experience reduced levels of exposure to daylight in their work
environments. People
with SAD find that spending time in a southerly location brings them
relief from their symptoms. How
is SAD Treated?
If
you feel depressed for long periods during autumn and winter, if your
sleep and appetite patterns change dramatically and you find yourself
thinking about suicide, you should seek professional help, for example,
from your family doctor. There is effective treatment for SAD. Even
people with severe symptoms can get rapid relief once they begin
treatment. People
with mild symptoms can benefit from spending more time outdoors during
the day and by arranging their environments so that they receive maximum
sunlight. Trim tree branches that block light, for example, and keep
curtains open during the day. Move furniture so that you sit near a
window. Installing skylights and adding lamps can also help. Exercise
relieves stress, builds energy and increases your mental and physical
well-being. Build physical activity into your lifestyle before SAD
symptoms take hold. If you exercise indoors, position yourself near a
window. Make a habit of taking a daily noon-hour walk. The activity and
increased exposure to natural light can raise your spirits. A
winter vacation in a sunny destination can also temporarily relieve SAD
symptoms, although symptoms usually recur after return home. At home,
work at resisting the carbohydrate and sleep cravings that come with
SAD. Many
people with SAD respond well to exposure to bright, artificial light.
"Light therapy," involves sitting beside a special fluorescent
light box for several minutes day. A health care professional should be
consulted before beginning light therapy. For
people who are more severely affected by SAD, antidepressant medications
are safe and effective in relieving symptoms. Counseling and therapy,
especially short-term treatments such as cognitive-behavioural therapy,
may also be helpful for winter depression. Increasing
your exposure to light, monitoring your diet, sleep patterns and
exercise levels are important first steps. For those who are severely
affected, devising a treatment plan with a health care professional
consisting of light therapy, medication and cognitive-behavioural
therapy may also be needed. Where
To Go For More Information
For
further information about seasonal affective disorder, contact a
community organization like the Canadian Mental Health Association to
find out about support and resources in your community.
www.CMHA.ca
Please
note that this article is provided for informational purposes only and
is not a substitute for medical consultation. You should always check
with your own physician on issues related to your health. |
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FEEDBACK FORUM |
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"It is nice to know that you
share in my joys, my frustrations, my wins and my overall future
success. The accountability mixed in with the collaboration between a
client and coach is invaluable."
Jeff Cadwell is a Life Coach living with multiple sclerosis Website: www.JeffCadwell.com |
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CHUCKLES TO LIGHTEN YOUR DAY |
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REAL SPOOKY GHOST STORY
This happened in a little town, and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's absolutely true. This guy was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night in the middle of a terrible rainstorm, and no cars were on the road. The storm was so strong the guy could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly, he saw a car come toward him and stop. The guy, without thinking about it, got in the car and closed the door and only then did he realize that there was nobody behind the wheel! The car started to move very slowly. The guy looked at the road and saw a curve coming his way. Petrified, he started to pray, begging for his life. He had not come out of shock when, just before the car hit the curve, a hand suddenly appeared through the window and moved the steering wheel. The guy, now paralyzed in terror, watched how the hand appeared every time the car was approaching a curve. Finally, although terrified, the guy managed to open the door and jump out of the spooky car. Without looking back, the guy ran through the storm all the way to the nearest town. Soaking wet, exhausted and in a state of utter shock the pale, visibly shaken guy, walked into a nearby bar and asked for two shots. Then, still trembling with fright, he started telling everybody in the bar about the horrible experience he just went through with the spooky car with no driver and the mysterious hand that kept appearing. Everyone in the bar listed in silence and became frightened, listening to this eerie story, hairs stood on end when they realized the guy was telling the truth because he was crying and he definitely was not drunk! About half an hour later two guys walked into the same bar and one said to the other, "Look! There's the arsehole who got into the car while we were pushing it!" |
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FR~EE RESOURCES |
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WORDS TO CONSIDER |
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"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." – William Arthur Ward "Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic." –
John Henry Jowett "Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what's going on outside of us, there's always something we could be grateful for." – Barry
Neil Kaufman |
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ABOUT TRISH |
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Trish Robichaud is a Maximum Life Coach who lives with major depression and multiple sclerosis. Her passion is helping people to maximize their quality of life in spite of a chronic health condition or a disability. Through the process of coaching, she takes her clients from an overwhelmed existance to a comfortably-paced lifestyle. Trish facilitates TeleClasses and a monthly TeleSupport Group at no charge to participants as well as publishes a free monthly electronic newsletter. Her services also include Disability Awareness Coaching for organizations through interactive experiential workshops. Her background is in business with training and extensive experience in support counseling and life skills facilitation. Together with her vast experience advocating for people with disabilities, her success with her own personal journey makes her ideally suited to coaching others through their life, health and vocational transitions. She can be found on the web at www.ChangingPaces.com. |
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© 2003-2006 Trish Robichaud, All rights reserved |
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