Losing weight is difficult. It takes determination and effort. Diet and exercise are fundamental but herbs can help but one needs to understand the reality of herbs. Holistic care encompasses overall health. It is preventative in nature and accepts a life style change. Utilizing herbs though can be dangerous without professional guidance for weight loss.
Weight Loss and Herbs can work if used properly and under guidance. Please also review AIHCPs’ Holistic Integrative Specialist Program
The article, “Is It Safe To Use Herbal Weight Loss Supplements?” from the Cleveland Clinic reviews the use of some herbs for weight loss. The article states,
“While many products out there suggest that they can help you lose weight fast, they can also come with a slew of health concerns. If you need help with starting your weight loss journey, talk to your provider. They can steer you in the right direction and help you find a program that is safe and effective.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Holistic Integrative Specialist Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Holistic Nursing or Holistic Care.
There are a variety of depressions that set in. Not all are a result of a direct loss. Major Depressive order is an example of an on going cloud of sadness with no direct correlation to any loss. It can be chronic or acute. Another type of depression is Bi-Polar disorder which has highs or manic states and lows or depressive states. Some states are not as severe such as hypomania, which help distinguish between Bi Polar 1 or Bi Polar 2.
Bi-Polar disorder however is sometimes harder to pin point than other types of depression especially in teens due to natural ups and downs. It also leaves teens and those in their early 20s very confused why they are fine sometimes and not fine other times. It is very important to diagnose this disorder to help individuals find balance again in life.
The article, “Bipolar disorder” from Mayo Clinic gives an detail description of Bi Polar Disorder and helps educate individuals who feel they may have it and need help. It definitely a good place to start looking for information. The article states,
“Despite the mood extremes, people with bipolar disorder often don’t recognize how much their emotional instability disrupts their lives and the lives of their loved ones and don’t get the treatment they need. And if you’re like some people with bipolar disorder, you may enjoy the feelings of euphoria and cycles of being more productive. However, this euphoria is always followed by an emotional crash that can leave you depressed, worn out — and perhaps in financial, legal or relationship trouble.”
It is hence important to find treatment for this difficult condition. So many relationships are ruined because of Bi Polar. A partner becomes confused by the flip flop personality and can find themselves one day on another’s good side then later their bad side. Having to deal with manic energy and desire to do things for a week only to be confused with depressive lack of energy the next can leave a partner confused and ready to even leave a relationship. The individual may also be confused and not fully understand.
In turn, they may look to spending binges, or even drugs and alcohol to help cope with depression or ride the mania. The individual may find themselves locked with a variety of financial issues, eating disorders or drug addictions due to the multiple swings in mood.
Bi Polar Disorder can be a cruel roller coaster ride for many. The manic and depressive states can cause destruction to emotional well being as well as relationships
Like any type of depression with no true cause due to loss, some may wonder how or why someone is Bi Polar. Most is genetic. If a direct relative had it, then there is a good chance it was passed on to the child. Many though when reviewing family histories choose to hide mental disorders. So if grandma or grandpa had it, is sometimes harder to recall. Only those who lived with them will truly know if they were manic or depressed. With such a stigma, family histories sometimes cannot find the source.
If you think you may be Bi Polar, Mayo Clinic lists a few conditions during both Manic and Depressive episodes
Bi Polar 1 is diagnosed with at least one manic and depressive episode. Unlike Bi Polar 2, the mania is more severe and can lead to even psychosis. Within the mania period, one experiences more energy to the point of exaggeration. More wild thoughts and impulses may present themselves and lead for some into dangerous and risky activities via sex or drugs. One can also experience a state of invincibility and euphoria not tied to reality.
Unfortunately, while some may enjoy this phase and feel empowered, it is followed by a crash of depression. Like all depression, it can last 2 weeks or longer but also possesses the same characteristics of boredom, fatigue, disinterest, or insomnia.
If one is experiencing these issues of back and forth manic and depressive episodes it may be time to talk to a trained licensed professional. Grief Counselors who are licensed can help diagnose and find treatment through a doctor, but if only certified, if someone illustrates these characteristics, it is time to refer a client to someone that is licensed. Most grief counselors are certified but can only deal with basic grief to loss, but once grief becomes more insidious and pathological, it is important that those who are not licensed counselors help their clients receive the help they need through a licensed professional. Again, many certified Grief Counselors are also licensed Counselors and can supply the help needed on the spot but bear in mind, most cases of Bi Polar do require some type of pharmaceutical response. Physicians and Psychiatrists can provide the needed prescriptions to help individuals. Herbal remedies can also play a role in helping stabilize but should not never be utilized without first talking to your healthcare provider.
Only a licensed health care professional can diagnose and help treat Bi Polar Disorder. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification Program
If you would like to learn more about Grief Counseling or would like to become a certified Grief Counselor, then please review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Grief Counselor.
Grief Counselors can play an important role in identifying pathological grief, and if licensed can provide even more assistance to those suffering from mental disorders such as Bi Polar Disorder.
Again you feel you are suffering from Bi Polar Disorder, do not wait for disaster in life, or continue to roll with the waves, but find the help you need to stabilize your life and the family around you.
When it comes to coping with grief there is not a one size fits all order. Many individuals cope differently due to the variety of different losses as well as differences within a person’s spiritual, mental, physical, social and emotional makeup. Still, eventually one can find something that works best for them. Different coping strategies exist and eventually something should work best.
What ways do you cope with grief? Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification Program
The article, “Dealing With Grief: 7 Coping Strategies, According to Experts” by Madeleine Burry lists 7 different ways one cope with a loss or at least help one through the grieving process. She states,
“You may not think about them this way, but you already use coping strategies in your day-to-day life—such as that extra-hard workout to relieve stress after a tough work deadline, or the phone call you make to a friend when your child is acting up and driving you crazy.”
Whatever coping methods work best for you, it is important to realize that grief is not a process that ends but is an ongoing process of living itself. Learning to live with grief is part of life and coping does not make it go away but only makes it easier to insert into one’s life.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in grief counseling.
ADHD usually stays with an individual. A recent study pointed out that only 10 percent of children with ADHD grow out of it as an adult. This means many individuals who have ADHD still need help as adults. Many adults need to learn how to cope with ADHD symptoms but for those who have never been diagnosed or those who discontinue care as they grow older can face many challenges.
Few outgrow the effects of ADHD. Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Program
The article, “Only 10% of kids with ADHD grow out of it as adults, study says” by Katherine Ellison looks closer at untreated ADHD in adults.
It is important hence for individuals to continue treatment or utilize coping skills in dealing with ADHD. Parents should also be proactive in helping their children receive the mental help they need for better social and academic success. It is something that will probably not go away and hence requires attention.
Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and open to mental health professionals interested in a four year certification in ADHD Consulting.
Fee for service models are becoming less and less and value based care is taking over healthcare. Providers need to supply better care and quality to patients. They need to limit un-needed procedures and tests and instead focus on better care to reduce readmissions, decrease cost and improve patient health. Payers are rewarding providers who supply better quality based care.
Value based care is important for not only the patient but also providers and payers. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Program
The article, “Value-Based Care Assessment: The First Step to Value-Based Care” by Emily Sokel looks closer at how to start implementation of such plans and models. She states,
“Starting the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care is a challenge. Many provider organizations are simultaneously juggling new reimbursement models with old ones and breaking institutional memory to meaningfully move toward changes. One hospital began its journey to value-based care with an organizational assessment. The value-based care assessment helps the hospital understand which value-based care contracts it is most prepared for and how to balance this transition with existing fee-for-service reimbursement, the director of case management told Insights during a recent anonymous discussion about the division’s latest findings.”
Switching to a value based care model is important for providers as government payers and private payers demand more accountability for patient health and cost. It is essential to increase the quality of care for all parties involved.
Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified healthcare professionals seeking a four year certification in Case Management
Behavioral addictions with personal actions that lead to gratification in lieu of anxiety or depression. They are carried out to resolve some type of distress and temporarily can relieve the distress although the actions in themselves are not healthy or addictive due to extremity. Examples include sex, gaming, gambling, shopping or even binge eating. The issue lies in the extremity but also more so in the inability to stop or moderate. Some individuals later feel regret or embarrassment afterwards.
It is important to identify any type of behavioral addictions and question why they arise. Are they a poor substitute for coping over a deeper issue? Are they preventing one from facing that issue? Are there better alternatives than the addictive behavior? The temporary pleasure must be weighed with the overall physical and social health of the person. These behaviors can destroy relationships and make one hostage to a particular vice or habit.
Addiction can also deal with behavioral issues such as gambling or sex addictions. Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Practitioner Program
It is hard to break bad habits, but with proper guidance, individuals can better control their impulsive decisions. Licensed counselors can help individuals identify triggers to these behaviors and how to learn to form better and healthy habits.
The article, “Behavioral Addictions, Emotions, And The Brain” by Krystina Murray looks closer at how behavior addictions exist within the human brain and how to better face them. She states,
“According to Science Direct, behavioral addictions are defined as, “an intense desire to repeat some action that is pleasurable or perceived to improve wellbeing or capable of alleviating some personal distress.” What classifies some behaviors as addictive is the difficultly those affected have with stopping or reducing their participation in it. ”
Please also review AIHCP’s Substance Abuse Practitioner Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals looking for a four year certification dealing with substance abuse counseling.
Anger Management is important in maintaining relationships and overall health. Society demands proper control of emotions. This is not to say anger is bad but it is bad when it is out of control. Learning short term and long term strategies to control anger are important to life. If one does not have control of anger and is frequent to sudden outbursts, rage and violence, then anger management is something they may look to consider. Counselors can help create short term and long term plans to better control anger and keep it from taking control
How well do you control your anger from day to day events? Please also review AIHCP’s Anger Management Certification
The article, “How Anger Management Improves Your Life” by Anastasia Climan looks closer at various strategies that can help individuals learn to control anger. She states,
“Anger can be described as an intense emotion in response to feelings of opposition or hostility to something or someone. Uncontrolled anger can produce emotional outbursts or aggressive behavior. Learning how to deal with anger issues through anger management techniques can help you develop the anger management skills necessary for healthy relationships.”
Anger is an important emotion. It stems from our fight or flight response which is natural and imperative to survival. It awakens us to threats and pushes us to correct injustice, however, when it controls us or when it is misplaced or misused, it can become a destructive force. Anger Management can help control anger. AIHCP offers an Anger Management Certification for qualified professionals seeking a four year certification. The program is online and independent study. Please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
Helping an aging family member is difficult. Primary caregivers suffer from numerous struggles and stresses. They give up time but also time to care for themselves. This lack of time to care for oneself can lead to anger, grief, and guilt later. Being there for a loved one is important and becoming a caregiver for a family member is the ultimate statement of love but one needs to ensure proper health and care for oneself.
Primary caregivers deal with stress they sometimes conceal. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program
Many times, the primary caregiver forgets to care about oneself spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. This leads to their own illness or mental breakdown. It is important then primary caregivers understand that they are only as healthy to care for the loved one as they allow themselves to be. So it is imperative to ensure better self care and stress reduction. Sometimes that means taking a day off.
The article, “CAREGIVER STRESS PREVENTION GUIDE” by Jessica Thomas takes a closer look at how primary caregivers can reduce stress on themselves. She states,
“Caregiving for a family or loved one can be an extremely stressful experience for the caregiver. This stress can have a devastating impact on the caregiver’s physical and mental health and can also generate a wide range of conflicted emotions. Often caregivers find themselves feeling hopeless, as if the situation that they are in is an endless series of days and sad tasks. However, caregivers should not feel this way. There is a wide range of resources and strategies that can help caregivers successfully navigate their stress, no matter what type of caregiver situation they find themselves in”
Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program as well as AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Program. Both programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking four year certifications.
By: Tara Tonsetic, CHC Certified Health Care Coach
Sometimes a simple mind shift and taking a few small steps toward change makes a world of difference during this ever-changing season of life. Small steps can lead to big changes and big changes can lead to a more joyful way of holistic living. Here are a few health care life coach tips you can do that are positive to your overall health, giving you more energy and balance.
Water, Water, Water!
Keeping hydrated is a great way to help improve your overall energy level. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces per day (Children need 1 for each lb. they weigh). It helps to drink 20 ounces of your total consumption first thing in the morning to help start the daily process. You can always jazz it up by adding fresh fruit or drinking warm water with lemon to help boost your Immune system and balance the pH levels in your body. *Source for drinking ½ your bodyweight in ounces per day Click this link:
Restful Sleep.
Getting enough sleep each night is a powerful tool, simple as it sounds. Clocking seven to nine hours of sleep a night is ideal, if you can manage it. Incorporating these small changes can have long-lasting effects. Practice regular sleep patterns by going to bed at the same time each night. Disconnect from all technology at least an hour before bed, including your TV and phone in your bedroom. Also, if
you are feeling worried or anxious, it helps to write down anything that may be causing you stress. A simple list will do. Write down what you plan to do the next day, as well. This will help free up your mind and allow for a restful night’s sleep.
Move That Body!
When we think about exercising, sometimes it can be overwhelming to add another task to our daily to-do lists. Start small; any movement is good, even if it is just 10-15 minutes a day. Think about what you liked to do as a kid — dance, run, jump on a trampoline? What made you feel happy? Try that out! Think outside the box. *Source for movement each day:click this link
Positive Attitude.
A positive mindset can change so much. Just a simple adjustment on how you view something or how you respond to someone reflects on your overall health. We have the ability each and every day to make the choice to live with positive intentions, to celebrate all the good of life’s happenings, but also to not dwell on those that are not so happy. Remember that you are in total control of your life, how you feel, and how you respond and interact with others!
By making these simple changes, you are helping to balance out your blood sugar levels, which will improve your overall physical and emotional wellbeing. It also will give you more energy, thus adding more fuel to your day! Remember, little steps can equal big results. As always, though, don’t forget to grant yourself some grace when trying something different.
Are you a health care professional interested in becoming a professional Heath Care Life Coach? If you have an interest in this sub-specialty practice then the Certification program offered by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, Inc. may be just the program for you. You can preview our Certification Program at this page.
This is a quick crash course in textual review of the Gospels and where they came from. Obviously, we all know they came from the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, who inspired human beings in the collecting various of stories and also directly inspiring the writers themselves, whether the writers were direct witnesses or collectors of the information. Despite this inspiration, there still was a massive human cooperation with God that gave us the collection of the Four Gospels. It is important as Christian Counselors, ministers, priests, and chaplains to have a good foundation in what the Gospels are and where they came from.
Preaching the Gospel is a standard phrase for those in ministry but what are the Gospels themselves? Obviously the term to preach the Gospel extends beyond just the teachings found in the Four Gospels but are expounded throughout the entire Bible, but the ideal of the Gospel, the story of Jesus Christ and what He meant for salvation is the core concept found in the Gospels. The previous books prepare the Christian for the encounter with Christ as found in the Gospels, while the Epistles explain them in greater detail.
The Four Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They form the basis for inspired writings on the life of Christ and the story of salvation
Hence the message of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ is both God and man and came to Earth to redeem humanity from the sin of Adam. In Christ, everything is made perfect. In Christ, is the perfect sacrifice and bridge to God. Without Christ, no salvation is possible and it is essential to accept Christ via Baptism to apply the blood of His redemption on the cross. This is why it is was so critical a command to preach this message to all corners of the world.
The Gospels hence paint a picture of who Christ is and why He came. They form the cornerstone of Christ’s teaching and set the basis for the Church. It was hence critical for the Church to enshrine them as part of the foundational structures of the faith and all Christian theology. The Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark. Luke and John were all formally written before the end of the 1st century. In fact, most findings dictate that the Epistles of Paul outdate the Gospels. It shows that the ideas of the Gospels had not been written yet by their namesakes, or at least collected together into one volume after the preaching of Paul. Historic and literary criticisms of the text show that Mark was the first book written of the Four Gospels and Mark’s Gospel collected data from various sources. These sources are known as the Que source which had accumulated various stories about the life of Christ handed down verbally and also in some cases documented. Unfortunately, this common source of data about Christ has never been collected but the very fact most Gospels share common stories, illustrates a common source regarding the life of Christ as handed down by the Apostles.
The Gospels were stories of Christ that were collected from eye witness accounts or contain parts written directly as witnessed by the observer. Historical authorship traditionally is applied to the namesakes of the Gospels themselves, the Apostles John and Matthew and the Disciples Mark and Luke. Some contend that these historic figures only are of the name of the book and not the actual author or redactor. Others contend that the eye witnesses themselves wrote the book. Hence in John and Matthew, we see apostles who witnessed the life of Christ. While Mark and Luke would have depended more on eye witness accounts as well as other source materials.
Despite only having only Four Gospels, the Church existed within the first three centuries under persecution and it would not be until the Fourth Century that it was able to canonize the books as inspired. Many other books were classified as uninspired and left out of the canon. Such books as the Gospel of Thomas or the Infancy Narratives were considered non canonical. Some other books were considered heretical while others were considered pious but not inspired.
Hence the Church canonized the New Testament and accepted only the four we see today. The first three are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels, while the Gospel of John stands on its own as a unique Gospel that has a higher Christological value. While all the Gospels show Christ is both God and Man, the Gospel of John emphasizes the Divinity of Christ at a higher level. This differences in emphasis is important to the whole story of Christ.
The Gospels were written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It was a divine and human endeavor that worked side by side in giving us the life of Christ. Textual criticism and authorship debates should not be seen as a way to lessen the Divine Source of Scripture but to understand the human element and how it was constructed and compiled under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
The Synoptic Gospels while sharing similarities, nonetheless also differ in audience. Matthew’s audience is more towards the Jewish population. Matthew wished to show how Jesus was a good Jew and came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, while Luke engages more with the Greek world, showing that Christ has also come to save all of humanity, not just the Jewish people. If these namesakes of these Gospels are indeed the historical individuals, then Matthew would have an indepth knowledge of Christ as well as the Jewish law. Luke who writes much on the infancy of Christ, according to tradition, also knew the Virgin Mary well and is said to have written the first icon of the Mother of God. This would tie to the indepth amount of the infancy stories found in Luke.
Regardless, the Gospels are written and inspired and share their namesakes actual hand or spirit. The accounts compliment and supplement each other. Where others look to find contradictions or minor variations, the Church sees the many stories of Christ and their diversity shared in the Gospels. In fact, as John points out, not even all the books of the world could contain the many stories of Christ. The Church is grateful to possess four accurate accounts that supplement different audiences but share the same inspired story of Christ, God and Man, and also Redeemer for all audiences.
While various criticisms exist for Scripture, they should not be seen as critiques but instead research into the history, literary aim, and textual development to better understand the individual book. These are important tools that if used reverently can be used to help us better appreciate the Word of God and message of salvation.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals
The stories and accounts are reliable because one can see the full story of Christ find form. While only in oral form for the longest time, they found parchment and permanency through the Holy Spirit and His divinely inspired writers. These same witnesses would later forfeit their lives for the stories found in to cement their authenticity with their own blood.
This is why we believe and this is why we share the Four Gospels.
