Just Say OM

I have to thank Dr Scott Terry of the Ardent Center for introducing me to Transcendental Mediation.
When we first started working together it was his suggestion that I learn to meditate.  I had already done some Buddist and Mindful meditation practices and liked it.

Transcendental Mediation turned out to be much different and I took to it right away.  Although I have only been practicing it for 5 months, I feel that it has given me a new way to approach dealing with anxiety.

For anxious people, sitting down and meditation can be a very scary place.  Some meditations instruct to think of nothing or to label your thoughts as they come and go.

What I really like about TM (as we call it) is that you get some help and guidance through the process.  You are assigned an meditation instructor and you go through the program step-by-step.

Chicago is a great place to lean TM there is a great community of people who meditate and meet together.  there is a real sense of calm and peace that comes from meditation as well as some creative energy that gets flowing.   Please understand that not every meditation is stars and fireworks, but it has been a learning process of growth and awareness that I look forward to everyday.  Do you have time to do it 20 minutes twice a day?  Will think of all of the time you spend with anxiety.  Wouldn't it be nice to develop with a tool that can richness and meaning to your day?

You now there is a cost right?  That is one of the controversies of TM.  There is a one time flat fee and some reduction for families and children learning.  Scholarships based on need are available.  The idea is that they don't want someone not to learn TM just because money is tight.

If you think you would like to learn some practice of meditation you can look at www.freemediation.com for some different types of mediation practices.

Relax into it!  The neatest thing about mediation is that there is no right way to to it.  So play with it and enjoy!  Your body will thank you for it.

Setting sail.............

A client came to me around the middle of March of this year, complaining of  panic and nausea.  She reports having an idea that something awful was about to happen, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
This impending sense of doom is known as General Anxiety Disorder, one of the most crafty of Anxiety Disorders.

She have a history of some depression and anxiety, but this had reached epic proportions in no time.  All day her body was pumping out cortisol like she was being tracked by a black bear, even while  just sitting at her desk working.

Alcohol had become a companion as of late.  She found that more nights than not she would finish a bottle of wine after dinner. She have a five year old son and a very cool hubby and  did not want to suck them into the sad vortex of her symptoms.


1.  Consider AA.  Now this will not work for people who do not qualify.
  If you have ever had problems with heavy drinking, binge drinking or drugs. You might want to check it out.  A terrific blog to read about women and alcoholism is www.onecraftymother.com

2. Get a therapist.    Try Insight based psychotherapy or Internal Family Systems work. 

3.  Complete the assessment at www.calmclinic.  Rachel Ramos has got a good program going and her philosophy of healing anxiety is the one I will be mostly adhering to in this blog.

So, start your powerful engines.  You can do it.  Healing your pain is possible and everything you need is inside you!