[www.keralites.net] Hardwire your brain for happiness! (Posted by B D Jesrani)

 

 

Hardwire your brain for happiness! Preksha Malu       Experts tell you how to combat your inner enemy and adopt a positive outlook on life   In the Indian film Dear Zindagi which released last year, the protagonist's innate fear of abandonment keeps her from committing in relationships. The film that was lauded for addressing the subject of mental health, a topic that Indians, typically, prefer to skirt around, offers an example of how negative thinking can cripple your life. But, there are also scientific reasons why you need to keep those negative thoughts out. A study by acclaimed American psychologist Dr Rick Hanson says that stress releases cortisol in the brain. This breaks down the hippocampus, the part of the brain that's responsible for storing new memories. On the other hand, studies have shown that thinking happy, hopeful thoughts decreases cortisol and produces serotonin, thereby creating a sense of well-being. If you need more convincing, this also helps your brain to function at peak capacity. A slippery slope Psychotherapist Dr Parul Tank explains: "People who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) will constantly think about one thought, and, typically believe that bad things will happen.Depressed and anxious people also anticipate that bad things will happen to them. When people suffer breakdowns, it's usually the result of obsessing over imagined fears." Negativity breeds negativity Dr Kirti Bakshi, a psychotherapist and counselor says, "In the case of people suffering from depression, there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, which must be treated clinically. The deficiency of essential vitamins like D3 and B12 could also cause negative thinking. However, some people are prone to thinking negative thoughts because of their circumstances or because of the atmosphere in which they've been brought up. If thoughts are troubling you on a daily basis, these could start affecting you physically." Tank adds, "When you think negatively, your behavior becomes negative, your mood is affected adversely, and your body reflects it too. If you keep thinking that you will fail an exam, for instance, your breathing pattern may change, your mouth may feel dry, you may stammer and your hands may start to shake." This is corroborated by the experience of 31-year-old schoolteacher Vaishali Gala who believes negativity may have affected her immune system when she was younger. "I was almost always ill. I even contracted malaria thrice within the span of one year," Gala recounts. She believes her diminshed immunity may have been related to a lack of confidence "and recurring thoughts about not being good or capable enough." To this, Bakshi adds that a spike in anxiety levels can even cause panic disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and more. "In Mumbai, a person's day begins with travel stress. That triggers anxiety and thus creates a negative thought pattern. People don't have the time to introspect and evaluate their own thought processes. If you don't begin your day well (try a peaceful activity like meditation), the whole day will be a rollercoaster of emotions," she says. You have the power to change Psychotherapist Dr Anju Kapoor says, "Some find that it helps to be surrounded by nature. It's also important to introspect. Besides, make an effort to consciously seek positive experiences; take up activities you enjoy like reading, watching a movie, travelling etc.Choose happy experiences, and stay away from people who bring you down." Gala found that it helped to talk things out. "My father passed away shortly after I began my postgraduate course. It was a tough time. I spoke to my best friend about the way I was feeling, and that helped me a lot. I also started taking the time to indulge in positive affirmations." She refers to statements that serve to remind her of resolutions or her own positive trait, such as, for example, "I forgive all those who have harmed me," or "I am a strong person; I stand up for myself." The recitation of these is believed to affect the conscious and subconscious mind. Gala recalls, "I started feeling much more capable.I got a job, and people around me started noticing me." Dr Bakshi recommends maintaining a journal. "Write down what you are thinking and feeling.Negative thinking usually focuses on what we don't have and we can counter it by offering gratitude. Also, do start on an exercise regimen as exercise releases endorphins which make you feel good. Eco-therapy (being with nature) also absorbs anxiety. One should also practise mindfulness," she says. To override the early morning stress roller coaster, she advises, "Begin the day with a reflective exercise -ask yourself questions like `What important insight did I gain yesterday?', `How did talking to a specific person make me feel, and why did I feel that way?' etc.This sets the tone for your day and adjusts your autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is responsible for the fight or flight response.When the ANS is controlled thus, your mind stays calm." Find what works for you Meditation master and best-selling author of The Joy of Living and Joyfu Wisdom, the Tibetan Buddhist monk Mingyur Rinpoche believes, "The chattering monkey mind needs a task, and watching your own breath will distract it." While deep breathing is the tried and tested method to calm your nerves and anxiety, psychologists also recommend talking to yourself."Think of an occasion where you did something positive and achieved positive results. You can also visualise a scene which calms you (like the image of a gently flowing river, or a calm sea, perhaps)," says Dr Tank. "Or, distract yourself by going for walks, cooking or dancing etc. Do what works for you. If you feel worse after meditation, don't do it; if watching TV or listening to music don't relax you, find alternatives that do." Dr Kapoor tells us that an emerging school of psychology focuses on helping a person move on, rather than on finding the underlying cause behind their anxiety (which has been the traditional approach). This sort of approach worked for Mohit Bansal, a 28-year-old business development manager who once felt like he was incapable of achieving his goals. "I attended a psychotherapist's workshops, and gradually changed my way of thinking. I realised that I could achieve a lot more just by changing my thought process. I had lost a lot of money in business in the past and I would vent about this to my friends -that meant rehashing those mistakes over and over. The workshops helped me to stop dwelling on the mistakes. I chose to be happy, and distracted myself by watching movies. A goalsetting exercise helped me to focus on work, and I made meditation an important part of my life," he shares. Bansal then set his mind on two goals: to find a job in Delhi, and to find himself a wife. Both ambitions were soon realised. "People do not like to be around negative people. They seek the company of people who can make them feel happy and who bring out the best in them," says Dr Kapoor, explaining that negative thoughts often turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. Dr Tank adds that family and friends can help those with such an incline to change their mindset "Sometimes, all that people need is to be heard."                

 

 

__._,_.___

---

Posted by: Cool Kis <cooolkis@gmail.com>

---

Reply via web post

•

Reply to sender

•

Reply to group

•

Start a New Topic

•

Messages in this topic (1)

---

Have you tried the highest rated email app?

With 4.5 stars in iTunes, the Yahoo Mail app is the highest rated email app on the market. What are you waiting for? Now you can access all your inboxes (Gmail, Outlook, AOL and more) in one place. Never delete an email again with 1000GB of free cloud storage.

---

KERALITES - A moderated eGroup exclusively for Keralites...

To subscribe send a mail to Keralites-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Send your posts to Keralites@yahoogroups.com.
Send your suggestions to Keralites-owner@yahoogroups.com.

To unsubscribe send a mail to Keralites-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Homepage: http://www.keralites.net

Visit Your Group

• New Members 1

• Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

.

__,_._,___