It starts...

Ok, ladies! Let's keep things fresh around here. Where are all the posts? I need encouragement and motivation. Started week three with eating clean and I have to say, THIS IS HARD!!! Between a weekend with family (which always involves food in mass quantities), a baby reveal party with blue and pink desserts, making dessert for said party, "the week of the month" that always brings chocolate cravings, Isaac's birthday this weekend, Sam's birthday and father's day next weekend, how am I supposed to say no to all the treats and sweets? What do you do? How do you control your sweet tooth for special occasions and parties? I NEED HELP to stay on track with this weight loss thing. Down six pounds and holding isn't what I had in mind. Let's get on the band wagon ladies!

Anxiety...

Today has been magazine reading day.  I finished the most recent edition of National Geographic, lots of good pictures as well as articles about coal/pollution, keeping wild animals as pets and did you know that there are four different breakdowns of the word Meteor? amazing stuff.

So after lunch I moved on the the Journal of Christian Nursing. The lead article is called Anxiety: etiology, treatment, and Christian perspectives (by Debra Walker and Jane Leach from the Journal of Christian nursing April- June 2014) [Etiology is the study of causation, or origination. The word is derived from the Greek αἰτιολογία, aitiologia, "giving a reason for"]
 http://journals.lww.com/journalofchristiannursing/Fulltext/2014/06000/Anxiety__Etiology,_Treatment,_and_Christian.9.aspx .  

Most of it I understand.  Some of it was kind of silly.  Listen to this: "Prevention of stress is indicated to decrease the potential consequences of stress on physical and mental health." What genius thought that line up?  It just sounded so funny...decrease stress to become healthier. waah-ha-ha - no duh! The article goes on to list medications used to treat anxiety disorders, I'm proud to say that one of the medications I take is listed there...

Here are a few of the more interesting excerpts from the article.
And the question is...what does this say about daily prayer & daily scripture reading??

ANXIETY EPIDEMIC

Anxiety reached epidemic proportions in the 1990s and has worsened in the wake of economic instability and terrorism. In 2005, over 18% of people in the United States experienced symptoms of anxiety although only about one-third sought treatment. In 2010, anxiety disorders were one of the major contributors to disability. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports anxiety disorders continue to affect 40 million adults (18%) in a given year. Over their lifetime, women are 60% more likely to experience anxiety than men (NIMH, 2013). Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. ...

The long-term effects of undiagnosed and undertreated anxiety disorders result in psychosocial and occupational dysfunctions, drug and alcohol abuse, overeating, and increased risk of suicide. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population (ADAA, 2013a) and the annual cost of disability attributed to GAD is estimated at well over $42 billion. ...

Stress significantly elevates blood pressure and heart rate, causes bronchodilation [expansion of the bronchial air passages], increases blood sugar levels, and diminishes the inflammatory and immune responses in the body. These changes can have a profound impact on a patient who has preexisting conditions, such as heart problems, respiratory diseases, or diabetes.  ...

Prolonged stress results in large amounts of glucocorticoids [a class of steroid hormones] being released; effects of cortisol, aldosterone, and ADH cause retained sodium and water, increased blood pressure, and increased blood volume. The physiologic effects of stress may result in “hypertension, heart failure, insomnia, tension headaches, peptic ulcer disease, fatigue and increased risk for infection and diabetes”.  ...

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been shown to be as effective as medication and is the most commonly used therapy in treating anxiety.  CBT involves multiple sessions with mental healthcare professionals trained in CBT techniques. Therapy addresses the response patients have to the irrational thoughts of anxiety and panic with a focus on replacement of negative cognition with positive thoughts. Treatment is based on the theory that the patient develops a negative feedback loop by reacting and thinking negatively during a panic attack. Negative behavior includes avoidance of anxiety producing situations thus reinforcing anxiety and panic. In CBT, patients are taught to recognize unwarranted worry and actions and replace such thinking and actions with more realistic problem-solving thoughts and strategies.  ...

Faith-based or religious CBT uses faith-based concepts to replace negative ideas. Christian CBT “employs the use of biblical Scripture or faith-based concepts that recognize God as Creator and One who is interested in the well-being of humankind”. This type of CBT uses God's Word as found in the Bible to replace negative thinking. Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health is researching the role of religious CBT in managing depression and stress in chronic illness with promising results.  ...

Biblical Framework Counseling (BFC) is “based on the belief that the Bible is adequate to treat the root causes of mental disorders that are not otherwise physiologically caused”.  BFC is treatment based on spiritual means with Scripture as the guide for therapy and as a model for living. The Bible admonishes us to think about God and his Son, Jesus; to dwell on whatever is worthy of awe and adoration, and to strive to keep our thoughts in harmony with God's promises and standards (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8-9). As a person recognizes and trusts God's power and authority, a sense of peace is possible (John 14:27). In 2 Timothy 1:7 we are reminded that “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (KJV)."