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Resources Basic Information Introduction to Bipolar Disorder Introduction to Bipolar Disorder and Mood DisordersEnergy States: Mania and Manic EpisodesHypomania and Hypomanic Episodes DefinedBipolar Disorder - Major Depressive Episodes and Mixed FeaturesRecognized Types of Bipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder Versus Other Conditions Current Understandings of the Causes of Bipolar Disorder Prevalence and Course of Bipolar DisorderContemporary Understanding of Bipolar Disorder: Causes and OutcomesBipolar Causes: Diathesis-Stress HypothesisBipolar Causes: GeneticsNeurochemistry and Endocrinology in Bipolar DisorderImmunology and Bipolar DisorderBody Rhythms and Bipolar DisorderBrain Imaging and Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar I DisorderSpecifiers for Bipolar and Related DisordersBipolar II Disorder and CyclothymiaOther Forms of Bipolar Disorder Medication Treatments for Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Medication TreatmentBipolar Disorder Treatment - LithiumBipolar Disorder Treatment - Valproate and CarbamazepineBipolar Disorder Treatment - Lamotrigine and Calcium Channel BlockersBipolar Disorder Treatment - Antipsychotic Medications and Omega-3 fatty acidsBipolar Disorder Treatment - Antidepressant Medications Psychotherapy and Other Treatments Bipolar Disorder Treatment - Hospitalization and Electroconvulsive TherapyBipolar Disorder Treatment - PsychotherapyBipolar Disorder Treatment - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Bipolar Disorder Treatment - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) ContinuedBipolar Disorder Treatment - Family Focused Therapy and Interpersonal/Social Rhythm Therapy Self-Help and Helping Others Self-Help for Bipolar DisorderHow Family And Friends Can Help Those with Bipolar DisorderBipolar Disorder SuicideHow Family and Friends of Those with Bipolar Disorder Can Help Themselves References and Reading List Bipolar Disorder Reading ListBipolar Disorder References More Information An Interview with Meg Hutchinson on Music and living with Bipolar DisorderWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Lorna Hyde Graev on Living With Bipolar DisorderWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Yulonda Brown on Surviving Abuse and Bipolar Tests Goldberg Mania Questionnaire Latest News 6 Reasons Bipolar Patients Don't Take Their MedsMajor Gene Study Looks at Origins of Bipolar DisorderMany Psych Meds Trigger Weight Gain, But New Research Points to Better OptionsWhat's Best for Treating Bipolar Disorder?Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Share Genetic Roots Questions and Answers Does This Sound Like Bipolar?Do I Have Adult ADD?Why do I Have These Mood Swings?BipolarSoon to be 15 Year Old Step Daughter Who is Physically Abusive to Family MembersI Can't control my Mind Anymore, do I Need to Leave?Bipolar Medications That do not Cause Sexual Dysfunction Bipolar or Depressed or Neither?How Can I Help my Fiancé?DepressionIllness or Exhaustion?Am I Really That Messed Up?Intrusive Thoughts?What's the Best Option?Bipolar TeenMorbid Jealousy?Trying to Save 37 Years of Marriage With My Bipolar HusbandBipolar Obsessive Thoughts and False Memories Mentally ill DaughterIs There Something Wrong With Me?Bipolar Girlfriend 55 Years OldAm I Always Going to Feel Like This?Bipolar Teen Son, ........Bipolar Disorder and False and Displaced Memories?I Just Feel So Depressed Helping and Watching a Friend's Recurrent Depression?Boyfriends DaughterIntrusive Thoughts!?Serious Manic Episode Plus AlcoholDiagnosis Second OpinionParanoid ThoughtsBipolar Disorder and ADHDWill He Hit Me Eventually? 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	Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. A blog about mindfulness, stress-reduction, psychotherapy and mental health.
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I was recently reading over a credible nutrition website and it says:

Research shows that good nutrition lowers people's risk for many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. There are simple steps we all can take to eat healthier at home, work, and elsewhere.

I couldn't agree more, but can these same rules be applied to our mental health? As this quote shows us above, when thinking of nutrition, most people think of nutrition in terms of food. Just as important is to think of the nutrition of our minds. In my experience with my own clients paying attention to the nutrition of our minds shows significant stress reduction and an increase in well-being. In this diet I include all our 5 senses. So, what kind of nutrition are you feeding your mind on a daily basis and how is it affecting you? I bring people through the following practice to create awareness around what their daily lives consist of. So let's run through it:

Sight - What are you feeding your eyes on a daily basis? Is it lots of horrific and catastrophic images from the news? Or is it oversaturated with celebrity bling? Take a moment and take stock. If your eyes had a say in it, what would they want to look at on a daily basis. In other words, what gifts could you give your eyes today?

Smell - What are you feeding your nose on a daily basis? Many of us don't even think about this sense. Do you take an extra minute and smell the food you're about to eat before you take it in? When walking by flowers, do you take a moment to take in their scent, maybe twice? What does your nose want?

Hearing - Ah, the ears. What are they exposed to? I live in a city, so I often hear planes overhead, sirens, cars honking at times. In other words, stressful nutrition. It's so important to be aware of this and ask your ears, what do you want to hear? Can you take a time out and listen to your favorite music? Do you have an ocean or park nearby to listen to the waves or the birds? Maybe quiet sounds best. Practice this inquiry and try and gift yourself this nutrition today.

Touch - We live in a culture where so many of us are afraid of touch. Most of the touch we get throughout the day is our fingers typing on a warm plastic keyboard. What does your skin yearn for? The tickling of a feather? The fluffy or coarse coat of your pet's fur? Your partner's bare skin? Giving yourself these pleasures can be enormously restorative.

Taste - Aha, this overlaps with the food nutrition we originally discussed. Yes, food has an effect on your mental health, but not just what you eat, but how you eat it, how you taste it, and if you enjoy it. Most of us are so busy multitasking during the day that we hardly take a moment to even taste our food. Just ask yourself, have you ever eaten a meal and then said to yourself, wow, I didn't even taste that or where did it go? So, what kind of nutrition do your taste buds want? What would make them sing? And as always, we can always splurge, but moderation is good practice.

Touching base with yourself daily about this kind of reflection is good mental floss. We're actively engaging what it is we are giving our minds and bodies. If it's all doom and gloom and starving our senses of what they need, then we are suffering from mental malnutrition and this feeds into stress, anxiety, and depression. Check in, give yourself some good nutrition, and see what happens today.

As always, feel free to share your stories, comment or ask questions. Enjoy!

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles and is author of the upcoming book The Now Effect, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the Mindful Solutions audio series, and the Mindfulness at Work™ program currently being adopted in multiple multinational corporations.

Check out Dr. Goldstein's acclaimed CD's on Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Mindful Solutions for Addiction and RelapsePrevention, and Mindful Solutions for Success and Stress Reduction at Work. -- "They are so relevant, I have marked them as one of my favorites on a handout I give to all new clients" ~ Psychiatrist.

If you're wanting to integrate more mindfulness into your daily life, sign up for his Mindful Living Twitter Feed. Dr. Goldstein is also available for private psychotherapy.

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Thank you!

LOVE this! - Valerie - Mar 25th 2011

Thank you sooo much for posting this, and linking it on your other post "Can Anxiety Be A Good Thing?"!! Currently, I am a Junior in college, and just transferred to a school that is about an hour and a half away from my home.  I am extremely close with my family, and am a triplet who has never been "alone" without my brother or sister until this school year.  I've had an anxiety/panic disorder and mild depression for about six years now and going away has really set off my anxiety, panic & depression.  I was feeling particularly hopeless today, until I read this. 

I thank you again!!

Valerie

A Practice to Help - Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. - Aug 28th 2008

Thank you for your comments, resources and insights. That is exactly how we all learn from one another.

One thing I'd like to add here is an easy way to remember to Come to our Senses is to practice the STOP technique. This is Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, and Proceed. Acronyms can be enormously helpful for remembering to do these practices. In the Observe piece we can check in with our senses, this helps us get in touch what is happening right now. Try it out!

Back to our senses - Daron Larson - Aug 28th 2008

I agree. There is a great deal to gain by paying attention to what we're experiencing through our various senses.

There are some great books out there to support further investigation into this area including Coming to Our Senses by Jon Kabat-Zinn and A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman. Daniel Pink has some interesting points to make in the chapters covering the senses in his book A Whole New Mind.

Take care,

Daron Larson

http://daronlarson.blogspot.com

Life Hope - Arlan - Aug 26th 2008

Your article is a lifesaver. It is an extremely valuable resource for anyone that has had to make decisions in life on a daily basis, everyone. I sincerely hope this message will reach the countless individuals suffering from debilitating symptoms such as low self esteem and confidence.

Arlan Bergoust

Composer/Musician

www.oneyearunderwater.com