
According to the latest Gallup-Healthways research, if you’re a woman between the age of 45 and 55, you’re most likely to be happy if you’re from California, live in a household that brings in at least $120,000 a year, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, and exercise six times a week.

For years, I was a walking cerebrum. Most doctors are. It’s what we’re trained to do. As a physician, you can’t sleep when you’re tired, eat when you’re hungry, pee when your bladder is full, rest when you’re sick, get it on when you’re horny, or stop operating when your arms are killing you from manipulating heavy instruments in a small dark hole. So you learn to dissociate from your body. It’s a healthy adaptation that gets you through medical school and residency and helps you keep on keepin’ on when you feel like quitting.
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It’s nice to be back in California after a very exciting trip to my old college campus to do a keynote, my hometown to talk at a bookstore and the nation's capitol to do an in-house training.
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I've spent many years focusing on my mental wellness. I've been to therapists, used daily affirmations, and developed a consistent meditation practice. Only recently, however, have I come to truly appreciate the intimate link between my physical and mental health. Today I'd like to share 5 tips for healing your mind through your body.
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I am writing to ask for some specific guidance in dealing with a lifelong problem of fear. I’m not talking about fear of bad guys or ghosts; I’m talking about the fear that something bad is going to happen. In fact, I am usually in a state of planning and anticipating that something bad is lurking right around the corner.
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This week we heard about yet another school shooting ( The U.S. is # 1 in that category) where the killer was described by other students and neighbors as a "fairly quiet and good kid who pretty much stuck to himself.” A student who hid in a classroom while the shooting occurred told reporters,” He was a nice guy who I never suspected could shoot anyone.” Yes there were reports of problems at home, but enough to make someone kill?
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If you’re anything like me on this wild path of self healing, this post is perfect for you. I can’t believe it’s been almost 20 years on my path of healing. I’m happy to say that today I live symptom-medication free of a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
I’ve worked with about a hundred healers from every modality; Acupuncture, Ayurveda, light therapy, Reiki, networkchiropractic, thai yoga massage, cranial sacral massage, re-birthing, angel therapy, yoga, Natropathy, intuitive heart healing, the Grindberg method, hypnosis, past life regression, quantum biofeedback to zen meditation — you name it, I’ve probably have done it.
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I recently got up on the blue backlit stage to deliver my first TEDx talk at TEDxFiDiWomen in San Francisco, and as I stood there in the spotlight, I felt the gravity of what I was about to do.
Looking out over that sea of people who were anticipating what I was about to say, I felt the butterflies in my belly, but they didn’t keep me from leading off my TEDx talk with a bold statement - “Caring for your body is the LEAST important part of your health.”
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As an MD, I’ve watched too many of my colleagues yank out anti-depressant samples every time a patient starts to cry. So on behalf of physicians everywhere, let me apologize for our trigger-happy prescription-writing behavior. I don’t mean to diminish the pain someone who is depressed might experience. But tears are healthy. Sadness doesn’t always need treatment. And it’s important to remember that the pain muscle and the joy muscle are the same. If you can’t feel one, you won’t feel the other.
That said, clinical depression sucks, and if you’re someone who suffers from it, my heart goes out to you. I’m in no way intending to diss anti-depressants or suggest you ignore your doctor’s advice. I know anti-depressants can be life-saving for people. But unless you’re suicidal or otherwise in dire need of urgent medication, before you dose up on side-effect laden pharmaceuticals, it’s worth considering some natural treatments that might help lift your mood.
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