Love Your Mind by The Vale Practice 

Mentally we are all affected by the situations that surround us. If the following symptoms are becoming increasingly common to you, it’s time to take action: insomnia, depression, anxiety, feeling foggy-headed, dizziness, nausea, feeling drained of energy, or suffering from persistent bacterial and viral infections. According to The Observer newspaper (July 16th 2009) these symptoms of exhaustion are now widespread and can, at worst, lead to physical collapse. At the Vale Practice, we’d prefer to step in at the prevention stage, although many of our therapies – especially acupuncture, osteopathy and homeopathy - can form a vital part of any cure. So please read on to find out how best you can harness the power of positive mental attitudes.

Johnny Trifunovich, Vale Practice masseur recommends stepping off the relentless treadmill of life, juggling family, career and mortgage-payments – even if only for a minute – and taking stock. He says: ‘Take a look at your life, and be kind to yourself. Ask what is being neglected while you’re madly trying to squeeze 100 tasks into every day? Well, chances are you’re working so hard that you haven’t made the time to take care of yourself.’

Johnny’s action plan involves diet and physical activity for starters. ‘We are what we eat,’ he says. ‘Caffeine, sugar and fats play havoc on our system; they speed us up, dry us out and weigh us down. So think about what you’re eating. If you feel you need to, then go and get a food sensitivity test, and talk to an experienced nutritionist. You may find that some foods are not being processed effectively by your system, leading to sluggishness mentally and physically.’ Wheat, yeast, dairy and sugar are the usual culprits.

Introducing regular, gentle exercise is another important step towards a happier, healthier mind. Says Johnny: ‘Aerobic exercise such as running, swimming or cycling really do release that feel good endorphin, and to begin with you can do it just once a week till you adjust and find the time for more.’

But don’t forget that your brain needs a healthy diet too. As Johnny says: ‘What are you putting in your head? Are you reading the tittle tattle press every day or getting entrenched in the negativity of news? Well stop it! Be aware of what’s going on in the world, but don’t inundate yourself with doom and gloom and everyone else’s problems.’ Watch wonderful movies instead, or read a great book. Or simply sit and enjoy listening to your favourite music. Doing things you find mentally rewarding is like taking your brain on a holiday from everyday stresses and strains. Make a habit of it!

Meditation is a fantastic way to rest and refresh your mind. Those who practice meditation regularly notice that their concentration and memory improves, their moods and sleep-patterns stabilise and they gain a welcome clarity on problems that might previously have seemed overwhelming. The Vale Practice is now offering regular Buddhist meditation classes, run by the Dorjechang Centre.

Osteopath Lizzy Lomax emphasises the importance of proper breathing. She says: ‘Breathing forms an important link between the body and mind. Efficient breathing involves use of the diaphragm (the large, dome-shaped muscle separating the chest and stomach) – just watch a small child breathe and you will see an efficient diaphragm in use! Osteopathy can help to reduce restrictions in the rib cage and diaphragm, which may be affecting your breathing.’ She recommends lying on your back with one hand on the upper chest and one on the stomach below the rib cage. Focus on breathing in slowly through your nose; your lower hand should be ‘pushed out’ as the stomach expands, while the upper hand on the chest remains still. As you breathe out, the stomach muscles fall down. Do this ten times, slowly, and you’ll be feeling much calmer.

Practice director and osteopath Amberin Fur says: ‘Sometimes you need something to support you through the day when crises hit. Many people find flower remedies especially helpful for calming the mind.  A few drops of our "Calm and Clear" flower remedy from the Australian Bush Flower Remedies range can help you to take a few seconds out and retune your mind to a more positive wavelength.’  

If you have serious concerns, however, it’s important to speak to a qualified professional that you trust or have been recommended, either through your GP or local complimentary clinic.  Hypnotherapy can be powerfully effective for releasing patterns of anxiety and over-worrying. For more deep-seated problems, we suggest counselling. The Vale Practice offers a range of counselling therapies, to help individuals develop the understanding and strategies they need to get through hard times and emerge mentally stronger and happier.

Copyright 2009 The Vale Practice was founded in 2000 by osteopath Amberin Fur, who felt that there was a strong requirement for an integrated compementary medical practice to serve South East London. She has hand-picked an excellent, highly qualified and motivated team of practitioners, to offer a full, holistic range of therapies from hypnotherapy to acupuncture. Working to the highest standards, the practice aims to offer a tailored treatment programme to maximise the clients’ health and wellbeing.