Spirituality and happiness

Having a spiritual connection has actually been scientifically proven to make people happier.

Did you know this?

What are your beliefs?

Do you believe there is more to life that just the physical?

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe that we posses a spirit/soul?

I urge you to ask yourself these questions.

Spirituality is different for everyone. There is no right or wrong answer but simply believing, believing in something bigger than you is protective against depression.

I believe this is one aspect of ourselves so many of us are missing in our western society. We are so focused on the physical, material possessions and even our physical health. What about spiritual wellbeing? It’s a whole piece of the puzzle that we so often neglect. How can we feel whole when we are not looking after ourselves as a whole?

It is not enough to simply look after the physical, mental and emotional. The spiritual governs it all. It is our highest self and our most powerful tool.

You may be confused when it comes to spirituality. That’s ok. It’s not something that can be crystal clear in this empirical world. It’s not something that can be proven, it’s simply something that can be felt.

I have always had a strong sense of spirituality. My belief has never wavered but I certainly have been caught up in this physical world and been through times of neglect when it comes to my spiritual wellbeing. During these times I have definitely noticed that my physical and emotion self has been affected. As I was not as in tune with my self, my needs and my higher purpose, I began to neglect certain aspects of myself. I wasn’t eating the way that was best for my body

(I have always been a healthy eater but I have not always honoured my body, eating certain things as it gave me a high or to fit in and not be different). I wasn’t being true to myself, expressing how I felt and working on my emotional wellbeing. I was trying to be perfect, to fit in, be accepted by others, follow our societal model of school, to university to a 9-5 job. I had more to offer. I knew that much but I wanted to do what was right. What others told me was right. Be the perfect daughter, wife, and friend. Not the perfect version of myself for me. While in actual fact I could never be ‘perfect’ and at the same time was already ‘perfect’. This is as we are all perfect already.

Exactly as we are.

In all our perfect imperfection.

As human beings the best thing we can do for ourselves, our loved ones and our society is simply to be true to ourselves. Shine our light, share our story, to be unapologetically us.

We are all spiritual beings, we are all connected in a way that may not be able to be measured but certainly can be felt. If you just take the time to truly connect within yourself you will learn unimaginable things about what you have to offer in this lifetime, how you need to be showing up and who you truly are. You feel things more deeply than ever and experience your heart opening up like never before. You will begin to notice the opportunities that are there for you that you may have missed up until this point. You will discover that you have been living with your eyes closed.

See the magnificence.

Experience the magic.

Know that all is going exactly to plan.

You are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Life is full of excitement you just need to be open to noticing it.

Find a spiritual practice that works for you. Do it every day. EVERY DAY. You will notice the shift. You will never turn back. Coping with the physical world will become so much easier as life will flow with ease. Release the resistance. The answers are inside of you already. Let go and just be. Just be you.

Dionne xx

P.S. I am working on a very exciting new program for you. It will be delving deeper that any of the work I have done before. Lets work on all aspects of your health and wellbeing. The physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Lets uncover what has been holding you back from living the healthiest and happiest life possible.

P.P.S. Life is meant to be fun. If its not ask yourself what you need to be doing differently. It your life and its your choice how you live it.

Adolescent Mental Health

 

 Adolescence is a very difficult time of transitions. Children are in-limbo evolving from childhood to adulthood; they are attempting to find their identity, fit in at school, keep up with the pressures of social media, cope with the pressure of school work and exams, decide on a fulfilling career and manage the many hormonal and bodily changes occurring. These all sound challenging enough but then imagine suffering from a mental health condition as well. This is much more common than people may believe.

Mental health is a huge umbrella under which many disorders are placed. The most common include:

•     Depression

•     Anxiety

•     Substance use disorders

How common are these disorders in Australia?

The statistics when it comes to mental health disorders for adolescents in Australia are extremely concerning.

·       Australia has the second highest rate in the WORLD of antidepressant prescriptions per capita, and this is increasing by about 25% each year.

·       1 in 4 adolescents have a mental illness.

·       1 in 3 girls suffer from anxiety disorders.

·       1 in 16 adolescents suffer from depression.

·       At least one third of young people have had an episode of mental illness by the time they are 25 years old.

·       Suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians and accounts for the death of more young people than car accidents.

·       65% of young people suffering from a mental health condition do not seek help.

There are several factors that have been shown to contribute to poor mental health. These include:

·       Stress

·       Neurotoxic substances

·       Inflammation

       ·        Poor nutrition

       ·       Challenging life events

·       Loneliness

Apart from medication, some of the other essential treatments for boosting mood and enhancing brain function include:

       ·        Adequate nutrition

       ·        Physical activity

       ·        Adequate sleep

       ·        Meaning and purpose in life

       ·        Social connections

·       Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

·       Mindfulness

       ·        Natural treatments such as herbal medicine, nutritional supplements and flower essences.

If your child is suffering or displaying symptoms of a mental health condition it is so important they seek help as soon as possible. The longer seeking help is delayed, the more damage that will occur and the more difficult it will be to reverse. Possibly all they will need when symptoms are mild are some dietary and lifestyle modifications but if you leave it too long, medication or more serious treatments are much more likely to be required. Many of these conditions begin in adolescence and if correct support is given to these teens it reduces the likelihood that they will be reliant on medications as well as giving them the opportunity to learn better coping mechanisms that can be employed for the rest of their lives.

For those who do require medication it is important to note that many natural therapies are available that can be used in conjunction to increase efficacy, reduce side effects and possibly reduce the dosage needed. Please seek the advice of your medical practitioner for the best treatment option for your teenager.

Stress less for 2017

 

If you look back at last year, how were your stress levels? Do you remember feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and run down by the end of the year? Do you want to make a change for this year? Lets get the year started with a plan to better manage your stress and cope with the inevitable everyday tasks!

Here are my three tips for a stress free 2017

1.It’s a new year; lets not make the same mistakes as last year. If you are in a high pressure job, get stressed or overwhelmed easily, juggling too many things, or have a tendency towards anxiety then there are 2 supplements you should be taking daily. These are a Vitamin B complex and Magnesium. Both of these will help to support your nervous system, helping your body better cope with stress and reducing anxiety levels.

2. Practice some form of relaxation daily. This can be whatever works best for you, whether it be meditation, deep breathing, walking, baths, aromatherapy or journaling. Take your pick and make sure you do it every day as a priority. Now is the perfect time to get into the habit before the year gets too crazy. Once you form a habit you wont think twice as to whether you have time or not in your busy schedule to incorporate relaxation. Routine is key!

3. This is a big one, get organised! You need a schedule or routine so that every little thing doesn’t make you flustered. If you get into a routine of when you meditate, when you exercise, when you cook and when you have down time everything just seems to flow. Get yourself a meal planner and every Sunday plan what meals you will be cooking for the week. Even time to play needs to be scheduled in as there is always something to do that may take preference but having some you time is so important. Get yourself a diary or calendar, organise a daily routine and stop this cycle of stress!

Flower Essences

Flower essences are one of my favourite tools to use in clinic. They are so gentle yet so effective. Many people don't really understand what flower essences are so here is a brief description on their function.

What are flower essences?

As the name suggests, flower essences are particular remedies made from flowers. Essentially the flowers are soaked in water under sunlight for a length of time. During this process the energy of the flower is absorbed into the water and this water can then be used as a remedy. This liquid is then potentised and stabilized in a solution of brandy and water. Unlike herbal remedies and essential oils the plan is not disturbed in this process and the finished product does not contain any of the plant matter so they are safe for everyone to use, do not interact with any medication or cause allergy.

What are Flower Essences used for?

Flower essences are mainly used to balance the emotions. Each individual flower has a separate use and emotional condition it can help release. According to Ian White the founder of the Australian Bush Flower Essences ‘The effect of these Essences is similar to that of meditation in that they enable the person to access the wisdom of their Higher Self. This releases negative beliefs held in the subconscious mind and allows the positive virtues of the Higher Self - love, joy, faith, courage etc. to flood their being. When this happens the negative beliefs and thoughts are dissolved, balance is restored and true healing occurs.’

One particular flower essence you may be aware of is ‘Rescue Remedy’. This is one of the Bach Flower remedies and is readily available in pharmacies and health food stores. Rescue remedy is a combination of several essences with the aim to reduce stress, overwhelm, anxiety and panic. This is one remedy I suggest everyone has in their bag which can be accessed at any time when people begin to feel overwhelmed. Simply place 4 drops under the tongue when needed to return to a state of calm.

There are many branches of flower essences and within these branches there is an essence to match every emotion or life stage. Choosing the correct essence can often be quite an intuitive exercise as people are drawn to the flower that most resonates with them.

For any more information on flower essences or to discuss having an essence made for you contact:

Dionne Shalit BSC., BHSc. (Naturopathy)

0438 588 030

info@dionneshalit.com

Deep Breathing Vlog

Do you need some tips to help with deep breathing?

This is probably one of my favorite tools to help with anxiety and panic attacks :)

Give it a go and let me know your thoughts!

Dionne