A Holistic Doctor's thoughts on the Newtown Shooting

I am heartbroken.

As I write this, the shock of today's events have yet to settle, and I doubt they ever will.

I had heard about this event through word of mouth as patients trickled in throughout the afternoon, but it wasn't until the last patient left and I read the story for myself that the tears began to flow.

I think of the children specifically.

Those who died, and those who mourn them (don't we all mourn when little ones suffer?) but even more, I think of those children who lived through this ordeal, and the scars they will carry with them.  It's hard for me to even type through my tears... because those scars strike me as worse than leaving this world, and the odds are that those scars are going to be managed by the same system that caused this horrendous nightmare in the first place.

What does the medical system do to children under emotional stress???  

Classify them with a psychological disorder and start pumping them full of psychiatric drugs, none of which have been tested on children, and all of which have the side effects of homicidal and suicidal tendencies! These kids are taught from as young as THREE YEARS OLD that there is something wrong with their brain, something wrong with their thoughts, and instead of being allowed to grow up and learn to cope with life, they are programmed to think are broken, irreparable, unable to cope, and required to be on medication for the rest of their lives, numb to everything. (and we wonder why they have horrible self-esteem!!) These medications alter the brain chemistry at ANY age, so imagine what they do to a developing nervous system (which doesn't reach maturity until about 25yo)!

These drugs were never tested on children, never approved, and yet the children of this country are treated like guinea pigs.  I was just talking to someone today who dealt with this about 20 years ago when her 6 yo daughter was bounced from one medication to another, increasing dosages, adding new drugs to the picture... The mother finally refused after about ten years of this because she felt they didn't know what they were doing (SMART MOM!) and they accused her of screwing up her daughter and claimed medication was the only answer.  Eventually, when her daughter turned 18, the doctors she saw claimed she never needed any of those medications.  And America's children continue to be abused like this today, but on a larger scale.

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON???

The bottom line is that the medical doctors are clueless.  They have no idea how to deal with this problem. There is absolutely NO RESEARCH proving the safety or efficacy of these drugs on children or young adults.

Instead of continuing to turn to a pill for a solution, how about we start teaching kids how to cope? How about we employ some time-tested techniques for stress management like yoga, meditation, and N.E.T.?

I had a patient comment a few weeks ago on how odd it is that there's so many suicidal people these days (she was dealing with a family member who was struggling).  She wanted to know why her generation didn't see this behavior so often.

IT'S THE DRUGS!  

When we combine mind-altering substances with the self-esteem-destroying message that children are unable to deal with life without those mind-altering substances and add in a lack of coping skills, it's the perfect storm. And those drugs are not only in prescription form... they're in our tap water! I'm still awaiting the news reports that Adam Lanza was on medication... It's been consistent with every shooting case so far, like the Batman Shooter, the Columbine Shooting,  and the Heritage High School Shooting.

Please, I implore you, if you know a friend or family member that is about to start these medications, or even a parent about to start their CHILD on these medications, let them know there are alternatives... WE CAN CHANGE THIS.

I send my prayers and love to all those affected.  This is truly a heart-breaking moment in history.  If I could reach through my computer into yours and give you a hug, I would, but in the meantime, hug your loved ones, hug yourself, and don't hesitate to reach out to me if you or someone you care about needs help.

Yours in loving service,
Dr. Redmond

Read the Full Story here.

The Positivity Playlist

I love music.  It lifts me up when I'm feeling down, helps me celebrate when I'm up, motivates me when I'm working, and acts as inspiration when I just want to sit and contemplate life for a little while.

Because of the emotion that often accompanies a melody, music can also be a powerful affirmation.

I encourage you to pay attention to what you're listening to, in the wake of our week of mindfulness.

I noticed a few years ago that a lot of my favorite songs included some very negative lyrics. The songs sounded happy, but they truly were not.  I also noticed many instances where these lyrics had actually manifested in my life.  It's amazing how our unconscious mind will absorb the stories we present to it and make them our own.

Now I must admit that I haven't completely given up all songs with stories I wouldn't like to have, but since our state of health is really about what we do 80% of the time, I decided to make a Positivity Playlist that I can listen to when I need a boost.  And I have decided to share some of those songs with you!  If you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments below.  There will be a song posted every Monday to keep you going all week long.

And now, the song that inspired this post!

Mindfulness: Day 7

So... here we are.  Today, I'd like you to reflect back over the week.. What did you take from the experience? How have you changed?  Would you like more exercises like this in the future? Share your thoughts below... I'm excited to hear from you, and thanks for participating...

Mindfulness: Day 6

When we are talking with others, we seldom listen deeply.  We're more concerned with what we're going to say next.  Today, when you are engaged in conversation, just be there.  There's no need to fill the silences.  Just leave space for the other person to continue with their thoughts.  Just listen with heart and discover a new way to care for another person...

What were your observations?

Mindfulness: Day 5

Today, we're going to engage our sense of smell.  Unless something smells "bad, " we rarely focus our attention on it.  Today, start taking in deep breaths.  Take in the walls of your home, your office, your car... Even the street! Notice the difference in each place you go... no need to judge it... just observe...


What did you notice?  Looking forward to reading it below!

Mindfulness: Day 3

Today, just look around you.

When was the last time you noticed the unique features of your home, gym, office, car, etc?

Today, notice the colors, sounds, shapes of rooms, windows, blinds, floors, ceilings, furniture...  Check in with your senses in each location.  What do you feel, see, smell, taste, and hear? What have you noticed today that you never noticed before?  Share it below!

Mindfulness: Day 2

Today, your task is to people watch!  I love doing this. Look at the people close to you as if you have never laid eyes on them before. Note their unique way of walking, the cadence in their voice, their mannerisms, the crinkles in their faces...  Anything surprise you?  I encourage you to share it in the comment section below!

Mindfulness: Day 1

Your mission for today (or tomorrow, if you shower in the morning) is to be present in the shower.  The next time you shower, concentrate on feeling the water cascading over your head and body.  Pay attention to the scent of your soap and shampoo.  Notice the sensation on your skin.  Take note of your surroundings... the shower head, the tiles, the curtain, etc. This can be a beautiful, relaxing meditation, and a great way to start your day. And the best part is that it doesn't add any more time to your morning routine!

A week of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a great tool.  Being more aware of one's thoughts and actions can help us be less stressed, as well as help us make better choices.  This can effect our lives profoundly, causing us to be healthier and happier overall.

In an effort to be more mindful, I have committed to a week of mindfulness, and I thought I'd invite you along for the ride! :.)  Starting Monday, I will post once each day for a week on something we can do to be more mindful.  Subscribe to this blog to receive your daily instructions and reminder. I look forward to hearing what you learned!!

Years of Knee Pain are Over...

Recently, a patient came in with knee pain so severe she could barely walk.  She had injured it about 20 years prior and it had never been "right" since.  She had been to multiple orthopedists, naturopaths, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc, but nothing seemed to help.

I examined it and found a number of things; muscle memories, trigger points, a fibular head subluxation, etc.

So what did I do?  What I always do!  My job!  I fixed what I found, helped the nervous system get balanced, and allowed her body to heal as it was designed.

And whaddaya know...  It doesn't hurt anymore. She can actually go for walks again!  (Not to mention the happy little "side effects" of better energy, less anxiety, and being able to live her life again.)

Just another day saving lives.

I love my job.

Swimming for the first time without fear? Priceless.

I'm always so excited to share my patient's successes and this is no different.

I met Michelle at a triathlon where she was volunteering and I was competing.  Somehow, we got onto the topic of her fear of the water.  I was amazed that with such a severe phobia, she was even capable of being a triathlete, which really says a lot for her strength of will and determination.  She didn't even learn to swim until three years prior.  Now in her early 50's, this incredible woman had completed multiple triathlons but still had to fight back the panic every time she got in the water.  I told her about NET and how it had helped me complete my first Olympic tri, and she took my number and said she would check it out.

A week later, she went to compete in her first Olympic tri, and sadly, couldn't finish. She had a panic attack in the water.  How scary is that?!  Shortly thereafter, I saw her at my office.  I examined her, and believed I could help (she seemed like a GREAT candidate for NET!), so we got to work.  We had one week before her next tri, and honestly, I didn't know if she'd be ready... one week isn't much time and we found a lot that needed to be addressed.  With her first adjustment we cleared her Allergy point, which we found out of balance due to accumulated emotional stress.  This was simply to set the stage for the work we needed to do, and start to bring some semblance of balance to her nervous system.

You won't believe what happened next.

On her next appointment, after only one session, she came in and reported that she had done an open water swim in the ocean that morning, and she was fine!!  Even I didn't expect results that fast!  It truly is a testament to her strong constitution!  I can't wait to see what happens when her nervous system is actually functioning at it's MAX!

GREAT JOB, MICHELLE! I'm so proud of you!!

Screw enough. Be priceless.

I had an especially profound session of NET with a patient yesterday.  We've worked together for quite some time now, working through whatever issues bubble to the surface on this wild journey called life.  This particular patient has been going through a very big transition lately... she quit her full-time job to focus on her business.  She felt that quitting her job would give her the time she desperately needed to focus on her career goals, her health, and her overall happiness.

But a funny thing happened.

She seemed to have even LESS time than before!

She was still overwhelmed, lacking the time for exercise, lacking the motivation to eat well, never able to get 100% organized.

This is really a lesson for all of us... That we have time for what we MAKE time for... but I digress...

I noticed a pattern in her life, and she was up for a journey down the rabbit hole.

We started picking apart the story she was telling herself... that there wasn't enough money, enough time, enough of ANYthing...

We tested the concept of her being ok with having too much, not enough, and even just being ok as she was... None of which she was congruent with.

But then, as we spoke, and I continued to probe, we realized that this endless, infinite pursuit of "enough" was about something more.  I asked her, "Why do you need more? Why aren't YOU enough?" and we both stopped.

We had hit the mother load; the core issue that was driving all her pain and suffering.

How many of us are driven on endless journeys just like this one because underlying it all, we are just trying to measure up?  How many of us never feel like we are enough?  How many of us can't be happy with what we have because we always tell ourselves we could do more, be more, have more?

What kind of world would we create if we all felt like we were enough? And how much better would THAT world be if we all realized we were PRICELESS?

(PS I'm happy to say that we did clear this issue for her, and she felt a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. I can't wait to see the shift manifest in her life!)

"I've got a headache THIS BIG! And it's screaming for..."

Miserable with Migraines: I'm hot, I'm tired, and I have the worst migraine EVER! Is there anything I can do?

Dr. Redmond: Dear Miserable, Being a chiro, I help people with migraines quite a bit. And actually, it's not uncommon for people to get migraines when it's really hot out. Or when it rains. Or when they eat certain foods or are under stress. Usually it's actually of combination of these factors and others but a most useful thing I have learned is that often, dehydration plays the biggest role. Dehydration + other aggravators = misery. My best advice (other than getting to the Chiropractor of your choice as soon as possible to evaluate your nervous system and find what is causing these miserable migraines in the first place ;) is to roll a hand towel like one of those swiss roll snack cakes and lie on it with it tucked under your neck with a cold compress on your eyes and a hot compress on your shoulders. It typically works just as well or better than Imitrex. And hydrate!

Feel better soon!

Your local doc,

Jenn