Suffering With Joy

Suffering and Holiness

March 16, 2010

In the February 2010 issue of Inside the Vatican Robert Moynihan wrote on this subject - that suffering and the cross is “a mystery hidden at the heart of the faith which we must not minimize.”

Agony in the Garden, c.1587, Jacopo Ligozzi (b. 1547, Verona, d. 1627, Firenze), oil on panel, private collection

He points out that “since the Second Vatican Council, when many have rightly stressed that Christians are ‘a Resurrection people,’ but wrongly neglected that…we are a ‘crucifixion people’ with all that implies,” we have, as Catholics, minimized this great mystery. The overwhelming “happy talk” from many pulpits has resulted in a failure by many to comprehend the salvific value of suffering as Pope John Paul II wrote about in Salvifici Dolores. (If you have not read the Pope’s Apostolic Letter, click on the title and you will go to it on the Vatican web site.  It is excellent.)

In his editorial, Moynihan quotes New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan on the condition of Haiti:

Haiti is the broken, bloodied body of Christ….Yes, we all have a share in the Resurrection, but as a race redeemed, we also sometimes take part in His Passion.  Christ scourged.  Christ crucified.

Somehow suffering frees us from worldly attachments if we adopt the right disposition. As we discover our lack of control over our worldly plans and desires, if we submit to God and embrace what He sends us no matter how burdensome, if we fix our eyes on the cross, we see more clearly our dependence on God in a rightly ordered way. He is the one who will deliver us and not we ourselves.  This ascent into truth, as it were, is an ascent into holiness if we learn to desire what God wants for us.

It’s easy to forget in the midst of pain and frustration that God wants only our good and that every obstacle He sends us is a sign of love and an opportunity to train our wills and hearts to desire “Thy will be done.” A great good and a great privilege is to be invited by Christ to ascend the cross with Him, to offer up our sufferings with His for the redemption of souls. Let us carry this message of hope to those who have never heard of this way of thinking, that they may find the purpose in their pain and the special place they have in God’s plan.

Tags: Catholic Church, pain, suffering

A Holistic Approach to Treating Depression

February 11, 2010

This article is the first in a series on depression.  By presenting basic information I hope to help others as I have been helped by a holistic approach.  The causes of depression are varied but chronic pain and other stressors play a big role. As we age it only gets more difficult to handle depression.  What is really important is that we take charge of our health and find medical professionals who think beyond prescribing pills.  The answer to getting well (or getting better) is unique for each person and discovering what works is like an adventure with Sherlock Holmes.  It takes a lot of work before the right combination of therapies are discovered.  One thing for sure, nobody is depressed because he needs more prescription antidepressants in his system.

Not long ago the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that “depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by YLDs (years living with disability) and the 4th  leading contributor to the global burden of disease (DALYs) (disability adjusted life years) in 2000.”[1] They estimate that by the year 2020, depression will rise to second place for all ages and both sexes.

About 121 million people worldwide suffer from this disease and every year about 850,000 people commit suicide because of depression according to WHO.  Signs of depression include: loss of interest or pleasure in life, feelings of guilt or low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness, low energy levels, poor concentration, disturbed sleep, aches and pains and eating abnormalities.  Barriers to effective care may be financial, lack of knowledge concerning the disorder, unavailability of qualified providers, and the social stigma attached to mental disorders which prevents people from seeking help.

What many people involved in conventional medicine don’t realize, and what holistic medical providers do understand is that depression is a systemic disorder that affects body and mind. Systemic problems require a systemic solution.  Often simple changes in life style can eradicate depression without the use of drugs and the expense of psychotherapy.  Approaching the treatment of depression as a systemic issue can ameliorate the social stigma still at issue in getting effective treatment.

Glandular malfunction

From a biochemical perspective, several glands are associated with depression.  The adrenal glands which sit atop the kidneys have two functions connected with depression.  First, they are the “stress” glands, and second, they are associated with the pancreas and regulation of blood sugar levels.

When people are stressed, the adrenal glands increase the production of hormones that put us on high alert and step up blood sugar levels to give us energy to overcome a perceived threat.  It doesn’t matter what the stress is from, if it continues long enough the effect on the body is the same — exhaustion of the adrenal glands.

When the adrenal glands are depleted, the thyroid gland tries to compensate by raising blood glucose levels.  The gland increases the metabolic rate which breaks down fats and protein into glucose.  But when the overworked thyroid is depleted, the metabolic rate slows resulting in chronic fatigue and “brain fog”.  In addition, the thyroid is often prevented from functioning well due to lack of adequate iodine in the gland, a major problem today in America.

When the adrenals and thyroid are depleted, the pituitary gland shifts into high gear and works to produce additional stimulating hormones to help with the thyroid function.  Unfortunately, overworking the pituitary gland results in greater depression.

Getting back to the basics: food, water, exercise

Fortunately, it is possible in many cases to restore healthy balance or an improved level of wellness in the body with logical, natural approaches, many of which work synergistically.  The first place to start is with food.  Providing the raw materials for neurotransmitters in the brain begins healing.

Poor eating habits are destructive to health and contribute to depression.  Eating five smaller meals a day helps with the regulation of blood sugar and “rests” the adrenals.  Getting the right mix of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates for each person’s biochemistry is essential.  What works for one person may not be best for another, so people must listen to their bodies.

Avoiding artificial sweeteners and allowing carb needs to be satisfied by raw vegetables and fruits rather than breads, cereal, and pasta from refined products is also essential. These foods along with some protein are great snacks and easy to take along when people are away from home.   Adequate and well-balanced protein, especially from whey or eggs can jump-start feeling better.  Protein is the building block for various neurotransmitters that play a role in regulating mood.

The body needs plenty of omega-3 fatty acids.  These come from sardines, tuna, Alaska red salmon, flax and chia seeds or from supplements.  Cod liver oil is an excellent source and it comes in flavors.

The second “basic” in natural treatment of depression is sufficient water which does not contain chlorine, fluoride, chemicals, hormones and other substances bad for the body.

To know how much water to drink daily take body weight in pounds, divide that number by two, and then divide the result by 8.  This tells how many cups of water are needed to maintain good hydration.  Other positive effects from proper hydration are pain reduction and a boosted immune system. [2]

The final “basic” natural therapy is exercise, the last thing a depressed person wants to do.  With severe depression most people don’t even want to get out of bed, but “…walking or some other form of exercise for 30 minutes a day can improve depression and mood in nearly everyone.”[3]  Beginning with 5 minutes a day is sufficient.  A high-tech, lower cost exercise aid is the Nintendo Wii™ with the opportunity to play bowling, softball, tennis and other games no matter what the weather.

Supplements

Although many people may find relief from depression by doing the basics listed above, supplements are often necessary to get the best results.  Probiotics, the healthy bacteria the intestines need to get the most out of an improved diet, is the first place to start.

Addressing adrenal and thyroid problems is also important and easily done by using supplements.  Drenamin® has been in use since 1935 for adrenal support.[4]

Hypothyroidism is a known cause of depression and nervousness. It is likely that 13 million adults in the United States have an undiagnosed hypothyroid condition and possibly close to 52 million suffer from the condition.[5]

Determining a low thyroid condition is easy using a basal temperature test.  Put an oral thermometer by the bedside.  Upon awakening in the morning do not get out of bed!  Place the thermometer in the armpit for 10 minutes.  Record the temperature.  Do this every day for a week.  A reading between 98.2 and 97.2 is considered normal.  If it is lower than this, it indicates a sluggish thyroid.[6]  However treating with a natural thyroid hormone supplement will not help depression if an iodine deficiency is present in the body.  Therefore, an iodine-loading test is necessary.  Test results for over 30,000 people indicate that about 96% of the population is iodine deficient. Supplementation with iodine which the thyroid (and all body cells) needs to function will often help depressed patients turn a corner from despair to hope.

A good multiple vitamin-mineral product will help keep systemic imbalances from occurring.  Antioxidants like Vitamin A and C help detoxify the body, reducing stress from toxins.  Sometimes extra B vitamins are necessary, especially B3 (niacinamide) and B12.  Niacinamide, a form of B3, is known to reduce anxiety and depression when taken several times a day.[7]  There is no way to overdose on B3 because it is metabolized by the body so quickly that within 3 hours all traces of it are gone.  It may take a few weeks to notice improvement, but the results can be astonishing.  People with years of “brain fog” and low energy are almost suddenly clear-headed and energetic.  Best of all, it is very inexpensive.

Herbalists have recommended St. John’s Wort for years to relieve depression.

Finally, in the supplement category are the effects of Vitamin D, called the Sunshine Vitamin. Doctors are now realizing that low levels of D cause a host of serious health issues, among which is fatigue and depression.  The optimal level of D is 50-65 ng/ml according to Dr.Mercola.  Physicians are discovering a large percentage of the population are very low on Vitamin D and need anywhere from 1000 -10,000 IU daily, particularly in winter when exposure to the sun is limited. Before starting Vitamin D supplementation, a blood test (25(OH)D) is necessary to determine the baseline levels of D in the body.

Other “natural” remedies

Full-spectrum light therapy is known to be beneficial to people depressed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  Use of high enough levels of Vitamin D may make light treatment unnecessary.

Prayer has been shown to help relieve depression.

The Emotional Freedom Technique, a psychological acupressure technique which is being used increasingly by health professionals unblocks emotional issues affecting depression.  Click on the link for complete instructions on this application.  A person does not need to go to a health professional to apply this therapy.

All of the approaches covered in this article can be called “natural” in that none introduces foreign substances into the body to treat depression and all individually or in some combination right for the individual can help relieve depression.  All therapies put the patient in charge of feeling better with a holistic approach to the systemic problem of depression.

[1] http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/

[2] Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do! by David Brownstein, M.D., p. 186-187

[3] ibid. p. 178

[4] http://www.standardprocess.com/display/displayFile.aspx?docid=95&filename=/Public/Lit/TabSheets/drenamin3650.pdf

[5] Overcoming Thyroid Disorders Second Edition by David Brownstein, M.D. p.35

[6]  Alternatives Newsletter, November 2009, Dr. David G. Williams, p.39

[7] http://www.doctoryourself.com/hoffer_niacin.html

Dr. Brownstein’s books are available in the “wellness” category at my custom store.

Tags: chronic fatigue, iodine, pain, wellness

O Beauty Ever Ancient, Ever New

February 2, 2010

Fushimi, Imperial Palace, Tokyo, (c)Tomo.Yun (www.yunphoto.net/en/)

Wisdom 13:3 tells us God is “the author of beauty.”  In the Catechism of the Catholic Church #2500 we find this idea developed:

Even before revealing Himself to man in words of truth, God reveals Himself to him through the universal language of creation, the work of His Word, of His wisdom: the order and harmony of the cosmos – which both the child and the scientist discover – “from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator,” “for the Author of beauty created them”. (Wisdom 13:3, 5)

The Catechism goes further in #2501:

Created “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:26), man also expresses the truth of his relationship with God the Creator by the beauty of his artistic works.  Indeed, art is a distinctively human form of expression; beyond the search for the necessities of life which is common to all living creatures, art is a freely given superabundance of the human being’s inner riches.  Arising from talent given by the Creator and from man’s own effort, art is a form of practical wisdom, uniting knowledge and skill, to give form to the truth of reality in a language accessible to sight or hearing.  To the extent that it is inspired by truth and love of beings, art bears a certain likeness to God’s activity in what He has created.  Like any other human activity, art is not an  absolute end in itself, but is ordered to and ennobled by the ultimate end of man. (cf. Pius XII, Musicae sacrae disciplina; Discourses of September 3 and December 25, 1950)

In his “Confessions”, St. Augustine reveals what happens when the pursuit of beauty is not ordered to God:

Roar of Flames, (c)Tomo.Yun (www.yunphoto.net/en/)

Late have I loved Thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new! Too late have I loved Thee. And lo, Thou wert inside me and I outside, and I sought for Thee there, and in all my unsightliness I flung myself on those beautiful things which Thou hast made. Thou wert with me and I was not with Thee. Those beauties kept me away from Thee, though if they had not been in Thee, they would not have been at all. Thou didst call and cry to me and break down my deafness. Thou didst flash and shine on me and put my blindness to flight. Thou didst blow fragrance upon me and I drew breath, and now I pant after Thee. I tasted of Thee and now I hunger and thirst for Thee. Thou didst touch me and I am aflame for Thy peace….

We can see in all of the above, a relationship exists between wisdom, truth, and beauty. One way the infinite All-Beautiful, All-Wise, All-Truth Creator reveals Himself to us is through beauty.  The pursuit of beauty rightly ordered is the pursuit of God.  And what makes something beautiful?  An inherent harmony, peace and order intrinsic to it.

Everyone needs to surround himself with some kind of beauty, especially the chronically ill.  Our bodies are discordant with disease; we are out of balance and disturbed to such an extent that all to much of our energy is spent coping and struggling to achieve some sense of equilibrium.  If we are open to it, looking at or listening to something beautiful restores inner peace and some sense of wellness.  It can spur us on to prayer and praise of God, and imperfect as earthly beauty is, it hints at the eternal harmony, order and joy we aspire to.  For many years now I have been practicing this and know that it works.  Earlier I wrote about the effect images of our beautiful Blessed Mother have on pain.  Sharing beauty will always be a part of this site.

Niju Bridge, Main Gate of Imperial Palace, Tokyo, (c)Tomo.Yun (www.yunphoto.net/en/)

Ever searching for beauty, yesterday I was looking for free stock photos to use at this site. Many pages into the Google list I stumbled upon an extraordinarily talented photographer who is willing to share his work for free as long as the user follows the terms of the license agreement at his site.  Yun is very generous.  You might enjoy reading about why here.  I find much of his work a real joy and thank God I have eyes to see.  If you visit his site, be prepared to stay awhile and be captivated by the beauty.   Perhaps other bloggers who come here may wish to use his work, or readers may like to download images for personal use.  Speaking as a professional photographer, copyright and credit is important to protect an artist and honor his work.

Tags: Catholic Church, health, joy, pain, wellness

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Paul Meier, M.D. and David L. Henderson, M.D.

This book helps people understand and act on the potential for growth through seven common sources of pain in life.  Biblically based but with practical approaches to dealing with injustice, rejection, loneliness, loss, discipline, failure, and death, the authors challenge us to discover the lessons a loving God is teaching. 

Readers can grow in appreciation of how God works in their lives, drawing closer to Him through the unpleasant and sometimes devastating circumstances we all suffer because of our fallen nature.  Think: building virtue, avoiding despair.

Smoothly written and logically composed, it offers the flexibility of going directly to sections of interest, losing nothing when bypassing previous sections.  Moreover, the “Finding Purpose Beyond…” suggestions and challenges at the end of each section help to focus on moving toward real happiness through the suffering we cannot escape. I found the content of this feature very thought-provoking and helpful.

Engaging stories of individuals the authors have treated in their practices illustrate their points and enliven the subject along with appropriate Biblical quotes.  I highly recommend this book to people looking for answers to circumstances troubling them, wondering where God is in all of it, and how life can be better. 

I am a member of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com/.  In exchange for posting reviews I received this book free.

Tags: joy, pain, suffering, virtue, wellness

Those Pesky Little Neurites

Anyone who suffers from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, heavy stress or other disabling conditions has a brain under attack.  One of my favorite websites for learning more about systemic ways to address my own conditions as well as giving me insight on health problems others face is Vitamin Research Products.  You can sign up for a free enews monthly newsletter as I have if you want short, informative and educational articles covering a variety of health challenges written by scientists who work for VRP. I consider them an important part of my wellness education.“Now where did I put that?”, “What was I just saying?”, ”How did you say I should do that?” and other similar experiences can be a sign of deteriorating neurites.  The good news is that neurite outgrowth can actually be enhanced with improves the brain’s neural communications network.

Yes, they want you to buy their products and they explain what the formulations should do, how you should use them, and what they are for.  No, I get nothing from VRP and have yet to purchase anything from them because of budgetary considerations but I would really like to some day.  Nevertheless, the articles themselves are worth checking out.  They are short, fully footnoted, and identify research findings related to numerous conditions. 

We also can have “brain fog” from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, and from side effects of some prescription drugs.  For example, in a recent article, “Four Ways to Keep Your Brain Young for Good” I learned that given the right conditions, brain cells can regenerate themselves.  Neurites, branch-like extensions on brain cells can be reduced as we age, causing what people call “senior moments.”

Another good article, “Could Chronic Stress be Lowering Your IQ?” talked about the effects of excessive levels of cortisol on the brain.  It states that there may even be a connection between Alzheimer’s and stress. 

If you or anyone you know might benefit from more knowledge about the factors involved in brain functioning take a look at these short articles and keep those pesky neurites functioning well.

Tags: chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, pain

He Made Us; His We Are

“From the beginning and before the world was I created, and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy dwelling place I have ministered before him.” Eccl. 24:14.

Catholics praying the Divine Office will find this Biblical quote in the hour of Lauds from the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is a favorite of mine because not only does it apply to Our Lady, it applies to every person created.  In this one verse God tells us that we are in His mind from all eternity, and that we will live forever after death, worshiping and praising Him. 

I am constantly struck by the love God has for each person – that He made us and His we are. (Ps. 99:3)  When we are struggling with pain and illnesses of all types we can sometimes forget that One greater than we has us in His heart.  Often we are so preoccupied with just getting by under our own power we forget to surrender to His power – to stop and ask what He is asking from us.

With the culture of death gaining greater ascendance daily, it seems to me that we must practice our Faith ever more diligently and especially to pray for the conversion of others.  (We must pray daily for our own conversion, too, but that is another topic.) 

For those of us who cannot do much in the physical realm, there remain the intentions of the heart: the unseen sacrifices we make in union with Christ.  The value of these sacrifices cannot be measured in earthly terms.  We will only know their true worth at the Last Judgment.  Fortunately, we have great examples to follow from Our Lady to our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone on before us.  Saints such as Catherine Laboure, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. John Cantius, and Blessed Herman Joseph of Steinfeld – all spiritual giants who called no attention to themselves but left us the example of quiet holiness and the desire that all come to know and love Our Lord.

Tags: Blessed Virgin, Christ, conversion, Divine Office, pain, sacrifice, suffering

Faith and Pain

In a study conducted by neuroscientists at Oxford University, England, doctors found that devout Catholics gazing at an image of the Blessed Virgin experienced significantly less pain than non-religious subjects.  Just why this is remains unknown, but the methodology and results in an article in the PAIN journal show that non-religious images do not have the same analgesic effect. 

Tags: Blessed Virgin, pain