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3 Causes of Dissonance (according to Steve's therapist)

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3 Causes of Dissonance (according to Steve's therapist)

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1. Unmet expectation
2. Things left unsaid
3. Thwarted intentions

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Brain Stimulating Activities for Alzheimer's Patients

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Brain Stimulating Activities for Alzheimer's Patients

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10 Activities for Alzheimer’s Patients to Stimulate Their Brain » Skylark Senior Care

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Is there anything that can be done to slow down or prevent Alzheimer’s disease? Yes – brain stimulation can help. Try these 10 activities.

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Black Ritual Theatre            (in 8 easy steps) by Lindsay A. Jenkins

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Black Ritual Theatre            (in 8 easy steps) by Lindsay A. Jenkins

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“...ritual is the cornerstone of the performative process through which African Americans come to understand, reinforce, and reflexively critique who they are in the world.”

-E. Patrick Johnson, “Black Performance Studies: Genealogies, Politics, Futures”

1.Discard Linear Structure

There is no beginning, middle and end. Time is experienced cyclically.

2. Song and Dance

Music, rhythm and movement are

important aspects in Black Ritual.

3. Use Repetition to Increase Emotional Intensity

Repetition is an ancient method to aid in total spiritual involvement.

4. Audience Participation

Unlike traditional European performances, the fourth wall is blurred and the audience is expected to engage.

5. Call and Response

Used to build participation and repetition.

6. Liminal Space

There is no hierarchy once ritual has begun.

7. Celebrate Community

Black Ritual Theatre is never about one person.

8. Achieve Transformation

The ritual should transform its participants.

This text was written by and belongs to Lindsay A. Jenkins

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https://youtu.be/O4BEVcNAZt0

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What Must The Church Do About Same Sex Marriage? (Matthew 13:24-30)  - Rev. Terry K. Anderson

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Evangelist E.V. Hill Preaching Wife's Funeral  (Full Sermon) Job 1:21

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"Lovin' someone who hurts you is like swallowin' honey flavored glass."

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"Lovin' someone who hurts you is like swallowin' honey flavored glass."

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Pg. 168

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Key points

Trauma can take a major toll on someone's relationships.

Sometimes, two people with traumatic histories are both attracted to and triggered by each other.

This can create an unhealthy dynamic, but there are ways to break free.

Traumatic events in our lives have a way of cementing themselves into our conscious and subconscious minds. When the mind and body are impacted by trauma, it influences most other aspects of life, from decision-making processes to work experiences and everything in between. Trauma can take a major toll on one's relationships, especially if the original trauma involved a betrayal of humanity or risk of harm by people who were supposed to be loving and nurturing. Childhood trauma, abuse, and domestic violence can create rifts in our ability to trust others, and often this translates into problems in future relationships.

When two people who already have trauma histories get involved, it often turns into disastrous scenarios in which each person is triggered by the other. People with PTSD often struggle with emotional regulation, and trauma triggers emphasize this. Irrational reactions, behavioral outbursts, and violent episodes create new trauma and reinforce the cycles of pain.

Traumatic bonds are complicated.

Couples who are in this type of high-risk relationship often recognize how unhealthy it is but have a difficult time leaving. Often the challenge with leaving stems from the reality that the relationship is not always bad. Between the episodes of trauma and pain, there can be periods of harmony, connection, and peace.

There are other reasons people stay in trauma bond relationships that have more toxic origins. Abusive relationships are often maintained by manipulation and emotional abuse.

Gaslighting behaviors can make abuse victims feel as if they are going crazy.

When an abuser denies that certain events happened or tries to convince the victim that it happened differently than it did, this may establish doubt in one's perceptions. Gaslighting behavior is when someone changes the story to make it seem like the victim was the one to blame.

The partner may threaten to inflict abuse or harm on the victim or their loved ones.

This is often a compelling reason people feel as if they must stay in an unhealthy relationship. If one feels that they may be killed if they leave, or their loved ones may be harmed, the risks of leaving may feel untenable.

Love-bombing is also a manipulative tactic that abusive people use to keep their partners from leaving.

Offering an onslaught of affection, adoration, and apologies, along with assuring the victim that they will change, can instill a temporary sense of hope that things will get better.

Low self-worth is another factor that keeps people with trauma bonds together.

Early trauma and co-occurring depression or anxiety can influence the way someone views themselves and their worth. Often people with trauma history, depression, and low self-worth will have the perception that they do not deserve better treatment, and this thought is often reinforced by the abuser.

Plays for empathy are also a common tool abusive people use to maintain their relationship with a victim.

This is particularly effective if the abuser also has a history of trauma and their partner has empathy for them and their experience. Coupled with low self-worth, one's own trauma history, and other manipulation tactics, plays for empathy can be highly effective and can help maintain an unhealthy relationship for extended periods of time.

Breaking Free

People in the grips of a traumatic bond relationship can get out of the situation with help and support. Accessing support from domestic violence agencies, police, and the legal system feels risky for victims of abuse, but with the right planning, this can be a safe transition. Accessing help from loved ones and making a plan to escape safely is key.

Often part of the healing process for survivors is engaging in therapy and addressing some of the underlying traumatic events that have imprinted on one's mind and body. EMDR and CBT are good ways to get to the root of these issues and change one's physiological and emotional responses to trauma, as well as the core beliefs these experiences may have instilled along the way.

Traumatic bonds in relationships are destructive and often self-perpetuate. Recognizing the impact of trauma on one's life and being aware of the ways others may interact with you is a necessary part of the healing process. Breaking the cycle of repeated trauma can influence not only one's own life but intergenerational patterns. The decision to end the cycle of trauma bonds can impact entire families and future generations. Reaching out for support is the first step. Help is available.

To find a therapist near you, visit Psychology Today's therapist directory.

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Trauma Bonding and How It Impacts Relationships

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Trauma can take a major toll on someone's relationships. Sometimes, two people with traumatic histories are both attracted to and triggered by each other. This can create an unhealthy dynamic, but there are ways to break free. Traumatic events in our lives have a way of cementing themselves into our conscious and subconscious minds.

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Afrocentricity, Identity Formation and Methods for Black theatre artists (excerpt)

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Afrocentricity, Identity Formation and Methods for Black theatre artists (excerpt)

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This text was written by and belongs to Lindsay A. Jenkins

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Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life

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Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life [Susan Forward, Craig Buck] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life

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Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. When one need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulifil the next one, and so on. Every person is capable and has the desire to move up…

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"To make a relationship work, somebody gon have to love more, somebody gon' have to forgive more, and somebody gon' have to forget more... and it's up to you to have the courage to know when it's your turn to do which."- Uncle Michael's Relationship advice to Albert, pg. 139

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"To make a relationship work, somebody gon have to love more, somebody gon' have to forgive more, and somebody gon' have to forget more... and it's up to you to have the courage to know when it's your turn to do which."- Uncle Michael's Relationship advice to Albert, pg. 139

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How did you get here? Nobody's posed to be here

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How did you get here? Nobody's posed to be here

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Deborah Cox - Nobody's Supposed To Be Here (Official Video)

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Preaching with Sacred Fire: An Anthology of African American Sermons, 1750 to the Present

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Preaching with Sacred Fire: An Anthology of African American Sermons, 1750 to the Present [Simmons, Martha, Thomas, Frank A., Taylor, Gardner C.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Preaching with Sacred Fire: An Anthology of African American Sermons, 1750 to the Present

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Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father (Official Video)

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Knock Me A Kiss (play about WEB Dubois and Son)

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Knock Me A Kiss (play about WEB Dubois and Son)

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The 5 Types of Intimacy Every Healthy Relationship Needs | All Points North

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Intimacy is a key element of relationship building and stability. When your relationship is healthy, you can grow and flourish both as individuals and as a couple, knowing that your partner has your best interest at heart.

When you think of intimacy, the first thing that probably comes to mind is physical intimacy or sex, and you wouldn't be wrong. But intimacy isn't just sex - while sex is a part of physical intimacy, many more factors contribute to building and sustaining an intimate relationship with your partner.

It's no secret that addiction and mental health issues impact our romantic relationships. Healing your relationship will take more than just treating the reason that brought you or your loved one to treatment.

Having the support of those you love is essential to the recovery process. When you understand intimacy, you can better support your romantic relationship and overall well-being.

What is Intimacy?

The word intimacy is derived from the Latin intimus, meaning "innermost" or "deepest," and the root word is a figurative reference to affections or feelings. Intimacy can be defined in many ways.

In its simplest form, intimacy is the degree of closeness and the bond that exists between you and your partner.

The quality of a couple's intimacy is one of the most significant predictors of the relationship's health and stability. Healthy intimacy is associated with happiness, commitment, and physical and emotional well-being.

Unsurprisingly, a lack of intimacy is one of the most common causes of distress for couples and can cause significant emotional turmoil. Couples often cite a lack of intimacy as a reason for divorce.

You can think of intimacy as the glue that holds a relationship together - it's that bond that lets you know you've got each other. Healthy levels of intimacy help us feel safe, secure, and loved. Intimacy is multidimensional and affects several different aspects of a relationship.

The Five Types of Intimacy

While there are many ways to describe intimacy, we generally define it across five dimensions: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social.

Physical Intimacy

Most people are familiar with physical intimacy or think it's the only kind of intimacy. Physical intimacy can include sexual intimacy, which is an integral part of a healthy couple's relationship.

However, physical intimacy also includes affectionate touching, such as holding hands, hugs, kisses, and cuddling. In fact, affectionate touch is closely related to high relationship satisfaction and plays a vital role in building feelings of closeness between two people.

We all have different needs when it comes to physical intimacy, and you can ask your partner about their needs if you need more clarification. Physical intimacy can change over time and wax and wane through different seasons - the most important piece is keeping open communication to ensure you both get your needs met.

Emotional Intimacy

Emotional intimacy is the degree to which you and your partner are willing and able to connect on a deep, meaningful emotional/feelings level. It's more than just saying how you feel: emotional intimacy requires trust and willingness to be open and vulnerable in expressing deeper thoughts, feelings, and needs.

One way to connect emotionally is to share about your childhood or something personal (without crossing your boundaries with yourself). It's essential to practice emotional intimacy outside of moments of crisis so that when something big happens, you and your partner have established enough trust, vulnerability, and awareness to support each other.

This type of intimate self-disclosure is key to building intimacy and closeness in relationships.

Intellectual Intimacy

In its simplest form, intellectual intimacy is having a healthy curiosity and learning from each other. Healthy intellectual intimacy is characterized by feeling safe to discuss various topics and share your views and perspectives while being open to different perspectives.

Mutual respect allows you to connect and discuss topics beyond your usual day-to-day rapport, even when your opinions differ. You can practice intellectual intimacy by watching a cerebral film together, reading poetry, or venturing to art museums. Intellectual intimacy doesn't have to be complex or deeply political - it's about observing your differences and finding ways to connect.

Spiritual Intimacy

Spiritual intimacy has many meanings because spirituality is uniquely personal. Generally speaking, spiritual intimacy is the degree to which you and your partner share your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and experiences about religion, spirituality, moral values, life after death, and other related issues.

Spirituality isn't always about religion, although religious beliefs and practices can be part of one's spirituality. Spirituality is a broader concept that encompasses your connection to something larger than yourself and the search for meaning in life.

A healthy degree of spiritual intimacy can enhance communication and feelings of connection. If you're unfamiliar with spiritual intimacy or uncomfortable opening up about your personal beliefs, you and your partner can watch a documentary about spirituality or a specific religion and discuss what you found relatable. Work up to the more complex conversations over time - the goal isn't to agree entirely but to have a healthy awareness of your partner's beliefs and to feel safe expressing your own.

Social Intimacy

Social intimacy is the degree to which you and your partner share each other's interests and spend time together as a couple. What kinds of things do you do together? Do you share quality time having fun?

Now, this doesn't mean doing everything together or always doing your own thing. Social intimacy is about spending time together doing fun things balanced with individual time - you need both. When it comes to togetherness, more isn't always better, and less isn't always more.

One great way to build social intimacy is to try something new together. Cooking classes, learning how to dance salsa, trying a new restaurant, or taking a new yoga class together - when you come together on the same playing field with no previous experience, you're able to be vulnerable and embrace the awkwardness of something new.

Building Intimacy

Intimacy doesn't happen overnight: it is a closeness built over time by the experiences and interactions that two people share.

Simply being near someone or sharing day-to-day interactions doesn't translate to deep or even healthy intimacy - the quality of your experiences is particularly important. The inverse is also true: we don't immediately lose intimacy just because it's lapsed in a few different areas.

Intimacy is about consistency, and if barriers to intimacy persist over time, we can feel a bit conflicted about our connection to a partner. With that in mind, it's not surprising that a partner's addiction or mental health issues can significantly impact the level of intimacy that two people share.

What Does Intimacy Have to Do with Recovery?

If you want a healthy relationship with your partner, intimacy has a lot to do with recovery.

Intimacy becomes one of the first casualties when addiction or mental illness enters a relationship. Losing that closeness disrupts the balance of your relationship.

It's like a mobile that you'd see over a baby's crib: touch one piece, and every other part is disturbed. The mobile wobbles and bounces, struggling to regain stability. The harder or more often you touch it, the more it moves. Like the mobile, it's hard to maintain a stable, healthy relationship when trust, communication, and respect are constantly tested and disrupted.

A loss of intimacy can make supporting a loved one or being supported by a loved one difficult and, sometimes, impossible. For the person seeking recovery, having the support of loved ones, especially your partner, is a crucial component of the recovery process. And the person supporting their partner in recovery may need support, reassurance, and help to establish boundaries after potentially overextending themselves.

Rebuilding Intimacy After Treatment

Despite what you might think, the issues between a couple don't just disappear after addiction or mental illness treatment. Addiction and mental health issues demand a lot from individuals and their support systems, and there may be wounds that need tending before moving ahead healthily. Left unaddressed, the problems that existed before treatment can remain and, surprisingly, for some couples, can continue to create conflicts even after returning home.

Many treatment programs include opportunities for a partner to participate in their loved one's treatment program. In fact, research shows that including a partner in the treatment process can have a positive effect on treatment outcomes. Participation may include couples counseling and family education, especially if you plan to reunite following treatment. Each individual brings behavior patterns to the relationship, which can impact the relationship in unhealthy ways.

Whether your primary issue is addiction, mental health, or codependency and enabling, you will need to learn more healthy ways of interacting. Starting couples therapy while in treatment can help you begin that process: it's a chance to talk honestly about the issues, rebuild the damaged parts of the relationship, and learn new ways of communicating with each other.

While attending couples counseling while in treatment won't solve all of the issues, it offers a safe place to start talking about the hard things. You can continue working together as part of an aftercare plan.

Professional Support for Rebuilding Intimacy

At All Points North, we understand the importance of including partners and family in recovery and healing. Partners can participate in all the services we offer for couples, in-person or via telehealth.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or mental health issues, our team of expert clinicians and addiction specialists are ready to help you take the next step toward healing and recovery. Call us at 855.235.9792 or complete our online contact form to learn how we can support you and your loved one as you navigate the path toward healing. We'll help you find your way forward.

Reference

Kardan-Souraki, Maryam, et al. "A Review of Marital Intimacy-Enhancing Interventions among Married Individuals." Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, 17 Dec. 2015, https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/gjhs/article/view/53109.

Schaefer, Mark T., and David H. Olson. "Assessing Intimacy: The Pair Inventory." Wiley Online Library, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Jan. 1981, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1981.tb01351.x.

Jakubiak, Brett K. "Affectionate Touch in Satisfying and Dissatisfying Romantic Relationships." SAGE Journals, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2 Mar. 2022, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02654075221077280.

Ariss, Talia, and Catharine E. Fairbairn. "The Effect of Significant Other Involvement in Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: A Meta-Analysis." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, National Library of Medicine, June 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7228856/.

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The 5 Types of Intimacy Every Healthy Relationship Needs | All Points North

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Intimacy is a key element of relationship building and stability. When your relationship is healthy, you can grow and flourish both as individuals and as a couple, knowing that your partner has your best interest at heart. When you think of intimacy, the first thing that probably comes to mind is physical intimacy or sex, and you wouldn't be wrong.

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Learn your primary apology language to better understand how to heal hurt in your relationships.

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SuperSoul Sessions: The Anatomy of Trust

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An overview of the seven elements of trust: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Nonjudgment, and Generosity. The acronym BRAVING serves as a helpful checklist when rumbling with trust issues with the people in our lives.

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SuperSoul Sessions: The Anatomy of Trust

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An overview of the seven elements of trust: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Nonjudgment, and Generosity. The acronym BRAVING serves as a helpful checklist when rumbling with trust issues with the people in our lives.

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Alzheimer's disease causes brain cells to die, so the brain works less well over time. This changes how a person acts. This article has suggestions that may help you understand and cope with changes in personality and behavior in a person with Alzheimer's disease.

Common Changes in Personality and Behavior

Common personality and behavior changes you may see include:

You also may notice that the person stops caring about how he or she looks, stops bathing, and wants to wear the same clothes every day.

Other Factors That Can Affect Behavior

In addition to changes in the brain, other things may affect how people with Alzheimer's behave:

Feelings such as sadness, fear, stress, confusion, or anxiety

Health-related problems, including illness, pain, new medications, or lack of sleep

Other physical issues like infections, constipation, hunger or thirst, or problems seeing or hearing

Other problems in their surroundings may affect behavior for a person with Alzheimer's disease. Too much noise, such as TV, radio, or many people talking at once can cause frustration and confusion. Stepping from one type of flooring to another or the way the floor looks may make the person think he or she needs to take a step down. Mirrors may make them think that a mirror image is another person in the room. For tips on creating an Alzheimer's-safe home, visit Home Safety and Alzheimer's Disease.

If you don't know what is causing the problem, call the doctor. It could be caused by a physical or medical issue.

Keep Things Simple...and Other Tips

Caregivers cannot stop Alzheimer's-related changes in personality and behavior, but they can learn to cope with them. Here are some tips:

Keep things simple. Ask or say one thing at a time.

Have a daily routine, so the person knows when certain things will happen.

Reassure the person that he or she is safe and you are there to help.

Focus on his or her feelings rather than words. For example, say, "You seem worried."

Don't argue or try to reason with the person.

Try not to show your frustration or anger. If you get upset, take deep breaths and count to 10. If it's safe, leave the room for a few minutes.

Use humor when you can.

Give people who pace a lot a safe place to walk. Provide comfortable, sturdy shoes. Give them light snacks to eat as they walk, so they don't lose too much weight, and make sure they have enough to drink.

Try using music, singing, or dancing to distract the person.

Ask for help. For instance, say, "Let's set the table" or "I need help folding the clothes."

Talk with the person's doctor about problems like hitting, biting, depression, or hallucinations. Medications are available to treat some behavioral symptoms.

For More information about personality and behavior changes in Alzheimer's

NIA Alzheimer's and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center
800-438-4380
adear@nia.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
The NIA ADEAR Center offers information and free print publications about Alzheimer's and related dementias for families, caregivers, and health professionals. ADEAR Center staff answer telephone, email, and written requests and make referrals to local and national resources.

Alzheimers.gov
www.alzheimers.gov
Explore the Alzheimers.gov website for information and resources on Alzheimer's and related dementias from across the federal government.

This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.

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Managing Personality and Behavior Changes in Alzheimer's

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Get tips for coping with personality and behavior changes, such as pacing or feeling sad, that are common in people with Alzheimer's disease.

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How Saidiya Hartman tracks Black depression in her memoir "Lose Your Mother"

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How Saidiya Hartman tracks Black depression in her memoir "Lose Your Mother"

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"If slavery persists as an issue in the political life of black America, it is not because of an antiquarian obsession with bygone days or the burden of a too-long memory, but because black lives are still imperiled and devalued by a racial calculus and a political arithmetic that were entrenched centuries ago. This is the afterlife of slavery – skewed life chances, limited access to health and education, premature death, incarceration, and impoverishment. I, too, am the afterlife of slavery." - Lose Your Mother by Saidiya Hartman

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B. Smith, Complicated Partnerships- Living with Alzheimers

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B. Smith, Complicated Partnerships- Living with Alzheimers

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Click this link for the video: https://wapo.st/2CMZQWi

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Dan Gasby and his wife, Barbara Smith, ran a successful media empire centered around her talents until she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2013. To deal with the increasing stresses associated with caring for his wife, Gasby eventually found companionship in another woman.

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B. Smith's illness was taking a toll on her husband. Then he found another love.

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Dan Gasby and his wife, Barbara Smith, ran a successful media empire centered around her talents until she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2013. To deal with the increasing stresses associated with caring for his wife, Gasby eventually found companionship in another woman.

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Violence and self-violence as result of frustration and aggression in Black men

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Violence and self-violence as result of frustration and aggression in Black men

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"Death by suicide, homicide, or soul murder is still just death, not the winning of a cause but a way to bow out. When black males are unable to move past reactive rage they get caught in the violence, colluding with their own psychic slaughter as well as with the very real deaths that occur

when individuals see no alternatives.

Creative alternative ways to live, be, and act will come into being only when there is mass education for critical consciousness—an awakening to the awareness that collectively black male survival requires that they learn to challenge patriarchal notions of manhood, that they

claim nonviolence as the only progressive stance to take in a world where all life is threatened by patriarchal imperialist war."

—bell hooks,

We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity

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1st person account, straight woman on homophobia in the Black community

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1st person account, straight woman on homophobia in the Black community

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Karen was working as an actress, writer instructor and theater improviser when her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Being with her father in the days leading to his death, Karen was struck by the surprising similarities between improvisational acting and caregiving for persons with dementia. Combining both worlds, Karen created a workshop and training guide for dementia caregivers based on the rules of improvisation. Together with her husband, actor and improviser Mondy Carter, Karen wrote and performed the show "Sometimes You Gotta Laugh," an educational and entertaining take on Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, humor and stress. She and Mondy live in North Carolina with their daughter Grace and Karen's mom, Virginia, who also has Alzheimer's disease.

Find out more

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Using improv to improve life with Alzheimer's

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Karen was working as an actress, writer instructor and theater improviser when her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Being with her father in the days leading to his death, Karen was struck by the surprising similarities between improvisational acting and caregiving for persons with dementia.

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Social Science Case Study- Queer Identity as Traumatic Loss in Religious Community-Cross references study on loss of a sibling.

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Social Science Case Study- Queer Identity as Traumatic Loss in Religious Community-Cross references study on loss of a sibling.

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Pre Reading Questions from the chapter:

How might the experience of bereavement relate to queer individuals’ processing of individuation?

What  is  internalized  homophobia?  How  might  it  manifest  as a part of one’s spiritual or religious experience?

Can  you  imagine  a  spiritual  or  religious  space  that  would  be  safe  for  queer individuals? What would it look it?
What might a safe spiritual or religious space look like in therapy?

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Self-Care Strategies for Black Men (including Breath)

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Self-Care Strategies for Black Men (including Breath)

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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The term "fight or flight" is also known as the stress response. It's what the body does as it prepares to confront or avoid danger. When appropriately invoked, the stress response helps us rise to many challenges. But trouble starts when this response is constantly provoked by less momentous, day-to-day events, such as money woes, traffic jams, job worries, or relationship problems.

Health problems are one result. A prime example is high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease. The stress response also suppresses the immune system, increasing susceptibility to colds and other illnesses. Moreover, the buildup of stress can contribute to anxiety and depression. We can't avoid all sources of stress in our lives, nor would we want to. But we can develop healthier ways of responding to them. One way is to invoke the relaxation response, through a technique first developed in the 1970s at Harvard Medical School by cardiologist Dr. Herbert Benson. The relaxation response is a state of profound rest that can be elicited in many ways, including meditation, yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation.

Breath focus is a common feature of several techniques that evoke the relaxation response. The first step is learning to breathe deeply.

Deep breathing benefits

Deep breathing also goes by the names of diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing, and paced respiration. When you breathe deeply, the air coming in through your nose fully fills your lungs, and the lower belly rises.

For many of us, deep breathing seems unnatural. There are several reasons for this. For one, body image has a negative impact on respiration in our culture. A flat stomach is considered attractive, so women (and men) tend to hold in their stomach muscles. This interferes with deep breathing and gradually makes shallow "chest breathing" seem normal, which increases tension and anxiety.

Shallow breathing limits the diaphragm's range of motion. The lowest part of the lungs doesn't get a full share of oxygenated air. That can make you feel short of breath and anxious.

Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange - that is, the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, it can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure.

Practicing breath focus

Breath focus helps you concentrate on slow, deep breathing and aids you in disengaging from distracting thoughts and sensations. It's especially helpful if you tend to hold in your stomach.

First steps. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down. First, take a normal breath. Then try a deep breath: Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your chest and lower belly to rise as you fill your lungs. Let your abdomen expand fully. Now breathe out slowly through your mouth (or your nose, if that feels more natural).

Breath focus in practice. Once you've taken the steps above, you can move on to regular practice of controlled breathing. As you sit comfortably with your eyes closed, blend deep breathing with helpful imagery and perhaps a focus word or phrase that helps you relax.

Ways to elicit the relaxation response

Several techniques can help you turn down your response to stress. Breath focus helps with nearly all of them:

Creating a routine

You may want to try several different relaxation techniques to see which one works best for you. And if your favorite approach fails to engage you, or you want some variety, you'll have alternatives. You may also find the following tips helpful:

Choose a special place where you can sit (or lie down) comfortably and quietly.

Don't try too hard. That may just cause you to tense up.

Don't be too passive, either. The key to eliciting the relaxation response lies in shifting your focus from stressors to deeper, calmer rhythms - and having a focal point is essential.

Try to practice once or twice a day, always at the same time, in order to enhance the sense of ritual and establish a habit.

Try to practice at least 10-20 minutes each day.

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Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response - Harvard Health

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Relaxation techniques - such as deep breathing - can help control stress and the "fight or flight" response that can interfere with everyday life....

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She cuts her eyes at Dee-Dee. Dee-Dee notices. Pearl notices Dee-Dee noticing and, with a glance, let’s her know she notices her noticing. Beat. Pg. 76

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Tea starts at 4:50

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The Pressures of Being a Preachers Kid feat. Llexis Logan

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Coming to America- Rev. Brown, Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate

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Coming to America- Rev. Brown, Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate

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https://youtu.be/YiI2M_m9oj4

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Coming to America(1988) - Randy Watson And The Sexual Chocolate

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Coming to America- "I have a date with Lisa!"

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Coming to America- "I have a date with Lisa!"

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https://youtu.be/9SaETvaa7Y4

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Coming to America.  "I have a date with Lisa!"

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Source for the sheet music in the programs: American Negro Songs and Spirituals

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Source for the sheet music in the programs: American Negro Songs and Spirituals

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https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/4a26b550-9a59-0134-095c-00505686a51c

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Title
American Negro Songs and Spirituals: a comprehensive collection of 230 folk songs, religious and secular
Names

Work, John W. (John Wesley), 1901-1967 (Editor)

Collection

The Black Experience in Children's Books: Selections from Augusta Baker's Bibliographies

Dates / Origin

Library locations

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

Shelf locator: Sc 784.7-W (Work, J. American Negro songs and spirituals. 1940)

Topics

African Americans

Spirituals (Songs)

Genres

Physical Description

Extent: 1 p. ¡., [v]-vii p., 1 ¡., 259 p. 20 cm.

Type of Resource

Notated music

Languages

Identifiers

Library of Congress Control Number: a 42005002

RLIN/OCLC: NYPGR2860402-B

NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b11721461

Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 45939900-7cf9-0134-93b0-00505686a51c

Rights Statement

The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Item timeline of events

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TitleAmerican Negro Songs and Spirituals: a comprehensive collection of 230 folk songs, religious and secular Names Work, John W. (John Wesley), 1901-1967 (Editor) Collection The Black Experience in Children's Books: Selections from Augusta Baker's Bibliographies Dates / Origin Library locations Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division Shelf locator: Sc 784.7-W (Work, J.

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Kirk Franklin - Melodies From Heaven (Official Video)

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House Rules for playing spades with the Jones (pg. 131) 

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House Rules for playing spades with the Jones (pg. 131) 

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Big Joker, little joker, deuce of diamonds, deuce of spades

First hand bids itself

If you renege the other team gets the number of books between renege and current hand

If accuser is wrong their team sacrifices same number of books

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https://youtu.be/55oJgN6KjvE

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Po' Mourners got a Home at las'  (Negro Spiritual)

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Hating the Cowboys on Thanksgiving: A Philadelphia tradition like no other – Philly Sports

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The Dallas Cowboys will host their annual Thanksgiving game this Thursday. The most overexposed franchise in professional sports has played every Thanksgiving

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The Isley Brothers - For the Love of You, Pts. 1 & 2 (Official Audio)