• PROFESSIONAL PARENT CARE Your Backup Plan, Every Step of the Way founder of the Mind-Based Center at Providence Hospital. "Many people suffer from migraines, fibromyalgia, chronic neck, back or abdominal pain that are not the result of any clear medical problem. They are hurting because of overly sensitized nerve con- nections between the brain and the body that created the cycle of pain that can last for months or years because it has been learned by your nervous system. "The original event may have start- ed with an injury, but it's your brain that amplifies this pain over time as it interprets nerve signals and perpetu- ates the cycle. "The underlying reason for most chronic pain is nerve sensitization and learned nerve pathways rather than actual tissue destruction:' he says. "Meditating and therapeutic writing exercises are two of the approaches I use to help patients unlearn their pain. He believes it is a simple yet power- ful practice for living life more fully. "Learning mindfulness meditation techniques helps you to let go of those things that tend to perpetuate negative thoughts such as fear, anxiety, sadness and worries of the future that keep you in pain. Through mindful medi- tation you learn how to be present at every moment, resulting in better knowing yourself and learning to be compassionate and kind to yourself and to others because you become less judgmental as you stay in the present:' Mindful Eating When clinical psychologist Steven Fischer, Ph.D., of Farmington Hills evaluates patients, he looks at their mental health as well as their diet, nutrition and overall quality of life. "By treating them holistically, I may find that I can mod- ify their behavior by changing their diet or recommending a supplement:' he says. "For patients who have difficulty losing Dr. Steven weight, my goal is to Fischer change their lifestyle because dieting only works for a short time. Most people can't maintain weight loss and need to learn how to eat in a healthy way. I use a mindful eating approach to help them reach their goal:' He explains that mindful eating is being aware of the positive and healthy opportunities that can be achieved by paying attention to what you're eating — without making judgments — and also realizing how you're eating. "For example, most people eat too fast and the benefits of what they're eating are not completely absorbed:' he says. "You learn to become more aware of what you're eating, the expe- rience of eating and consume your food at a slower, more healthy rate. "By staying in the present:' Fischer says, "you pay attention to what you choose to eat, making a decision that the food is both satisfying to you and healthy for you, gaining an awareness of choices that support health and wellbeing. Mindful eating also means avoiding those triggers that entice individuals to eat unhealthy foods or eat too much. It's all about changing their relationship with food:' Over the years, the concept of mind- fulness has been tested and found to be a key ingredient for emotional well- being. There is much evidence that indicates practicing mindfulness can impact physical health by improving a person's immune function, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, reduc- ing chronic pain and improving sleep. It's all about being completely in touch with the present moment and being open to experiences as they happen. "Interestingly, the techniques prac- ticed in Chasidism and Kabbalah are similar to the techniques practiced in mindfulness, except their focus is on God and God's Abramsky says. "For instance, we suffer because we want something to happen. In medi- tation, we practice accepting what happens or didn't happen and learn to cultivate compassion:' Mindfulness is made up of a num- ber of skills, all of which require prac- tice. These include observing without judgment, putting your experience into words and participating com- pletely with the event. In Kabbalah, Abramsky says, one of the great achievements is joining the mind and body through Jewish spiritual tradi- tion. • Utilize Low-Cost Technology & High Quality In-Home Personal care • Concierge Personal Care Services, Around the Clock if Desired Rose Cohen with Sandy Linden • Transportation & Homemaking Services • Experienced End of Life & Respite Care Services We Understand... It's All about Quality of Life, Dignity and Family Peace of Mind Servicing Metro-Detroit families since 1977 (800) 227-9553 www. Pro fessionalParentCare. corn ❑ 2021393 August 27 • 2015 57