Surviving Cancer & Depression: 4 Steps to Success (Part 2)

Surviving Cancer & Depression: 4 Steps to Success (Part 2)

In pAlice 3art one of this article Depression is Deadlier than CANCER?: 7 Ways to Survive Treatment, we explored depression and cancer.
The recent suicide of actor Robin Williams has brought life and death associated with depression into our hearts and homes. It has deeply touched our lives and left us with many unanswered questions.  For those of us not suffering from depression, it was a surprise. For those of us touched by depression it was a wake-up call. For the whole world, it was a cry for help and a call to action.
Here are more facts and figures that may surprise and alarm you.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental illness is very common. One in five Americans aged 16-85 experience some form of mental illness in any year. Suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for all ages. According to (WHO), every year over 800,000 people die from suicide. That is an alarming statistic.
The most common mental illnesses are depressive, anxiety and substance use disorder. These three types of mental illnesses often occur in combination. For example, a person with an anxiety disorder could also develop depression, or a person with depression might misuse alcohol or other drugs, in an effort to self-medicate. A third combination would be incompatible pharmaceuticals that exacerbate mental illness during treatment for a physical illness.
One in two people or half the population in the world will suffer from some form of mental illness in their lifetime. One in three people will come down with some form of cancer in their lifetime. More people will have mental illness than cancer.
Cancer, like depression and many other diseases that were once considered terminal, is no longer a death sentence. It may take time and a team of experts to formulate a treatment that works for all diseases that plague our minds and bodies, but that help is available.  Knowing your options is paramount to being successful in health. The internet is a great way to connect with other patients, groups and organizations and to research information and success stories.
Success is possible.
Long-term follow-up procedures during and after any health related treatments are extremely important for keeping all diseases under control or cured.
Here are 4 steps to ensure personal success over depression during health treatments.
  1. Be an active part of your treatment team.
  2. Show up.
  3. Follow through.
  4. Focus on success.
It was not that long ago that many diseases now controllable such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, diabetes, blood pressure and heart disease were considered incurable. Now, stories of treatment success far outnumber the stories of failure. Many patients live with or beyond disease.  Decide to become one of the success stories.
Since the suicide of Robin Williams, the illness of depression has been in the news and on the minds of many cancer patients. Unfortunately, cancer and depression go together like peanut and butter. The pharmaceutical cocktail of anti-depression medication and chemotherapy can become a hair-raising roller coaster ride, if you have any hair left after chemo.

As an R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation Hotline Counselor, I mentor woman newly diagnosed with cancer who seek help through the HOTLINE’s center by calling 1-800-433-0464 and I’m pleased to say that I’ve seen a rise in the number of women talking about their depression.
Yes, you read that last line correctly.
Keeping depression a secret is deadly.
Talking about depression brings a dark controlling force into the light where it can be seen and conquered.  Trying to overcome depression that is kept a secret is like trying to fight an enemy that is an expert at hiding. It is shooting in the dark.
Being ashamed of depression is like being ashamed of having the flue. It’s not your fault that you have it. You did not deliberately go out and try to acquire any of these diseases.
Like life, sh#t happens.  Find it. Fix it!
We are also learning that certain people are genetically predisposed to certain diseases. We are often not aware of that fact until certain tests are preformed when symptoms are displayed. Once test information is shared with us our lifestyle can be adjusted accordingly and our health monitored.
Life goes on.
Statistics have proved that unhealthy diets and lifestyles can exacerbate an existing illness like cancer and depression. My book, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing addresses this in chapter 35, The Finish Line and Depression.
There is also evidence that living a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, plenty of exercise and good sleep and work habits and can decrease the chances of acquiring certain diseases like cancer and depression, keep them under control if they do occur, or from returning once they are cured. Ways to change diet and lifestyle are discussed in my book, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing.
We’ve come a long way, Baby. Health care is not perfect, but it is improving and we have the statistics to prove it. Focus on that during times of trouble.

Life is a Game of Cards: What’s in Your Hand Dr. Idelle Brand? (Part 2)

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/living-well-talk-radio/2014/08/13/your-life-purpose-revealed-tarot-runes-with-dr-idelle-brand

The Psychic readings below are from the show link above. Join me every Wednesday from 4-6pm PT for live readings using my unique method of connecting with your Spirit Guides.

The mystical tarot card has come a long way from its humble origins. In the field of psychology, Carl Jung (1875-1961) used tarot cards in analyzing the Subconscious. I use this same technique today on my radio show.

Tarot cards were originally used to play a card game that was very similar to bridge. As with the Tarot cards today, 21 of the special cards served as permanent trumps. These could be played regardless of what suit was led, and outranked all the ordinary cards just as the Trump cards of the Major Arcana do today. The game became known as the Game of Triumphs and was popular especially among the upper classes of society. In my radio show I use both a deck of playing cards and the Tarot cards for more accurate readings.

In my radio show I use numerology and astrology through birthdates for more accurate readings of both a deck of playing cards and the Tarot Cards.

The caller’s names have been changed to respect their privacy unless they have given verbal permission to use their whole name. Please refer to Your Life and Purpose Revealed  Radio Show Link below for more information.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/living-well-talk-radio/2014/08/13/your-life-purpose-revealed-tarot-runes-with-dr-idelle-brand

Dr. Brand was born on October 15. This makes her the 7 of Clubs in Playing Cardswhich is the 7 of Wands in the Tarot Cards. The 7 of Wands is her Tarot Card for this lifetime and will ever change.  Dr. Brand is the Valor card. The card shows a man standing his ground and ready to defend himself against all odds and any of life’s challenges.  Dr. Brand is positive and creative. She can use the creative realm of life to create possibilities that would not ordinarily be available to her.  This card stands for energy and growth and is the sign of an abstract thinker.

Maria called in from California. Her birthday is May 1. Her Playing Card is the 5 of Spades which is the 5 of Swords Tarot Card. The swords are the Suit of Conflicts still unresolved from previous lifetimes and now resurfacing in this lifetime. The conflicts are often loose ends being tied-up in this lifetime in order for the person to move forward in their personal and emotional development.  In Maria’s life there have been many conflicts. Maria has met most of these challenges. This is seen in the two swords lying on the ground, and two competitors walking away, defeated. This leaves a smile on her face. But she is still holding two swords. Her life-challenges are not over yet. She has just a few left to go.

Danielle from Californiacalled. Her birthday isDecember 8. Her card is the 10 of Clubs in Playing Cards which is the 10 of Wands in the Tarot Cards for this lifetime. Danielle has had readings in the past so she knows that her birth card isthe Over-Achiever, so she asked to draw a card showing her life progress.  Kat asked her to pick an element and a number. Then she matched that to a Tarot Card. Danielle had chosen the Knight of Cups. The Knights are messengers. Cups deal with searching for answers in life. It is often referred to as the Holy Grail. Within the cup is spirituality in the form of water or wine. Going forward, Danielle will be focusing on messages of love and happiness. She will also deliver messages grounded in spirituality to others.

Tony from New York called into the show. He knew his card is the 2 of Clubsin playing cards which is the 2 of Wands in the Tarot Cards. This is the energy and growth card. The Wands are the dreamers of the Tarot cards. Tony can manifest whatever he wants in life. This means he can give life to his ideas. Tony’s card is also known as the Cross-Roads Card. He will find himself at crossroads or facing opposing ideas or information all his life. In order to make the best decision Kat suggests, that Tony connects with his inner guides by dreams, prayer and meditation. Kat believes that this is the best way to make right choices throughout his life.

Dr. Idelle Brand: Your Mouth is the Window to Your Body (Part1)

What does your mouth tell you about your state of health? Perhaps more than you can imagine.

Your mouth a window.

This blog shares 2 easy steps on how to keep your window clean.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/living-well-talk-radio/2014/08/13/your-life-purpose-revealed-tarot-runes-with-dr-idelle-brand  (Part 1)

Dr. Idelle Brand was the first featured guest on Your Life and Purpose Revealed on The Living well Talk Radio Network. The second part of Your Life and Purpose Revealed is dedicated to Live Psychic Readings. Dr. Idelle was the first psychic reading of the evening and Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos’ tarot card reading technique of using Dr. Brand’s astrological sign to determine her conventional playing card to convert into her Life-time Tarot Card that explains her personality and life decisions, is posted at the bottom of this blog, along with other callers seeking answers to their Life and Purpose.

For over thirty years Dr. Idelle Brand has been in the practice of dentistry. During the past ten Dr. Brand has integrated holistic elements of health and healing when working with her patients.

Although her dental training and practice was conventionally based in treatment, something happened eight years ago that changed her life and her views on dentistry, forever.

Dr. Idelle Brand contracted deadly Lyme disease and turned to holistic medicine when conventional methods failed. She struggled with this disease for eight years.

Lyme disease is an infection that is spread by ticks. You can get Lyme disease if you are bitten by an infected tick. However, most people who have been bitten by a tick do not develop Lyme disease. It’s still important to see your doctor if you have a tick attached to you.

If left untreated Lyme disease may progress in stages from mild symptoms to serious, long-term disabilities.

There are three stages of Lyme disease:

  • Stage 1: early localized in the first four weeks.
  • Stage 2: early disseminated,
  • Stage 3:  late persistent.

Watch for the “bull’s eye” red rash on your body.

Some people with Lyme disease have a rash called erythema migrans at the site of the tick bite. The rash is usually circular and it gets larger over time. Other people don’t have any symptoms in the early stages of Lyme disease and do not remember having had a tick bite.

In the radio interview Dr. Brand shared how her flu-like symptoms without a rash alerted her to the problem her doctors were missing.

These symptoms included:

  1. ·         Lack of energy, which is the most common symptom.
  2. ·         Headache and stiff neck.
  3. ·         Fever and chills.
  4. ·         Muscle and joint pain.
  5. ·         Swollen lymph nodes.

She then shares two details concerning her secret weapons for overcoming this painful and debilitating disease:

  1. ·         detoxing
  2. ·         using energy medicine

Since that time, Dr. Brand, used the many holistic modalities she learned by trial-and-error. This included becoming a Reiki Master and a Hypnotherapist. She said, “The mouth is the window to the body, as the eyes are the window to the soul.”

The mouth can show evidence of heart disease, nutrition deficiency, and inflammation.

Dr. Brand defined Holistic dentistry biologic dentistry, or bio-compatible dentistry as the equivalent of complementary and alternative medicine for dentistry.   It is also called alternative dentistry. Dr. Brand’s Holistic dentistry practice emphasizes approaches to dental care which consider the patient’s dental health in the context of their entire physical as well as emotional or spiritual health.  It is considered part of the alternative health movement.

Although the holistic dental community is diverse in its practices and approaches, common threads evident in Dr. Brands practice include strong opposition to the use of amalgam which contain mercury and other potentially toxic materials in dental fillings, nonsurgical approaches to gum disease, and the belief that root canals may endanger systemic health of the patient through the spread of trapped dental bacteria to the body.

Dr. Brand explained that although she graduated from a conventional school of dentistry and has a degree in conventional dentistry, her Holistic dentistry is considered by conventional dentists, to be unconventional dentistry. And that is “okay” with Dr. Brand.

Dr. Brand suggested to the listeners that they should, “find and consult a dentist who will listen to you and uses digital x-rays. This new computerized of x-ray uses 90% less radiation than the older version.”

Thank you Dr. Idelle Brand for sharing her amazing journey through Lyme Disease and into Wholistic Dentistry with our listeners, and to you, our valued listeners, for your support.

Robin William's Death-A Final Attempt at Life? 5 Life-Lines for You.

Robin William's Death-A Final Attempt at Life? 5 Life-Lines for You.

Award-winning actor Robin Williams was found dead in his northern California home on Monday, suspected of taking his own life.  Robin Williams made his living by making us laugh. But while he was laughing on the outside with us, he was crying on the inside alone and depressed.

The death of an icon can strike us with fear. If they could not survive life how can we? What is our lifeline during these turbulent times on the Sea of Life? This article provides you with five answers.

Imagination is a double-edged sword. It can help us escape reality to the point of getting lost.  Like a child playing in the woods, we become distracted by our created fantisy and loose track of time and space. Suddenly we are deep in the woods and cannot find our way back to safety.

How can you find your way out of the woods when you cannot see the forest for the trees? We all need a life-line to grab when reality makes us realize that we are lost.
A life-line will not keep you from getting lost in fantasy, pain or depression, but it will keep you from getting hopelessly lost.

After all, life is a journey. You seldom know where you are going or how you will get there until you start to look back at where you have been and how far you have traveled. For some of us much of the way may feel uphill. The silver lining to that dark cloud is that eventually, the path will lead downhill. What goes up must come down; the Law of Gravity and life on earth.

Just as cave divers use lifelines of fishing filament to find their way out of dark caves and  back to safety, our relationships can be our lifelines back to reality.
Here are 5 lifelines called the 5 Fs that may save you.

  • Faith- what is your belief system? Remember it. Re-embrace it.
  • Face your challenges. Don’t run from them. They will follow you.
  • Focus on the silver lining in the dark cloud. It will help you see the out.
  • Family-reach out.
  • Friends- reconnect.

 Alone, these lifelines can guide you out of the darkness of the moment. When tied together, they become a strong rope that can pull you to safety.
Grief is a painful form of love, and pain is reality.  To be in pain is human. To suffer is  a choice. Anything that deadens pain  becomes a pleasure. Painkilling pharmaceuticals deaden physical pain. Role playing is a psychological treatment that can control or deaden emotional pain. When used to excess, either can become addicting. When combined to excess, the double edged sword of imagine becomes a guillotine.

The unrealistic excitement of controlling our world from behind the safe and predictable mask of Pretend-Land can make returning to reality and unscripted challenges an almost impossible fearful, painful, feat. We prefer to stay in the safety of our waking lucid dream-world of role-playing where we know we are dreaming but  realize that we can change the endings and temporarily control the nightmare.  The optimum word here is temporarily.

Reality always wins over fantasy.

The dream becomes reality and reality becomes the nightmare. Like anything else in life, a perfect dream-state can become addicting.
Was Robin William’s death his desperate attempt at a final awakening?

Robin Williams, we show our love for you with grief.  May you rest in peace in the angelic arms of your fellow comedians, Richard Jeni, Chris Farley, and  John Belushi, the man you called your “wake-up call.”

Robin William's Death-A Final Attempt at Life? 5 Life-Lines for You.

Was Robin William's Death a Final Attempt at Life? 5 Life-Lines for You.

Award-winning actor Robin Williams was found dead in his northern California home on Monday, suspected of taking his own life.  Robin Williams made his living by making us laugh. But while he was laughing on the outside with us, he was crying on the inside alone and depressed.

Imagination is a double-edged sword. It can help us escape reality to the point of getting lost.  Like a child playing in the woods, we become distracted by our created fantisy and loose track of time and space. Suddenly we are deep in the woods and cannot find our way back to safety.

How can you find your way out of the woods when you cannot see the forest for the trees? We all need a life-line to grab when reality makes us realize that we are lost.

A life-line will not keep you from getting lost in fantasy, pain or depression, but it will keep you from getting hopelessly lost.

After all, life is a journey. You seldom know where you are going or how you will get there until you start to look back at where you have been and how far you have traveled. For some of us much of the way may feel uphill. The silver lining to that dark cloud is that eventually, the path will lead downhill. What goes up must come down; the Law of Gravity and life on earth.

Just as cave divers use lifelines of fishing filament to find their way out of dark caves and  back to safety, our relationships can be our lifelines back to reality.

Here are 5 lifelines called the 5 Fs that may save you.
  • Faith- what is your belief system? Remember it. Re-embrace it.
  • Face your challenges. Don’t run from them. They will follow you.
  • Focus on the silver lining in the dark cloud. It will help you see the out.
  • Family-reach out.
  • Friends- reconnect.

 Alone, these lifelines can guide you out of the darkness of the moment. When tied together, they become a strong rope that can pull you to safety.

Grief is a painful form of love, and pain is reality.  To be in pain is human. To suffer is  a choice. Anything that deadens pain  becomes a pleasure. Painkilling pharmaceuticals deaden physical pain. Role playing is a psychological treatment that can control or deaden emotional pain. When used to excess, either can become addicting. When combined to excess, the double edged sword of imagine becomes a guillotine.
The unrealistic excitement of controlling our world from behind the safe and predictable mask of Pretend-Land can make returning to reality and unscripted challenges an almost impossible fearful, painful, feat. We prefer to stay in the safety of our waking lucid dream-world of role-playing where we know we are dreaming but  realize that we can change the endings and temporarily control the nightmare.  The optimum word here is temporarily.

Reality always wins over fantasy.

The dream becomes reality and reality becomes the nightmare. Like anything else in life, a perfect dream-state can become addicting.
Was Robin William’s death his desperate attempt at a final awakening?

Robin Williams, we show our love for you with grief.  May you rest in peace in the angelic arms of your fellow comedians, Richard Jeni, Chris Farley, and  John Belushi, the man you called your “wake-up call.”