Guest guest Posted March 20, 2000 Report Share Posted March 20, 2000 when i went to this endocrinologist in colorado springs, he tested my cortisol level. it was low i guess...i really didn't ask him. he just put me on the medicine and i got pregnant. i have to assume my cortisol level which is the adrenal steroid i think...must still be low. Questions > > > Please remember that I am new at all of this. :-) > > > > > i was given cortisol for less than 30 days and got pregnant > > How does one know if they need this? Is it available over the counter? > > > > > > DHEA test > > What is this for? > > > > > > amalgams removed > > What are these? > > > > > >DMPS > > What is this? > > > > Thank you for being patient with me! > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Tired of missing calls while online? Now you can surf the Internet without worrying about missing important calls! CallWave's FREE Internet Answering Machine lets you hear who's calling while online. http://click./1/2322/7/_/452863/_/953567255/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2000 Report Share Posted March 20, 2000 , I don't know about the DHEA test at all. Amalgams are the silver fillings that contain 50% mercury which your dentist places to fill your teeth. The mercury also poisons the body and makes you sick. After amalgam removal DMPS is one of the chelators used to remove toxic metals from the body. Do you have the search engines and site addresses that I sent out? If not the addresses are in the message archives of this site, and Autism-Mercury. My opinion or thoughts will not help you, but if you use the information in the addresses that I sent you may be able to convience your doctor and dentist to remove the poison from your mouth and body. LTLDAB1@... From: " " Please remember that I am new at all of this. :-) > i was given cortisol for less than 30 days and got pregnant How does one know if they need this? Is it available over the counter? > DHEA test What is this for? > amalgams removed What are these? >DMPS What is this? Thank you for being patient with me! Tired of missing calls while online? Now you can surf the Internet without worrying about missing important calls! CallWave's FREE Internet Answering Machine lets you hear who's calling while online. http://click./1/2322/7/_/452863/_/953567255/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2000 Report Share Posted March 20, 2000 > Amalgams are > the silver fillings that contain 50% mercury which your dentist places to > fill your teeth. The mercury also poisons the body and makes you sick. Oh. I have only about five of them! Is is painful to have them removed? Are they replaced with something else? > Do you have the search engines and site addresses > that I sent out? Oh, yes. All the information that you have been passing through is just wonderful! So much I have to go through. But I have been in a lot of pain lately and just not able to tolerate sitting here for long periods of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Re question 1: when the exercise refers to talking to your spouse or others it suggests that you might do so AFTER you have practiced rigorous labeling for a week with respect to your own self-talk….It does not suggest that you share all of your thoughts with others, and it does suggest that when you ordinarily would share a thought aloud, e.g., saying “I need to lose weight” then instead say, “I’m having the thought that I need to lose weight.” It does not suggest that you should share all of your thoughts with others, only to talk differently when you do choose to share your thoughts…for instance, it has become natural for me to say “I am having the thought it might be useful to….” Instead of saying “it might be useful to….”. And in contexts where I would be unlikely to share my thoughts with another, e.g., “I am having the thought that this is a really boring meeting”, I say that to myself and not aloud to the chair of the meeting. The point is not to make others aware of my thoughts as thoughts….it is to make myself aware of my thoughts as thoughts. The thoughts you share with others are up to you – how you share thoughts - “I’m having the thought that…” is suggested; whether or not you should share any particular thought is up to you…what is sharing a particular thought in the service of? Email is not a secure form of communication, therefore confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Please consider this if you decide to send personal information through email. This email and any attachments thereto are intended for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. If you have received this email in error, please notify me at pattybach@... and permanently delete the original email and any copy of this email or printout thereof. From: ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of pitamind Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:04 PM To: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Questions Question One: While practicing the labeling exercise for at least one week (i.e., rigorously applying labels to my thoughts and feelings), is it advisable and/or necessary to do so while talking to my partner (she's game!) when the content that is coming up is negative, about her and could potentially disturb her (e.g., I'm having the thought that I hate you)? Question Two: How do I " know, " experientially, that what I want is actually what I want versus what my mind is telling me what I want? P.S. to Q#2: Would any of the ACT therapists that post here care to have a private e - mail conversation with me regarding Q#2, since this question can be prefaced with a real life personal situation that I can't talk to my local therapist about b/c he's on vacation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Thank you Patty. I am having the thought that your insight is clear to me. I have, in my own way, understood that I would apply this " technique " to the thoughts that I share aloud to myself (e.g., while driving: a thought such as, that driver is an _______, I might instead say aloud: I'm having the thought that that driver is an ______. Also, I sort of decided that it isn't necessary to share all my thoughts with others, especially if doing so would be disturbing to them and not really in the service of my chosen values. However, sometimes I find that sharing a particular thought with, say, my partner, would be in the service of genuineness, and perhaps a more " pathological " value perfectionism (i.e., I should share this because then I'll be practicing this exercise perfectly). It's liberating to see a reinforcement between your idea and mine, that is up to me to CHOOSE what thoughts I share and more importantly, how I share them. > > Re question 1: when the exercise refers to talking to your spouse or others > it suggests that you might do so AFTER you have practiced rigorous labeling > for a week with respect to your own self-talk..It does not suggest that you > share all of your thoughts with others, and it does suggest that when you > ordinarily would share a thought aloud, e.g., saying " I need to lose weight " > then instead say, " I'm having the thought that I need to lose weight. " It > does not suggest that you should share all of your thoughts with others, > only to talk differently when you do choose to share your thoughts.for > instance, it has become natural for me to say " I am having the thought it > might be useful to.. " Instead of saying " it might be useful to.. " . And in > contexts where I would be unlikely to share my thoughts with another, e.g., > " I am having the thought that this is a really boring meeting " , I say that > to myself and not aloud to the chair of the meeting. The point is not to > make others aware of my thoughts as thoughts..it is to make myself aware of > my thoughts as thoughts. The thoughts you share with others are up to you - > how you share thoughts - " I'm having the thought that. " is suggested; > whether or not you should share any particular thought is up to you.what is > sharing a particular thought in the service of? > > > > Email is not a secure form of communication, therefore confidentiality > cannot be guaranteed. Please consider this if you decide to send personal > information through email. > > > > This email and any attachments thereto are intended for use by the > addressee(s) named herein and may contain confidential and/or legally > privileged information. If you have received this email in error, please > notify me at pattybach@... and > permanently delete the original email and any copy of this email or printout > thereof. > > _____ > > From: ACT_for_the_Public > [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of pitamind > Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:04 PM > To: ACT_for_the_Public > Subject: Questions > > > > Question One: While practicing the labeling exercise for at least one > week (i.e., rigorously applying labels to my thoughts and feelings), > is it advisable and/or necessary to do so while talking to my partner > (she's game!) when the content that is coming up is negative, about > her and could potentially disturb her (e.g., I'm having the thought > that I hate you)? > > Question Two: How do I " know, " experientially, that what I want is > actually what I want versus what my mind is telling me what I want? > P.S. to Q#2: Would any of the ACT therapists that post here care to > have a private e - mail conversation with me regarding Q#2, since this > question can be prefaced with a real life personal situation that I > can't talk to my local therapist about b/c he's on vacation? > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 In general, I want to say that of course your mind wants to understand, but that is not what ACT is about. 1,2,3: I don’t think these are valued directions. They seem to be qualities. Maybe others can help with this. Yes, some values may be common to many of us. Not for me to decide . These are directions, like “towards financial independence.” “Stimulating” does not help you know what direction to go. You see? 1. While doing the values exercises, I came up with " stimulating " as a value; ie, " do stimulating work " , " stimulating travel experiences " , etc. My first reaction was that perhaps the desire for stimulation is the same as the desire to be entertained; and many times, entertainment is a form of avoidance. Thoughts on this? 2. I also came up with " autonomy " ; ie, autonomy in the form of having great health and fitness in order to be able to do physical things for myself for a lifetime, financial independence, etc. My first reaction was that perhaps there are some values that everyone should have. IE, doesn't seem like a good idea for anyone to not have and practice the " autonomy " value. Thoughts on this? 3. I also came up with the value " inquisitive " . As in " being an inquisitive person " . Doesn't this value rely on the " word machine " for applying logic and generating more questions(inquisitive people generate questions and look for answers)? Is this at odds with ACT since we're trying to defuse from thoughts generated by the word machine; or it's ok, because we're just using the word machine as a tool? I don’t think it is helpful to worry about all these selves to this degree. For now, simply know that you are aware of your thoughts coming and going, and that you are not your thoughts. 4. In ACT/RFT theory, there are three senses of self; the conceptualized self(CS), self as a process of ongoing self-awareness(SP), and the observing self(OS). I understand that SP is verbal and OS is not; could we say that SP is verbalizing OS? IE, OS is doing the experiencing, and SP is translating from OS's " non-verbal way of knowing " into " verbal language " ; translating what OS experiences into " descriptive, nonevaluative, present, flexible " word-based expressions? If so, perhaps SP is not a self, but just a translator? And which self is making use of the translation? (I understand that SP can't verbalize OS itself; just all other things OS experiences). 5. OS is observing current experience, SP is verbalizing it, and CS is the " you as the object of summary verbal categorizations and evaluations " , but I'm unclear on which self is making the connection between chosen values and possible actions(and is a self asking the mind to conceive possible actions related to a given value?), and driving behavior to produce the actions. Also, which self needs and genuinely desires? I would think that should be OS, but OS is just non-evaluatively observing. How can it or the other selves select and apply the logic and predictions produced by the mind and drive behavior? As described, it doesn't seem that any of the three selves have this responsibility or capability. 6. In which of the three selves do values reside? I understand that we have experiences, and from those we can discover/learn what we need and genuinely desire, and from those we can discover/choose our values; and someone could stand on Mt Olympus and watch a life/experiences unfold and understand how chosen values came to be. If values aren't integrated with one of the selves, do they reside in some repository? Which self is accessing the repository? In questions 3-6, I think I'm unclear on the connection and interaction among the three selves, the mind/word-machine, and values; it feels like there should perhaps be a fourth self which coordinates and acts as glue among the three selves, the mind, values, and the body(carrying out chosen actions). 7. When doing the values exercises, perhaps we're choosing values for which we think(or intuit?) pursuing them may feel good, " fresh " , " open " in the long-term. But shouldn't chosen values transcend feelings, since the goal is to practice acceptance/willingness of any feeling? 8. I imagine that ACT'ers might argue that psychoanalysis may result in further cognitive fusion and entanglements with thoughts and feelings. What about transference? Do ACT'ers think there's value in it? 9. Is anyone considering that " memory-prediction framework " , described in On Intelligence(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Intelligence), may support RFT? 10. It's easy to understand that evolutionary pressures would create a brain that would constantly be making predictions; which evolutionary pressures would create the three senses of self, in particular, CS and SP? I'd imagine OS would just be there as a result of being conscious, but would a creative, logical, predicting being absolutely require CS and SP? 11. I found http://www.ihatemylife.us/story.html to be interesting; apparently, this person became homeless, and then took persistent action to find work and get out of homelessness. From his writing, it sounds like he may have fused with the thought, " Had I given up it would have made the all of them(his parents and former friends) happy, and I'm not about making those kinds of people happy. " Whereas, another person may have fused with some other hopeless thoughts(see the message boards on that site for examples), and would have a different outcome. I would think that fusing with that thought may have motivated him to take persistent action. Also, a person can be motivated, eg, by anger that results from an injustice. Generally, some people would say that a person is persistent and determined when s/he " cuts off " options that can't result in the desired target; which is at odds with the ACT view never to say " I couldn't have that(ie, outcome) " . What is the ACT view on this? That the mind can fuse in either direction(to something helpful or hurtful) at a given time, so act in accordance with chosen values? 12. Many people use self-talk and visualization(thoughts) to become motivated and convince their mind to work toward a goal(you can see it in the writings of business people and athletes), and I think I've read about research that shows that visualization(which includes not being mindful, and fusing with a thought/outcome) makes a positive difference. ACT says act in accordance with your chosen values, be mindful, defuse, etc. In this case, would ACT again say when using self-talk and visualization, the mind/word-machine may or may not do the intended thing, so just act in accordance with chosen values? But, can't most people control what they visualize? You don’t need “confidence” you can choose actions that take you in a valued direction whether or not you feel confident at that moment. Feelings will come and go in any case: 13. In ACT, is confidence a CS that has " I'm a confident person " ? But don't people benefit from being confident, because it gives people some mental support to act by, eg, implying that a person can handle a situation? Aren't people who are confident more likely to act in accordance with their values than those who aren't? That's why adults read the " The Little Engine That Could " story to children; to instill the " I think I can " belief, which may affect confidence/behavior. Or does confidence actually come from a historical pattern of actually having done and succeeded at things? Another thought that I've found empowering is, " If I stick to X, problem Y will be over within a few months " , where X is, eg, " exercise plan " and Y is " weight problem " . Many use thoughts because they motivate behavior. Also, many people motivate behavior by reading inspiring stories. What is the ACT view on this? We don’t have control over the results of our actions, only the actions. You get to choose what direction to go, not where you end up. Just the way it is. You can scream if you want: 14. Let's say that a person practices ACT over a very long period, and though this person has committed to his/her values and acts in accord with them, s/he doesn't reach associated goals; is it feasible to continue ACT, when the mind screams eg, " This hasn't been helping me reach my goals over the past 20 years!! " ? It may be too difficult to diffuse from that thought, when results aren't there after some long period. Eg, commiting to a value may not be satisfying after some time if the goals leading in the direction of the value aren't reached, because frustration may set in. Just " get with " the frustration, and defuse from the thoughts, and keep going? After, eg, 20 years? Relatedly, what if I have an experience which results in thoughts that I can't defuse from(I guess you might not agree that a thought " can't be defused from " ), and the experience undermined everything? Eg, let's say that literally everyone who I thought would be there abandoned me at a critical time; I now know that going forward, I can never be certain that any new person I meet and " befriend " will be there at a critical time; and I won't know until that " critical time " happens. So, I'm lonely, and that indicates I value " connection " , but everyone I ever meet will potentially not be there at a critical time, so that undermines " connection " . Is the ACT response, " Thank your mind for this thought, and keep practicing ACT " ? I'm not sure that's enough. I know there's a similar story in the book, where the abandoned person found friends; but it may not have turned out that way for others in the same situation. Know that you exist only in the present, even as you plan the future. There is no conflict, as you are always only in the present whether you are noticing that or not. 15. During the process of doing the values exercises, planning goals, planning actions from moment-to-moment(eg, " What should I do next? " ), etc, a person may be simulating past events and possible future events that may result for various possible actions in his/her mind; during those moments, the person isn't mindful because s/he isn't focused on the present. Is there a conflict here, since the ideal thing is to be mindful all the time? Don’t know about this: 16. Is there any work trying to link ACT to Csikszentmihalyi's Flow concept? Eg, perhaps practicing ACT can aid in acheiving Flow? Can’t control others. I am not their feelings or thoughts either. Communicating is not fusion. 17. Don't most social interactions among people consist of people expressing their CS's and feelings to one another? Fusing with one another's thoughts and entangling with others' feelings so that we can relate to one another's thoughts and feelings? Isn't the CS and fusion what we're trying to not tangle with? The only kind of social interactions among people I can think of that may accomplish this are those which involve working with another to reach shared goals and move in the direction of shared values. But isn't that too lofty for typical casual, social interactions? Accepting my feelings and thoughts has nothing to do with choosing to act in a socially acceptable manner. Acting in a socially acceptable manner might be a valued direction – a way to choose actions. Feelings and thoughts are just feelings and thoughts, and do not require certain actions. I have the freedom to choose my actions based on my values, not on my ever-changing thoughts and feelings. I don’t deny my feelings and thoughts, just observe them, accept them, and let them go. 18. A person who is practicing ACT, who is " getting with his/her pain and emotions " may express " too much emotion " , even while s/he's practicing mindfulness, acceptance, willingness, etc; similarly, a person who has been angry, depressed, etc for a long time, may appear angry, depressed, etc while practicing ACT. Expressing " too much emotion " and not projecting a " positive attitude " may hamper a person's interpersonal interactions/effectiveness in business and social settings since those are not viewed favorably by most people. Also, though a person may be practicing ACT, it may not affect relevant factors in those domains. Eg, an ACT-practicing person who is having problems making friends and developing relationships because s/he lacks " social capital " ; s/he has no friends or family, and on top of that people are averse toward romantic/intimate relationships with that person because s/he hasn't been in such a relationship before even though s/he is now X years old(that's just an example;). What do you think of these issues of an ACT-practicing person in a largely non-ACT-practicing world; when an ACT-practicing person can't change factors that contribute to his/her problem(ie, just because I practice ACT doesn't mean I won't gain " social capital " , and hence people may continue to be averse to me; this leads to the previous question of, " What if this goes on for 20 year? Is it really feasible to just keep practicing ACT? " ). We don’t have any problem with the scary passengers. They are allowed on the bus, as they are a part of us. You sound like you want to avoid them, and that is normal, but they are not going to hurt you, so you can pay attention to them. You don’t need to control your attention and focus. You attend to what comes up, and let it go. The exercise shows you how things get more powerful when you try to avoid them. 19. We can notice the " scary passengers on the bus " and at the same time drive the bus in the intended direction. But since we have limited attention, couldn't we just learn to direct all of it toward driving the bus in the intended direction(at least most of the time)? We wouldn't make an impossible rule, " Don't notice the scary passengers " ; instead, the rule would be " focus all of your attention on driving the bus " ; and since we're directing all of the limited attention to driving the bus, " not noticing the scary passengers " would just happen; ie, focusing. Or is ACT saying that the scary passengers will never let us fully control our attention/focus; and that's when we apply acceptance/willingness/defusion? Thanks, __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2008 Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Greetings! As a recent new member from Virginia Beach, VA, I have been observing the e-mail communications between members and see that everyone seems to have different levels of EN and it apparently affects all age groups. Some have just one lumpy, inflamed area of the lower leg and others have more, even in different parts of the body. Some go into remission periodically and some maintain this irritating, chronic condition for many years. For the most part, I have noticed, it seems to be located on the lower legs, below the knee. I, personally, have only one area of inflammation. I first noticed a large bruise-like area on my lower inner left leg a year ago after a severe upper respiratory infection lasting from late October '06 through the holidays. During the respiratory infection, I was on several antibiotics before it finally cleared up. By June '07 the large brown area had turned red, swollen and inflamed. That's when I saw my primary care physician and he referred me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist said that in his 30 years of practice, he has only seen about 20 cases of panniculitis. Since last summer he has prescribed different medications for one month each, including Vanos cream (cortisone), Motrin (600 mg 3 times a day), E-Mycin (antibiotic), and Trental (anti-inflammatory), all with no changes or success. Tests included CBC, CMP, sedimentation rate, UA and a chest x-ray. In December, he performed a punch biopsy, from which he determined the erythema nodosum diagnosis. Once diagnosed, my doctor prescribed a program of potassium iodide solution added to orange juice, starting with five drops three times a day and increasing to ten drops. I have been traveling away from home since mid-December, therefore, to date I have not filled or started the potassium iodide prescription. This is mainly because he said that I need to be monitored by a dermatologist while taking the drops, due to possible side effects. I am finally settled in Florida for a few months and can seek a dermatologist to begin this program. In the meantime, the ugly brown and red area burns periodically during the day (no extreme pain), but has not stopped me from living my usual busy lifestyle of golfing, boating, gardening, etc. First question: Have any past or present members of the EN Support Group had success with the above-mentioned potassium iodide treatment? Second question: I have just signed up to walk in the " Komen Race for the Cure", a three-mile race taking place here next month. Although I take short, hour-long walks around the neighborhood, I have never participated in a walking race before. Will this type of activity aggravate the EN? Third question: Am I in denial, or should I be staying at home resting, drinking potassium iodide three times a day and hoping for my own cure? Thanks for listening! Shell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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