MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
Understanding the Human Mind
Beyond the Conscious: Understanding the Role of the Unconscious Mind
By: Jonathan Nhan
A common myth is that humans only use a limited percentage of their brain power. While our full brains are active and functioning, there is a significant portion of our minds that is unconscious. What is this unconscious part of our minds and what is it used for?
Take a moment and notice all the things you are doing now without any awareness. I’m guessing that you’re sitting and holding your posture upright without an active thought. You may get up to grab a glass of water, walking over to the sink and coordinating your body in a series of complex motions without overburdening your brain power.
Outside of large movements and actions, your bodily functions are running automatically. Your heart beats at the rate that it needs to, you blink when your eyes need a break, and you breathe without a thought. On top of all this, you have thoughts, feelings, and emotions that appear in reaction to the world and experiences around you. The true powerhouse processor of your mind is the unconscious mind.
Your unconscious is responsible for taking commands and direction from your conscious mind and interpreting them in a way that positively benefits you. It is constantly listening for instructions and assumes positive intentions behind everything that you tell it. Between the conscious and unconscious mind is a filter - a critical faculty - that evaluates the information that is being sent your way and decides whether to accept or reject it.
How often have you ever thought to yourself “Wow! I did that without thinking”? There is an endless list of things that is powered by your unconscious mind. Simple things that are obvious, like your heart rate and breathing are controlled by your unconscious mind. Actions like walking, sitting, or falling asleep can happen without conscious thought. Think about complex actions that you do - driving, bike riding, your favourite hobby; again there are many things that you can do without thinking. In fact, sometimes thinking about what you’re doing can make you forget what you’re doing!
This is only the first couple layers of the power of your unconscious mind. The one fact about the unconscious mind that fills me with endless wonder is that the unconscious mind is constantly receiving and shielding your conscious mind from all the input. Your body is constantly receiving feedback and data from all your senses. The billions of neurons that you have in your body are constantly firing and sending information, yet you’re not consciously overwhelmed by this.
To experience what this means, notice how you aren’t aware of these parts of your body now; but when I mention your feet, your chest, or your tongue, you suddenly notice what you feel in each of these parts.
Finally, consider how your thoughts, feelings, and emotions can appear without a thought.
Your unconscious mind is the part of you that affects everything that you do. The important thing to remember is that you can make use of this unconscious power, consciously. This will be our topic for next time.
Oral Health
What’s New in Dental Hygiene?
By: Candace McIntyre, RDH
What’s new in Dental Hygiene?...
Silver Diamine Fluoride! (SDF)
Well it’s not actually that new. It’s been used for over 40 years in Japan, 10 years in China and Australia with no reported health risks or severe reactions, and was approved for use in dental offices by Health Canada in 2017, but it is a relativiely new treatment being utilized by Shine-1-1 Mobile Dental Hygiene.
What is SDF?
- it is a clear, odourless liquid that contains silver particles and fluoride which kill the bacteria that cause cavities, and helps harden the decayed area.
Pros of SDF
- it can help prevent tooth sensitivity.
- it stops cavities from getting bigger.
- the application is quick and painless and does not require needles or sedation, making it ideal for clients with dental anxiety or special needs, and the treatment can be done by your Independent Registered Dental Hygienist.
- SDF treatment can be done in the client’s home which can help those who have mobility issues and have a hard time accessing the dental office (long-term care residents especially), as well as individuals living in remote locations.
treatment can be ideal for cavities on baby teeth which are soon to fall out.
- the cost of SDF is a fraction of the cost of a filling.
Cons of SDF
- cavities treated with SDF turn black or brown, so can be very noticible on front teeth.
- those with allergies to silver would be contraindicated for use as SDF does contain silver particles.
- SDF can stain the skin or oral mucosa if accidentally touched during placement/ treatment.
Silver Diamine Fluoride is not considered an alternative to permanent fillings, but it is an effective tool in managing cavities for specific clients.
Candy McIntyre
(“The candy that’s good for your teeth”)
Registered Dental Hygienist with Shine-1-1 Mobile Dental Hygiene
Reference:
Personal Growth
February - A Month About Self-Love
By: Amanda Kirkland
Not that this applies to everyone reading it, but if I can help a few readers, then I’m happy with that.
Self-love is about intentionally taking care of oneself and who you are.
When I look back, specifically during my youth, I see someone navigating the world on her own. I really could have used the tools, support, and resources I have now. I want to share this knowledge with you so that you might avoid some of the struggles I experienced.
Never underestimate your ability to change your life for the better.
You can choose to thrive rather than barely survive.
Your life can change dramatically if you want it to.
Start thriving:
Say NO.
Set and maintain boundaries.
Stop arguing with idiots.
Accept that some people or situations can’t be changed no matter what you do or say.
Get around the “right people”.
Choose what’s right for you. It doesn’t matter what others think.
Be your own best friend.
And, don’t forget to tell yourself you’re friggin’ awesome!
February is a month to focus on ways you can be loving to yourself and put your needs first.
Begin to thrive by living on your terms and prioritizing your own well-being. At any moment, you can shift the trajectory of your relationships.
I’ve been there and done it, so I know what you might go through. I can be there for you if you need help making these changes. It’s way less stressful with someone by your side.
Book a 1:1 GRIT Strategy Session with me today at www.calendly.com/akcoach or email me amanda@amandakirkland.com
Trust Your Gut
Inflamation Nation
By: Kira Bauer
Do you suffer from headaches? Joint pain? Skin issues? Digestive problems? You might be
surprised to know that all of these symptoms are connected.
My name is Kira, I am a Holistic Health Coach and IBD warrior specializing in anti-inflammatory
nutrition and healthy habit formation.
In the recent explosion of scientific research that looks at chronic conditions that plague our
modern society, we now know that 95% of all chronic disease has a root cause of
inflammation. The majority of these conditions are preventable and reversible with nutrition
and optimal lifestyle choices.
Your gut is connected to every system in your body. This is why food has the extraordinary
power to dictate our level of health and how we feel! Three things you can do to optimize
your gut and decrease inflammation in the body are by eating whole foods, eliminating ultra
processed foods and seed oils, and cooking at home.
Working with a health coach can exponentially increase your success in managing your
disease and health outcomes. If you are seeking extra support, let’s chat! I am offering
complimentary discovery calls this January for entrance into my 1:1 health coaching program
and would love to work with you.
You can reach me at kbauercoaching@gmail.com
Personal Growth
Managing Toxic Relationships
By: Amanda Kirkland
Your values can trap you in toxic relationships...
Life is too short to waste your time on people who don't support, respect, and value you!
As a caring person you...
- are generous
- have honesty
- believe in affection
- are compassionate
- are giving and loving
-
When it comes to toxic people, none of this holds true. For them, the toxic person’s value system is completely different from yours.
A toxic person...
- believes in being powerful
- is completely self-absorbed
- must be in control
- is opportunistic
What traps you is assuming they have the same value system as yours. So, you keep giving in to this problematic relationship, but they are unable to receive it. The things that are important to you are not significant to them.
Just some food for thought.
Understanding The Human Mind
Introducing the Subconscious
By: Jonathan Nhan
Every day, we take actions that affect the world around us and these actions originate with thoughts and decisions that start in our minds. Fully understanding the mind can seem like a complicated undertaking, but to know how the mind works in a practical way that can enhance your day-to-day life can be rather simple. I will present to you a simple model that we will explore in depth in this series on the human mind.
The human mind can be divided into two parts, the conscious and the unconscious mind. The conscious mind is what we are aware of in any given moment. It is the part of the mind that is aware of our thoughts and perceptions, making sense of what we perceive. It is responsible for where we choose to focus our attention, and can be used to direct our intention.
The unconscious mind is everything outside of our conscious awareness. It is where our memories are stored and our emotions originate. Many of our driving forces in our daily life originate from the unconscious mind. It is a powerful force that can drive our actions and behaviours.
While some people may believe that the conscious mind is the strongest part of the mind, the reality is that the unconscious mind is much more powerful. The unconscious mind is responsible for processing all input that we receive, and generating the output of our physical bodies and minds. The unconscious drives the automatic processes, such as breathing, digestion, heart function, and posture. In addition, it is constantly deleting and distorting sensory input to make sense of it.
Even though the unconscious mind has all the processing power, the conscious mind has an important role. By directing our attention, the conscious mind can produce the filters that direct the unconscious processing power to our own advantage. Understanding this interdependent relationship is key to personal growth and discovery.
When you have been stuck on a problem, often times thinking consciously about the problem limits your solutions because of the limited power of the conscious mind. When you are able to identify the problem and hand over processing to the unconscious mind, the solution will come easier. This is the reason that often taking a break from your work will give you the space to find the proper next steps.
At this point, it is important to understand that everything I will present in this series is simply a model - a representation of reality that may be useful to you. The test of a model is its usefulness, so take time to reflect on how this model can apply to your life.
In the rest of this series, I will break down the conscious and unconscious mind and by the end of this set of articles, you will have a model of the mind that you can apply to find balance and harmony for better mental health.
Oral Health
What does it mean to LOVE your teeth and gums?
By: Candace McIntyre, RDH
Oral health is very much related to overall health. Meaning, if we take the extra step every day to thoroughly clean and care for our teeth and gums, “love” them if you will, studies show it can help reduce risks related to diabetes, heart and brain diseases, among others.
I read somewhere recently that highly successful individuals are that way because of their daily routine / habits. This is again so true for the success of your oral health; good daily preventative care - “love” for your teeth and gums will help contribute to your goal of optimal overall health!
Daily tips: correct brushing for minimum of two minutes and cleaning between the teeth with floss or a water flosser (aim for both brush and floss, twice per day and ALWAYS before bed).
Candy McIntyre
(“The candy that’s good for your teeth”)
Registered Dental Hygienist with Shine-1-1 Mobile Dental Hygiene
