One of the reasons there may have been fewer posts lately is that I have been moving. This weekend as I loaded all of my worldly possessions into cardboard boxes and put them on a truck I reminded myself that moving can be stressful for everyone even if it is a positive move.
The truth is that any kind of change even positive ones like moving to a bigger house, getting married, or starting a new job can be stressful. Your routine and your environment are often changed and it takes time to adjust. As I have mentioned before in previous posts stress can be harmful. In this blog by Belle Beth Cooper http://blog.bufferapp.com/the-science-of-stress-how-its-breaking-down-your-body she shares studies that have shown parts of the brain actually shrank in animals exposed to stress.
As Cooper points out one of the most important factors to successful stressing is how you handle it. It is a normal part of moving to be emotional, to be functioning less efficiently mentally, and to feel stressed out when you relocate. Reminding yourself of this and allowing yourself some time to adjust can be a simple fix. Other tips that might help are:
Stay organized- keep lists, label boxes, keep out a calendar, change your address, and anything else you can do to keep yourself as organized as possible will help to ease chaos during the move.
Get enough sleep - long nights of packing and unpacking can infringe on our shut eye. Be sure to get plenty of shut eye during this time to fight the stress.
Eat healthy- when the dishes and pans are all packed we are tempted to go to fast food restaurants during a move. Good, whole nutrition will help to fuel your body as you deal with all the physical and mental demands of a move.
Take breaks-the world wont end if you don't unpack that box of books tonight. Go take a walk in your new neighborhood, check out the library, or go see a movie. Taking breaks will help you feel more energized when you do work.
Stay positive- your perspective can completely change how you feel. Try to remember all of the positive reasons you moved and focus on those. Whether it was a new job, a bigger house, a cool destination, or to be closer to friends and family keeping your eye on the prize can mentally help you deal with the broken dishes or the cost of new trash cans.
If the stress is unbearable consider taking a break to look up a psychologist in your new area to help you find new ways to deal with the changes and cope with stress. Your brain, your loved ones, and your unbroken dishes will thank you for it!
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
HIGH TECH TOOLS HELP IOWA PSYCHOLOGIST COUNSEL PATIENTS WITH WEIGHT ISSUES
As you read the PSYowa blog you may be surprised to learn about all the things that psychologists do and the many ways in which they touch and change the world around you. Psychologists are involved in many health related areas including weight management, chronic pain, addiction, and oncology. One Iowa psychologist is doing some important work in weight management.
Dr. Brandon Davis earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2004. He has performed bariatric surgery pre-operative evaluations and served on a Bariatric Review Committee since 2006. After opening Davis Psychological Services, PC in Grinnell in 2011, Dr. Davis expanded his services to provide therapy to people struggling with obesity. In 2013, he earned a certification in bariatric counseling from the American Association of Bariatric Counselors. He has been invited to speak about obesity and his first study in the field of bariatrics was published in June.
A Grinnell psychologist and bariatric counselor has published a study that may change the way we all look at weight management, and help those who struggle with weight issues develop realistic goals.
Dr. Brandon Davis recently published a pilot study in the Archives of Medical and Biomedical Research that focuses on a new way to look at metabolism, which the study calls the “Metabolic Factor.”
Metabolic Factor is found by determining how many calories a person burns per day at rest, or their resting metabolic rate, and dividing that number by their weight. The resting metabolic rate is measured with an FDA-approved machine that measures how much oxygen a person uses and how much carbon dioxide they exhale.
Dr. Brandon Davis recently published a pilot study in the Archives of Medical and Biomedical Research that focuses on a new way to look at metabolism, which the study calls the “Metabolic Factor.”
Metabolic Factor is found by determining how many calories a person burns per day at rest, or their resting metabolic rate, and dividing that number by their weight. The resting metabolic rate is measured with an FDA-approved machine that measures how much oxygen a person uses and how much carbon dioxide they exhale.
“We all know people who can eat nearly anything and seemingly not gain weight, while some people have controlled intake for years and struggle with weight issues,” Davis said. “This study is helping confirm that some people do indeed have fast or slow metabolisms.”
Davis said because Metabolic Factor does not change, when one loses weight, their caloric intake needs to continue to drop to lose or even maintain weight, because there are fewer pounds burning calories. For a psychologist who counsels patients who struggle with weight issues, the information is very important.
Davis said because Metabolic Factor does not change, when one loses weight, their caloric intake needs to continue to drop to lose or even maintain weight, because there are fewer pounds burning calories. For a psychologist who counsels patients who struggle with weight issues, the information is very important.
“I believe in taking the shame out of obesity issues,” Davis said. “And I also believe in helping people be happy with a healthy weight that they can realistically maintain. If I can show somebody with a Metabolic Factor of 8 that they could only eat 880 calories in order to maintain a 110 pound weight, it goes a long way toward more realistic goals and acceptance of their own body”
In addition to Metabolic Factor, Dr. Davis provides patients with information such as the suggested number of daily calories for weight loss and other data useful in creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“Common sense, a sustainable plan and an approach that recognizes there is no guilt or shame is how I approach weight management,” he said. “People can be healthier and happy at the same time.”
For more information, visit www.davispsychservices.org or watch this video by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-yteY5HkxE
In addition to Metabolic Factor, Dr. Davis provides patients with information such as the suggested number of daily calories for weight loss and other data useful in creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“Common sense, a sustainable plan and an approach that recognizes there is no guilt or shame is how I approach weight management,” he said. “People can be healthier and happy at the same time.”
For more information, visit www.davispsychservices.org or watch this video by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-yteY5HkxE
Dr. Brandon Davis earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2004. He has performed bariatric surgery pre-operative evaluations and served on a Bariatric Review Committee since 2006. After opening Davis Psychological Services, PC in Grinnell in 2011, Dr. Davis expanded his services to provide therapy to people struggling with obesity. In 2013, he earned a certification in bariatric counseling from the American Association of Bariatric Counselors. He has been invited to speak about obesity and his first study in the field of bariatrics was published in June.
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