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BCWS: Where Growth Begins

October 27, 2010 By Dawn 1 Comment

We’re sending you a warm, hearty welcome to our new website!  This site is designed to be a welcoming, user friendly resource for inspiration, information and conversation about health and wellness.  We invite you to participate in the happenings on this site and look forward to getting to know you better.  We’re going to take you on a tour of the site below, but let’s first start with a brief discussion about this thing called “Wellness”.

What the heck is Wellness?

At first thought one might think that wellness is the act of being well.  This is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  Wellness is a multidimensional state of being that involves:

  • LOVE: the loving acceptance of yourself :-)
  • CHOICE:   making a decision to move toward optimal health
  • PROCESS: a developing awareness that there is no endpoint, but that health and happiness are possible in each and every moment, here and now
  • ACTION:   designing a lifestyle that enables you to achieve your highest wellbeing
  • BALANCE: energy received from the environment, transformed within you and returned to affect the world around you
  • INTEGRATION: the appreciation that everything you do, think, feel and believe has an impact on your state of health and the health of the world

(Adapted from John Travis, MD, MPH- author of “The Wellness Workbook”)

So when we put this all together, BCWS has adapted the following definition of wellness that serves as its guiding principle:

An active process of enhancing one’s awareness of and making choices that result in a healthy, enjoyable life.


Wellness is achieved when we make healthy choices that enhance and improve our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves.  Although it isn’t a specific destination, life sure feels good when you’ve achieved a healthy state of wellness.  When you are authentically well, you strive to continue to engage in the activities that got you there in the first place.

BCWS is dedicated to providing you with the support, resources and encouragement necessary to help nurture your best self.  We have seen this work in action at our center.  Many of our clients have enhanced their healing by indulging in more than one of our services.  This integrative approach has proven successful time and time again.  We’ve seen people rise and shine from depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, physical pain and other maladies after taking a comprehensive holistic approach in their healing.  If you’d like some specific examples, feel free to contact us for more information.

We have assembled a dynamic team of professionals who are passionate about health and happiness.  We look forward to meeting you and sharing our passion with you.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF OUR NEW SITE!

We’ve redesigned and expanded our site for YOU!  Let’s take a walk through some of the hotspots (although we do believe the entire site is a hotspot, lol):

Main Navigation Menu: this section contains information about your friendly neighborhood BCWS staff, our services, specializations and events.  Here you will also find menu links to our shopping destinations where you can shop for Young Living Essential Oils, Good Clean Love Personal Lubricants and Books.

Give us a call at (631) 482-8010 to inquire further about our services or to schedule an appointment.

Blog Magazine Menu:  the peach colored menu houses links to articles and other goodies to help enhance your understanding about wellness.  We’ll be posting articles, book and product reviews, videos and information about upcoming events and happenings at BCWS.

Here we invite you to participate by commenting with your feedback, stories, recommendations and simple hellos!  We’ll also post information about giveaways and other specials here for our loyal friends :-)   Feel free to share helpful articles with your friends by clicking the “Share” button in the right column of every page.  There you can select which sites and networks to share each article and page on this site.

If you are health professional and would like to submit an article for the blog, please click here to contact us and select “Guest Blogging” in the subject line.

Dear Dawn Advice Column:  this is our monthly advice column written by BCWS co-founder Dawn E. Shedrick. For down-to-earth advice and support on a multitude of life issues, click here to submit a question or share a story to be featured in the column.  Be sure to select “Dear Dawn” in the subject line.

Join Our Mailing List:  Be sure to enter your email address to join our mailing list if you haven’t already.  We made this convenient for you, as you will find a sign up form in the right column of each page.  Talk about convenience!

Let’s Socialize!: Keep up with us via Facebook and Twitter in the right column of the site.  And click the links in top right corner of the site to join us on our Facebook page and to follow us on Twitter.  We promise to follow you back too ;-)

Featured Video: We’ll keep cool videos in rotation for you, whether they showcase some of the happenings at BCWS, provide you with customer feedback and raves or share relevant wellness content.

We hope you enjoy your stay, be sure to come back often ;-)

Filed Under: BCWS Events Tagged With: , , ,

Dear Dawn: Mourning My Mom

October 22, 2010 By Dawn

Dear Dawn:

My mother died last year on New Year’s Eve  after a long bout with breast cancer.  She died peacefully at home with her hospice nurse as I was out partying to celebrate the New Year.  I was an only child and she a single mother, so we were very close.  I thought that I prepared myself for her death because she had been terminally ill for several months.  But the more time goes on, the harder it seems for me to get past this.  I have trouble sleeping, find myself crying at odd times, am irritable with my fiancee and can’t seem to concentrate when I’m at work.  Any advice or suggestions you can share would be greatly appreciated.  Sean

Hi Sean,

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mother and how difficult it’s been for you to heal.  First, let me tell you that the loss of a parent is difficult for many people, especially when you share a close bond with that parent.  As much as we can “prepare” for the death of a terminally ill loved one, we still experience tremendous pain and loss when the death actually occurs.

The first year after a death can be the most challenging, as it brings all of the holidays, birthdays, family celebrations & traditions that we usually experience with our family in a year’s time.  These events and traditions often remind us of the loss because our beloved family member isn’t present and their absence is felt in a very significant way.  I also sense that you may be experiencing some guilt because you were out celebrating the New Year when your mother died.  Don’t be so hard on yourself, there’s no way that you could predict the precise moment that your mother would die.  Judging from the way you describe your relationship with her, I venture to guess that if you did know you would have been ringing in the New Year at her bedside.

I want to recommend one of my favorite books on the subject of grief, “On Grief & Grieving” by Elisabeth Kubler Ross.  Dr Kubler Ross was an incredible human being (and a psychiatrist) whose research, work and writings helped humanize grief and validate what most of us experience when we lose someone we love.  Her writings encourage us to remove the shame from our grieving processes and allow ourselves to feel and heal.  Here is a link to the book for you, click on the graphic for more information…

I am concerned that you may be experiencing some depression as a result of this loss, given that you are experiencing some insomnia, irritability and loss of concentration.  I can’t deny my bias as a psychotherapist: many of us have been trained in the mental and emotional dynamics of grief and can be of great service to you.  I suggest you first contact the hospice care agency that services your mom, as most of them have bereavement support services (including support groups).  I’d be surprised if the agency doesn’t have any support services for you, but in the event they don’t, ask for a referral to a therapist.  And be sure to reach out to those closest to you for personal support.  I’m sure your fiancee understands why you’ve been cranky and wants nothing more than to support you during this most difficult time.

I wish you a peaceful and transformative healing process Sean.

Be Well,

Dawn

Dear Dawn is a monthly wellness advice column written by BCWS co-founder Dawn E. Shedrick, LCSW.  In addition to having the professional experience and skills of a psychotherapist, Dawn has been lending her ears, shoulders and heart to loved ones and friends for years.  So it’s only fitting that she now lend a virtual ear to BCWS supporters.

To submit an email for consideration in this column, click here and fill out the form.  Be sure to select “Dear Dawn” in the subject menu.  Be Well!

Filed Under: Dear Dawn Tagged With: ,

Soothing Sips: Green Tea for Anxiety Relief

October 22, 2010 By Dawn Leave a Comment

I’m fairly certain that you’ve heard about the health benefits of green tea by now.  Various studies have shown that green tea can boost metabolic rates (translation: promote weight loss!), enhance immunity, improve cardiovascular health, reduce risk of various cancers and sharpen mental functioning.

One of the most significant mental health benefits of green tea is it’s ability to help reduce anxiety.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 18% of the adult population in the United States suffers with an anxiety disorder in any given calendar year.  Many people living with anxiety haven’t been formally diagnosed by a mental health professional and aren’t receiving formal treatment or support.

Although the clinical standards for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and other anxiety disorders include psychotherapy and medication, green tea can be an effective adjunct or alternative to traditional treatment.

So how in the world can green tea help reduce my anxiety, you ask? Green tea contains an amino acid, L-Theanine, that has been shown to:

  • induce a calming effect
  • promote deeper relaxation without feeling groggy
  • enhance concentration
  • relieve insomnia and induce restful sleep
  • delay the onset of panic attacks (*information obtained from an anecdotal survey of mental health practitioners)

According to Dr. Andrew Weil, the recommended daily dose of L-Theanine is between 50mg-200mg per day.  Most American green teas contain 10mg-12mg of the amino acid per cup, so be sure to drink 4-5 cups of green tea daily to reap the most benefit.  And be wary of supplements that claim to contain high levels of L-Theanine.  Most brands contain ingredients other than L-Theanine that aren’t as effective, and may cause side effects.  It’s best to get your L-Theanine by drinking green tea.

Are you a green tea drinker?  How has your health improved as a result of daily green tea consumption?  Be sure to leave your feedback in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!

Filed Under: Wellness Wisdom Tagged With: , , ,

On Pins & Needles for Pregnancy

October 6, 2010 By Dawn 9 Comments

Are you or a loved one having trouble conceiving a child?  If so, chances are that you are seeking a treatment method that will increase your likelihood of conception if you are pursuing assisted reproductive therapies (ART) such as in vitro fertilization, egg/sperm donation or insemination.  Even if you aren’t pursuing ART but are struggling to conceive, acupuncture can be a big help.

Acupuncture is regaining credibility as an effective treatment for infertility.  I stress regaining, as it has been used for centuries in Eastern cultures to much great effect.  Acupuncture combined with herbal medicine serves as a powerful complement to traditional medical treatment and has been show to increase the likelihood of conception.  You can also increase the chance of success by engaging in acupuncture treatment before and after insemination, donor-egg transfer or IVF.

It’s best to consult with a licensed acupuncturist as soon as possible, as the degree of success often depends on your individual experience with infertility.

Feel free to click here to contact our acupuncturist extraordinaire, Renee Verspohl, L.Ac. for more information about this amazing treatment method.

Have you received acupuncture to increase your chances of conception?  Please share your experience in the comments below.  We sincerely appreciate your contribution.
THE FIRST 10 READERS TO COMMENT ON THIS POST WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE ONE HOUR ACUPUNCTURE SESSION AT BCWS!

Filed Under: Acupuncture Tagged With: , , , ,
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