Right before Halloween in 2021, I decided to watch the entire Nightmare on Elm Street franchise on DVD. I had finished the last movie and decided to take the dog for a walk down in the wash while the sun was still high.
Walking along with my dog, I suddenly heard a branch crack behind us. Already freaked out from the movie, I turned around and saw a big, fat guy with wild curly hair and a murderous expression on his face, following us. He looked like a crazed horror movie axe murderer.
My first reaction was, “OMG! The movie’s coming true!”
Then I recognized him as the grandson and nephew of the real estate brokers who lived around the corner. He had yelled at me from the road twice before when I was walking in the wash. In a shrill voice, he called, “Lady! Lady! Yoohoo! Lady!” — and rambled on about his grandmother. He had gained at least 100 lbs. since I last saw him in person. This time, however, he didn’t say anything and followed us into the wash.
I quickly sized up the situation:
I had a wooden walking stick; the guy was using a piece of metal rebar as a walking stick.
I had a dog, but if I unleased him, the guy would beat him with the metal rebar.
The guy was having trouble walking on the craggy ground because a flash flood had carried all the topsoil away.
I had the advantage because I knew the topography of the wash.
The guy obviously had bad knees from his excess weight; I was in better shape and more nimble.
There was sufficient distance between us to have a good head start.
I knew the guy had mental deficiencies, a fixed idea about his grandmother’s safety, and probably could not be reasoned with.
I knew he didn’t like people walking and driving ATVs through the wash since it curved behind his grandmother’s house — and he really didn’t like me!
I decided that if the guy did magically catch up with us and try to hurt me or my dog, I was going to stand my ground and beat the crap out of him with my wooden walking stick. I pulled on the leash, and the dog and I hurried through the wash until we reached the road. That guy never did catch up. In fact, he probably turned around and went home.
The next time I saw that guy at his grandmother’s house, he had lost weight and cut his hair, but he still glared at me with that loathsome stare. He and his grandmother have since moved away.
But what a creepy Halloween scare!
Dawn Pisturino
May 24, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
I’ve been riding a roller coaster of emotions for the last month because a crazy guy formed a connection with me. I have PTSD from things that happened to me in the past, and his unwanted attention kicked it into maximum overdrive. Writing, focusing, and functioning have been difficult, although I’ve been trying to maintain a regular routine.
This guy has been driving by my house with his dog for over a year. I could always hear him coming down the road because he would go slow and let his dog yap through the open window. He has an adorable dog, and I enjoyed hearing that dog bark when he drove by, as crazy as that sounds, because it made me smile. He came by about the same time every evening, and it was always just him and his dog. I could never get a good look at the guy because he always sat hunched down in the seat, but he was a white guy with a beard and wore a hat or bandanna on his head. I thought he was weird. It was creepy how he drove around like that every evening, even when gas was $5.00 a gallon. I figured he worked all day and then hung out with his dog after work. But he seemed like the loneliest guy in the world.
As I became more aware of him, he became more aware of me. I had a strange feeling that he and I would eventually come face to face.
The dirt road behind our property crosses a dry wash. I often walk through our back lot and along that dirt road into the wash. The wash curves behind our neighbors’ properties and onto another road. As I came from the wash one evening, who did I run into in his truck? The weird guy. He leered at me and smiled. We recognized each other, locked eyes, and something passed between us. I immediately felt uncomfortable, vulnerable, easy prey, and targeted. But like a stupid fool, I waved at him without thinking, and we both went our separate ways.
A few days later, he saw me walking down the road and stopped his truck to talk to me. He had his dog with him and started talking to me as best friends. I immediately felt a strong creep vibe and SEXUAL PREDATOR kept flashing in my head. Although he looked like a fully mature adult, he was much younger than me and came off as childish with an intellectual disability. We had a short conversation about rattlesnakes and dog bites. Although he was friendly and very polite, he kept trying to play on my sympathies and reel me in, but I cut it off, wished him a good evening, and headed home. I walked away feeling a strong connection between us and kept saying to myself: “I don’t want to have a connection with this guy.”
I have fifteen years of experience working with inpatient psychiatric patients and made a quick mental health assessment in my head as we were talking. I concluded the following based on his body language, speech, presentation, and interaction:
Delayed thought processes (mentally slow)
Unable to keep up the conversation (inarticulate)
poor education
Sexually and emotionally deprived
Socially awkward and sexually inept
Looking for attention, intimacy, and a mother to nurture and take care of him
Very needy
Mommy issues – either living with his mother or no mother in the picture
Probable history of psychiatric care and medication
Use of pornography and possible sexual molestation of children (based on his childish nature)
Possible criminal history
Once again, I felt uncomfortable, vulnerable, easy prey, and targeted, but at least I knew something about the guy. I told my husband about the incident and figured things would go on as usual. Instead, the guy’s behavior changed, and he began to drive by at odd hours, with and without his dog. I got a couple of weird phone calls. You know, the ones where nobody says anything but you can hear that someone is on the other end of the line. Two dogs went missing from the neighborhood. Dead snakes were showing up in odd places. I figured he felt rejected and was punishing me in some way. I looked through the county sex offender registry but didn’t find anyone who looked like him.
Things calmed down, then we passed each other on the road when I was going to town and he recognized me. That set off a whole new chain of events. A few days ago, he started honking his horn in front of my house. My husband was in the yard, though, and when the guy saw him, he took off. At 4:30 the next afternoon, I had just climbed into a nice hot bubble bath when I heard a big commotion outside. My dog was barking, and I heard the guy racing up and down the road in front of my house with his dog barking. I was pissed. I climbed out of the tub, wrapped myself in a towel, and ran to the window. He took off. He drove by around the same time the next day but seemed calmer and just looked at the house and kept driving.
I talked to my husband about the whole thing. I told him: “If something happens to me, you’ll be the first suspect, and the guy honking his horn will be the second. Remember that!” I told him I would ignore these childish antics and start carrying my .38 special when walking or working in the yard. He said, “If you have to shoot someone, make sure you finish the job.”
Since things have calmed down again, I hope the guy got it out of his system and will leave me alone. I don’t know his name, where he lives, or anything about him, and he hasn’t broken any laws. There’s nothing to give the sheriff’s office. But he knows where I live, my car, the truck my husband drives, and presumably, my phone number. My biggest fear is that he will harm my dog or my husband or start doing property damage. The BIG UNKNOWN makes me anxious, afraid, hypervigilant, angry, and depressed.
I started watching a documentary series about psychopaths on Discovery+ and Googled the characteristics of stalkers. This guy fits the profile of a Private Stranger Stalker, Intimacy Seeking Stalker, and Incompetent Suitor Stalker. He may even be a Predatory Stalker. According to the articles, most stalkers are obsessive, narcissistic, socially awkward and inept, controlling, manipulative, attention-seeking, and feel no empathy for their victims. They want the victim to constantly think about them and react to their actions. They want to possess and control the victim to feel powerful, dominant, and adequate. It’s been estimated that 50% of stalkers suffer from some form of mental illness, including schizophrenia, psychosis, and personality disorders. Women are the most likely victims, and men the most likely stalkers, but anyone can be a victim or a stalker. The most dangerous stalkers have been involved in domestic violence and broken relationships.
Why did it happen to me? I was there. I was visible and presumably available. I was fair game, vulnerable, and an easy mark. All the time that guy was driving by my house, he watched me work in the yard, feed the dog, perform routine chores, paint the front deck and front door, read books, and work on the driveway. He saw me walking in the desert alone. Whatever fantasy or need he was feeding, I fit the bill.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to write this post because it’s so intensely personal, but I thought it would be therapeutic, increase public awareness, and help others.
Thanks for listening! Stay safe!
Dawn Pisturino
May 22, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
The final project for my Online Digital Obsessions class asked us to create a fictitious patient with an electronic addiction, adopt the role of a college counselor, do a full psychosocial assessment, and create a treatment plan for this patient’s therapeutic intervention. In the end, we were required to predict the challenges and outcomes for this patient. At this time, there is no official diagnosis, “Internet Gaming Disorder.” The proposed diagnosis was referred for further study by the American Psychiatric Association. However, it is expected to be adopted in the future. Playing video games is only a problem when it becomes the dominant interest in somebody’s life and undermines their normal functioning in day-to-day living.
Adjustment Disorder and Internet Gaming Disorder
by Dawn Pisturino
Thomas Edison State University
Introduction
Jeremy Reed is an 18-year-old Caucasian male who was referred to counseling by his academic advisor for depression. He says that adjusting to university life has been difficult, and he has been feeling increasingly depressed. He began playing World of Warcraft on his computer to relieve stress and cope with his depressed feelings. He became so involved in the game that he began neglecting his homework, and his grades are suffering. His academic advisor referred him to counseling so he does not lose his full-ride scholarship to the university.
The client says that playing World of Warcraft makes him “feel good,” and he does not want to stop. He has made new friends and become a “top player.” He admits to feeling more depressed and irritable when he is not playing the game. I explain to Jeremy—who is a biology major—that he feels good when he plays World of Warcraft because the activity activates the reward system in his brain and stimulates the release of dopamine. The more he activates this system, however, the more he craves the gratifying pleasure produced by the game. He needs to spend more hours playing the game to reach that same level of pleasure and craves playing the game when he is not able to do so. Playing the game has become more important to him than his academic performance, so he is neglecting his schoolwork and falling behind. As he loses control over his impulse to play, I explain, his life will spiral more and more out of control. He is at great risk for not sleeping and eating, neglecting his hygiene, alienating his roommate, and losing his scholarship and admission to the university if he does not reduce his game playing and start improving his academic performance. Jeremy agrees that this is true but also states that he does not want to completely give up playing the game (Gros et al., 2020, pp. 2-4; Tavormina & Tavormina, 2017, pp. 422-424).
Clinical Assessment
For this assessment, I am using the Therapist Clinical Assessment/Psychosocial Assessment tools used routinely at Flagstaff Medical Center Behavioral Health Unit in Flagstaff, Arizona, and the PHQ-9 questionnaire because I am familiar with these forms. The PHQ-9 is used to screen clients for symptoms of depression and has a proven track record of accuracy and reliability. Clients who fill out the form are scored based on their responses. Scores equal to or greater than 10 can indicate a depressive disorder (American Psychological Association, 2020, para. 1-2).
The client, Jeremy Reed, presents as withdrawn with a flat affect and a disheveled appearance. His thought processes are linear and logical with organized thinking. He is alert and oriented. His speech is coherent and clear, but he is delayed in his responses. His psychomotor activity appears normal, but he makes poor eye contact. His thought content is realistic, but he exhibits poor insight into his excessive video game activity even though his memory and judgment are within normal limits. He denies hearing voices, having hallucinations, or experiencing extreme mood swings.
Jeremy denies any current suicidal and homicidal ideation. He denies any actual self-harm or harm to others. He denies any thoughts of suicide/homicide in the past or making any gestures or threats of violence against others.
The client denies any history of sexual, verbal, emotional, or physical abuse. He does not recall witnessing any extreme acts of violence. He reports that his parents argue sometimes but always resolve their differences amicably. He is an only child and has no half-siblings or step-siblings.
Jeremy confirms that he is a healthy heterosexual male with little sexual experience. He is currently single and not sexually active. Although he would like to have a girlfriend, he believes it would interfere even more with his studies.
The client says he is a nominal Protestant and only attends church at Christmas and Easter. He has experimented with yoga and meditation in the past to live a healthier lifestyle. He does not routinely pray or engage in spiritual practices.
Jeremy currently lives on campus in a dorm and has no housing needs. He is unemployed at the moment but worked part-time at Burger King in high school. He is studying biology and plans a career as a biologist. Since he has a full-ride scholarship to the university, his parents help out with his expenses. He says he does not want to lose his scholarship or disappoint his parents.
The client has no military experience and no legal difficulties. He has never been arrested or suspended from school. As far as he knows, his developmental history was normal.
Jeremy says he played basketball in high school and still enjoys playing when he can find the time and other players. He has no significant medical history, no known allergies, and takes no prescribed medications. The client appears well-nourished and physically fit. His tonsils were removed at age 10. He broke his arm when he fell off his bike at age 12. He is already registered with the university’s student health services. Currently, he reports staying up late playing video games, feeling tired the next day, and eating too much junk food. He says he lacks the motivation and concentration to study.
The client denies any mental health history. He states that his depression and anxiety began a couple of months ago when he began his freshman year of college. This is his first time living away from home, and he is having trouble adjusting to university life, living with a roommate, and being away from his family. He is carrying a full load of credits and feels stressed out and overwhelmed by all the homework, expectations, and pressure.
Jeremy believes his paternal grandfather was a heavy smoker and alcohol drinker. His father drinks alcohol occasionally, mostly on holidays. His mother takes Vistaril occasionally for anxiety. He admits to trying cannabis twice but did not like it. He denies all other substance use except alcohol, which he uses occasionally on the weekends. His only source of caffeine is Coca-Cola.
The client states that his main form of recreation right now is playing Internet video games, i.e., World of Warcraft. He wants to cut back and resume his studying, but he derives a lot of satisfaction from the game and does not want to stop playing the game completely. He admits that he loses track of time while on the game. He is not fully motivated to quit.
Jeremy describes his strengths as being goal-oriented and a good student. He is strongly motivated to complete his college degree and start work as a biologist. He describes his weaknesses as being too introverted and serious. He believes he has poor coping skills when it comes to stress. He wants help overcoming his depression and anxiety but says he is not interested in taking medication. Although he does not see playing video games as a serious problem, he admits that it has already affected his grades and academic standing. His PHQ-9 score is 13, with 4 boxes checked in the gray areas. His score indicates moderate depression that is making it difficult for him to function at his normal baseline (American Psychological Association, 2020, para. 1-3).
Probable Diagnoses and Treatment Plan
Probable Diagnoses
Problem #1 – Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood (ICD Code F43.23) ( ICD-10 Coded, 2022, para. 1)
Adjustment disorder occurs when a person is faced with a stressful life situation, such as going away to school. Jeremy describes having a difficult time adjusting to university life and being away from home. He has no prior history of depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. His symptoms appeared less than three months ago after arriving on campus for his freshman year, meeting the DSM-V criteria. He reports increasing depression and anxiety that are affecting his ability to cope with his new situation. If Jeremy agrees with the assessment and treatment plan, his prognosis looks good. (American Psychiatric Association, 2015, pp. 120-121; Kenardy, 2014, para. 1-3; Mayo Clinic, 2023, para. 1-13).
Problem #2 – Internet Gaming Disorder (no ICD code until ICD-11) ( Petry et al., 2015, pp. 1,7)
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) appears in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) in Section III under the heading of “Conditions for Further Study.” The DSM-V provides criteria for IGD that closely align with the criteria for other addictive disorders, like substance use disorder and gambling disorder. Clients who meet at least five of the criteria could be considered suffering from or at high risk for Internet gaming disorder (Petry et al., 2015, pp. 1-5).
Jeremy has been playing Internet video games to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. He has been spending increasing amounts of time playing video games and spending less time sleeping and studying. As a result, his academic performance has declined, and he risks losing his full-ride scholarship. Currently, Jeremy meets six of the criteria on the DSM-V list of criteria: preoccupation, tolerance, neglecting other activities, escapism, and risking losing his educational opportunities. He has only been playing for a couple of months and is not fully motivated to quit, even though he recognizes that he needs to make some changes in his life. If he agrees with the assessment and treatment plan, however, his prognosis looks good (Petry et al., 2015, pp. 2-3).
Treatment Plan
Goals and Objective
Jeremy’s primary concern is protecting his full-ride scholarship and earning his biology degree. His second goal is to learn new coping skills to deal with his depression, anxiety, and stress. His third goal is to achieve more balance in his life between studying and recreation. His fourth goal is to reduce his time playing video games and participate in more physical activities, like basketball. Overall, the client’s objective is to return to his normal baseline status before going away to college. He wants the same self-confidence and control over his life that he had before. He wants to regain his motivation and commitment to studying and succeeding in school. He wants a positive outcome that will help him grow as a person and mature into adulthood.
Action Plan
Psychotherapy is the primary evidence-based treatment for both adjustment disorder and Internet gaming disorder (IGD). The client will benefit from weekly psychotherapy sessions to discuss how and why leaving home and starting college has made such a huge impact on his well-being, including his use of video games to relieve stress. If psychotherapy is insufficient to stabilize the client, a course of medication may be helpful. The client, however, is unwilling to try medication at this time (American Psychiatric Association, 2015, pp. 63, 121; Gros et al., 2020, p. 15; Kenardy, 2014, para. 4, 6-7, 10; Mayo Clinic, 2023, para. 22-23; Petry et al., 2015, p. 6; Tavormina & Tavormina, 2017, p. 424; Torres-Rodriguez et al., 2017, pp. 1003, 1005-1006, 1010-1011).
Interventions
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in helping clients to recognize and re-frame harmful patterns of thought and behavior. The client will be referred to a therapist who is proficient in CBT since it has been proven successful in treating both adjustment disorder and IGD. I will encourage the client to continue seeing me on a weekly basis at the clinic for one-to-one motivational and support counseling and provide him with opportunities to participate in clinical workshops that will help him to learn new skills in stress management, anger management, relaxation activities, mindfulness and resilience training, and goal-focused solutions. With Jeremy’s cooperation, we will devise a schedule that maps out times for study, recreation, and playing video games that supports his class schedule and enhances his goals and objective. I will suggest that he join a campus support group for new students. I will refer him to mental health peer support services for monitoring and help. If the client requires medication, I will refer him to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner for evaluation and prescriptions.
I will get consent from the client to speak to his parents, make them aware of the situation, and offer them support. Since Jeremy is in a vulnerable age group, he needs intense support to get through this temporary setback. Otherwise, this could turn into an ongoing issue (American Psychiatric Association, 2015, pp. 63, 121; Gros et al., 2020, p. 15; Kenardy, 2014, para. 4, 6-7, 10; Mayo Clinic, 2023, para. 22-23; Petry et al., 2015, p. 6; Tavormina & Tavormina, 2017, p. 424; Torres-Rodriguez et al., 2017, pp. 1003, 1005-1006, 1010-1011).
Challenges
Since Jeremy is highly motivated to protect his full-ride scholarship and complete his degree, his prognosis is good as long as he follows the treatment plan. Challenges include ongoing depression, anxiety, and stress that may undermine his motivation, time constraints due to carrying a full load, and relapsing on playing video games. I will provide him with literature and books that will help him to understand the biological, neurological, and psychological nature of his problems. This may pique his interest as a biology student and keep him involved in his therapy. I will suggest that he drop any extra credits that he is taking. The client will be given positive encouragement and reinforcement to stick to his goals. I will work with his assigned peer support person to monitor his progress and participation.
Conclusion
Eighteen-year-old Jeremy Reed was referred to my office for depression, anxiety, and excessive playing of video games by his academic advisor. Jeremy’s symptoms began when he moved into the campus dorm to start his freshman year of college a few months ago. Since then, he has been spending more time playing video games and less time studying. His academic performance has suffered, putting his full-ride scholarship at risk.
This client is positive for symptoms of adjustment disorder and Internet gaming disorder. His age makes him a high risk for long-term mental health issues, including suicide, if he does not participate in treatment. If he cannot control, reduce, or eliminate his video game activity, he will continue to decline academically, which will impact other areas of his life (Kenardy, 2014, para. 2).
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2015). Understanding mental disorders: Your guide to
dsm-5. Washington: American Psychiatric Publishing.
American Psychological Association. (2020). Patient health questionnaire. American
Both Aristotle and Plato commented on the healing power of music. But it was not until the 20th century that the idea of music therapy began to take hold.
Music therapists are trained healthcare professionals who utilize music to encourage wellness, healing, and a better quality of life. They work in psychiatric facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice programs, schools, and other organizations.
People with mental illness benefit from the influence that music has over mood and emotions. In the hospital setting, music has been used to reduce pain and suffering, relieve tension, and promote sleep. Nursing homes employ music therapists to keep senior citizens active and socially involved. Music has been used in hospice programs to provide comfort, relaxation, and a better quality of life for people who are terminally ill. Music therapy is used in special learning programs at schools to improve communication and coordination skills.
Research has shown that music can improve depression and insomnia, reduce blood pressure, lower respiration and heart rates, and alleviate nausea caused by chemotherapy.
Children who take music lessons tend to have higher IQ scores and do better in school. In the home, music is a valuable tool for reducing stress, engaging in physical exercise, and creating a more positive environment. Employers have found that background music in the workplace can help reduce stress among employees.
Listening to the sounds of nature can also be therapeutic. Birds singing, waves crashing on the beach, a babbling brook, the wind blowing playfully through wind chimes, whale songs, the purring of a cat — these all have the power to soothe frazzled nerves and fill us with a sense of comfort and joy.
Dawn Pisturino
April 2, 2007; March 13, 2023
Copyright 2007-2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
Published in The Kingman Daily Miner, April 24, 2007.
[Please note that I will not be posting again until Friday]
When people go into a casino, they are mesmerized by the colors, bright lights, and dinging bells of slot machines that, nowadays, look suspiciously like video games. In fact, the video game craze has influenced what kinds of games casinos offer to their customers. The live-action table games are slowly being replaced with interactive video games. Not only is this cost-effective for casinos, but machines can be manipulated to take more of the customer’s money.
But why are people so attracted to the Las Vegas type of bells and whistles that they find in casinos, amusement parks, and video arcades? Why are they mesmerized by these same effects on their video games, computers, and smartphones? Are consumers being trained to use electronic devices like toys – and not just tools for business and communication?
According to an article posted on the Psychology Today website, “the typical American spends about 1460 hours per year on their smartphone” (Brooks, 2019, para. 2). The author attributes this behavior to the variable ratio reinforcement schedule, a conditioning process that draws users over and over again to their electronic devices, and in particular, video games. With the right psychological rewards in place, users can quickly become hooked (Brooks, 2019, para. 3).
In a variable ratio reinforcement schedule, rewards are delivered randomly so that the electronic device user has to use the device more and more in order to get the psychological reward. If the user stops using the device, he gets no reward. But if he keeps going, the reward will eventually be delivered, hooking the user even more (Brooks, 2019, para. 4-5).
Why does this happen? Dopamine is released by the brain when the reward system is activated. A random reward reinforces the reward system further, leading the electronic device user to unconsciously look for the stimulus that delivers the reward (Brooks, 2019, para. 7).
The anticipation and expectation of reward entice the device user to keep using the device and receiving the reward once more . . . over and over again . . . until the user has lost control over his own impulses. Unless the user has strong sales resistance and self-discipline, he may find himself glued to his device, drawn there like a bee to honey. This is why the mental health diagnosis of impulse control has become so pertinent to the abuse and overuse of electronic devices (Brooks, 2019, para. 8).
Reference
Brooks, M. (2019). The “vegas effect” of our screens. Psychology Today. Retrieved from
Have you ever felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole? It wasn’t until she hit rock bottom that she found the tools to cope with her environment.
Or what about the White Rabbit? His obsession with time makes him sound like a classic Type A personality.
We all know people who act as if they are running a marathon race against Time. The most familiar thing out of their mouths is, “I’m busy. I don’t have time. Not right now. Good grief, I have to be somewhere in five minutes!”
Like the Red Queen, they are always running in place and getting nowhere fast. And no matter how hard they try to catch up, they never will. And no matter how much we try to convince them to slow down, they never will—until they suffer a heart attack or some other misfortune.
Appearing and disappearing like the Cheshire cat, they smile smugly and proudly tell us how terribly important they are; but they may as well be saying, “We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat,” or you wouldn’t have come here.”
Alice had many curious adventures in Wonderland, but even she had her limits. When she finally got tired of the Queen of Hearts screaming, “Off with their heads!” and all the other zany, madcap characters, she stood up and cried, “I can’t stand this any longer!”
And with one pull of the tablecloth, she was back home again with her beloved kitten Dinah.
The wacky world of Lewis Carroll can be seen as a reflection of our own crazy world. And, just like Alice, we sometimes have to pull ourselves in many directions to adapt to our environment. But when we can no longer tolerate living in this way, it’s time to stand up and shout, “Enough is enough!”
(White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane)
Dawn Pisturino
2007; January 18, 2023
Published in The Kingman Daily Miner, September 11, 2007.
Copyright 2007-2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
An important concept in Ayurveda (traditional East Indian medicine) is the land and seed theory.
It’s really very simple. The body is the “land.” The “seed” is a virus, bacteria, toxic substance — anything that can take root and cause disease.
In order to function properly, the body needs to maintain balance through good digestion and regular elimination. When toxins build up in the system through poor diet, inadequate digestion, or slow elimination, the “land” becomes fertile for the “seed” to grow and thrive, thereby causing discomfort and illness.
We restore the body’s balance by periodically following a cleansing regimen. In Ayurveda, this is recommended at every change in season, but you can do this whenever you feel the need.
Since stress negatively impacts the digestive tract, reduce the amount of stress in your life by getting enough sleep and practicing meditation and other stress-relieving acivities.
Physical activity energizes both the digestive and immune systems. Engage in daily exercise, and don’t be afraid to sweat! Sweating opens up the pores and allows toxins to escape through the skin. Breathe deeply, and open up the lungs.
Treat yourself to a massage or visit a spa. Take a warm bath or shower every day. (Jacuzzis, steam baths, and hot tubs feel wonderful!)
Flush out your system with plenty of water, fruit juice, vegetable juice, and herbal tea. Dandelion root tea is especially beneficial in detoxifying the body.
Promote regular elimination by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Add more fiber to your diet with whole grains and legumes.
Since this is a cleansing diet, avoid junk food, fatty food, processed food, sweets, soft drinks, alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. Limit your intake of meat and dairy products.
Spice up your meals with liberal amounts of fresh herbs and spices. Cilantro, mint, lemon, basil, ginger, turmeric, cumin, coriander, clove, fenugreek, cinnamon, black pepper, and fennel whet the appetite and stimulate the digestive juices. Use extra-virgin olive oil whenever possible.
Prepare cool, light meals in summer and warm, nourishing meals in winter.
Follow this regimen for at least 30 days. People with chronic health problems or disabilities should consult a physician before making any diet changes or engaging in physical activity.
Dawn Pisturino, RN
2007; January 9, 2023
Published in The Kingman Daily Miner, June 7, 2007.
Copyright 2007-2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
Monochrome: Poetry from the Ashes by Paula Light (2018). Available on Amazon.com.
Paula is a California poet whose poetry collection is a delight to read. She writes with a gentle hand. Her poems are like butterflies which attract us with rich colors, feather-weight movements, velvety textures, and delicate wings. She explores the nature of love, loss, sadness, and acceptance with profound understanding and peace. At the same time, she has a sharp wit and approaches life with humor and positivity. When you read her WordPress blog, you will experience both sides of this very talented woman.
Let’s Talk Bride: A Poetry Collection by Lamittan Minsah (2020). Available on Amazon.com.
Lamittan is a Kenyan poet who has written a collection of poems about a very special person in his life, Apostle Darlan Rukih, also known as the Bride of the Lamb, a minister in the Bride of the Lamb Ministries International.
This book has a fascinating backstory. Darlan Rukih was born a hermaphrodite (someone who is born with both male and female genitalia and characteristics, also known as an intersex person). Since this condition is not accepted in Kenyan culture, Rukih grew up isolated, alienated, and rejected by others. But faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ helped Rukih to overcome this disability and to serve by helping others. Rukih first married a woman and was blessed with a son. After that relationship failed, Rukih dated a man and got pregnant. Blessed with two children, Rukih is devoted to helping children in need in Kenya. Reference: Mpasho website.
Lamittan’s admiration for the Bride of the Lamb knows no bounds in this fine collection of poems which praise Rukih, God, and His son, Jesus Christ. Lamittan expresses both his joy and his sorrow in these poems:
“There’s beauty walking in Africa,
Traversing a lonely desert –
A damsel formed by the maker
Out of the ribs of Adam, long ago.
There is beauty
Such as one that never was before.”
~
“They nailed our Lord by force.
The heavens roared,
His pain had reached God,
And for a moment,
Darkness covered the firmament
And hid God’s gaze from his son . . .”
Follow Lamittan Minsah on WordPress to read more of his poetry and stories and to learn more about Kenyan culture. His business site, Laminsa Indies, encourages and aids “budding writers, musicians, actors/actresses, self-publishers, photographers, drawing artists, dancers and many other talents from the creative industry.” Check it out!
Barbara is a retired English teacher (ESL) whose award-winning work has appeared on Spillwords, MasticadoresUSA, and other poetry sites and magazines. Most recently, her poetry appeared in Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (2022), edited by Gabriela Marie Milton, and a #1 Amazon Bestseller. She currently serves as the editor of MasticadoresUSA.
Penned with heart-felt love, devotion, and pain, this memoir is an honest family portrait that mirrors both the mother and the daughter. The bond between mother and daughter is complex, but Barbara beautifully describes both the comfortable and uncomfortable sides of this relationship. Anybody who has cared for a parent suffering from Alzheimer’s, will relate to Barbara’s experience. Anybody who has missed out on motherhood and lost a child, will find Barbara’s story deeply moving. But there is no self-pity here. She has written about her life with honesty and compassion. She has experienced trauma and heartbreak. But she accepts what life brings and looks hopefully to the future instead of staying shackled to the past. She presents herself as strong, determined, and willing to learn from life’s lessons. She has written a remarkable collection of poems that are powerful in their very simplicity. Whatever trauma and pain you have endured, her poems will edify and uplift you in a positive way. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
In writing about her miscarried child, she says:
“You left my broken womb
as the bloody remains of what
was never to come. I still feel you
in the waves, the flow
of my sacral river – your tears?
Your fears I’ve abandoned you?
No, Honey. No! I’ll never forget you.”
Finally, her experiences with encephalitis and her mother’s Alzheimer’s:
“Not enough that I am
the spitting image of Mom
and her namesake.
We both experienced
a brain injury. The encephalitis
burned away my young memories;
Alzheimer’s, her short-term ones.”
Barbara has been nominated for a Pushcart award for her poem, Mom and I Play Lassos with Our HysterectomyScars, a deeply provocative and sensitive poem which is included in this collection.
Lost in the Hours: A Poetry Collection by River Dixon (2020). Available on Amazon.com.
River is a multi-talented poet, fiction writer, and publisher at Potter’s Grove Press. His fiction leans toward the dark side. But his poetry is honest, raw, straight-shooting, and direct. The first thing you come to realize when you read his poems is that River is a realist, not an idealist. There are few hearts and flowers here. He writes with power, intelligence, profound understanding, and articulate expression. He shares a healthy cynicism about life and the world in general. I like his poetry because he says what many of us are only thinking. He’s not afraid to criticize the status quo:
“While you drown in a shallow pool
Of only three inches of self-worth
They taught you well
How to hold your own head under
And convince you of rainbows
While they blot out the stars
One by one . . .”
His works are also available from Potter’s Grove Press, along with other avant-garde authors.
I’ve known Kym for about a year now and regularly follow her blog on WordPress. Although we don’t always agree, I’ve always found her to be intelligent, funny, well-educated, and articulate. And, she’s fierce! Whatever causes she embraces, she puts her whole heart and soul into them.
In her latest book, Kym provides a general overview of poetry and her vision for the future of poetry as an art form, a therapeutic tool, and an educational medium. She views poetry as a living, breathing thing that can transform the poet, the community, the country, and even the world. Poetry should be as rich, colorful, and diverse as life itself.
Her book is almost a textbook on creating poetry and would be a useful tool in the classroom. She introduces the concept of ArchiPoetry, which employs architectural ideas to design and perfect poetic creations. As she writes: “By combining the use of language, imagery, metaphors, and specific patterns, the design elements in ArchiPoetry have different disciplines and poetic variations.”
While journaling has been an accepted therapeutic tool for a while in mental health, Kym developed the concept of TheraPoetry, a process through which people can find emotional relief by expressing themselves with poetry. Kym speaks from experience. After the death of her mother, it was poetry – and writing poetry – which helped her through the grieving process.
Illiteracy is an issue about which Kym is very passionate; and she wants to use poetry as a medium to teach our children how to read and improve their reading comprehension skills. We all remember rhymes that we learned as children. Those rhymes stick in our heads as rhythmical pieces of our childhood, bring back fond memories, and encourage us to pass them on to the next generation.
Poetry is creativity, mental gymnastics, lyrical composition, and inner fantasy. Poetry is emotional release, mental growth, and spiritual expression. This is why Kym championed the cause of poetry in 2014 when she persuaded mayors all across North Carolina to submit proclamations officially recognizing April asNational Poetry Month. Kym also endorses and supports the Academy of American Poets as a valuable resource for educators and poets everywhere. As she says, “Poetry is a revival and reminder of our aspirations, possibilities, and achievements for all people.”
Finally, I close with Kym’s own summation of poetry:
“Poetry paints emotion
art is imagination and passion
poetry inspires art
expressionism through creativity is art and poetry
-transformation-
poetry and art is creativity through expressionism
Christmas Haiku by Patricia Furstenberg (2018). Available on Amazon.com.
Patricia is a Romanian poet living in South Africa. Her poetry appears regularly on MasticadoresRomania, Spillwords Press, and other poetry sites and literary magazines. With Christmas right around the corner, I was drawn to read her book of Christmas haiku. Charmed by the simplicity of her verses and photos, I sincerely recommend this little chapbook as the perfect way to get into the candy-gingerbread-tinsel-lights holiday mood! Patricia has written numerous books for adults and children, which are all available on Amazon. So, grab a steaming cup of hot chocolate and enjoy!
Cosmic Health Blog
Entertaining and informative articles about health and wellness, yoga, meditation, nutrition, stress management, exercise and more, written by a licensed Registered Nurse.
Summer Eden Poetry center
A site for sharing poetry, mine and others’. Come and browse the offerings!
Dawn Pisturino's Blog 