rebelbushdoctor

Beating Stress, Anxiety and Depression by Inhibiting Substance P

A man wearing a facemask with a skeptical look on his face sits at his kitchen table holding his laptop in one hand and a glass of wine in the other

Social isolation that goes too long is associated with this molecule of Tachykinin in everything from flies to humans. It makes us more irritable, fearful, paranoid, and impairs our immune system. Tachykinin is like this internal punishment signal. It’s like our body and our brain telling us, “You’re not spending enough time with people that you really trust.Continue reading “Beating Stress, Anxiety and Depression by Inhibiting Substance P”

Panoramic vs. Tunnel Vision, Interoception and Inner-State

A distraught woman with hands pressed to her temples peers down at her laptop on a desk filled with documents and folders

Much like how our experience of life, whether we’re alert, stressed, excited or calm changes our patterns of breathing, our inner-state drives changes in our visual system—the aperture of whether or not we see the big picture or have a very contracted view of the world. When we are stressed or excited about something, theContinue reading “Panoramic vs. Tunnel Vision, Interoception and Inner-State”

Emphasizing the Extremities in Practice, Breathing

Most times, the Dantian, (the body’s energy/gravity center) is the predominent area of breathing emphasis in most Tai Chi and Qigong exercises, including silk-reeling, the principle movement in Chen-style Tai Chi, among many others. Though heavily-centered on the Dantian (forgive the pun), my staple practices (Hun Yuan and Wudang Qigong and Tai Chi) all containContinue reading “Emphasizing the Extremities in Practice, Breathing”

Eating as a Tool for Self-Cultivation

“Lately, I’ve been rethinking my relationship with food.” A Friend Over the last several years, I’d devoted a good deal of consideration to food. As I lost balance in my life, more and more of the thoughts and impulses occupying my mind space would revolve around eating. I’m extremely fortunate that these concerns are entirelyContinue reading “Eating as a Tool for Self-Cultivation”

Alcohol, Other Attachments, and Acceptance

A man in a dress shirt and time sitting at a dinner table shelters himself from the glass and bottle of scotch in front of him that is shackled to his wrist

“As soon as I had the realization that sitting down and cracking an ice cold beer when I got home was all I was looking forward to after work each day, I knew I had to make a change.” Alan Heffelfeffer, Owner of Oak Park Records This statement, made by fellow music nerd and confidant,Continue reading “Alcohol, Other Attachments, and Acceptance”

Rediscovering Happiness: Back to Your Roots

“Seeking sometime missing. Missing something left behind… …Maybe with good luck, we’ll find what eluded us in the places we once called home.” The French Dispatch Today marks three years to the day since I first left home and set out for greener pastures. I surrendered my two-bedroom apartment in Pilsen, Chicago, and hauled twoContinue reading “Rediscovering Happiness: Back to Your Roots”

Releasing Tension and Improving Flexibility through Mind in Body and Self-Applied Massage

For the longest time, I always viewed Qigong instructors saying to “relax the hips” as referring to the exterior lateral area. You know, like the top of the pelvis, or the ‘hip joint,’ where the femur and pelvis intersect. I had been practicing qigong regularly for over two years, with little improvement to show inContinue reading “Releasing Tension and Improving Flexibility through Mind in Body and Self-Applied Massage”

Conscious (Intuitive) Consumption

Recently, the concept of ‘intuitive eating’ came onto my radar. While this term was new to me, the philosophy behind it is very similar to my concept and inspiration for this blog, ‘Conscious Consumption.’ Not to be confused with the book by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole (though it shares several principles), ‘intuitive eating’ isContinue reading “Conscious (Intuitive) Consumption”

Stillness: The Key to Success

For the sake of examining both sides of the coin, this post is meant to be complimentary to one I published previously, advocating for action-taking. Here I am championing non-action and introspection. Both have their place in the life of a balanced, centered individual. The key is to be a go-getter, but also pick andContinue reading “Stillness: The Key to Success”

Inaction: The Crux of Insecurity and Wellbeing (A Plea To Do)

I’ve talked in the past about the two-minute rule, and it’s benefits on motivation and freeing up your mental hard drive. But I want to go into more detail on action taking, and the advantages I’ve found that being proactive can have on our confidence, self-concept/esteem and wellbeing—specifically proneness to depression. Proactivity and achievement canContinue reading “Inaction: The Crux of Insecurity and Wellbeing (A Plea To Do)”