Uncategorized – Rebel Bush Doctor

Escaping (US) Americanisms

A man sitting at a table in a coffee shop with his laptop opened and holding a smartphone in front of it looks off into space to his right

The USA is largely a goal-oriented society that values results more than the struggle or process to attain them. This is somewhat of a departure from many of the other cultures I’ve been blessed to live amongst. In light of this, much of our time as Americans is spent planning for and envisioning the future.Continue reading “Escaping (US) Americanisms”

Distraction: When is it Advantageous?

A man at a desk with his laptop in front of him peers off to his right

For much of my *professional* life, I’ve been easily swayed by distraction—not just getting down to business, whatever the undertaking may be, but also merely staying on task. I think this is a common struggle in the digital age, as the onslaught of stimuli and noise we’re faced with continues to grow. For a longContinue reading “Distraction: When is it Advantageous?”

Mindfulness: Kill Your Thoughts or Let Them Pass?

Two illustrated human heads facing each other against a cosmic background, with the head at left nearly empty and the one at right filled with a nebula of activity.

From the point of view of mindfulness, the logic is not to care about any of the interesting changes and experiences that come as a result of practicing in this way, because the underlying goal is to be more and more equanimous with changes. So it’s not to grasp at what’s pleasant or interesting andContinue reading “Mindfulness: Kill Your Thoughts or Let Them Pass?”

Exteroception vs Interoception: Getting Out of Your Head

A cup of tea pinning down a napkin that reads "mind full or mindful" on a table

Most people have an interoceptive bias—they’re focused more on what’s going on internally [mentally] than on what’s happening externally. I think that this is an issue because we hear so often about the need to do a meditation practice that allows us to focus inward and that we’re getting yanked around by all the stressorsContinue reading “Exteroception vs Interoception: Getting Out of Your Head”

Movement and (Mental) Longevity – Cognitive and Emotional

I’ve talked a lot of the benefits or stillness (both physical and mental) in the past. However, being sedentary for too long has detrimental effects.
On the flip side, movement can also be used to benefit the mind, like improving mood, memory, and attention.

The Keys to Life for Improved Mood, Creativity and Cognition

Closeup on a woman's chest with a hand over her heart, indicating self-acceptance

I discussed in a recent post how social interaction or close companionship and engaging in a pastime that brings you joy and allows an outlet for frustration can greatly improve mental wellbeing and immune function when stress, anxiety, depression or social phobia set in. While who and what you interact with – and to what degreeContinue reading “The Keys to Life for Improved Mood, Creativity and Cognition”

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”

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”

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”