Several years ago, I had a client whose nine-year old son
had anger issues. His doctor diagnosed him with ADD and suggested medication to
quell his angry outbursts. "What do you think?" the mother inquired
of me. Not an advocate of prescription medications (with the exception of the
most extreme cases), I told her honestly that if it were my child I would
exhaust every natural method before resorting to drugs. "Is he at risk for
hurting himself or someone else?" I asked. "No", she replied.
"He has meltdowns." After some discussion, we came to the mutual
conclusion that her son was extremely frustrated (for a variety of
reasons)."Let's explore some calming resources of the natural genre"
I recommended. "If they are unsuccessful we can always seek other remedies."
She was in complete agreement.
I love nature. To me, it is synonymous with God. And nothing
is more soothing than Divine Energy. So I created a list of activities for him
to utilize each day to calm him emotionally and soothe his frustration.
Prayer: communicate each day with the Divine, whether
in formal prayer or through casual conversation. Research has show that those
who have a connection to a Higher Power have a greater sense of calm and serenity.
Whenever one begins to feel upset, talk to God. He's available 24/7, is a
really good listener, gives great advice and comfort, and He's fees are
generally very reasonable.
Nature: spend time in nature each day. When
individuals engage with lush vegetation, areas of the brain associated with
emotional stability, empathy, and love become more active.*While running and
playing outdoors have multiple benefits, mindfulness is critical to fully reap
its benefits. Practice being present to nature by removing all technology,
conversation, or outside distractions. Choose an object and focus all of your
energy on it. Listen intently to the sounds of nature: wind blowing through the
trees, running water in a stream, birds chirping, crickets in the evening, the
rustling of a squirrel as it springs from branch to branch. Walking, hiking,
and gardening are also valuable activities anyone can participate in on a daily
basis.
Water: humans are comprised of nearly 75% H20. Minor
dehydration can lead to pessimism and
negative thoughts can cause irritability and hopelessness (definition of
anger). Sipping water throughout the day rehydrates and can prevent such an
occurrence.
Aromatherapy: nature fills the air with an abundance
of delicious scents. These can be accessed naturally or purchased in retail establishments.
Lavender is long known to help relieve anxiety (a mild form of fear - a root
cause of anger) and also alleviate depression (anger turned inward). It's
properties enable the brain to slow down the activity of the sympathetic
nervous system that responds to stress (frustration - another root cause of
anger).Chamomile, sandalwood, and lilac are just a few scents that can be used
to mitigate anger.
Natural herbs: I've used both herbs and aromatherapy
for my dogs who have had emotional issues due to abuse. I found Valerian Root
to be one of the most successful. It relaxes muscles (which tense up when angry
or frightened), and relieves anxiety. Skullcap is a more potent version of
Valerian Root. Passion Flower is known to calm the mind and prevent agitation.
God has blessed us with so many natural remedies for
whatever medical or emotional issues we encounter. Why not take full advantage
of what is readily available to us rather than rely on man-made products? As
for my client's son - I'm happy to say that he was able to avert the need for
prescription meds after having incorporated some natural remedies into his
daily routine. Try Nature. You just might be pleasantly surprised.
*Dr. Alan Logan, College of Naturopathic Medicine
To order a copy of The Secret
Side of Anger, Second Edition or The Great Truth visit
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