Prepubescent: During this time the body is focused on major physical development: building healthy bones, organs and skin. A growing child’s system is rapidly and efficiently breaking down food into its molecular components (vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, carbohydrates) and distributing it throughout the system. Daily supplementation with a quality multi-vitamin is recommended by many pediatricians to keep the body in balance.

Adolescent: Pimples often signal the onset of adolescence. This is one of many signals that the body’s hormone production is ramping up. The increase of hormonal activity stresses the system physically and emotionally. Oil production increases and eruptions blossom on the skin. Herbal supplements and pharmaceuticals may be added to the daily vitamin routine to help manage the symptoms of adolescence. The body requires additional nutrition during this stage of growth and Omega acids (3-6-9) may be added to aid in the development of healthy joints and stabilization of the nervous system.

Mature: Generally, this stage enjoys relative stability in weight, minimal breakouts and settles into a regular cycle. Women manage these 20-30 years by a variety of means ranging from over-the-counter (PMS and cramping meds) to pharmaceuticals (birth control pills) to herbal supplements. This is a good time to add minerals to the daily multi-vitamin and Omega regimen to help regulate metabolism, stabilize blood sugar levels and build anti-oxidant protection to prevent premature aging.

Perimenopausal: The body, conditioned to the regular influx of hormones, responds to a slowdown in hormonal production with mild hot flashes and occasional physical discomfort. Mood swings might occur, but are usually mild. This is a time when the body becomes less efficient at building and begins to rob the system of vital nutrients that might not be readily available through dietary means. This is the time to invest in a high-quality, readily absorbed multi-vitamin, multi-mineral supplement that will carry you through the rest of your life.

Menopausal: Hormone production slows or stops, and the body becomes less efficient at extracting and distributing dietary nutrients to maintain healthy skin, bone and muscle. Skin thins, lines and wrinkles may become prevalent and skin is again prone to acne and other signs of hormonal imbalance. Hormone replacement therapy might be added to slow the signs of aging. Plant based hormone supplements are effective for many women and can be found in health food stores and the vitamin section of many drug stores. This is a great time to get to know your herbs and learn more about products that prevent oxidative stress, boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.

Research and Information on anti-aging tips and alternatives at AntiAgingReflections.com. Alternative treatments and supplements to slow aging, and fight symptoms and conditions associated with aging. AntiAgingReflections.com is designed to supply anti-aging information such as anti aging health, anti aging super foods, anti-aging nutrition, antioxidant health, brain / memory health, cardiovascular / heart health, immune system health.

Psychiatrist Stanislav Grof used the term “Spiritual emergency” in describing the state of mental illness while psychiatrist Peter Breggin coined the term “psychospiritual overwhelm”. Both phrases take the mystery out of the diagnosis by describing a process. It connotes an experience, not a stigmatized label that can last a lifetime.
If psychosis is not a life-long condition but a temporary response similar to a runny nose when we have a cold, then there is something we can do to empower those people who are undergoing mental distress.

If we can learn to read the warning signs of an impending cold, then we can learn to interpret the deeper cause and meaning of psychological overwhelm. By taking time to explore our feelings instead of reacting to them, we can definitely make some headway.

There is nothing to be afraid of emotions. Feelings shouldn’t be denied. There’s a reason why such feelings or emotions exist. By deciphering them early on we have the chance to negate their snowballing effect.

The body and the mind will always try to find balance or regain equilibrium no matter how filled with emotion a person is. But often we need prodding to grapple with uncomfortable feelings, to get to their root. Deep emotion is not something we understand well in this society. It is reserved for poets and artists.

Parents of mentally ill patients often say that “she was too sensitive” or “he gets so emotional”, implying as if either of these qualities was a bad thing. However, the human mind thrives on rhythm, imagination and metaphors. The subconscious feeds on dreams to create, to solve problems, and to come to terms with what is in the waking world.
In order to unravel the meaning of your emotions, an extraordinary yet relatively simple process known as Tracking is developed by psychologist Dr Vern Woolf which makes use of the imagination and senses (sight, sound, colour, texture and smell) to understand the positive intent of uncomfortable feelings. It can be used to make decipher the “voices” heard in episodes of schizophrenia.

When we are feeling down, or we had a bad day, creative approaches, such as music, art, visualization or tracking can help channel emotion and the senses into a realm we can easily understand. Not only do they take the pressure off of a potentially explosive and disempowering personal experience, but they can also be used to discover our own uniqueness. They enable us to know ourselves in ways we never thought possible and ultimately, to make us stronger in what is often an alienating and stress-inducing world.