Learning Disabilities and Learning Delays; Lectures at Dekalb County Library

   It's easy to think that all the functions of your body and mind are initiated by the brain.

  But that's only a small piece of the full picture.  In order for anything to happen, the brain must know the world around it.

  That comes from the senses.

  We're taught in school that we have 5 senses, but that too is not accurate.  We have much more than that.  Beyond the 5 we know about there is a broad category that makes up a 6th sense.  Yes we all have a 6th sense!!  

  Sadly it's not quite as cool as Spidey Sense but it's still enormously important and has a disproportionate influence on the brain, our lives and our health.

  It's called proprioception.

It is the sense of our body's position, and movement.  Every moment of your entire life your brain is taking in this awareness.  Asleep or awake,, moving or still.  And it is the key sense that becomes distorted more than any other by our modern lifestyle.

  It's the integrated function of that sense that overwhelmingly influences Sensory Processing Disorders.  And in turn how the concept of sensory processing disorders give rise to the host of learning disabilities; dyslexia, autism and ADHD.
  I lecture on this topic from time to time at my local library.  We will discuss what things you can do on your own to facilitate improvement and how Chiropractic care plays a roll in the correction of some of the originating distortion in the brain.

  Where:

Tucker-Reid H Cofer Library

5234 LaVista Rd

Tucker GA 30084

770-270-8234  

click here Google Map to library

  When:

Contact the library to see when future dates are planned.

  Why:

The ability for a child to functionally and adaptively, grow their mind and improve their ability to learn is Obviously a big deal.  1 out of 6 children have challenges with this, and if I can help, I will try.

A Flourishing Life

Below is the outline to a recent class I gave in my office.  This class received a lot of notice so I've posted the outline of the class for those of you who are interested.  If you would like to hear the talk, click this link to access the audio file from Google Drive.

A Flourishing Life

by Aaron Rossi DC

December 11th 2013

I. Mindset

   A. Growth (getting better) vs. 

   B. Fixed (being good)

II. Flourishing – P. E. R. M. A.

    A. Positive emotions 

       1.“Happiness comes from within, and happiness comes from without. “

           a. Set Point 50%

           b. circumstances 10%

           c. outlook, choices, behavior 40%

       2. Exercises

           a.“What went well?”  

           b. A Kind Act – most powerful mood enhancer

       3. Practice of Self Esteem

           a. Self acceptance

           b. personal integrity

           c. self assertiveness

    B. Engagement – 

       1. Flow; where challenge and skill meet, Presence of mind

       2. Drive; Autonomy, purpose, Mastery

    C. Relationships

       1. Communicating with Children

           a. Praise Effort not outcome, 

           b. Positive Constructive Style, 

       2. Communicating with Partner

           a. 5 love languages – Time, Gifts, Touch, Words, Service

           b. 5:1 ratio positive to negative interactions – sarcasm the killer

    D. Meaning / Purpose-

       1. Intrinsic - meaningful relationships, personal growth, community contribution 

       2. Extrinsic - wealth, beauty, fame, power

    E. Achievement 

       1. Grit – perseverance and effort

       2. Goals 

           a. Hard to achieve

           b. and Expect them to be

       3. Happy successful effort/work results from:

           a. 25% training and education

          b. 75% positivity, support, perception of stress (challenge or threat) 

III. Your Mind and Your Health 

     A. Positive Emotions and life and death and colds

     B. Your Brain

        1. Relationships

           a. Longevity

           b. Loneliness

        2. Meditation

            a. genetic effect

           b. parasympathetic response

        3. Exercises – 

            a. brain damage insulator: off-hand, cross-crawl, learning cognitive reserve 

            b. Naperville Ill., Texas Public schools

            c. Depressant 

        4. Brain Chemistry changes: received, given, observed

IV. The Weird

    A. Molecules of Emotion

    B. Earth Grounding, Brain Magnetic Sense

    C. Heart Magnetic Field

    D. DNA – selective change and magnetic influence

    E. Placebo Knee surgery

Internet RESOURCES

Heartmath – heart and emotion research   

www.Heartmath.com   http://youtu.be/QdneZ4fIIHE      

John Gottman – Relationship expert     

http://www.gottman.com/

http://www.azgrowth.com/4Horsemen.pdf

Brian Johnson's Philosophers Notes
http://www.entheos.com/philosophersnotes

Success Magazine (They're my curator for good stuff- I love this magazine)
http://www.success.com/

TEDx talks: 

Brene Brown on vulnerability: 

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

Shawn Achor on Happiness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M

Health newsletter:    

www.Mercola.com             

University of Penn

Signature Strengths Surveys

http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

Book RESOURCES

Flourish by Martin Seligman PhD

Mindset by Carol Dweck PhD

Succeed by Heidi Grand Halveson PhD

How of Happiness by Sonja Lubimurski PhD

Why we Do What we Do by Edward Deci PhD

Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt

Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi 

Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Drive by Daniel Pink

Switch by Chip and Dan Heath

Super Brain by Depak Chopra MD

Molecules of Emotion by Candice Pert PhD

Spark by John Ratey MD

Relaxation Revolution by Herbert Benson MD

Think Smart by Richard Restak MD

Health is a state in process

The latest idea I'm bringing to focus in my office is a more accurate understanding of health.

Health is not a fixed thing that you do or do not have.  That you have lost or found.  Broken or repaired.  Health is a state, and is constantly in process.  Applied properly, Chiropractic moves the process forward, where ever the state of health currently is.

It takes diligent applied effort to achieve mastery at work.  It takes conscious, frequent attention to make family life harmonious.  It takes concerted regular action to make health flourish.  And there is no upper limit of achievement, fulfilment or expression of these or any other worth while endevor.

People need People

Research shows that feeling lonely over time is far more accurately predictive of developing brain disease (dementia, Alzheimer's) than is feeling depressed.

Being social, feeling supported and being supportive, laughing and spending time with friends is more positively impactful on your health than is quiting smoking.

People need people.  We are pack animals.

Who's raising my children?

When I focus on my children, when I intentionally respond to them in a way that's congruent with the kind of father I want to be, everything is good.  Little conflicts.  No elevating of arguments.  Everyone is heard, respected.  Happy kids, happy me. 

The problem is; I don't always give them my intentional, congruent response.  I often will react, or simply let my habits present the example my children are watching.  The scary thing is, I don't even know how often that is.  That's kinda the point.  When I'm unconsciously living - I don't know it.

Excluding the extreme examples...  Anyone can be an outstanding parent - when they're trying, consciously.  But mostly it's our habits that raise our children.

Lets stand for the best within us.  Lets all do a little better tomorrow; One little conscious choice victory at a time.

Ear Infections - Power to the Parents

Ear infections happen a lot.  Two out of three kids will get at least one.  My youngest son is 4 and 1/2 and he just dealt with his first earache for one night, a week ago.  My daughter is 7, she had one a few years ago too.  My oldest son is 8 and thankfully he has never had an earache.  There's two out of my three.  It's among the worst things, watching your kid suffer.  It's common to feel powerless to help and secretly you really just want to get some sleep too.

The emphasis of the strategy my family takes is not so much about handling the crisis.  It's more about promoting immune system strength and overall health and function all the time.  And the small crisis' that do arise are just that... small. 

adjusting my youngest son

When we did have to deal with the two earaches my children had, there was a few things I did.  First I made sure they were Chiropractically adjusted - that's always a major part of promoting overall health and bodily function in my family.  My wife or I adjust our kids every week to every couple of days, but while they're going through something like that, it's as good a time as any to make sure they're at their best.  And second while they were lying down - crying, mind you - I would snuggle up next to them and as gently, quietly as consistently and as long as I could, with funneled hands around their ear I would breathe hot breath into the painful ear.

Why?

The skin in the ear canal is sensitive - in a good way - to warmth.  The nerves that sense the skin there are special, and by triggering them with heat they can calm down.  Thus relieve pain, thus kid falls asleep quick.  If they wake up, keep doing it.  They'll fall back to sleep.  That's one thing anyone can do.  In regards to being able to  just wake up and adjusting your own kid, you'll have to see Life University for that...  Of course you usually are not just concerned about their earache.  They might also have a fever too.  You can learn about that here.

Beyond dealing with the crisis when it comes, and on top of the chiropractic care we provide our kids, what are the other proactive things we have done to promote the health of our family?  Our kids were breast fed.  It's good for everything, but specifically for preventing ear infections too.(34)  We stay away from sugar and grain as much as possible.  Processed dairy next to never, soda absolutely never.  They're active, loved, and my wife is militant :) about getting them to bed on time.  That has it's other parental sanity benefits as well.

But still, ear infections do... continue

References

Fever - It's no sweat

  Do you remember the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?” The scene when Ferris gave a lesson on how to fake an illness to get out of school.  I always thought it was funny how he made the point: NEVER FAKE A FEVER.  If you get a worried mom, you might be spending the day in a doctor’s office!  That’s worse than school.

      I grew up with Chiropractors as parents and they never made a big deal about fevers.  They would give me a chiropractic adjustment and let the fever take it's course.  As an adult and after studying it, I understand it more now too.  But to some it can be scary, and they do treat it as a big deal.  You or someone you love feels miserable.  Usually no one is getting any sleep and you want to help, but how? Use drugs or other methods to control the fever, or should I let it go?  If their temperature gets too high it might be dangerous… Right?

      We all know that your body is heating up to fight off something, but why does it heat up? What does that do exactly? Your amazing brain has miles of nerves and sensors keeping track of things inside of you.  Controlling exactly when and how the best responses should happen. Here’s some related info:

 

1/10,000,000g of bacterial waste (basically bacterial 'poo') is enough for the brain to detect, and tell the body to start fighting the bugs with a fever.^[1]  Along with shivering, every 10 beats per minute increased heart rate causes 1 degree increased heat.  Although you're getting hotter, your brain tricks you into feeling chills, and thus bundle up to keep the extra heat.^[1]

Like Popeye got stronger with spinach, each 1 degree increase of body temperature strengthens the immune system by 10%.^[1]

    As the heat continues to bolster you, those little invaders are being cooked.  Bacteria and viruses are much more sensitive to heat than you are.  And while you're getting stronger, they're getting slower and weaker as the fever burns.  Your white blood cells signal to your brain what kind of progress they’re making in the fight.^[2] And the intensity of the fever is monitored very closely.  Once it's no longer necessary the fever breaks.  You immediately flush, feel hot, throw off the covers and sweat. You naturally dissipate heat this way 10 times quicker than it took to build up.^[1] No need for cool baths and such.

Continue... 
References

 

My personal Motto

Work hard toward a purpose worthy of you.  Love your family and make sure they know it.  Know yourself and be true.

In Short:
Work hard, Love your Family and Be true to yourself.