Tag Archives: brain

Mindfulness Techniques to Manage Stress and Enhance Well-being

Dr. Romie expounds on leveraging, mindfulness techniques, to combat stress, manage a “busy brain,” and promote overall wellness. In today's world, where stress and burnout have become commonplace, the quest for achieving inner peace seems ever more urgent. Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a board-certified physician merging neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness, offers transformative insights into tackling these overwhelming challenges that modern lifestyles impose.

Download the podcast here: 

https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/https://chrt.fm/track/897G7/https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/www.buzzsprout.com/1761155/14648195-harnessing-mindfulness-to-manage-stress-and-enhance-well-being-insights-from-dr-romie-mushtaq.mp3?download=true

Key Takeaways:

  • Mindfulness can be a potent tool for, managing stress, and combating the “busy brain” syndrome, characterized by anxiety, focus issues, and insomnia.
  • Restoring one's, circadian rhythm, and addressing underlying medical conditions, such as, thyroid disease, can be pivotal in, managing stress, and sleep problems.
  • An eight-week protocol, as outlined in Dr. Romie Mushtaq  book “The Busy Brain Cure,” provides a structured approach to finding focus, managing anxiety, and, improving sleep quality.

Mindfulness Techniques for Busy Brains

The Phenomenon of the Busy Brain

The term “busy brain” reflects a condition that goes beyond the normal plethora of daily thoughts. It refers to a state where an individual's brain is constantly in overdrive, marked by an inability to focus, heightened anxiety, and persistent sleep disturbances. As Dr. Romie explains, a, busy brain, is not merely about having many thoughts, but primarily about the uncontrolled and intrusive nature of these thoughts.  Particularly negative ones, that people struggle to manage.

“A busy brain is you have a pattern of inflammation in your brain that's causing these three symptoms. […] difficulty focusing, feeling anxious, and insomnia.”

By understanding that a, busy brain, is a condition amplified by, chronic stress, and inflamed neurological pathways, the first step towards managing it lies in recognizing its symptoms and impact on our daily functions.

Sponsored Ad

Looking for a customized health plan? Let me introduce you to Wild Health. Wild Health takes a proactive and preventative approach to healthcare.

If you have a specific health goal, Wild Health tailors a care plan to help you live longer

Wild Health is generously extending Transform Your Mind listeners 20% off the cost of membership with code Head over to WildHealth.com/TRANSFORM and use code TRANSFORM at checkout.

Wild Health
Wild Health

 Mindfulness Techniques: Sound healing

Incorporating, sound healing, as one of the, mindfulness techniques, that  serves as a gateway to mindfulness for those who find sitting in silence daunting. Dr. Romie underscores the significance of, sound healing, in aiding cognitive focus and emotional regulation.  Drawing upon its ancient roots and scientific validation. The use of, binaural beats, and certain frequencies of music can bring one's brain back into focus.

“The idea was, to use binaural beat sound healing, where you're using headphones to listen to a certain frequency of music, and that can actually help bring your brain back into focus.”

The practice presents a dynamic and accessible approach to mindfulness.  Catering to the modern individual's need for immediate and tangible relief from the incessant chatter of a, busy brain.

Transform Your Mind Podlink
Transform Your Mind Podlink

Addressing Sleep Patterns and Underlying Health Issues

Correcting sleep patterns is crucial for managing a, busy brain. Dr. Romie prescribes a seven-day sleep challenge based on, cognitive-behavioral therapy, for insomnia that addresses lifestyle habits disrupting our natural, sleep cycle. She also highlights the importance of investigating and treating underlying health issues, such as thyroid disease, which are often overlooked.

“We ask people to actually abstain from alcohol for two to three weeks, because that will wake you up in the middle of the night and prevent you from going to deeper stages of sleep.”

By combining adjustments in sleep hygiene with medical scrutiny, people can considerably reduce the symptoms of a, busy brain, and lay the foundation for improved, mindfulness techniques.

Sponsored Ad

This Year take your business to the next level with a Shopify online store. Whether you are Selling a little or a lot Shopify helps you do your thing, however you cha-ching.

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business.

Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/transform, ALL LOWERCASE.

Go to SHOPIFY.COM/transform now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in.

Shopify On Line store transform Your Mind

Cultivating a Culture of Wellness through Mindfulness Techniques

The Integration of Mindfulness in Corporate America

Dr. Romie stresses that, chronic stress, is not just an individual issue but a systemic one that requires organizational change. Her work in corporate America, educating Fortune 500 companies and scaling mindfulness programs, denotes a significant shift in how businesses address employee wellness.

“What if I got real and really thinking about your audience and what your podcast focused on is I had the wrong mindset on what success was. […] We can't expect the workforce to be like this.”

Through promoting, mindfulness techniques,  and creating programs tailored to the corporate environment, Dr. Romie is challenging long-established beliefs about success and productivity that have often come at the expense of mental well-being.

podhero podcast Transform Your Mind
Podhero podcast

Personal Narratives and Finding Common Ground

The concept of renting success from one's well-being resonates with many, and the narratives shared in “The Busy Brain Cure” offer diverse perspectives, helping readers identify with the issues at hand. Such personal stories are vital in breaking down the stigma attached to stress and mental health struggles in professional circles.

“I remember knowing what it was like to walk those hospital corridors in this really dark place. We didn't have terms of mental health crisis or burnout back then, and I felt so alone.”

Dr. Romie's openness about her journey paves the way for a more empathetic understanding of, stress management. It invites individuals and organizations to take a more humane approach to performance and success.

Book The Busy Brain Cure
Book The Busy Brain Cure

The Busy Brain Cure: An Empowering Protocol for Mental Health

The “Shift” Protocol: Structured and Holistic Approach to Healing

Dr. Romie's book introduces readers to the “Shift” protocol, which holistically addresses Sleep, Hormones, Inflammation, Food as Fuel, and Technology's role in our lives. By following these carefully outlined steps, individuals can embark on a transformative journey that promises relief from the mental chaos that afflicts so many.

“We walk you through the eight-week protocol, little brain shifts or micro habits to do to heal these key five areas that will help you heal.”

This guided structure empowers readers to take actionable steps towards reclaiming control of their mental and emotional well-being.

By recounting the efficacy of incorporating mindfulness into, stress management, practices and underlining the importance of addressing sleep and medical issues, Dr. Romie Mushtaq delivers a powerful message about the capabilities of introspective healing. Bolstered by the launch of her book, “The Busy Brain Cure,” she offers a comprehensive plan to mitigate the, busy brain, phenomenon—a strategy that promises not just immediate relief but a sustained journey towards a mindful and balanced life. With her professional insight and personal passion, Dr. Romie exemplifies the transformational impact of blending traditional wisdom with contemporary science, providing hope and practical solutions to those navigating the turbulent realities of our time.

Additional Resources

Using Mindfulness And Breathwork To Heal After Tragedy

Unveiling the Unconscious Workings of the Brain

Dr. Virginia “Ginger” Campbell, a physician, author, and science communicator, discusses the unconscious workings of the brain.  In this episode she explains that up to 95% of the brain is unconscious, meaning that most of our brain processes are not accessible to our conscious awareness. Dr. Campbell emphasizes the importance of understanding the brain's unconscious origins of certainty and how memory is unreliable. She also highlights the role of the body in creating our experiences and how this knowledge can make us more tolerant. Dr. Campbell's goal is to make neuroscience accessible to all.

Download the podcast here:

https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/https://chrt.fm/track/897G7/https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/www.buzzsprout.com/1761155/14114450-unveiling-the-unconscious-exploring-the-intricate-workings-of-the-brain.mp3?download=true

Introduction

Welcome back to the Transform Your Mind to Transform Your Life radio podcast and television show. I'm your host, Life Coach Myrna Young, and today we have a special guest in the studio, Dr. Virginia Campbell, also known as Ginger. Dr. Campbell is an author, physician, and science communicator, specializing in neuroscience. We will be diving into the fascinating topic of the unconscious and intricate workings of the brain. Welcome, Dr. Campbell!

Dr. Campbell: Thank you, Myrna. I'm excited to be here.

Myrna: We are going to have a great conversation on neuroscience and the brain, a topic that I absolutely love. The brain controls everything in our body, and understanding how it works is crucial. Dr. Campbell, could you start by explaining what you mean when you say that 95% of the brain is unconscious?

Dr. Campbell: Certainly, Myrna. When I say that 95% of the brain is unconscious, I'm referring to the fact that most of the processes of the brain are not accessible to our conscious awareness. For example, we are not aware of how our brain processes vision. Even when we know that an illusion is not real, we still see it because the processing is happening at an unconscious level. This unconscious processing is essential for many of the sophisticated processes we associate with being human.

Myrna: That's fascinating. So, why does this matter in our everyday lives?

Sponsored Ad

This December, get Factor and enjoy eating well without the hassle. Simply choose your meals and enjoy fresh, flavor-packed meals delivered to your door. Ready in just 2 minutes, no prep, no mess!

Head to FACTORMEALS.com/transform50 and use code transform50 to get 50% off. 

Factor meals
Factor meals

95% of the brain process is unconscious

Dr. Campbell: Well, let's take reading as an example. The first stage of learning how to read is decoding, which happens automatically and unconsciously. If we couldn't learn to decode automatically, reading would be a much more challenging task. The unconscious processing of the brain allows us to perform complex tasks without having to consciously think about every step. It's what makes us efficient and capable beings.

Myrna: That makes sense. So, it's like our brain is constantly working behind the scenes, allowing us to navigate the world without having to consciously process every little detail.

Dr. Campbell: Exactly. Our brain is constantly processing information and making decisions without us even realizing it. It's like having a personal assistant who takes care of all the background work, allowing us to focus on the things that require our conscious attention.

Myrna: That's incredible. Now, let's talk about memory. In your work, you mention that everyone's memory is unreliable. Can you explain what you mean by that?

Amazon: Paid Link

Amazon Fire TV 32″ 2-Series HD smart TV with Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote, stream live TV without cable (45% off)

Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV

Your memory is unreliable

Dr. Campbell: Certainly. Memory is not like a video camera that records and stores every detail of our experiences. Every time we recall a memory, our brain recreates it, and during this process, it can introduce new information or distort the original memory. This means that our memories are not always accurate representations of what actually happened. It's important to understand that memory is not a perfect record of our past, but rather a reconstruction influenced by various factors.

Myrna: That's mind-boggling. So, even though we remember something vividly, it doesn't necessarily mean that it happened exactly as we remember it?

Dr. Campbell: That's correct. Our memories can be influenced by our emotions, beliefs, and even external suggestions. It's not uncommon for two people to remember the same event differently. This is why it's crucial to approach memory with caution and not rely solely on our recollections when making judgments or accusations.

Myrna: That's a powerful insight. It reminds me of the saying, “There are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth.” Our memories are subjective and can be influenced by various factors.

Dr. Campbell: Absolutely. It's essential to approach memory with humility and recognize that our recollections may not always be accurate. This understanding can lead to more tolerance and open-mindedness in our interactions with others.

Understanding the unconscious brain makes us more tolerant

Myrna: That brings me to my next question. You mentioned that understanding the brain makes us more tolerant. How does that connection work?

Dr. Campbell: The connection between understanding the brain and tolerance lies in the realization that certainty has unconscious origins. Our brain creates a feeling of certainty, even when we may be wrong. This feeling of certainty can lead to rigid beliefs and a lack of openness to other perspectives. However, when we understand that our certainty is not always based on objective truth, we can become more tolerant of differing opinions and be open to considering alternative viewpoints.

Myrna: That's a powerful insight. So, by recognizing that our certainty is not infallible, we can cultivate a sense of humility and empathy towards others who may hold different beliefs or perspectives.

Dr. Campbell: Exactly. It's about recognizing the limitations of our own certainty and being open to the possibility that we may be wrong. This can lead to more constructive conversations and a greater appreciation for the diversity of human experiences.

Book Are You Sure
Book Are You Sure Unconscious Origins of Certainty

Are you sure?

Myrna: That's a valuable lesson for all of us. Now, let's talk about your book, “Are You Sure: The Unconscious Origins of Certainty.” What inspired you to write this book?

Dr. Campbell: My inspiration for writing this book came from the work of Robert Burton, whose research on certainty and the unconscious mind deeply resonated with me. I wanted to share these ideas with a broader audience and make neuroscience accessible to people from all backgrounds. The book explores the unconscious origins of certainty and delves into the fascinating world of the brain and how it shapes our experiences.

Myrna: That sounds fascinating. What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Dr. Campbell: My ultimate goal is to expand people's understanding of the brain and its influence on our lives. I want readers to recognize the fallibility of memory, the power of unconscious processes, and the importance of tolerance and open-mindedness. By gaining a deeper understanding of the brain, we can navigate the complexities of life with more compassion and empathy.

Myrna: That's a powerful message. Thank you, Dr. Campbell, for sharing your insights and expertise with us today. It has been a pleasure having you on the show.

Dr. Campbell: Thank you, Myrna. It was my pleasure to be here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our conversation with Dr. Virginia Campbell has shed light on the unconscious and intricate workings of the brain. We have learned that the majority of our brain's processes are unconscious, allowing us to perform complex tasks effortlessly. Memory, too, is not a perfect record of our past, but a reconstruction influenced by various factors. Understanding the fallibility of memory can lead to more tolerance and open-mindedness in our interactions with others. Dr. Campbell's book, “Are You Sure: The Unconscious Origins of Certainty,” delves deeper into these topics, providing readers with a greater understanding of the brain and its impact on our lives. By embracing the complexities of the brain, we can cultivate empathy, compassion, and a deeper appreciation for the diversity of human experiences. The journey of understanding our brain is ongoing, and it holds the potential to transform our lives and the world around us.