Volume 1 * Issue 5 * August 17, 2006
Do You Change The Toilet Paper Roll? It's an odd subject, I know. But I think there are some spiritual lessons here. It all started when I was a child, well cared for and loved by my parents. I had it pretty easy. I didn't have "chores" per se, just the basic "kid" responsibilities: picking up my room, making by bed, feeding the dog, etc. Making my bed was a struggle—after all, in 14 hours I'm going to have to get back in it…what's the point? My mother did not agree with me! But there was something else my mother was always nagging me about: changing the toilet paper roll. With exasperation she'd ask: "Why can't you just take one minute to put it on the roll?" Well, I was too busy, of course. If I was the last to use the roll…oh well! And if one of my sisters had the same attitude as me, before I got there? Well, out of necessity I would retrieve the next roll, but that filled my effort quota for the day; I wasn't about to actually waste time wrestling with the annoying spring-roll thing (not to be confused with a Spring roll…THE BEST FOOD at our family's favorite Makaha restaurant! I digress…) Anyway, my attitude may have been typical for any distracted child, but I now know it was also symptomatic of my addictive personality. After moving away to college, and starting my life as an adult, the toilet paper roll issue resurfaced. As part of my work to overcome an eating disorder and alcohol problem, there were many family "issues" that I needed to address. With the help of Roy Nelson and his Metasteps formula, I was able to uncover, discover, and heal the anger, resentment, guilt and remorse that fueled my addictions. These emotions were often strongest around my relationship with my mother, and thanks to my healing (and to her credit, my mother's own personal growth, as well) we now share a beautiful connection and love. I thank God often for the gift of my mother. So how do I show my gratitude? Not always very gracefully, I'm sure, but one small thing I like to do, in honor of my mother and all that she put into raising me, is to change the toilet paper roll. Every time I'm tempted to leave it sitting on the windowsill or the counter, I push myself to just insert it on the metal roll and back into the wall. "Just do it!" That's what I tell myself, always with a sense of gratitude for how much my mother's done for me. And this small gesture means even more than that…in a way it's about putting back into life, being a part of the flow (so to speak), giving and receiving. It's one small way, day by day, to amend my past attitudes of apathy and self-centeredness (themes central to the addict mindset.) It is part of MY healing process. For as I dutifully do what my mother taught me to do—a spiritual experience in and of itself—as I put conscious effort into making life easier for the next person who comes along, I am reminded that it's not all about ME. And I need as many reminders as possible… Enjoy the rest of this e-zine and the last few weeks of your summer! Love, Tricia
I have been considering getting gastric bypass surgery but I've recently seen several articles about people developing a dependence on alcohol after the surgery. Have you heard of this and what is the cause? Dear Curious: Studies show that up to 30 percent of bariatric surgery patients struggle with new addictions after surgery. While this news sends befuddled scientists back to the lab to find the neurobiological connections between obesity and substance abuse, at Be Totally F-r-e-e! the answer is simple and comes from our own personal experience: I overate to fill a void inside, to numb emotional pain, and to sabotage my life. Besides the obvious health risks, the fundamental problem with bariatric surgery is this: it doesn't solve the underlying causes of the overeating (not to mention that, in my case, the size of my stomach never had any bearing on how much or what I wanted to put in it!) The bottom line is that so long as I was driven by emotional pain and self-loathing, I was going to reach for some addictive substance or activity to numb myself. That is why at Be Totally F-r-e-e! we don't teach people to chase after symptoms. We instead recommend a different form of surgery: spiritual and emotional. Metasteps is designed to identify and heal inner pain and negative belief systems. In addition, we assist a person in building a new foundation of self-esteem and self-worth. The results speak for themselves…freedom from all addictive habits and lasting peace. *Do you have a question you'd like to have answered? Write me at askitbasket@betotallyfree.com.
Could You Have IBS?
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Did You Know?IBS is not a disease, says the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). It's a functional disorder, which means that the bowel doesn't work as it should. IBS can be painful. But it does not damage the bowel or cause any other conditions. Stress can trigger the symptoms of IBS. In fact, the bowel can overreact to all sorts of things, including food, exercise and hormones. |
Know Your Numbers1 in 5 Americans has symptoms of IBS; it is one of the most common disorders diagnosed. About 80% of those with IBS are women. You can get IBS at any age, but people in their teens through their 40s have the most cases. About 15% to 20% of people in that age range have IBS. |
Definitions:barium enema: an x-ray of the bowel using a liquid called barium to make the bowel show up better. This test is also called a lower GI (for gastrointestinal) series. colonoscopy: a test to look at the inside of the large intestine. |
Herbal Help for IBSHerbs such as Rhubarb, Ginger and Peppermint are great for soothing IBS. That goes for Aloe, as well. There are some great nutritional products on the market that contain these herbs, as well as others. A comprehensive product should include: vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, gentle fiber and probiotics. Check out IBX from Natural Balance, and IBS from Renew Life (Renew Life has several great bowel cleansing & health products) Local Whole Foods or Wild Oats should carry these products, or ask your local vitamin store to special order them. Chew Gum After Colon SurgeryA recent study shows that people who had part of their colon removed because of cancer or diverticulitis--which is marked by inflamed or infected pouches in the colon wall--and who chewed gum several times a day left the hospital almost three days earlier than peers who didn't chew gum. Researchers believe that gum chewing may stimulate the digestive system and spur it back to action after surgery. |
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Eating the right foods and minimizing stress are major by-products of Be Totally Fre*e's services. Check out our website for more information.
September
6th UPLIFTING 1 hour
conference call--Wednesday at 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern. For more
information and to register,
click
here.
September
25th 6 week TRANSFORMATIONAL TELECLASS begins:
Breaking Fre*e from Emotional Eating--Mondays at 5:30 pm Pacific/8:30
pm Eastern. For more information and to register, click
here.
After overcoming her own lifetime battle with compulsive eating, drinking and weight-without the use of diets, pills, medication or excessive exercise-Tricia Greaves founded Be Totally Fre*e!, a non-profit organization that offers a unique and permanent solution for overcoming all addictions. To learn about the hope we offer to those who have tried everything to stop, visit www.betotallyfree.com.
