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Welcome to WREMS |
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| WREMS Newsletter June 2003 |
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WREMS NEWSLETTER 22nd edition June 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uuzul is the inventor of WREMS Host WLV Milo is host and gatekeeper Host SeaView is host and assistant ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WELCOME The Master Your Emotions site in the Women's Network has been ongoing for four years. This is our newsletter. The many WREMS graduates want to keep up with what's happening and the newbies always want encouragement and support. This is an invitation to join us and be one of the team. Please visit our web site and our Message Boards. Your comments will be responded to promptly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this month's issue: Topic for This Month: "Tranquilizers and Aging" An Article of Interest to WREMSers: "Side Effects" A WREMS question: "WREMS and drugs" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is WREMS? / Explaining WREMS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The goal of the WREMS ROOM and all the associated classes, support groups and sessions is, and will always have the intention of positive reinforcement to change and self-control. The underlying theme of WREMS is, and always will be: Take Responsibility for Your Own Emotions. This encompasses attitudes about your health, medical care and treatment of all other passengers on our little spaceship Earth. "Without successive lives, life in the universe would disappear." Plato ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When you are ready, we are here. Ann Fillmore Kathy Shattuck Marjie ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF WREMS Any REM (Rapid Eye Movement) is a direct link to our subconscious mind. Scientists do not understand why this is so but we do know that all mammals above the level of platypus have REM while asleep. It seems to be a way for the brain to go 'off-line' and file everything that has occurred during the day. Ann Fillmore has found that we humans were born with a waking REM. Remember those vivid daydreams you had as a child? Those were your way to undo emotional stress and avoid building up painful memories. But at about age five, we Westerners begin to lose that skill. We learn to read, which is a waking REM state, and we're discouraged from daydreaming. WREMS gives you the power to recover what you lost. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIX PRINCIPLES OF WREMS 1. The mind is infinite. 2. We own our emotions. 3. You can change only yourself. 4. DO, not try. 5. Clear the negative before doing the positive. 6. Calmness is completion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Topic for this month: "Tranquilizers and aging" The National Institute of Aging published a guideline for seniors and the elderly whose doctor or therapist prescribes tranquilizers as a treatment for tension, nervousness or other such symptoms. Overall, the NIA states that tranquilizers are NOT RECOMMENDED for persons over fifty years old. Here is a brief survey of the NIA's advice: "Everyone is worried, tense, or nervous at one time or another. Most people have concerns that can cause them to feel uneasy or anxious, and older people are no exception. Sometimes these feelings of anxiety are accompanied by physical symptoms such as tightness in the chest, trembling, choking or rapid heart beat. Because a wide range of problems can produce these feelings, it is very important to have a thorough checkup if your symptoms continue. There are many ways such symptoms can be managed. Physical activities or support from family or friends can make a big difference. Professional assistance such as wise counseling can be considered. Some 'minor' tranquilizers or anti-anxiety drugs might be used, but only in combination with counseling." (Of course, we WREMSers know that instead of such a drug, WREMS would be safer.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An Article of Interest to WREMSers: "Side Effects" "Ideally, the medication dosage and length of use should be strictly limited. This is especially important for older people because age-related changes often cause the body to react to medications differently in later life. As a result, older people should pay close attention to side effects and SAFETY considerations when taking tranquilizers. Tranquilizers are central nervous system (CNN) depressants -- that is, they slow down the nervous system and can cause drowsiness. Some individuals, particularly older people, may become sleepy, dizzy, unsteady on their feet and confused when taking these drugs. If the medication is taken at night, these side effects may occur the next day. Because of this, when taking tranquilizers, you should not drive, operate machinery or do jobs that require you to be alert. The effects of tranquilizers are greatly increased if they are taken at the same time as other CNN depressants such as antihistamines, sleeping pills, prescription pain relievers, or muscle relaxants. It is also important to avoid alcohol when taking tranquilizers because it, too, is a powerful CNN depressant. Mixing large amounts of drugs and alcohol can cause unconsciousness or death. Some medicines such as the ulcer drug cimetidine, may affect the body's use of tranquilizers. A doctor of pharmacist can tell you which medicines are safe to take with tranquilizers. Once you are taking a tranquilizer, do not stop taking it suddenly. This can cause withdrawal symptoms, including convulsions, lesions, muscle cramps, sweating and vomiting. When it is time to stop the medication, reduce the dose slowly to lessen these symptoms. Sometimes people who take tranquilizers are afraid they will not be able to handle their problems without the medication. They try to insist they can take it for a longer time and if they do, they become dependent on the medications. Here are some general guidelines given by the NIA: Read the description of the drug's side effects carefully. All drugs can be researched in the PDR and your doctor or pharmacist should give you a copy of the material that came with the medication. You may be shocked to find what the complete range of side effects and safety concerns are. If you become unusually chilly while taking tranquilizers, this means the drug is suppressing your body's ability to maintain a constant temperature. Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate) while taking tranquilizers. It counteracts the effects of the tranquilizers and can cause severe confusion and numbness. Alcohol, marijuana and other substances can cause severe and unpredictable immune reactions when taken the same time as any CNS suppressant like tranquilizers and anti-anxiety medications." (One STRONG caution about marijuana -- there may be other substances in the marijuana that you don't know about which can add to the danger of 'mixing'. This includes 'medical' marijuana because of the interdiction efforts of law enforcement with spraying campaigns, ground poisons and the like. If you are going to use marijuana, know the source of the plant itself - not just the seller.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A WREMS question: WREMS and drugs We give the above advice for the many WREMSers who come into the program still on tranquilizers and anti-anxiety, or even anti-psychotic drugs. Basically we say, if you are on a CNS suppressant medication, don't quit cold turkey and don't quit suddenly. Some of the effects of CNS suppressant medications which aren't discussed by the NIA can be almost uncontrollable urges to commit suicide or homicide, intrusive thoughts of violence and aggression, dark - almost LSD-like 'trips' that can come during sleep REM, and tremendous confusion. What the medical profession doesn't tell the patient is that by suppressing the CNS (central nervous system), you also suppress emotional responses, seratonin uptake, endorphin responses - almost any body and mind response that is tied in with the CNS. For example, it is common knowledge among doctors that the first response to disappear with tranquilizer and anti-anxiety usage is the sexual response. In other words, you become impotent. How such drugs affect children and teens has yet to be thoroughly studied. Long-term effects are just now coming into focus, mainly because the first people to be prescribed these drugs have now become guinea pigs. All of the above is why the use of WREMS instead of drugs is so important. WREMS is what you are born with and understanding yourself and the effects of your environment - both physical and social, is what makes you recover your health. Bad things do happen to good people and that is why a 'repair system' such as WREMS comes with the 'package' at birth. Thank goodness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSES MESSAGE BOARD WORKBOOKS PRIVATE SESSIONS: Introductory WREMS class: Master Your Emotions - every Monday 8 PM ET. AOL - Women's Network, AOL Women: Women Talk - Living Chat WREMS ROOM - support, advice, beginning instruction every Saturday 3 PM ET AOL - Women's Network, AOL Women: Women Talk - Wellness Chat WREMS SUPPORT GROUP WREMS Message Board WREMS When you are ready to do WREMS and wish to share your experiences, ask for a link to the Private Room. You will be expected to keep the privacy of others while in here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- © WREMS. All rights reserved. |