Sri Chinmoy is a source of inspiration for me in achieving inner peace.
Peace is achieved when we expect nothing from the world. Just by giving, giving, giving. Giving unconditionally what we have and who we are.
Sri Chinmoy
According to Sri Chinmoy, no price is too high to pay for inner peace. “Peace is the harmonious mastery of life. It brims with life energy. It is a force that easily transcends all our worldly knowledge. Yet it is not separate from our earthly existence. If we open the right paths within, this peace can be felt here and now. Peace is eternal. It is never too late to be at peace. The time is always right for that. We can really make our lives fruitful if we are not cut off from our source, which is the peace of eternity.”
Who is Shi Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy was born in 1931 in the village of Shakpura (Bangladesh) and at the age of 12 he entered the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community near Pondicherry in South India. Besides practicing meditation and athletics, he starts writing poetry, essays and spiritual songs. Twenty years later, he moved to New York, where he became famous for his peace concerts. From 1970 until his death in 2007 he accompanied peace meditations at the United Nations. By living from the heart and striving for continuous self-transcendence, he showed how to bring out the best in yourself and find the path to true fulfillment.
We are not indispensable
The first step to inner peace, according to Sri Chinmoy, is to sincerely feel that we are not indispensable. We have no peace of mind because we feel that others need something from us, or that we need something from others. We feel that if we don't do this or say that, the world will collapse or everything will go wrong right away. But the moment we can sincerely feel that we are not indispensable, we have nowhere to go to get peace, because peace will come to us immediately.
stop judging
We would like to live in peace, and in our view the whole world is behaving absurdly. The trick is to let go of these judgments. For when you have an abundant inner peace, you will see that you have the ability to transform the misdeeds of others. In doing so, your inner peace will help to change the face of the world.
From inner peace to world peace
How can inner peace contribute to world peace? “Once we have inner peace, world peace can be achieved in an instant. When we feel a good thought inside, an enlightening and fulfilling thought, we express that same thought and share it with our friends and loved ones. When our enlightening, soulful, fulfilling thoughts enter our loved ones, they too will be at peace. So when we have inner peace, it shows automatically. It spreads its qualities or abilities all over the world.”
Inner Peace Meditations
Every month I provide an Inner Peace & World Peace Meditation via Meetup. The meditation below is inspired by Sri Chinmoy. During this meditation we will reflect on some of his statements.
With Tijs Breuer & Christian Wicke in Olst, Overijssel
Are you looking for a weekend to completely relax in nature, away from the city? Do you need a moment of deep relaxation, time for yourself to let go of your daily stress? Christian and Tijs offer you a weekend retreat, as a gift to yourself. A chance to get in touch with yourself in a natural environment. Feel your body and senses and find peace and quiet in your head. You will be spoiled with yoga exercises and we give each other soothing and relaxing massages. Surrounded by trees that shed their leaves, we can practice letting go of our usual habits and stories.
You get more in touch with yourself. The combination of massage and playful yoga brings you more balance for body and mind. You experience how nice it is to move, stretch, sweat and make your body warm and full of energy. And you discover how pleasant touch can be, in an atmosphere of trust and connection.
In addition to yoga and massage, we will do contact and attention exercises. We will also cleanse our body with healthy food. At various times during the weekend there is room for integration, through meditation and sharing your experiences with others.
Yoga
Yoga not only gives you peace of mind, it also helps you to let go. Some yoga poses give your organs an internal massage, while others work to lengthen your muscles and tendons. Christian's playful, inquisitive and interdisciplinary form of yoga is inspired by ashtanga and vinyasa yoga. Through meditation, breathing exercises and postures we work on more body awareness, strength, flexibility and letting our energy flow. Some exercises will be done in pairs, to create connection with each other.
massage
We will practice a fluid form of massage, aimed at relaxation. We work with Swedish and Californian massage styles and deep tissue techniques. To let go, we also use massage techniques that remove waste products from the muscle and connective tissue and release energetic blockages. We do this with Alchemy of Touch massage and Myofascial Energetic Release. All touches are conscious and based on consent, in a safe setting.
Supervisors
Tijs Breuer is a life coach and masseur specialized in in-depth bodywork. He works with mindfulness, body awareness and the power of loving attention. Tijs gives weekly workshops in which playful discovery and connection with yourself and the group are central.
Christian Wicke works as a general practitioner and yoga teacher, in ashtanga and vinyasa yoga. He likes to share his insights about and from yoga with others, in group lessons and 1-on-1 settings. In addition to teaching the practicalities of yoga, he also enjoys studying and debating yoga philosophy and its implications for our daily lives.
From plek
Samaru is a home in nature. That was the idea when creating this place. A place where you stay in a comfortable house, completely private in the middle of a natural oasis. The house is surrounded by a varied forest, a swimming pond, a food forest and vegetable garden. With many places to relax or sit together.
Eating and staying overnight
We arrive on Friday evening and depart early on Sunday evening. Our host provides healthy organic and vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Alcohol and drugs will not be allowed. We sleep in single beds in a 2- or 4-person bedroom.
Practical
Dates: Friday, October 28 to Sunday, October 30, 2022
Times: welcome on Friday from 18:00 pm – 19:00 pm; opening ritual 19:30 pm. Workshop both days from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm and 14:00 pm – 18:00 pm. Saturday night dinner and group social activity.
Location: Samaru Retreat Center
Address: Oude Deventerweg 4; 8121 RL Olst (Overijssel)
Costs: € 325 including overnight stay and all meals and drinks.
Discount: € 275 (students, refugees, low income etc)
Everyone who identifies as male (including non-binary and transgender men) and all sexual orientations are welcome. Yoga or massage skills are welcome, but not necessary.
Tijs Breuer offers part of his work based on Daña. He often offers meditations, pensions and some treatments on the basis of a voluntary contribution. You may wonder why he does this. This happens in the Buddhist tradition of Damages. Damages is a Pali word that means 'generosity of heart' or 'release' means. It plays a central role in the history of Buddhism.
In our contemporary Western culture, many Buddhist meditation teachers still honor the traditional form of teaching. They depend for part of their income on the generosity of participants. One of the reasons is that the Dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha, cannot be expressed in money because its added value to your life can be priceless.
For example, in a retreat, both the facilitator and the participants are invited to practice generosity. The one who organizes the retreat does this unconditionally, without any particular expectation.
Titus Breuer: “Besides the meditations and retreats, I also sometimes work in individual sessions or trajectories based on Daña. This creates an equal starting position, in which you have the feeling that you are with a sparring partner instead of with a therapist or service provider. Afterwards, the other person shares what he or she has benefited from it and decides for himself what he or she wants to donate. Incidentally, VAT and income tax are also levied on donations.”
Damages is not a fee for the services rendered, but a gift from the heart. You give out of respect for the time the teacher has set aside for you and as a contribution to his livelihood. When a participant or client donates money to support the livelihood of his counselor, it is considered a genuine form of spiritual practice. The attendant humbly accepts any amount offered to him.
Often a guideline amount is mentioned and sometimes a minimum basic fee is requested to cover the costs of renting the space, facilities, management costs and food.
In the Buddhist teachings, . is hurts one of the most important exercises from the heart. It is also the first of the ten character traits that Buddha recommends to his students to reduce suffering and increase zest for life. The generosity and letting go of the "give a little, take a little"mentality can help both the giver and the receiver to develop more loving-kindness and compassion. You experience more interconnectedness and discover that non-attachment can be joyful.
With your voluntary contribution and your generosity enables Tijs to also help and support the less fortunate in their personal development.
A Sangha is a circle of (online) friends who practice the Dharma together to create and maintain consciousness. The essence of a Sangha is awareness, understanding, acceptance, harmony and love. The tradition of Sanghas comes from Buddhist communities of monks and their followers.
Together you can focus on different forms of consciousness expansion. For example, there are Sanghas that focus on sharing experiences in the form of a heart circle of sharingcircle, in this way you reinforce each other's growth process. There are also Sanghas aimed at creating moments of silence, or to practice specific meditations such as breathing meditation with each other. Personally, I highly value Sangha's aimed at strengthening self-love, self-touch and mindful masturbation, because in a small, safe group you can get to know each other and inspire each other.
Why establish a Sangha?
It is not so easy to create a routine of regular meditation on your own without the help or support of others. A Sangha is therefore the best way To practice meditation regularly, participating in a Sangha can be extremely helpful. Such a group offers you deep support and wisdom. This applies to both beginners and experienced practitioners.
How do I start a Sangha?
It is best to start small, with a minimum of four practitioners. Agree with each other that you help each other to create a routine of meditation or other forms of personal development and awareness expansion. Schedule fixed moments when you can meet each other (online), so that in addition to your individual practice, you can also practice together and inspire each other. You will find that as the group gets to know each other and become more familiar with each other, there is an energy of a community in which understanding and compassion is present for each other.
Thich Nhat Hanh on the Sangha
Thich Nhat Hanh explains that sangha is more than a community, it is a deep spiritual practice. We need a sangha. In my tradition, we learn that as individuals there is not much we can do. Therefore, taking refuge in the Sangha, taking refuge in the community, is a very strong and important practice. When I say, "I seek refuge in the Sangha," it does not mean that I want to express my devotion. No. It's not a matter of dedication; it's a matter of practice. Without being in a Sangha, without being supported by a group of friends motivated by the same ideal and practice, we cannot get very far.
If we don't have a supportive Sangha, we may not get the support we need for our practice, which we need to nurture our bodhichitta (the strong desire to cultivate love and understanding in ourselves). Sometimes we call it 'beginner spirit'. The mind of a beginner is always very beautiful, very strong. In a good and healthy Sangha there is encouragement to the mind of our novice, to our bodhichitta. So the Sangha is the ground and we are the seed. However beautiful and potent our seed is, if the soil does not give us vitality, our seed will die.
How can a Sangha help us?
Gathering with like-minded people offers a wonderful opportunity to infuse the collective energy of the Sangha into our bodies and consciousness. We benefit a lot from that collective energy. We can entrust ourselves to the Sangha because by practicing meditations together, you become familiar with each other. A collective energy of connectedness and awareness is created. We can of course rely on the power of mindfulness, where you increase your own energy and awareness through personal practice. But sometimes that is not enough, sometimes it is difficult to come back to yourself without outside support. In those moments it is nice to know that the Sangha can support you. If you know how to use that energy of mindfulness to receive the collective energy of the Sangha, you will have a powerful source of energy for your transformation and healing.
Do you want help in establishing and developing your Sangha?
Tijs Breuer guides individuals and groups in setting up a Sangha, by bringing people together, by guiding meditations, sharing circles, self-love and tantra exercises and other forms of consciousness enhancement. He does this on the basis of donations, donations and voluntary contributions (daña).
Guided meditation recordings
Op this page you will find recordings of guided meditations, which you can use whenever you want to meditate, alone or in a group.
You will find inner peace this weekend in nature. At the Maarsseveense Plassen, between the fields and the trees, we enter the silence together. We open our senses, we feel the wind blowing over the lake, we hear the movement of the tree branches in the wind, we watch the waves on the water and listen to our silence within. We would like to share this inner peace with you.
Practical
Next days of silence: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June 2023
Saturday times: From 8:00 a.m. (optional from 9:30 or 12:30 a.m.) to 18:00 p.m.
Times on Sunday: From 9:30 am to 18:00 pm
Costs: voluntary contribution (e.g. € 50,00 per day)
We are silent all day, we are aware of our breath, we take moments for ourselves. We meditate by sitting still, by moving and by breathing. These days can be a good way to find out which form of meditation works best for you, so that you can create your own rhythm of “mindfulness” where you learn to accept and appreciate what comes in life. Yoga is on the program on Sunday.
This is a small mixed event, so everyone is welcome, all genders and orientations. You can participate for one or two days. Feel free to come at 8:00 am (for the early birds) at 9:30 am for coffee/tea, or at 12:30 pm. There is no evening program, but overnight stays are possible. There will be four meditations each day. On Sunday there is a yoga class at 10:00 am. In between you can read, walk, cuddle or just relax.
Everyone is welcome. We are open to all genders (including non-binary or transgenders) and all orientations. Some experience with meditation and yoga is welcome but not necessary. The meeting will be spoken in both Dutch and English.
Supervisors The meditations are guided by Tijs Breuer, who has been practicing mindfulness and various forms of meditation since he was 15.
Eva Breuer is a certified yoga teacher and has about ten years of yoga experience. She likes to share her enthusiasm for yoga through weekly online classes. For her, yoga is really about the state of oneness with all that is. Eva's yoga classes are diverse, with a mix of breathwork, flexibility, playfulness and expression.
Program on Saturday 8:00 am walking meditation (for early birds). The practice of mindful walking was developed by Thich Nhat Hanh. It is a profound and enjoyable way to deepen our connection to our body and the Earth. The earth is sacred and we touch it every step of the way. We breathe, take a conscious step and come back to our true home.
9:30 am Arrival / tea / coffee
10:00 PM Silent meditation The nature of your mind is to generate thoughts. Like the ocean, it has its own rhythm and flow. It is to be respected, not feared or contested. Once you stop fighting your thoughts and let it flow naturally, you can begin to retreat into the depths of your inner self beyond the chaos and distraction.
12:30 pm Lunch (a salad is served, feel free to bring food to share).
13:00 am Breath Meditation Connecting with your breath can dampen stress and open a door to a healthier and more mindful lifestyle. One of the easiest ways to reduce stress is to simply focus on your breathing. You will notice an immediate sense of relaxation that over time can help protect your health. There are many forms of breathing meditation where you consciously change the rhythm, speed or depth of your breathing.
15:30 Tea
16:00 PM Movement Meditation Sitting still is quite difficult for most people because we are used to being exposed to stimuli all day long, while your body needs exercise. Movement meditation ensures that you quickly find your peace and return with your attention. You make an inner journey through an alternation of intensive and subtle movement. By focusing attention on your body, you experience what is going on inside you.
17:00 hrs Part round / closing circle (you can share how you feel).
17:30 End
Yoga on Sunday The program is the same on Sunday, but instead of silent meditation there will be yoga at 10:00 AM. Yoga with Eve is not just about yoga poses. I see yoga as a way to connect with your inner self, your voice of wisdom deep within. Knowledge is in your body. By deepening your connection with your body, you come more and more at home in yourself and in the connection with that inner voice of truth. This is also where you find confidence that everything is exactly as it is intended and you are carried by life. We start the class with a guided meditation, before breathing (pranayama). This allows us to focus more deeply and clear energetic blockages. By shaking, the energy goes through our entire body. Then the yoga postures (asanas) will help you to become more flexible, gain more strength and connect with your body. At the end there is relaxation in silence.
UPDATE May 2022: Currently, there is no longer a mouth cap obligation in the Netherlands, not in public spaces and not for contact professions.
“In the Netherlands, wearing a mouth cap (also called a mouth nose mask) is not mandatory anywhere. People in fragile health are advised to wear a face mask to protect themselves. Always applies: take into account each other and respect the choices of people who want to continue to wear a mouth cap. Give each other space.”
Article dated 16-01-2022
Since November 6, 2021, it is mandatory to wear a face mask in all publicly accessible indoor spaces. This obligation has been tightened up since January 15, 2022: from now on, this must include a surgical mouth cap. This measure applies not only to supermarkets, shops, libraries and cinemas, but also to all contact professions, such as masseurs and hairdressers. Both the visitor and the practitioner wear a mask.
What type of face mask should you wear?
Until now, it didn't matter what kind of mouth cap one wore. But because there are major differences in the effectiveness of face masks, that is now changing. From 15 January 2022, everyone must wear a type II mouth nose cap in public indoor spaces, even when sitting. In Tijs Breuer's practice, surgical mouth caps type IIR have been worn and distributed since January 2021, so nothing changes in practice.
What are surgical face masks?
Disposable masks are often difficult to distinguish from surgical masks because they have a similar fit and color. Monday's OMT advice refers to so-called surgical mouth nose caps, at least type II. These mouth caps have official indications and meet specific requirements. For example, the packaging must state that it concerns mouth masks for medical use. In addition, there is a CE mark on the packaging and European directives must be complied with. Surgical face masks come in types I, II and IIR and offer better protection against the emission of virus particles than non-medical masks.
Are there mouth caps with even better protection?
Even better is the protection by so-called FFP mouth masks. They fit tightly to the face, are usually white in color and are reminiscent of a beak. These mouth nose caps are personal protective equipment. The user is therefore protected against harmful substances that can be spread through the air, such as the corona virus. The masks can be divided into FFP1 (at least 80 percent of the harmful substances are blocked), FFP2 (94 percent are blocked) or FFP3 (99 percent blocked). The disadvantage of FFP face masks is that they are so tight that they allow less oxygen to pass through, which is partly why they often cause headaches, especially when they are worn all day. That's why I don't wear FFP face masks myself.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disruption of the function of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the colon. It is a common chronic intestinal disease. It is estimated that it occurs in more than 10% of the Dutch population. In IBS, the bowel makes too many or too few movements. IBS is characterized by abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, problems with defecation, a bloated stomach or flatulence due to gas. People with IBS often experience diarrhea or constipation. Massage can significantly reduce IBS complaints and contribute to a structural recovery.
What Causes IBS? Possible cause of irritable bowel syndrome is impaired communication between the brain and the gut. People with IBS are more sensitive to painful stimuli in the intestines. A possible explanation for this is that the intestines transmit too many or too strong signals to the brain, after which the brain returns too many or too strong signals to the intestines. The substance serotonin may play an important role in this.
What is Serotonin? Serotonin is a hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter: it affects the way your brain works. When you produce enough serotonin in your brain, you feel happier and better rested. Apart from that, serotonin also has essential functions elsewhere in your body. Serotonin affects our mood, sleep, emotion, appetite, memory and self-confidence. A shortage or too much of serotonin disrupts these processes.
For example, about 90% of your supply of serotonin is in your intestinal tract, where it plays an important role in regulating digestion. It also keeps your blood pressure at a good level and strengthens your immune system. So we are definitely talking about a hormone that is vital!
How does serotonin deficiency develop? As with many hormones, the balance in your body can be disturbed relatively easily. With serotonin, for example, too much stress and a lack of sleep can be enough. Your body will then produce too much cortisol, causing an imbalance. The production of serotonin then comes to a low level.
This can also be caused by a lack of movement. Finally, food is very important for the production of serotonin. Serotonin is produced in the brain from tryptophan, an amino acid. If this occurs too little in the proteins of your diet, it can also lead to you no longer producing enough serotonin.
Once a serotonin deficiency develops, your diet often only makes it worse. An important symptom is that you have an increased appetite for sugar and sweets. Very explainable in the short term, because sugar activates the 'reward center' in the brain. So you will feel better for it. The problem is that the production of insulin also rises quickly. If that production is always too high, your body is less able to produce and absorb serotonin. So you will feel more gloomy, so you eat more sugar, which will make you feel gloomy
Can massage contribute to a healthy serotonin balance? Yes. Massage activates the autonomic nervous system and helps trigger the release of the positive hormones. According to a research from 2005 massage therapy can effectively increase serotonin levels by an average of 28%. This is due to a decrease in cortisol, known as your "fight-or-flight response," or built-in alarm hormone, which lets you know when you're in danger. In other words, it keeps you alert and with a fast heart rate. Massages are able to lower cortisol and increase serotonin, making you calmer and thus helping to regulate your mood.
The levels of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine increase in the body. These hormones all have a positive effect on body and mind. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters released when the autonomic nervous system is stimulated. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine can give us feelings of happiness and motivation. Endorphins are responsible for relieving anxiety and are also often released when feelings of pain occur. Serotonin can give a person a sense of well-being while preventing depression and the feeling of loneliness. Finally, dopamine provides a sense of motivation and reduces lack of enthusiasm and self-doubt. A massage helps to stimulate the release of the positive hormones to reduce stress and increase relaxation.
Human happiness hormone concept chemical skeletal formula icon label, text font vector illustration, isolated on white. Periodic element table. Healthy lifestyle endocrine system.
How can I increase the production of Serotonin? It is wise to get more exercise, especially if you are not very active now. This enhances the processing of tryptophan, and thus the production of serotonin. It is also very important to get enough rest. Schedule moments to relax, whether you do it with meditation or a brisk walk. Make sure you eat enough tryptophan through protein-rich foods. Soy products, ginseng, bananas, seeds, etc. all contain tryptophan. That tryptophan must be able to be processed correctly in the body. B vitamins are strongly linked to your energy level and resistance. Sufficient B6 and B12 are especially important for the production of serotonin: you can find them in animal products, legumes and potatoes, for example. And make sure you eat slow carbohydrates instead of sugars.
Can too much serotonin be released in the body? A high serotonin level in your central nervous system, eg through ecstasy use, can be recognized by sweating, being excited, large pupils, shivering, rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing. For most people, these complaints are not too serious. There may also be tingling in your fingers, after which the fingers pull inward or your entire arm curls inward. You can also grind your teeth and chatter your teeth.
Serotonin Syndrome In those cases, there may be serotonin syndrome. Serious symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fever, restlessness, agitation, anxiety, confusion, unusual cramp-like muscle spasms in arms and/or legs, and stiff muscles. The complaints often disappear after 24 hours, but there are also people who die of serotonin syndrome, for example due to heart failure. The risk of serotonin syndrome is higher when high doses of ecstasy are used, especially in combination with some medications, such as AD(H)D drugs (dexamfetamine, Ritalin) or L-tryptophan (during XTC use instead of after). Combining XTC with antidepressants, MAO inhibitors and SSRIs is life-threatening. The combination of XTC with speed, cocaine, or other drugs also poses a risk of serotonin syndrome.
Parkinson's disease is a brain disease that affects more than 55.000 Dutch people. Motor problems, such as tremors, stiffness and reduced movement are associated with depressive symptoms. There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease. The treatment of Parkinson's consists of a combination of medicines, exercise and a healthy diet with the aim of reducing complaints and improving the quality of life.
Can massage help reduce Parkinson's symptoms?
Yes, based on comparative literature review It can be concluded that massage can also play a role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Different massage techniques can be used to reduce motor symptoms and psychological complaints associated with the disease. Massage for Parkinson's is both pleasurable and meaningful.
Twelve studies conducted between January 1970 and June 2019 were examined in more detail. Most studies show that massage induces relaxation in patients; stress hormones in the urine decreased in the group of people who received massage. For example, a full body massage significantly improves the quality of life. Non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression decreased. Certain forms of massage also had a positive influence on motor symptoms, but further research should show whether massage can also be applied in clinical practice.
How great is the effectiveness of massage for such complaints?
A meta-analysis of massage therapy research (Moyer et al, 2004) led to the conclusion that massage therapy is very effective for stress reduction and that it is about as effective for the symptoms of anxiety and depression as the commonly used psychotherapy. The average participant in massage therapy is better off afterwards than 79% of the untreated comparable patients. There is also a significant but smaller difference (62%) between patients with/without massage therapy for pain complaints.
A small effect study by the Touch Institute from Florida (2002) shows specifically with massage to PwPs an improvement in daily functioning, an improved quality of sleep and a decrease in stress hormone levels.
What role does dopamine play in Parkinson's disease?
Due to the breakdown of brain cells as a result of Parkinson's, too little dopamine is produced. Dopamine ensures that nerve cells transmit messages. The substance does not work very well in Parkinson's patients, causing them to stiffen or vibrate. The lack of dopamine causes the striking movement disorders, but at the same time it is disastrous for your mood, for the drive in life. Dopamine makes you feel good when you eat, buy, win or have sex. Dopamine is well known to lead to addictions in certain amounts.
What psychological problems can someone with Parkinson's face?
Parkinson's is accompanied by the well-known motor problems such as tremors, but also with incontinence, erectile dysfunction, excessively falling blood pressure, smell and sleeping problems. And Parkinson's patients often also experience cognitive problems, such as planning, keeping an overview and multitasking. Little attention is paid to other psychiatric symptoms, for which patients are often more embarrassed than for trembling. Think of:
gloom, depression
Anxiety disorders, including for loss of control
Hallucinations
Panic attacks
Impulse control disorder addiction.
When can coaching be useful for Parkinson's patients?
Help a coach to put your feelings into words and to discuss your dilemmas, problems and worries. Parkinson's, for example, often leads to social isolation, whereby coaching can help to break through that isolation. A coach can also motivate you to keep moving and exercising a lot, which is essential for Parkinson's patients. In case of serious psychiatric complaints, such as certain forms of addiction that can become serious with Parkinson's medication, I usually refer to specialist psychiatry. When dealing with such complex problems, people often opt for an interdisciplinary approach. In addition to the psychiatrist, a behavioral psychologist or coach can make a useful addition to putting a person's behavior and life in order.
What are Impulse Control Disorders?
Impulse control disorders are common in PwPs. This disorder can lead to addiction and is often hidden, because recognizing that you are no longer in control of your own behavior comes with a lot of shame. In the conversations I have with clients, there is room for the expression of all feelings and emotions. In addition, all kinds of addiction, partly as a result of disinhibition, come to light. Many people with Parkinson's suffer from this. Disinhibition is a classic side effect of Parkinson's disease, with one in three patients not having proper impulse control.
An impulse control disorder can turn life upside down in a short time, partly due to the spending pattern. One gambles, the other watches porn or calls sex lines. Still others start eating, buying or gaming. Sometimes there is punding, where patients go on endlessly with seemingly pointless activities such as sorting objects or dismantling devices. With these forms of addiction you become dependent on the dopamine that is released in your body during certain actions.
Medication to ensure that the substance dopamine works better usually plays a major role in disinhibition. Fifteen to 35% of PwPs develop an impulse control disorder after starting dopaminergic medication. The medication is given to combat the motor complaints of the disease, among other things. While replenishing the dopamine deficit, this can give so much drive that patients can no longer find the brake. Such a treatment in which dopamine is stimulated leads to a three and a half times greater risk of addictions or compulsive behaviour. With some pills, the so-called dopamine agonists, the risk is greater than with other variants. Read more about this on the website of the Parkinson's Association.
Read more
The book "Parkinson's at the psychiatrist" contains twenty colorful portraits of Parkinson's patients who, during the consultation hours, talk about terrifiedness in the street, whole days listless on the couch, and other gripping and at the same time light-hearted stories that show that seeking help pays off. And that patients should preferably not be held back by shame and stigma.
Parkinson's at the psychiatrist, stories about love, grief and resilience. Odile van den Heuvel and Sonja Rutten. The Geus.
On Sunday, January 2, 2022, the men of MeninTouchNL naked into the new year at the Maarsseveense Plassen! You are cordially invited to brave the cold and to face the new year shaken awake and refreshed. With a fresh look! Join! Participation is free (free gift).
Enthusiasts of active exercise can warm up beforehand during a boot camp led by Tijs Breuer. We alternate running, outdoor fitness exercises and sporting challenges. Don't be put off: there is no competition and everyone participates at their own level. Then the cold dive beckons, which your warm body can handle effortlessly……
Due to the current lockdown rules, we will work in duos at the bootcamp at 1,5 meters. We also keep the necessary distance during the dive.
Times: 14:00 – start boot camp 15:00 – return to the nudist beach of the Maarsseveense Plassen and arrival for the naked New Year's dive Afterwards: warm up on the beach. Blankets and hot drinks are provided!
Take: Sportswear, running shoes, slippers, comfortable and warm clothing (eg thermal, jogging, (bath)coat) for the beach! And don't forget your nice big towel…!
Nice if you participate in both activities, but you don't have to. You can also choose just the dive or just the boot camp.
Do you want to start the new year in the fresh air and actively? Sign In! Together we will make it a safe, exuberant and pleasant afternoon. With a warm group feeling!
