Q. Can you tell me something about pesticides?

A. Here are some facts about Pesticides that I gleaned from research on the topic. It is by no means a comprehensive discussion on the topic. I hope it helps.

(1) Did you know that pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) are found in our water, air and food?

(2) Are you aware that pesticides are strongly connected to such medical problems as cancer, abnormal changes in reproductive organs in people and animals, neurological problems, environmental sensitivities, increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections, and flu like symptoms?

(3) Did you know that radioactively traced pesticides sprayed over England were discovered in Texas seven days later?

(4) Most of us realize that cities spray parks, roadsides, etc, and farmers spray crops. However, did you consider that your favorite stores, restaurants, hotels, hospital cafeterias, some schools, many apartment buildings and nursing homes spray twice a year as a matter of routine?

(5) Are you familiar with Agent Orange? A component, 2, 4-D of Agent Orange (a phenoxyacid herbicide) cause leucopenia (deficiency in white blood cells) and non - Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

(6) Dioxins or PCBs are considered the most toxic substances today. Did you know that the liver is the main target area for dioxins?

(7) Malathion, diazanon, and carbonates are some of the organophosphate pesticides that constitute 40% of all pesticides used mainly in buildings. Are you aware that although they disappear from the system within 24 hours, they cause delayed neurotoxicity involving the cerebral cortex, brain stem, spinal cord peripheral nerves, muscles and eyes?

(8) Ingested pesticides are often deposited in the fatty tissues and slowly released into the bloodstream and over the years contribute to autoimmune and degenerative disease.  Did you know that the brain contains many layers of fatty tissue? Therefore, we know where many of these pesticides are stored.
I could ask more questions but these few give you an idea of the dangers of pesticides to every living creature. One more question needs an answer. What can you do about it all? Here are a few suggestions.

- eat organic foods wherever possible
- eat more vegetables, especially of the cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower family
- buy local meat
- drink low fat milk
- do not store foods or heat foods in plastic containers
- join a group that is actively trying to change the pesticide laws

(Sources: Alive  # 180, Plastic Pollution: PVC's Toxic Life Cycle, pg. 100; Alive # 175, The Plague of Pesticides, Josef Krop, M.D., FAAEM, pgs. 16-17.; Alive # 163, Pesticide Drift: Invisible Violence, pg. 63. Organic Times, The Perfect Criminals, Dr. Fernando Moncayo, pg. 13.)

Q. What is self-advocacy?

 A.  Self- advocacy is the act of speaking up for or standing up for yourself. In order to be an effective self-advocate you need to know what you want, know what you do well and what you have difficulty doing. An effective self-advocate must be able to decide the best time to make their request and/or determine if the other person understands the need and suggested solution. Remember, even if you present your thoughts well the other person may react in a negative manner. This usually happens if a person thinks his authority is being challenged. He may feel intimidated because he does not know anything about the issue at hand. Good self- advocacy empowers people and allows them access to reasonable accommodations and strategies.

Characteristics of a self-advocate:
  A self-advocate is one who sees himself as deserving and is determined to speak up for himself. In other words, a good self-advocate has good self-esteem. A natural offshoot of speaking up for oneself is to speak up for others.

Q. Do you know anything about Repetitive Strain Injuries?

A. I came across this article in the LOSH info service newsletter, Spring, 2007. Although it is referring to Ontario students and workers the information is relevant regardless of place of residence.  I changed the article to fit within the perimeters of my site. Other than that it is as it appears in the newsletter.

Student Safety

Did you know that in the year 2004, there were 4,772 young workers in Ontario between the ages of 15 and 24 that were injured so severely by strains and sprains that they required time off to recuperate? Did you know there is a way to reduce this number? The aid comes in the form of The Student Teaching Project, a not for profit organization which strives to empower young students and workers by offering these young people information on Health and Safety in their workplace. This information includes things like their rights and responsibilities, how to deal with employers, WHMIS, and information on Personal Protective Equipment. Even better, other highly trained young people teach this course to young students and workers. The information is conveyed to the audience in a fun, interactive way, while also communicating the priceless importance of the course for young workers' safety.
The Student Teaching Project does their utmost to reduce the number of deaths and injuries to young workers in Ontario. Strains and sprains, mentioned above, are the most commonly reported injury to young people. The Student Teaching Project suggests that young people talk to their employer about rotating jobs instead of lifting heavy objects for hours on end, or taking regular breaks to reduce the strain. Always be sure to remember that no job is worth your health or even worse, your life.
Some common symptoms of RSI are; loss of strength, loss of joint movement, decreased coordination occurring in the injured area, tenderness, swelling and pain, tingling and numbness. It is imperative that these symptoms are not ignored. Early treatment prevents recurrent problems and chronic pain.

Q. Can you tell me what things I need to know about dream work?

A. It is interesting how many people tell me they don’t dream. This is not true. People dream at the fourth level of sleep, REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. It is called the REM level of sleep because scientists have discovered the fourth level of sleep, the duration is four hours, is the place we dream. If you observe sleeping people whose eyes are moving rapidly under the lids you will know they are dreaming. This level of sleep is normally experienced, therefore we dream. We may remember one dream every few days. However, some people remember four from one night’s sleep. Dreams can be in black and white or in color. Some people can hear sounds, i.e. music or voices. Even smells can be experienced during dreams.

 People with chronic illnesses such as Fibromyalgia do not reach this level of sleep. Therefore, they do not dream. They do report very bizarre nightmarish things that are not dreams but a result of sleep depravation. When people do not reach the fourth level of sleep they experience severe pain and/or an exacerbation of symptoms ranging from mental confusion to hallucinations. Medications are used to help people sleep at the fourth level of sleep. Without this level of sleep we would die.

Another comment people make is; “I don’t remember my dreams.” A lot of people don’t remember their dreams but could train themselves to do so. I find that a lot of people who make this statement are reluctant to remember their dreams. They fear the dreams because the dreams appear bad or evil. But bad dreams have positive messages. By looking at them carefully you can discover the good message.

Another reason people are reluctant to look at their dreams is because they feel they should not be dreaming a particular dream. An example of this would be a person having sexual intercourse with someone who in real life would not be condoned. This dreamer may feel embarrassed or guilty or fearful. Although we do have sexual dreams most of the time the dream of this nature is referring to something entirely different. For example, it could be a symbol of life force and the unconscious is trying to communicate this to the dreamer.

A dream gives us images of what we need to think about, to process. Our waking lives present snapshots of things, people, events, feelings, etc. Our dream life presents us with the larger picture. We are often surprised by the very different picture of ourselves our unconscious offers us in our dream lives. Often, our dreams offer us another place, a place of strength from which we can confront our fears, angers, and conflicts.

We think avoiding our dreams and solving what we perceive as our conflicts in our waking lives we are safe from seeing the parts of ourselves we prefer not to see. Many people think that ignoring the messages of dreams gives them control and freedom from the images they don’t want to see. However, the unconscious persists until we acknowledge the dream’s message (comes in different forms).  People say it is only a dream and state they don’t believe in dreams bringing messages. Others state dreams are only the mind’s way of processing what has happened in waking life.

When we acknowledge the message we become aware of the things we wished to avoid. It is not easy facing the message the unconscious presents to us. It is not easy to face ourselves. However, repressing the message results in problems in our waking lives. People use alcohol, drugs, sex, experience physical illness and broken relationships, etc. to avoid dealing with the messages from their unconscious. Facing the message brings pain and discomfort until the process is completed. When you come to the end, for now anyway, you experience positive results. You feel better physically, feel less burdened emotionally, feel good about yourself, may discover you have courage you didn’t know you had, feel proud of yourself for facing the scary, painful things you were not aware of having. These can be in your present but often reflect unresolved issues or past trauma.

Dreams are not always offering difficult challenges. They can bring good happy, joyful, peaceful feelings. Rejoice in them. They are the result of all your hard work. They give you something really good before your unconscious presents you with another part of your ‘self’ to confront and process.

Scientists state dreams have two levels; universal and individual.

According to Diane Peters, there are five typical dreams; being chased – reflects an emotional threat by a person or environment. The emotional threat is transformed into a concrete or literal threat, an animal or person. Sexual dreams - repressed thoughts, feelings and actions, i.e. sleeping with your best friend’s spouse. Falling – may represent a release of physical tension or being ‘let down’ by someone you trust. School – anxiety about being tested. Flying – happy freeing times.

Understanding Dreams. Diane Peters, Reader’s Digest, pg.59-64,January,2005

Prophecies in dreams have been experienced for thousands of years. At Christmas time we hear about messengers appearing in dreams – to Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth. It has been accepted by many in the Christian community that dreams bringing messages still occur. If a dream is remembered even years later, it is a message from God, a prophecy to watch for fulfillment.

Record Keeping;

Pick a blank ruled book and pen – that bring you pleasure/comfort
Place them nearby, i.e. on nightstand
Record dream images immediately (you will not remember them later!) By being responsive to your dreams, you will recall more and more details of the present day dream and of those you had earlier.

Symbols: There are many dream dictionaries. Some are bad, some are good. The bad ones offer a definite statement such as if you see a black dog coming towards you, you will receive bad news. Good ones give several possible interpretations. The only true sign of an image’s meaning is when the dreamer experiences an ‘a ha’ response.
Interpretation: All dreams are messages for the dreamer.

Q. Can you tell me what I can do to improve communication with my doctor?

A. Here is a copy of an article I wrote. Hopefully it will help you in this regard.

You and Your Doctor

by Shirley Soleil

It is important that you develop a good working relationship with your doctor.  This involves speaking up for yourself, asking questions and getting good well-thought out answers.  It means one on one communication.  If you fear your doctor, perceive him as superior to you, an authority that you cannot question, you will not have a good working relationship.  Your doctor is a human being who chose medicine as his profession.  He does not know everything and he knows less about your body than you.

The most important part of a good working relationship is communication of symptoms and how illness affects you
Tell your physician all of your symptoms.  Write them down in detail so that you do not have to depend on faulty memory.  This ensures that the doctor will be able to rule out other possible medical problems as well as making him aware of all your symptoms.

The physician needs to be aware of how much you are affected by the illness; physically, emotionally and mentally.  This makes it easier for him to offer the most appropriate treatment, i.e. medication for pain, counselling for dealing with grief, help around the house because you are disabled by illness, pain or fatigue.

Your doctor is an ally when applying for Canada Pension or insurance claims.  He needs to give detailed information.  You have to give it to him and make sure he writes it down.  It is not enough to give generalized statements.  Specific description of medical problems is required. 

If you are not happy with your doctor, his attitude, lack of knowledge, or poor communication you need to consider a change.  This will be difficult for three reasons:  emotionally you are dependent on the doctor and may feel you're letting him down, he knows your situation, if you go to another you need to start all over again educating him about "you", and there is often a lack of doctors taking new patients.  But give it serious consideration.  You deserve good care from an understanding compassionate person who is willing to learn about you and about the illness.