Tag Archives: self-esteem

Can Acupuncture Improve Self-Esteem?

Posted in General Health by

Chinese acupuncture is an ancient form of healing which began in 12 BC. The Chinese had discovered a practice of identifying key pressure points in the body and when pressed with a needle could cause relief. Today acupuncture is very common practice for many of us. People go to acupuncture to relieve headaches, bodily aches and pains, as well as a way to deal with anxieties and depression. So why can’t acupuncture improve self-esteem?  I recently brought this topic up to an acupuncturist and she agreed. She stated that acupuncture would be valuable and helpful for teens with self-esteem issues due to the positioning of their chakras i.e. energy sources and their levels. Acupuncture would be able to rebalance them for maximum health quite easily because of their age. At a time when hormones are running wild, acupuncture may be able to regulate their mood for a more balanced and productive life. Therefor, they wouldn’t experience the emotional extremes during those already difficult years that wreak havoc on our self-esteem. When looking at it this way, acupuncture for teens kind of reminds me of  a car getting a tune-up. It takes less work to maintain a new car (i.e. younger body) than an older one and you get faster, long lasting results.

So, should we be sending our teens to acupuncturists?

My Journey Writing a Book on Teen Self-Esteem

Posted in General Health, Girl Talk: Boys, Bullies and Body Image by

So….I’ve been interviewing girls from a variety of high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area for my book roughly 2 months now. I’m truly enjoying the process and appreciate that the schools are allowing me in and that the girls are comfortable and (hopefully) honest with the information they share with me.  Some of the information is very insightful, enlightening, and sometimes surprising. I’ve spoken with some teen girls where I never wanted the interview to end.  Other times it was almost painful, trying to find something that connected with them and that they wanted to talk to me about. For those girls, I wonder “why did you choose to do this interview?’  I have been blown away by their openness and sometimes by their innocence. It’s completely contrasting to talk to a girl who is academically bright and can name for me her top 5 college choices while only in her sophomore year, yet in the next sentence asks me if I think she’s fat. I’ve been  pleasantly surprised by their wisdom, their concern for the environment and the well-being of others in war torn countries. While I’ve also been angered by their lack of self value and their unwillingness to stand up for what is right.

But this is a journey and there are many more girls for me to interview. I look forward to being surprised, disappointed, enlightened and sometimes saddened each and every time.  Thank you

Managing Your Menstrual Cycle for Peak Performance

Posted in General Health by

Did you know that how you take in information and feel about feedback is really dependent upon where you are in your monthly cycle? Think about it. Sometimes you’re open to others ideas and suggestions while other times you feel defensive. It’s because of your hormones.  A better understanding of your hormones will help you manage your life, relationships and develop a deeper understanding about your body.

Most women have a 28 day cycle. Throughout the month, we experience changes in our sensitivity and stress. Our brains respond differently dependent upon where we are in that 28 day cycle due to an increase or decrease in hormones.  Once a young woman hits puberty those hormones kick in and the stressors that she experiences in her life seem to multiply.  She craves more social interaction with other girls and wants to be part of a group. She needs to be liked and socially accepted  and will avoid social rejection at all cost. Trust me, you are not alone. This is a natural occurrence and it happens to all of us.

During the 1st  2 weeks of our cycle we have the highest level of estrogen, which means we want to talk a lot, hang out a lot with our friends and for the most part probably feel pretty good about ourselves. This is because our estrogen is high. The polar opposite will occur the following 2 weeks (gradually getting worse near day 28) because now our estrogen is low. This is the time of the month when we may feel more stressed, have a hard time taking constructive criticism and just in general feel a little more blah and want to be left alone.  Right in the middle of our cycle, so for many of us on day 14, our estrogen peaks. For those of you in school, this is the perfect time to give an oral presentation or write a paper because our communication abilities are at peak due to the estrogen.  Also, our brains are sharper and more focused. You may notice being able to study for longer periods of time right around day 14 as well.

Here comes the switch– at day 25 or 26 you may feel very irritated by your friends, your teachers and you may even pick a fight with one of your siblings or your mom.  So, keep this in mind when hanging out with your friends during the 2nd half of your cycle and possibly stay clear of your little brother or sister then as well. Knowing what’s going on with your hormones will help you better understand these highs and lows. You will even feel more empowered. Next time you feel extremely sensitive to a comment someone has made about you, think about where you are in your cycle and chalk it up to hormones. Why not use the knowledge we have about cycles to our benefit.  This information can also help us with understanding our relationships as well. So, the next time a friend makes a catty remark, think about where she may be in her cycle and give her a break.

So, want to better manage your hormones and stress every 28 days?  Chart your cycle for 2 months straight and note when you feel good about yourself, when you feel most social, accepted and connected to your friends as well as when you feel at peak academic performance. At the same time, chart when you feel the most stress and frustrated, want to cry for no reason, (dare I say  feel “fat”), want to pick a fight and have a hard time with feedback. Use this information to your advantage and you will feel more in control. Not understanding these highs and lows, can make many teen girls feel confused. Don’t let your cycle manage you. You need to understand it, work with it and when possible, use it to your advantage.