Symptoms usually come and go at the same time every year, starting in September or October and ending in April or May. Because the symptoms of SAD are very similar to the symptoms of depression, your physician can make a diagnosis if you have had the same experience for two consecutive years – especially when the symptoms disappear in the spring and summer. It is most common in people between the ages of 15 and 55 and occurs mostly in women.

The symptoms of SAD may include:

• Feeling sad, unhappy, anxious, moody or irritable
• Weight gain due to craving carbohydrates and having an increased appetite
• Sleeping more but feeling tired during the day
• Less energy and difficulty functioning especially in the afternoon
• Lose of interest in socializing or participating in your usual activities

The good news is that SAD is treatable. Daily light therapy by way of a “light box”, a bright fluorescent lamp (10,000 lux), has been found to be very beneficial. Spending 15-30 minutes outdoors even on a cloudy day, as well as, regular exercise such as walking, swimming or riding a stationary bike is recommended. Finally, it is important to discuss your symptoms with your physician because an antidepressant may be beneficial in reducing or eliminating the symptoms of SAD.

One of the most important things is to have balance in our lives. Although we are slow to recognize what may be happening, we know when we’re out of balance. We overindulge, eat the wrong foods, do not get enough sleep, become irritable and stressed – resulting in fatigue and loss of energy.

Does it take discipline to practice self-care? Absolutely! But the rewards far out weigh the effort. To nurture our physical body it’s important to eat nutritiously. Start to read labels and avoid foods that contain high fructose corn syrup (you’ll be amazed at how many foods do). Eat less sugar, red meat and white flour and instead eat more fiber, fruits and vegetables. Limit caffeine and increase the amount of water you drink daily (half your weight in ounces). In addition, exercise and get eight hours of horizontal rest. You’ll be amazed at how much better you will feel.

To nurture our emotional, mental and spiritual health we need to take time for prayer and/or meditation, create new habits, take time to laugh and have fun. Gift yourself with 10 minutes a day to just be silent. Finally, because healthy relationships nurture us, tell your family and friends how much you love them, and most importantly – love yourself for the wonderful person that you are.

For early detection the American Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines:

• Annual mammograms for women over age 40.
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) by a health expert every three years for women in their 20′s and 30′s; annually after age 40.
• Monthly breast self-exam (BSE). Women who know how their breasts normally feel and look can more easily notice any changes.

Women with a family history or who are at a higher risk for breast cancer should consult their physician about the best course of action for them. They may need to have more frequent exams, start having mammograms at an earlier age or have extra tests such as a breast ultrasound or MRI.

The most important thing is to see your physician immediately if you notice any of these breast changes: a lump or swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk. Keep in mind that most of the time breast changes are not cancerous.

Whether you are male or female – develop an awareness of your body – pay attention to any twinges or unusual sensations or pain and if they continue – see your physician. For more information visit Cancer.org.

There are short term and long term effects of stress so it is important to develop coping skills. We need to learn how to control it – not have it control us. So how do we do that?

First, become aware of how stress and  tension are affecting you. Next, make a conscious effort to deal with it. Last, be willing to institute some changes in your life.

Vital to your well-being is to start taking better care of yourself. Get enough sleep. Eat well but also pay attention to how your body feels after you have eaten certain foods and learn to avoid them. Exercise, go for walks, or join a yoga class. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day so that you are well hydrated. Learn  how to meditate – a wonderful gift to give yourself. Take time each day to have some quiet moments alone.  Even five minutes – in a quiet place – at home or your workplace – taking 5-10 slow, deep breaths can be amazingly calming. If you are feeling totally overwhelmed talk to someone about your problems and if necessary – seek counseling. Most importantly – take time to play – and especially enjoy being with family and friends.

The next Healing Touch Level 1 class will be Friday and Saturday, January 13-14, 2012 at  Cleveland Clinic Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center, 8701 Darrow Rd, Twinsburg,  OH 44087.  This class is being hosted by Cleveland Clinic Healing Services. To register for this class contact the Class Instructor, Nancy Strick at 330-554-2466 or nancy@healingtouchhudson.com.  For more information about this class and future classes click on Classes & Practice Groups.

Shortly after attending Level 2 in September 1997 and for the next ten years I offered Introduction to Healing Touch presentations at every opportunity – to church and community organizations, to the staff of nursing homes, to teachers, to the nursing staff at Akron hospitals, and at several VA hospitals throughout Ohio as part of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) initiative by the VA’s Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center.

Despite all of this experience, I was thrilled when Healing Touch Program announced that an Introduction to Healing Touch Presentations class was being initiated for instructors, practitioners and Level 4/5 students. I contacted the HTP office and offered to coordinate a class. There happened to be one free day between two already scheduled workshops that Laurie Pointer was to teach in Asheville, NC and St. Paul, MN. Time was of the essence to make all the arrangements and market the class. Fortunately, my colleagues in the area were interested and my community library in Hudson, Ohio had a room available.

With short notice and Christmas just two weeks away, nine practitioners and two Level 4 students were able to rearrange their schedules in order to attend on December 10, 2007. Laurie was warm, gracious, and engaging as she presented the material. I had been using the Introduction to Healing Touch DVD since it was released in March 2007 but to learn there was now a Power Point available for both one-hour and three-hour presentations was exciting.

The greatest benefit from the Presentations class is that I now have the tools to improve the quality of my Introduction to Healing Touch presentations. In February I presented Nursing Grand Rounds at two Cleveland Clinic System hospitals – Marymount and South Pointe. By submitting an outline several weeks in advance of my presentation to the education departments at the hospitals, they were able to apply for contact hours from the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) for the 100 or so nurses who attended. The same concept was applied at Akron General Medical Center during Nurses Week in May of this year where over 70 nurses were in attendance. Continuing education contact hours are an incredible incentive for nurses.

Whether presenting to nurses, hospice volunteers or community organizations, be assured that attending a Presentations class will give you the tools, the skills and the confidence to offer a highly professional Introduction to Healing Touch. This one day workshop will greatly improve your ability to spread the word about Healing Touch. I encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that Healing Touch Program has made available to instructors, practitioners and Level 4/5 students.

• Provide compassionate care to those in need of healing in body, mind, emotion, and spirit

• Foster the practice of self-care

• Teach Healing Touch workshops

• Educate others, especially health care professionals, about the benefits of Healing Touch

• Encourage the use of Healing Touch in every home, hospital, hospice,  nursing home, school, and physician’s office to facilitate healing and promote prevention and wellness.

In the 1990s, following clinical-trials work at University Hospitals of Cleveland with individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Nancy began taking Healing Touch classes. Certified as a practitioner in 2000, she became a Healing Touch Certified Instructor in 2005 and has emerged as an influential speaker and advocate for this innovative, holistic treatment. Her practice includes over 100 patients with issues ranging from stress, injuries, asthma, depression, cancer and post-surgical recovery to chronic illness and pregnancy.

Nancy, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Reading, PA, received a BA degree in Health Services Management (summa cum laude) from Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. She is a member of professional organizations including Healing Touch Professional Association, American Holistic Nurses Association, American Holistic Medical Association, and Hudson Chamber of Commerce – where she serves on the Health and Wellness Committee.  Also, she is the Assistant Editor of Energy Magazine, Healing Touch Program’s monthly online magazine.

In addition to being a Healing Touch Level 1 and Level 2 instructor, Nancy is available to present Introduction to Healing Touch and Wellness/Self-Care workshops to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, schools, professional organizations and businesses. She also facilitates monthly practice/support groups in Akron and Hudson for Healing Touch practitioners and students.

Although her nursing philosophy has always incorporated a holistic approach to care, she credits her current status to her sister-in-law, Amy, whose diagnosis of liver cancer in 1995 precipitated Nancy’s journey to research integrative therapies. Her quest led her to begin taking Healing Touch classes. She especially learned how important it is to practice self-care in order to be an effective caregiver.

If we value ourselves – we will practice self-care as a means to achieve wholeness and holiness in body, mind, emotion, and spirit. In so doing we become empowered and enhance our ability to achieve and maintain wellness.

]]> http://www.healingtouchhudson.com/about-the-practitioner/feed 0 http://www.healingtouchhudson.com/the-hudson-center-welcomes-you http://www.healingtouchhudson.com/the-hudson-center-welcomes-you#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:18:32 +0000 nancyann http://www.healingtouchhudson.com/2008/04/29/the-hudson-center-welcomes-you/ Hello – I am Nancy Strick. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Hudson Center for Healing Touch website. I am a registered nurse and have been a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner since 2000 and a Healing Touch Certified Instructor since 2005. I have a private practice and also teach Healing Touch Level 1and Level 2 classes.

In addition, I have a great interest in promoting wellness and the practice of self-care. I am available to speak to community and business organizations about these topics as well as to present an Introduction to Healing Touch inservice to health care professionals and church and community organizations.

As you browse my website you will learn more about Healing Touch and how you and others may benefit from it. To experience Healing Touch I invite you to schedule an appointment by calling either 330-656-3425 (Cleveland line) or 330-554-2466 (Akron line) or by sending me a message through the contact page on this site. For those unable to travel, I offer treatments in homes, hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.

When scheduling your appointment mention viewing this website and receive a $10 discount! To find out more visit the page on Hudson Center for Healing Touch Fees.

If you are interested in learning Healing Touch so that you can help others to heal or to be relieved of pain, click on Classes & Practice Groups to see when the next Introduction to Healing Touch presentation and/or Level 1 class are scheduled in Northeast Ohio.

I invite you to return on a regular basis – as the site will be continually updated.

Blessings to you,

Nancy

What can Healing Touch do for you? Is it time to find out? For a limited time you can receive a $10 discount on your initial appointment. The initial appointment begins with a 30-minute question and answer interview to best understand your needs during the Healing Touch treatments. After the interview you will receive a 1 hour Healing Touch treatment. Normally $85, through this internet special you will receive this intial appointment for only $75. Simply go to the contact page to request your intial appointment or call Nancy directly at 330-656-3425 (Cleveland line) or 330-554-2466 (Akron line) and mention the Internet Special.

Standard Rates

Initial Appointment – 90 minute appointment (includes an intake interview and a full Healing Touch treatment) – $85

Subsequent Appointments – $60 per hour

Full-time Students, Seniors and Children – Initial 90 minute appointment $75, subsequent appointments $50 per hour

Home or hospital visits – $100 for initial appointment; $70 per hour for subsequent appointments (within 30-minute commute of my office; additional fee for longer commute)

**Fee is requested at time of service. You will be given a receipt to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Referrals

Referrals are the best compliment that I can receive and much of my Healing Touch practice is due to the referrals of my clients. A referral is always appreciated and a discount is given to clients who make referrals.