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How to Get Out of the Blame Game

by | May 15, 2016 | Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

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If you’re a parent, you know what it’s like to be up at an ungodly hour with a screaming baby, trying to figure out how to calm her down – is she hungry, wet, or needing to burp? Does she hate me? Am I failing as a mother? I found myself in that exact struggle with my four week old, when my husband, who works late into the night, came through the door. He asked if I was ok. I glared at him, and snapped at his offer to help. Because somehow, it was all his fault.   Sound familiar? Blame is one of the most corrosive elements in any relationship. Why do we blame? Researcher Brene Brown has studied blame, and identified these triggers for blaming: Pain – You want it to be someone’s fault, because it helps take you out of feeling hurt and uncomfortable.  Anger –  Blame is a way to discharge anger and direct it towards someone – or in my case, someone other than my baby. If anger is the bullet, blame is the gun. Overwhelm – When things have been too much to handle, blame is your way of putting the burden on someone else – whether they deserve it or not. Control – Blame gives some degree of comfort when you feel out of control. When so much is uncertain, figuring out whose fault it is provides a measure of relief. In a weird way, it feels good to blame. At least in the five seconds that you’re doing it. But when you make a habit of blaming.you quickly use up any amount of goodwill you have stored up...

One Nerve to Rule Them All

by | Jan 25, 2016 | Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

I’ve been thinking a lot about nerve. One nerve in particular, that appears to hold a potent key to reversing depression, heart disease, and autoimmune disease. This nerve also provides the anatomical basis for the effectiveness of meditation and breathwork in reversing so many conditions, from depression to chronic pain. The wandering wonder It’s called the vagus (sounds like Vegas) nerve. It starts out in the brain, travels down the neck, and wanders throughout the organs in the torso, providing a link of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. The vagus nerve is the central command of your parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates your ability to “rest and digest”. And science shows that it has a profound effect on almost every aspect of your health. The stronger your vagus nerve, the quicker you are able to recover from stressful events. It also protects you from diabetes, heart disease and stroke. A robust vagus makes you happier, more resilient, and helps you feel more connected to other people. A weak vagus nerve, on the other hand, means you are more likely to experience severe inflammation, anxiety, and chronic disease. Proof of its power Researchers studied the powerful effect of the vagus nerve in 20 patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, a painful and debilitating disease in which the body attacks the joints. These patients were fitted with a device similar to a pacemaker, and used it to stimulate the vagus nerve directly through the neck. Eighty percent of participants experienced significant improvement, with many of them getting of anti-inflammatory meds entirely. The Depression Connection Now, remember that...
Depression is NOT a Serotonin Deficiency

Depression is NOT a Serotonin Deficiency

by | Sep 10, 2015 | Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

It might surprise you to know that the serotonin theory of depression has never been proven. Despite the billions of dollars being spent on antidepressants that enhance serotonin in the brain, studies attempting to correlate low serotonin with depression have never panned out. Some studies have even shown that depression may be related to high serotonin. Which might explain why the best studies show that, for most people, there is no benefit to antidepressants over placebo. So what do we know about the biochemistry of depression? The most strongly correlated depression markers are those  associated with inflammation – CRP (used to predict heart attack) and IL6. Unsurprisingly, depression and heart disease are strongly linked. So when it comes to balancing your biochemistry naturally, addressing inflammation is an essential target. How do you reduce inflammation? The following natural interventions have been shown to reduce systemic inflammation and reduce depression. Eat a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables. Aim for 5-7 servings daily to get the full antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and mood benefits. Meditate – meditation stimulates the vagus nerve (essential for relaxation and proper digestion), and reduces the size of the amygdala – the part of the brain involved in fear. Exercise –  improves cardiovascular health, and lowers blood levels of inflammatory cytokines. It’s time to stop thinking of depression as a disease isolated to the brain. That’s as outdated as treating cardiovascular disease as simply a heart issue. By treating the whole person, you not only decrease the likelihood of side effects and relapse – there’s a good chance you’ll come through better than ever....
How Mary Reclaimed Her Life and Got on the Purpose Path

How Mary Reclaimed Her Life and Got on the Purpose Path

by | Sep 10, 2015 | Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

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When Mary and I first met, she was a veteran of webinars and online summits, and was subscribed to dozens of health and wellness newsletters. But despite having a great diet and exercising daily, Mary was exhausted. Emotionally drained. Resentful. After doing a thorough health evaluation, and assessing her Happiness Archetype, and we got to the root cause of her exhaustion. She discovered what was really sucking the joy and vitality out of her existence. Armed with this understanding, together, we built a strong foundation of emotional and physical wellness. Today, Mary has so much more energy, satisfaction and excitement about her life. In her own words: “Dr. Teray has helped me make my life challenges easier to manage.  She had valuable insights into my energy blocks and physical limits.  My mental and emotional climate has improved.  I am more focused on my real “Life.”  My future health and vitality look more promising…  I now put much more emphasis on my body and self-care.  I am now using my visionary gifts to take me where I need to go next.  Not to the past, but to the future.” What made the difference for Mary? After years of doing it alone and being strong for others, she finally stepped forward and allowed herself to be supported. She committed to doing what it takes to resolve the nagging issues that had dragged her down for too long. This work has changed her life, and transformed her outlook for the future. If you’d like to chat with me about how you can finally live with vitality and inspiration, click here. You’ll get...

How Do I Make Happiness Last?

by | Sep 10, 2015 | Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

“The good times in my life are tinged with the fear that it wont last…” Sound familiar? If you’ve dealt with depression, you’ve probably experienced that tiny tickle of dread in the midst of a wonderful moment. The small ache of looking cautiously around the corner, waiting for the other shoe to drop. How can you feel safe in knowing that your happiness will last? Here’s my take (it might surprise you): Stop being attached to happiness. Happiness is a feeling, a state of being. To desire only to be happy implies that other feelings are wrong or bad. It’s like wanting the world to only be your favorite color. It is to be afraid of pain. But pain can be a sign of growth. Muscles are sore when they are strengthened. A shattered belief can be heartbreaking, but it opens the door to truth. It’s human to avoid pain – it was adaptive for our species. In the wild, the more comfort you can create for yourself, the more likely you are to survive. But in a society where survival is mostly assured, avoiding pain creates a culture that is addicted, empty – and depressed. It’s why I believe in becoming, not simply happy, but deeply happy. Deeply happy is an inner strength, a deep knowing that even though life has ups and downs, there is a part of you that stays anchored and at peace. It’s an inner light that isn’t blown out by the winds of change. It includes all feelings, and welcomes all of you. Here’s how to cultivate becoming deeply happy: Meditate. Get to...
Yes, You Will Be Harshly Criticized

Yes, You Will Be Harshly Criticized

by | Jul 9, 2015 | Uncategorized |

Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND

Dr. Teray offers natural and integrative programs for healing anxiety & depression, chronic fatigue, and digestive conditions. She is a licensed naturopathic doctor, wellness coach, author, and creator of the Deeply Happy Expert Series. She serves clients globally via phone and video consultation.
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/

Latest posts by Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND (see all)

Late last week I filmed the first in a series of videos (which I’ll be sharing with you soon) about transforming depression and becoming deeply happy. Now, even though I’ve taught and written about this topic for years, it was an entirely different experience to put it on film.  Speaking into the impassive glass of the camera, with the thought of so many unknown and possibly uncharitable people who would watch the video – it was harder than I thought it would be! When we wrapped for the day, I was shaking, craving comfort food, and wanted nothing more than to huddle into my bed and numb out with one of my favorite books. I felt raw and unsafe. I questioned the entire project. I felt depressed and inadequate. I’m sharing this with you, not because this is a unique experience, but because it is common. And I’m guessing you’ve felt something similar, if you’ve ever put yourself out there in a way that felt scary to you. You may have stopped yourself from going against the grain, or trying something new,  for fear of the resultant insecurity that often comes after the bold revelation. How did I pull through? Well, first I curled up into a ball. I did eat some comfort food. I mindlessly scrolled through Facebook. I reached out to a couple of trusted friends. And, I re-watched this video of Brené Brown, a talk entitled “Sweaty Creatives.” In this keynote, she brilliantly teaches how to be courageous in the face of doubt. Her main points: 1. Creativity – doing something different, new or original –...