Asperger's, Anger and Relationships

Not all Aspies are alike. Many have wonderful relationships and family life.

Not all Aspies ( or those with Asperger Syndrome) are alike. Adults with Asperger syndrome may experience a range of problems, including difficulties in negotiating friendships and relationships, and finding a suitable job. Training and experience can help to build coping skills.

A person with Asperger syndrome may have trouble understanding the emotions of other people, and the subtle messages sent by facial expression, eye contact and body language are often missed or misinterpreted. Because of this, people with Asperger syndrome might be mistakenly perceived as being egotistical, selfish or uncaring.

These are unfair labels because the person concerned is neurologically unable to understand other people’s emotional states. People with Asperger syndrome are usually shocked, upset and remorseful when told their actions were hurtful or inappropriate.

People with Asperger syndrome can sometimes appear to have an ‘inappropriate’, ‘immature’ or ‘delayed’ understanding of sexual codes of conduct. This can sometimes result in sexually inappropriate behavior. For example, a 20-year-old with Asperger syndrome may display behaviors which befit a teenager.

Even individuals who are high achieving and academically or vocationally successful can have trouble negotiating the ‘hidden rules’ of courtship.

For more information contact BrainAdvantage.

Girls and Concussion

Fatal brain injuries in high school sports outside football are exceedingly rare, but post-concussion syndrome  in which dizziness, lethargy and the inability to concentrate can cost teenagers weeks or months of school is a growing concern. AND it was just as common among girls as boys and even more misunderstood.

Can injury or concussion can happen even if you DON'T lose consciousness.

In general the medical profession does not do a very good job in recognizing that female athletes sustain concussions at an equal or even higher rate as males. Therefore, looking for concussions in women is not pursued with the same diligence, and it’s setting girls up problems.

According to a study published in the Journal of Athletic Training, football has the highest rate of concussions in high school sports, with 47 such injuries per 100,000 player games or practices. Girls soccer was second highest with 36 per 100,000, followed by boys soccer and girls basketball.

Most soccer concussions are caused by hard falls to the ground or collisions with other players. Heading the ball is not a primary cause, studies have determined, because the impact is not of sufficient force to send the brain crashing into the skull.

Girls are just as competitive as boys, and they’ll push through concussions just like boys . For every one girl who ends up getting treated, there are four or five who keep playing because they don’t want to admit they’re hurt. It’s easier not to do anything. The results of this will show up later in life making brain function an issue in later years.

Aging and Poor Sleep

As we get older impaired brain function can can poor sleep.

Aging brains show a weakening in brain waves associated with deep sleep (right) compared with younger adults (left), with consequent memory impairments.

Deterioration of a specific brain region impairs sleep quality as people age, leading to poorer memory retention, according to research published today in Nature Neuroscience.

Aging is associated with the gradual loss of brain cells, sleep disturbances and declining memory function, but how these factors are related to each other has been unclear.

Neuroscientist Bryce Mander at the University of California, Berkeley, and his colleagues recruited 33 healthy adults — 18 around the age of 20, and 15 ranging from late sixties to late seventies — all with normal mental function, and asked them to memorize a list of word pairs.

The participants were asked to recall some of the word pairs ten minutes later, then left to sleep overnight while the researchers recorded the electrical activity of their brains. The next morning, volunteers were asked to recall selected words from the list again while having their brains scanned.

In keeping with earlier studies, the older adults performed less well than the younger ones on the memory test, and showed significant reductions in the slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

Call BrainAdvantage today and see how we can help you sleep and think better!

Ian Percy Workshop! This Saturday. Find Creative Solutions for Your Business and Your Life!!

BrainAdvantage and The Center for Spiitual Living Capistrano Valley Invite you to network and

make your business more profitable this year!

Called “one of the top 21 speakers for the 21st century” is coming to the

Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley in San Clemente to show you how to:

Ian Percy

• Focus on what is possible instead of old-style reactive problem-solving;
• Release the incredible energy hidden throughout your organization; and
• Realign that energy toward your highest possibilities.

Albert Einstein said that everything is energy. But for 400 years, individuals and companies

have been locked into Newtonian thinking that ignores this truth. It’s taken us about as far as it

can and now all our institutions must change the way they function in order to reach new levels

of purpose, passion, performance...and profitability.

In this remarkable and thoroughly enjoyable two-hour session, you will hear from one of the

most dynamic and thoughtful speakers of our time. Ian Percy, who has the rare honor of being

inducted into both the US and Canadian Speaker Halls of Fame, has challenged and inspired

corporations in numerous industries around the world. These corporations, including Microsoft,

Ford Motor Company, Levi Strauss, US Bank, Xerox, and many more have paid him thousands

of dollars to help them bring more creativity and profitability into their business. Now you have

the rare opportunity to hear his important message to help your business and your life .

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to network with other businesspeople in the area and gain a

new perspective on taking your life and organization into 2013 with energetic success!

Where: The Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley

1201 Puerta Del Sol

San Clemente, CA 92673

When: Saturday, January 26, 2013

Time: 1:001:30 pm Network with other attendees

1:303:30 pm Program

Cost: $25.00 per person

RSVP: Pattie Mercado at 949.240.6463

Space is limited! Call Today!

Child care is available– Please call to include your child.

and

Einstein, Energy & Creative Change

Using universal principles in your life and organization

What is the difference between right and left brain?

Most people have heard, "Oh, I'm right-brained or left-brained", but what does that really mean? The truth is we use both sides of our brains even though sometimes we have dominant characteristics. If you want a really easy-to-understand description of how your brain works, take a look at Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's TED talk. It's only 15 or so minutes and it will give you a new understanding f the differences between right and left brain function.

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, A Stroke of Insight.

Click here to view to view her talk.

Foods to Lower Stress

Feeling a little frazzled? Whether it's a cup of warm milk, a slice of avocado, or a piece of dark chocolate, certain foods can help reduce stress — and the snacks on this list are good for you, too.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates have been found to increase levels of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that can boost mood and reduce stress. Once serotonin levels are increased, people under stress experience improved cognitive function, meaning they can concentrate and work better. Many of us know that the comforting effect of carbohydrates in the diet that can reduce stress — savoring that comfort food of a bowl of pasta or macaroni and cheese feels soothing and can help you to relax. Just make sure to choose healthy carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and whole-grains for better nutrition, and limit fat-laden, calorie-dense toppings.

Indulge in Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate in the diet can reduce stress in two ways — its chemical impact and its emotional impact. Chocolate feels like such an indulgence that it can be a real treat to simply savor a piece of it, and that feeling alone can help to reduce stress. Dark chocolate, which is also rich in antioxidants, can also help to reduce stress by lowering levels of stress hormones in the body, according to a Swiss study in which participants ate about 1.5 ounces per day for two weeks. Just avoid excess calories in your diet by not overindulging in too much of that luscious chocolate.

Avocados
Avocados are not only delicious mashed into guacamole or sliced onto a salad — they're also packed with omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy essential acids are known to reduce stress and anxiety, boost concentration, and improve mood, in addition to the benefit of helping to reduce stress.

Fatty Fish
Fatty fish are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and an excellent way to use diet and nutrition to reduce stress because they also offer a major benefit to cardiovascular health. Omega-3 fatty acids and fatty fish have also been found to ease depression, because the chemicals improve communication between nerve cells. Fatty fish include tuna, halibut, salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, and lake trout.


Warm Milk
A centuries-old home remedy for getting a better night’s sleep, warm milk helps because it has a relaxing effect on the body. Calcium-rich foods are an essential part of a healthy diet for bone health, but they also help with stress reduction. Milk and other dairy foods with calcium and added vitamin D can help muscles relax and stabilize mood — one study even found that they can also ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.


Grab a Handful of Nuts
Nuts are full of vitamins, including B vitamins, and healthy fatty acids as well. B vitamins are an important part of a healthy diet and can help to reduce stress. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts can even help lower blood pressure levels. According to one study, pistachios in particular were found to have a role in reducing stress levels. Just remember to limit servings to just a handful a day to avoid excess calories.

Vitamin C
Some studies have found that high levels of vitamin C help ease stress levels. One double-blind study reported on the value of taking 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C in a slow-release formula to reduce stress and levels of the stress-related hormone cortisol. Another study looked at the stress reduction effects of taking a supplement containing 1,000 mg of C, plus B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. Eating citrus fruits, including oranges, grapefruits, and strawberries is a good start, but you would need a supplement to reach such high levels of these nutrients.

Make Your Life and Business More Profitable!

Ian Percy, international speaker who helps corporations and individuals transform their business and life! 

"Everything is energy and that's all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics." Albert Einstein

We are proud to announce Ian Percy, one of the top 21 speakers for the 21st century, will be coming to Southern California on January 26, 2013 to give a one-time presentation for entrepreneurs and individuals who are looking for new creative ideas to increase creativity, business and revenue.

Ian Percy challenges and inspires corporate and association audiences in numerous industries around the world to Focus on the Possibilities.He has the rare honor of induction into both the US and Canadian Speaker Halls of Fame. Ian's written seven books, challenging how we define "leadership" as well as taking a huge swipe at the typical approach to corporate vision.

An organizational psychologist, Ian is the creator of The Infinite Possibilities Initiative, a process that applies proven principles from quantum and energetic science to system-wide transformation. "Everything that will ever be possible is already possible!" he says. "On some level we all know we're meant for greater things, we just don't quite know how to move the whole organization out of fear and into freedom in order to get them." And that's where Ian's magic comes in. He will show you how to do exactly that.

Ian helps organizations transform by reaching for their highest possibilities - in technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, education, professional services, healthcare and finance. He's authored seven books including the breakthrough book on leadership titled Going Deep, and The Profitable Power of Purpose that challenges the typical corporate vision. His latest book Make Your Life a Masterpiece is a full color modern adaptation of James Allen's "As a Man Thinketh."

Don't miss this rare opportunity for Ian to share new ways to improve your creativity in business and life!

Saturday January 26, 1 - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: Love Offering
Child care available - contact Rev. Pattie Mercado-949.240.6463

Place: The Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley 1201 Puerta Del Sol, Suite 100 (First Floor)
San Clemente, CA 92673
Contact BrainAdvantage for more information!

I Resolve…to Help My Brain!

Resolve to make your brain better in 2013!

It’s that time of year again.

Guilt-ridden from overindulgence during the holidays, we’re eager to make New Year’s resolutions. The most common resolution everyone seems to make is to get in better physical shape.

But what about your brain? Doesn’t it deserve a resolution or two? After all, your brain works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

So…here are my 10 New Year’s Resolutions for “Pumping Up” your Brain:

1. Learn to breathe. Breathing is one of the single most important things you do. It feeds your brain and body with oxygen. Learn how to do it right.

2. Eat right. Remember the food you eat feeds your brain. Make sure that you don’t feed it chemicals, preservatives or empty calories.

3. Exercise your body. Research has shown that physical activity truly helps keep your brain fit as well. Couch potatoes tend to lose their mental faculties earlier than gym rats! (Reference exercise suggestions such as walking, aerobic exercises and strength-training, etc.)

4. Learn more about your brain. Learn what makes your brain tick. (Suggestions on how to do it.)

5. Learn more about your body. Make an appointment to check for allergies, nutritional issues, and any other problems that might get in the way of reaching your goals.

6. Take on a new mental challenge. Learn a language, play a new game—just make sure that it’s a new experience. Playing the same game over and over doesn’t Challenge your brain. Your brain thrives on novelty. In fact, novel and challenging activity which helps your brain to create new brain cells and connections—and makes you smarter!

7. Rewrite your goals everyday and Visualize yourself in a better state: your body and life will follow. Old habits and old thinking won’t help you with new resolutions.

8. Change your environment to help you with your goals. Throw out all the fudge left over from the holidays and make it easier to make healthy choices.

9. Find a good neurotherapy center to help you tune up and improve the brain you have. It might be the best investment you can make in yourself and your overall quality of life.

10. Be kind to yourself.

Contact BrainAdvantage today to improve your brain for the new year!