A Common-Sense Approach to Health and Wellness

Erik Peper, PhD and Angelika Sadar, MA

Our colleague Dr. Erik Peper is a professor at San Francisco State University, co-authored the book, TechStress-How Technology is Hijacking our Lives, Strategies for Coping and Pragmatic Ergonomics, and has a biofeedback practice at BiofeedbackHealth in Berkeley, CA (www.biofeedbackhealth.org)

In today’s fast-paced world, college students and young adults often struggle with various health issues. From anxiety and depression to ADHD and epilepsy, these challenges can significantly impact their daily lives. But what if the solution to many of these problems lies in something as simple as “Grandmother Therapy”?

What is Grandmother Therapy? Grandmother Therapy is all about going back to basics and establishing healthy lifestyle habits. It’s the common-sense approach that our grandmothers might have suggested: regular sleep patterns, balanced nutrition, increased social connections, and regular physical activity.

The Problem: 

Many college students

• Skip breakfast before their first class
• Rely on fast food and sugary stimulants
• Have irregular sleep schedules
• Spend excessive time on gaming and social media

The Medical Approach: Often, the quick solution is medication:

• Depression? Take antidepressants.
• Insomnia? Use sleeping pills.
• Anxiety? Try anti-anxiety medication.
• ADHD? Prescribe Ritalin or similar drugs.

While these treatments may help manage symptoms, they often overlook the underlying lifestyle factors contributing to these issues.

The Grandmother Therapy Approach:

1. Establish regular sleep patterns
2. Adopt healthy eating habits
3. Increase social connections
4. Incorporate regular physical activity
5. Reduce gaming and social media use

Case Study #1: The Power of Sleep

This illustrates the simple intervention of having a bedtime routine.  A collect student in a holistic health class complained that she was tired most of the time and had difficulty focusing her attention and continuously drifted off in class. 

Here is her reported sleep schedule:

• last night I went to bed at 3am and woke up 7;
• the day before, I went to bed at 1pm and woke up at 6,
• two nights before, I went to bed at 4pm and woke up at 10 am.

Holistic treatment approach:

Set a sleep schedule: she was provided with information about  the importance of having a regular pattern of sleep and waking.  Namely,  go to bed at the same time and get up 8 hours later. She agreed to do an experiment for a week to go to bed at 12 and wake up at 8m.  To her surprise, she felt so much more energized and could pay attention in class during the week of the experiment. 

Case Study #2:  A Holistic Approach to Treating Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

This case study highlights the importance of a comprehensive, lifestyle-based approach to treating psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). It follows a 24-year-old male student initially diagnosed with intractable epilepsy, experiencing over 10 seizures per week that didn’t respond to medication.

Key points:

1. Initial misdiagnosis: Despite normal MRI and EEG results, the client was initially treated for epilepsy.
2. Limited assessment: Traditional medical evaluations focused solely on seizure descriptions and diagnostics, overlooking crucial lifestyle factors.
3. Comprehensive evaluation: A psychophysiological assessment revealed high sympathetic arousal, including rapid breathing, sweaty palms, and muscle tension.
4. Lifestyle factors: The client’s diet consisted of high-glycemic fast foods, excessive caffeine, alcohol, and daily marijuana use. He also had significant student debt and a history of abdominal surgery.

Holistic treatment approach:

• Dietary changes: Switching to unprocessed, low-glycemic foods and increasing vegetable and fruit intake
• Breathing techniques: Learning and practicing slow diaphragmatic breathing
• Stress management: Addressing underlying stressors and practicing relaxation techniques
• Supplements: Adding omega-3 and multivitamins to support brain health

Remarkable results: Within four months, the patient became seizure-free, reduced marijuana use significantly, and decreased medication dosage.

These cases underscore the potential of integrating lifestyle modifications and stress management techniques in treating attention, anxiety and PNES; offering hope for patients who don’t respond to traditional treatments alone.

The Challenges of Simplicity: While Grandmother Therapy may seem straightforward, its simplicity can make it challenging to implement. It requires commitment and a willingness to change long-standing habits.

Implement many Life Style Changes at once: Recommending one change at the time is logical; however, by changing multiple lifestyle factors the person will more likely experience rapid benefits and is more motivated to continue..

Conclusion: Before turning to medication or complex treatments, consider the power of Grandmother Therapy. By addressing fundamental lifestyle factors, we can often improve our health and well-being significantly. Remember, sometimes the most effective solutions are the simplest ones.

Call to Action: Are you struggling with health issues? Try implementing some aspects of Grandmother Therapy in your life. Implement changes and see how they impact your overall well-being.