Accessing Resources for Empowerment

Calico Cat and the Waterworks

Dr. Leyton — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:36:00 +0000

Calico Cat and the Waterworks

This story was written for children with bed-wetting or enuresis. Some children have trouble holding their bladder all night. Reading this story for several nights may help. It can be used with the other enuresis story – “The Boy from Two Worlds”.

Once upon a time, far away, there was a place called Watertown. In Watertown all the people lived on water. Everyone, including the most important people, needed water to survive during the day. There was a special person named Elmira who was responsible for getting the water during the day so all the people would have enough to drink. This would give them lots of energy during the day to carry out all their duties properly. At night-time all the water was stored in a big tank, which had pipes coming from it to let any extra water out. If there was more water than was needed by the townspeople during the day, then Elmira could let the water out through the pipes, and it went into a special place.

All of a sudden, one night while Elmira was sleeping, the valves on the pipes started to breakdown, and water began to leak out. When Elmira woke up there was water all over the place and none in the tank! There was no water left for the townspeople, and they became very upset. As much as Elmira tried to gather enough water during the day, sure enough almost every night the water would leak out of the tank, and there would be none left for the townspeople the next day.

Since Elmira took her job very seriously, she knew she had to get help quickly. Now Elmira knew that the real expert in how the water got in and out of the tank was the Special Chief Master Engineer named Calico Cat. Calico Cat lived deep in the woods on the other side of town — so off she set to find her. It was a long journey, because Calico Cat had retired, and even though she knew more about the waterworks than anyone else, she had long since decided to live in her house deep in the forest, and hardly spoke to anyone. At long last Elmira found Calico Cat. “What shall I do?” she said, “The water for the townspeople is leaking out at night, and there is no water left for them during the day.” Calico Cat thought long and hard. Then she took out an old dusty book and began pawing through it, until at last she let out a big “Meow!! I have found it!”. Calico Cat explained to Elmira that the valves needed fixing, and she told Elmira how to do it.

Elmira was so relieved. She trekked back through the forest, and worked long and hard through this very night to repair the valves. The next day she collected all the water she needed for the day to feed the townspeople, and put what was left over in the waterworks holding tank. Then she went to sleep easily and peacefully, knowing that she had completed her task. The next day she woke up and discovered that her plan had worked. The water had stayed in the tank all night long, and she had not lost a single drop! So the very next day she did not have to work so hard to collect more water, and she could let the townspeople have the water they need during the day, by opening the valves whenever she wanted. And best of all, she could go to sleep at night, knowing that she would not lose any water during the night.

Once or twice she thought to herself that perhaps the valves might not work for very long, but days, weeks, and eventually months went by, and still the water stayed in the tank, and the townspeople had all the water they needed during the day. They were so happy, there was a lot of celebration in Watertown for many months to come. She was so thankful that she sent special message to Calico Cat to thank her for showing her how to stop the water from leaking out of the tank at night. Calico Cat purred with delight.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to prescribe treatment. Please see your health care provider for details of any treatment.

The Boy Who Lived In Two Worlds

Dr. Leyton — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:30:29 +0000

The Boy Who Lived In Two Worlds

Once upon a time there was a boy named Byron who lived in two worlds — one world they called WakeyWakey, and the other they called SleepyTime. Now most people live in WakeyWakey world and they like it that way, but there is something to be said for SleepyTime world too — although most folks just don’t know much about what goes on there. Both worlds were every close to each other, and this is important, as you will see later. All kinds of exciting things go on in SleepyTime that don’t go on in WakeyWakey. But Holy Jumpin’s! The worst thing that can happen is that sometimes they get mixed up and things that should go on in WakeyWakey time go in SleepyTime and that can be a problem! A big problem!

One of the problems that Byron had, was to do with the waterworks. Since WakeyWakey and SleepyTime were so close together, they shared the same waterworks — that’s the place where all the used water was stored from both worlds. He would make sure all the people in WakeyWakey got enough water during the day. He would collect the good water and give it to the townspeople who were thirsty, or needed it for other things, and then get rid of the water that they had used during the day. He was great at this part of the job, and proud of it. He would collect all the used water in a big holding tank, and if it got full during the day he would make sure he emptied it all in the right place.

The trouble started when he went to SleepyTime. Now you can imagine, I think, that most of the people in SleepyTime were — well — asleep! They didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to what was going on around them. Although they were asleep they were also very busy with something they called ‘dreaming’. Dreaming was so nice it took all of their attention away from other things that really needed doing, like emptying the water tank when it was full. Although Byron knew it was his job to do this — he just got so caught up with dreaming that he would forget. What happened as a result was hard to take lying down! The water would leak out of the holding tank, and flood parts of the WakeyWakey world. When Byron went to WakeyWakey the next day, the people said, “Look! The people from SleepyTime let all the used water leak into WakeyWakey.” They were very unhappy, and Byron felt bad, because he really liked to please people and do his job. What could he do?

Well, my friends, the answer came sooner than expected. That very night when Byron was in SleepyTime he had a visit from a very special person. No sooner was Byron asleep, when he heard a strange sound, “Clang-a-bang! Clang-a-bang!” it went. He strained to see who or what could be making such a noise in SleepyTime. Then, in the darkness, slowly he began to make out the figure of a big man clad in shining armor! “Who are you?” quivered Byron, for he was a little afraid. “Do not be afraid my friend — I am here to help you solve your water problem now. My name is Aqualung and for many timeless times I have helped those like yourself. Now listen carefully and do everything I say.”

Byron was a little offended, but because Aqualung’s voice was so clear and kind he decided to listen. “The people in WakeyWakey drink alot, wash alot and bathe alot, and so they should for they are different than SleepyTime folks. They need lots of water, and you store it for them well, and you know exactly when to empty the tank, don’t you?” Byron nodded. “Well,” continued Aqualung, “When you are in SleepyTime, I want you to know that most of the time you don’t have to empty the tank at all! Even if it gets really full I will come and tell you, so that you can go to WakeyWakey to empty it in the proper place. Then you can go back to SleepyTime and keep dreaming!” Byron was thrilled because he always thought he had to empty the tank at night, just like he did during the day.

“But how will I know you are coming at just the right time?” he asked of Aqualung. “Well,” replied Aqualung, “as time goes on, if the tank gets really full, you will hear the “Clang! Clang!” of my armor, as I come out of the deep lake. Then you will know to go to WakeyWakey and empty the tank. But this much I will say — most of the time you can wait until morning can’t you?” Byron nodded — he wasn’t quite sure why, but somehow he had a great trust in Aqualung, even though he had only just met him. Then, just as quickly as he had appeared Aqualung slipped into the dark night.

Sure enough the very next night, even though he was dreaming away and having a great time, he went to WakeyWakey at daybreak and discovered to his delight that all the water had remained in the holding tank overnight! And he just emptied the tank as soon as he got to WakeyWakey. More nights passed and the same thing happened. All the townspeople were happy, and so was Byron. Then, one night, in the Summer, when the folks in WakeyWakey had used more water than usual and Byron was in SleepyTime, he heard a loud “Clang-a-Bang! Clang-a-Bang!” He looked up and saw Aqualung coming out of the deep lake. He was so pleasantly surprised he just got up and went to WakeyWakey and emptied the tank, and then went back to SleepyTime.

The next day when he went to WakeyWakey he was delighted to find the tank was almost empty, and there was no flood! Just imagine, by putting his trust in Aqualung he had been able to keep the water in the tank. Even when it got full, true to his word, Aqualung had warned him of the danger. After that, there was a big celebration in both WakeyWakey and SleepyTime. Byron got to celebrate in both worlds, and everyone was happy after that. Byron was named the Chief Water Engineer — and he liked that a lot.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to prescribe treatment. Please see your health care provider for details of any treatment.

Jenny and the Magic Clown

Dr. Leyton — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:28:59 +0000

Jenny and the Magic Clown

“Do you believe in magic?” said the clown. “What’s magic?” said the little girl. Magic is when good things happen and you don’t know why. “Oh! Then I guess I do.” she said. “Well, listen very carefully,“said the clown, “for what I am going to tell you about is magic…real magic.

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Jenny. She was really bright and full of life. One day she was playing with her sister, when all of a sudden she fell and hit her head. “Ow!! that hurt.” she said, and then she felt her Mom picking her up and she felt scared and kind of funny feeling and ….then….When she woke up she felt sore and tired, but after a while she was back to her usual self. All she could remember was just her Mom holding her in her arms and how good that felt. Well, a little while later when Mom was going out she felt that funny feeling again, and she felt bad afterwards just like before.

Then, and this is the magic part, one night while she was asleep she had a dream. You know dreams are like magic – they can fix scary things really quickly. So in this dream, Jenny was looking down from a high place way up in the sky on a big white fluffy cloud. And way down below she could see a movie just like on TV. Guess who was in the movie – it was Jenny, she was the star! She could see herself falling and bumping her head, and she could see her Mom pick her up and hold her in her arms. And the she could see all the other times that the same thing had happened. It was really neat to be able to see that. Then, she heard a voice “It’s OK Jenny”, said the voice “you can see that your Mom really loves you and even when she is away from you down there you can see she loves you. Because Mom’s always love their children, even when they are away”

“And just let yourself float, now all the way back as far as you need to so you can see that…” And Jenny did, and then she could see a light coming down and shining all over her and her Mom. And she could look forward just like magic to the future and absolutely know that her Mum would always love her and she could feel really OK about that, and not weird anymore. And she felt happy about that and so did her Mom.

“And when Jenny woke up from her dream she felt different,” said the clown, “because that was magic.” And from that time on Jenny knew she could laugh and play again and always know that her Mom would love her, even when she wasn’t there.

© Edward Leyton MD 1998-2008

How to get a better sleep

Dr. Leyton — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:14:04 +0000

February 03, 2009 | Patricia Nicholson

Doctor’s CD program helps patients
rest easy by teaching skills required for
a good night’s sleep

Trouble sleeping is a common complaint, but Dr. Edward Leyton of Kingston, Ontario, approaches getting a good night’s sleep as a skill that can be learned. His new CD set, Learn to Sleep Peacefully—Awake Refreshed, was produced to teach patients to do just that.

“I wanted to create something for doctors to say to their patients, ‘Here, use this CD—maybe that will help, before I prescribe,’ ” Dr. Leyton says. As a family physician, he ran a holistic practice for about 15 years, and now focuses on complementary and alternative care.

The first CD of the two-disk set is educational, covering sleep cycles and sleep hygiene. Many of Dr. Leyton’s tips target the habits that may make it difficult to fall asleep.

“For example, I talk about taking a half-hour before you actually go to bed to wind down,” he says. “A lot of people will watch the news, get upset and then go to bed. . . . That’s not the kind of thing that’s conducive to sleep.”

For worriers—those whose minds start to fret as soon as their heads hit the pillow—Dr. Leyton suggests rescheduling all that fretting.

“I suggest an actual conscious worrying period earlier in the evening,” he said. “Take 10 or 15 minutes and actually worry consciously. Bring up all the things that are bothering you and see if there are any solutions to them—sort of a brainstorming session for solving problems.”

Hypnotic language

The second CD is designed to put listeners to sleep. It opens with 15 or 20 minutes of hypnotic language, followed by about 45 minutes of ambient music that gets gradually quieter, with changes in beat to help bring brainwaves from an alert state into a sleep state.

Learn to Sleep Peacefully is Dr. Leyton’s third CD. He has also recorded a stress reduction CD and a CD for those who are anxious about flying.

“What I want to do here is create CDs that are easy for people to carry out themselves, so that they’re self-empowering. They don’t have to go to their doctor and get sleeping pills or Valium for stress, or anything like that. It’s easy for them to listen to the CD and learn a technique,” Dr. Leyton says.

“Obviously people really need that because there are so many stress-related illnesses, and doctors just don’t have the time to sit down with people.”

Dr. Leyton’s CDs are available through his website (Accessing Resources for Empowerment at www.arfe.ca), as downloadable MP3s or on CD via mail order.

Leyton won’t be insulted

Dr. Leyton — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:12:34 +0000

Leyton won’t be insulted
if he puts you to sleep

By: Ted on 09/28/08

In fact, that’s exactly what his new CD is for. We’ve all been there. You’re on the couch vainly trying to keep your eyes open while watching junk food television. Eventually, you come to the conclusion you’re exhausted and should call it a night.

You plunk yourself down in bed, you can’t wait for blissful sleep to overtake your body.

So what happens? You’re awake half the night, tossing and turning, every worry, every anxiety, every iota of a problem coursing through your mind. The more you try, the more difficult it becomes to nod off. Then you’re pooped the next day, you’re stressed and you don’t sleep well again. What happened?

According to Kingston’s Dr. Edward Leyton, a highly qualified family physician who’s focused his career on alternative medicine for several years now, it’s a matter of preparation, as well as our hectic lifestyles.

“In ancient times, there was no light and our bodies produced melatonin naturally,” said the physician. “We have a lot of light stimulus now at night, and a person may suffer a fatigued tiredness, but their rhythm is not correct.

“When you go to bed, you are decreasing visual stimulation, but you still have thoughts and as soon as you lie down, it’s intellectual stimulation which overcomes you.”

Leyton operates the Integrative Medicine Clinic where for the past 25 years he has practiced orthodox and complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, nutrition and psychotherapy. The clinic is not an alternative to orthodox treatments, but combines the best of both healing worlds. Part of his practice deals with patients attempting to overcome phobias and tensions, including sleep disorders. In 2005, he and his wife, Andrea, recorded a CD, “Learn to Unwind,” as well as “Learn to Enjoy Your Flight,” which helps those who suffer from a fear of flying, or aviaphobia. This past spring they released a two-CD set, “Learn to Sleep Peacefully — Awake Refreshed,” which helps people break the vicious cycle of insomnia.

When Andrea contacted me a couple of weeks ago asking if I’d be interested in reviewing it, I jumped on the opportunity immediately, having had more sleepless nights than I care to admit. The set introduces listeners to what happens during sleep and gives tips for preparing for sleep. You also learn about power napping, something anyone can take during the day to re-energize. The second CD is a 60-minute sleep inducing track which uses special techniques for quieting your mind and inducing a peaceful sleep state.

Andrea recommended I listen to number one first, then the second: naturally, I immediately went to number two.

So I get ready to tuck myself in for the night. I’ve plopped the disc into the player and turn out the lights, then start to listen, Dr. Leyton reassuring me that my mind will rest, I deserve this sleep, that my subconscious mind will look after whatever needs to be done. Then, a few minutes later, Andrea’s voice, too, starts to talk in the background . . . I hear words, but I’m not quite sure what they are, nor do I particularly care. I’m out.

I try the same thing a few nights later, determined that as an intrepid reporter, it’s my duty to hear the whole shebang. Same thing happens. I listen midday. Zzzzzzz.

“It’s really conversational hypnosis,” explains Leyton. “You don’t have to formally put people in a trance, and trance is really just a focused state of awareness. “Essentially, what we do is give you images that your unconscious mind latches on to, and that direct you away from thoughts keeping you awake.”

The actual talking, I learn (remember, I kept falling asleep) between the couple only goes on about 15 minutes; after that, there’s ambient sound designed to gently coax you into slumber.

“We assign them a certain frequency that takes you from beta rhythm — what you would experience in the daytime — through to delta rhythm, or a deep sleep state,” Leyton said. “Alpha is what we call a meditation rhythm where you’re still awake, but relaxed, while a REM sleep is where your dreaming is done. ”It usually takes a person about one hour to fall into a deep sleep. During the course of an eight-hour sleep, a person will go through 90-minute cycles of delta-alpha-rem.”

Leyton did his residency in family medicine at Queen’s University from 1975-78. In those days, he says, it was rare for physicians to discuss the concept of “wellness,” as opposed to “illness.” A year of specialization in biofeedback, followed by subsequent training in gestalt therapy, acupuncture, clinical hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming and psychotherapy, led him to where he is today.

Clients may be self-referred, or referred by their own physicians. As well, on his website www.arfe.ca. those interested may register for free healthy tips, plus there’s samples of all of the CDs. “Many of my patients are Queen’s students, but I see people of all ages. I wanted to produce things people can use themselves, that will help them enjoy life. What’s especially rewarding about this is you realize you’ve given people practical tools to use for the rest of their life,” Leyton said.

- – -

Forty winks

WHAT: Physician and psychotherapist Dr. Edward Leyton has released a new 2-CD set to help those who have trouble sleeping.

COST: $28.95 (2cds), $29.95 (MP3 download).

OTHERS: Previous CDs Learn to Unwind and Learn to Enjoy Your Flight are also available for purchase ($21.95 or $19.95 for MP3 download).

AVAILABLE: Chapters, Indigo Books or at www.arfe.ca

Way out of a fear of flying

Dr. Leyton — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:42:28 +0000

As Seen in the ‘National Post’

Visualize your way out of a fear of flying

National Post Published: Wednesday, June 18, 2008

For some, “fear of flying” has a more direct meaning than Erica Jong’s 1970s feminist novel. Thoughts of airplanes, flights, even the airport, are a source of great anxiety. Others have different stresses, trouble sleeping, or trouble relaxing. Edward Leyton, a physician and psychotherapist based in Kingston, Ont., has put his many years of experience in the field of relaxation therapy onto a series of self-help “empowering” CDs. In simple, direct language and a reassuring tone, Leyton guides the listener through visualization and relaxation exercises to reach a state of greater calm, whatever the cause. The CDs, available for sale through his website, www.arfe.ca, include the titles Learn to Unwind, Learn to Sleep Peacefully and, yes, Learn to Enjoy Your Flight.

NationalPostCanada.com Network

GP Psychotherapy Annual Conference 2008

Dr. Leyton — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:40:07 +0000

ARFE exhibits at National GP Psychotherapy Annual Conference

Toronto May 2008

One of the aims of Accessing Resources for EmpowermentTM is to get these CDs to those who need them. Below, Operations Manager Andrea Leyton exibits at the National Annual GP Psychotherapy Conference in Toronto on May 8-10 2008, while Dr. Leyton gives a keynote presentation and workshop on Nutriton and Psychotherapy.

Buy-a-Net Malaria Prevention Group

Dr. Leyton — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:37:49 +0000

ARFE Supplies Mosquito Nets
for Ugandan Village

Dr. Edward Leyton’s launch of his new CD Learn to Sleep Peacefully ~ Awake Refreshed gave a surprise boost to Debra Lefebvre’s Buy-a-Net Malaria Prevention Group www.buya net.ca last Thursday, when sales of the CD produced enough funds to buy mosquito nets for a whole village in Uganda.

Dr Leyton said from Chapters in Kingston, “I am delighted that by helping people to sleep peacefully here in Canada we have helped an entire village in Uganda sleep more peacefully by preventing them from getting bitten by mosquitoes that carry malaria.”

This is Dr. Leyton’s third CD in his Learn to Enjoy your Life series that focuses on relaxation and stress reduction. This new double CD explains what happens during sleep and gives tips on how to relax before bed. The second CD lulls the listener into a restful sleep through language and sound. The CD’s can be heard and purchased at Chapters and other outlets, as well as from www.arfe.ca.

Kingston Doctor helps patients sleep with new sleep CD

Dr. Leyton — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:32:56 +0000

Rob Mooy

Kingston Doctor helps patients sleep

Win a copy of “Learn to Sleep Peacefully Awake Refreshed” by Kingston’s Dr. Edward Leyton

KTW DRAWS…..

We’ve all had difficulty sleeping from time to time. But, for some it’s a real problem. If you’re not sleeping well, chances are you have no energy for the next day. Then you feel stressed about feeling tired, so you don’t sleep well again – it’s a vicious cycle.

Dr. Edward Leyton, a medical doctor in Kingston for 30 years, will be releasing his latest CD in his relaxation series “Learn to Sleep Peacefully – Awake Refreshed” at Chapters at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17. Kingston This Week has five copies of the CD to give away.

This is Edward’s third release in his Learn to Enjoy Your Life™ series helping people break the cycle, relax, sleep and de-stress. “Learn to Sleep Peacefully – Awake Refreshed” is a two-disc set that introduces listeners to what happens during sleep and gives tips for preparing for sleep. Also included on the first disc are two tracks for learning about the power nap – a short nap anyone can take during the day to energize themselves.

The second CD is a 60 minute sleep inducing track using special techniques for quieting your mind and inducing a peaceful sleep state.

Proceeds from the sale of each sleep CD sold during the April 17 launch at Chapters will go to buying a bed mosquito net for Buy-A-Net, (www.buyanet.ca), a Kingston based registered charitable organization with a mission to prevent and treat malaria in Africa through the distribution of bed nets.

CDs Featured in ‘Doctor’s Review’ Travel Magazine

Dr. Leyton — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:31:35 +0000

Accessing Resources for Empowerment

Calico Cat and the Waterworks

Calico Cat and the Waterworks

The Boy Who Lived In Two Worlds

The Boy Who Lived In Two Worlds

Jenny and the Magic Clown

Jenny and the Magic Clown

How to get a better sleep

Doctor’s CD program helps patients rest easy by teaching skills required for a good night’s sleep

Hypnotic language

Leyton won’t be insulted

Leyton won’t be insulted if he puts you to sleep

- – -

Way out of a fear of flying

Visualize your way out of a fear of flying

GP Psychotherapy Annual Conference 2008

ARFE exhibits at National GP Psychotherapy Annual Conference

Buy-a-Net Malaria Prevention Group

ARFE Supplies Mosquito Nets for Ugandan Village

Kingston Doctor helps patients sleep with new sleep CD

Kingston Doctor helps patients sleep

Win a copy of “Learn to Sleep Peacefully Awake Refreshed” by Kingston’s Dr. Edward Leyton

CDs Featured in ‘Doctor’s Review’ Travel Magazine

Doctor’s CD program helps patients
rest easy by teaching skills required for
a good night’s sleep

Leyton won’t be insulted
if he puts you to sleep

ARFE Supplies Mosquito Nets
for Ugandan Village