Spiritual…finding direction

Emotional…keeping balanced

Physical…staying connected & grounded

This resource guide was compiled in response to MMAF’s desire to focus attention on holistic health and mission as ‘lifegiving’. It was created for the Maryknoll community in Thailand as a starting point for ways to support healthy lives in mission. It is intended to spark ideas, conversations and actions. In no way is it meant to be an all-inclusive guide to holistic health, rather, like a good pot of soup, I hope that it will be added to and spiced up as more people’s ideas and insights are contributed.

Many thanks to Jim Campion, Kathleen Doerner, Sr. Meg Gallagher Kelly O’Brien, Sr. Phyllis O’Toole and all others who contributed ideas and resources. Please send comments and additional resources to be added or changed to khill@loxinfo.co.th or drop them in my mailbox at the Maryknoll Center House in Bangkok.

STRESS

Anything that demands some change, adjustment, or response from us is termed a stressor. Stress refers to both the cause and effect (closely linked).

Effects of Stress:

1. Organizational

Job burnout, poor performance, poor working relationships, not meeting goals.

2. Physical (over time these physical responses cause breakdown of vital organs and serious and chronic disease)

· elevated blood glucose, heart rate and blood pressure

· shallow difficult breathing

· queasy stomach

· tight muscles, clenched jaw

· back and head pain

· numbness, tingling and coldness in the extremities

· dry mouth and sweating

THE BODY DOES NOT LIE. Feedback loop can effect pulse and breathing. WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY IS YOUR BAROMETER AND DO YOU LISTEN TO IT?

3. Emotional

Anxiety, anger, boredom, depression, tension, fatigue, frustration, irritability, moodiness, nervousness, self-hate, worry

4. Mental

Difficulty concentrating, defensiveness, focus on details, mental blocks.

5. Behavioral

Drug use, alcoholism, smoking, overeating, loss of appetite, impulsive outburst, restlessness, blaming others, isolation, poor task performance.

SELF –MANAGEMENT IN A WORLD OF STRESS

STRESSORS PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS

FILTERS RESPONSE

The Self

Beliefs/Expectations

Conditioning/Past Experience

Worries/Anticipations

Life Stage/Personality

Assumptions about Self

Pressures Arousal

Changes Coping

Demands

TRIGGERING THE STRESS RESPONSE

STRESS RESPONSES

Exhaustion Relaxation

Release

Turnoff

Tension Coping Activities

Buildup

What is ‘life-giving’ for you? What drains your energy?

Who and what is your support network?

How do you relieve stress?

What part of your body tells you when you are stressed? Your ‘aching back’, stomach problems, tight shoulders, quick temper’?

What is Holistic Health for you?

Spiritual Resources… finding direction

Buddhist Centers

The International Buddhist Meditation House of Dhamma

Mahachulalongkorn, Buddhist University 26/9 Chompol Lane

Ta Prachan, Bangkok 10200 Lardprao, Lane 15, Chatuchak

Contact: Helen Jandamit Bangkok 10900

Home: 623-6326

Office: 222-2835 (1:00-6:00)

Venerable Santikaro Samnak Vipasana Som Thawee

Dawn Liam, c/o Suan Moke Monastery Bangkla, Chachoengsao 24100

Chaiya, Surat Thani 84110 Contact: Phra Acham Thawee

Phone: (077) 431-552

Wat Ram Poeng Wat Kow Tham International Center

Monastery of Ascetic Practice Wat Kow Tham, Koh Pha-ngan

Suthep Subdistrict, Muang district Surat Thani 84280

Chiang Mai 50000 Contact: The Abbot

Phone: (053) 278-620

Catholic Mass

Bangkok: Holy Redeemer Church on Sathorn Rd. English Masses daily at 7:00 and 11:00 am Sundays.

Assumption Cathedral English Mass Sunday 9:30am

Chiang Mai: Seven Fountains English Mass 9:30am Sundays.

Retreat Centers

Retreat Centers in Bangkok:

Xavier Hall St. Paul de Chartres Retreat Center

43 Phaholyothin Rd. Chachoengsao, c/o Provincial

Victory Monument St. Joseph Convent, Convent Rd.

Bangkok 10400 Silom, Bangkok 10500

Phone: 246-0074 phone: 234-0561

Hua Hin Retreat Center Redemptorist Center

240 Phetkasam Rd. P.O. Box 6 Sukumvit Rd.

Hua Hin, 77110 Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260

Contact Brother Joseph Phone: (038) 422-290

Phone: (032) 511-233 (038) 422-291, 428-923

Fr. John Tamayo –retreat leader in Prachuap Kirikhan

Seven Fountains Catholic Church/Retreat Center

97 Hwey Kaew Rd

Chiang Mai, 50000

(053) 211-076

Silent retreats are available at the center.

Spiritual Directors

Bangkok area:

Fr. Tom Dunleavy, Fr. Bob Fuentes, Fr. Bill O’Leary, Br. John Beeching (teaching of Meditation), Fr. Charlie Robak (in Vietnam, prefers team work) –Maryknoll

Fr. Signumd Laschenski

Loyola House 91/1 Moo 6, Tha Kham

Samphran 73110

Phone: 429 - 0571

Fr. Paul Pone C.Ss.R.

Holy Redeemer Church

Sr. Theodore Hahnenfild or Sr. Francis Xavier Bell (Sr. Francis for Holisitic Workshops)

Mater Dei, 534 Ploenchit Rd.

Bangkok 10330

Phone: 254-9724 or 254-9728

North:

Fr. Mike Bassano (Maryknoll)

Seven Fountains Catholic Church/Retreat Center

97 Hwey Kaew Rd

Chiang Mai, 50000

(053) 211-076

The Jesuit priests offer spiritual direction.

Isan:

Fr. Angelo                                                          Fr. Sompong C.Ss.R.

P.O. 4        Bung-Khan, Nong Khai                                   P.O. 24 Khon Khen 40000

Phone:  (042) 49l-214                                       Imm. Conception Church (Ban Noi)

                                                                          Phone:  (043) 239-82l

Raul Saraceda, Hedy Saraceda, Carmencita Rojas, Norma Plata

Joy of the Lord Community, Ban Kham

P.O. Box 3,  Udon Thani             Home   (042) 322-003    Office   (042) 322-006

Emotional Resources…keeping balanced

Counseling

Bangkok: Fr. Paul Pollack Loyola House 91/1 Moo 6, Tha Kham, Samphran 73110

Phone: 429 – 0571 (Psychologist)

Psychological Services International --Fr. Dan Boyd, Rick Roselle, Fr. Tom Psaresi

Phone: 259-1467

Chiang Mai:

Dr. Esther Wakeman, clinical psychologist. Language: English, Thai
Phone: 053-243-645

Dr. Tim Friesen, clinical psychologist. Language: English
Phone: 053-246-802

Cara Flanders, counselor in private practice. Language: English
Phone: 053-215-787

Raintree Resource Center is a good place for other counseling and psychotherapy
information. Times and locations for Alcoholics Annon and CODA can also be requested.

Phone: 053-262-660

Mentors, mail, E-mail, Phone

Send letters, newspaper clippings, Thai birthday cards or New Year’s cards to family and friends. (It is cheaper to send packages if there is no letter included.) Many people love to receive ‘pretty’ stamps that are sold in many post offices.

Stay connected to friends within Thailand (but not in the same area code). It is cheaper to dial 1234 before the number. Making long distance calls is usually cheaper after 11:00pm.

Stay connected and in the loop using e-mail.

Get together with mentors, colleagues, friends, fellow missioners to chat or work through rough or confusing things, or to celebrate the great moments. (see Maryknoll phone list)

How to dial out of Thailand

001 (to get out) + country code (1 for US) + area code + phone number

How to dial into Thailand when calling from outside of Thailand

011 (when in US to get out of US) +

66 (Thailand’s country code) + area code (53 for Chiang Mai, 2 for Bangkok…)+ phone #

Physical…staying connected & grounded

Books

Bangkok: The Maryknoll Center House has a large library of all kinds of books ready to be read.

Chiang Mai: Raintree Resource Center

HealthCare

Doctors, Dentists, Eye Care

Bangkok: Bangkok Nursing Home on Convent Rd., good dentist there is Dr. Patarapawn

Chiang Mai: Mc Cormick Hospital on Kaew Nawarat Rd. (probably more English speakers than other hospitals in Chiang Mai) also see appendix C ‘Physicians and Hospitals List.

Health Clubs, Swimming Pools, City Parks

Bangkok: Lumphini Park (best times between 5am-8am and 5pm-7pm)

Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai University Campus, Chiang Mai Zoo, Buakhat Park, The Hillside Fitness Ctr on Huay Kaew, Amari Ringcome Hotel has nice pool, 700 Year stadium, Community Center on Thung Hotel Road across from the TOT building.

Hobbies

Maintain or take up a hobby: Magic, photography, needlepoint, painting, coloring, poetry, pottery, knitting, sewing, biking, card tricks, climbing, aerobics (or as they say in Thailand, Aerobic Dancing).

Ice-skating, Dancing, Karaoke, Bowling, Movies

Bangkok: See the local paper for shows and theaters, World Trade Center, Siam Center…

Chiang Mai: Kad SuanKaew (Central Dept. Store Mall) Top floor, also Airport Plaza Mall

National Parks

There are National Parks throughout Thailand. Look in your favorite guide book or www.forest.go.th

Thai Culture

Visit any or the many Wats, traditional dancing, or take a Thai cooking class (many in Chiang Mai) or Traditional Thai Massage Class (at Wat Po and many schools in Chiang Mai).

Get a Thai massage:

When you feel like this and want to feel like this

Yoga Centers and classes

Bangkok: The Plan company on Satthorn Soi 10 2^nd Floor (evenings)