We love to demonize things. It probably serves as a quick and easy way to decipher good from bad at a glance.

Although I’m usually against this simplistic habit, I’d like to demonize something today in an effort to increase consciousness of our overall wellness.


The basic concept is that humans require constant movement to stay internally balanced. Over the past 20 years of investigation, I have learned that movement is the most powerful element of health.


With this in mind, it becomes obvious that sitting at the computer or in front of the television is directly affecting your health in a negative way. Unless celebrating and relaxing from a great physical adventure, the sofa can act as one of the primary aggravators of the common ailments we see in our culture. (Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Depression, Anxiety, Joint Pain, GI problems, and every other ailment regardless of the original trigger or source)


Here’s a method to help solve this problem while at home:

Try to look at your couch as a type of dessert. Something that needs to be earned and celebrated after a mind blowing physical experience. Know that this “dessert” is inherently not good for your body chemistry but when earned, is a beautiful way to balance the recent activity. If no activity is done, I promise your sofa will aggravate every health ailment you will ever come across.


I made this video to offer an option to the couch while watching TV. If this video is memorized, you can use the lessons from it anytime you’re in the family room.


Feel free to experience and join in the demonstration while memorizing the sequence for later use…

Hope this video helps our culture stay in balance.

be well,
-Dr. Neal


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©2011 “The Lethal Sofa” by Dr. Neal Schwartz

For those of you I’ve never met in person, there is now a short introduction video clip on the About Dr. Neal page:

My skin feels great today. It’s not just that it looks alright. The sensation of heaviness, itchiness, heat, bumps, and irritation has been removed. Like removing a thorn from a paw, the physical catharsis feels incredible. For those of you who know me from the former office, you’ll quickly notice my first beard in 35 years. This transformation of feeling ultra-clean while growing facial hair seemed an impossibility a few years ago. Whenever the 48 hour mark of not shaving would come around, my face would get uncontrollably oily and the resulting irritation and bumps would be unbearable. It was yet another great journey of life I avoided due to my skin. I’m happy to say that this inhibition is gone and my face feels completely comfortable with the beard. The freedom and level of control is hard to believe sometimes.

You may be wondering why I keep showing my surf videos on an acne practice site…

It relates to the conversation above. While battling with my own skin for the past 20 years, I found myself avoiding many situations that would send me over the edge.

Here are some of the things I used to unconsciously and consciously avoid in an effort to maintain a reasonable level of control in my life:

the beach (suntan lotion, sweat, and humidity was quite a stress test)

skiing (sweat and goggles, hats, and neck warmers caused trouble for me)

any outdoor activity like a barbeque, outdoor party, or gathering. (the humidity or the cold would cause my angry skin to act up)

any sun exposure (due to direct discomfort of inflamed skin)

daytime socializing in general. (outside weather of all types would cause facial discomfort)

It wasn’t exactly the most chill existence…, 20 years of it on and off in varying degrees. Come to think of it now, it was a living hell inherently. But as a very resilient and optimistic person, I developed many methods and tactics to cope with the discomfort of life. One of those was to recklessly throw myself into projects and work. The classic workaholic is someone who immerses themselves in their passionate work partially to escape the pain of the world outside of work. In my case, the pain was a day off. The idea of taking a stroll in the park on a day off sounded like a day to be reminded that my skin was tingling, red, flushing, and angry. It was the perfect setup for imbalance, a life of stress and disease, and an existence that would surely have been riddled with deep regret if not corrected.


While running from aggravating circumstances, I found myself not eager to get to the beach or to the mountain ever. This lack of desire was in absolute contrast to my childhood and looking back, was a clear sign that my health was not in balance. The idea of blazing my already inflamed skin with sun and lotion was just not worth the pain of both the day’s discomfort and the inevitable aftermath of oil and bumps. Simply put, it wasn’t worth the consequence and I made unconscious and conscious decisions to avoid some of the best things in life. For example, a stroll outside on a sunny day…

So here’s the story of transformation:


I’m no longer inhibited. I’m not scared of suntan lotions, and not scared of the sun. I’m not avoiding outdoor activities in any way and can control my skin in all environments with efficient efforts. While there is no cure for anything chronic, now that my mind has eased and my skin feels comfortable, I feel that I am “cured”


This video below represents my newly found celebration of life as a person who is no longer punished by enjoying a beautiful day outside in the water. I live without fear or inhibition. I’m currently working on a new video tutorial project to ensure that no one else ever needlessly suffers and avoids life like I did.


(just started surfing a few years ago. try full screen)

It’s been a wild journey.
I hope this blog helps others observe their own emotional reactions to the challenges of life.
-Dr. Neal

While helping people with chronic conditions for the past 10 years, I have been thrust into a position to work with all sides of our humanity. Specifically, the very common situations of Depression and Anxiety. Through my personal experience and while working with countless others, I have developed a vast arsenal of weapons to fight this powerful force of nature. I’d like to share my experience on this blog to help those who still find themselves searching for balance.


My healing philosophy is called E²
It’s made up from the terms “Energetics” and “Expressivity”

Energetics: (Energy and Movement)

I have observed that anyone who sits most of the day and does not exercise every single day will eventually decompensate emotionally. This reality of the natural world is not really negotiable. In my opinion, it is a matter of fact, universal consequence of a seated culture. The only aspect that is negotiable is whether it happens today, tomorrow, or next year. If you watch The Discovery Channel, you will see that the animal kingdom has evolved to constantly move around. Once anyone sees the objective nature of this reality, they will be in a strong position to do what is necessary to find control of their lives.
To take action: see the crossfit category of the blog. (or the crossfit for beginners category)

Expressivity: (Expression and Emotional Release)


As we all know, being athletic is not the only key to happiness. As social beings, we are interactive, expressive, and in need of heart-felt connections to survive. While relationships are not created instantaneously, there are many other ways to express one’s self.
Some common examples are dance class, acting class, singing class, karaoke, etc. My favorite is learning how to accompany your own voice with newly aquired guitar or piano skills.
While challenging, you need to know that millions of people all over the world are learning how to play and sing cover songs every day. Its not quite as difficult as you may imagine.
Since I wrote the post, “Anyone Can Play Guitar”, I have taught many people how to join in on the action that I finally found at age 29.

I want to share with you an intimate moment from this past holiday season that illustrates the dramatic emotional power of music therapy.
I’ll set the scene:
I just met the lead guitarist Eric that day and the drummer is a keyboardist who was experimenting on two drums. The real music therapy story however lies with my buddy Alex who was playing the harmonica. He’s a 36 year old full time professional who had never played music in his life. In an effort to enrich his life, he bought a harmonica and amazingly was able to seemlessly join the session after playing for only 3 weeks…!
Watch his face at the end of the jam as he miraculously turns from a non-musician into a musician. This level of transformation is truly a healing phenomenon.
Try not to let the modern business of music or any critic sway you from this human need to express. It is vital to emotional wellness. Watch his face at the end of the jam, it’s amazing…





I wrote that song during a rough patch a few years ago when my skin was bugging me, my energy was low from being overworked, and my expression level was not high enough.

Here’s the lyrics if anyone is feeling it:


“Let me go”


I run for miles and I can talk through smiles,
I guess I’m alright.
you never know,
I can’t be so right.
you’d tell me so, oh


I made you holler,
I’ve been, concocting knowledge,
I am sorry, to let me go.
I meant to call you,
to let you know,


that it’s time, It’s time to let me go.
cause this fight, It’s all I really know.


I run for miles and I can’t find my smile,
this can’t be alright.
I think it shows.
you’re always brighter, girl, but,
it don’t work no more. no


I feel you standing with your,
hair it’s landing across my shoulder.
but not this time, you know I’m trying, girl, but,
there ain’t no light.


cause it’s time, It’s time to let me go.
cause this fight, It’s all I really know.


run for cover, run for cover.
leave me there in the morning.
run for cover, run for cover.
don’t ask me why in the morning.


oh it’s time, it’s time to let me go.
cause this fight, it’s all I really know.










©2011 “Anxiety and Depression: A Study of Our Humanity” by Dr. Neal Schwartz

Continued from “Don’t miss out on the beach…”

Among the countless aggravating factors for acne, none seem to be a bigger challenge than a full day at the beach. The sun, the humidity, suntan lotions, and sweat combine to form a real stress test for troubled skin.

Here’s the problem:
the beach is one of the best experiences this life has to offer. If your troubled skin is taking this freedom away from you, at some point you need to do whatever is necessary to take your life back.

When your skin is finally in real control, you can enjoy nature more comfortably, you can enjoy your friends without the distraction of insecurity, and you can eat all kinds of conscious foods without consequence.

It is my mission to bring this level of comfort to everyone around the world. I have found it, I work hard to maintain it, and am now unwilling to let others waste years, or even decades, hoping and waiting for a magical solution.

I missed a lot of years at the beach due to discomfort, but fortunately at 35, I’ve been able to recapture a lot of my youth.

For those who didn’t make it to the beach this summer because of a relentless skin malfunction, this video is my gift to you…

-Dr. Neal

(use full screen for the full experience)

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When was the last time you felt momentary pure joy???

The kind of smile you can’t hold back, the kind of laugh that goes up an octave accidentally.

How powerful has your vast knowledge been in regards to finding happiness in a single moment in time?
(Hint** Your intellect can’t always save you from depression. Mood is a visceral sensation and can’t be fixed from the mind)

This is biggest medical tip I can give anyone in the world:

Your Doctor, Psychiatrist, Therapist, Holistic Healer, Nutritionist, Dermatologist, or Spiritual leader can never fully fix your Depression or Anxiety. Ever…!!!

Its really all up to you and your actions…

They can give you a turbo boost or a step by step path to a new destination, but it’s really all on you.

The sooner you take 100% accountability for your life, the sooner you will develop the needed skills for this world.

As conscious human beings, we are all predisposed to depression and anxiety. Some will crack early and some won’t feel its rath until they get older. The more you alienate or isolate yourself as a “Special” case, the lower your chances are of seeing the truth.

The Truth is that only tenacious self-starters can rebound and pull themselves out of a hole.
To dig out from the bottom, It takes four times the energy of getting through a typical day.
(Fortunately, energy can be aquired step by step as an artistry in itself. follow the blog here for a map of how to escape the dungeon)

I can see in retrospect how my uncomfortable skin and my imbalanced mood ruined many joyous opportunities in my 20’s. I became hesitant to do many fun activities including the beach, skiing, outdoor sports in general, and general daytime social activities. This is what troubled skin has done to millions of others. A huge group of repressed sufferering souls who are missing the best years of their lives. It’s horribly painful to experience and equally troubling to witness as a prior sufferer.

Here’s the up side:
Its never too late to re-capture your youth. You’ll need to swiftly and effectively fix your skin and mind and start living before it’s really too late. 20’s, 30’s, 40′, 50’s, and on…. it moves fast…

I’m 34 now, feel like I’m in my early 20’s only through creative physical activity that has exponentially gone up in the last few years.

After having needlessly suffered for long over a decade, I have re-entered the “World of the Living” in full regalia.

Check this out.

As an expressive necessity of being a sensitive person came to a head, I finally found the guitar and my voice at 29.
(We all have this same need. It’s never too late to find it)
(learn how to play guitar here)
Original songs will be coming on this site to help inspire people to express themselves. It’s vitally important, especially if you consider yourself to be a sensitive individual)

As the possibilities of the world re-opened for me, I found a childhood dream in Mexico 3 years ago:
(I loved the beach as a kid and lost this amazing aspect of life somewhere along the line)
This photo is from my first time surfing a few years ago. I improved last year and this summer will be bringing surf videos here to inspire the most sluggish of minds.

After a complete mind transformation from surfing, skiing magically came back into my life.
(I had skied as a kid and somehow through the rigors of becoming a doctor had completely lost it in my twenties and early thirties)

And last but not least, This video is from yesterday, day 1 of a new adventure in physicality. This last one is the inspiration for the “pure joy” of this post.

It’s the artistic search for the “balance point” that magically clears the heady mind. I strongly believe that the stress caused by the energy of our overly-conscious minds is one of the biggest causes of all disease.
Our greatest strength as humans, our consciousness, is often the cause of our own demise.

(They make these things in Adult sizes also!!)

I am feeling good today and it is no accident. My actions will dictate my life. Your actions will dictate yours.
There is no western medicine or eastern herb that can really save you.

Like all real arts, finding happiness, physical balance, and mental wellness can never be mastered. Only improved upon.
If you do not yet consider yourself an artist of life, know that your knowledge and intellect may not have enough power to save you.

As a former “know it all” non-artist, follow me as someone who has transformed and found the light of life. New possibilities arose only when I began to move away from the imbalance created by the stress-inducing “heady” identity.

Engaging in the daunting challenges of artistic balances rather than patting myself on the back for the simple task of gathering and storing knowledge.

Find the art of movement and your mind will finally release.
(your therapist can’t help you with this)

At this rate, I imagine I’ll be younger by 35…..

I promise to help you all find “pure joy” in this very short lifetime.
Stay tuned for the next level…

-Dr. Neal

©2010 “Pure Joy” (part I) by Dr. Neal Schwartz