ADD - How Much Happier Do You Want Your Child To Be?

By Garry Macdonald

A major part of the solution to many medical conditions is identification and acknowledgement that the condition exists. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is no different. In order to treat the condition, it's critical that we identify the symptoms. This article describes the various symptoms manifested in children and highlights the differences between boys and girls. ADD can take several forms in children. It is not difficult to identify a child with ADD - their personality often reflects total chaos. In general, boys fit this category. However there are some types of ADD which go undiagnosed because their effects are far less evident. This occurs primarily in the case of girls.

There are many girls who are categorized as "tomboys". They frequently exhibit some of the features of ADD, like being more involved in physical activities, but generally they are not as reckless as boys. As a result teachers and parents tend to jump to the conclusion that the child has no interest in academic pursuits and is basically disorganized, however the possibility of ADD is seldom considered.

Besides the "tomboy" types, "chatty" girls could also be suffering from ADD, however they often remain undiagnosed. This is a fusion of over-activity and inattentiveness, and is usually touted as socially extrovert. These girls are extremely talkative rather than being physically active. They also have difficulty telling detailed stories and will often be distracted.

Those we label "daydreamers" could also be suffering from ADD. They do not draw attention to themselves and tend to be very quite. However, being introvert and not paying attention in class can be another form of ADD. Symptoms might include anxiety and depression - particularly when given school projects plus the inability to complete school projects. This generally goes undiagnosed because the child is thought to be lazy.

What is fascinating is that many girls with ADD have quite a high IQ and could be considered as "gifted". Keep in mind that ADD is not a learning disorder, and patients are not always poor performers at school. Until high school they can perform quite well but with mounting pressure and assignments, symptoms might become more and more evident.

When undiagnosed, ADD might cause significant harm. Children will often be labeled as disorganized, lacking intelligence and lazy, when in fact, they might be silent sufferers of ADD. They will often have very low self-esteem and be convinced they are quitters or stupid. It is crucial that the problem is identified and treated before it becomes too pronounced and any long-term damage is done.

Garry Macdonald & Kieran Smyth have established a website providing little know information about attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To learn the insider secrets about ADD or ADHD, go to http://www.adhdsecretsuncovered.com .

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Mental Illness and the Carers Role - Looking for early warning signs

By Kaye Dennan

The role of a carer for a mentally ill loved is many and varied and without doubt, a stressful one. There are stages of shock, disbelief, acceptance and then coping to deal with.

If you are dealing with your caring role on a day to day basis then it is important that you learn as quick as you can, strategies to cope with various situations. There will be many different situations to deal with depending on the illness being dealt with. Some illnesses can have the sufferer going through changing moods, paranoia, bad attitudes and more within minutes. All these changes make it very hard for the carer to cope.

As time goes along and you start experiencing repetition in the problems you can start looking for early warning signs of illness. By doing this strategies can be set up and both the carer and sufferer can have discussions on action to be taken in the future. I have often heard it said, "But he/she is so ill I just cant discuss anything", and yes, at times this may be true. Keeping in mind the type of illness you are dealing with, there will more than likely be small windows of time where you will be able to open up some sort of discussion. Sometimes these windows of opportunity are so small and there can be so many issues to be discussed, that you will have to prioritise them. Keeping a diary or notepad, at least, of issues to be discussed helps relieve some of the stress because you know you have it on paper and it wont be forgotten.

A fairly easy to read sign, once you have seen it several times, is the harrowed look in their eyes which could be fear or exhaustion, or in the case of a person with bipolar it could be the opposite, in that they may be in a manic phase and look exhilarated. Early warning signs could range from agitation, pacing, yelling, isolation, not eating, total non-activity, hand signing or other signs depending on the illness involved.

It is not difficult to notice these signs once you have seen them several times and it will allow you to deal with them sooner. It could be medication that needs to be addressed,stress over a job, or appointment or whatever it is, but don't delay and if you can foresee trouble ahead you can get hold of doctors and counsellors for back up help.

In the early days of caring life is often lived with the "it will get better soon" attitude, and this may be so for some people, but the reality is, that it may not. Because dealing with the whole situation can be so stressful try to plan ahead for doctors appointments by making notes of concerns you have and questions you want answers to, otherwise there is a good chance you will forget at the time.

As a carer I would encourage you to work on coping strategies as much as helping your loved one. AND coping may mean making sure that you have an interest outside the family just for yourself alone and do it on a regular basis. At certain stages carers find release of stress going to carers support groups, or you just might like to continue a hobby, have a trip to the hairdressers, but do find something you enjoy as it is so important to look after yourself as well. You are doing a very hard job and you deserve to be rewarded for it too!

Kaye Dennan is a carer/author of a person suffering a mental disorder and through her own experience believes in recovery. Kaye has published an ebook called Managing MENTAL ILLNESS - Coping Strategies for the Carer and it is available at http://ebooksnowonline.com/family/mental-illness-coping-strategies/ and is contactable on kaye@ebooksnowonline.com.

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What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) And can it help with my depression?

By Rob Parker

In today’s busy world, more and more people are finding that they are subjected to periods of depression. The symptoms indicating some form of depression have been seen in all walks of life, from adolescents to successful business people and stay at home parents. The range of depression symptoms in people is widely varied, from mild (if frequent) mood swings indicating a minor condition such as cyclothymia to the frequent, wild, and unpredictable “highs” and “lows” of bipolar disorder.

Since the noticeable increase in cases of clinical depression in the 1980s, therapists and other professionals have come up with a variety of ways to treat and alleviate symptoms and allow patients to combat their depression and mood swings. These strategies include everything from medication to behaviour modification therapy.

One relatively recent, and surprisingly successful, innovation in the treatment of individuals with depression is termed Interpersonal Therapy. In this article, we will take a look at what exactly this strategy is and why it is effective.

The development of IPT

The treatment known as interpersonal therapy, has been practiced for three decades now, and has been of use in the treatment of several disorders including the most extreme versions of depression. Interestingly, this therapy was at first part of an experiment as a placebo – it was not meant to actually help people with their depression, but rather to serve as a blind in determining if a separate treatment was effective. Those conducting the experiment realized that in fact their “placebo” was having a greater effect than the treatment, and began to develop the process more fully.

Essentially, interpersonal therapy focuses on the communication of the individual patient. It is based on the premise that many psychological problems, including depression, arise from a failure to communicate effectively with those in one’s world.

The process of IPT, then, involves an intense focus upon the ability of a patient to communicate with others, and seeks to develop tools whereby that communication can be more effective. It is time limited, which means that it does not take place over a long period and is usually one of the last steps used in treatment.

This form of therapy has proven to be very successful, and continues to be a big part of the treatment of patients suffering from depression. It is also the most focused step in the treatment process, and during IPT all other treatment is halted in order for the patient to fully integrate the process.

On going support is part of the success for those seeking bipolar treatment Hamilton residents set up an appointment to speak with a professional consellor, and start living again.

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Teaching Autism - How To Teach The Autistic Child

By Sylvia Rolfe

Teaching can be a challenging job with any child, but when the child suffers from special needs it can be even more difficult. Understanding how they learn and the methods that work best for them is key of course, but as every child learns differently so does every autistic child so this is just a general guideline to help you teach the autistic child.

By being educated on what autism is and how to effectively teach the autistic child you are taking the first step in creating a more warm and welcoming world for your autistic child. Those with autism tend to learn best from visual examples. Therefore, standing in front of the class lecturing, loses the autistic child. Verbal communication is very limited for many autistic children, as is their understanding of verbal teachings. Including diagrams, flash cards and visual representation can make it much easier for them to comprehend what you are saying. Long sentences easily confuse and lose them, so try to avoid them in your teaching methods.

A child with autism often has a visual fixation, by discussing with the parents what this is you may be able to incorporate this into the lessons and keep their attention better. If they are obsessed with apples, it is much easier for them to learn math is you are using apples to show how to add and subtract for example. With a little adjustment and creative thought you can not only help you r autistic student learn better but you may find your other students taking more interest in your lessons as well.

Teaching an autistic student, need not be a daunting task. With creativity and a working communication with the parents you may find easy solutions to make a learning environment for all.

To help your student cope with teaching and autism make sure you click here!

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Tips For Coping With Aggression In Your Autistic Child

By Rachel Evans

One of the common symptoms in children with autism is aggressive behavior. Aggression can occur in many different ways. Physical aggression can be directed toward you, other children, the child him or herself, or even toward inanimate objects. Furthermore, aggression in autistic children isn't limited to physical behaviors but also extends to verbal aggression too.

Whether physical or verbal, aggression in an autistic child can be very upsetting and potentially dangerous. For this reason, autistic children who display aggressive symptoms require more supervision in order to prevent them from injuring others or themselves.

Naturally, parents don't want to simply let this aggression continue and have to deal with it as it occurs. Therefore, efforts are being made on many levels to discover different ways to cope with aggression in autistic children and to decrease or at least curb its incidence.

Often, the first options to reduce aggression suggested by doctors is medication - particularly if the aggressive episodes seem especially hazardous to the child or those around him or her. Keep in mind that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved any medication that specifically treats autism. However, success has been witnessed in using drugs designated for other conditions in order to lessen the aggressive symptoms of autism.

It should be noted, though, that every individual reacts differently to medications, and while some children may respond very well to a certain dose of a drug, others will have a completely different reaction. The process is highly individualized and takes careful observation, measurement, and work with a health care professional in order to avoid any of the potential side effects or interactions.

Recently, it has been the anti-psychotic medications - specifically those which have been approved for schizophrenia treatments - that have produced the most favorable results in autism aggression reduction. For example, a 2002 study called "Risperidone in Children with Autism and Serious Behavioral Problems" (McCracken, J.T, M.D., McGough, J, M.D, et al.), published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined the impact of Risperdal (Risperidone) on aggression in children with autism. At the end of this 8 week study, 69 percent of the children given Risperdal were said to have either "much improved" or "very much improved", in comparison to only 12 percent within the placebo group.

However, many parents do not wish to medicate - or further medicate - their children with anti-psychotic drugs. These drugs do come with potential negative side effects and can be dangerous if overdosed. Therefore, alternatives are often sought. Working with your child's doctor can be very important in this process. To try to alter behavior, parents should pay very close attention to exactly what is happening before and during an aggressive episode. It is important to try and identify trends that lead to an outburst of aggression.

For example, some parents find that their children will suddenly become upset while having their teeth brushed. There are many activities that go on during tooth brushing and each should be considered when assessing what caused the aggressive reaction. Is it opening the mouth wide? Is it the feeling of bristles against the teeth, gums, cheek, roof of the mouth, or tongue? Has the toothbrush gone in too far and hit the gag reflex? Is saliva pooling near the back of the mouth (causing a drowning sensation)? Is it drooling? Is it the smell, texture, or taste of the toothpaste? Is it the foaming of the toothpaste? Is it the sensation of spitting or swallowing saliva and toothpaste?

Every element needs to be examined and tested to see if the situation can be improved. For example, trying different kinds of toothbrushes with softer bristles, a different shaped head, or different textured bristles, or different flavors of toothpaste or gels. Different brushing techniques should also be tried to avoid various sensations, and saliva levels in the mouth should be carefully monitored.

Similarly, other children react not to a sensory sensitivity, but as a result of feeling upset or frustrated from something that they cannot verbalize. For example, a child who tries to tie his or her shoes but who has not yet developed the skills with which to do so might feel very frustrated and become unable to express the root of the frustration and instead react aggressively. When under stress, speaking clearly can be a huge challenge for autistic children and they often revert to the behaviors of younger children instead of saying what they want.

It should also be considered that if aggression has suddenly developed or worsened, there might be an allergic reaction to foods, environmental conditions, medications or a change in home or school environment. Drugs may have potential side effects including aggression. They may also interact with other drugs being taken by the child. Furthermore, seasonal allergies or food allergies may cause discomforts in an autistic child to which he or she is very sensitive and cannot properly verbalize, leading to aggressive behaviors. It is important to examine all possibilities to root out the problem.

The most important thing to remember once your child has become aggressive is for you and those around you to stay calm and talk quietly.

If appropriate, remove objects that your child could hurt themselves or others with. Ask other people present to leave the room or give your child space, but make sure you or another responsible adult stays. Never leave your child alone.

Should your child be in an appropriate environment try to avoid saying anything as this can be inflammatory and can prolong the aggressive behavior. By staying calm and quiet your child may stop their behavior more quickly.

Of course, it is also possible for a child to be displaying autistic symptoms and traits without truly being autistic at all. It is important to make certain that a misdiagnosis has not occurred by considering alternative mental disorders that can present with the same or similar behaviors.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans' brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about coping with autism symptoms and for information on coping with autism aggression please visit The Essential Guide To Autism.

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Does Schizophrenia Treatment Involve Drugs?

By Mike Selvon

Psychologist R.D. Laing once said, "Schizophrenia cannot be understood without understanding despair." The most debilitating facet of this mental illness is the negative emotion generated, in addition to the disruptive nature.

Not only may a person have the typical hallucinations, but chances are, he or she will also feel a high degree of social anxiety, listlessness and suicidal tendencies. Schizophrenia treatment almost always involves life-long drugs, but should be accompanied by clinical psychiatry and schizophrenia support, most importantly.

Within the United States, there are fourteen clinics that specialize in schizophrenia treatment. For example, the Center Of Prevention & Evaluation (COPE) is a popular treatment program that can be found in New York, or there's the Early Assessment and Support Team (EAST).

There are generally five phases for these programs, with each phase lasting up to six months. Counselors help schizophrenics meet goals, adapt to group situations, develop a long term plan and even find work.

For a treatment of schizophrenia that doubles as a mood enhancer, used especially in cases where patients are suicidal, Clozapine may be administered. This anti-psychotic drug restores the body's neurotransmitter functions, decreases nervousness, increases positive feelings and combats hallucinations or other disturbances.

The danger, of course, is dizziness, high blood pressure, drowsiness and even seizures, although these side effects are extremely rare. Careful monitoring must be done with Clozapine to prevent a fatal bone marrow toxicity that can develop.

Other treatment drugs include: Chloropromazine, Fluphenazine, Geodon, Moban, Paliperidone, Sarcosine, Thioridazine, Ziprasidone and Zyprexa (which is also used to treat bipolar disorder). This year the FDA is meeting to discuss making a longer lasting, injectable form of Zyprexa available, although they fear severe drowsiness may ensue.

However, it's honestly tough to tell which schizophrenia drug works best because of industry bias. Dr. John Davis reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry: "On the basis of these contrasting findings in head-to-head trials, it appears that whichever company sponsors the trial produces the better anti-psychotic drug."

As of 2008, Merck Corporation made a $700 million deal with Addex Pharmaceuticals of Switzerland to develop a new schizophrenia drug. Uwe Reinhardt, a political economist at Princeton, feels that the reason patients are dissatisfied with many schizophrenia treatment drugs is related to efforts by Congress to keep drug companies happy. "I have come to believe a lot of inefficiency is quite deliberate," he commented. "One person's inefficiency is another person's income."

A free audio gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowledge further about schizophrenia treatment. Your comment is much appreciated at our mental illness blog.

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Neurosis Characteristics and Types

By Christina Sponias

The different types of neurosis are defined by the different psychological types that characterize human beings. There are four psychological types, but they become eight because we have four introverted types and four extroverted types that use the same psychological functions in different ways.

The four psychological functions that define the four basic psychological types are based on:

1- Thoughts
2- Feelings
3- Sensations
4- Intuition

Depending on which of these four psychological functions is the basic one in your psyche, your behavior will adopt a series of pre-determined attitudes in life. This means that what you choose to do or what you do without controlling yourself is already pre-programmed.

You may believe that you are unique and your characteristics can be found only within you, but the truth is that besides your undoubted uniqueness (only because your particular combination of characteristics is unique even if the characteristics of your personality are found in all personalities) your behavior is determined by your psychological type. In other words, the details of your life may differ from the details of someone else's life that belongs to the same psychological type as you, but in the end both of you will do exactly the same things.

Why? Because you follow exactly the same path to find solutions for your problems. This path is pre-established by the psychological function that is the most active in your psyche.

So, when you become neurotic, your personality acquires different characteristics, that don't belong to your psychological type. If you are a rational psychological type, you suddenly become a slave to your feelings when you meet a person that has the characteristics that most attract your psychological type. Your rationalism cannot help you.

However, it can bother you, and this is exactly what it does. If you are an introverted psychological type based on thoughts, your rationalism is going to impede your feelings to have the chance to appear on the surface of your conscience.

A real war will begin inside you. Your wild feelings that never had the chance to appear in your behaviour, want to invade your human conscience and provoke an explosion.

On the other hand, your cruel rationalism wants to kill your feelings and this is why it starts sending you various absurd ideas. It tells you for example, that the person you love is too poor, that you have better plans in life, that you must be proud of yourself and never let the other person understand that you are in love with them and other ideas like these, which can only discourage and mislead you.

If you follow the suggestions of your basic psychological function, you become neurotic because you don't let your feelings live and give you what you need from them.

If you follow the impulsive desires imposed by your wild feelings, you become neurotic when you realize that you cannot control your behavior, since you start doing things that are totally opposite to what you usually do and you cannot stop doing them. Your thoughts lose their power.

If you are an extroverted psychological type based on intuitions, you are going to spend all your energy pursuing new opportunities, instead of developing the ones you have already found. You may end up without money, simply because when you find the best opportunities, you never make them grow.

If you are an introverted psychological type based on sensations, your world will be comprehensible only to you. You are always distant from the objective reality, creating your own world over the existing one, which you never examine for what it actually is.

What happens when you become neurotic? The psychological function that is opposite to the basic psychological function of your psyche invades your human conscience, even though it is wild, because it never had the chance to be examined by the human conscience and tamed by its consciousness.

This is why the different types and characteristics of neurosis depend on the different psychological types and the characteristics of the psychological functions that don't belong to the known conscience.

If you want to stay far away from neurosis and worse mental illnesses, you must prevent craziness while you still can, because once the process of destruction of your human conscience by the wild side of your conscience is too advanced, it cannot be interrupted.

Prevent Depression and Craziness through the scientific method of Dream Interpretation discovered by Carl Jung and simplified by Christina Sponias, a writer who continued Jung's research in the unknown region of the human psychic sphere. Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com and http://www.booksirecommend.com
Click here and download your copy of the Free ebook

Beating Depression and Craziness

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Alzheimer's Disease The Early Warning Signs

By David McEvoy

Alzheimer's disease has been hitting the headlines quite a bit recently, partly due to the fact that well known and best selling author Terry Pratchett OBE has a form of the disease and partly because recent research has highlighted that the number of people developing Alzheimer's disease is on the increase. However, many people are still unaware of what Alzheimer's disease actually is, what to expect if you or someone close to you is diagnosed with it, and how to spot the early warning signs.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease was first described in 1906 by German neurologist Alois Alzheimer. It is a progressive disease affecting the brain that ultimately ends in death. Over time, plaques and tangles develop and the brain deteriorates and atrophies due to a loss of neurons and synapses in the cerebral cortex and some sub-cortical regions of the brain. As the disease and the subsequent brain damage progresses, the symptoms become more and more severe. How long the process takes from onset to death can vary considerably from person to person.

How common is it?

It is in fact the most common form of dementia affecting as many as 5 million Americans and just over 400,000 people in the UK and approximately 24 million people worldwide.

What causes it and who gets it?

Alzheimer's disease is generally associated with elderly people as it often begins over the age of 65, and the greater the age, the greater the risk, however, there is also an early form of Alzheimer's disease that is relatively rare but which progresses more rapidly.

Both men and women can develop Alzheimer's but women seem to be slightly more at risk than men. Other risk factors include medical conditions affecting the heart and arteries, environmental factors such as smoking, and diet. There isn't a definitive cause; nether is there an established genetic link, although research is currently being done in this area as some families do seem to show a genetic tendency, particularly if two direct relatives have the disease. Other environmental causes that have been suggested in the past include exposure to magnetic fields, or to aluminium, but these have never been scientifically validated.

What are the early signs and symptoms?

The most common early symptom reported is memory lapses. Although some memory loss is perfectly normal as we age, in people with Alzheimer's disease there is a much faster decline as well as other cognitive problems that become increasingly evident.

It is usually the sufferer's family and friends that will first notice that someone isn't behaving in the way that they used to. For example, short term memory lapses become more common and the individual finds it difficult to concentrate on tasks that they once found easy. Personality changes may become evident as well as problems with communication.

Early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can include any or all of the following:

• Confusion
• Apathy
• Avoiding social contact
• Irritability and anxiousness
• Forgetting names and places on a regular basis
• Repeating oneself often in a short space of time
• An inability to get organised, plan and think coherently
• Difficulty with daily routine tasks and making decisions
• Difficulty with arithmetic, reading, writing and other cognitive tasks
• May become disorientated in familiar places
• Indulging in strange behaviour

It is important to note that these symptoms do not necessarily indicate that someone is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease as these same symptoms can occur as a result of other completely unconnected factors.

In the early stages, an individual may be able to compensate quite well for these problems and will continue to live and work independently for some time. However, the nature of Alzheimer's is that the symptoms will always get progressively worse, severe dementia is inevitable.
What is the prognosis?

There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease so treatment is of a palliative nature. As the disease progresses, an individual's ability to function independently will decline until eventually they lose control of their mental faculties and all bodily functions. If the disease is diagnosed early, then there is some evidence that with a good diet and the right kind of support and care, it may be possible to delay the progression of the disease; however, this is not conclusive.

One of the most devastating aspects of this disease is the effect it can have on family and friends who are forced to watch their loved one deteriorate to the point that they no longer recognise them. Indeed, there is a higher rate of depression amongst carers of people with Alzheimer's disease than those with Alzheimer's themselves.

Many people with Alzheimer's stay at home, particularly in the early stages, and are cared for by family. There is a great deal that can be done on a practical basis to ensure that the individual suffering from Alzheimer's remains as independent as possible for as long as possible, as well as help and support available for those who care for them. There are a number of organisations that have been set up with the primary aim of doing just that. You can find out more information about what is available in your area by speaking to your doctor or other health care professional.

Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information about depression and selp help come and visit our site.

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How We Can Live More Harmoniously With Our Multiple Selves?

By Janis Mccann, Ph.d. and David Mccann, Phd.

Our psyche has a multiplicity of psychological parts; these parts serve to fulfill our psycho-social and spiritual requirements for health and wholeness. The psychological theory that addresses and understands the psyche and their parts, and the resulting inter- and intra-relationship conflicts, is called the "Psychology of the Aware Ego", and the process is know as "The Aware Ego Process" or "Voice Dialogue". Voice Dialogue introduces you to parts of your psyche which are called Inner Selves. Inner Selves are composed of Primary Selves and Disowned Selves. Primary Selves are a selection of those inner selves with which we are most identified, as when we make the statement, "this is who I am." The Primary Selves make up our conscious personality and initially are mostly determined by our familial and social conditioning. In fact, so much of what runs our Primary Selves Systems are ethical stances or codes that are reinforced and embedded in our culture.

Disowned Selves are the inner selves that we learned to repress and deny early in our childhood as a result of familial and social conditioning. Although they are disowned, they still operate below the level of our conscious intention. Although disowned, they are as much a part of us as our primary selves. We perceive them positively or negatively in others through a process called "projection." We also experience the disowned parts as characters in our dreams and fantasies, and will even sense them as physical sensations or manifestations. The more fixed or rigid are our primary selves, the more extreme are our projections and somaticized experiences.

Developed by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone in the early 1970's, The Psychology of the Aware Ego is a theoretical way of looking at the process of developing awareness of the multiplicity of selves. The theory presents a view of the human psyche consisting of three dimensions of consciousness: a witness or state of awareness, the ego, and the many sub-personalities (or 'inner selves") from which a personal identity is constructed.

As a rule, a person develops his/her character or ego from a subset of an array of possible parts or sub-personalities. Generally, a person will identify with one quality to the exclusion of its opposite. For example, although it is possible to be a responsible, dependable person, it's also possible to be a playful, spirited being. Although we can present as a person who feels most secure when there are structures and rules, it's also possible to be an individual who loves novelty and adventure. A person may be identified with a particular style of being within his or her family, the very opposite with peers, and even different with colleagues.

We are born vulnerable and totally dependent, with basic physiological and psycho-social needs, desires, even spiritual values that must be fulfilled. Certain basic needs must be met in order to be and feel safe, to feel that we belong, to have personal integrity, to experience a sense of purpose. If our needs are successfully met, these vulnerable selves feel contentment and satisfaction; unmet needs create pain and suffering to the inner selves. Although born vulnerable, our native intelligence and instinctual drives provide potential for meeting our needs. Emotionally, intellectually and sensually, we learn ways of being to induce our caregivers to support our life. As we integrate what we learn from our caregivers, these learnings add to one's growing power to protect and fulfill our own needs.

Power based selves as opposed to the vulnerable ones are one's response to life's conditions and are shaped by beliefs we form from our perception and experience, learned patterns of holding or expressing our physical and emotional energies, and on our instinctual drives for survival. These inner selves are manifested in our habits, ideas, body language and bodily experience. The purpose of our primary selves is to act in a way that will fulfill our survival and hopefully our eventual potential to reach deep joy and fulfillment. Again, directly related to each of these inner selves are vulnerable selves who feel the status of our needs.

From childhood, one's personality or ego-self is developed in such a way that it generally becomes identified with meeting certain needs and values over others. A child may find that by aligning himself with those values and behaviors, he is rewarded with praise and acceptance. He learns first to not act on his needs and then to not even feel these needs. Those aligned sub-personalities become his primary selves, his primary ego identifications. Alternately, that very same child, in the same context could look at those same prevailing values and energetically assess the level of contentment or suffering the family (including himself) is experiencing. Our primary selves are our psychic solution for surviving and existing in the world into which we were born. If there is more suffering than contentment, this same child could abandon the prevailing familial values in favor of those the family disowns. This child may become identified with the polar opposite of the family values, even choosing to take a divergent path in life.

Finally we ask, "whatever happened to all the potential selves- and needs - that we have disowned?" They can be judgmentally projected out onto others and either positively or negatively expressed. They can also be displaced into neurotic behavior or transformed into bodily phenomena. Frustrated needs can easily be recognized in headaches, intestinal distress, addictions and even accident proneness, etc. These disowned inner selves often appear in our dreams and fantasies and are often expressed under the influence of drugs, alcohol and severe stress.

It is normal for individuals to reach adulthood with an array of primary and disowned selves. Our primary selves were our psychic solution for surviving and existing in the world into which we were born. As we grow and move beyond our family of origin, we eventually are confronted with the need to redefine and stretch ourselves. We may discover that while expressing a particular style is admired -and even required - in our family of origin, it is dysfunctional in the business world. In other words, those disowned selves, judged and extinguished within childhood, become necessary for continued survival and, even for more than survival in the adult world.

In Conclusion

We have been describing a normal developmental process in which our Ego is identified with a certain selection of inner selves, to the exclusion of others, resulting from social and familial conditioning. The Voice Dialogue Work provides a process which gradually brings to our awareness, the reality that we have been identified with one self , having had limited or no access to it's opposite. An individual gradually comes to realize that s/he is missing half of her human capacity or potential. Once we have the awareness that "It's not that "I am" for instance, reliable and dependable, but rather, "I have" a dependable and reliable part of myself which both supports me and yet limits me," we experience an "Aware Ego Process." It is in that moment that we consciously recognize and honor a self without identifying with it as "who and what I fundamentally am." That self is a possible way of being, no longer the only one.

By learning how to enter into an Aware Ego state, these parts of us can be perceived with the neutrality of the Awareness or Witness State. Temporarily, then, one has access to an Awareness State which perceives with neutrality, that is without judgment. In this state the Aware Ego, the executive function of the psyche, can exercise true free will.

The Psychology of the Aware Ego and The Voice Dialogue Process, is a journey in consciousness, enhancing one's capacity to stand between their opposites, thus allowing one to experience a true sense of choice. It is a journey in consciousness which brings to one's personal and professional life a greater capacity for true balance, inner harmony and transformation.

Please visit our website for more information regarding the Aware Ego/Voice Dialogue process.Drs. Janis and David McCanninfo@relationship-coaches.comhttp://www.relationship-coaches.com

Drs. Janis and David Mccann 805/646-4455info@relationship-coaches.com ; http://www.relationship-coaches.com323 E. Matilija Street Ojai, CA 93023
Workshops, Seminars, and Individual Retreats for Couples are offered in Ojai, Santa Barbara, Northern California, San Diego and San Luis Obispo, California as well as Sedona, Arizona, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Cancun, Mexico. Telephone coaching and Teleconferencing are available.

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Your Schizophrenia Questions Answered

By Mike Selvon

Imagine how hard it would be if your version of reality did not seem to coincide with what the general public believed to be reality. Living each day with hallucinations and hearing voices inside your head that are really not there.

For millions of people around the world this is a normal day. They live, or try to live, their lives in the best way possible while suffering from schizophrenia. There are jokes made but the ugly reality is far from joking.

It can devastate a person, his or her job, family and personal interactions with other people. Sometimes it can mean prolonged time in an institution. In the past this disease was not understood and as a result the individuals afflicted with schizophrenia were often locked away in an insane asylum for most of their lives.

The treatment methods were barbaric and did not have a positive outcome for the patients. In this article we will cover the basics of schizophrenia and what it could mean to you as either a patient or a family/friend of someone diagnosed with this illness.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental diagnosis of a disorder of the brain and personality. It is very serious and can cause great difficulties for the person diagnosed and living with the disease. It has only been coined since 1908 but great strides have been made in recent years to further understand how this disease affects the personal and occupational functions of patients.

What are the types of schizophrenia?

There are five different classifications of schizophrenia. These classifications are: residual, undifferentiated, catatonic, paranoid and disorganized. Each of these classifications differs on the symptoms and how the person interacts with other people as well as their state of living with their own personality and mental disorder.

The classification helps doctors and psychiatrists help treat the patient and prescribe the right medication for the disease. This is important for helping the person lead as normal of a life as possible.

What is the prognosis for schizophrenia?

With the right treatment and medications a person can live with schizophrenia. It may never be easy but at least they can begin to function in a way that allows them to interact with others, work and have a functioning home life with real relationships. Some people may never get better or see improvement but those cases are rare.

How is it prevented?

Like other mental diseases there is no prevention. There is merely observation for the signs by both the patient and the patient's family or friends. Researchers do not know yet if the disease is truly genetically passed down but there have been studies that do support this hypothesis.

How does substance abuse affect schizophrenia?

Alcohol and illegal drugs can make the symptoms of schizophrenia much, much worse and are why doctors highly advocate that patients do not engage in risky behaviors such as those. It can make the hallucinations and social withdrawal even worse. It may seem to mellow out the symptoms at first but it is only a mask for the bigger issues and can becomes a crutch that leads to great detriment to the sufferer.

A free audio gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowledge further about schizophrenia. Your comment is much appreciated at our mental illness blog.

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Autism Symptoms - Look for the Warning Signs of Autism

By Bertil Hjert

Autism is a type of bio neurological disorder that tends to affect the ability of a person to interact socially & communicate in an effective manner.

There are several symptoms that would suggest you a child with Autism. Remember that the severity of symptoms varies from one individual to the other. However, there is a common connection between the core symptoms in the following areas:

a) Relationships & Social interaction:

• Facing trouble in developing non-verbal communication skills including body posture, facial expressions & eye contact.

• Inability to develop friendships with children of similar age group.
• No interest in sharing interests, enjoyment and/or achievements with other people.

• Lack of empathy. Children with autism may face trouble in understanding feeling of other people including sorrow or pain.

b) Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication:

• Taking too much time to talk. It is proved that about 50 percent of people with autism can never speak.

• Facing difficulty in cracking a conversation. People with autism often develop problems in holding on to a conversation once it has been started.

• Repetitive use of language. People with autism usually repeat a particular phrase again & again that they have heard before.

• Unable to understand listeners' perspective. For instance, a child with autism will never understand that someone is cracking a joke or using a slang. They take every word literally & usually fail to understand the real meaning of the conversation.

c) Restricted interest in activities or play:

• Children with autism develop a unique & unusual concentration on pieces. They concentrate on a particular part of toy such as wheels on a car rather than enjoying the activity with the entire toy.

• Children with autism tend to preoccupy their minds with certain topics. For instance, older children & adults get easily fascinated by train scheduler license plates or weather patterns.

• Children with autism often crave for sameness & routines. For instance, the child will always want to eat bread just before salad. He may also want to drive on the same route to school daily.

• They exhibit stereotyped behaviors. These behaviors include hand flapping & body rocking.

Once you observe above-mentioned symptoms in a child, you should know that the child has developed autism. You need to seek emergency medical attention if you observe the following symptoms:

• An infant or a child does not respond to people around him.

• An infant or a child resists cuddling.

• If a child is not pointing to objects, engaging in simple interactions or bringing items to you.

• A child does not use any words or tries to communicate by the age of eighteen months.

• The child exhibits self injurious behavior such as banging his head or shows aggression frequently.

• The child shows repetitive behavior such as spinning wheels, turning a toy car upside down etc.

• The child avoids eye contact or wants to be left alone.

• The child does not play 'pretend' games.

• The child finds it difficult to relate to others.

In case your doctor feels that there could be a problem, it would be good to look for a referral in order to visit a developmental pediatrician or a specialist. You may even contact your local early intervention agency for a child under three years of age or a public school for children above three.

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about Autism please visit http://www.autismadvice.info

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Grounds for Autism Development and Cures - Why & How to Cure

By Bertil Hjert

Autism is a neurological disorder & needs special care for treatment. This disorder results from combinations of certain traits. This disorder ranges from low functioning autism to high function autism.

This disorder is considered to be a pervasive developmental disorder. This means that it interrupts with usual developmental abilities including speech & communication.

Autism has many effects on different parts of body.

Autism mainly affects the brain. A child is unable to excel is communication, social interactions & certain activities or interests.

A child with autism is unable to keep eye contact, indulge in facial expression & gestures. The child fails to establish friendship with people of his age. He or she does not enjoy or share interests & achievements with others. They are also unable to understand emotions.

Most children are unable to speak & don't initiate or continue a conversation. They have a tendency to repeat a phrase over & over again that they have heard once before. Children with autism do not indulge in 'pretend' play. They focus on pieces rather than the whole object.

Most people don´t to know whether autism can be cured. Unfortunately, the answer is 'no'. There is no cure for autism. In case, an advertisement, product or medication promises that it can cure autism, you are being misled. You need to understand the fact that autism has no cure. However, the good news is that a lot of treatments are available to make people live with autism an easier task.

Autism can be treated with the following therapies:

a) Alternative treatments

These days, natural & alternative treatments for autism are very popular. These include the use of herbs in contrast to prescribed medications. Use of herbs does not have any side effects. Usually, vitamin & mineral supplements are found helpful in treating Autism. You should inform the doctor about any of the natural products that you are using for your child. Some herbs can interact with prescription medication. Remember that herbs & vitamins are used to help with certain symptoms of autism.

b) Nutritional Methods

Some people prefer taking a special diet when treating Autism. They stay away from certain type of foods that may cause sensitivities. Gluten, dairy & artificial dyes are some of the foods that are eliminated from the diet. You can also ask your doctor for allergy testing. This will let you know whether your child has allergy from a certain type of food. This way, you can easily eliminate a food from his or her diet.

It is true that there is no cure for Autism. However, there are several treatments that can help the child overcome some symptoms. You need to understand that going for one treatment at a time will only help. You should not expect any miracle treatment.

You should not waste your money or time on products that claim to cure autism. You must continue helping your child by continuing the treatment for symptoms of Autism. This will definitely help you child enjoy a better life.

Don't shirk away from asking a lot of questions to your doctor. Try to monitor your child's progress on a regular basis.

Handle your child with lot of love, care, presence & appreciation.

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about Autism please visit http://www.autismadvice.info

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Autism - The Effects On Siblings Of Autistic Children

By Donna Mason

Oftentimes it is true that the child that makes the most noise, gets the most attention. This is true in a lot of families and moreso in families with children with Autism. Autistic children also require a lot more time and attention. In a family with more than one autistic child, it is doubly so. This could lead to a greater risk of sibling rivalry. Not for the challenges usually associated with these words but for attention. With the care that Autistic children need, it would be easy for the unaffected child in the family to get a little lost in the shuffle.

Over time, this could lead to the unaffected child feeling resentful of their Autistic siblings and to begin a little attention getting of their own or behaviors.

In time, the stress involved with this internal family conflict could lead to a rift that may take a lifetime to heal. There are several methods to deal with this potential problem before it gets out of hand.

Each Autistic child is different and each regular child is different and therefore the way that you would handle each child is going to depend on their age and personality.

Time needs to be set aside for the sibling of an Autistic child.

Their "alone" time with their parents.

You may need to hire a caregiver or find a friend or family member to watch over the Autistic child during this time.

The unaffected sibling needs assurance that although their brother or sister gets most of the attention, that they are going to get a share.

It important that you keep your appointment with the child.

The outing doesn't have to be anything spectacular, just something that the two of you can share. It can be done with one parent at a time or with both.

It is by doing this that you are demonstrating that no matter how busy or hectic things are at home, that he or she is just as important to you.

Another simple way of reassuring the child is to tell them that you love them. Three little words that mean a lot, but that children need to hear.

A special touch or hug that the two of you can share to let them know that you do think about them.

The occasional note under their pillow or in their lunchbox to assure them that even when they are not with you, they are in your thoughts.

These things take but a moment of your time but could mean the world to a child who already feels that they have so little of your time.

Another thing that you can do if your children are of school age is to ensure that the work that they bring home from school is not destroyed by their Autistic sibling.

Unfortunately, due to the behaviours that some children with Autism have, some artwork especially is attractive to them and it may get ruined.

Make sure that you do have a special place that it can be put where it is out of harms reach.

The other thing that you can do is obviously talk to them about Autism in an age appropriate manner. Explain as best you can why their brother or sister does the things that they do. Encourage them to be open about their feelings.

It is okay to dislike something that the Autistic child does, but that doesn't mean that they have to dislike the Autistic child.

Encourage participation in the fun things that the family can do as a unit. If the child with Autism is unable to handle outings, have a picnic complete with cloth and picnic basket on the lawn in the backyard.

Be creative.

By showing the sibling of a child with Autism that the family is important and by having them understand that their status in the family unit is by no means undermined by the fact that you need to spend more time with their siblings, the stronger and more secure the child will become. And the less resentful.

This is extremely important. The sibling of a child with Autism will quite possibly become the decision maker for that Autistic child at some stage in the future.

Donna Mason has been a Registered Nurse for the past 16 years. She is the mother of 6 children, 3 of whom have varying degrees of Autism. For more information on Autism signs and symptoms, and to learn more about this mother's battle in the fight against this misunderstood condition, visit us on the web at: http://www.autisticadventures.blogspot.com

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Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

By Patricia Reed

Everyone experiences mood highs and lows. It is just a normal part of life. For those suffering bipolar disorder disease these highs and lows can vary from one extreme to another. The very high and low mood swings can interrupt a normal daily life and can become very dangerous. If the person feels depressed, no work gets done. The next day they have so much energy that they go into overdrive mode. Other people see this hyper energy as being reckless or uncontrolled.

People suffering from bipolar disease can be unpredictable and confusing. This is a chronic disease. If you suffer from it, do not be embarrassed about it. The problem can be managed effectively if you learn what it is all about and how you can look at yourself.

A person suffering from bipolar disorder experiences different moods within a normal period of time. Another term is manic depression. Bipolar means two poles of emotion at extreme ends of the spectrum. Those affected will experience mood swings from very high to very low in quick succession or maybe in the span of one day depending on the severity of the affliction.

A good comparison to explain this would be the planet earth itself which has two poles - the North Pole and the South Pole. The manic phase or the extreme high would be the North Pole and the depression would be the South Pole. If either of these phases goes on for a certain amount of time, it is described as an episode. One must discuss these episodes in great depth with their healthcare provider.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are four types of episodes that are identified with bipolar disorder.

The first episode is Depression, where the person will feel sad for a very long time. Normal activities are difficult. Activities such as getting out of bed, eating or drinking and other normal daily activities. The second episode is Mania, where it starts with a laugh or feel good mood and the happy mood changes to irritable or angry. In this phase, it is easy to do things that are very risky. The third phase is Hypomania, which is a milder form of Mania. It begins with the person feeling fine and happy with things being done and it degenerates into depression at a very fast rate. The last episode is described as a Mixed Episode or mood.

These episodes are dangerous because the person is at risk of being suicidal. If there are more than four episodes of depression or mania within a year, then it is called rapid cycling. Symptoms for the two poles of bipolar depression differ from each other.

Under mania, the symptoms include more energy, less need for sleep, a restless mind, quick to get distracted, racing thoughts and very talkative and confident, but not much work gets done despite better concentration. Overall this is more risky than if things appear to be going badly.

When depressed, the person feels, loses interest in normal things, feels guilty about small things. They get a feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness. They feel blue and will either sleep a lot or not enough. There will be a weight change, up or down and a feeling of being tired all the time. They also have problems making decisions, concentrating on a particular job and may have excess energy or restlessness.

Certain things trigger mood swings and one must be aware of what causes them. More often than not, the triggering factors are events that have occurred in the persons life.

Today there are treatments available for bipolar disorder that make is easier to control the disease. They are available by talking with your health care provider so that you can work out a plan to stabilize your mood swings and live a normal healthy live.

Patricia Reed is a successful Webmaster and publisher of many articles and newsletters which you can browse on her website http://www.netbizconnection.com/bipolar

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Repetitive Behavior

By Janine C Honour

Repetitive behavior, Stimming.

Although people with Autism will normally appear physically normal and have good muscle control, they will sometimes display unusual repetitive movements.

Which is known as, stereotypic movement disorder, stereotypies or repetitive behaviors, self stimulation, or stimming.

Repetitive behaviors, stimming, obsessions, stereotype and routines are all features of the autistic spectrum disorder. The level of an Autistic persons development and functioning will influence their specific behavior, if any.

The repetitive behavior, stimming, stereotypy or self-stimulatory behavior is common in many individuals with developmental disabilities; but appears to be more common in autism.

Sometimes an Autistic person will have a preoccupation with a certain part of an object (such as the bell on a bike), repetitive use of a particular object, such as flicking a rubber band or twirling a piece of string, or a repetitive activity involving the senses such as smelling, or feeling of particular textures, such as a blanket, or rubbing silk, also listening to different noises.

Repetitive behaviors can also extend into the spoken word as well. Echolalia is the repetition of a single word or phrase.

Stereotypy, repetitive, stimming or obsessive behavior, can involve any one or all senses, For example:

Sight: Staring into lights, repetitive blinking, flicking their fingers in front of their eyes and hand-flapping.

sound: tapping of the ears, snapping of the fingers.

feel: Rubbing their skin with their hands or with an object, or scratching, bitting.
Taste: Placing body parts or objects into their mouth, or licking objects and things
Smell: Smelling of objects, or sniffing people.

With Autism sometimes an overload of sensory input is too confusing for them to handle, so they'll actually flap (stim), in order to concentrate on the flapping and calm themselves down.

Autistic people find it hard to multi task, so when they're looking at something it's almost as if they're deaf and can't hear because they will suppress or turn off their auditory system (hearing).

In fact, if a person with another developmental disability presents a form of self-stimulatory behavior, the person is quite often labeled as having autistic characteristics

Autistic children may also display self-stimming behaviors. Such as hand flapping and toe walking. Or in some cases self-harming behavior such as biting or head-banging.

Repetitive behaviors are more often observed in children or people at the lower functioning end of the autistic spectrum.

However, some adolescents and adults can revert back to old repetitive behaviors when they are anxious or stressed.

To an Autistic person our normal everyday lives are confusing, our interaction with other people, places, sounds, smells and sights.

To an autistic person we appear to have no clear boundaries, order or meaning to anything. We don't follow the same repetitive patterns in all we do.

Research has shown that stereotypic behaviors interfere with attention and learning in autistic children. But interestingly enough, these stereotypic behaviors are quite often used as a reward of good behavior after completing a task. For example an autistic child may be allowed to twirl string once he has completed his school work.

Research has suggested various reasons why an autistic person may engage in stereotypic behaviors. One theory suggests that these behaviors give the person sensory stimulation (i.e., the person's sense is hyposensitive).

Due to some dysfunctional system in the brain or periphery, their body will want stimulation; therefore the autistic person will engage in the stereotypic behavior to excite or arouse the nervous system.

One theory is that these behaviors release beta-endorphins in their bodies (opiate-like substances) which provides the autistic person internal pleasure.

Repetitive behaviors can be easily confused with the tics that arise in Tourette's syndrome, which is itself a comorbid disorder.

The tics associated with Tourette syndrome usually begin at around age six or seven years. while repetitive movements typically start before two years of age in children on the autistic spectrum and are more likely to be triggered by excitement or stress.

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What Is Psychotherapy?

By David McEvoy

Psychotherapy involves undergoing regular meetings or sessions with a psychotherapist who is trained to listen to you in a non-judgemental empathetic way and who can help you make sense of your thoughts and feelings in order to reach an understanding of what the problems are and how they can be dealt with in a more constructive and positive way. It has not to be confused with psychiatry even though some psychotherapists may have psychiatric training. Psychotherapists are usually trained in another discipline which may be psychiatry, nursing, psychology, or social work amongst others, and will have undergone some form of advanced training in psychological and counselling techniques.

There is a current debate about the difference between counselling and psychotherapy with no clear-cut definition between the two. On a simple level, someone may need counselling to help them deal with a particular crisis or situation in their lives such as divorce, redundancy, or other traumatic event. Counselling can help an individual feel better and more positive, it can improve confidence and help a person regain control of their lives. Psychotherapy on the other hand can help people to deal with psychological problems which may have developed over a period of time or that require some kind of specialist help. As you can see, there is a great deal of overlap between them.

So what sort of problems can psychotherapy help with?

Basically, anything that is causing emotional or psychological distress. For example:

* Anxiety and Stress* Panic Attacks* Depression* Relationship problems* Difficulties at work* Eating disorders* Alcohol and drug abuse* Social exclusion* Problems relating to sexuality* Post traumatic stress disorder* Personality disorders* Victimisation and abuse* Phobias* Obsessive compulsive disorders* Post natal depression

How do I get referred for psychotherapy?

You could start by speaking to your doctor as he or she will be able to advise you on the best course of action for you and your particular circumstances or you may prefer to seek out a suitable therapist yourself on a private basis.

Current NICE guidelines recommend that when someone is suffering from a mental health problem they should be offered some form of therapy before resorting to drugs. In the past this has not always been possible due to a general lack of therapists in some areas so doctors were often left with little option other than to prescribe medication. However, the NHS in the UK plans to increase the number of therapists in order to make talking therapies more available on the NHS. Indeed, in the light of recent reports that Prozac and other SSRIs are ineffective for some types of depression, in the future psychotherapy is likely to become one of the first options in any treatment plan for mild to moderate depression as well as other types of mental health problems.

What are the different types of psychotherapy available?

There are many different types of psychotherapy available, so finding the right one for you can be daunting if you don't know what the various options are. Broadly speaking, some of the most common approaches include cognitive behaviour therapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy and group therapy.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT as it is sometimes referred to aims to change the negative behaviour patterns or ways of thinking that may be quite destructive into more positive ways of thinking in order to bring about a change in the way that an individual perceives themselves, those around them and the world in general. By talking to a cognitive behaviour therapist about how you feel about yourself, your environment and the people around you and exploring how the way you think influences your behaviour, new ways of coping and dealing with situations can be identified.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy

This type of therapy is aimed at reaching the underlying reasons for the psychological problems or distress experienced by an individual, which are often subconscious in nature. By understanding the causes then it is possible to reach a new level of awareness so that the individual can alter their thinking patterns and behaviour and regain a sense of wellbeing.

Group therapy

Sometimes people who are suffering from similar problems and issues may benefit from group therapy sessions. The main advantage here is that someone undergoing group therapy doesn't feel alone, they have the support of others in the group who are able to understand what each person is going through, which can be a positive step forward to becoming well again.

Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information about depression and self help come and visit our site.

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Irrational Fear Of Driving - How To Overcome It

By Mike Eltis

In order to overcome irrational fear of driving, you have to take the first step of realizing that this fear is indeed irrational. Sure, traffic accidents happen, but they happen to a very small percent of the people, and even if you were involved in an accident before, there's really little chance that it will ever happen.

Once you do come to the realization that your fear of driving is irrational, you can start to figure out how to overcome it. And you can do it with 2 parallel processes:

1. The first thing you need to do is to realize that your fear is divided in 2: Your fear of the actual driving, and your fear of what that fear of driving is likely to make you feel. You're scared of the symptoms of the fear and not just the driving. This is a fear cycle in which your fear of another phobic attack is preventing you from taking steps to correct it. In order to begin overcoming your irrational fear of driving, you need to first be willing to face what driving may make you feel. In this way you will stop feeding your own fear and deal with the real issue of driving and your fear of it.

2. The second process you need to initiate is the baby-steps process by which you start taking small steps to face your fear. This is done by driving incrementally longer distances and facing the specific things about driving which terrify you. For instance, if you fear driving over a bridge, do it with someone else in the car with you, then do it alone over a short bridge, then a larger bridge, then a bridge spanning water. Slowly but surely, you will see that the demon isn't so bad and that your fear of driving is, in fact, irrational.

Do that and you will likely see an improvement in your condition.

To read more tips on how to cure fear of driving, click here: How To Cure Driving Phobia. Mike Eltis writes on Driving Phobia Treatments on this webpage: Overcome Irrational Fear Of Driving.

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Eliminating Your Phobia, Fear or Panic Attacks

By Gary Johnston

Most people have at least one event, environment or item that induces a mild degree of anxiety or fear. Our unconscious mind does this as a safety mechanism when, for whatever reason, it believes it is protecting us from harm. When that fear becomes so intense that it stops you doing something or living a full life it becomes known as a PHOBIA. Phobias are often given names by psychologists or psychotherapists to describe what the phobia does, thereby "pigeon-holing" the phobia and giving it a kind of reality. I suggest you do not do that.

Phobias, and their close cousins Panic Attacks, both occur when your unconscious mind recognizes a particular set of circumstances that it believes are placing you in danger. It immediately begins triggering a set of physical reactions, including emotional responses that it knows will make you move away from the perceived danger. At least, this is the strategy IT HAS BEEN TOLD will get the desired protective response.

However, the response is almost always too strong under the circumstances. Of course there is a valid reason to be cautious of spiders and other sometimes toxic or furry critters. But to create an irrational response of jumping on a chair, or running screaming from the room, or simply freezing up so you can't move, combined with the debilitating physical effects of intense terror, is usually not a valid response.

The same applies to fear of being in a crowded space, or out in the open air, or panicking when your mind thinks something has germs on it. Whilst under some very RARE circumstances the response is appropriate, most of the time it is not.

So, how do you stop your mind from doing that?

The solution is slightly different for each of you, but the basic principle is the same. It applies to both phobias and panic attacks. Instead of concentrating on WHAT is happening, concentrate your conscious thoughts on HOW it is happening. In other words, instead of feeling the fear in your body and how that makes you feel, stop for a second and concentrate on how your mind is producing that feeling. Which part of your body feels different? Is it your stomach, your heart, your chest, your head? And how is it making that part different? Does it make it feel heavy, thicker, darker, colder or hotter? Does it appear to look different in your mind's eye?

Once you know that, and knowing that this response is really not a valid response, what do have to consciously change to the way that feeling is created to make it feel better. Imagine what it would be like if that part of the body was lighter, cooler, warmer, less dense, a different color. And when you feel the difference, ask your unconscious mind to take note. All it needs is better response mechanisms to help protect you. By using the new feelings it actually protects you more because you can think clearly and respond appropriately instead of in panic. That would be OK would it not?

Done correctly, your mind will begin to disassociate your circumstance from the reaction it used to create. With a little practice you can turn off the irrational reaction in a few seconds and eventually dissolve the phobia or panic entirely. The same methodology applied to Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.

How do I know this? Because of a particular set of circumstances many years ago caused me to start having panic attacks. Once I recognized what was happening, I could stop them within seconds and eventually stopped them even starting. In my clinical practice, and even in sizable groups, I have shown my clients how to totally and permanently eliminate phobias in 5 minutes. The method works every time as long as any biochemical imbalance caused by long term high stress levels has been dealt with first.

In future articles I will cover more about the techniques of doing this, but for instant gratification go to http://www.gmfint.com for additional free resources to help deal with all stress and fear based problems.

The site also discusses Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and ways of dealing with it efficiently.

Gary Johnston is a psychotherapist with extensive clinical and corporate experience in Stress and Change Management. He is a full member of the Australian Association of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy and runs public and corporate short courses on stress management and life skills. His consulting website is found at http://www.gmfint.com

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How To Recognize The ADHD Children

By Samuel Oliver

ADHD Children

It is very common these days to chance upon a somewhat naughty child in many homes. You may even believe that children are supposed to be naughty.

But ADHD Children are special in their own ways.

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is actually a name given to a group of behavioral complexities found in growing children and more and more adults. ADHD afflicts not more than 10 percent of the boys and not more than 4 percent of the girls. This means that 1 out of every 35 children in a schoolroom could have some or more ADHD like behaviors.

The common belief is an ADHD child typically is restless by nature. It appears that the child will be inattentive not only in school, but also at home. Despite his/her physical presence, the child would be mentally somewhere else even while involved in other playful activities.

But you may want to check on this for yourself as some children can be advanced learners even while displaying such behaviors.

This behavioral trait also has very serious implications on the other aspects of their life. Since they are more active and/or impulsive than their other playmates, they slowly develop strained relationships with their peers. The restlessness gets so severe that they even end up having problems with teachers and learning in school.

However, the severity of these symptoms must remain for at least a continuous period of 6 months. Then a child can be diagnosed with some from of ADHD.

The typical symptoms of an ADHD child who is attentive are; difficulty in following instructions, total inattention in school, home, play or any other activity, loosing things required for school activities, appears not to listen even when spoken to directly, doesn't pays attention to close details, almost always remains disorganized, forgets things very quickly and is easily distracted from the work in hand.

Similarly, the symptoms of an ADHD child who is hyperactive/impulsive are; remaining fidgety with the fingers or the digits of the foot, running or climbing inappropriately, inability to play quietly, habitually blurting out the answers in school more often out of turn, interrupting people, inability to sit for long in his seat when he is required to, indulging in excessive talking and always being on the go.

In a more severe form of ADHD, the child could suffer from all the above mentioned symptoms. This type is known as the ADHD Combined Type. Children suffering from this are more visible in their maladjustments and get medical attention more quickly than those suffering from the previous two types.

The parents should always remember in these cases that many physicians believe ADHD is a genetic disorder. And the doctors are often heard to say; "The disease manifests itself early on in life due to lack of certain chemical formations in the brain" or something like that.

Some researchers also believe ADHD to be hereditary. Smoking, diet and/or substance abuse during pregnancy could also result in ADHD symptoms. Perhaps even stress or the 'energy' of an environment may be a factor.

If you take the attitude that ADHD Children should immediately be taken to the doctor then you may just be feeding a fixed outcome. Think for a moment, what's best for your child and then you and your family. Seek understanding and information if you can. Read alternative opinions and ask loads of questions. If ADHD goes unheeded during childhood or ignored, it could cause problems for life.

Action in this case is good but action with out just reacting and adding some understanding and calm at the same time can go a long ways to getting to balance. Some folks even have the belief that ADHD children are much advanced to human kind and may be able to solve some of the 'impossible' problems of this planet.

Samuel Oliver contributes to a website dedicated to ADHD with a focus on thinking outside of the box and know-how all about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder including ADHD Children

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Depression - The Absence of Love, Faith & Hope

By Bill Clarke

Depression - The Absence of Love, Faith & Hope

Dark moments surround you, the abyss comes and you feel yourself falling, deeper, deeper, down into the hole that is dark, cold, and lonely. The Abyss of Depression strikes many. The struggle with the shadow of death keeps them reeling in sorrow, unable to comprehend the love of God, faith in tomorrow, and hope for better times.

In some cases, depression is a mental state related to mental illness, chemical dysfunction, or other health related issues. However, there is a kind of depression that is self absorption and reveals a lack of outward focus. If you are reading this and understand that your depression may not be physical, but a choice you're allowing yourself, perhaps you'd like some solutions?

Refocus

Focus on life outside yourself. Find someone worthy of your attention and step outside the depression to help another. It's important to know your own value, but it's more important to know your value to others. Once you begin to realize how important you are in the lives of others, you recognize love coming your way. You begin to understand the value of life. You may even begin to understand the purpose of interactive association with other people. Focus outside yourself. You can't be the most important person in your life. You must find an outside source of strength to lift your life out of the doom and gloom of self pity.

If your first priority in life is God, your focus will be on Him. That should be good for starters. Make God your number one focus and step into the light.

Revive

Revive the passions of your life. Do you remember how important it seemed to just anticipate an event in your life? How about Christmas? Easter? Prom? Graduation? Where did you lose your passion for living? You lost it back there when you stopped planning for events. You stopped setting goals for the future. You stopped having faith that tomorrow would come. Revive the passions by setting goals, seeking to accomplish and reaching outside your box to the world beyond.

Set goals you can accomplish in baby steps and reward yourself for each step toward the next level. You can achieve great things, you can have accomplishment in your life, but you must take action. Revive your passion for life.

Surround

Surround yourself with activities. If you lack the umph to get out and accomplish your own goals at this very moment, get out and surround yourself with others who are accomplishing great and wonderful things. Find a place to belong and help out. Offer to share the load and help another person achieve their goals, in order to gain your own purpose. When you help another, you've succeeded in a greater scheme of life. You've helped another to live passionately. Breath in and accept the courage and the passion that surrounds achievements of others, and acknowledge your own desires. Put your achievements next on the schedule of life. Add them to your calendar.

Surround yourself with activities, take a class, set a goal, join a group where progress is required. The results will amaze you.

Faith, Hope & Love will come to you.

Are you ready to step outside your shadows of doom and live?

Bill Clarke offers PLUS Agenda, goal setting strategies that work for even the most difficult moments at http://billclarkedbaplus.com with PLUS Agenda. Sign up for your FREE Subscription Today!

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Coping with ADHD in Your Family

By Donna Newnham

ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common behavioural disorder that affects approximately 8 - 10% of school age children, with boys being around three times more likely to have it than girls. A child with ADHD will have trouble focusing, and often act without thinking - they cant follow through simple tasks or instructions as they have difficulty paying attention or sitting still. Although this can be said of most children, an ADHD sufferer will carry this behaviour long term, and will stop them functioning properly at school, at home and with their friends.

Some typical symptoms of ADHD are:

Easily distracted

Forgetful of everyday activities

Quick to lose things

Unable to pay attention to details

Often make careless mistakes

Have difficulty following instructions and have listening problems

Fidgeting, squirming, unnecessary running and climbing

Unable to play quietly and always seem to be on the go

Difficulty in waiting in line or taking turns

There is no hard and fast test to diagnose ADHD, so your doctor will run through several tests and evaluations before a confirmed diagnosis is given. There are factors such as divorce, stress, depression or changes in schools that can lead to certain behavioural problems with it being linked to ADHD. So it is most important that any stress at home is taken into account before diagnosis. A physical examination will also be suggested so that any outlying physical factors can be discounted in diagnosis. ADHD can also be linked to other learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and although not actually highlighted as a learning disability, ADHD can cause problems at school with an inability of the child to concentrate and perform.

ADHD is not curable but with proper diagnosis, therapy, medication and parent education, the symptoms can be managed. It is important that you get the correct help from an early stage, as parenting a child with ADHD can be a challenge and a strain.

ADHD can be devastating to a family and it is important that you get as much information as possible. There are many 'non-medical' products on the net that may offer you fast results with ADHD treatment, but if you want to hear about how other parents coped with ADHD have a look at this site:

http://conqueradd.url-Site.com

Or for a full, comprehensive guide of the A to Z of ADHD have a look at this site: http://adhdatoz.url-Site.com

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5 Common Areas Requiring Counselling

By Richard Reid

When asked what sort of person might need counselling, most of us would say "not me!" We assume that counselling is a negative thing, however, it can be extremely effective for any person who wants more out of their lives.

Here are 5 key areas of life that counselling can help you with:

Self-esteem

Low self-esteem can hit us at any time and the tell tale sign is the tiny voice inside that tells us we are worthless or failures. It comes from negative beliefs about ourselves and can come at any time we experience rejection -- from a job, a lover for example. If we have positive thoughts about ourselves and positive experiences, we are more likely to have positive beliefs. Counselling can help you to shut off the negative presumptions, stop comparing yourself to others and teach you laugh more.

Confidence

Confidence literally means to have belief in ones self and a lack of confidence will certainly hold a person back from their true potential. A counsellor can assist the client to take charge of their actions, act assertively, maintain flexibility to people and situations, to give genuine praise and accept their weaknesses, to appreciate their achievements, to learn from their mistakes, to take action and to feel like thy are in control.

Trauma

Trauma covers everything from the death of a child to marital reconciliation to retirement. Not all negative things prove to be traumatic, in fact anything that causes major upheaval in life can be traumatic. A counsellor is vital in helping a person through trauma by helping the client deal with intense and unpredictable feelings, by assisting with disrupted thoughts and behaviour patterns, by helping with recurring emotional reactions and by providing ways to avoid straining personal relationships.

Relationships

On the PERI life events scale, relationships feature prominently, with divorce being rated the 5th most stressful experience in a person's life. Other notable cases are separation and marital relationship improves. A counsellor can act as an intermediary to helps a client deal with the pain associated with the loss, to assist with the bigger issues such as custody and property, to help with the strong emotions of anger and guilt, and to acknowledge and deal separately with the emotions, thoughts and actions both parties are having.

Stress/Anxiety

Closely related to the result of trauma, a consellor can help clients to deal with anger, depression, irrational behaviour, lack of concentration, increased smoking, drinking or recreational drug taking, insomnia, and a general feeling that something bad is about to happen. It all comes down to how we cope with a situation and our reaction to it. A qualified counsellor can also help the client with coping skills.

At some point in our lives, all of us will go through traumatic and stressful situations. Our longer term health is closely related to how well we deal with them, so it makes sense to consult with a counsellor, trained in helping clients and these 5 common areas to ensure they can return to normal as soon as possible after the event.

Richard Reid is experienced in a variety of disciplines including NLP, EMDR, Integrative Counselling and Hypno-Psychotherapy. He is also a qualified provider of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Alternative Dispute Resolution. His company, Pinnacle Therapy has offices in Central London and Twickenham and can be found online at http://www.pinnacletherapy.co.uk

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Fun Is A State Of Mind

By Kate Loving Shenk

I was recently drawn to the book: "Merv: Making the Good Life Last."

Aside from the fact that Merv Griffin was a business genius, as one of my Second Life friends recently pointed out, I was struck by how Merv lived his life from a level of pure gut instinct.

My mother loved Merv and watched his show every day. In a sense, I was raised with Merv, Dick Cavett and David Frost.

But Merv and Cavett were her favorites.

I also bought Shirley MacLaine's latest book at the same time I bought Merv's book called: "Saging While Aging."

And was also led to spontaneously order glossy business cards and had a strong inspiration to place an angel on them.

These three events, buying Merv and Shirley's books plus creating these cards and ordering 1000 of them , all at the same time, seemed to be separate acts, having no relationship to the other.

Yet I was experiencing doubt and overwhelm in the New Year. Previously, in the months leading to the end of 2007, I awoke every day and did what I was spontaneously led to do, with a loose weekly to do list that included article and blog writing, creating e-books and new blogs, keeping close to my intuitive hunches and ideas about future product production.

All of this was flowing well until the New Year hit. I suddenly felt a sense of aimlessness and doubt as to my business building strategies, which basically do not exist in any traditional, goal-planning model that most business guru's recommend.

Besides thoroughly enjoying Merv's book, I came across a provocative statement that reinforced my approach to life: "No two days are alike. Just like when I did my show, I get to improvise my life. One day I may get up and say, "I wonder how my race horses are doing?" then I'll go down to the stable and work with the horses for a few hours. The next day, I might think, "How's that marketing plan coming for the hotels?" And I'll get my staff together by phone and start working on that.

"I call it 'Planned Spontaneity.' "

Reading this paragraph brought me great relief. I saw it as a message from the Universe that my planned spontaneity has been working and I would now continue doing exactly what I am doing, with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and joy.

Shirley's book has a chapter devoted to synchronicity or meaningful coincidence. After reading the following paragraph, I saw the connection between Merv and Shirley's book and the purchase of my angel business cards.

"People who continually experience meaningful coincidence and acknowledge them believe that synchronicity in all its forms is a kind of personal guidance--a kind of God-like direction that takes us into the future, and if we choose to follow the guidance, our personal destinies evolve and become clear. Joesph Campbell defined it as "following our truth" regardless of the consequences, making for ourselves the authentic life, then living the hero's journey according to our own values, which share little or nothing with popular values. If we follow our bliss, as Joesph Campbell said, we will be doing what we feel most inwardly qualified and inclined to do, regardless of social and material consequences."

As long as I experience joy and flow and fun with my everyday business and writing pursuits, and stay as far away from what the media or "popular value" tells me to do, I will be happy, as I am now.

As far as the business cards go, instead of asking a fellow traveler if she wants one of my business cards, I instead ask: "Do you want an angel blessing."

And the beautiful card is my gift to them.

So between Merv's insight about "planned spontaneity" and Shirley's insights about synchronicity, and the beautiful angel blessings, I feel as if I am on the right path.

I do not have to turn back.

Just trudge the road of Happy Destiny and allow my five senses awaken and notice all that is good in this life--and beyond.

Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find out how to order the e-book: http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Check Out Kate's Blog: http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com

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