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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bertil_Hjert

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bertil_Hjert

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_Mason

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Reed

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janine_C_Honour

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_McEvoy

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Eltis

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Johnston

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Oliver

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!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Clarke

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_Newnham

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

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com