Mental Connection

An Exercise on Beauty

Whoever said, “Beauty is only skin deep,” probably didn’t feel too beautiful when they said that. In actuality, beauty is a feeling. It is a feeling you get when you see something you think is beautiful, and it is a feeling you get when you think you are beautiful. Looking at something beautiful is inspiring, but knowing you are beautiful is empowering.

So, look around. What do you think is beautiful? Is it certain colors? People? Trees? Flowers? Make a list and turn it into a poem. Go ahead and get metaphorical. Is the color blue beautiful because it’s peaceful, or is the color orange because it’s creative? Is Angelina Jolie beautiful because she looks like a queen? Or is Jennifer Anniston the belle because she is so down to earth?

Sometime after you finish your poem, do some things to pamper yourself. Give yourself a facial and a pedi. You can spend a day at the spa, or find some recipes for the home spa, the one in your kitchen and bathroom. If you pamper yourself at home, throw in your favorite girly movie while you are at it. Maybe spread it out over a week where you get your hair cut one evening and pluck your eyebrows the next.

Once you feel pampered, and maybe a little better about yourself, take a look at your poem. What is you in there? Maybe you love blue because you are peaceful and it reminds you of your own peace. Maybe you think Angelina Jolie looks like a queen because you rule your house. What is you you’d like to become? Maybe Blue represents your desire for peace and Angelina represents your desire to rule. What steps can you take to get you there? Are you sure you aren’t already there?

Now go look in the mirror. That’s the best place to find something beautiful.

Filed Under: Expert Advice, Treatment Tagged With: Angelina Jolie, Beauty, Louis Vuitton

High Functioning Autism Treatments

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While there is no “cure” for autism, there surely are options when it comes to treatment and therapy. It takes time, and it basically treats the symptoms, but since all that the world knows about autism are really the symptoms, that’s the best the world has to offer for a solution.

The safest and most effective treatment is early intervention. What exactly are you supposed to intervene? That isn’t quite spelled out yet by the experts, but the first step would be for you to study Asperger’s Syndrome and the autistic spectrum to get a feel for what that entails. Many issues someone on the spectrum faces can be taught or re-directed. For those with a speech delay, speech therapy is very beneficial. When they are really young, you want to emphasize learning of feelings (both for the child and other people), motor skills, and coping strategies. As they get older, because everyone on the spectrum is unique, you look for specific problems they are facing and work on those one by one.

Another safe approach is Defeat Autism Now (DAN) theories. They are focused on the notion that vaccinations might be a cause to many people’s autism (not all) as well as certain food allergies. DAN doctors will test for toxicity levels in the body related to vaccinations as well as different food allergies to help identify what is going on specifically in you or your child, and then based on those results will formulate some therapy to help clean out the system.

The most popular, and least safe, option that many people have resorted to is medication. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety agents, and even stimulants have been used to treat autism, and many times it’s a trial and error method per patient. The thing to consider for this option is the benefit vs. the cost. These medications all come with a hefty helping of strange and unusual side effects, some of which are worse than what you are trying to treat. Some of the side effects are irreversible.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Asperger syndrome, Autism, Autism spectrum

Spirituality and Mental Health

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Some of the psychological forefathers such as Freud seem to contradict each other on whether or not religion is good for psychological health; however, empirical evidence today is trying to resolve the debate, and signs are pointing to, “Yay, God is good for your health.”

Spiritual people believe in a higher power, use prayer or meditation, often use their intuition, place a focus on the bigger picture, and are more hopeful through faith.

Believing in a higher power gives people a sense that they are not alone, that someone else is in control, and that there is a reason for things, good and bad. When people give their problems up to God, really they are letting go of their negative emotions (like worry and fear) in faith that someone smarter is handling it for them. In addition, by grace, they are forgiven, which contributes to letting go of guilt and shame.

The power of prayer goes beyond having an all-powerful being answer your wishes. In prayer and meditation, people tune in to their subconscious mind that holds a lot of unbiased information about who you are and the world around you. Tapping into that brings more wisdom to making smarter decisions and nurtures psychological growth.

One common attribute amongst many of the self-made millionaires is their ability to make intuitive decisions. In fact, some believe that a decision is made by the heart and logic only delays the decision and is then used to justify it. Making intuitive decisions can lead to success which is imperative for confidence.

Placing a focus on the bigger picture allows people insight on what truly matters in this life. When you die, does it really matter if you were a few days late on that credit card payment 25 years ago? This mentality teaches people to let go of the things that don’t matter and embrace the things that do.

Hope is essential to preventing and battling depression. If the light at the end of the tunnel can’t be seen with the naked eye, it can be seen with faith.

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: God, Psychology, Sigmund Freud

Learning Hospitals

In times of need, hospitals are there to treat anyone who needs their services. There are different types of hospital that fulfill various needs. Community hospitals, teaching hospitals, and public hospitals come in a range of shapes and sizes, and they tend to provide services for different communities.

Community Hospitals:

Community hospitals are the most common type of hospital. These care centers, generally speaking, are small, with only about 50-500 beds. Community hospitals provide quality services in cases of routine medical problems or surgeries. Many of these hospitals are traditionally non-profit. However, increasingly, they are being acquired by investor-owned corporations.

Teaching Hospitals:

Teaching hospitals differ from community hospitals in many important ways. For one, these hospitals are much larger. They’re also affiliated with medical schools, and serve as important teaching tools for new doctors. Beyond that, many physicians working here also hold teaching positions at the affiliated medical school. Patients may be wary of repeated examinations by residents and students, but physicians at these hospitals also have access to advanced technology. And renowned experts make teaching hospitals ideal for patients with complex diagnoses.

Public Hospitals:

Public hospitals, finally, are hospitals owned by the government, either federal, state, or city. These hospitals traditionally provide care for the poor. People with limited insurance coverage or who otherwise do not have the ability to pay for their care often turn to public hospitals for much-needed services. As a result, public hospitals can find themselves in difficult financial situations because many patients are unable to pay for their care.

These three types do have something in common—they all are ready to meet the needs of patients looking for care.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Hospital, Public hospital, Teaching hospital

Battling Drugs and Alcohol

If you or someone you love has a drug or alcohol addiction, choosing the proper care to overcome the problem can be a difficult and confusing process. If you opt for rehab, there is a great variety of services and treatments available. Different centers have different rules about insurance, and prices also vary. Choosing the services best suited to your needs is an important first step in the recovery process.

Choosing a Center:

Programs run from the very expensive to the affordable and even free. Some treatment facilities accept insurance, and many will accept Medicaid or Medicare. Other programs require cash payments but have moderate fees for those with little or no insurance coverage.

Most of the many drug and alcohol treatment programs in the United Steps follow a 12 step model. However, there are a wide range of options available, including gender specific, holistic, and Christian-based, to give only a few examples.

Choosing a Treatment:

Rehab centers differ on the levels of care they provide. Detoxification is generally an inpatient procedure, while many other programs focus on outpatient or day treatment. Others still are residential. Even individuals who choose these programs will usually follow their treatment with weekly outpatient care groups post-treatment that focus on preventing relapse. Finally, sober living homes require their residents to pay a small rent while working and attending school during the day and have a set of house rules to maintain sobriety.

Facing addictions is a tough and scary process. Knowing the options for rehab that are out there will help you make an informed decision about which program is the right one for you.

Filed Under: Disease, Health Tagged With: Alcoholism, Medicaid, Medicare

Drugs, Signs, and Symptoms

If you suspect that a loved one has a problem with drugs, the feeling can be terrifying. Some warning signs and past history can alert you to the possibility of addiction.

Warnings of Addiction:

Certain warning signs may alert you to the fact that someone you love has a drug addiction. Warnings can be behavioral, physical, and psychological. However, it can be difficult to separate warnings signs from the ups and downs of life, especially in the case of teenagers. Beyond that, a loved one you worry could be abusing drugs might try to cover up these very symptoms and warning signs.

Behaviorally, performance at work or school may begin to suffer. Missing money, or constant borrowing, could be signs of stealing to fund a drug habit, and a sudden switch in groups of friends is also a warning sign. Physical symptoms could also signify a drug habit. Sleep patterns change, weight is lost or gained, and eyes are bloodshot. Psychological signs include shifts in attitude or personality not linked to any obvious personal event.

Why are some more Susceptible to Addiction?:

You may wonder how someone develops an addiction while others in similar situations do not. As with many things, biology and environment intertwine. Family history certainly plays into it. If someone has a family history of addictions, they are more likely to develop one as well. An early start to using drugs can also be an indicator. Preexisting mental disorders—anxiety, for instance—may predispose someone to a drug habit. At the same time, abuse or other traumatic events could lead to drug use.

Knowing signs and symptoms puts you in a place to help your loved one overcome his or her addiction.

Filed Under: Disease, Health Tagged With: Drug, Substance abuse, Symptom

Treating Heroin Addiction

Heroin has long been considered one of the most dangerous drugs to be addicted to. True rehabilitation is considered a lifelong process and requires long-term medication. Because of the very quick way that heroin enters the blood stream – though it can be taken orally or smoked, the most common way that heroin is used is injected directly into a vein – the drug is highly addictive and its Heroin rehab was even considered dangerous for years because many replacement drugs didn’t work or just created new dependabilities. Pain killer methadone was the most popular drug used during heroin rehab but the drug came with some serious side effects. Seizures, allergic reactions and even irregular heartbeat and difficulty breathing were just some of the possible life-threatening side effects of using the drug.

However, scientists have completed studies that have revealed new options when it comes to treating heroin addiction. Prescription painkiller dihydrocodeine has been shown to be just as effective as methadone when helping heroin addicts kick the habit which in rehabilitation. Dihydrocodeine has several benefits, mainly for the clinics that provide the addiction treatments to patients. For instance, dihydrocodeine comes in a tablet form which makes it easier to store than the liquidated methadone. There are also less restrictions on its use because it is not as toxic. This also means that there is a significantly lower chance of a fatal overdose, which is important when dealing with the treatment of heroin addicts. For the patient, dihydrocodeine costs about half as much as comparable methadone treatment, on average.

Dihydrocodeine has been the perferred way of treating certain drug conditions by some specialists and in places where hazardous materials are highly regulated, like in prisons. But with the studies showing that it is as effective as other leading treatment options, the use of dihydrocodiene to treat heroin addiciton is likely to continue to rise and also gives users another option if they have bad reactions to methadone.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Addiction, Heroin, Substance abuse

Internet Powerful Tool When Confronting Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is one of the most abused addictive substances in use today and treatment specialists are always eager to hear of more ways to help users confront and overcome their addictions. In a world where the Internet is becoming a daily part of many people’s lives, online interactive content must be considered as a possible treatment mechanism.

Researchers have determined that online interventions can be highly effective when used to identify whether people have drinking problems or when trying to educate alcohol users on the dangers of drinking in excess. In fact, online interventions have been shown to have a significant public health benefit that can actually be just as effective as face-to-face interventions.

When drinkers with possible problems with alcohol were exposed to an online survey that questioned them about their alcohol use, problem drinkers were more likely to self identify as such during the survey and showed considerable changes in their drinking behaviors after experiencing the online intervention. People who took the survey reduced their drinking by an average of 30 percent – up to seven drinks each week – and the reduction in alcoholic intake was sustained in both a three-month followup and a followup that occured six months after taking the initial survey.

Because of the stigma associated with seeking face-to-face treatment for a problem with alcohol, online interventions could have a much higher rate of success than traditional treatment options since problem drinkers may be more willing to seek help themselves on the Internet. The survey takes the information that the drinker has self-reported and gives a plethora of information and tips that the drinker can use to analyze their own behavior. For instance, the drinker’s results are compared to national averages, the user’s weight and average alcohol intake is used to let the drinker know what sorts of effects alcohol has effect on their body and gives them ways to reduce their risk.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Alcohol, Health, Substance abuse

Recovery from Alcoholism Possible

Alcoholism is a horrible disease but it doesn’t have to be the end of life as you know it. Full recovery is not only possible but probable when a person recognizes their alcohol dependence and seeks help and even people who don’t seek professional treatment have a fairly good chance for recovery if they recognize their problem.

A 2002 study shows that more than one-third of people who exhibited signs of alcoholism more than a year prior had already achieved a “full recovery.” A full recovery means that the person no longer exhibits or experiences any symptoms of alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse. Out of people in the study, only one-quarter had received treatment for their problems with alcohol.

Fully recovered people typically abstain from drinking alcohol entirely or only drink small amounts during social occasions – at amounts lower than those thought lead to higher rates of relapse. Currently, the amount of alcoholic consumption that is thought to increase the chances of relapse is more than 14 drinks a week (or more than four drinks on an individual day). For women, that amount is more than seven drinks a week or more than three drinks on any individual day.

Out of the two-thirds of alcoholics that hadn’t yet realized full recovery, there was still news that should make anyone struggling with alcohol dependency feel positive about their chance of recovery. For instance, Almost 12 percent of the original people currently have no symptoms of alcohol abuse or dependency but do drink as much or more than the amount of alcohol traditionally thought to increase the chance of relapse.

More than one-quarter of the people who were part of the study were in partial remission. While they may still exhibit or experience symptoms of alcohol dependence or abuse, they are in treatment and moving toward a normal relationship with alcohol. The remaining quarter of people are still dependent on alcohol – but this shows that the recovery rate for alcoholism is achievable for the majority of dependents.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Alcohol abuse, Alcoholism, Substance abuse

Negative Effects of Cannabis Use

While smoking weed is becoming increasingly accepted amongst youth around the world and many organizations fight for the legalization of it, there has been continued research that emphasizes the negative effects that frequent cannabis use can have.

A 2005 study shows that people who smoke marijuana habitually have a 10 times higher risk of getting into a traffic accident than people who do not smoke cannabis at all. This increased risk was seen even amongst users who hadn’t smoked immediately prior to the incident showing that marijuana use has a long-lasting negative affect to reaction time and brain functionality, at least during a high-stress situation. Unlike alcohol which impairs the part of the brain that regulates risk-taking (meaning that drunk drivers often engage in more risky driving situations that can lead to accidents), cannabuis users probably drive more carefully when they’re under the influence. However, this care can give a false sense of security since users are not taking into account the long-term affects that marijuana has on the ability to drive carefully and with a high sense of alertness. The slowness seen in reaction times can last for up to a year after the last usage, according to the study.

Cannabis can also lead to psychotic symptoms in users that are already susceptible to such issues, another study shows. People who smoke marijuana on a regular basis are more likely to suffer from schizophrenia than members of the general population, although researchers don’t know if this has to do with an effect of the plant or if individuals who suffer from psychotic symptoms are more likely to turn to marijuana for self-medication purposes.

Unlike what many of the marijuana legalization advocates say, there are many demonstrated negative effects that come from sustained smoking. While it may be thought of as a harmless recreational drug, these significant side effects should be considered, as well as the addictive quality of marijuana.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment Tagged With: Addiction, Drug, Health