A Spouse Who is a Narcissist? 8 Signs it Could Be True

Marriages require work, love, and determination to succeed. In emotionally balanced and healthy individuals, these ingredients may be available, and the marriage a mutually satisfying one. Unfortunately, for some, it seem that no matter how much effort is put in, the other party is not reciprocating and in fact continues to behave in ways that are bewildering, hurtful, and at times incomprehensible. One possible explanation for this is a personality disorder. There is a segment of the general populace that is afflicted with one of these personality disorders, one of which is narcissism.

Narcissism is an extremely relationship-destructive disorder. It is more common in men, and may lead to behaviors that are selfish, hurtful, and upsetting to the non-disordered partner. While only a mental health professional can make the diagnosis of narcissism, it is very helpful to understand the signs of the disorder. Here are 8 signs of narcissism:

1. Lack of empathy toward others. Your spouse might not be capable of "walking a mile in another person's shoes." This can cause your partner to act in ways that are callous and self serving.

2. A sense of entitlement in life. You spouse may walk around expecting preferred treatment.

3. A willingness to exploit others to get what he or she wants.

4. An inflated, or grandiose sense of self worth. More than a healthy ego or sense of worth, this is an extreme version in which accomplishments are exaggerated.

5. A craving or need for a supply of admiration and praise from others. This "narcissistic supply" is like a drug, and the narcissist will generally pursue all avenues available to obtain it.

6. Idealized forms of thinking. In other words, your partner may fantasize about ideals in love, beauty, or power. You may be idealized for a time until you stop offering enough narcissistic supply or are otherwise found to be imperfect - then you may be completely devalued as nothing, with very little grey area.

7. A haughty or superior attitude. This may be evident in dealings with or conversations about others.

8. A high degree of jealousy toward others over their accomplishments. Anyone who takes attention away from the narcissist is an enemy. Your spouse may even get enraged at the accomplishments and recognition of others.

Autor: Shannon E Cook Shannon E Cook
Level: Platinum
Shannon Cook became inspired to coach and mentor women in relationships, particularly psychologically abusive relationships, after her own personal journey through the process. Using her ... ...

By the way, what is holding you back from making the best choices to achieve the life you deserve?

For a free copy of my ebook, "Strategies For Escaping Emotional Abuse", click here: http://www.stoptoxicrelationships.com/gifts-strategiesforescapingemotionalabuse.html

Shannon Cook is a personal coach and resource guide who has written a number of informative articles and ebooks on the topic of toxic relationships and "difficult" divorces, including the physical, emotional, practical and relationship components.

Added: February 27, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

An Overview of Adolescent Bipolar Disease

Bipolar disorder affects many millions of people throughout the world. Many assume these millions of people are exclusively adults. However, a significant percentage of those struggling with bipolar disorder are adolescents. This adds an enormous complexity to their lives. In addition to dealing with the common struggles that all teenagers must deal with, they must also contend with the serious symptoms of bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder Defined

Originally named manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder refers to severe swings in mood. Such mood swings may range from an elevated sense of euphoria (mania) to a severe down cycle known as the depressive phase. Trite and non professional definitions of the condition look at euphoria as excitement and minor anxiety and the depressive phase as mere sadness or fatigue. In actuality, both phases are serious and they can greatly affect cognitive function, energy levels, decision-making, concentration, and other critical faculties needed to perform the essential functions of life.

While bipolar disorder is a serious psychiatric condition, it is not untreatable. Often, outpatient prescription therapy and counseling can help alleviate many of the negative effects of bipolar disease. However, this can be a challenge for adults. For adolescents, bipolar disorder brings further complexities.

The Onset of Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder

In general, most people develop bipolar disorder late in their teens or their early adult years. While the development of bipolar disorder in children and younger teens is rare, it does occur. Called Early Onset Bipolar Disorder, the mood swings may occur more frequently. Also, the symptoms may very well be more severe than what an adult may manifest. This may be due to the lack of emotional development in the adolescent.

How Can a Parent Detect Adolescent Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder?

Many of the same symptoms that an adult will manifest also appear in adolescents. Common noticeable symptoms include severe mood swings, lethargy, lacking a clear attention span, exhibiting a very depressed or sad mood, extreme excitement and talkativeness are all signs of the disorder.

These symptoms can also affect behavior at school. Is your child having trouble making or maintaining friends? Have his or her grades started to slip? Have they been involved in a number of disciplinary incidents? All of these situations could indicate the potential presence of bipolar disorder.

Of course, a parent will not know for sure unless the adolescent is properly diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional. Usually, a board certified psychiatrist would be the most reliable source for a diagnosis. However, it is critical that parents do not make decisions as to whether or not an adolescent had a serious mental disorder. Doing so would only stop the youth from receiving the proper treatment.

What type of treatment will work?

Treatment generally involves a combination of medication treatment and therapy. Prescribed medications often include anti-depressants, mood stabilizers and anti-anxiety prescriptions. No matter what type of treatment plan is enacted, there are no short-term fixes for Bipolar Disease. Treatment may last many years and well into adulthood. The duration of the treatment, however, is not what should be of primary importance. Instead, patients should concentrate on using their treatment as the basis for living a normal life with minimal problems deriving from the condition. This is true for both adults and adolescents.

Autor: Ken P Doyle

Ken P Doyle has had a keen interest in Bipolar Disorder for a long time. For more on the disorder or Adolescent Bipolar, visit his scuba diving resource site now.

Added: February 25, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Highly Sensitive People - Invisible Difference is Problematic

Invisible Difference

Psychologist Elaine Aron makes the point repeatedly that High Sensitivity is not a matter of having sharper vision, keener hearing or more tender skin than other people. There is nothing that can be weighed or measured on the outside of a person which will indicate to the observer that an individual is highly sensitive in Aron's terms. High sensitivity happens inside the brain. It is specifically a tendency to process sensory information in a more detailed way.

• While more detailed processing leads to slightly slower decision making, it also creates
• a heightened ability to identify small differences
• a better memory... since we all have better memories for well processed information.
• More careful and detailed processing of experience may also lead to more understanding of the implications of an event for the future, and more understanding of its effect on other aspects of the present.

HSP's Struggle to Adapt

One might well ask, in the light of these advantages why it so often seems that the 15 to 20% of the population who are highly sensitive, struggle to adapt to a world that overwhelms them. Highly sensitive individuals are born as a minority into a cognitive and social world which is not set up to accommodate their natural way of being. To a highly sensitive person, the world will always move a little too fast for comfort. Other people's judgments are comparatively quick, rough and therefore "ready." Compared to the process of a HSP, the world which the rest of us live in might appear to be a world of generalities and approximations. Exceptions to rules and details which are evident when a situation is examined minutely are glossed over or ignored.

A Thought Experiment for Non-HSP's

If you are not an HSP, try this thought experiment in what it would be like to have more to process all the time...

Imagine the world with the volume turned up thirty percent. Thirty percent more cars on the road, moving thirty percent faster. The radio playing thirty percent louder all the time, feeling thirty percent more hungry at any given moment and having thirty percent more paperwork to process for any given task and thirty percent more housework or child-care to accomplish.

My figure of thirty percent is imaginary but if you ramp up the detail in your personal world you can easily see how it might quickly become exhausting and over-stimulating. Scale this experience down to a microscopic level but make it life-long and pervasive and you begin to have an idea what it is like to be an HSP living in our society.

High Sensitivity Compared to Left-Handedness

In a way, HSP's share a common problem with the approximately 10% of persons who are left-handed. The world is not set up to accommodate left-handers. Door handles are poorly placed, stairwells turn the wrong way, and tools have grips which are uncomfortable and unwieldy. Left-handers, as a result have a higher rate of minor injuries... not because they are awkward, imperfect or in any way inferior in their abilities, but simply because the world is set up the wrong way for them.

It is only in the last thirty years or so that it has been acceptable and considered normal, to be left-handed. Our grandparents were rapped on the knuckles and forced to train themselves against their nature to write in a right-handed copybook style. Left-handers were expected to agree that their choice of hand was incorrect and inferior. The fact that as "fake" right-handers they could never function as well, only lent psychological credence to their feeling of oddness and inadequacy. Educators today know that handedness is innate and left-handed children are no longer penalized or treated as inadequate or inferior and as a consequence they can grow up "proudly left-handed".

Highly sensitive people find themselves in a very similar situation. Since their difference is even less evident than choice of handedness, those closest to them are often unaware that there is an innate difference in the way that they approach the world. There is not usually, even in the most loving or supportive families, a conceptual vocabulary to imagine that such a difference might exist or that it might be a quality that is shared by a significant percentage of the human population. An HS child, is therefore, too often born into a childhood world that is not accommodating of their particular difference. They grow up feeling, like left-handers a hundred years ago, that they are slow, wrong and somehow always out of step with their non-HS peers.

Compared to an HSP, a left-hander stands out like a sore thumb. HSP is all but invisible, and as a human experience it is only beginning to be researched and understood. Where left-handers may be exposed to more accidental physical injuries, misunderstood HSP's are certainly exposed to social mis-attunement which can cause psychological and emotional injuries.

High Sensitivity and Psychotherapy

In the 1930's, psychologist Carl Jung was one of the first to consider the implications of high sensitivity. He noted that about 25% of his patients experienced emotional problems which were related to this quality.

It is easy to imagine that when a child is innately prone to process information deeply, to be sharply aware of details and differences and to create strong memories for well processed material, that they will experience many, many occasions when they are out of step with even the most loving family. Families which are under strain or chaotic for economic, health or interpersonal reasons will be naturally enough, even less receptive and supportive of "invisible" HSP difference and needs. HS children can then grow up feeling problematic, difficult, unappreciated and defective and often seek therapy for issues concerning low self-esteem.

Making the Invisible Visible

Work for HSP's in psychotherapy revolves around sorting out what aspects of their historical relationships were impacted by their sensitivity. Current negative self-assessments and self-judgments must be examined and debated in the light of the advantages and strengths of sensitivity. Realistic strategies can be elaborated to create a life that takes into account the tendency to become over-stimulated.

There are many satisfying ways to lead a human life and highly sensitive individuals are uniquely able to appreciate the subtle changes which can make a noticeable difference in their existence. The first step, however, is to make the invisible forces and assumptions visible through reflection and conversation.

Psychotherapy is often a very good place to do this. The slow pace and supportive environment creates a situation where their detailed attention to concrete and emotional experiences is an integral part of the therapeutic process and many HSP's deeply enjoy and benefit from the opportunity to apply their finest abilities constructively to their self-understanding and personal growth.

Reference:

E.N. Aron (2004). Revisiting Jung's Concept of Innate Sensitiveness. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 49, pp.337-367.

E.N. Aron (1996). The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, New York, Broadway Books.

Autor: Susan Meindl Susan Meindl
Level: Platinum
Susan Meindl is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Westmount, Montreal. She has an MA in Counselling Psychology from McGill University and a previous ... ...

Susan Meindl, MA, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Montreal Canada. She has a special interest in Jungian ideas and practices a Jungian approach to psychodynamic psychotherapy.

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/59983

Added: February 23, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD - Here's a 'Starter Kit' of Natural Supplements For ADHD

Moms and Dads concerned about condemning their attention deficit disorder ADHD kids to a lifetime of pharmaceutical drugs like Concerta, Ritalin, or Adderall are opting for natural supplements for ADHD with no negative side effects for their ADHD kids. Possible side effects of stimulant drugs include decreased appetite, stomach ache, irritability, and insomnia. Anti-depressants introduce a risk of suicide in children and teens. Instead of using man-made synthetic chemicals, homeopathy leverages natural substances to awaken your child's natural ability to heal himself.

As a parent of an attention deficit disorder ADHD Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD kid you no doubt have read about the disturbing side effects of pharmaceutical drugs like Concerta, Ritalin, and Adderall. It's very unsettling how many negative side effects are associated with prescription drugs for ADHD treatment. Natural remedies, or homeopathic ADHD treatments, are very different from traditional pharmaceutical prescriptions.

Homeopathic formulas contain tiny amounts of natural substances to help subdue the unwelcome symptoms that go hand-in-hand with child ADHD. The best homeopathic ingredients for treating ADHD are hyoscyamus, arsen iod, and verta alb. As promised, here's your starter list of natural supplements for ADHD...

Hyoscyamus is great for calming an over-excited or restless ADHD child. If your child is hyperactive and teachers complain of his outbursts in class, try an homeopathic remedy containing hyoscyamus.

Tuberculinum is an alternative treatment for ADHD kits who get bored easily or need constant interaction.

Arsen iod extract promotes balance and reduces temper tantrums. Consider it for your non-ADHD child too!

Verta alb is used to soothe the nerves and is a viable alternative treatment for ADHD and hyperactive children.

For the best results, you should give your child a homeopathic remedy on a daily basis. You don't have to worry about side effects or interactions with medication. The other good news is that you can get this treatment over-the-counter - no prescription required.

A combination of these ingredients is proven effective in helping attention deficit disorder ADHD impulsive, restless children having difficulties in the classroom because of hyperactively, mood swings or acting out. Each child reacts differently to homeopathy so you may see immediate results or it may take a days or weeks. Don't give up on it. If you want to help your child overcome ADHD without putting his health at risk, you should give natural supplements for ADHD at try.

Autor: K. Rieger

About The Author: K. Rieger is a champion of natural remedies for all our 2-and-4-legged blessings. She is a frequent speaker at various organizations and radio shows where she spreads the word about using natural treatments to keep us healthy and enjoying life without the side effects and burden of costly prescription drugs. Visit Kate's site today to learn more about natural remedies for treating your attention deficit disorder ADHD child and discover how to naturalize your health care today at http://www.Remedies-for-ADHD.com today.

Added: February 22, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Overcoming Mood Disorders and Building Self-Confidence

If you suffer from a mood disorder, this means that you are often influenced by the wild side of your conscience, which keeps interfering in the functionalism of the human side of your conscience.

By translating your own dreams, you'll be able to verify the existence of this dangerous side of your brain that is your primitive self. You ignore its existence, but it is still active inside you and keeps determining your behavior. It dictates what you must do, and you simply follow it, without thinking. This is why while you are feeling glad and enthusiastic, you suddenly fall into a state of depression and apathy.

You may be dominated by anger and anxiety as well, without feeling comfortable inside yourself.

Many strange sensations and feelings provoke your fear, and you don't really know who you are or how to be yourself.

The best thing you can do today, thanks to my extraordinary discoveries after 19 years of research and many cures translating thousands of dreams, is to learn the dream language, so that you can eliminate your enemy.

How can you do that? This is a very powerful enemy, because the anti-conscience, your wild side, occupies the biggest part of your brain. This is why you are not using all your potential: the biggest part of your brain remains un-evolved, immersed in the absurdity of your primitive conscience.

You have to transform this wild content into a sensitive and sensible content, that will be part of your human side. This way you'll be able to use all of your brain, becoming a genius, while now you are in fact an idiot that uses only a tiny part of his brain, because the rest is too absurd.

Translating your dreams and following the directions of the unconscious mind that produces them, you'll learn how to use all your capacities and your vision will be huge, while now you can only see a small percentage of what is happening in your mind.

You will develop your personality, while you'll be developing your intelligence and eliminating your worst enemy: the dangerous anti-conscience that keeps trying to imprison you in the labyrinth of craziness and despair, because it is totally absurd and cruel.

If the human being didn't have this terrible enemy inside him that often dominates his human conscience influencing his behavior, he would not be violent and he would never become angry, for any reason. Anger is a wild reaction that should be eliminated by comprehension and forgiveness.

You'll see that the unconscious mind will teach you many things, which will transform you into a very wise person, whose self-confidence will be admired and will inspire everyone.

Your personality will be uniform, strong and always the same, while you'll be very creative and have many different ideas. Your base will give you the balance you need, and your mood will be always enthusiastic and optimistic.

Autor: Christina Sponias Christina Sponias
Level: Platinum
Christina Sponias is a psychologist and writer who continued the research of psychiatrist Carl Jung into the area of dream interpretation, discovering the wild side ... ...

Christina Sponias continued Carl Jung's research into the human psyche, discovering the cure for all mental illnesses, and simplifying the scientific method of dream interpretation that teaches you how to exactly translate the meaning of your dreams, so that you can find health, wisdom and happiness.

Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com

Click Here to download a Free Sample of the eBook Dream Interpretation as a Science (86 pages!).

Added: February 21, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Control Bipolar Mania With the Help of Bipolar Support Groups

Your friends introduced you to a new member in your theater actors' guild. She easily caught everybody's attention with her energy and extraordinary cheeriness. That night's practice has ended and everybody was raring to get home. However, your new found friend surprisingly invited you to go the disco. You declined but gave her your home number instead. You awoke to a call and heard her sobbing on the phone. She was ranting about how miserable her life is and how she just wants to end her life right there and then! Nobody would want to be in this shocking situation but what you just read is a reality of a brain disorder called bipolar mania or manic-depressive illness.

All about Bipolar Mania

Bipolar mania is a biological disorder characterized by manic as well as depressive episodes. As described above, a person with bipolar disorder shows symptoms of extreme exhilaration at one moment then severe depression the next instant. In particular, manic signs and symptoms include amplified energy, disturbing behavior, poor judgment, restiveness, and a reduced need for sleep. Meanwhile, the depressive state is recognized by feelings of hopelessness, intense grief, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities among others. What is alarming about bipolar mania is that an individual may resort to suicide if it goes unattended.

Still, statistics have shown that bipolar mania is affecting a significant number of individuals in the United States at 5.7 million of the total population. You would not wish it will happen to you or any of your loved ones but if it does, you have to get ready with all the vital information especially on how you can be of best help to them.

Bipolar Treatment Modalities

Even if bipolar mania is a long-term challenge, the condition can be treated through a combination of approaches. One is through the medical method. The medications available for this condition are termed as mood stabilizers. The most common is Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) while others are prescribed with anti-convulsant medicines such as valproate (Depakote) or carbamazepine (Tegretol). In addition, individuals with bipolar mania also see mental health professionals for cognitive or behavioral psychotherapy. Lastly, psychosocial approaches to bipolar mania are deemed important to recovery as it involves family therapy, psychoeducation, and interpersonal therapy.

Bipolar Support Groups

On the other hand, no medical or psychological approach is successful if it's not used in conjunction with other methods. Joining bipolar support groups is an invaluable resource for an individual with bipolar. Bipolar support groups are very educational because various discussions about the disorder are made at length. More than the information though is the sharing of true-to-life experiences that makes the group relate well to each other.

Being part of a support group offers a warm environment where a person doesn't have to feel alone and alienated from others. Furthermore, bipolar support groups provide an opportunity to openly talk about the hardships and the pains while gaining acceptance from others. Together, the group can brainstorm about local resources and how to get government support.

Bipolar Mania Prognosis

Whether a person with bipolar can or cannot cope with the disorder is out of the question. Whether they get into one of the bipolar support groups which will see him through the process is the real determinant that has treatment value. Indeed, individuals with bipolar are on their way to a fully-functioning life with the right kind of help from the right kind of people.

Autor: Ken P Doyle

Ken P Doyle has had a great deal of experience in the field of Bipolar Disorder. For more on Bipolar Mania and Bipolar Support Groups, visit his online resource site now.

Added: February 20, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How Much Plastic is Your ADHDer Exposed To?

The dangers of using plastic for carrying food, storing food, covering food, heating food, and using plastic for wrapping food are, fortunately, fast becoming common knowledge. For example, Canada has declared the plastic's chemical bisphenol-a (BPA), which is used to strengthen some plastics, toxic and banned its use.

As plastic ages or is exposed to extreme temperatures, such as heating or freezing, it releases traces of dangerous components.

The two components of greatest concern are BPA (mentioned above) and phthalates, used to soften plastic.

Other plastics are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which leaks acetaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen (capable of causing cancer) into your food and drinks.

These chemicals are used in the following items:

baby bottles
can linings
children's toys
vinyl shower curtains
shopping bags
plastic food covering
some plastic containers
salad dressing bottles
cooking oil bottles
plastic containers made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which leak lead, cadmium, mercury, phthalates and the carcinogen, diergyl hexyphosphate into your food
soft drink bottles/soda bottles
water bottles
peanut butter jars
meat trays
foam take-out food containers and cups
foam packing material made from polystyrene (PS) which leaks styrene into your food, known to damage your nervous system

These chemicals come into your body through food, water and bits of dust you consume or a simply absorbed through your skin.

BPA and phthalates affect the endocrine system as they mimic estrogen and other hormones, and therefore are a cause for concern in your AD-HD child and siblings, as well as for adults.

Plastics have been linked to the following problems:

Structural brain damage
Hyperactivity
Increased aggressiveness
Impaired learning
Increased fat formation
Risk of obesity
Changed immune system
Early puberty
Stimulation of mammary gland development
Disruptive reproductive cycles
Ovarian dysfunction
Changes in gender-specific behaviour
Abnormal sexual behaviour
Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
Increased prostate signs
Decreased sperm production

So, what can you do? Avoid:

plastic bottles
toys labelled with the numbers of 3 or 7
canned foods, especially those with acidic contents like tomatoes
heating plastic in microwaves
freezing plastics in freezers
plastic cups, utensils, dishware and feed storage containers
canned drinks
plastic nappies, use cloth ones

Also,

boycott plastic shopping bags, use the canvas or cloth varieties
filter your own water using a reverse-osmosis filter, and fill up glass bottles
for ease of carrying around use a stainless steel bottle
if preferring a glass bottle to carry around cover with a neoprene sleeve to avoid breakage
bring your own cup for coffee/tea-on-the-go
buy toys made of natural fibres
look for products with minimal packaging
use cloth shower curtains
use wooden spoons and other wooden kitchen utensils
use biodegradable bags for pet clean up

The sad thing is that it is children and the foetus who are the innocent victims of contamination by plastic toxins.

It is going to be difficult to have a plastic-free environment because plastic is evident in shoes, clothing, electronics, every processed food package, cars, household items and personal care products, but some action is better than none.

This is also an environmental concern, for no matter how vigilant you are at home, you are still in danger of this chemical contamination from the environment.

Having an AD-HDer in your family many of whose bodily functions are 'different ', it is more important than ever to be aware of what toxins your child consumes, especially those insidious, inadvertent ones.

Autor: Alpha Murgev

Alpha Murgev is a passionate writer within the ADD and ADHD drug free treatment environment.

She is co-author on a blog which looks at the behavioural, nutritional and alternative or complementary therapies for parents of children diagnosed with AD-HD, up to 16 years of age.

She takes the standpoint of a multi-modal approach dealing with the symptoms of AD-HD, favouring learning the skills of behavioural self-management strategies.

Her professional experience covers over 10 years of study, research, and teaching.

She is the co-author of the eBooks: "An Introduction to Coping with ADHD: 7 Steps to be in Control Again, "10 Proven Ways you and your Child can win over ADHD: The Natural Way", "ADHD: The Real Truth about Foods and Nutrition, Plus Traditional Food Alternatives", "More Real Truths about Foods and Nutrition, Plus Traditional Food Alternatives."

Visit her website:

http://ad-hd-drugfreesolutions.com/blog/

This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Added: February 17, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

What is Emetophobia and the Solution?

I wanted to take the time to explain to you what is emetophobia and the solution to this problem. The simple and blunt definition of it is a fear of vomiting. Really doesn't sound all that bad to most people. No one really enjoys vomiting and we may not have a fear, but it's something we try to avoid doing. The condition isn't actually quite that cut dry. The root cause of it is that simple fear, but it is something that takes over all parts of your life. That is where the real problem lies. The average Joe may not like vomiting, but they're not going to give up most of what they do to prevent it from happening. This is why I want to explain to you what is emetophobia and the solution for it.

To really understand the condition, you have to understand the huge variable of what could make you vomit. Being out in public places could subject you to someones germs and cause you to vomit. Being out at a restaurant can subject you to food that may not be cooked all the way through and cause you to vomit. There is a lot of different things that could cause you to vomit and this causes a sufferer to turn away from the world and stick to their home, the only real place they can control.

The only solution for this problem is therapy, but it is the exact same therapy as anxiety. Anxiety is a problem that occurs when you try to control everything for your own sanity. Obviously you can't control everything. This is what therapy teaches sufferers to learn. You can't control these things and it's okay. You don't have to close off from the world because of it.

Autor: Elle Nash

Learn more about how to Overcome Emetophobia.

Added: February 16, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

ADHD Alternative Therapy - An Opportunity For Parents

It is alarming to read in a blog that some family doctors in the UK are still refusing to even acknowledge that a child may have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) because the child is, in their opinion, just badly behaved ! This is the other extreme from where doctors will prescribe psychostimulants at the drop of a hat and they will not even consider ADHD alternative therapy, because it does not pay them to do so.

Many of these doctors and consultants are in the pay of the drug companies and one report claims that these doctors are five times more likely to prescribe ADHD drugs (Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall) than doctors who have remained outside the Big Pharm loop. There will be scant advice on how to deal with ADHD children, as ADHD therapy for them is mere medication. There will be much discussion on getting the dose right, some risk of side effects and then it is 'Next please'.

Apart from deciding about what type of medication is best and whether ADHD alternative therapy just consists of a natural cure with a few herbs and the right vitamins, wise parents will know that the matter is not that simple. I was encouraged to read about some Local Education Authorities in the UK have initiated 'ADHD Care Pathways'. This is where wraparound support is given to ADHD children so that medication , school support, parental/home support all work in tandem. They are working together for the benefit of the child. That for me is the best possible ADHD therapy.

Parental support means working with the school but also providing a loving acceptance in the home environment so that children will never feel neglected or that there is a vacuum in their lives. It is where this acceptance is lacking that other disorders like eating disorders, sexual and drug addictions and depression raise their ugly heads.

ADHD therapy is a combination of all the above and also where due attention is given to nutrition, sleep and exercise. As regards ADHD medication, the best of all , in my opinion, is a natural herbal /homeopathic cure because there is no risk at all of side effects and/or of drug addiction. They are equally effective in improving concentration, reducing hyperactivity and impulsivity in ADHD children. It is a sobering thought that our children are drugged for a mere 'disorder'. For the best possible ADHD alternative therapy which your doctor will not even mention, try visiting the link below. It is a company with a fine record and offers guarantees which are second to none.

Autor: Robert William Locke Robert William Locke
Level: Platinum
Robert is an Internet Marketer specialising in Health and Fitness....

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children's Health. He has written extensively on ADHD.

Discover what ADHD Alternative Therapy is available.

Added: February 15, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

ADHD Diet - Is This Another Urban Legend?

ADHD diet? The poor distracted parent thinks that it is just another fad hyped up by the medical community and the media. Or maybe some nutritionists and cookery writers want to make some money from a diet for ADHD! Well, here are a few facts just to set the record straight.

Over here in Europe our Members of the European Parliament have not been idle. They have legislated that certain food dyes (colourings), also named as the Southampton colours, should be banned from kids' food simply because they "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." These are the ones with the E label as such as E102 and E110. They are also known by their rather attractive names such as Sunset Yellow and Carmoisine. In the UK, a lot of food companies (including McDonalds!) are substituting these colours with healthier alternatives. The British Parliament haven't passed a law about ADHD diet yet!

Now a lot of kids' snacks and food still contain artificial preservatives (MSG for example) and colourings, in spite of the European and British recommendation which is voluntary at the moment. Eventually they hope that a ban can be enforced at the end of 2009.

I know one parent who actually cut out all this processed food, baked her own bread and got in as much organic food as she could. She also banned breakfast cereals as they give a quick high but later the kids crash as their glucose levels fall. Eggs are a better bet at breakfast. The first thing she got rid of was the red coloring (Red # 40) and then she applied all the other changes gradually. Her ADHD child began to improve, was less distracted and kicking and screaming on the carpet became a thing of the past. Her hyperactivity lessened and her attention span increased. That was her ADHD diet and it is so simple.

This is an anecdote and just one case, but combined with the facts from the European parliament which were based on research findings from nutritionists, this seems to be the way to go. A balanced nutritious diet is all you need for a diet for ADHD and you do not have to worry about anything else. Staying away from highly processed foods is the key while giving preference to fruit, veg and white meat . Combining this with a natural ADHD cure which will NOT affect the child's appetite is the ideal way to help children with ADHD. One of the side effects of the
psychostimulants such as Strattera, Ritalin and Risperdal is that there is a loss of appetite and weight loss which can be alarming for parents. This can all be avoided by going for a natural ADHD cure and following a few simple dieting rules.

Autor: Robert William Locke Robert William Locke
Level: Platinum
Robert is an Internet Marketer specialising in Health and Fitness....

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children's Health. He has written extensively on ADHD.

Discover what ADHD Alternative Therapy is available.

Added: February 13, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

The Truth About Bipolar Medication and Bipolar Symptoms

A person dealing with bipolar disorder experiences a fleeting good feeling or extremely bad mood, a cycle that usually lasts for days, weeks or months. The mood changes caused by bipolar disorder are so intense that it can already interfere with the person's disposition or ability to function. This explains the direct relation between bipolar symptoms and bipolar medication.

However, just like in any form of disease, medications alone are not enough to effectively control the bipolar symptoms. Many people have the notion that bipolar medications are the key to actually treating bipolar disorder. That is not exactly the case. What medications do is find relief to the symptoms of the disorder. They make sure that the symptoms do not disrupt the sufferer's daily activities and normal functioning. Bipolar disorder is a serious health problem; it takes more than medications to be cured. Hence, the right treatment plan can help control and eliminate bipolar symptoms and bipolar medication can only help the patient reach his treatment goals.

Signs and Symptoms

Generally, bipolar symptoms are classified into four. Mania, described as the manic phase, is characterized by feeling heightened levels and energy, creativity and euphoria. Hypomania is described to be the less severe form of mania. Patients diagnosed in this phase experience a state of feeling euphoric, energetic and productive without losing touch with reality. Bipolar depression is characterized by irritability, guilt, unpredictable mood swings and feelings of restlessness. Mixed episode features both symptoms of mania, hypomania and depression; feeling agitated and irritable, anxious, insomniac and combinations of high energy and low mood that poses high risk of suicide.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder often come in unpredictable pattern and vary from person to person. While these can occur over a certain period of time or even in a lifetime, there would be a need for bipolar medications to manage the disease and keep it from affecting the patient's normal functioning.

Popular Medications Available for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar is primarily a form of chemical imbalance in the brain. Managing its symptoms would mean establishing equilibrium with the chemical synthesis that occurs in the brain. Here are some of the bipolar symptoms and bipolar medication:

Anti-depressants such as tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and lithium are commonly used to manage depressive bipolar symptoms. Among them, lithium is more widely used because of its ability to even out mood swings and prevent manic attacks and flare-ups.

Anticonvulsants, or medications to treat seizures, are also used as mood stabilizers. They are prescribed to people who do not benefit from lithium or who are not safe to take lithium medications.

Atypical Antipsychotic medications are sometimes early in the bipolar treatment to manage mania. These drugs are also used when the patient do not benefit from the preciously mentioned drugs.

Other medications include benzodiazepines and calcium channel blockers.

Medications do not cure

Bipolar medication is one of the available psycho therapeutic medications that help control bipolar symptoms. They are used to correct and compensate for the malfunction in the body caused by the disease. In this light, they do not hold the key to actually treating bipolar disorders but they can help ensure that the patients adjust and benefit from his chosen methods of psychotherapy. Hence, thoroughly monitor and religiously take bipolar symptoms and medication that will effectively lead the patients on the road towards recovery.

Autor: Ken P Doyle

Ken P Doyle has had a great deal of experience in the field of Bipolar Disorder. For more on this and Bipolar Symptoms, visit his online resource site now.

Added: February 12, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Answers to All Your Questions About Children With ADHD

As someone who has worked closely with ADHD children and their parents, I can tell you one thing. In my experience, I have seen three categories of people - people who know absolutely nothing about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), people who know a little about the problem but have plenty of misconceptions about the same, and people who possess a fair amount of knowledge of ADHD and how it affects children. Unfortunately, people who fall in the third category are very small in number. So, in this article, I will explain a little about ADHD, its treatment, and about the children who are affected by this disorder.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as the name clearly suggests, is a disorder which is characterized by symptoms like restlessness, impulsiveness, poor concentration, hyperactivity, and socially inappropriate behavior. Children with ADHD can be very difficult to manage at times. They tend to be fidgety and they generally lack the ability focus their attention on anything for a long time. According to statistics, ADHD affects around 4% to 12% of school age children.

As a parent, if you doubt that your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, you should consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will ask you a series of questions to find out the behavioral patterns of your kid. He might also want to meet your child's teacher and get some information. Based on this, the doctor will be able to come to a conclusion.

Once it is found out that your child has ADHD, the treatment should be started immediately. The treatment for ADHD children consists of lifestyle changes, medication, counseling, and behavior therapies.

• Make a schedule and make sure your child sticks to it. Specify everything your child needs to do - right from getting up in the morning at the right time to going to bed in the night at the right time.
• Make sure your child spends enough time with mental health workers. These sessions can be really helpful for children with ADHD and help them to adjust better.
• Give your child the right kind of medication or find an effective nutritional supplement. In general, it is better to avoid psychostimulant drugs that are usually prescribed for this disorder. These drugs only suppress the symptoms and, while doing so, they cause a lot of side effects. Most parents don't realize that homeopathic remedies are more effective at treating ADHD children than drugs because they suppress symptoms without side effects and actually heal the brain over time by giving it the nutrients it needs. This is a huge relief for parents who are concerned about giving their children drugs.
• One of the most important things you should know is that ADHD children require extra care and attention. You can't treat them like other kids. However, the right treatment program coupled with loving and caring parents can make a huge difference in the life of a child affected by this disorder.

The most important thing you should realize about children with ADHD is that they can adjust to the real world and behave like other kids, especially when given some extra attention, a healthy diet and nutritional supplements. Like other kids, children with ADHD just need to be given the right tools to succeed.

Autor: Laura Ramirez Laura Ramirez
Level: Platinum
Laura Ramirez is the author of the award-winning book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting. It is the only parenting book that ... ...

Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of natural remedies for ADHD and other health issues. Read more about her research by going to http://www.treating-adhd-naturally.com

Ms. Ramirez is also the author of the award-winning parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting and is the publisher of Family Matters Parenting Magazine. She is a parenting educator and speaker.

Added: February 9, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Choosing a Psychologist

There are many times in an individual's life that could lead to needing the help of an educated psychologist. Changes in your life, the beginning or ending of relationships, as well as personal issues are all great reasons to choose to see a psychologist.

But how do you know which psychologist is the right one for you? Choosing a Fort Wayne psychologist may take a little homework on your part, but choosing the right one for you can make a big difference in the care that you receive, as well as the results you see after meeting with him or her. Here are a few great tips on researching and choosing a psychologist for the best benefits.

Call the psychologist's office. More than likely you'll get the chance to speak to a receptionist and obtain some important information from them. Initially, you'll want to ask if the doctor is taking any new patients. If they are, you can then ask some other questions, such as: what fees are required, the psychologist's education as well as experience and how long they've been practicing, his or her specialties as well as the type of license they hold.

Typically, the more experience and education, the better. However, if you find a Fort Wayne psychologist with a specialty and philosophy that you feel you will most likely benefit from, consider them as well as the ones who have been practicing the longest. Call at least five different offices and compare them all, and soon you'll have chosen a psychologist that can help you along your path to enlightened mental health.

Autor: Billings Farnsworth

Prometheus Psychological Services (http://prometheuspsych.com/) is a Fort Wayne psychologist office. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Added: February 7, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Use of Drugs to Treat ADHD - Are They Necessary For Treating Symptoms?

One of the most important questions I often ask health experts is-is the use of drugs to treat ADHD absolutely necessary? Believe it or not, most of the health experts believe that drugs, although effective to some extent, are not the best choice to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This naturally begs the question - if they are not the best choice, what is?

In order to understand this issue better, you should first know a little about the drugs used to treat ADHD. Some of the most common drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder include Ritalin, Concerta, Wellbutrin, and Strattera. All these drugs have one thing in common-amphetamines and methylphenidate-substances that can lead to drug dependency when consumed regularly.

Yes, you read that right-drug dependency. Researchers say that using these drugs consistently can make kids more likely to take hard drugs in the future. In fact, recent studies have shown that a growing number of teenage kids have developed addictions for prescription drugs like Ritalin. It is very risky to follow the standard protocol of drugs used to treat ADHD.

The use of drugs to treat ADHD can also be dangerous due to side effects. These psychostimulant drugs can cause problems like headache, dizziness, insomnia, lack of appetite, weight loss, and hallucinations. Consuming these drugs for an extended period of time might even lead to cardiac problems.

In light of this information, you can see that the drugs used to treat ADHD are risky at best. Realizing this, many parents are turning to safer options like homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies work as effectively as drugs, but have no side effects for parents to worry about. In addition to suppressing symptoms, they also treat the cause of the disorder, in fact, over time, homeopathic remedies can restore proper brain function. Knowing this, you may choose to toss the drugs used to treat ADHD and find your child an effective, natural supplement.

When looking for a good homeopathic remedy, you should know that all products are not created equal. Look for a remedy that contains proven ingredients like verta alb and arsen iod. After you see how effectively homeopathic formulations work, you will be pleased that you had the good sense to discontinue the use of drugs to treat ADHD.

Autor: Laura Ramirez Laura Ramirez
Level: Platinum
Laura Ramirez is the author of the award-winning book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting. It is the only parenting book that ... ...

Laura Ramirez is a passionate advocate of natural remedies for ADHD and other health issues. Read more about her findings by going to http://www.treating-adhd-naturally.com

Ms. Ramirez is also the author of the award-winning parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting and is the publisher of Family Matters Parenting Magazine. She is a parenting educator and keynote speaker.

Added: February 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

The Risks Involved in Using Common Drugs For ADHD Treatment - A Shocking Revelation

Can you name some of the common drugs for ADHD treatment? Names like Ritalin, Strattera, Dexedrine, Metadate, and Concerta come to mind, right? Now, let me ask you another question. Did you know that these drugs are not as effective as you've been told and that they can cause serious side effects in children? Even if you think you know this information, read on. By the time you've finished reading this article, you will know the good from the bad and in terms of treating ADHD and be able to choose the best treatment method for your child.

So what is wrong with drugs for ADHD and why are they considered risky by many parents? These drugs are psychostimulants which temporarily suppress the symptoms of ADHD. In other words, whatever positive changes you see in your child will last only if you continue the medication. If you stop it, your child will again start to exhibit symptoms of the disorder. If a drug merely suppresses symptoms, it is not treating the cause.

Take a good look at the names of the drugs mentioned in the first paragraph. All these common drugs for ADHD have one similarity - they all contain substances like amphetamines and methylphenidate which are addictive. This is the reason why teenagers seek to buy other kids' prescription medication. The implication here is that long term use of these drugs can lead to addiction and dependency.

The side effects are another reason to think twice before giving your child drugs for ADHD. The drugs listed at the beginning of this article can cause side effects like headache, insomnia, lack of appetite, dizziness, and hallucination. In fact, the FDA has acknowledged that children who consume these drugs will have hallucinations. This can be a very disturbing experience for a child.

If you think about common drugs for ADHD with all their risks and side effects, you have to wonder why any parents, once informed, would continue to give them to their children. These drugs are just a temporary fix and should be considered ineffective. Worse yet, they carry the risk of addiction and side effects. So what's the answer?

Parents around the world are turning to natural alternatives like homeopathy.

Homeopathic medications for attention deficit disorder are growing in popularity. This is because they suppress symptoms as effectively as drugs, but have no side effects. Even more important, they actually work to heal the cause of the disorder. In fact with continued use over time, they can restore proper brain function. Unlike drugs for ADHD, homeopathic remedies are completely safe and do not interact with other drugs.

When looking for a homeopathic remedy to use in place of common drugs for ADHD, look for a supplement with proven ingredients like arsen iod and verta alb. Also, look for a company that stands behind their product and offers a money back guarantee.

Autor: Laura Ramirez Laura Ramirez
Level: Platinum
Laura Ramirez is the author of the award-winning book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting. It is the only parenting book that ... ...

Laura Ramirez is a passionate advocate of natural remedies for ADHD and other health issues. Read more about her findings by going to http://www.treating-adhd-naturally.com

Ms. Ramirez is also the author of the award-winning parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting and is the publisher of Family Matters Parenting Magazine. She is a parenting educator and speaker.

Added: February 5, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tips For Overcoming OCD - How to Lead a Normal Life Again

OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is disorder which can potentially be disabling. Without proper treatment it can last throughout one's lifetime. It can also grow progressively worse over time as well. An individual who suffers from OCD will experience a pattern of repetitive behaviors and thoughts. To others the behaviors and thoughts may seem senseless, but for the person experiencing the pattern, they can be quite difficult to break. OCD can be mild, moderate or severe but when it reaches the point of being severe it can make it impossible for the person to function at home, school and work. As a result, OCD can be quite difficult to live with.

The good news is that there is hope for overcoming OCD. Behavior modification therapy has proven to be quite helpful for many individuals in overcoming OCD. The goal of this type of therapy is to help the person gain insight and understanding into the causes of their condition. Exposure and response prevention can also be helpful in overcoming OCD as well. With this type of therapy and treatment, the person who experiences OCD will be exposed to the objects that they fear over time. In most cases, exposure levels will progressively increase over time.

Compulsive hand washing is one of the most common behaviors associated with OCD. Through this type of treatment the patient would be encouraged to touch objects they might think have been contaminated and then avoid the urge to wash their hands. Over time, this type of treatment can help the person to gradually overcome the severe urge to wash their hands. The anxiety associated with the action can also be decreased as well through this type of treatment.

While an individual that suffers from OCD could certainly take steps on their own in overcoming OCD, it is also a good idea to consult a professional for help in overcoming OCD as well. Treatment often works best on a step by step basis with a professional who is able to accurately gauge the ability of the patient to tolerate anxiety associated with their condition and control the rituals associated with the condition as well for the best results.

OCD can be difficult condition to live with, but taking the steps mentioned can help an individual who suffers from OCD overcome the condition and learn how to live a more normal and happier life.

Autor: Trevor Johnson

Discover how to overcome your OCD without drugs.

Added: February 3, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/