Stress Relief Made Simple

November 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment
New Orleans, La., 9/4/05 -- The mental health ...
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Life is more stressful than ever. Daily, ever more is being asked (or even demanded) of us. Work follows us home everyday (and keeps us up at night!) The pressures of paying the bills, raising a family, and fulfilling commitments to employers, communities, etc. is leading to ever-increasing tensions. This in turn is putting a greater strain on our health. And when our bodies are under stress, health problems increase. Hypertension, digestive problems, nervous disorders, headaches, and countless other maladies can be created by heightened stress levels. Now more than ever before, it is critical that we develop and follow strategies for stress relief. We truly can’t afford not to.

It’s important to note that there are countless ways to reduce stress at little or no cost. Just as we schedule in time for work, eating and other essential daily activities, we can also schedule in time to reduce our building pressures. This can be hard to do, especially when it seems that there are more pressing, time-sensitive responsibilities that demand our attention. Stress-relief should be thought of as a pot of water on a stove, slowly building to a boil. If we don’t turn the temperature down, the water will eventually require our full attention, and in a much more serious way.

Here are three common-sense ideas for relieving our daily stresses. But remember what they say about common sense? It’s not as common as we might think.

1. Prioritize your tasks. Careful planning can make an enormous difference in how in control you feel about your life.
2. Talk a walk for lunch. Most of us get at least a half-hour lunch break during the day. Instead of heading to the local burger joint, take a walk through the local park instead. Or even just around the building.
3. Exercise. This is one of the very best ways to bring our stress-levels down. It makes us feel good, and is good for us.

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Children With Autism

September 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Autism is a disorder that causes some children to experience the world differently than other children do. Children with autism often have a hard time communicating with people. Autism is considered a complex developmental disability and it affects a child’s communication and social skills.

Some children will experience mild symptoms while others have severe symptoms. No two people though, have the same symptoms. A child with autism will have trouble communicating with others, and may often appear clumsy with their interactions with peers. They will often be defensive or even off-the-wall with some of the comments they make.

Children with autism will often make little or no eye contact, and their teachers and healthcare workers must work to teach them early on that eye contact is very important. A child with autism has a hard time sympathizing with others. Many do not like to be touched or cuddled with like other children do. They also frighten at the sound of a loud noise or a sudden change in smell, light or temperature.

Children with autism may have trouble speaking, depending on the severity of the autism. Some children with autism may not speak at all, while others often repeat words or phrases they hear, which is known as echolalia.

Children experiencing autism like predictable events. They like and accept routine and the same motions day to day are the best and most comfortable for them. Some children with autism may experience tics or other body spasms. These are usually jerky movements and can go from a few seconds long to a very long time.

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What is Claustrophobia?

September 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Scared child
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Claustrophobia is a disorder in which a person suffers anxiety over the intense fear of being in enclosed or confined spaces. Symptoms of claustrophobia include shaking, nausea, dizziness, fainting, sweating, increased heart rate and hyperventilation.

People suffering from claustrophobia will immediately walk into a room and scan the area for the nearest exits. They will be less likely to take an elevator or even walk into a basement or closet. A claustrophobic attack can also occur when in a crowded room. Claustrophobia can be treated and able to be managed through therapy. A person suffering from claustrophobia should visit a psychologist in order to determine the best treatment possible.

Many people suffering from claustrophobia had a traumatic experience in their life that associated danger with small spaces. They experience fear at not being able to escape or breathe, which then causes anxiety and triggers a number of symptoms. There are many treatments available for those with claustrophobia.

Medicinal drugs are an option for those with this disorder. While they may have unwanted side effects, they will work to help control the anxiety that occurs with claustrophobia. However, these types of drugs only mask the symptoms. They do not solve the underlying problem about what is causing claustrophobia. Natural remedies are also available which will help soothe the symptoms of anxiety. Many herbs have a calming effect and can reduce overall anxiety. These natural remedies can be taken with no risk of negative side effects.

Relaxation techniques are also useful in treating claustrophobia. Learning meditation, deep breathing or even relaxing your muscles can greatly benefit a person in times of need. Meditation helps clear the mind of all unwanted fears and anxieties.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most common way to treat claustrophobia. It involves slowly putting one’s self in the fearful situation. A person suffering claustrophobia may be asked to put themselves in a situation that makes them fearful or anxious. This may seem like the worst route to take, but a person will gradually adapt to these situations and may overcome their claustrophobia.

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Taking Care of Yourself During Stressful Times

August 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Majestad, tengo una pregunta para usted
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Stress can be very hard on the body. Numerous studies talk about the dangers of prolonged stress, and even people who claim to be relaxed are often pent-up on the inside. They just hide it better than other people. Most of the stress today comes from trying to achieve something, and trying to live up to what other people seem to want. There are thousands of media messages saying that you should be thinner and have a bigger house. You should also drive a better car, make more money, and have a spouse and children. What if those things just aren’t for you? Lowering your stress level comes, in part, from taking those expectations off of yourself and learning to let go of what other people think you should be doing with your life.  Many people use cigarettes to get rid of stress, you can even try electronic cigarettes which relieves you from stress if you are a smoker!
When you do that, you realize what’s really important, and you feel more relaxed. There are times, though, where you really can’t just let go. Some life events are just stressful, and you can’t make them go away. When these kinds of issues appear, it’s not about letting them go – it’s about getting through them as well as possible. If you’re going through something like that right now, one of the best ways to lower your stress levels is to take good care of yourself. You may not feel like eating, and you may find it hard to sleep, but those two things are essential. You won’t be able to help others in need if you can’t protect yourself from sickness and disease.
Make sure you eat properly and try to get enough rest. Take a few moments each day to relax. Meditate or pray, if that’s what you feel comfortable with. If those things aren’t for you, even just watching a comedy on television or reading a good book can take you out of the stressful moments and allow you to completely relax. It’s a good idea to do this as much as reasonably possible, to combat the day-to-day stress of life, but it’s even more important during trying times.
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When Staying Active, Don’t Neglect Mental Health

August 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
A person making crossword puzzles.
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People exercise their physical bodies in an effort to ward off disease and the aging process. Unfortunately, most of those same people don’t give a second thought to keeping their minds active. Because they don’t spend time on their mental acuity, they start to lose some of it as they get a little bit older. If you want to stay mentally fit for as long as possible, you have to keep your mind active. There are plenty of ways you can do that, so don’t think that it isn’t for you. It doesn’t have to be boring, or even that difficult. It just needs to be consistent and a little bit challenging.
One of the things you can do for good mental health is to keep learning. It really doesn’t matter that much what you choose to learn, either. Learn what interests you. That could be anything from a cooking class to a second language to getting your Masters degree. No matter what you like to do, there is something else out there for you to learn. Even a hobby can be a great learning experience. You can build off of it and expand your horizons by learning all you can about your new-found interest and what surrounds it. Don’t think you’re too old, too young, or too anything else. The choice is always up to you.
Even when you’re not actively learning, there are still things you can do in order to succeed in keeping your mind as sharp as possible. Brain teasers like crossword puzzles and word search puzzles are good choices. So are video games that require you to think about what you’re doing, and board games that offer trivia, math, or spelling. These kinds of games can be great fun along with offering a lot of benefits for people who want to stay mentally strong. Don’t spend so much time on your physical health that you forget to use your brain. When you keep body and mind both active and fit you’ll feel better for a much longer period of time.

People exercise their physical bodies in an effort to ward off disease and the aging process. Unfortunately, most of those same people don’t give a second thought to keeping their minds active. Because they don’t spend time on their mental acuity, they start to lose some of it as they get a little bit older. If you want to stay mentally fit for as long as possible, you have to keep your mind active. There are plenty of ways you can do that, so don’t think that it isn’t for you. It doesn’t have to be boring, or even that difficult. It just needs to be consistent and a little bit challenging.
One of the things you can do for good mental health is to keep learning. It really doesn’t matter that much what you choose to learn, either. Learn what interests you. That could be anything from a cooking class to a second language to getting your Masters degree. No matter what you like to do, there is something else out there for you to learn. Even a hobby can be a great learning experience. You can build off of it and expand your horizons by learning all you can about your new-found interest and what surrounds it. Don’t think you’re too old, too young, or too anything else. The choice is always up to you.
Even when you’re not actively learning, there are still things you can do in order to succeed in keeping your mind as sharp as possible. Brain teasers like crossword puzzles and word search puzzles are good choices. So are video games that require you to think about what you’re doing, and board games that offer trivia, math, or spelling. These kinds of games can be great fun along with offering a lot of benefits for people who want to stay mentally strong. Don’t spend so much time on your physical health that you forget to use your brain. When you keep body and mind both active and fit you’ll feel better for a much longer period of time.

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