Ever since I have discovered that there is actually a cure for HIV, cancer, and a polluted environment, I have been trying to figure out a way to convince those that are responsible for keeping the cure from the public for so long, that it's not really a good thing to do; it creates karmic debt (bad or negative karma). I still haven't figured out who the responsible people are, but until then, enjoy the following information; the solutions to 3 major world problems (if you can disregard what you are spoon-fed on the news for a moment):
AIDS CURE:
In 1990, at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in New York City, scientists (Steve Kaali, M.D., and others) discovered a way to neutralize the HIV virus in vitro (this means the blood is removed or the skin is penetrated). Dr. Bob Beck, a Doctor of Science (scientist), took this BLOOD ELECTRIFICATION technology a step further and developed a device to do the same job, but in vivo (meaning the blood isn't removed or the skin isn't penetrated).
Here is the URL for Bob Beck's lecture notes:
http://www.teslatech.com/beck/
Hats off to Steve Kaali and the others for creating the BLOOD ELECTRIFICATION technology, and to Bob Beck for making it affordable (about $200). And hats off to the people using this technology to neutralize HIV and many other organism-based diseases.
Here are two different websites selling the devices:
http://www.sotainstruments.com/index.asp
http://www.sharinghealth.com/productsrec/bioelectric.html
And here is the schematics for the device (if you want to build your own):
http://www.sharinghealth.com/site%20map.html
An interview with Dr. Beck can be found here:
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/beckinterview.html
A 2-hour video of Dr. Beck can be watched here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3383948315844437935
For more information, search the internet for these keywords:
BLOOD ELECTRIFICATION
BECK PROTOCOL
CANCER CURE:
In the 1930s and 1940s, DR. ROYAL RAYMOND RIFE discovered how to cure cancer and many other organism-based diseases using frequencies, then helped a lot of people with his RIFE TECHNOLOGY.
The discovery of a cure for cancer was such a great event that on November 20, 1931, forty-four of the nation's most respected medical authorities honored Royal Rife with a banquet billed as "The End To All Diseases" at the Pasadena estate of Dr Milbank Johnson. Here is the URL of an article that shows this picture and has a lot of good information:
http://rifehealth.com/_wsn/page2.html
News of the cancer cure made it to the headlines of many newspapers. Here is the URL of an article that shows a headline and has a lot of information:
http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/cancer1/rife.htm
Here's plans on how to modify your computer and turn it into a RIFE machine (there's also a link to download BLASTER5 free):
http://www.keelynet.com/biology/blaster5.htm
Here's another link on how to build a "Poor Man's Rife machine" that has some photos, but is only available from the internet archives:
http://web.archive.org/web/20041210200527/http://www.holman.net/rifetechnology/poor_mans_rife.html
You can watch a video of a paramecium being destroyed with this technology here:
http://www.rifetechnologies.com/kaboom.avi
WATER CAR:
The technology already exists for running a car on
water by extracting the 'H' (hydrogen) from the H20.
The plans can be downloaded free here:
You can view a video demonstrating an engine running on water here:
http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/watercar/waterenginehq.rm
BLOOD ELECTRIFICATION, RIFE TECHNOLOGY, THE WATER CAR. All technologies that were suppressed for a long time because the people responsible for suppressing the technology thought that money was more important than people, rather than thinking people are more important than money.
I hope that whoever reads this can help to eliminate needless suffering caused by Cancer and AIDS, and help fix the environment by building or buying a Water Car, then driving it.
Thank you in advance, for helping people, by helping our future. In particular, my children, both born and yet to come, and their children.
About The Author
Ernie Vegas
One of the things I enjoy doing is research on 'forbidden technologies' that could solve our world's problems if certain individuals were to do the right thing and come clean.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Harmful Chemicals in the Meat You Eat? by: Mike Sullivan
Many people may not realize it, but much of the meat we eat contains synthetic growth hormones and other chemicals that may be harmful to us. Why would cattle owners want to use growth hormones? It is all about money. Ranchers today want to produce more cattle in a shorter period. A rancher may only have about 14 months to get the calf from a small size, say 80 pounds, to a selling size (around 1,200 pounds). Growth hormones help the cattle put on weight to get them ready for slaughter in record time as well as reducing the amount of fat in the meat. Nitrates are a chemical compound that can also be found in meat today, being used to cure meat and give them a healthy color. Most notably, nitrates are found in hotdogs, giving them their red color.
The use of hormones in meat is nothing new. As far back as the 1930s, research shows that estrogen affected the growth rates in both cattle and poultry. By the 1950s, a synthetic (man made) estrogen, DES, was being used to increase cattle size. However, DES was found to cause cancer and is no longer used to "fatten" up cattle and chickens.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) current approves of five different types of hormones used in food production. Of these, testosterone and progesterone are produced naturally by the animals and zeranol and trenbolone acetate are synthetically made. These hormones are approved for use only in cattle and sheep. Poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, and pigs do not gain much weight when given these hormones, so they are not given them. Most of these hormones are given to the animal by inserting a pellet under the skin of the ear. The pellet releases the hormone and the ears of the animals are thrown away during slaughtered.
The concern of scientist and consumers both is that traces of the hormones and chemicals will remain in the meat and pose a potential hazard to humans who consume it. Have you noticed that girls today seem to be reaching puberty at a younger age? It is suspected that this may be due to the steroids found in today's meat. Unfortunately, studies done on the potentially harmful ingredients in meat have proved inconclusive and further studies are needed. One problem when conducting a study is that the animals produce some of the hormones naturally, therefore making it hard to determine how much is natural versus the pellet hormones. Also, the level of hormones produced naturally varies from animal to animal, another hurdle for researchers to overcome. The concern with nitrates, used to cure meats and give them a pink or red color, is that they can be converted into nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are believed to both cause and promote cancer. However, the FDA has no studies that decisively finds nitrates used in meats harmful, therefore continue to allow them to be used in processed foods.
What should you as a consumer do? One thing you can do is purchase organic meat. Organic meat comes from livestock raised without hormones or steroids. Also, the cattle are fed grains with no pesticides involved. In 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture developed a system whereas all organic foods (including meat) would be labeled as such. So when shopping, you should see a label on organic meat that signifies that it contains at least 95% organic ingredients. Some grocery stores carry organic meat, but if not, you may have to visit a butcher shop or health food store to find it. You can even buy organic meat through the Internet and have it delivered to your home. However, if you decided to purchase meat online, you may want to first order a small amount. That way, you can determine if it meets all your specifications for delivery time, freshness, etc. before buying a larger quantity.
As ranchers strive to find ways to get more cattle to slaughter faster, consumers will continue to be concerned in the methods they are using to do it. Until more research is done, the best thing you can do it try to be aware of all the dangers out there by staying abreast of the current research being done on cattle hormones and chemicals used in processing meats, and purchase organic meat for your family.
About The Author
Mike Sullivan is a grill master and meat lover. Read his most recent report on How To Marinate Steaks to put the most flavor into your next steak meal. http://www.buy-steaks-online.net/marinating-steaks.htm.
The use of hormones in meat is nothing new. As far back as the 1930s, research shows that estrogen affected the growth rates in both cattle and poultry. By the 1950s, a synthetic (man made) estrogen, DES, was being used to increase cattle size. However, DES was found to cause cancer and is no longer used to "fatten" up cattle and chickens.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) current approves of five different types of hormones used in food production. Of these, testosterone and progesterone are produced naturally by the animals and zeranol and trenbolone acetate are synthetically made. These hormones are approved for use only in cattle and sheep. Poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, and pigs do not gain much weight when given these hormones, so they are not given them. Most of these hormones are given to the animal by inserting a pellet under the skin of the ear. The pellet releases the hormone and the ears of the animals are thrown away during slaughtered.
The concern of scientist and consumers both is that traces of the hormones and chemicals will remain in the meat and pose a potential hazard to humans who consume it. Have you noticed that girls today seem to be reaching puberty at a younger age? It is suspected that this may be due to the steroids found in today's meat. Unfortunately, studies done on the potentially harmful ingredients in meat have proved inconclusive and further studies are needed. One problem when conducting a study is that the animals produce some of the hormones naturally, therefore making it hard to determine how much is natural versus the pellet hormones. Also, the level of hormones produced naturally varies from animal to animal, another hurdle for researchers to overcome. The concern with nitrates, used to cure meats and give them a pink or red color, is that they can be converted into nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are believed to both cause and promote cancer. However, the FDA has no studies that decisively finds nitrates used in meats harmful, therefore continue to allow them to be used in processed foods.
What should you as a consumer do? One thing you can do is purchase organic meat. Organic meat comes from livestock raised without hormones or steroids. Also, the cattle are fed grains with no pesticides involved. In 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture developed a system whereas all organic foods (including meat) would be labeled as such. So when shopping, you should see a label on organic meat that signifies that it contains at least 95% organic ingredients. Some grocery stores carry organic meat, but if not, you may have to visit a butcher shop or health food store to find it. You can even buy organic meat through the Internet and have it delivered to your home. However, if you decided to purchase meat online, you may want to first order a small amount. That way, you can determine if it meets all your specifications for delivery time, freshness, etc. before buying a larger quantity.
As ranchers strive to find ways to get more cattle to slaughter faster, consumers will continue to be concerned in the methods they are using to do it. Until more research is done, the best thing you can do it try to be aware of all the dangers out there by staying abreast of the current research being done on cattle hormones and chemicals used in processing meats, and purchase organic meat for your family.
About The Author
Mike Sullivan is a grill master and meat lover. Read his most recent report on How To Marinate Steaks to put the most flavor into your next steak meal. http://www.buy-steaks-online.net/marinating-steaks.htm.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Avoiding a Fate like Mars for Earth: Life on Planet in Imminent Danger by: Raymond Samuels
There are apparently some people who think that the current "Greenhouse Effect" will simply lead to an "evolutionary" change in the global climate, so that climatic areas in the northern hemisphere like Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska in the U.S., and Antarctica in the southern hemisphere will become like one big tropical resort area like Tahiti, Cuba, or Jamaica. Soon everyone will be enjoying glorious sunshine, and sipping exotic tropical drinks in Nova Scotia, Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic, or around the Arctic waters of Siberia, according to people with this apparent view. These people profess a dislike for the cold, and they therefore welcome any change that might eventually get rid of their abhored winter blaaaaahs.
Unfortunately for these people, such a view is not supported by critical scientific evidence, beyond "scientific infomercials" and propaganda pieces that have been sponsored by various well-financed Big Business interests. Indeed, it has been the job of the largely corporate owned mass-media in Canada, and elsewhere, to channel viewers, readers, and listeners into responses which will complement the elite pursuit of insatiable commercial profit. This corporate owned mass-media does not want to draw public attention to the dire fate which awaits the public, if 'the Economy' is not rejuvenated in a manner that minimizes social and environmental costs.
The large scale 'owners of capital' have structured the prevailing capitalistic economy to principally serve their interests in the pursuit of money, status, and power for themselves. Like heroine or "crack" cocaine drug addicts, 'capitalistocrats' have become so addicted to the pursuit of a self-absorbing materialistic lifestyle predicted on money, status, and power, they would much rather apparently destroy our planet, and all life along with it, than to change their ways of drug-like abuse. Indeed, the mass-media in the prevailing capitalistocratic systems of Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, continental Europe, and elsewhere, are no less corrupt than the politicians which they are supposedly "holding accountable".
The mass-media has apparently covered-up the fate that awaits humanity, and the rest of our planet, if there is not an immediate substantive response to the Global Warming threat beyond the relatively superficial responses associated with the extremely slow responses to fulfilling the relatively superficial Kyoto Protocol. Indeed, failure to redress Global Warming with great alacrity, will not mythically result in northern hemispheres being turned into extensions of "tropical paradises".
The cold air masses that hover over the Arctic and Antarctic climatic areas of the planet are absolutely vital to moderating the temperatures of planet Earth. Global Warming by the irresponsible activities of greed driven private enterprises under American led "global capitalism", are destroying these vital climatic areas at an alarming rates. As a human species, we have already witnessed deadly heat waves and humidity. The accompanying worsening cancer causing ultra violet (UV) rays due to rapid accompanying ozone depletion is already creating experiences which almost feel like a form of radiation poisoning. Further accompanying weather cataclysms including more devastating hurricanes like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in late Summer 2005, and other such ''weather events" are only a relatively small tip of the iceberg so-to-speak.
The "hellish" summer of 2005 internationally has poignantly showed relative to the comparatively milder Summer 2004, that changes due to the abusive activities by human beings on the planet can be sudden, and extremely drastic. The current quantuum advancing devastating destructive impacts of American-led "global capitalism" are threatening to precipitate a catastrophic global drought in vital agricultural areas internationally that the world has never ever seen; due to unending rising temperatures, that will make the traditional temperature characteristics of the tropics today (that have benefited from Arctic a
Unfortunately for these people, such a view is not supported by critical scientific evidence, beyond "scientific infomercials" and propaganda pieces that have been sponsored by various well-financed Big Business interests. Indeed, it has been the job of the largely corporate owned mass-media in Canada, and elsewhere, to channel viewers, readers, and listeners into responses which will complement the elite pursuit of insatiable commercial profit. This corporate owned mass-media does not want to draw public attention to the dire fate which awaits the public, if 'the Economy' is not rejuvenated in a manner that minimizes social and environmental costs.
The large scale 'owners of capital' have structured the prevailing capitalistic economy to principally serve their interests in the pursuit of money, status, and power for themselves. Like heroine or "crack" cocaine drug addicts, 'capitalistocrats' have become so addicted to the pursuit of a self-absorbing materialistic lifestyle predicted on money, status, and power, they would much rather apparently destroy our planet, and all life along with it, than to change their ways of drug-like abuse. Indeed, the mass-media in the prevailing capitalistocratic systems of Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, continental Europe, and elsewhere, are no less corrupt than the politicians which they are supposedly "holding accountable".
The mass-media has apparently covered-up the fate that awaits humanity, and the rest of our planet, if there is not an immediate substantive response to the Global Warming threat beyond the relatively superficial responses associated with the extremely slow responses to fulfilling the relatively superficial Kyoto Protocol. Indeed, failure to redress Global Warming with great alacrity, will not mythically result in northern hemispheres being turned into extensions of "tropical paradises".
The cold air masses that hover over the Arctic and Antarctic climatic areas of the planet are absolutely vital to moderating the temperatures of planet Earth. Global Warming by the irresponsible activities of greed driven private enterprises under American led "global capitalism", are destroying these vital climatic areas at an alarming rates. As a human species, we have already witnessed deadly heat waves and humidity. The accompanying worsening cancer causing ultra violet (UV) rays due to rapid accompanying ozone depletion is already creating experiences which almost feel like a form of radiation poisoning. Further accompanying weather cataclysms including more devastating hurricanes like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in late Summer 2005, and other such ''weather events" are only a relatively small tip of the iceberg so-to-speak.
The "hellish" summer of 2005 internationally has poignantly showed relative to the comparatively milder Summer 2004, that changes due to the abusive activities by human beings on the planet can be sudden, and extremely drastic. The current quantuum advancing devastating destructive impacts of American-led "global capitalism" are threatening to precipitate a catastrophic global drought in vital agricultural areas internationally that the world has never ever seen; due to unending rising temperatures, that will make the traditional temperature characteristics of the tropics today (that have benefited from Arctic a
Saturday, June 27, 2009
UK News reviewed by The Bitch! (a weekly column). by: Michael Knell i
Well darlings,
Before I kick off I'll just mention the response to last week's idea of decriminalising drugs, and the legalising and licensing of brothels - both because the current laws only make matters worse for society as a whole. There was a hefty e-mail response - nearly all supporting my arguments - with only three strongly in opposition, and strangely all three apparently more concerned about the brothels than the drugs.
I can only hope that the three objectors have seen the news where the police raided Cuddles, a massage parlour in Hagley Road, Birmingham and rescued nineteen women who are thought to have been tricked into being brought into the country only to become sex slaves. During the day they were locked up in a house and at night they were forced to work at the parlour.
This is just one such place in just one part of one city, and in that single case there were nineteen abused women involved - just how many more are there likely to be nationwide? Properly run licensed brothels with girls being registered and undergoing regular health checks would put an end to this trade in human misery. Under the law any massage parlour offering "extras" would have to be licensed as a brothel or be closed. At present prostitution is probably the largest entertainment business in the country - it's certainly the oldest - and possibly it's the only business there is without any regulations, inspections, or licensing at all. I still say legalise it, inspect it, and you could even tax it - for those who use these kind of businesses they would still likely find them to be cheaper than supporting the pimps - and they would certainly be a damn site safer for all concerned!
If our three objectors were amongst those nineteen unfortunate women, I guess they might see the argument in a different light! As for nobody wanting to live next to brothel - they wouldn't have to. The councils would only issue licences for appropriate areas. What's wrong with putting such places in the old deserted streets with boarded-up shops? Most towns have areas like this where a bit of life wouldn't go amiss. Seedy? What's seedy? With all its red lights Soho might be called seedy - but look how popular and financially rewarding the place is with its multi-millions of visitors every year.
Anyway, what's new? Well, I see that government ministers have come under pressure following the recent GCSE results showing what has been described as a "catastrophic" decline in the taking of French and German - both down by around 14% despite more than 90% of the people polled across Britain saying that they thought learning another language was an important part of a child's education.
Apparently people living in the South East are more likely to have attempted to learn a foreign language than those in the North. We're told that 78% of Londoners have tried to learn another lingo, whilst in Wales and the Midlands the figure is 65%, falling to only 61% in the West Country. In Scotland they say that 74% have tried conquering another language, with some 78% of the population wishing that they could speak one fluently. English perhaps, darlings? Tae ken the rantings o' the eejit an crabbit Sassenachs? Eh? What's that? "Thalla gu Taigh na Galla!"? What's that mean?
The day that we can all understand each other perfectly, the day the nations of the world can speak in one tongue, is the day that there will be fewer disagreements and wars. At the moment nations sign treaties with other nations - and then spend years arguing over what they mean! Whatever happened to Esperanto? It's over a hundred years old, yet few people have learnt it. I know it has its faults, and its critics - but at least it is common to all. Esperanto should be compulsory for all school-children the world over and then one day the planet will have a common language that in time will develop and mature naturally - in the same way as have all other languages. We have the answer - why do we keep asking the question? Had this language been internationally adopted a hundred years ago then by now every person would be able to communicate perfectly with every other person, no matter where they were in the world. They say that every journey starts with a first step. Darlings, on this journey that was made over a century ago. Isn't it time we now moved the other foot?
Now, if I mention: Lessonia and Laminaria, do you know what I'm on about? Are you perhaps thinking they might be a comedy double act, a couple that you may have missed on X Factor, or a pair of opera singers? Actually they are seaweeds - and like it or not you might soon be getting intimate with them.
British scientists have discovered that fast food (junk food that is high in fat and calories) can be made healthier by adding extracts from exotic seaweed. Believing that this will be "a valuable weapon in the international battle against obesity, diabetes, heart problems and diseases such as bowel cancer" they suggest the seaweed should be processed to produce alginate and then added to food in order to enhance its fibre content.
Yes folks, this is another additive to that stuff we once called food. What food manufacturer is going to turn down the opportunity of replacing even more of the item, that given the chance we'd really like to eat, with yet another additive - especially one that comes so highly recommended and is supposed to do you good?
We should all know by now that fibre is good for you, and that meat doesn't contain any fibre (that's why we eat vegetables with a meal), but when I choose to eat a burger or a hot dog (or any other junk food) I still want what I'm paying for, and that is decent meat in a bun - preferably bovine and not equine! I do not want to have to eat all this other rubbish that they commonly put in our food - and to which they now want to add seaweed. With a burger there is some fibre in the usual accompanying salad, but I suspect very little in the pathetic, pappy and boring bun that normally incases it all. So why don't they make the buns with more fibre if they are so concerned about our health? The fibre is already there naturally in the wheat to start with - it's only been processed out.
A well balanced diet of good food needs nothing added to it, and the occasional junk food meal won't harm anyone. People should be educated, informed, and then left to make their own choices - not force fed. If as much effort was put into marketing good food as is wasted on advertising all the junk that's out there now then we'd be a much healthier nation. In my mind if anything needs seaweed added to it to make it safe to eat then perhaps it shouldn't be out there in the first place!
AS MUCH AS NON-SMOKERS OBJECT TO PASSIVE SMOKING, I STRONGLY OBJECT TO HAVING TO SUFFER ADDITIVES TO MY FOOD JUST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO EAT HEALTHILY! PERHAPS THE REAL ANSWER LIES IN OSTRACISING THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO EAT UNHEALTHILY, JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE SMOKERS, AND NOT IN ANY FURTHER PLAYING AROUND WITH OUR FOOD!
So many things, additives, that we are forced to eat today come without any knowledge of the dangers that they may hold in the long term. To say that there is "no evidence" that something is harmful to you is not the same as saying it is safe - not by a long way! We ought to be erring more on the side of caution. It should always be remembered that today's experts all too often turn out to be tomorrow's idiots - and we have the whole history of all human life to look back through as proof of that statement, for no country or civilisation has ever been spared its share of such idiots!
Moving on, it may be a little early to bring this up, but that will only give you more time to sort out the deck chairs, polish the binoculars, and perhaps organise an alien themed party. On November 7th Mars' orbit will bring the planet as close as it will be at any other time during the remainder of the 21st century. It will be a mere 40 million miles from our Earth.
I have to thank the Swindon Advertiser (the best on-line local newspaper that I've found - check it out and see how it should be done!) for telling me that down south near my old stamping ground the Wroughton Science Museum, just outside Swindon, is to hold a 500-capacity evening spectacular entitled `Mars, Meteors and Mulled Wine' to observe and celebrate this astronomical phenomenon. Wonderful! I don't know of anything similar happening up here in the north - but what a great excuse / theme for a party, isn't it?
The "Adver" tells us that Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the seventh largest; it is 142 million miles from the sun (49 million miles further than the Earth); its diameter is 4223 miles (3,703 miles fewer than Earth's); it has two moons to our one; and that Mars is not only the god of war but also the Roman god of agriculture. What it doesn't tell us is that he might yet become the god of Scotland too - once the Scots find out that some of the agriculture Mars undoubtedly looks after is that strange seaweed to be found in the Far East, South America, parts of Norway and off the coast of Scotland! I can already hear the well-oiled voices shouting: "It's ours, it's all ours! Get back you Sassenachs; get back!"
Finally, flying in the face of logic I see that a Dutch witch has won her battle to make the cost of her brooms and spell-making lessons tax-deductible. Magic! And in another story the German police are warning motorists that sucking a Fishermen's Friend might get them into trouble - didn't we already know that? Oh, I see - it's not what I thought! They are merely explaining to motorists that the essential oils contained in some throat sweets react in the same way as alcohol on hand-held breathalysers and may cause a test to show up as being three times over the legal limit.
That's nice to know, isn't it? If you've had a pint there are better things to chew on than a menthol sweet to camouflage the smell of alcohol! I mean, you could try seaweed! "Hello, hello, hello. Do I smell something fishy here? Have you been drinking?" "No officer, I wouldn't do that - I'm a man of fibre!"
Oh well, perhaps not!
See you all next week...
"The Bitch!" 1/10/05.
About The Author
Michael Knell
"The Bitch!" column may be freely re-produced on any web site but only in its entirety and with the linked acknowledgement that "The Bitch!" writes for AstaBGay at http://www.astabgay.com attached to the article. On past form this column can sometimes be extremely controversial therefore it must be accepted as a condition that AstaBGay shall not be held liable for any losses or damages incurred by those who choose to reproduce these articles on their web sites.
The Bitch! regrets that because of the sheer volume of e-mails received it is often impossible to reply to them all. However, they are appreciated, and all do get read.
Before I kick off I'll just mention the response to last week's idea of decriminalising drugs, and the legalising and licensing of brothels - both because the current laws only make matters worse for society as a whole. There was a hefty e-mail response - nearly all supporting my arguments - with only three strongly in opposition, and strangely all three apparently more concerned about the brothels than the drugs.
I can only hope that the three objectors have seen the news where the police raided Cuddles, a massage parlour in Hagley Road, Birmingham and rescued nineteen women who are thought to have been tricked into being brought into the country only to become sex slaves. During the day they were locked up in a house and at night they were forced to work at the parlour.
This is just one such place in just one part of one city, and in that single case there were nineteen abused women involved - just how many more are there likely to be nationwide? Properly run licensed brothels with girls being registered and undergoing regular health checks would put an end to this trade in human misery. Under the law any massage parlour offering "extras" would have to be licensed as a brothel or be closed. At present prostitution is probably the largest entertainment business in the country - it's certainly the oldest - and possibly it's the only business there is without any regulations, inspections, or licensing at all. I still say legalise it, inspect it, and you could even tax it - for those who use these kind of businesses they would still likely find them to be cheaper than supporting the pimps - and they would certainly be a damn site safer for all concerned!
If our three objectors were amongst those nineteen unfortunate women, I guess they might see the argument in a different light! As for nobody wanting to live next to brothel - they wouldn't have to. The councils would only issue licences for appropriate areas. What's wrong with putting such places in the old deserted streets with boarded-up shops? Most towns have areas like this where a bit of life wouldn't go amiss. Seedy? What's seedy? With all its red lights Soho might be called seedy - but look how popular and financially rewarding the place is with its multi-millions of visitors every year.
Anyway, what's new? Well, I see that government ministers have come under pressure following the recent GCSE results showing what has been described as a "catastrophic" decline in the taking of French and German - both down by around 14% despite more than 90% of the people polled across Britain saying that they thought learning another language was an important part of a child's education.
Apparently people living in the South East are more likely to have attempted to learn a foreign language than those in the North. We're told that 78% of Londoners have tried to learn another lingo, whilst in Wales and the Midlands the figure is 65%, falling to only 61% in the West Country. In Scotland they say that 74% have tried conquering another language, with some 78% of the population wishing that they could speak one fluently. English perhaps, darlings? Tae ken the rantings o' the eejit an crabbit Sassenachs? Eh? What's that? "Thalla gu Taigh na Galla!"? What's that mean?
The day that we can all understand each other perfectly, the day the nations of the world can speak in one tongue, is the day that there will be fewer disagreements and wars. At the moment nations sign treaties with other nations - and then spend years arguing over what they mean! Whatever happened to Esperanto? It's over a hundred years old, yet few people have learnt it. I know it has its faults, and its critics - but at least it is common to all. Esperanto should be compulsory for all school-children the world over and then one day the planet will have a common language that in time will develop and mature naturally - in the same way as have all other languages. We have the answer - why do we keep asking the question? Had this language been internationally adopted a hundred years ago then by now every person would be able to communicate perfectly with every other person, no matter where they were in the world. They say that every journey starts with a first step. Darlings, on this journey that was made over a century ago. Isn't it time we now moved the other foot?
Now, if I mention: Lessonia and Laminaria, do you know what I'm on about? Are you perhaps thinking they might be a comedy double act, a couple that you may have missed on X Factor, or a pair of opera singers? Actually they are seaweeds - and like it or not you might soon be getting intimate with them.
British scientists have discovered that fast food (junk food that is high in fat and calories) can be made healthier by adding extracts from exotic seaweed. Believing that this will be "a valuable weapon in the international battle against obesity, diabetes, heart problems and diseases such as bowel cancer" they suggest the seaweed should be processed to produce alginate and then added to food in order to enhance its fibre content.
Yes folks, this is another additive to that stuff we once called food. What food manufacturer is going to turn down the opportunity of replacing even more of the item, that given the chance we'd really like to eat, with yet another additive - especially one that comes so highly recommended and is supposed to do you good?
We should all know by now that fibre is good for you, and that meat doesn't contain any fibre (that's why we eat vegetables with a meal), but when I choose to eat a burger or a hot dog (or any other junk food) I still want what I'm paying for, and that is decent meat in a bun - preferably bovine and not equine! I do not want to have to eat all this other rubbish that they commonly put in our food - and to which they now want to add seaweed. With a burger there is some fibre in the usual accompanying salad, but I suspect very little in the pathetic, pappy and boring bun that normally incases it all. So why don't they make the buns with more fibre if they are so concerned about our health? The fibre is already there naturally in the wheat to start with - it's only been processed out.
A well balanced diet of good food needs nothing added to it, and the occasional junk food meal won't harm anyone. People should be educated, informed, and then left to make their own choices - not force fed. If as much effort was put into marketing good food as is wasted on advertising all the junk that's out there now then we'd be a much healthier nation. In my mind if anything needs seaweed added to it to make it safe to eat then perhaps it shouldn't be out there in the first place!
AS MUCH AS NON-SMOKERS OBJECT TO PASSIVE SMOKING, I STRONGLY OBJECT TO HAVING TO SUFFER ADDITIVES TO MY FOOD JUST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO EAT HEALTHILY! PERHAPS THE REAL ANSWER LIES IN OSTRACISING THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO EAT UNHEALTHILY, JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE SMOKERS, AND NOT IN ANY FURTHER PLAYING AROUND WITH OUR FOOD!
So many things, additives, that we are forced to eat today come without any knowledge of the dangers that they may hold in the long term. To say that there is "no evidence" that something is harmful to you is not the same as saying it is safe - not by a long way! We ought to be erring more on the side of caution. It should always be remembered that today's experts all too often turn out to be tomorrow's idiots - and we have the whole history of all human life to look back through as proof of that statement, for no country or civilisation has ever been spared its share of such idiots!
Moving on, it may be a little early to bring this up, but that will only give you more time to sort out the deck chairs, polish the binoculars, and perhaps organise an alien themed party. On November 7th Mars' orbit will bring the planet as close as it will be at any other time during the remainder of the 21st century. It will be a mere 40 million miles from our Earth.
I have to thank the Swindon Advertiser (the best on-line local newspaper that I've found - check it out and see how it should be done!) for telling me that down south near my old stamping ground the Wroughton Science Museum, just outside Swindon, is to hold a 500-capacity evening spectacular entitled `Mars, Meteors and Mulled Wine' to observe and celebrate this astronomical phenomenon. Wonderful! I don't know of anything similar happening up here in the north - but what a great excuse / theme for a party, isn't it?
The "Adver" tells us that Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the seventh largest; it is 142 million miles from the sun (49 million miles further than the Earth); its diameter is 4223 miles (3,703 miles fewer than Earth's); it has two moons to our one; and that Mars is not only the god of war but also the Roman god of agriculture. What it doesn't tell us is that he might yet become the god of Scotland too - once the Scots find out that some of the agriculture Mars undoubtedly looks after is that strange seaweed to be found in the Far East, South America, parts of Norway and off the coast of Scotland! I can already hear the well-oiled voices shouting: "It's ours, it's all ours! Get back you Sassenachs; get back!"
Finally, flying in the face of logic I see that a Dutch witch has won her battle to make the cost of her brooms and spell-making lessons tax-deductible. Magic! And in another story the German police are warning motorists that sucking a Fishermen's Friend might get them into trouble - didn't we already know that? Oh, I see - it's not what I thought! They are merely explaining to motorists that the essential oils contained in some throat sweets react in the same way as alcohol on hand-held breathalysers and may cause a test to show up as being three times over the legal limit.
That's nice to know, isn't it? If you've had a pint there are better things to chew on than a menthol sweet to camouflage the smell of alcohol! I mean, you could try seaweed! "Hello, hello, hello. Do I smell something fishy here? Have you been drinking?" "No officer, I wouldn't do that - I'm a man of fibre!"
Oh well, perhaps not!
See you all next week...
"The Bitch!" 1/10/05.
About The Author
Michael Knell
"The Bitch!" column may be freely re-produced on any web site but only in its entirety and with the linked acknowledgement that "The Bitch!" writes for AstaBGay at http://www.astabgay.com attached to the article. On past form this column can sometimes be extremely controversial therefore it must be accepted as a condition that AstaBGay shall not be held liable for any losses or damages incurred by those who choose to reproduce these articles on their web sites.
The Bitch! regrets that because of the sheer volume of e-mails received it is often impossible to reply to them all. However, they are appreciated, and all do get read.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Mesotherapy vs. Cellulite For A Knockout by: Barry Lycka, M.D.
In the battle to look good, there’s a cosmetic treatment that is going a few rounds with cellulite and small fatty deposits. Mesotherapy is knocking out fat and rejuvenating skin in people who give it a try. Chances are you’re doing everything that you can to cut away cellulite and small fatty deposits. You’re watching what you eat. You’re using creams and lotions. But, nothing is working, right? Well, that’s because cellulite is the heavy-hitting problem facing men and women alike. It is one of the hardest cosmetic problems to get rid of!
Gweneth Lowe is the mother of two children. She has been in the ring with fat for about five years. She works out in a gym three times a week for an hour. Still, she could not get rid of the fat in her problem area. Her thighs. 10 sessions with mesotherapy has given her the relief she’s been working out for. Lowe says, “I’ve lost about three inches from my hips. My thighs have shrunk. I’m down to a dress size 6 and loving it!”
Lowe gained her weight and cellulite after having babies. However, doctors believe cellulite and small fatty deposits affects more than 90% of post-puberty women. Wow, I bet you can’t believe it affects so many people! We don’t have any accurate data on the number of men who suffer from it. Men just don’t complain about it as much as women. Cellulite and small fatty deposits are seen as a “ladies problem.” You can find the extra fat most commonly on the butt, hips, and legs. Overweight people are not the only ones affected by it. Skinny people can have cellulite and small fatty deposits as well.
You’ll definitely know cellulite when you see it. It gives the surface of the skin a lumpy often-dimpled affect. Cellulite forms due to water retention in fat cells. The fat cells are surrounded by tissue. The tissue hardens forming a sclerosis. The result is the cottage cheese appearance on the outward layer of the skin. And fatty deposits form because of genetics. It’s not your fault you have them. Mesotherapy helps to get rid of the fat to sculpt your body where it’s needed.
More and more physicians are putting their money on mesotherapy as a viable means to fight cellulite and excess fat. Mesotherapy has been used in France for years. Dr. Michel Pistor invented it in 1952. However, the treatments popularity is just now coming to the forefront as a safe and effective cosmetic treatment. And it is used in dozens of countries by thousands of trained practitioners.
You may be wondering exactly how does mesotherapy work? It’s quite easy. Let’s look at the procedure.
The treatment sessions take only a few minutes. However, you may need several injections over the course of several weeks. Fortunately, the needle that is used is tiny. Doctors’ estimate that four to ten sessions is enough to block your ability to store fat and stimulates your ability to burn it up. The drugs are injected into the middle layer of the skin called the mesoderm. That’s where mesotherapy gets its name.
The drugs work together to break down fat faster than any other method. A licensed practitioner puts medication and vitamins into the middle layer of the skin using microinjections. The medicine helps to reshape the body. A single mesotherapy session can cost as much as $500 because of the amount of drugs that are used. The treatment uses drugs that are commonly used for asthma and high blood pressure.
Vitamins and supplements are also used to knock out the fat. Two drugs in particular are already approved by the FDA for use in other procedures. One of the medications is an asthma drug called aminophylline. A cardiac drug called Isopreteranol is also used on a widespread basis. Here’s two other commonly used medications that are injected into your system. They’re called phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate..
As I mentioned, you may have to go through at least three to five sessions before you see any results. The number of treatments depends on several factors including, the severity of the condition and the cause of the problem. Mesotherapy helps to improve the body in many ways. It improves blood flow to the area that’s being treated. It dissolves excess fat deposits, removes hardened tissue and improves lymphatic drainage.
Now that you know how mesotherapy works, you’re probably wondering how safe is it? It’s safe according to the doctors and researchers who have trained in it. However some doctors are concerned about the concoction of drugs that are used together to eat away at the cellulite and small fatty deposits. Some say that the Food and Drug Administration should approve all the drugs that are used for use together. So far, they are approved for use apart. And a medical doctor is licensed to use medications as he/she sees fit.
A second concern is what happens to the fatty acids if they are not burned off? Where are they going? The ideal situation is for the fatty acids to burn off. However, a problem could arise if the fatty acids go directly into other tissue. This could lead to damage in the other tissue increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Fortunately, none of these concerns have materialized despite hundreds of millions of treatments done around the globe. No wonder- for people like Gweneth Lowe the benefits far outweigh the concerns. She says, “I’m just happy to get rid of the excess fat. I eat right. I see my doctor on a regular basis for checkups. I’m happy with the results.” You could be too! Mesotherapy gives you a viable option if you want to get rid of cellulite and small fatty deposits.
About The Author
Dr. Barry Lycka is an internationally known cosmetic dermatologist and surgeon who practices in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where he has worked from 1989. Recently, Dr. Lycka was chosen as Alberta's Dream Makeover Doctor. For more information you can visit his website at http://www.BarryLyckaMD.com.
Gweneth Lowe is the mother of two children. She has been in the ring with fat for about five years. She works out in a gym three times a week for an hour. Still, she could not get rid of the fat in her problem area. Her thighs. 10 sessions with mesotherapy has given her the relief she’s been working out for. Lowe says, “I’ve lost about three inches from my hips. My thighs have shrunk. I’m down to a dress size 6 and loving it!”
Lowe gained her weight and cellulite after having babies. However, doctors believe cellulite and small fatty deposits affects more than 90% of post-puberty women. Wow, I bet you can’t believe it affects so many people! We don’t have any accurate data on the number of men who suffer from it. Men just don’t complain about it as much as women. Cellulite and small fatty deposits are seen as a “ladies problem.” You can find the extra fat most commonly on the butt, hips, and legs. Overweight people are not the only ones affected by it. Skinny people can have cellulite and small fatty deposits as well.
You’ll definitely know cellulite when you see it. It gives the surface of the skin a lumpy often-dimpled affect. Cellulite forms due to water retention in fat cells. The fat cells are surrounded by tissue. The tissue hardens forming a sclerosis. The result is the cottage cheese appearance on the outward layer of the skin. And fatty deposits form because of genetics. It’s not your fault you have them. Mesotherapy helps to get rid of the fat to sculpt your body where it’s needed.
More and more physicians are putting their money on mesotherapy as a viable means to fight cellulite and excess fat. Mesotherapy has been used in France for years. Dr. Michel Pistor invented it in 1952. However, the treatments popularity is just now coming to the forefront as a safe and effective cosmetic treatment. And it is used in dozens of countries by thousands of trained practitioners.
You may be wondering exactly how does mesotherapy work? It’s quite easy. Let’s look at the procedure.
The treatment sessions take only a few minutes. However, you may need several injections over the course of several weeks. Fortunately, the needle that is used is tiny. Doctors’ estimate that four to ten sessions is enough to block your ability to store fat and stimulates your ability to burn it up. The drugs are injected into the middle layer of the skin called the mesoderm. That’s where mesotherapy gets its name.
The drugs work together to break down fat faster than any other method. A licensed practitioner puts medication and vitamins into the middle layer of the skin using microinjections. The medicine helps to reshape the body. A single mesotherapy session can cost as much as $500 because of the amount of drugs that are used. The treatment uses drugs that are commonly used for asthma and high blood pressure.
Vitamins and supplements are also used to knock out the fat. Two drugs in particular are already approved by the FDA for use in other procedures. One of the medications is an asthma drug called aminophylline. A cardiac drug called Isopreteranol is also used on a widespread basis. Here’s two other commonly used medications that are injected into your system. They’re called phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate..
As I mentioned, you may have to go through at least three to five sessions before you see any results. The number of treatments depends on several factors including, the severity of the condition and the cause of the problem. Mesotherapy helps to improve the body in many ways. It improves blood flow to the area that’s being treated. It dissolves excess fat deposits, removes hardened tissue and improves lymphatic drainage.
Now that you know how mesotherapy works, you’re probably wondering how safe is it? It’s safe according to the doctors and researchers who have trained in it. However some doctors are concerned about the concoction of drugs that are used together to eat away at the cellulite and small fatty deposits. Some say that the Food and Drug Administration should approve all the drugs that are used for use together. So far, they are approved for use apart. And a medical doctor is licensed to use medications as he/she sees fit.
A second concern is what happens to the fatty acids if they are not burned off? Where are they going? The ideal situation is for the fatty acids to burn off. However, a problem could arise if the fatty acids go directly into other tissue. This could lead to damage in the other tissue increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Fortunately, none of these concerns have materialized despite hundreds of millions of treatments done around the globe. No wonder- for people like Gweneth Lowe the benefits far outweigh the concerns. She says, “I’m just happy to get rid of the excess fat. I eat right. I see my doctor on a regular basis for checkups. I’m happy with the results.” You could be too! Mesotherapy gives you a viable option if you want to get rid of cellulite and small fatty deposits.
About The Author
Dr. Barry Lycka is an internationally known cosmetic dermatologist and surgeon who practices in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where he has worked from 1989. Recently, Dr. Lycka was chosen as Alberta's Dream Makeover Doctor. For more information you can visit his website at http://www.BarryLyckaMD.com.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Strattera Linked to Suicidal Thoughts in Children
Adding to the "Black Box" warning that Strattera can cause liver problems comes a new warning that Strattera can cause suicidal thoughts in children taking the ADHD drug.
The FDA is now making the company put a warning label on its product about the Strattera/child suicide connection. This newest warning, released Sept. 29 2005, is the result of re-analzed trial data. At the request of the FDA, Lilly re-analyzed its data from trials performed on 1,357 children and adolescents. Of them, five children reported having suicidal thoughts, including one child who attempted suicide. Not one child in the 851 children studied in the placebo group had suicidal thoughts or actions.
About 3.4 million people have used Strattera since it became available in 2003. Of those, about 75 percent are children.Lilly issued its first Black Box warning - the strongest warning that can be attached to a prescription medication - in 2004 when studies showed the Strattera caused detrimental effects on the liver.
At the FDA's request, Lilly will add the "Black Box" warning about suicidal thoughts, as well as publish a guide for doctors and pharmacists to give to patients taking Strattera. Lilly will also put the warning label on boxes that are sold in other countries.
There have been numerous other issues relating to ADHD medications in 2005;
_ In February 2005, Canada pulled Adderall XR from pharmacy shelves after Adderall manufacturer Shire provided information about 20 sudden deaths in patients taking this popular ADHD medication. Adderall is also linked to 12 strokes, two of which occurred in children.
_ The FDA plans to strengthen Concerta warnings after finding that Concerta can cause psychotic behavior and death. Concerta and similar drug treatments for ADHD. A routine FDA review of Concerta found that there have been dozens of reports of hallucinations, violence, thoughts of suicide and death. Yes, death. The FDA found 16 deaths from Concerta since the popular drug was first introduced five years ago.
_ Strattera's Black Box labeling concerning liver damage warns that severe liver damage may progress to liver failure resulting in death or the need for a liver transplant in a small percentage of patients taking Strattera.
_ A study released February 2005 links Ritalin to an increased cancer risk and other health problems. Researchers of this startling study found that 1 out of every 12 children using methylphenidate experienced a threefold increase in levels of chromosome abnormalities, occurrences associated with increased risks of cancer and other adverse health effects.
_ The FDA is currently conducting a review of the reports of more serious side-effects including psychotic episodes and suicidal thoughts in children taking Concerta, a brand-name form of methylphenidate.
The simple fact is that ADHD medications have risks and some of these risks are quite serious. It is a growing opinion that these high-powered drugs should be a last resort instead of the first course of treatment in addressing Attention Deficit Disorder. There are viable options and alternatives to pharmaceutical medications.
These alternatives include diet modifications, increased exercise - especialy outdoors exercise, talk therapy, biofeedback, life coaching and nutritional supplementation.
About The Author
Jeannine Athens-Virtue is a freelance writer and mother of an Attention Deficit teen. Visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com for information about afe and effective alternatives to Ritalin, Adderall or other ADHD medications.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Liquid Cellular Zeolite
Liquid Zeolite has a very unique honeycomb-like structure and is negatively charged by nature. This means when Zeolite is ingested into the body it causes all the positively charged toxins, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and more, to naturally attract to it. After the toxins are bonded with the zeolite structure they are naturally removed from the body without any known side effects.
Natural Cellular Defense (NCD) is an all natural Waiora supplement that contains a very unique volcanic mineral known as "Cinoptilolite Zeolite." This zeolite has been extracted in a rare and patented liquid form and has been shown to remove heavy metals and toxins safely from the body.
Is Zeolite Safe?
YES, Liquid Zeolite is extremely safe for both short-term and long-term use. The zeolite mineral is a natural supplement and any traces of it are completely eliminated from the body within 6 to 8 hours naturally. For more information on cellular zeolite and its safety, please go to http://www.liquidcellularzeolites.com
In addition it is highly recommended that when taking Liquid Zeolite you drink a lot of water because it is such a powerful detoxifier that it can easily dehydrate your body.
Does Zeolite Really Work?
A lot of web sites and medical journals are now claiming that zeolite reduces cancer risk and helps boost the immune system. Whether or not this is true, let’s put this into perspective... Recently, the medical community went nuts over the newest anti-cancer drug called Herceptin. This drug was clinically shown to reduce the rate of recurring breast cancer cells by 43%, after these results it’s being hailed as a "cure for cancer" by many physicians and oncologists.
Where does Zeolite come From?
Zeolite has been used in the powder form throughout Asia for more than 800 years as a remedy for overall health and well-being. Many stories have been told about the "magic volcano rocks" and the special powers they posses. The Liquid form of Zeolite is very new to the medical world and was introduced into the United States by Waiora thanks to Dr Harvy Kaufman, a chemist who figured out how to extract zeolite in the liquid form.
Natural Cellular Defense (NCD) is an all natural Waiora supplement that contains a very unique volcanic mineral known as "Cinoptilolite Zeolite." This zeolite has been extracted in a rare and patented liquid form and has been shown to remove heavy metals and toxins safely from the body.
Is Zeolite Safe?
YES, Liquid Zeolite is extremely safe for both short-term and long-term use. The zeolite mineral is a natural supplement and any traces of it are completely eliminated from the body within 6 to 8 hours naturally. For more information on cellular zeolite and its safety, please go to http://www.liquidcellularzeolites.com
In addition it is highly recommended that when taking Liquid Zeolite you drink a lot of water because it is such a powerful detoxifier that it can easily dehydrate your body.
Does Zeolite Really Work?
A lot of web sites and medical journals are now claiming that zeolite reduces cancer risk and helps boost the immune system. Whether or not this is true, let’s put this into perspective... Recently, the medical community went nuts over the newest anti-cancer drug called Herceptin. This drug was clinically shown to reduce the rate of recurring breast cancer cells by 43%, after these results it’s being hailed as a "cure for cancer" by many physicians and oncologists.
Where does Zeolite come From?
Zeolite has been used in the powder form throughout Asia for more than 800 years as a remedy for overall health and well-being. Many stories have been told about the "magic volcano rocks" and the special powers they posses. The Liquid form of Zeolite is very new to the medical world and was introduced into the United States by Waiora thanks to Dr Harvy Kaufman, a chemist who figured out how to extract zeolite in the liquid form.
About The Author
Jane Thompson
I have been using liquid cellular zeolite for several months now and love it because of the health advantages and benefits it has for my body. Please check out http://www.liquidcellularzeolites.com for more information.
I have been using liquid cellular zeolite for several months now and love it because of the health advantages and benefits it has for my body. Please check out http://www.liquidcellularzeolites.com for more information.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Causes of Facial Wrinkles
Americans spend billions of dollars each year on skin care products that promise to erase wrinkles, lighten age spots, and eliminate itching, flaking, or redness. But the simplest and cheapest way to keep your skin healthy and young looking is to stay out of the sun.
Sunlight is a major cause of the skin changes we think of as aging changes such as wrinkles, dryness, and age spots. Your skin does change with age. For example, you sweat less, leading to increased dryness. As your skin ages, it becomes thinner and loses fat, so it looks less plump and smooth. Underlying structures veins and bones in particular become more prominent. Your skin can take longer to heal when injured.
You can delay these changes by staying out of the sun. Although nothing can completely undo sun damage, the skin sometimes can repair itself. So, it's never too late to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun.
Wrinkles
Over time, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these fibers causes the skin to lose its ability to snap back after stretching. As a result, wrinkles form. Gravity also is at work, pulling at the skin and causing it to sag, most noticeably on the face, neck, and upper arms.
Cigarette smoking also contributes to wrinkles. People who smoke tend to have more wrinkles than nonsmokers of the same age, complexion, and history of sun exposure. The reason for this difference is not clear. It may be because smoking also plays a role in damaging elastin. Facial wrinkling increases with the amount of cigarettes and number of years a person has smoked.
Many products currently on the market claim to revitalize aging skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over-the-counter wrinkle creams and lotions may soothe dry skin, but they do little or nothing to reverse wrinkles. At this time, the only products that have been studied for safety and effectiveness and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat signs of sun-damaged or aging skin are tretinoin cream and carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium (Er:YAG) lasers.
Tretinoin cream (Renova), a vitamin A derivative available by prescription only, is approved for reducing the appearance of fine wrinkles, mottled darkened spots, and roughness in people whose skin doesn?t improve with regular skin care and use of sun protection. However, it doesn't eliminate wrinkles, repair sun-damaged skin, or restore skin to its healthier, younger structure. It hasn't been studied in people 50 and older or in people with moderately or darkly pigmented skin.
The CO2 and Er:YAG lasers are approved to treat wrinkles. The doctor uses the laser to remove skin one layer at a time. Laser therapy is performed under anesthesia in an outpatient surgical setting.
The FDA currently is studying the safety of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which are widely promoted to reduce wrinkles, spots, and other signs of aging, sun-damaged skin. Some studies suggest that they may work, but there is concern about adverse reactions and long-term effects of their use. Because people who use AHA products have greater sensitivity to the sun, the FDA advises consumers to protect themselves from sun exposure by using sunscreen, wearing a hat, or avoiding mid-day sun. If you are interested in treatment for wrinkles, you should discuss treatment options with a dermatologist.
Dry Skin and Itching
Many older people suffer from dry skin, particularly on their lower legs, elbows, and forearms. The skin feels rough and scaly and often is accompanied by a distressing, intense itchiness. Low humidity caused by overheating during the winter and air conditioning during the summer contributes to dryness and itching. The loss of sweat and oil glands as you age also may worsen dry skin. Anything that further dries your skin such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, perfumes, or hot baths will make the problem worse. Dehydration, sun exposure, smoking, and stress also may cause dry skin.
Dry skin itches because it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see a doctor. Dry skin and itching can affect your sleep, cause irritability, or be a symptom of a disease. For example, diabetes and kidney disease can cause itching. Some medicines make the itchiness worse.
The most common treatment for dry skin is the use of moisturizers to reduce water loss and soothe the skin. Moisturizers come in several forms of ointments, creams, and lotions. Ointments are mixtures of water in oil, usually either lanolin or petrolatum. Creams are preparations of oil in water, which is the main ingredient. Creams must be applied more often than ointments to be most effective. Lotions contain powder crystals dissolved in water, again the main ingredient. Because of their high water content, they feel cool on the skin and don't leave the skin feeling greasy. Although they are easy to apply and may be more pleasing than ointments and creams, lotions don't have the same protective qualities. You may need to apply them frequently to relieve the signs and symptoms of dryness. Moisturizers should be used indefinitely to prevent recurrence of dry skin.
A humidifier can add moisture to the air. Bathing less often and using milder soaps also can help relieve dry skin. Warm water is less irritating to dry skin than hot water.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to current estimates, 40 to 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have skin cancer at least once. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have fair skin that freckles easily.
UV radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. In addition, artificial sources of UV radiation - such as sunlamps and tanning booths can cause skin cancer. People who live in areas of the U.S. that get high levels of UV radiation from the sun are more likely to get skin cancer. For example, skin cancer is more common in Texas and Florida than in Minnesota, where the sun is not as strong.
There are three common types of skin cancers. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common, accounting for more than 90 percent of all skin cancers in the United States. They are slow-growing cancers that seldom spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinomas also rarely spread, but they do so more often than basal cell carcinomas. The most dangerous of all cancers that occur in the skin is melanoma. Melanoma can spread to other organs, and when it does, it often is fatal.
Both basal and squamous cell cancers are found mainly on areas of the skin exposed to the sun the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. However, skin cancer can occur anywhere. Changes in the skin are not sure signs of cancer; however, it's important to see a doctor if any symptom lasts longer than 2 weeks. Don't wait for the area to hurt - skin cancers seldom cause pain.
All skin cancers could be cured if they were discovered and brought to a doctor's attention before they had a chance to spread. Therefore, you should check your skin regularly. The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, especially a new growth or a sore that doesn?t heal. Skin cancers don't all look the same. For example, skin cancer can start as a small, smooth, shiny, pale, or waxy lump. Or it can appear as a firm red lump. Sometimes, the lump bleeds or develops a crust. Skin cancer also can start as a flat, red spot that is rough, dry, or scaly.
In treating skin cancer, the doctor?s main goal is to remove or destroy cancer completely, leaving as small scar as possible. To plan the best treatment for each person, the doctor considers the type of skin cancer, its location and size, and the person's general health and medical history. Treatment for skin cancer usually involves some type of surgery. In some cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy (anticancer drugs) or a combination of these treatments may be necessary.
Age Spots
Age spots, or liver spots as they're often called, have nothing to do with the liver. Rather, these flat, brown spots are caused by years of sun exposure. They are bigger than freckles and appear in fair-skinned people on sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. The medical name for them is solar lentigo. They may be accompanied by wrinkling, dryness, thinning of the skin, and rough spots.
A number of treatments are available, including skin-lightening, or fade creams; cryotherapy (freezing); and laser therapy. Tretinoin cream is approved for reducing the appearance of darkened spots. A sunscreen or sun block should be used to prevent further damage.
Shingles
Shingles is an outbreak of a rash or blisters on the skin that may cause severe pain. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies silent in the nerve tissue. Years later, the virus can reappear in the form of shingles. Although it is most common in people over age 50, anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. It also is common in people with weakened immune systems due to HIV infection, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, transplant operations, and stress.
Early signs of shingles include burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching, generally on one side of the body or face. A rash appears as a band or patch of raised dots on the side of the trunk or face. The rash develops into small, fluid-filled blisters, which begin to dry out and crust over within several days. When the rash is at its peak, symptoms can range from mild itching to intense pain. Most people with shingles have only one bout with the disease in their lifetime. However, those with impaired immune systems for example, people with AIDS or cancer may suffer repeated episodes.
If you suspect you have shingles, see a doctor right away. The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be reduced significantly by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs. These drugs also may help prevent the painful aftereffects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases currently is testing a shingles vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The vaccine they are testing is similar to the one used to immunize against chickenpox. After the shot, some people have had some discomfort around the area of the injection. In addition, a few people have had a low-grade fever.
Bruising
Many older people notice an increased number of bruises, especially on their arms and legs. The skin becomes thinner with age and sun damage. Loss of fat and connective tissue weakens the support around blood vessels, making them more susceptible to injury. The skin bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal.
Sometimes bruising is caused by medications or illness. If bruising occurs in areas always covered by clothing, see a doctor.
Keep Your Skin Healthy
The best way to keep your skin healthy is to avoid sun exposure.
- Stay out of the sun. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is when the sun's UV rays are strongest. Don't be fooled by cloudy skies. Harmful rays pass through clouds. UV radiation also can pass through water, so don't assume you're safe if you're in the water and feeling cool.
- Use sunscreen. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher. A higher number means longer protection. Buy products with an SPF number of 15 or higher. Also look for products whose label says: broad spectrum (meaning they protect against both types of harmful sun rays (UVA and UVB) and water resistant (meaning they stay on your skin longer, even if you get wet or sweat a lot). Remember to reapply the lotion as needed.
- Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim shades your neck, ears, eyes, and head. Look for sunglasses with a label saying the glasses block 99 to 100 percent of the sun's rays. Wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts when in the sun.
- Avoid artificial tanning. Don't use sunlamps and tanning beds, as well as tanning pills and tanning makeup. Tanning pills have a color additive that turns your skin orange after you take them. The FDA has approved this color additive for coloring foods but not for tanning the skin. The large amount of color additive in tanning pills may be harmful. Tanning make-up products are not suntan lotions and will not protect your skin from the sun.
- Check your skin often. Look for changes in the size, shape, color, or feel of birthmarks, moles, and spots. If you find any changes that worry you, see a doctor. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that older, fair-skinned people have a yearly skin check by a doctor as part of a regular physical exam.
Richie Mont writes for http://www.clinika.org where you can find out more about wrinkle creams and other topics.
Sunlight is a major cause of the skin changes we think of as aging changes such as wrinkles, dryness, and age spots. Your skin does change with age. For example, you sweat less, leading to increased dryness. As your skin ages, it becomes thinner and loses fat, so it looks less plump and smooth. Underlying structures veins and bones in particular become more prominent. Your skin can take longer to heal when injured.
You can delay these changes by staying out of the sun. Although nothing can completely undo sun damage, the skin sometimes can repair itself. So, it's never too late to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun.
Wrinkles
Over time, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these fibers causes the skin to lose its ability to snap back after stretching. As a result, wrinkles form. Gravity also is at work, pulling at the skin and causing it to sag, most noticeably on the face, neck, and upper arms.
Cigarette smoking also contributes to wrinkles. People who smoke tend to have more wrinkles than nonsmokers of the same age, complexion, and history of sun exposure. The reason for this difference is not clear. It may be because smoking also plays a role in damaging elastin. Facial wrinkling increases with the amount of cigarettes and number of years a person has smoked.
Many products currently on the market claim to revitalize aging skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over-the-counter wrinkle creams and lotions may soothe dry skin, but they do little or nothing to reverse wrinkles. At this time, the only products that have been studied for safety and effectiveness and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat signs of sun-damaged or aging skin are tretinoin cream and carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium (Er:YAG) lasers.
Tretinoin cream (Renova), a vitamin A derivative available by prescription only, is approved for reducing the appearance of fine wrinkles, mottled darkened spots, and roughness in people whose skin doesn?t improve with regular skin care and use of sun protection. However, it doesn't eliminate wrinkles, repair sun-damaged skin, or restore skin to its healthier, younger structure. It hasn't been studied in people 50 and older or in people with moderately or darkly pigmented skin.
The CO2 and Er:YAG lasers are approved to treat wrinkles. The doctor uses the laser to remove skin one layer at a time. Laser therapy is performed under anesthesia in an outpatient surgical setting.
The FDA currently is studying the safety of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which are widely promoted to reduce wrinkles, spots, and other signs of aging, sun-damaged skin. Some studies suggest that they may work, but there is concern about adverse reactions and long-term effects of their use. Because people who use AHA products have greater sensitivity to the sun, the FDA advises consumers to protect themselves from sun exposure by using sunscreen, wearing a hat, or avoiding mid-day sun. If you are interested in treatment for wrinkles, you should discuss treatment options with a dermatologist.
Dry Skin and Itching
Many older people suffer from dry skin, particularly on their lower legs, elbows, and forearms. The skin feels rough and scaly and often is accompanied by a distressing, intense itchiness. Low humidity caused by overheating during the winter and air conditioning during the summer contributes to dryness and itching. The loss of sweat and oil glands as you age also may worsen dry skin. Anything that further dries your skin such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, perfumes, or hot baths will make the problem worse. Dehydration, sun exposure, smoking, and stress also may cause dry skin.
Dry skin itches because it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see a doctor. Dry skin and itching can affect your sleep, cause irritability, or be a symptom of a disease. For example, diabetes and kidney disease can cause itching. Some medicines make the itchiness worse.
The most common treatment for dry skin is the use of moisturizers to reduce water loss and soothe the skin. Moisturizers come in several forms of ointments, creams, and lotions. Ointments are mixtures of water in oil, usually either lanolin or petrolatum. Creams are preparations of oil in water, which is the main ingredient. Creams must be applied more often than ointments to be most effective. Lotions contain powder crystals dissolved in water, again the main ingredient. Because of their high water content, they feel cool on the skin and don't leave the skin feeling greasy. Although they are easy to apply and may be more pleasing than ointments and creams, lotions don't have the same protective qualities. You may need to apply them frequently to relieve the signs and symptoms of dryness. Moisturizers should be used indefinitely to prevent recurrence of dry skin.
A humidifier can add moisture to the air. Bathing less often and using milder soaps also can help relieve dry skin. Warm water is less irritating to dry skin than hot water.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to current estimates, 40 to 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have skin cancer at least once. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have fair skin that freckles easily.
UV radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. In addition, artificial sources of UV radiation - such as sunlamps and tanning booths can cause skin cancer. People who live in areas of the U.S. that get high levels of UV radiation from the sun are more likely to get skin cancer. For example, skin cancer is more common in Texas and Florida than in Minnesota, where the sun is not as strong.
There are three common types of skin cancers. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common, accounting for more than 90 percent of all skin cancers in the United States. They are slow-growing cancers that seldom spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinomas also rarely spread, but they do so more often than basal cell carcinomas. The most dangerous of all cancers that occur in the skin is melanoma. Melanoma can spread to other organs, and when it does, it often is fatal.
Both basal and squamous cell cancers are found mainly on areas of the skin exposed to the sun the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. However, skin cancer can occur anywhere. Changes in the skin are not sure signs of cancer; however, it's important to see a doctor if any symptom lasts longer than 2 weeks. Don't wait for the area to hurt - skin cancers seldom cause pain.
All skin cancers could be cured if they were discovered and brought to a doctor's attention before they had a chance to spread. Therefore, you should check your skin regularly. The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, especially a new growth or a sore that doesn?t heal. Skin cancers don't all look the same. For example, skin cancer can start as a small, smooth, shiny, pale, or waxy lump. Or it can appear as a firm red lump. Sometimes, the lump bleeds or develops a crust. Skin cancer also can start as a flat, red spot that is rough, dry, or scaly.
In treating skin cancer, the doctor?s main goal is to remove or destroy cancer completely, leaving as small scar as possible. To plan the best treatment for each person, the doctor considers the type of skin cancer, its location and size, and the person's general health and medical history. Treatment for skin cancer usually involves some type of surgery. In some cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy (anticancer drugs) or a combination of these treatments may be necessary.
Age Spots
Age spots, or liver spots as they're often called, have nothing to do with the liver. Rather, these flat, brown spots are caused by years of sun exposure. They are bigger than freckles and appear in fair-skinned people on sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands, arms, back, and feet. The medical name for them is solar lentigo. They may be accompanied by wrinkling, dryness, thinning of the skin, and rough spots.
A number of treatments are available, including skin-lightening, or fade creams; cryotherapy (freezing); and laser therapy. Tretinoin cream is approved for reducing the appearance of darkened spots. A sunscreen or sun block should be used to prevent further damage.
Shingles
Shingles is an outbreak of a rash or blisters on the skin that may cause severe pain. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies silent in the nerve tissue. Years later, the virus can reappear in the form of shingles. Although it is most common in people over age 50, anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. It also is common in people with weakened immune systems due to HIV infection, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, transplant operations, and stress.
Early signs of shingles include burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching, generally on one side of the body or face. A rash appears as a band or patch of raised dots on the side of the trunk or face. The rash develops into small, fluid-filled blisters, which begin to dry out and crust over within several days. When the rash is at its peak, symptoms can range from mild itching to intense pain. Most people with shingles have only one bout with the disease in their lifetime. However, those with impaired immune systems for example, people with AIDS or cancer may suffer repeated episodes.
If you suspect you have shingles, see a doctor right away. The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be reduced significantly by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs. These drugs also may help prevent the painful aftereffects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases currently is testing a shingles vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The vaccine they are testing is similar to the one used to immunize against chickenpox. After the shot, some people have had some discomfort around the area of the injection. In addition, a few people have had a low-grade fever.
Bruising
Many older people notice an increased number of bruises, especially on their arms and legs. The skin becomes thinner with age and sun damage. Loss of fat and connective tissue weakens the support around blood vessels, making them more susceptible to injury. The skin bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal.
Sometimes bruising is caused by medications or illness. If bruising occurs in areas always covered by clothing, see a doctor.
Keep Your Skin Healthy
The best way to keep your skin healthy is to avoid sun exposure.
- Stay out of the sun. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is when the sun's UV rays are strongest. Don't be fooled by cloudy skies. Harmful rays pass through clouds. UV radiation also can pass through water, so don't assume you're safe if you're in the water and feeling cool.
- Use sunscreen. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher. A higher number means longer protection. Buy products with an SPF number of 15 or higher. Also look for products whose label says: broad spectrum (meaning they protect against both types of harmful sun rays (UVA and UVB) and water resistant (meaning they stay on your skin longer, even if you get wet or sweat a lot). Remember to reapply the lotion as needed.
- Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim shades your neck, ears, eyes, and head. Look for sunglasses with a label saying the glasses block 99 to 100 percent of the sun's rays. Wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts when in the sun.
- Avoid artificial tanning. Don't use sunlamps and tanning beds, as well as tanning pills and tanning makeup. Tanning pills have a color additive that turns your skin orange after you take them. The FDA has approved this color additive for coloring foods but not for tanning the skin. The large amount of color additive in tanning pills may be harmful. Tanning make-up products are not suntan lotions and will not protect your skin from the sun.
- Check your skin often. Look for changes in the size, shape, color, or feel of birthmarks, moles, and spots. If you find any changes that worry you, see a doctor. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that older, fair-skinned people have a yearly skin check by a doctor as part of a regular physical exam.
Richie Mont writes for http://www.clinika.org where you can find out more about wrinkle creams and other topics.
About The Author
Richie Mont writes for http://www.clinika.org where you can find out more about wrinkle creams and other topics.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Treatment of Mental Illness
Extraordinary advances have been made in the treatment of mental illness. An understanding of what causes some mental health disorders has led to greater sophistication in tailoring treatment to the underlying basis of each disorder. As a result, many mental health disorders can now be treated nearly as successfully as physical disorders.
Most treatment methods for mental health disorders can be categorized as either somatic or psychotherapeutic. Somatic treatments include drug therapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Psychotherapeutic treatments include individual, group, or family and marital psychotherapy; behavior therapy techniques (such as relaxation training or exposure therapy); and hypnotherapy. Most studies suggest that for major mental health disorders, a treatment approach involving both drugs and psychotherapy is more effective than either treatment method used alone.
Psychiatrists are not the only mental health care professionals trained to treat mental illness. Others include clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, and some pastoral counselors. However, psychiatrists are the only mental health care professionals licensed to prescribe drugs. Other mental health care professionals primarily practice psychotherapy.
Types of Mental Health Care Professionals
Professional Training and Expertise
Psychiatrist
Medical doctor with 4 years of psychiatric training after graduation from medical school.
Can prescribe drugs and admit people to the hospital. Some practice psychotherapy, some only prescribe drugs, and many do both.
Psychologist Professional who has a doctorate but not a medical degree. Many have postdoctoral training, and most are trained to administer psychologic tests that are helpful in diagnosis. May conduct psychotherapy but cannot perform physical examinations, prescribe drugs, or admit people to the hospital.
Psychiatric social worker A professional with specialized training in certain aspects of psychotherapy, such as family/marital therapy or individual psychotherapy. Often trained to interface with the social service systems in the state. May have a master's degree, but some have doctorates as well. Cannot perform physical examinations or prescribe drugs.
Psychiatric nurse Registered nurse who may practice psychotherapy independently in some states and may prescribe drugs under the supervision of a doctor.
Psychoanalyst May be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker who has many years of training in the practice of psychoanalysis, a type of intensive psychotherapy involving several sessions a week designed to explore unconscious patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. Psychoanalysts who are also psychiatrists may prescribe drugs and admit people to hospitals in addition to conducting psychoanalysis.
Drug Therapy
Over the last 40 years, a number of psychoactive drugs have been developed that are highly effective and widely used by psychiatrists and other medical doctors. These drugs are often categorized according to the disorder for which they are primarily prescribed. For example, antidepressants are used to treat depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the newest and most widely used class of antidepressants. Other new classes of antidepressants are being developed.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
With electroconvulsive therapy, electrodes are attached to the head, and a series of electrical shocks are delivered to the brain to induce seizures. This therapy has consistently been shown to be the most effective treatment for severe depression. Many people treated with electroconvulsive therapy experience temporary memory loss. However, contrary to its portrayal in the media, electroconvulsive therapy is safe and rarely causes any other complications. The modern use of anesthetics and muscle relaxants has greatly reduced any risk to the person.
Psychotherapeutic Treatments
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of psychotherapeutic treatments. Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as "talk" therapy, works on the assumption that each person has within himself the cure for his own suffering and that this cure can be facilitated through a trusting, supportive relationship with a psychotherapist. By creating an empathetic and accepting atmosphere, the therapist often is able to help the person identify the source of his problems and consider alternatives for dealing with them.
The emotional awareness and insight that the person gains through psychotherapy often results in a change in attitude and behavior that allows the person to live a fuller and more satisfying life. Psychotherapy is appropriate in a wide range of conditions. Even people who do not have a mental health disorder may find psychotherapy helpful in coping with such problems as employment difficulties, bereavement, or chronic illness in the family. Group psychotherapy, couples' therapy, and family therapy are also widely used.
Most mental health professionals practice within one of five types of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, or interpersonal therapy. Psychoanalysis is the oldest form of psychotherapy and was developed by Sigmund Freud in the first part of the 20th century. The person typically lies on a couch in the therapist's office 4 or 5 times a week and attempts to say whatever comes into his mind, a practice called free association.
Much of the focus is on understanding how past patterns of relationships repeat themselves in the present. The relationship between the person and the therapist is a key part of this focus. An understanding of how the past affects the present helps the person develop new and more adaptive ways of functioning in relationships and in work settings.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, like psychoanalysis, emphasizes the identification of unconscious patterns in current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, the person is usually sitting instead of lying on a couch and attends only 1 to 3 sessions per week. In addition, less emphasis is placed on the relationship between the person and therapist.
Cognitive therapy helps people identify distortions in thinking and understand how these distortions lead to problems in their lives. The underlying premise is that how people feel and behave are determined by how they interpret experiences. Through the identification of core beliefs and assumptions, people can begin to think in different ways about their experiences, resulting in improvement in symptoms, behavior, and feelings.
Behavior therapy is related to cognitive therapy. Sometimes, a
combination of the two, known as cognitive-behavior therapy, is used. The theoretical basis of behavior therapy is learning theory, which holds that abnormal behaviors are due to faulty learning. Behavior therapy involves a number of interventions that are designed to help the person unlearn maladaptive behaviors while learning adaptive behaviors. Exposure therapy is one example of a behavior therapy (see
What Is Exposure Therapy? ).
Interpersonal therapy was initially conceived as a brief psychologic treatment for depression and is designed to improve the quality of a depressed person's relationships. It focuses on unresolved grief, conflicts that arise when people fill roles that differ from their expectations (such as when a woman enters a relationship expecting to be a stay-at-home mother and finds that she must also be the major provider for the family), social role transitions (such as going from being an active worker to being retired), and difficulty communicating with others. The therapist teaches the person to improve aspects of interpersonal relationships, such as overcoming social isolation and responding in a less habitual way to others.
Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are often used to manage pain and treat physical disorders that have a psychologic component. Hypnosis is simply the induction of a trance or altered state of consciousness, whereas hypnotherapy involves psychotherapeutic intervention in conjunction with the hypnotic state. These techniques may promote relaxation and thereby lower anxiety and reduce tension. For example, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help people with cancer who have anxiety or depression in addition to pain.
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
Mental Health:
Mental Illness Basics
Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves and/or relates to others and to his or her surroundings. Although the symptoms of mental illness can vary from mild to severe and are different depending on the type of mental illness, a person with an untreated mental illness often is unable to cope with life's daily routines and demands.
What Causes Mental Illness?
Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological and environmental factors. One thing is for sure -- mental illness is not the result of personal weakness, a character defect or poor upbringing, and recovery from a mental illness is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.
• Heredity (genetics): Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that the illnesses may be passed on from parents to children through genes. Genes contain instructions for the function of each cell in the body and are responsible for how we look, act, think, etc. But, just because your mother or father may have a mental illness doesn't mean you will have one. Hereditary just means that you are more likely to get the condition than if you didn't have an affected family member. Experts believe that many mental conditions are linked to problems in multiple genes -- not just one, as with many diseases -- which is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental disorder, but doesn't always develop the condition. The disorder itself occurs from the interaction of these genes and other factors -- such as psychological trauma and environmental stressors -- which can influence, or trigger, the illness in a person who has inherited a susceptibility to it.
• Biology: Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; a significant early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stressors: Certain stressors -- such as a death or divorce, a dysfunctional family life, changing jobs or schools and substance abuse -- can trigger a disorder in a person who may be at risk for developing a mental illness.
Can Mental Illness Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, most mental illnesses are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented.
How Common Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are very common. In fact, they are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, an estimated 23% of American adults (those ages 18 and older) -- about 44 million people -- and about 20% of American children suffer from a mental disorder during a given year. Further, about 5 million Americans adults, and more than 5 million children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental condition (one that significantly interferes with functioning).
Mental Health:
Mental Illness in Children
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
They are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of recovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high in the United States of America, yet if you follow this young mans methods, we assure you of positive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed precisely, their is no way you can't see positive results with whatever illness you have' Dr. Herbert Palos Detroit, Michigan'
Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
http://freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3 THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!
With Much Love,
Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO Out of Darkness & Into the Light
209 Ellis Ave. Suite 1313 Bellevue Ohio, 44811,
http://www.out-of-darkness.com
http://www.AHHDandME.com
http://www.biologicalhappiness.com
http://www.mentalillness.com
http://www.everyonehurts.com
Most treatment methods for mental health disorders can be categorized as either somatic or psychotherapeutic. Somatic treatments include drug therapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Psychotherapeutic treatments include individual, group, or family and marital psychotherapy; behavior therapy techniques (such as relaxation training or exposure therapy); and hypnotherapy. Most studies suggest that for major mental health disorders, a treatment approach involving both drugs and psychotherapy is more effective than either treatment method used alone.
Psychiatrists are not the only mental health care professionals trained to treat mental illness. Others include clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, and some pastoral counselors. However, psychiatrists are the only mental health care professionals licensed to prescribe drugs. Other mental health care professionals primarily practice psychotherapy.
Types of Mental Health Care Professionals
Professional Training and Expertise
Psychiatrist
Medical doctor with 4 years of psychiatric training after graduation from medical school.
Can prescribe drugs and admit people to the hospital. Some practice psychotherapy, some only prescribe drugs, and many do both.
Psychologist Professional who has a doctorate but not a medical degree. Many have postdoctoral training, and most are trained to administer psychologic tests that are helpful in diagnosis. May conduct psychotherapy but cannot perform physical examinations, prescribe drugs, or admit people to the hospital.
Psychiatric social worker A professional with specialized training in certain aspects of psychotherapy, such as family/marital therapy or individual psychotherapy. Often trained to interface with the social service systems in the state. May have a master's degree, but some have doctorates as well. Cannot perform physical examinations or prescribe drugs.
Psychiatric nurse Registered nurse who may practice psychotherapy independently in some states and may prescribe drugs under the supervision of a doctor.
Psychoanalyst May be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker who has many years of training in the practice of psychoanalysis, a type of intensive psychotherapy involving several sessions a week designed to explore unconscious patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. Psychoanalysts who are also psychiatrists may prescribe drugs and admit people to hospitals in addition to conducting psychoanalysis.
Drug Therapy
Over the last 40 years, a number of psychoactive drugs have been developed that are highly effective and widely used by psychiatrists and other medical doctors. These drugs are often categorized according to the disorder for which they are primarily prescribed. For example, antidepressants are used to treat depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the newest and most widely used class of antidepressants. Other new classes of antidepressants are being developed.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
With electroconvulsive therapy, electrodes are attached to the head, and a series of electrical shocks are delivered to the brain to induce seizures. This therapy has consistently been shown to be the most effective treatment for severe depression. Many people treated with electroconvulsive therapy experience temporary memory loss. However, contrary to its portrayal in the media, electroconvulsive therapy is safe and rarely causes any other complications. The modern use of anesthetics and muscle relaxants has greatly reduced any risk to the person.
Psychotherapeutic Treatments
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of psychotherapeutic treatments. Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as "talk" therapy, works on the assumption that each person has within himself the cure for his own suffering and that this cure can be facilitated through a trusting, supportive relationship with a psychotherapist. By creating an empathetic and accepting atmosphere, the therapist often is able to help the person identify the source of his problems and consider alternatives for dealing with them.
The emotional awareness and insight that the person gains through psychotherapy often results in a change in attitude and behavior that allows the person to live a fuller and more satisfying life. Psychotherapy is appropriate in a wide range of conditions. Even people who do not have a mental health disorder may find psychotherapy helpful in coping with such problems as employment difficulties, bereavement, or chronic illness in the family. Group psychotherapy, couples' therapy, and family therapy are also widely used.
Most mental health professionals practice within one of five types of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, or interpersonal therapy. Psychoanalysis is the oldest form of psychotherapy and was developed by Sigmund Freud in the first part of the 20th century. The person typically lies on a couch in the therapist's office 4 or 5 times a week and attempts to say whatever comes into his mind, a practice called free association.
Much of the focus is on understanding how past patterns of relationships repeat themselves in the present. The relationship between the person and the therapist is a key part of this focus. An understanding of how the past affects the present helps the person develop new and more adaptive ways of functioning in relationships and in work settings.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, like psychoanalysis, emphasizes the identification of unconscious patterns in current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, the person is usually sitting instead of lying on a couch and attends only 1 to 3 sessions per week. In addition, less emphasis is placed on the relationship between the person and therapist.
Cognitive therapy helps people identify distortions in thinking and understand how these distortions lead to problems in their lives. The underlying premise is that how people feel and behave are determined by how they interpret experiences. Through the identification of core beliefs and assumptions, people can begin to think in different ways about their experiences, resulting in improvement in symptoms, behavior, and feelings.
Behavior therapy is related to cognitive therapy. Sometimes, a
combination of the two, known as cognitive-behavior therapy, is used. The theoretical basis of behavior therapy is learning theory, which holds that abnormal behaviors are due to faulty learning. Behavior therapy involves a number of interventions that are designed to help the person unlearn maladaptive behaviors while learning adaptive behaviors. Exposure therapy is one example of a behavior therapy (see
What Is Exposure Therapy? ).
Interpersonal therapy was initially conceived as a brief psychologic treatment for depression and is designed to improve the quality of a depressed person's relationships. It focuses on unresolved grief, conflicts that arise when people fill roles that differ from their expectations (such as when a woman enters a relationship expecting to be a stay-at-home mother and finds that she must also be the major provider for the family), social role transitions (such as going from being an active worker to being retired), and difficulty communicating with others. The therapist teaches the person to improve aspects of interpersonal relationships, such as overcoming social isolation and responding in a less habitual way to others.
Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are often used to manage pain and treat physical disorders that have a psychologic component. Hypnosis is simply the induction of a trance or altered state of consciousness, whereas hypnotherapy involves psychotherapeutic intervention in conjunction with the hypnotic state. These techniques may promote relaxation and thereby lower anxiety and reduce tension. For example, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help people with cancer who have anxiety or depression in addition to pain.
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
Mental Health:
Mental Illness Basics
Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves and/or relates to others and to his or her surroundings. Although the symptoms of mental illness can vary from mild to severe and are different depending on the type of mental illness, a person with an untreated mental illness often is unable to cope with life's daily routines and demands.
What Causes Mental Illness?
Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological and environmental factors. One thing is for sure -- mental illness is not the result of personal weakness, a character defect or poor upbringing, and recovery from a mental illness is not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.
• Heredity (genetics): Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that the illnesses may be passed on from parents to children through genes. Genes contain instructions for the function of each cell in the body and are responsible for how we look, act, think, etc. But, just because your mother or father may have a mental illness doesn't mean you will have one. Hereditary just means that you are more likely to get the condition than if you didn't have an affected family member. Experts believe that many mental conditions are linked to problems in multiple genes -- not just one, as with many diseases -- which is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental disorder, but doesn't always develop the condition. The disorder itself occurs from the interaction of these genes and other factors -- such as psychological trauma and environmental stressors -- which can influence, or trigger, the illness in a person who has inherited a susceptibility to it.
• Biology: Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; a significant early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stressors: Certain stressors -- such as a death or divorce, a dysfunctional family life, changing jobs or schools and substance abuse -- can trigger a disorder in a person who may be at risk for developing a mental illness.
Can Mental Illness Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, most mental illnesses are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented.
How Common Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are very common. In fact, they are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, an estimated 23% of American adults (those ages 18 and older) -- about 44 million people -- and about 20% of American children suffer from a mental disorder during a given year. Further, about 5 million Americans adults, and more than 5 million children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental condition (one that significantly interferes with functioning).
Mental Health:
Mental Illness in Children
About 20% of American children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness during a given year, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Further, nearly 5 million American children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental illness (one that significantly interferes with their day-to-day life).
Which Mental Illnesses Are Most Common in Children?
Children can suffer from the following mental illnesses:
• Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
• Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
• Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
• Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of body wastes (feces and urine).
• Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as relating their thoughts and ideas.
• Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or rapidly changing moods.
• Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
• Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the general symptoms include:
• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical ailments
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
• Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
• Significant increase in time spent alone
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stress, may be involved.
• Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means the likelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
• Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental illnesses.
• Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma, such as severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse; an important early loss, such as the loss of a parent; and neglect.
• Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits and outbursts of temper, can occur as a normal part of a child's development. Behaviors become symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or cause significant disruption to the child's and/or family's ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, the child may be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illness in children and teens. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and his or her observation of the child's attitude and behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the child's parents, teachers and other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental disorders are like many medical illnesses that require ongoing treatment. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now, many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used include:
• Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications. The medications often used to treat mental disorders in children include antipsychotics, antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, stimulants and mood stabilizing drugs.
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts and behaviors. Types of psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, group and family therapy.
• Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their thoughts and feelings.
What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Illness?
When treated appropriately and early, many children can fully recover from their mental illness or successfully control their symptoms. While some children become disabled adults because of a chronic or severe disorder, many people who have a mental illness are able to live full and productive lives.
It is very important to seek treatment for your child if they are displaying any symptoms of mental illness. Without treatment, many mental disorders can continue into adulthood and lead to problems in all areas of the person's adult life. People with untreated mental disorders are at high risk for many problems, including alcohol or drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, even suicide.
What Research Is Being Done on Mental Illness in Children?
To date, most research on mental illness has centered on mental disorders in adults. However, the mental health community has now begun to focus on mental illness in children. Researchers are looking at childhood development in terms of what is normal and abnormal, trying to understand how factors affecting development can have an impact on mental health. The goal is to try to predict, and ultimately, prevent, developmental problems that could lead to mental illness. A key part of this research is the identification of risk factors -- factors that increase a child's chances of developing a mental disorder. In addition, the mental health community is calling for additional research on medications used to treat children with mental disorders.
Can Mental Illness in Children Be Prevented?
Most mental disorders are caused by a combination of factors and cannot be prevented. However, if symptoms are recognized and treatment is started early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness may be prevented or at least minimized.
About The Author
"Art Buchanan's story of personal revival absolutely inspiring! He's one of the foremost experts in overcoming mental illness and what he knows can transform your life!" Mike Litman Host - Worlds #1 Personal Developmental Radio Show (http://www.out-of-darkness.com)They are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of recovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high in the United States of America, yet if you follow this young mans methods, we assure you of positive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed precisely, their is no way you can't see positive results with whatever illness you have' Dr. Herbert Palos Detroit, Michigan'
Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
http://freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3 THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!
With Much Love,
Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO Out of Darkness & Into the Light
209 Ellis Ave. Suite 1313 Bellevue Ohio, 44811,
http://www.out-of-darkness.com
http://www.AHHDandME.com
http://www.biologicalhappiness.com
http://www.mentalillness.com
http://www.everyonehurts.com
Friday, June 5, 2009
The State of the Reef
Coral reefs around the world are under siege - FACT. Threats from over-fishing, urban coastal encroachment and rising sea temperatures are destroying sensitive corals and devastating the marine life they support.
According to The United Nations, in the last four years ten percent of the world's reefs have died, and nearly a quarter are sick and suffering. Think about that for a second. More than half of the living reefs are seriously threatened, and scientists estimate that if today's trends continue mankind will cause the irreversible loss of reef formations and related fish species within 40 years.
Fortunately, there is a growing dedicated global effort to reversing this decline and to finding new - and sustainable - ways to manage the last of Earth's remaining coral reefs. Here are some reef facts for you to consider:
- Coral reefs are home to more than 25 percent of all marine life - yet occupy less than one percent of the ocean floors.
- Coral reefs have been around 100 million years and are the largest living structures on earth. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is more than 2,000 km long and can be seen from outer space.
- Scientists have found as many as 3,000 different species living on one reef in Indonesia.
- Coral reefs protect shorelines from erosion and storm damage. Without reefs, many islands, in the Banda Sea for example, and low lying mainland would be underwater.
- Coral reefs are a tremendous medical resource, providing chemical compounds used in antihistamines, antibiotics and other medications for illnesses ranging from asthma to leukaemia and heart disease. Indeed, more than half of all new cancer drug research focuses on marine organisms.
- More than 350 million people worldwide depend on corals for food and survival.
- Corals are animals-not rocks or plants-and they come in two types, hard and soft.
- Some deep water corals grow very slowly-as little as 30 cm in 1,000 years, while some shallow water corals may grow up to 15 cm per year.
- Corals need very specific conditions to survive - a narrow range of water temperatures, access to sunlight and low pollution levels.
- More than 14 million hectares/35 million acres of coral reefs have been destroyed by human activity - 10 percent of the world's reefs have died during the last four years alone, a number that could rise to 20-30 percent by 2010 without immediate and decisive action to preserve and sustain those that are left.
There are a number of reef threats one has to be aware of. These include the following:
- Global warming is perhaps the most serious threat to healthy coral reefs. Scientists expect sea temperatures to rise several degrees in the next 20 years. When water temperatures get too high, corals turn white or bleach and eventually die.
- More than 75 percent of the earth's people live in coastal areas, bringing to pristine coral reefs such threats as over-fishing, pollution and direct physical damage. Asia's population is expected to double in the next 25 years - the threat of further reef over-exploitation grows as well.
- Fishing with explosives, as in Burma and Thailand, and poisons in Indonesia not only kills fish but reefs as well. In the Philippines, about 180,000 kg of cyanide is dumped into the ocean each year, badly degrading local reefs.
- Sedimentation caused by run-off from poorly planned and managed construction, logging or mining, muddy reef waters with silt, cutting them off from the sunlight they need to survive. There are now no coastal reefs remaining in Phuket.
- Water pollution from sewage, oil and other chemicals can poison coral reefs. Ordinary rubbish dumped in the ocean can also kill coral reef life - plastic bags have been found in the stomachs of reef fish and turtles. Both these degrading activities are taking place in Phi Phi Islands.
- Coastal development, which involves altering coastline habitats and the cutting of mangrove forests, also threatens the ocean's fragile ecosystem. The small group of Thailand Dugongs is under serious threat at Koh Turatao due to this very problem.
About The Author
Sheldon Hey is the founder of Dive The World (http://www.DiveTheWorldThailand.com) and has been an passionate scuba diving professional for many years. Sheldon and the Dive The World Team would love to share their experience with you to ensure your next diving trip meets all your expectations.
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