Reduce The Impact That The Symptoms Of ADD Have In Your Life In Three Simple Steps

The symptoms of ADD can have a large effect in many people's lives. For someone to lead a normal fulfilling life, or for a child to make it successfully through their school career, they need to be able to deal effectively with their Attention Deficit Disorder. There are three important steps to follow in order to not let your condition to control your life.

You firstly need to ask yourself what causes your ADD symptoms to become worse and what makes them less of an interference? Look out for what triggers your ADD. Is it the food you are eating? A change in diet may help increase your ability to focus better. Could it be your lifestyle? Maybe you don't move around enough and need to start an exercise program. Have you explored the possibility of taking medication? Find what works best for you and take the necessary steps to overcome the hurdles created by your condition. Once you know the answers to these questions, plan ways to overcome the problems that you have.

Secondly, look out for excuses. Never let your condition become the reason for failure. In order for you to reduce the symptoms of ADD, you have to be honest with yourself. ADD is not an excuse for failure. Just follow the life of someone like Richard Branson, who has used what he was given to reach his full potential. Know what your limitations are but don't focus on them.

Lastly, look out for your strengths. By following and using your strengths, you avoid many of the symptoms of ADD that held you back before. This does not mean that you should steer clear from any weaknesses, but rather do the things that come more natural to you and the tasks that you enjoy. When you focus on areas of personal interest, you bring a powerful force to all that you do.

These steps are simple yet profound in the way that they can sum up all that you need to know in just three short paragraphs. The part that is not so simple is when it comes to applying them in your life. Take the first baby step in the right direction, choose one of the above and follow the guidelines to overcome the symptoms of a ADD. Once you feel that you have mastered a step, go onto the next one until all are done. When you begin to focus your efforts in this way you will begin to live a life without limits.

About The Author

Rolf Joss is an Author on both Attention Deficit Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. As an Author on these subjects, he is at the forefront to provide solutions to those with ADD and ADHD.

For more articles (or training) on Symptoms of ADD or to get your FREE ADD/ADHD Mini Guide, go to http://www.whatisadd-adhd.com/.

Original article

Oh No! I Can't Fall Asleep!

Not getting enough sleep can cause many issues including mood swings, irritability, depression, poor concentration, mental confusion, and even hallucinations. Generally you need about eight hours of sleep each night to keep your body healthy. Many people report that they have difficulty sleeping due to symptoms of a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Other people have physical pain, stress, or racing thoughts that keep them awake. No matter what the reason for your sleep deprivation, there are things that you can do to improve your sleep.

Most of us have very busy schedules that require us to be "on the go" for much of the day. These demanding schedules, can create feelings of stress and anxiety. And, with stress and anxiety there is often a constant stream of thoughts, referred to as "racing thoughts," that keep you awake. When you are stressed or anxious your body is producing chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline meant to help you stay active. They are responsible for your "fight or flight" response, and too much of them will keep you awake and alert. There are a few things you can do to address this.

Exercise is one way to combat this issue. Exercise helps your body relaxed by producing neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). There are many forms of exercise (yoga, Pilates, jogging, swimming, etc) and all will work to address the brain chemistry. Likewise, meditation has the same affect on your body. Thirty minutes of exercise or mediation a day will improve your ability to relax and fall asleep.

One more way to address the body's need to relax is by adding daily supplements. I will quickly list several supplements that can be added. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) has been said to induce sleep by affecting receptors in the brain that cause calmness and relaxation. Taurine inhibits the release of adrenaline therefore helping you relax. Oatstraw powder (avena sativa) is another herbal remedy that is said to have many health benefits including decreasing anxiety, nervousness and insomnia. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the circadian cycles (the sleep-wake cycle). It is found naturally in the brain and can be supplemented to improve sleep. Valerian root has been used for centuries to improve sleep and decrease anxiety. It is not pleasant smelling in its natural form and can cause grogginess the next morning. It can be taken nightly in capsules, which appears to lessen the unpleasant side-effects. Drinking chamomile tea has also been said to cause sleepiness and relaxation. Green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine which is said to stop racing thoughts. A natural amino acid called 5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is the "precursor" to serotonin. Supplementing this amino acid will produce a relaxation response that is conducive to sleep. Vitamin b6 helps create serotonin and helps the body relax. If you are a person who is kept awake by body pain, give magnesium a try. It is a natural muscle relaxer and sedative. This is a quick run-down of potential supplements. Please feel free to do your own research on them and speak with your physician before adding them to your diet.

Another way to improve sleep is to receive adequate amounts of natural sunlight. Your photo receptors utilize the sunlight to help regulate your circadian cycle. Melatonin (as discussed above) is released at night to help the body relax and fall asleep. If you live in an area where there is not enough sunlight, your circadian cycle may be affected. You can purchase a daylight simulating lamp that will help to regulate your cycle.

Taking mid-day naps is one way to break up your sleep cycle. Not getting enough sleep at night may leave you feeling tired during the day. However, taking a nap (especially one lasting longer than 60 minutes) will throw of your circadian cycle and often times keep you from being able to get into a normal sleep pattern. Try to force yourself to stay awake during daytime hours. This may leave your body tired enough to fall asleep at night.

Having a normal "before bed" routine is also a good way to teach your body to relax and sleep at night. Set a daily bed time and have a series of things that you do before getting into bed that help you wind down. For example, you may get into pajamas, brush your teeth and use the toilet. Then, turn off the lights and lay down with the intention of going to sleep. Usually a completely dark room helps your circadian cycle know that it is time to sleep. Also, remove the TV, video games, and radio from your room. If you are actively engaged in these activities, it is difficult for your body to know that you intend to sleep. If you are a person who enjoys reading before bed, do so in another room or in a chair beside the bed. The idea is to teach your body that the bed is a place used only for sleeping and sex.

Relaxation or self hypnosis is also useful in helping your body relax. You can incorporate these into your bedtime routine. There are many relaxation methods including muscle relaxation, visualization exercises, autogenics, and breathing exercises. Some people utilize a sound machine to help them relax and/or visualize a relaxing place. Self-hypnosis is a deep relaxation technique that requires some training, but is generally easy to learn.

A final method to improve sleep is to decrease caffeine and nicotine intake. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants. Stimulants will keep you alert and awake. Stopping your use of nicotine and caffeine after 8pm will generally be conducive to resting.

In conclusion, there are many methods to help improve your ability to sleep. It may take some time for your body to adjust using any of the above methods, but generally the more consistent you are with utilizing behavioral methods the better your sleep will be.

Shannon Rice is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice with over 20 years of experience working with individuals with mood disorders, trauma, addictions, relationship and self-acceptance issues.

See my full profile at http://wellnesstherapycenter.yolasite.com/

Original article

Panic Attacks 101

To understand panic attacks you have to comprehend fear. Fear is your body's alarm response when you sense danger. For example, you would become afraid if a vicious animal approached you. You would probably experience symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating and fast breathing. These are all an alarm response to a perceived threat that lead to a fight or flight response. Fight or flight is a natural survival mechanism meant to keep you safe and out of harms way.

You might be having this alarm response when in reality there is no actual threat. It's like when a hot meal in the oven precedes to set off the smoke alarm even though there is no fire. These false alarms can catch you off guard when you least expect it. Although highly stressful and problematic, a panic attack is basically an abrupt false alarm that creates unnecessary emotions.

Many people experience slight sensations if they begin to feel anxious about something. Their stomach might begin to churn or they might begin to sweat. On the other hand, a panic attack is much more intense that can come of out of the blue. A panic attack is described as experiencing an abrupt and terrifying sensation of fear. These attacks typically last roughly 10 minutes but could be as short at 1-5 minutes. People often believe they are having a heart attack and say to themselves, "I'm going to die!" Listed below are the most common symptoms of panic.

Accelerated heart rateSweatingDizzinessSense of impending deathShortness of breathFear of going insaneTingling sensationsFeeling of chokingChest discomfort

It is of no surprise that you might feel in danger as you experience the above symptoms. It probably feels as if your body is telling you there is a real threat lurking around or that you're having a heart attack. Many people tend to seek emergency medical care when they are experiencing a panic attack. Also, you might feel a strong desire to abruptly leave the situation.

It is important to know that panic attacks alone do not qualify for a mental health diagnosis. You must have repeated panic attacks and have a significant change in behavior (e.g. constant worry of another attack) lasting at least one month. It you meet this criterion you could be diagnosed with Panic Disorder.

A medical reality is that panic will last no more than 2 or 3 minutes if you stop all unhealthy thinking. Adrenaline is released and takes 2 or 3 minutes to complete it's cycle. It's very important to know that panic can only continue if your catastrophic and anxious thoughts remain.

Kelly Tappenbeck is an experienced mental health therapist who successfully educates those who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks via his blog at http://www.blog.freeofpanic.com/.

Original article

Insomnia - Causes And Treatments

Insomnia is a recognised sleep disorder which can have a number of widely different causes, from physical illness, suffering pain or discomfort, anxiety, worry over personal, financial or work situations and also mental health disorders such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder etc. Many soldiers returning from a tour of duty in a war zone will suffer from insomnia due to vivid memories and flashbacks.

Insomnia can be characterized by any or all of the following statements:

Inability to fall asleepWaking in the early hours after very little sleepInterrupted sleep - waking every hour and taking a while to return to sleep

If your family doctor has diagnosed you with insomnia there are a number of treatments he or she will want to try. Getting to the bottom of what is actually causing your insomnia is extremely important in deciding what course of action to take. In the past medication would be the first port of call with many sufferers being given sleeping tablets on their first visit to the doctor. Nowadays, after much research into the disorder and what causes it there are other options available.

The two main methods of treatment are:

Medication - usually by a drug known as an hypnotic such as Zopiclone or Zimovane (also known as the z drugs). These drugs work in much the same way as a benzodiazepine tranquilizer and can be highly addictive if taken any longer than a short term course.
Talking therapy - such as cognitive behavioural therapy by a trained specialist, counselling to get to the root of the cause of your insomnia and psychotherapy by a qualified psychologist.

There are also various self help measures which can be tried, either first or alongside other treatment methods. Here are some suggestions which have been proven to help:

Practice a regular sleeping and waking time - go to bed and get up at the same time each day regardless of how much sleep you may have had.
Take regular physical exercise preferably outside in the fresh air - do this earlier in the day as exercising close to bedtime will tend to kick start the body and leave you feeling energised instead of sleepy.
Try to avoid watching tv or reading in bed - both will keep your mind active when it should be preparing for sleep.
Cut back on alcohol, nicotine and especially caffeine - all will disrupt your sleep pattern.

So if you are suffering with lack of sleep regularly you probably have insomnia and should first get a correct diagnosis from your doctor and then discuss the preferred method of treatment with him or her. If they think a short course of sleep medication will help to resume a normal sleep pattern they will be able to prescribe the best one for your particular circumstances. You may be referred for therapy and given advice on self help measures to practice, after which hopefully you will regain a normal sleep pattern and get the rest you need.

© Andrew Tudor Jones

Andrew Tudor Jones is the owner of http://www.anxietydepressionselfhelp.com/, a website dedicated to anyone who suffers from anxiety and depression.The website offers valuable information on these conditions as well as 2 e-books which can be downloaded for free and a Blog,updated on a regular basis with relevant information. You can connect with Andrew on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/selfhelpforanxietyanddepression.

Original article

Knitting Up "The Raveled Sleave of Care" - Sleep and Bipolar Disorder

Sleep. I, for one, am a huge fan. I love that feeling of drifting off, right before my consciousness checks out, and I adore that well-rested feeling I have when I first open my eyes after a productively-slept night. [Those nights are becoming fewer and farther between as I age, but that's just another one of those little amusements that come from slowly leaving behind those days when anyone would call me "young lady"--except for my ancient Uncle Herbie, who calls any woman under 92 a "young lady," so I can't really count him--can I? My mother, with another of her pearls, used to say that getting old is lousy--but it's better than the alternative, and, as always, mother knows best.]

Sleep disregulation is one of the hallmark of mood disorders, and, if it's on the side of the inability to sleep, often one of its tortures.

I can recall the days--oh-so-fondly--when sleep came--early and often, like Chicagoans vote. Then, of course, the key was fighting it. Remember those college nights of coffee and No-Doz? I do--and somehow I was always asleep by 3:30 anyway, head on the book on my desk, still holding the M&Ms that were requisite for any all-nighter.

As appealing as it sounded then to just rev your motor and go, reduced need for sleep is actually bad news. For a person with bipolar, it's often one of the first signs of impending trouble, as not needing your shut-eye is a hallmark of mania.

And that seems clear enough--you can't rest, you know you're speeding up. But what is fascinating is that current research seems to indicate that the inverse is true, as well. That means that simply not sleeping enough can actually help precipitate a manic episode.

In another one of those scientific article titles that I love due to their profoundly uncreative nature, Colombo et al, in the 1999 volume of Psychiatry Research entitled (here we go) "Rate of switch from depression into mania after therapeutic sleep deprivation in bipolar depression" (pretty great, right? You might have some idea of what's coming now, no?) actually found that a small but significant percentage of bipolar people, when treated to a night of total sleep deprivation, switched into a manic episode.

Fascinating, right?

In an article entitled "Sleep and circadian rhythms in bipolar disorder: Seeking synchrony, harmony, and regulation" in the July 2008 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry, Allison Harvey studied the impact of disordered mood on sleep--and, interestingly enough, the impact of sleep on disordered mood. Her model suggests that individuals with bipolar have "a bidirectional relationship between daytime affect regulation and nighttime sleep such that an escalating vicious circle of disturbance in affect regulation during the day interferes with nighttime sleep/circadian functioning, and the effects of sleep deprivation contribute to difficulty in affect regulation the following day."

So you're starting an episode, you can't sleep. And now, as if that weren't bad enough, you can't sleep?--You might be starting an episode Great, right? So now what?

Well, here's where those with bipolar need to be really proactive about taking the sleep matter into their own hands.

And it's where sleep hygiene [and I love that phrase, it makes me think of those great those fifth grade hygiene classes, but now everyone is slightly drowsy] becomes vital. My guess is that you've heard it all before--but now really stick to it. You know--use your bedroom only for sleeping, no napping, get out of bed if you can't sleep for more than 20 minutes, no TV in bed, make sure you get enough exposure to natural light.

And then there's the "when all that fails" ideas, and if you are a bipolar sufferer who knows that lack of sleep is both causative of and indicative of a manic episode, you probably need to at least look into these ideas, if you don't know something else that works for you [and I don't mean drugs or alcohol]:

1. Under your doctor's careful watch you might try melatonin, which has some research showing it can help sleep during a hypomanic episode.

2. There's something called "dark therapy" which is cautiously being recommended for those tending toward mania with difficulty sleeping. It exposes the person to complete darkness for an extended period of time, hoping that this will help reset the body's sleep/wake cycle.

3. If your doctor sees it as useful, there are a variety of sedating medications used for difficulty sleeping, especially in a pre-manic phase--benzodiazepines, anti-histamines, sedating anti-depressants. There are some downsides, but they must be weighed against how crucial it is not to set off an episode by suffering sleep deprivation.

4. There's a new therapy called Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy. It's a type of psychotherapy unique to bipolar disorder, with a focus on assisting people in maintaining regulated routines, sleep included.

The Bard himself recognized that sleep is what "knits up the ravelled sleeve of care," it is "balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast."

Without it we all start to come unravelled--when the bipolar disordered person lacks it, she is set on a dangerous course.

Candida Abrahamson is a Chicago-area mediator, counselor, and hypnotherapist with a country-wide practice via phone sessions. Find out more about Candida and her work on her website at http://candidaabrahamsonphd.com/. To read Candida's in-depth writing on a variety of topics, check out her blog at http://candidaabrahamson.wordpress.com/.

Original article

Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Yesterday and Today

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression. These episodes are associated with unusual shifts in mood and energy. Early onset bipolar disorder, which starts during childhood or during the teen years, may be more severe than forms that first appear in older teens and adults. Some evidence suggests that young people with the illness may have more frequent mood switches, be sick more often, and have more mixed episodes (both manic and depressive symptoms).

Yesterday
Few experts believed that bipolar disorder could occur in childhood.Depression and manic-depressive illness weren't considered brain illnesses, and distinct treatments for each illness did not exist.Researchers could not distinguish between severe irritability and manic-depressive illness in children, which would make it possible to develop more effective treatments for each.

Today
A large, nationally representative survey shows that at least half of all cases start before age 25.
Some medications have been approved for treating manic-depressive illness in children and teens, and psychotherapies, such as family focused therapy, also appear to be effective in helping children to manage their symptoms.
Children with manic-depressive illness can have co-occurring disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, or other mental disorders, in addition to bipolar disorder. Scientists and doctors now know that, while having co-occurring disorders can hinder treatment response, treating bipolar disorder can have positive effects on treatment outcomes and recovery from co-occurring disorders as well. Studies focusing on conditions that frequently co-occur and how they affect one another may lead to more targeted screening tools and interventions.
Imaging studies are beginning to reveal brain activity patterns and connections associated with specific traits associated with children who have bipolar disorder, such as mood instability and difficulty interpreting social or emotional cues.
Genetic research reveals genetic similarities among bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. Such studies point to possible common pathways that give rise to these disorders but also highlight limitations in focusing on specific diagnoses in research. This issue has spurred a new NIMH initiative-the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project -to make sense of research findings that don't fit neatly into current diagnostic categories.

Early onset bipolar disorder can be diagnosed and treated. With effective treatment, children and adolescents can lead productive lives into adulthood. If mental illness is suspected, it is important to meet with a mental health professional for proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Written by Richard Kneip, Ph.D
Director, Great Lakes Psychology Group in Clarkston, MI

Great Lakes Psychology Group offers professional counseling in Clarkston and Lake Orion, Michigan

Original article

Can a Person Have Different Identities?

Dissociative identity disorder or DID is a psychiatric condition where an individual shows multiple distinct identities coupled with its own specific pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems call this type of condition as multiple personality disorder. Dissociative identity disorder is less frequent in comparison to other dissociative disorders and is known to affect about 1% of human population. It is often comorbid when compared with other dissociative disorders. The individual also suffers from memory loss or temporary forgetfulness. The disorder is often characterized by identity fragmentation rather than a proliferation of separate personalities. Once the disease comes into action the diagnosis acquires the label of controversy. Some people believe that the patients suffering from this disease are hypnotized as their symptoms are iatrogenic while brain imaging studies indicate identity transitions.

History

Before the nineteenth century individuals suffering from the dissociative identity disorder were placed in the category of possessed. The deep interest of people in spiritualism, parapsychology and hypnosis continued throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century and the views of John Locke were very famous. The views suggested that there is an association of ideas that require co-existence of feelings along with the awareness of feelings. Hypnosis came into existence late in the eighteenth century by Franz Mesmer and Armand-Marie Jacques de Chastenet, Marques de Puvsegur who gave a hard blow to John Locke's association of ideas. Hypnotists reported how two separate entities can co-exist together. During the nineteenth century Rieber estimated that there are about 100 cases of dissociative personality disorder among human population. Epilepsy was also considered as one of factors associated with the personality disorders. By the end of the nineteenth century critics as well as researchers gave an accepted view that emotionally traumatic experiences can also cause this type of disorder. The disorder can occur at any stage for example, Louis Vive experienced a dangerous encounter with viper at the age of 13 and he remained a subject of medical study for many years.

Between 1880 and 1920 many international conferences on medical science devoted their time on the topic of dissociation. Jean-Martin Charcot was the first to state that nervous system actively participates in the emergence of personality disorders. Pierre Janet, one of the students of Charcot used his ideas in generating theory of dissociation. The first individual identified and studied scientifically with multiple personality disorder was Clara Norton Fowler. American neurologist Morton Prince studied Fowler during 1898-1904 and described details of case of Clara in his monograph, Dissociation of a Personality published in 1906. In 1910, Eugen Bleuler introduced the term Schizophrenia to replace dementia praecox. A review published in Index Medicus brought a dramatic declination in the number of cases reported for multiple personality disorders especially in the United States for a period of 1903 to 1978. In 1927 sufficient number of cases of schizophrenia was reported that had symptoms similar to those occurring in multiple personality disorder. Bleuler also included multiple personality disorder while classifying schizophrenia. During 1980s it became clear that the individuals suffering from multiple personality disorder are often misdiagnosed and are termed as schizophrenic.

Signs and symptoms

Individuals suffering from dissociative identity disorder exhibit a wide variety of symptoms that fluctuate widely across time. The symptoms may impair the functioning of normal day to day activities. The common symptoms are multiple mannerisms, attitudes and beliefs that do not resemble each other. Somatic symptoms, loss of subjective time, depersonalization, de-realization and depression are other symptoms. Memory loss, trauma, sudden anger without any cause, anxiety attacks and unexplainable phobias are also considered as chief symptoms. Individuals also show symptoms that resemble those appearing in epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders and eating disorders. Other common symptoms of this disorder include headache, amnesia and some individuals often exhibit a tendency of self violence.

Physiological conclusions

Literature is loaded with many psychophysiologic investigations about dissociative identity disorder. Many investigations have been carried out on single individuals by considering different aspects at different time intervals. Different states have shown distinct physiological symptoms. Studies carried out by using electroencephalogram showed different symptoms. Neuroimaging studies have found that individuals with this disorder have higher levels of memory encoding than the normal individuals as well as smaller parietal lobe. One study has found alterations in the intensity of concentration, mood changes, and degree of muscle tension with some inherent differences in brains of such individuals. Although a link between epilepsy and this disorder was also postulated but it is still controversial. Some brain imaging studies have shown differences in the cerebral blood flow in the sufferers. A different imaging study has also shown smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes in patients of this disorder. One study carried out on twin individuals showed that heredity also plays an important role in appearance of dissociative identity disorder.

Causes

Theoretically dissociative identity disorder is coupled with the attacks of stress, traumatic antecedents, child abuse and an innate property to dissociate memories. Child abuse is very much responsible for this order and the percentage of individuals is somewhat higher. Physical and sexual abuse received by the individuals during early to mild childhood also results in this disorder. Some believe that the symptoms appear due to iatrogenic treatments. A development theory is generally postulated while studying the dissociative identity disorder sequentially as physical or sexual abuse received by the child in the childhood is responsible the appearance of symptoms. If the child is harmed intensely by a trusted caregiver it results in splitting off the awareness and memory of the child to survive in relationship with that person. These events enter the subconscious mind of the child resulting in emergence of a separate personality. The events reoccur if the individual receives traumatic events again. Dissociation becomes a coping mechanism for such individual if he or she faces stressful situations again and again.

Diagnosis

American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has described certain criteria while diagnosing this disorder. The DSM-II has used the term multiple personality disorder while DSM-III has identified four types of dissociative disorders and DSM-IV-TR uses the term dissociative identity disorder. The ICD-10 however, uses the term multiple personality disorder. The diagnostic criterion described in section 300.14 of DSM-IV is based on the non-physiological reasons where the individual suffers from extensive memory lapses but while dealing with children the criterion focuses on other matters. The diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder can be performed by therapist, psychiatrist and psychologist by using personality assessment tools.

The diagnostic criterion given in DSM-V suggests that if there is disruption in the identity of an individual due to the presence of two or more personality states or an experience of possession that alters cognition, behavior or memory then the individual may suffer from this disorder. Other criterion says that if the individual finds difficulty in recalling day to day information or traumatic events that are coupled with forgetfulness or social impairment he or she may suffer from personality disorders. Certain religious practices or general medical conditions may also be coupled with this disorder. The SCID-D can be used while diagnosing the disorder where an interview is carried out for 30-90 minutes depending upon the experiences of the subject. The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) is strictly based on the criteria given in DSM-IV and may last from 30-45 minutes. The Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) is a simple, quick and rapid questionnaire used to screen the symptoms of the dissociative disorder. The DES scale is constructed differently for children as well as adults.

Treatment

The treatment of dissociative identity disorder attempts to join the different identities into one single identity with intact memory and functioning like normal brain. The treatment also focuses on relieving the distressing symptoms of the disease for the benefit and safety of the patient. Treatment strategies may comprise psychotherapy and meditation in order to provide relief to the individual. Some behavior experts while dealing with the individuals of personality disorders use the method of responding to one only type of identity and then use some of the conventional methods for faster recovery of the patient.

Prospects and Epidemiology

Dissociative identity disorder does not arise suddenly and the symptoms also vary with time. Individuals with symptoms of post traumatic stress however recover earlier with treatment. Patients with comorbid addictions, mood and eating disorders however take longer time to recover. Individuals still attached with the abusers show worst results with treatment. Changes in personality and memory loss may sometimes lead the individual to commit suicide. Studies do not clearly indicate the exact frequency of occurrence of this disorder but the number has significantly increased in the last few years. A possible explanation for increase in the number of cases is generally due to wrong diagnosis by confusing it as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other mental disorders.

Original article

EMDR: The Basics

So, I have to admit that there are underlying causes as to why I haven't gone into what treatment DID work for dealing with my past trauma, and therefore my picking; 1) It's intense to say the least 2) I've heard it's actually controversial partially because of HOW intense it is 3) It's a long drawn out process that many people won't be able to handle.  But, that's for you to decide, and it's your life.  What worked for me isn't always going to work for others.  This entry is going to give you a little of the science and research on the process.  I will do another entry on my personal experience during it, and probably yet another on what you should really know before starting it.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR for short.  Learn this - know this!  I believe there are books on this technique, but DO NOT do anything without talking to a therapist.  Also, be aware that there is special training for helping patients with this and I highly recommend you make sure your therapist knows WTF they are talking about before attempting it.  It's not something you can dive right into on a first session.  There are steps, and without taking these steps you will be falling down a staircase of mental disasters.  As if any of us need any more of that shit!

There are eight steps involved in the process.  The first being that a trained professional goes over your personal history with you and develops a treatment plan,  which also helps them determine if you are a good candidate.  The second step is to make sure you have the "tools" you will need to help you get through the process.  These include coping techniques, how to deal with stress, etc.  This IS SO IMPORTANT!  If you take this step lightly, you will regret it down the road.  From what I'm reading, steps three through six involve identifying what exactly you need to focus on, such as specific memories.  It is important to identify these, and during these you will identify how an event made you feel before and after the session.  Also, you will evaluate how this event made you feel about yourself, and how it ideally can be changed to something more positive.

During three through six you will be asked to follow your therapists' fingers with a specific memory in mind.  If this sounds like hypnosis - then you need to know it's NOT!  You are aware and present in every single second.  From what Julie told me, following the fingers with just your eyes (not moving your head), from left to right at intervals, unlocks hidden closets of details in the memories.  Reading this, it might sound like total bullshit - but I assure you, that when done right, you will have such a recollection of a memory with details, it will be like you were watching a movie in that instant of a horrible moment in your life.  Short sessions of this are done during one visit, and it's gonna make you break into a sweat and wonder WTF you've gotten yourself into.  The therapist will then help you deal with this anxiety, and "hold your hand" while you practice your coping mechanisms.

The negative feelings toward this memory will be there - but since you identified what positive you could change this negative into, you will be asked to follow the fingers and affirm it to yourself.  After you leave your session, it will continue.  You will need to practice your coping techniques throughout your treatment.  This process unlocks a closet of details that your brain hid to protect you during the moment.  Once you open this closet, it's very important that you stick with it until you are able to clean out the closet and re-file these memories.  If you leave the closet open, shit just keeps falling out without any main goal.

The next steps involve closure and evaluating progress.  If it sounds a little bizarre, then you and I were thinking the same thing at the first hearing of this process.  However, I've been all jacked up since these things happened to me, and I've tried so much more, that I was fed up and over it.  I was at a point where I was going to do whatever it took to unpack this baggage that was on my back.  In other words, I was desperate and determined and open minded.  It was the best thing I could have done.... Julie is my angel for recommending it and helping me through it.

Kathrine Verner has extensive personal experience in improving quality of life by analyzing and taking action to change the affects past experiences, anxiety, and compulsions have in her existence. Stop by and read the blog for humor and a unique perspective at http://www.theinnerskinpicker.com/.

Original article

What Are The ADD Symptoms A Parent Should Be On The Lookout For?

If your child is having problems with concentration at school, then there is a possibility that they may have an Attention Deficit Disorder. By going through the ADD symptoms checklist, you will be able to determine whether or not your child has this condition. Most children will display a combination of these signs or would have experienced them at least some time in their lives. For you or someone else to suggest that they have ADD, the signs either have to be constantly present, or the symptoms must be causing disruption to their childhood developmental levels.

- The inability to focus.

A child is normally able to concentrate in areas that they enjoy, but if they lose focus very quickly with things that they are not so interested in, it could be an indication of ADD. What you have to look out for is if their interests are too narrow and their lack of concentration applies to the majority of other areas in their life. They may, for example, have a great interest and knowledge on dinosaurs but find it difficult to do any other tasks that do not include or relate to dinosaurs.

- They are easily distracted.

Distraction is a very common symptom where your child may become disrupted by the slightest sounds or movement nearby. This often happens in the classroom and the teacher might have already brought it to your attention. An Attention Deficit child will generally lose their place when someone walks past their desk or talks. Even the noise from a car passing by can cause them to become distracted and look around. This will happen more often to children with ADD and once this happens it can be a challenge to get them to return to their work.

- Tend to daydream.

The child with ADD symptoms will often be found gazing out of the window or door lost in thought. This does not mean that they are lazy or undisciplined. It is because they usually have lost interest in what is happening around them and their thoughts have moved onto things that are of more interest to them.

If these ADD symptoms are present, then you need to look a bit deeper before concluding that your child definitely has ADD. The next step could be to check if they have the rest of the signs, or to meet with a professional who specializes with Attention Deficit Disorders.

About The Author

Rolf Joss is an Author on both Attention Deficit Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. As an Author on these subjects, he is at the forefront to provide solutions to those with ADD and ADHD.

For more articles (or training) on ADD symptoms or to get your FREE ADD/ADHD Mini Guide, go to http://www.whatisadd-adhd.com/.

Original article

Explaining Suicide to ADHD Children

Are kids and teens with ADHD at risk for suicide? Studies say the answer is yes, especially among girls, those whose mothers were depressed, those who have behavioral issues or anxiety, and those with primarily hyperactive symptoms. Most parent would rather not discuss the issue with their kids for fear that talking about suicide will only implant the idea in their impressionable minds. However, current studies show that children and teens already know about suicide, and that talking about it to children will actually prevent it. Here are some suggestions on how to talk to your child about suicide.

Young children

The best thing you can do for your child at this age is to help him or her manage their feelings. Encourage your child to express feelings by talking to them or asking gently, "How do you feel? Are you sad or angry? Do you feel sad or angry sometimes or do you feel it all the time?" Explain to your child that it's normal to feel sad, especially during times of loneliness, disappointment, or loss. Teach your child that it's okay to feel angry or sad and to shed a few tears, but that harming yourself is not the way to cope with these feelings. Emphasize that these awful feelings can be shared with you or other people who can understand. Also provide your child with activities that serve as an outlet for their feelings, such as sports, art classes, and dances. Stay closely connected to your child so you can form a strong bond and intervene if he or she is feeling low.

Adolescents

Adolescents are old enough to be aware of what suicide is; in fact, they may have already heard of it in the news or played around with the idea in their heads. At this age, you can talk about suicide in a straightforward yet fact-based manner. Acknowledge that suicide is a serious health issue that can hurt the lives of many people; it is not normal and it should not be sensationalized. Let your child know that you care and that you are here to provide help. Listen to your child and be aware of the stressors in his or her life. Assist your child in whatever way you can so that he or she doesn't feel overwhelmed with activities or negative thought.

Likewise, be aware of the symptoms of depression among adolescents with ADHD. This co-morbid disorder rarely goes away without interventions and can lead to suicide if it persists for two weeks or more.

Teenagers

As with adolescents, you can talk to teens about suicide in a straightforward manner. Be involved in your child's life and be in touch about what he or she thinks, feels, and does. Make yourself available to talk, and listen when your child speaks. Make sure to watch out for language related to harming themselves, wanting to just "disappear", or similar other statements. Take these statements seriously and seek help when needed. If your child feels constantly depressed, consider seeking the help of a therapist or counselor.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.

Original article

Of Bipolar Disorder, The Hippocampus, and The Exercise Fiend

My mother highly valued intelligence, and her way of putting down someone she saw as sub-par in the smarts department was saying, "He's no brain surgeon, I'll tell you that." But I, literally, am no brain surgeon, so to discuss this latest research I have to do one of those "let's start at the very beginning" Julie Andrews routines.

So, you've got a brain. So far, so good. And the brain has what is known as a limbic system. The limbic system is a set of structures that make up the inside of the cortex, which, in turn, is the tissue that is just outside [I know this is getting to be like "The House That Jack Built," but hang in there for just a few more moments] the cerebrum, which basically heads up your central nervous system. The limbic system is crucial in the experience of emotion--and memory, too, by the way.

Ok, one of those structures in the limbic system [and this is where I really wanted to get to] is known as the hippocampus. Essentially, it's part of the brain's mood center. And it's negatively impacted by stress, including the stress of bipolar episodes.

For years, brain autopsies on people with bipolar illness showed decreased density in the hippocampus. Additionally, a freshly published study entitled "Hippocampal Interneurons in Bipolar Disorder," published in the 2011 volume of the Archives of General Psychiatry compared brains of those with bipolar disorder to those of healthy control subjects. The abstract results are too wonderfully arcane to deprive you of, so here goes: "the bipolar disorder group showed reduced volume of the nonpyramidal cell layers, reduced somal volume in cornu ammonis sector 2/3, reduced number of somatostatin- and parvalbumin-positive neurons, and reduced messenger RNA levels for somatostatin, parvalbumin, and glutamic acid decarboxylase 1." Got it?

What they're really saying is that the hippocampus functions differently--and less well--in bipolar patients, partially due to reduced volume.

That being the case, it becomes of primary importance, if you're suffering from bipolar disorder, to take care of those hippocampal cells, and prevent whatever volume loss possible.

Despite our rather disheartening knowledge that there is brain atrophy in the bipolar nervous system, there is much cause for hope. A 2007 article showed that taking lithium increased volume in the paralimbic regions of the brain, and it has since been demonstrated that consistent treatment with adequate doses of antidepressants increases hippocampal volume, as well.

And, medication aside, we now get to return to one of my favorite topics, which is, as I've mentioned in other articles, exercise. Just to be clear--I firmly believe that bipolar disorder needs to be treated with a strict medicine regime, rigorously adhered to. I'm not a proponent of going all-natural, or organic, with such a serious illness.

However, in addition to whatever medicine your doctor has prescribed, exercise also holds much promise for not just slowing the shrinkage of the hippocampus cells-but actually reversing the process.

Numerous studies have found that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week will slow hippocampus volume loss in the elderly, thus working against age-related memory loss. A research study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science entitled "Exercise Training Increases Size of Hippocampus and Improves Memory" found that the exercise impacted hippocampal volume so positively that it was the equivalent or reversing age-related volume loss by 1-2 years.

Schizophrenia is associated with hippocampal shrinkage to an even greater extent than bipolar disorder. Yet in a study of control-sample healthy men and men with schizophrenia entitled "Hippocampal Plasticity in Response to Exercise in Schizophrenia" in the February 2010 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, authors Frank-Gerald Pajonk et al found that cycling for 30 minutes 3 times per week increased hippocampal volume--for both groups, even the schizophrenics.

I may be no brain surgeon, but I can understand from the research that exercise will slow and even reverse illness-associated loss of brain volume--and, brain surgeon or no, I can get that that's a pretty great thing.

Candida Abrahamson is a Chicago-area mediator, counselor, and hypnotherapist with a country-wide practice via phone sessions. Find out more about Candida and her work on her website at http://candidaabrahamsonphd.com/. To read Candida's in-depth writing on a variety of topics, check out her blog at http://candidaabrahamson.wordpress.com/.

Original article

Five Great Tips for Staying Mentally Healthy in an Unhealthy Economy

The current economic crisis has wreaked havoc on, not only the financial conditions of many, but also on their mental and emotional well-being. Stress is the order of the day with the stock market serving up unhealthy portions of anxiety, worry, fear, doubt and uncertainty. The housing market contributes to the feast with its daily side orders of loss of value, foreclosures and depression. Then there's the host of the meal, the media, that loves to shove it all down our throats making sure we get our fair share and taste every bitter morsel.

Just as the quality of food we ingest affects us positively or negatively, so does the quality of mental food. And we're fed lots of crap, wouldn't you agree? Mental fast food fed to us by the Golden Arches of the Airways, the big "M." And you probably can guess that the" M" doesn't stand for McDonalds; it stands for Media. Even Social Media. Why? Because, unfortunately, people like to regurgitate the crap their fed, chew on it a while, and then feed it to all their friends. My suggestion is this... when you're fed a bunch of crap, don't swallow it! Spit it out! Even better, don't sit down at a table full of crap in the first place! In other words, don't watch the news and don't engage in gossip about the news. Don't Facebook the news, tweet the news or post the news. By then it's no longer the news, it's now the "olds."

What I'm suggesting is hard to do, I know, because we've become addicted. We have drama, therefore we exist! Since what I'm suggesting is next to impossible for most of us, here are five great tips to help you keep your mental and emotional fitness up even while the global economy's fitness is down:

1) If you must watch the news, don't participate in it. Don't comment on it, neither to yourself nor others. Don't gossip about it or engage in conversations about it (unless it's good news). Just observe it, that's all, with your only intention being to stay up to date and informed.

2) Practice "perceptual shifting" when observing the news to help you stay detached. Rather than watching the TV through your own eyes, try watching yourself watch the news. Huh? Yes, pretend your body is in a theater room watching the news and you are in the projection booth watching yourself in the theater watching the news. I'm not crazy! You'll be changing neural pathways. Just play with it, whether you're watching, reading or listening.

3) Stop the inclination to judge events and circumstances as "Good" or "Bad," "Right" or "Wrong." Things just are. Life is. Quite often, though we can't see it in the moment, "Bad" things have to happen in order for "Good" things to show up. Remember, you heard it here first!

4) Take away the "to me" or "to us" part of the sentence. Example: Look what Wall Street is doing "to us." Don't be a victim. This type of language causes you to become a victim of circumstance and an active participant. Instead, language it this way: Look what Wall Street is doing. That's it, that's all, end of story. Don't add your own commentary and don't personalize.

5) For every minute of the news you allow yourself to observe, pay a positive consequence. Read a self-help or spiritual book for an equal amount of minutes. Or, Meditate, exercise or journal for an equal amount of time. Find ways to balance the positive with the negative. Most of the world is in an unhealthy place right now but you don't have to be. Stop participating! Stop swallowing the crap. Detach. Feed yourself mental and spiritual food daily. Think outside the box because what's in the box stinks! Furthermore, you may be surprised at what you find once you are outside the box that everyone else is in.

About The Author:

Co-star of the iconic film, The Karate Kid, now leading expert in the field of human potential, "Sensei" Ron Thomas, invites you to visit http://changehowithink.com/ and get a FREE Mini-Course on The Black Belt Mindset.

As a Transformational Life Coach, Author and Speaker specializing in Focus and Personal Breakthroughs, his extensive training in NLP, Hypnosis, TimeLine Therapy, Human Behavior and Spirituality - not to mention his world championship background in athletics and martial arts - uniquely qualify him as a leading authority in Personal Development and Human Potential. Visit http://changehowithink.com/ today! Change how you think and change your life!

Original article

The Family Hero, or "Morticia and the Psychiatrist"

Remember the wondrously insane and macabre Addams family? ("They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky/They're all together ooky....")

They were the anti-Partridge family, the inverse Brady Bunch, fabulously perverse, with two ghastly children, Wednesday (as in "Wednesday's child is full of woe," and her partner crime Pugsley, who has the unique hobby of stealing road signs--for room decoration--and is quite fond of his slimy pet Octopus, named--but of course!--Aristotle.

But in the "Morticia and the Psychiatrist" episode, Pugsley is simply not himself, and the parents are deeply worried.

Pugsleyditches Aristotle and replaces him with a puppy, actually plays the All-American game of baseball, and--horror of horrors!--puts on a Boy Scout uniform. Morticia and husband Gomez are gripped by fears that their child might be headed for normalcy--so they march him into Dr. Black, the psychiatrist's office, for some straightening out.

So what is the fear that so catalyzes Pugsley's parents to head for treatment? It is this precise thought pattern, so familiar to dysfunctional families everywhere: If Pugsleyacts normal, why then, mightn't everybody think the entire family is normal?

And the answer to this in society is yes--they might. And thus the concept of the family hero is born--and it is a role every dysfunctional family wants someone within their ranks to play, for the job of this family hero is to demonstrate to onlookers near and far that the family from which the hero dwells is just fine.

The child who defines the family's self-worth, and keeps ugly familial secrets hidden is the family hero--and what a row they have to hoe.

In his book, Codependence: The Dance of Wounded Souls, Robert Burney writes that "there are four basic roles that children adopt in order to survive growing up in emotionally dishonest, shame-based, dysfunctional family systems." The children take these roles because they sense that the family's dysfunction is so great, without their wearing the mantle of the chosen role, the whole might not be able to continue.

You may be familiar with these roles from your own family of origin--or your own children--and one I've discussed before, simply under a different name. The roles are the Mascot or Caretaker, the Lost Child, the Acting-Out-Child or Scapegoat [I've written about this role under the name of the 'Identified Patient'], and, finally, our very own Responsible Child, or Family Hero.

The hero is often the oldest child, although in one of the more striking cases I've just seen, it's actually the third, the first and second having been unable to handle this starring role. Heroes tend to be over-responsible and over-achieving. They might be the valedictorian, the prom queen, the starting quarterback, the head of drama--they make it possible for their families to look at them and be re-assured about the family's own well-being as a unit. ("If Sara graduated top of her eighth grade class, we're obviously doing a lot right as parents, aren't we?" goes the thought-process.) They might even be parentified, taking care of one (or both) parents, in a complete role reversal. The continued performance and excellence of the hero validates not just the hero--but the entire family unit.

Not unsurprisingly, however, this linchpin role in the dysfunctional family comes with a high price. Usually the hero feels guilty and inadequate, and is plagued by the sense, despite all his achievements, that there's nothing he can really do to heal his family's pain. Often the Hero will push herself to hard to achieve that she becomes prone to stress-related illnesses. [Most recently I had a family hero in my practice who seemed to feel so guilt-ridden that she wanted to simply obliterate herself, to greatly over- simplify the explanation for her anorexia. She wanted to place no more demands on her family--to only provide, and how she managed to perform as she did academically at such a low weight is a mystery to me.]

It is not uncommon for the Hero to feel isolated and alone and later on they have difficulty developing intimate relationships, since they have no experience being in touch with and expressing their true feelings. They seem cut off from their own emotions to the extent that they praise they receive for their achievements and successes becomes an end in itself--they feel no sense of self-satisfaction, and as thus must continue to excel and achieve in order to receive the praise that defines them to themselves as 'good.'

Robert Burney himself provides this choice insight into the Hero on his website: "The family hero, because of their "success" in conforming to dysfunctional cultural definitions of what constitutes doing life "right", is often the child in the family who as an adult has the hardest time even admitting that there is anything within themselves that needs to be healed."

So it is the greatest success in the family, from an external perspective, who turns out to pay the highest internal price--and who struggles the mightiest to even put into words that they might need help.

Even Morticia Addams understood that a child like this, despite the bountiful gifts she bestows upon her family, needs support--and soon.

Candida Abrahamson is a Chicago-area mediator, counselor, and hypnotherapist with a country-wide practice via phone sessions. Find out more about Candida and her work on her website at http://candidaabrahamsonphd.com/. To read Candida's in-depth writing on a variety of topics, check out her blog at http://candidaabrahamson.wordpress.com/.

Original article

Will Our Egocentricity Destroy The World?

Have you ever wondered what keeps our egocentricity under control? History is full of examples of what can happen if we leave our egocentricity unchecked and live like we are the only people of any consequence. The human mind is an extraordinary development filled with enormous potential and capability. Through the process of civilisation we have tried to reign in our egocentricity or self-centredness. However, this is really only a veneer attempting to hide what is under the surface, inside of us all. The examples throughout history of people who have lived out their egocentricity to the limits show us what that dark side of human nature is capable of. Aldof Hilter was responsible for the extermination of over 5 million Jewish people and the Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot imposed living conditions on the people of Cambodia that resulted in the death of over 20% of the country's population! Is our ego, if left to its own devises, capable of such evil atrocities?

The egocentricity displayed by some humans seems unfathomable. Many historians have studied these lives in an attempt to unravel and understand what circumstances led these people to embrace the unthinkable behaviour. In order to really get to the bottom of these extraordinary events in human history, we need to understand human nature. Since everything humans do is about protecting our ego, these unfathomable situations can arise from small egocentric events that can in turn lead to greater more significant and eventually highly destructive events. These examples are those of tyrannical leaders, but the egocentricity of many every day people can be just as great, it is just the scale of the devastation that differs. Narcissistic personality disorder is the term that describes an individual that is excessively preoccupied with issues of personal adequacy, power, prestige or vanity, i.e. egocentricity unchecked. The fact that this is now a recognised 'disorder' indicates the prevalence of the individuals exhibiting such behaviour. The fact that this type of behaviour is becoming more common in populations all around the world is a terrifying when you realise that this can only lead to more and more dysfunctional home and work environments which as a consequence will pollute future the generation.

If we thought long and hard about what our ego is capable of, we would probably surprise and shock ourselves. The egocentricity we all possess has been developed through two million years of evolution since humans became fully conscious. The events that have led to the development of our egocentric state, combined with how long we have been living with this way of viewing the world, are responsible for the strength with which humans back their egocentric behaviour. It really is a dire situation for the world to be in where ever spiralling levels of egocentricity may soon be uncontrollable by the limits the civilised world has previously been able to impose.

Egocentricity is something which we have to manage every day, from others and in our own behaviour. Whilst I obviously have my own views, I was struck by the article Our Ego and Egocentric Lives. I'm not sure how much of it I agree with but it's entertaining reading, to say the least! What resonates is that it's an issue that we have to address sooner than later.

Original article

Keeping Your Mental Health In Business

Why would I write an article about mental health in business? We think about our bodies - well some of us do! We try to eat healthily, we do the required amount of exercise to keep healthy, drink plenty etc. We assume that this is enough to keep us where we want to be - in peak fitness to run a successful business with all the energy and commitment that entails. BUT IS IT?

What is it? What does it mean? We hear so many terms surrounding the words that there is confusion for a lot of people. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Bi-Polar, Depression, Schizophrenia, Anxiety etc - there are a lot of names out there!

The World Health Organisation defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". It was previously stated that there was no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined.

So there you have it - being 'normal' is what counts! So how can you ensure that you keep your mental health in business for as long as you want? How can you stay at peak condition mentally to ensure that you can run that business optimally?

Diet And Mental Health

You feel that you may be eating healthily but there are hidden factors out there that can seriously affect what is happening in your brain. Your control centre. The worst that springs to mind is the side-effect of Aspartame or Acesulfame K. We avoid sugar as we know that it is not good for us (more on that in another post) but the sugar-free products that we replace it with have these chemicals in them instead. It actually contains 3 chemical compounds - all of which are seriously toxic to the human body - aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol (wood alcohol).

So what are the effects of Aspartame? Horribly, there are an awful lot of them as the process of exchange within the body leads to the release of even more chemicals such as formaldehyde:

headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, depression, fatigue, increased heart rate, insomnia, vision problems, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, tinnitus, vertigo and memory loss - the last being one of the most common starting symptoms of Aspartame toxicity.

It can trigger or worsen the following:

brain tumours, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, alzheimer's, parkinson's, mental retardation.

It causes chronic neurological disorders by acting as a neuro transmitter in the brain and too much of it 'excites' (kills) certain neurons by allowing too much calcium to enter the cells. The neural cells are stimulated to death.

A simplified version of what happens or can happen - the research is out there - if you value your health then avoid this chemical!

Water

Sounds strange doesn't it? How can water affect our brain and thereby our mental health? We know that drinking water is important but most people do not take nearly enough into their diets. They load themselves with dehydrating liquids such as tea, coffee and alcohol and assume that all liquids are equal! They Are Not!! If you look at our planet you see that it is 80% water - as our mother we follow suit and our bodies are also 80% water. If this level is allowed to drop then we experience symptoms which are wide-ranging from physical joint and muscle pains to headaches and vision problems. The brain has to be kept hydrated to work properly!

We are aware that mental health covers the areas of depression, stress and anxiety also under its umbrella. A depressive state can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome. What has water to do with this? When the body becomes dehydrated, the physiological process that come into play are the same ones that occur when coping with stress. Dehydration equals stress, and once stress establishes, there is an associate action of materials from the body's stores - in effect this process will 'mop up' some of the water reserves of the body. Therefore dehydration causes stress and stress will cause further dehydration.

Now several hormonal overrides become operative in the stress situation - the body assume that it is in crisis and adopts its normal reaction to that - fight or flight - even if it is work-stress - this is then maintained and begins to exhaust the body and the adrenal glands associated with this until a state of chronic fatigue develops.

Keep your body hydrated with water! Keep your brain hydrated with water!

Depression

Melancholy, despair and other aspects of mental depression are now more common than ever. What you could once cope with in your daily life is now a struggle. Nothing to do with age, I hasten to add, but a build-up of toxicity that is affecting your energy levels and your thought processes. Women are particularly prone to depression when exposed to excessive competition and stress. Mental depression is experienced in the mind but is generally rooted in a stagnant liver. Dietary principles apply here to lift the liver to its former glorious state of energy and the depression lifts from the mind. Short-term remedies for this are the wild-blue green micro-algae and vinegar! Apple cider vinegar acts specifically on lifting the liver taking 1 teaspoon in a little water while experiencing the mild depression we are all subject to from time to time. Following a liver cleansing programme is longer lasting.

Fatigue

The final suggestion here, apart from seriously looking at your diet, chemical intake, and water intake is your oxygen intake. Most people breathe only to a shallow level - we are nothing without oxygen - it is the life of our blood and cells. Deeply breathing allows the oxygen to circulate around all the peripheries including the brain! Allow your stomach to expand as you breathe in and contact as you breathe out - the other way round is wrong! You will find that you can breathe to a much greater depth and if you feel slightly dizzy - great - it means that the oxygen has got to your head and brain area! Practise this every day - make it a part of your health regime as it also stimulates the lymphatic system.

Last comment would be on the workings of your colon! If it doesn't work as often as it should - 2-3 times a day surprisingly enough if you eat 2-3 times a day - then you are going to feel the effects of this throughout your body, mental state, muscles, joints, skin, eyes etc. Vital to keep this organ flowing freely to be in a healthful state and to have optimum mental health. Truly - without the cleanliness of this area you will feel sluggish, depressed; mental processes slow down and you feel exhausted!

Here's to your Success!

Firstly and most importantly, I am passionate about people. I am passionate about their health at all levels - as a Naturopath of 12 years I have understood that what makes us the sickest is our view of the world and ourselves. Today I use methods to teach how to find success in all levels of our lives - physical, mental and financial. If you believe in yourself - you will take care of yourself. If you believe in your power to be successful - you will be successful. If you have the physical energy - you will have the drive. It is all linked and it starts with the most important factor of them all - YOU!

http://www.wellwithin.me/

Original article

Testing for Alzheimer's Disease

If you think that you or a loved is showing signs of Alzheimer's or dementia, it is important that you seek medical advice. The cause of these diseases is still relatively unknown, so it is very important that you treat this carefully and with a great degree of precaution. First, you should go to your primary care physician and discuss your situation. They will be able to put you in touch with a good neurologist who can give you more information. The neurologist will be able to test you and let you know for certain if you have Alzheimer's.

A memory test will give you some preliminary information on your condition. This will give you insight on different aspects of your memory through word associations and other small memory tests. These tests will be repeated throughout your treatment to let the neurologist know exactly how fast you are progressing through the process of the disease. It's important to remember that not all memory loss is dementia related. Stress can lead to poor memory and "senior moments." These do not necessarily imply that you have Alzheimer's. Hormone changes, thyroid problems, and low blood sugar can all be culprits for your fuzzy thinking. Still, if you have any doubt or suspicion in your mind, it is vital that you get yourself checked out.

If your memory loss is not dementia related, there is a very good chance that it can be fixed. When stress levels subside, or you get treatment for a different medical problem, your memory is very likely to return to normal. A slight amount of memory loss or slower thought processes is normal as we age, but if you are still having doubts about your medical condition, there is absolutely no harm in getting checked out. Precaution will never hurt anyone

Alzheimer's is not just a disease of the memory. It affects your emotions too. Bizarre or unexpected emotional changes can be a clear warning sign of Alzheimer's. By being able to spot these in yourself or your loved one, you can spot the disease much earlier in its progression and begin treatments sooner.

If you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, there is no need to despair. The treatment of Alzheimer's can go far beyond just the cocktail of medications that doctors are asked to choose from. Exercising the mind can be a big help in slowing the disease's progression. Play memory games and puzzles that tax your brain. The more strenuous the activity, the better your resistance to the disease will be. Also, remember that exercise of the body is a good way to stave off the disease. Going for a walk every day can help both your body and your brain.

Matthew G. Young is a freelance writer who specializes in financial, sports, and health-related topics. To learn more about in home health care visit Paradise In Home Care.

Original article

How To Deal With ADD In Teenagers And Get Out Alive

Dealing with ADD in teenagers can be a challenging time for many parents. Teenagers by nature are already difficult, looking to define their individuality and ADD only adds more obstacles to the whole situation. Adolescents will often be moody, close themselves up in their room, refuse to listen to any instructions or reason, and will do the exact opposite of what you say. The ADD symptoms will influence their ability to concentrate on their schoolwork, remember to do their chores, and make the right types of friends.

Many of the symptoms of ADD in teenagers will be the same struggles that they experienced when they were younger. Their size, however, makes discipline trickier than when they were smaller. There are of course some adolescents that are not altogether rebellious but still have their personal challenges at school and with friends as a result of their Attention Deficit Disorder. This also all depends on the child, their relationship with their parents, and the help and support they may have received when they were younger.

If any of this sounds like your situation, then there are ways that you can do to get through it alive while still being supportive and caring. ADD in teenagers can be greatly aided by systems and structures of support set up from earlier years. If however, you were unable to put these in place before, then it is important that you do so now. These can include among other things, therapists, medication, diets, and time and effort on your part. Many of the conflicting problems need to be dealt with differently than the way you dealt with them in the past and this may require you to also change.

One of the first ways to improve on the situation is to open a line of communication. You need to openly discuss what it is that they are going through. If you have not had a good talk for a while, then they may not want to talk right away with you. Just give it time and share memorable experiences with them like going to a sports event together or shopping. You need to do this until you have rebuilt their trust.

Once you have a communication going then you will be able to implement other aids to help your child. Following these steps will ease the situation and prevent future blow ups. With enough love and support ADD in teenagers need not be a time of frustration for both you and your young adult.

About The Author

Rolf Joss is an Author on both Attention Deficit Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. As an Author on these subjects, he is at the forefront to provide solutions to those with ADD and ADHD.

For more articles (or training) on ADD in teenagers or to get your FREE ADD/ADHD Mini Guide, go to http://www.whatisadd-adhd.com/.

Original article

Schizophrenia - Causes and Cure

Knowing Causes Can Help in Curing Schizophrenia

Factors responsible for Schizophrenia and steps to cure it

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder involving a distorted or abnormal perception of reality. These distortions could involve any of the five senses but are most often auditory hallucinations, paranoia, disorganized speech and thinking, or bizarre delusions. The disorder impairs cognition and in turn impacts emotional or behavioral problems. It can coincide with anxiety disorders and major depression.

Patients often have a difficulty telling inner speech from what is actually said to them, and have impaired reasoning about social situations.

At present, there is no clinical test for schizophrenia. Diagnoses are usually from reported experiences of the patient. However, increased dopamine activity in the brain is usually found. Imaging scans have also been able to find differences in the brains of schizophrenic people, which do not indicate the disease itself, but the memory and problem-solving issues associated with it.

Patients sometimes think they are being controlled, their thoughts are being transmitted to other people, or that thoughts are inserted or withdrawn from their minds. The delusions can be different from those described.

The causes of schizophrenia could be both genetic and environmental, but the specific combination of factors is not yet known.

1. Genetic factors would involve more than one type of gene working in tandem to cause the problem, but these same genes may develop bipolar disorder or another problem instead. Since known patients seem to have fewer children than average, it is not known how the condition could continue to exist if it has a strong genetic component.

2. The early development of the brain while in the womb is considered a possible factor. Prenatal exposure to infections can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.

3. Living in an urban setting is a risk factor, as is poverty, poor housing conditions, or migration due to racism or family dysfunction.

4. A childhood of trauma or abuse may be a factor, but parenting style is not the definite cause.

5. Drug abuse is not a proven cause, but may be related.

Currently, there is no existing cure for schizophrenia, but there are antipsychotic medications with varied effects. Some cases will resist more than one medication.

1. Typical antipsychotics can reduce psychosis and take 7 to 14 days to start working.
2. Atypical antipsychotics are now preferred for initial treatment but can induce weight gain.

Both types of medication are considered equally effective. The former type can, in rare cases, lead to potentially fatal neurological problems, and it is not yet known if the latter type does the same.

Two countries, the United States and Australia, are legally allowed to administer medications to uncooperative patients who are otherwise stable and living within the community.

Some patients may in the long term do better by not taking antipsychotics.

There are also therapies to alleviate symptoms which may have a greater appeal than medications and their side-effects.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, available since the mid 1990s, can increase self-esteem and insight. Brain scans have shown significant improvements in cognition when patients use this therapy.

2. Family therapy is used to help patients socialize better in the context of a family system. The burden on the family is recognized.

3. Creative therapies such as music therapy have some benefit.

4. The Soteria method is a community therapy that creates a stable, quiet space for people recovering from mental crises, with minimal medication. It is just as effective as full medication in some cases.

5. Electroconvulsive Therapy still exists for patients who do not respond to other treatments, but it is not generally recommended.

In addition to these methods, the Hearing Voices and Paranoia networks provide a self-help approach outside the mainstream medical model. As large support groups, they attempt to encourage responsibility and a positive self-image. Hospitals are increasingly working with these groups to help patients integrate back into society.

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Compulsive Lying and Counseling

Compulsive lying is a serious problem that can ruin a person's life and that can take many forms. If you are a compulsive liar then this can mean lying in all kinds of situations and about all kinds of things. You might for instance find yourself lying in small ways - for instance giving the wrong name when speaking to members of authority, or lying about where you've been to your friends and relatives and partners. Many people will make up facts about themselves in an attempt to impress, or will make up 'facts' and tell others again in a bid to demonstrate knowledge and to win friends. In more serious situations compulsive lying can be more destructive and it can mean lying about your profession, lying to doctors, or lying to those closest to you about things that really matter. At this point it is possible to put your careers and your relationships in jeopardy and you can even find yourself in legal trouble - this is where it becomes necessary to seek help and to overcome your problems so that you can function without lying as a part of your life.

Lying to a degree is normal and we all do it. For instance there are the very harmless and in fact positive lies that we make in order to protect the feelings of others. The old favorite is when a wife or girlfriend asks 'does my bum look big in this?' and we all know that the answer here is 'no' regardless of the reality. Likewise we might lie a little for personal gain, and to an extent this is normal and healthy. We might make up an excuse not to go out, or we might bend the truth on our CV in order to get a job interview. Any of this is normal, and nothing to be too alarmed about.

However as this grows further - as we start lying to impress or to 'cheat' the system things start to get out of hand. Many people who lie in order to impress others for instance would be alarmed to learn that for the most part their efforts are futile and wasted - more often or not such lies are transparent and actually the end up making us look foolish and embarrassing ourselves rather than helping us to impress in the way we want to. Further if we lie to cheat then it's only so long until we get caught.

There are many reasons people lie. One might be that they are almost 'addicted' to the thrill of lying and seeing if they can get away with it. Just as some people steel for the 'challenge' and other people might sky dive. Another is that the person feels inadequate and feels that the 'truth' will be disappointing to most audiences. In other cases lying can simply become a habit and a person can talk themselves into doing it.

Counseling can help a person to recognize the problem and to get it back under control, by raising their self-esteem and teaching tricks and cognitive restructuring to help them address situations in a more positive manner.

I have recently experienced the damage that can be done by compulsive lying. My cousin was crazy with the things she came up with. In the end her parents took her to see this counselling Melbourne service.

Original article

Brain Vitamins! Best Vitamins for Brain Health and Function

Brain vitamins are more important than you think. Most of us are aware that vitamins and nutrients are important for our bodies, but when is the last time you considered what vitamins your brain needs to function at its highest level possible? Many vitamins have a proven effect on brain function, and neglecting to address this issue may limit our brain's potential, and even increase our risk of cognitive decline as we age.

There are many vitamins for overall brain health, but we are going to look at some of the most powerful vitamins today.

Antioxidants are a great place to start our journey. Antioxidants help our bodies (and brains) by protecting our cells from damage caused by free radicals that build up as we age. Our brains are over 50% fat tissue, which makes our brain even more prone to damage from free radicals than the rest of our bodies. Consuming high amounts of antioxidants can help slow the oxidation process down and reduce our risk for negative mental side effects associated with aging.

Two of the best antioxidant brain vitamins are Vitamin E and Vitamin C. A study from the University of Copenhagen found a link to Vitamin C and the development of spatial memory in Guinea Pigs (chosen because they rely on outside sources of Vitamin C and can't make it in their own bodies- just like humans). Without enough Vitamin C, their memory skills were lacking. So not only is Vitamin C a powerful antioxidant, it also has other proven effects on the brain.

Now that you're probably convinced, let's look at some foods that contain high amounts of these vitamins:

Vitamin C can be found in many fruits and vegetables. Some of the largest quantities of Vitamin C can be found in Oranges, Strawberries, Hot Chili Peppers, Yellow and Red Bell peppers, and dark leafy greens like Kale.

Vitamin E can be obtained from a wide variety of foods, including various nuts and seeds, as well as vegetable oils, spinach, and broccoli.

That covers antioxidants, which are a great place to start when it comes to vitamins for brain health. But we have one more powerful vitamin that should not be left off the list- Folic Acid. Also known as Folate and vitamin B9, Folic Acid has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke, memory loss, and other cognitive decline as we age, as reported by CNN in 2002.

You might be thinking "I'm too young to start worrying about memory loss, this doesn't effect me." Did you know that we actually start losing some memory capabilities in our mid 20's? Memory loss doesn't just effect seniors, and it's never too soon to start preventing the loss of mental capabilities.

Folic acid can be found in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, and whole grains. It also can be found in fortified foods such as bread, pasta, and white rice.

Those are the "big 3" brain vitamins. If you only took 3 vitamins for brain health, Vitamin C, E, and B9 are a great place to start.

Biron is a writer interested and passionate about the newly developing field of brain vitamins. More exciting research is coming out each year, and Biron's articles, as well as personal website, are a way for people to track updates and recent scientific findings in this rapidly changing area. I want to spread the word to friends, colleagues, and strangers because I am passionate about this subject and think it is something that many people will find interesting! Enjoy.

http://www.mybrainvitamins.com/
http://www.mybrainvitamins.com/vitamins-for-brain-health/

Original article

ADHD Test: Should Your Child Get Tested?

Your forgetful child never seems to follow directions or listen. He's always bouncing all over the place, or her head is perpetually in the clothes. You're hoping against hope that it's just a phase that your child will eventually outgrow, but you also have a nagging suspicion that ADHD or attention deficit hyperactive disorder might be the culprit. Should your child get an ADHD test? Before seeing a doctor, take time to consider these questions first.

How many ADHD symptoms do you see?

Hyperactivity is the most common symptom of ADHD, although many children with the disorder can be very calm and orderly. Other symptoms include difficulty completing tasks, paying attention, sitting still, and remembering things. However, it's important to remember that these are typical childhood behaviors, and that the context of these "symptoms" must be taken into account.

How severe are the symptoms?

It's not enough to count the symptoms. The most important consideration is, are these problems interfering with your child's ability to function? Are teachers complaining about your child's behavior at school? Do these behaviors disrupt family life and affect relationships? Is your child having difficulty making or keeping friends because of this behavior? Is your child academically behind? If the answer is yes to all of these questions, you might want to seek the help of a specialist.

Are there other developmental issues?

If the answer is no, chances are your child will calm down and grow out of the "symptoms" with time. But if your child is still struggling with language, reading, and motor skills, you might want to see a specialist right away. It's not uncommon for kids with ADHD to experience o-morbid learning disabilities. The earlier these get detected, the easier it is to treat them.

How is your child's school situation?

Many parents learn about ADHD because of teacher complaints or recommendations that your child get tested. But before taking their advice, consider your child's school environment first. Simple changes, such as having your child sit near the front, can eliminate distractions and help your child focus better. There is also the possibility that your child might find the curriculum or the method of teaching boring and uninteresting; sometimes, switching to a more engaging school is enough to bring back the enthusiastic learner in your child. In other words, try out simple classroom solutions first before getting your child tested for ADHD.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.

Original article

How Accurate Is An Adult Attention Deficit Test?

In this fast-paced world we live in, we often look for the quickest answer to our problems and so many turn to the internet for an adult attention deficit test for a diagnosis. Just be careful of your facts because when it comes to any medical self-diagnosis it is very difficult for someone to set up an accurate test that will check for all the relevant information.

An adult attention deficit test is no different and many tests available online only look to see if the person has the symptoms of ADD. These tests normally don't look at all the other conditions to make a complete analysis. Looking only at the symptoms of ADD will give a biased result as almost everyone will have experienced some of the symptoms at some point in their life.

Another mistake that many make is that they look at their current symptoms without considering that they could have been caused by other conditions or factors. As a result they may miss or over analyze the signs, leading to a misdiagnosis. You may, for example, feel as though you are unable to concentrate at work and think that you have ADD. However, the real reason for your poor concentration could be that you are just tired because of the extra hours you had to put in to meet a deadline. To avoid making a misdiagnosis such as in this example, the symptoms have to be present for at least six months and they need to be causing a hindrance in your life.

For a more accurate diagnosis a medical practitioner will look at other factors such as personal history, family history, the effects of the condition on the person's life, and other outside conditions that could influence the results of the test.

Only once all these details are taken into account will they be able to give a diagnosis and suggest treatments. An online adult attention deficit test can be seen like an outline of a puzzle, where some of the pieces have come together, but in order to see the complete picture you have to build up the information on the inside.

Taking an adult attention deficit test may be a first step in the right direction, but it should not be seen as the only or last step. Follow it up with a professional diagnosis and then put systems in place to help you move on with your life, not allowing your ADD to have a negative effect.

About The Author

Rolf Joss is an Author on both Attention Deficit Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. As an Author on these subjects, he is at the forefront to provide solutions to those with ADD and ADHD.

For more articles on adult Attention Deficit tests or to get your FREE ADD/ADHD Mini Guide, go to http://www.whatisadd-adhd.com/.

Original article

A Social Skills Checklist for Attention Deficiency Disorder In Adults

Attention Deficiency Disorder in adults is often referred to as adult ADD. If you have this condition, it may be causing disruptions in many areas of your life. Friendships and social interaction is very often one of these areas that those with ADD have challenges with. This is because of skills that should have been picked up when they were children, were missed.

ADD Adults need to relearn these skills and a few other techniques to rectify problems that they weren't previously equipped to handle. A little effort and focus in this area will result in less confrontational episodes and longer lasting friendships.

Follow this checklist to see if your Attention Deficiency Disorder (in adults) is making it easier for you to make and keep friends and social acquaintances or holding you back.

The conversational cues to look out for and avoid doing

Discuss topics that only you enjoy. The other person will quickly become bored and lose interest in the conversation if you continue to do this.Interrupt someone else in the middle of what they are saying. This is often seen as rude and will cause your friends to avoid talking to you.Zone out and not really pay attention to what others say. If this happens too often you may miss out on important information which will hurt you later on.Forget details that were given like names, dates, etc. If you keep forgetting a person's name they may feel as if they are unimportant to you.

What body language cues to look out for and avoid

You don't make eye-contact. By making eye contact, your friend knows that you are paying attention to what they are saying.Serious or unsmiling facial expressions. Serious facial expressions can lead the other person to believe that they may have said something wrong or you don't enjoy their company.Inappropriate behavior for the situation. It is important to have fun but there are times where the appropriate behavior is important such as in a meeting.

Depending on the friends you make and your current abilities, some of the points on this list will be more important than others. The trick for those with Attention Deficiency Disorder in adults is to develop your skills to improve on as many areas as you can to form rounded easy to get along with mannerisms. Some can be mastered within an hour and others may take a few days a week to perfect. All of them can be learned by anyone willing to put in the effort required.

About The Author

Rolf Joss is an Author on both Attention Deficit Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. As an Author on these subjects, he is at the forefront to provide solutions to those with ADD and ADHD.

For more articles (or training) on Attention Deficiency Disorder in adults or to get your FREE ADD/ADHD Mini Guide, go to http://www.whatisadd-adhd.com/.

Original article

Asperger's Syndrome or ADHD: What's the Difference?

Arriving at the right ADHD diagnosis can be tricky because there are a number of conditions that share the same symptoms. Take for Asperger's syndrome, for instance. Asperger's syndrome is part of the autistic spectrum disorders and is often one of the milder versions of autism. Like ADHD, Asperger's syndrome occurs four more times in boys than in girls. Children suffering from ADHD or Asperger's also experience academic difficulties, an inability to communicate with others, and behavioral problems.

How can you tell if a child has ADHD or Asperger's? First of all, it's important to note that ADHD is also a spectrum disorder. Even if children with ADHD are given the same diagnosis, each individual child experiences a unique constellation of symptoms, problems, strengths, and weaknesses. The same goes for children with Asperger's syndrome. This disorder is typically characterized by socially inappropriate behavior and developmental delays, but not all children experience the same problems.

Secondly, ADHD and Asperger's share many symptoms. Around 60-70% of children with Asperger's have symptoms that match the DSM-IV's diagnostic criteria for ADHD. In fact, ADHD diagnoses are so common that the DSM-IV requires ADHD to be a separate disorder from autism.

A third similarity between the two disorders is that children with ADHD have similar executive functioning skills as those with Asperger's. For instance, children with ADHD were found to have a better verbal IQ than a performance IQ, just like children with Asperger's. Performance tests are important in understanding a child's learning style, which is essential in differentiating the two disorders.

One striking difference between the two disorders is that children who have ADHD have better academic performance and social skills than children with Asperger's. That is not to say that children with ADHD don't suffer from developmental delays. Some children do, but these developmental problems are not as severe as children with Asperger's. The latter consistently has problems understanding visual cues, recognizing faces, misinterpreting social context, etc.

Another difference is that both children with ADHD and Asperger's want to make friends, but they constantly experience social failures. However, there are differences for these difficulties. Children with ADHD break rules they understand but dislike or defy. Children with Asperger's like rules but break those that they do not understand. Additionally, children with ADHD have poor organizational skills and have difficulty prioritizing tasks. Children with Asperger's, on the other hand, like order and withdraw when they encounter discrepancies.

These descriptions are all just generalizations, and there's always a child who is an exception to the rule. But whatever the diagnosis is, both the ADHD child and the Asperger's child require a unique intervention that will address the individual problems they experience.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.

Original article