Boost Your Brain Power Today

Everyone wants to boost their brain power but the simple truth is very few people do. The sad fact is that it is very simple to boost your brain power. It only takes a few minutes a day and you probably use some of the techniques already but you don't expand upon them enough to make a great deal of difference.

There are hundreds of books and articles on how to increase your brain power out there. The great thing is you don't have to spend a lot of money in order to boost you thinking capacity. Simple steps like these, done every day, will increase neural receptors in your brain which grow and actually increase your thinking ability and if exercised continually will be around for a long time. It is very similar to building muscle. If you want stronger muscles you have to exercise them. So to, if you want a stronger brain you have to exercise it.

START EXERCISING YOUR BRAIN TODAY

Learn something new - It is that simple. There has to be something that you have always wanted to do but never made time for. Take the time now and begin researching it and work it into your daily life. Learn that musical instrument you have always wanted to play. Learn how to draw. Learn how to repair that light switch that you keep walking by because you don't think you have the skill to find out why it doesn't work.

Just the process of sitting down and researching how to do a new skill will exercise your brain and builds it up. When you begin to practice the talent, the brain will work very hard to turn that newly researched skill into actual application and build up even more. The great thing is you do not have to become a virtuoso in the new skill. The desired goal is to just exercise the brain so that it expands and becomes stronger. If you do become an expert in your new found skill create another stream of income!

Concentrate on looking at things in a new way - This can be more challenging than it sounds. We get very set in our ways as we get older, including how we see things, and perceive our surroundings. It becomes our mental comfort zone. Just like any comfort zone, if you want to grow, you must get out of that zone.

For instance a chair is for sitting in right? What else could you use it for? Sit in your chair and write down 25 new uses for it. If that was easy write 25 more. Now, what time is it? What else can you use your watch for? Did you know your analog watch is also a compass? Find out how a watch is used as a compass and never get lost again while boosting your brain power?

John Burge is a writer who specializes in increasing brain power. You can check out his latest website at Boost Your Brain Power, where he provides mind powering techniques including How to Increase Mind Power and Power Up Your Brain Today.

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