" ALCOHOLISM "

"ALCOHOL ABUSE IS A PUN."

It dulls the brain and effects your judgement and coordination.

" It is said that this man (alcohol) swallows the enemy to steal the brain. "

Uncontrolled (or) more than two times per week (or) more than two units per day, can produce alcohol dependency syndrome.

ALCOHOL ABUSE DAMAGES YOU:

Alcohol abuse can effect you SOCIALLY, MENTALLY and PHYSICALLY.

SOCIALLY :

Alcohol abuse is often related to family quarrels, and it could ruin your marriage life, family life, friends and job.

MENTALLY :

Alcohol abuse may cause many mental problems like...

Seeing and hearing voices with out seeing people.
Seizure (fits).
Morbid jealousy of one's spouse and physical violence.
Acute psychosis and excitement.

PHYSICALLY :
Alcohol abuse damages your body. It can cause the following problems..

Permanent scaring of the liver ( CIRRHOSIS ).
Liver Cancer.
ULCER in the stomach and intenstive.
High blood pressure and weakness of the heart.
Sexual importance and shrinking testis.
Damage to the pregnant woman's unborn child causing mental retardation and behavioral problems.

WATCH OUT FOR THESE DANGER SIGNS :
Watch out for these signs in yourself or in your friends and beloved ones.

Drinking alcohol to cope with problems at work and home.
Not remembering events that occurs while consuming alcohol.
Starting to drink alcohol before attending social events, where drinks will be served.
Hides his liquor and drinks when he thinks no one is looking.

DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE :
Your reaction time is slower in an emergency.
You may become involved in, or cause of an accident.
Many tragic events happen in life because of drinking and driving.

" INSOMNIA "

We all have sleeping difficulties from time to time, it is usually temporary. Insomnia can be a problem when it occurs every night and effects our health.

Types of Insomnia :
Difficulty in falling asleep.
Waking up several times during the night.
Early morning waking.
Dont't takeSLEEPING PILLS with out your doctor's advice

Insomnia can be treated :
See your doctor if the Insomnia affects your daily life.

Causes of Insomnia :

Insomania can be caused by :

Stress at home or at work.
Moving to new places.
A noisy and uncomfortable sleeping environment.
Illness that causes pain, breathlessness or frequent urination.
Ageing.
Anxiety and depression.
Having acute psychosis.

"Sleep restores the normal balance of BRAIN "s

HOW TO PROMOTE SLEEP :

Keep regular hours. Try to go to bed at the same time every night.
Stop thinking about the problems and responsibilities. ( while going to bed )
Regular light exercise in the evening may help you.
Make sure your bed is comfortable and your room temperature is suitable for you.

IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP :

Don't worry about it...

Listen to some soothing music and recite some meditation prayers you know.
Sleep usually comes in the relaxed state of mind.
Avoid taking COFFEE, TEA, CIGARETTES or ALCOHOL at the bed time.
Avoid talking nap's during the day time.

" DEPRESSION "

Feeling sad and miserable all the time, either precipitated by stress or without stress.
Difficulty in concentration and making decision.
Feels anxious an irritable.
No more enjoyment and loses interest in usual activity.
Some times emotionally numb.
Time drag's for each people.
Lack of energy and loss of drive.
Feeling worthless and hopeless.
When depressed morning is worse.
Thinks about death and suicide.

Depression is common both in developing and non developing world.

"Health workers can move depressed poeple back into light "

It can be cured complete without residual symptoms :

Counseling allows depressed person to talk about their problems and find out some solution.
Meditation also helps them.
Chornically ill patients are depressed too, so also are alcoholics and drugs dependant people.
People with severe depression can also be treated.

"Manic or Hypomania are one of the MOOD DISORDERS."
As he is high and has expansive mood, he is :

Talking and easily distractible.
Disinhibited.
Having Insomania with out apparent cause, over active, hyperactive.
Over active or Hyper active.
Lacking in control of social norms accustomed to an individual.
Having increased Sexuality.
Irritable when his actions are inhibited.
Over-generous and spends a lot of money.
Maniac episode is usually accompanied by one or more depressive episodes.

He is in the top of the world yet :
Family members and works mates are suffering.
He does not think that he has a problem.
Miscalculation and high ambition during that period produce disasters in life.

" Manic episode of a mood disorder could be helped by professionals. "

Listening to his lengthy, elaborated, arrogant conversation is one of the methods of calming him down.
Next method is Pharmacological intervention.
Because of their high sense of well being their complaines to treatment is poor.
Mood disorder recovers completely with treatment, many have remission and relapses.

" Behavioral Problems in Young Children"

Temper Tantrums :
It usually occurs when the child is frustrated by excessive demands and restrictions by the parents. They usually :

Cry.
Scream and Shout.
Kicks or Beats others around them.

When dealing with tantrums, first make sure that the child is not tired, hungry or in any other pain. Them take him to a quite room and find out what is upsetting him. If he is likely to hurt himself or others, then hold him tight until he calms down.

Hyper Activity :
These children's have a short attention span, are over active and very restless. They are often unattentive and destructive in class and may be reckless.
When associated with disobedience, defiant behavior or hyperactive may conduct disorder.

Hyperactivity in young children usually subside.
More severe cause may be due to an abnormality in the brain and persist as a child grow up.
Children with mental retardation, learning disorder, emotions problems may show hyperactivity and restlessness.

In Managing Hyperactive Child at Home :

Be firm and consistent in all rules and discipline.
Reduce distraction around his surrounding.
Soft toys should be chosen which cannot be easily broken.
Use clock to time his attention span and reward him with in a second each time he is able to concentrate for a longer period.
Set out a feasible clear daily routine.
Provide time for playing and outdoor activities so that he has an outlet for his energy.

" Worry and Anxiety is the international symptom."
It becomes abnormal when :

You worry about things that are not serious.
it persists for long time after the problem has gone.
it effects your daily routine.

people with Anxiety usually complains of :

Some thing unpleasant is going to happen to them with out facts.
Gets irritated easily and can't concentrate.
Becomes depressed and have difficulty in falling asleep.
Fast heart-beats, stomach ache and diarrhea.
Cold extremities and tremble a lot.
Frequent urge to pass urine.
Tingling sensations in their hands and feet's.
Very quick breathing or air hunger.
Bad head aches, feels dizzy or faint.

Methods to relax from Anxiety :
These includes :

Meditation ( Mental relaxation )
Progressive muscle relaxation ( Physical relaxation )

" By putting your body at ease, the mind also becomes calm ( VISE-VERSA )"

When one starts working you, substitute with some positive, mental or physical activity.
Don't drink alcohol because of your worries, you may get addicted, as it relieves your anxiety for a while only.
Help the anxious people find feasible ways to face their life problems.
Meditation is needed only in crisis.

When anxiety is very severe, you may develop what we call is PANIC ATTACK. Which means extreme anxiety with chaotic motor and mental disturbance.
You feel very breathless, your heart is pounding, you think you are going to die just now, you are very restless. These are because of the chemical releases from the from nerve ending. Don't worry it will subside.
Worrying itself can make you feel sick as well as worsen and illness you might already have, either way. It will add to your problem.

ANXIETY CAN BE TREATED. SEE YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE ANYTHING GOES WRONG.

Behavioral and emotional problems that are common in school going children includes :

Socialization Problems.
Separation Difficulties.
School Phobia.

SOCIALIZATION PROBLEMS :

These children have lack of confidence and are usually shy and insecure.
A child whose parents are warm and accepting usually feels scared to develop interpersonal relationship as he grows older.
Do not criticize him about his shyness in front of their friends.
Encourage him to be independent.
Teach your child verbal and social skills, such as what to say and do when meeting new friends.

SEPARATION DIFFICULTIES :

This usually occur during the first time the child has to go to school.
It is helpful to prepare the child by talking to him about these changes in life.
Expresses your confidence to the child.
Reassure the child that you will return and fetch him after the school.

SCHOOL PHOBIA :
This usually occurs when the child starts primary school, particularly when the child is anxious or over protected. School refusal in an older child however can be a sign of serious emotional disorder.
Be firm with all young school refuses and insist a returning them to school as soon as possible.

You may need the support of the school in order to reduce the fear of the child

Take out the fear from the child Separation from home and family Stressful events in family

" SCHIZOPHRENIA "

" Schizophrenia develops slowly over a period of time. while many a times it occurs, when a person is young or an adult. It can develop later in life as well."

How do we recognize people suffering from Schizophrenia ?

Some common symptoms :

Appearance:

Lack of personal hygiene, appearance may be unkept and untidy.

Behavior :
Stay in their own world, rarely, violent, muttering to himself or gestures to themselves, strange behavior.

Thinking :

Difficulty in in keeping their thoughts in proper state, jump from one topic to another, hearing voices, speaking to themselves, having peculiar ideas that seems strange or unrealistic.

Speech :

Difficult to understand, irrelevant talk, they may ask or say things which do not make sense.

Emotions :

They appear frightened or withdrawn showing unconcern about events around them. At times every sad or happy, inappropriate emotion to circumstances.

Suggestions for their family members :

Family members should be involved in the treatment and the rehabilitation of such cases. HELP COULD BE PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY Revise your expectation. Person's with Schizophrenia have an increased need for sleep, rest and limited activities. They can't be as active and involved as they were before. If they are doing well under sheltered environment, it is an encouragement.

Avoid Conflicts :

Avoid giving in or making special allowances. Avoid threat. Decide on what rules are fair. Try to keep the limits simple and few in number.
Keep communication clear and simple.
Be involved with medication and professional care.

" GRIEF is the reaction to loss of loved ones, including loss of reputation and material things.
Most of us experience it at some points in our lives "
Normal Grief :

Feeling numb and finding it difficult to carry ones daily activities.
Becomes occupied with memories of the deceased.
Searching behavior.
Extreme sadness.
Feel guilty and even accuses themselves of neglecting the deceased while he/she was alive.
Sleep disturbance.
After about (6) months, most people finally come to terms with their loss but grief may reoccur, especially at anniversaries.

Abnormal Grief :

OCCURS TO 15% OF THE PEOPLE The bereaved person doesn't accept the loss. Prolonged numbness and lack of emotions often engage themselves in work or other activities to distract themselves from the loss.
The symptoms of abnormal grief that prolong for more than (6) months and difficult to accept the loss are :

Having signs and symptoms of the deceased person.
Easily gets depressed and cry.
Having strong feeling of guilt and self blame.
Feels angry and cuts himself off from family and friends.
Frequent suicidal ideation's.

Helping the Bereaved :

Friends and relatives can help by providing support and understanding.
Abnormal grief may need professional's help.
They are likely to have difficulty in establishing relationship.
They could be helped by counseling.

" OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER "

"Abnormal thoughts and ideas which keeps on coming in person's mind, despite their resistance. They know that these thoughts are irrational and they can't help it."

For example :

They believe that their hands are contaminated with germs. Some become obsessed about making mistakes in their calculation, while others develop emotional fears about getting CANCER of SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD).

Obessions are the irrational ideas which keeps on coming ...

Compulsions are actions which the person repeatedly do to relieve the distress and anxiety in connection with their irrational ideas. these actions becomes a series of rituals which can disrupt their daily activities.

For example :

Some people keep washing their hands until the skin is raw and torn because they have the obsession that their hands are contaminated.

OCD can be treated :
Mild cases with series of ritual behavior will respond to counseling and encouragement. People with OCD should be sent by a doctor who will deiced on the best form of treatment.