Helping Your Child Cope With A Long-Term Illness
All children will likely have many different health problems during infancy and childhood: the flu, chicken pox, broken bones, stitches, ear infections, to name a few. For most children, these problems are mild ? they come and go without incident and with little disruption in a child's daily life or routine. A chronic long-term medical problem is different and often doesn't come alone, as children with serious medical illnesses are at risk of developing associated emotional problems. Learning to live with a chronic medical condition can be very challenging for a child, for parents, and for siblings and friends, and can lead to feelings of anger, fear and depression. The way children react to diagnosis with a chronic illness depends on several factors, including the child's personality, the specific illness, family emotional dynamic, and the child's age and emotional maturity.
A smaller child may react aggressively as they begin to cope with changes in schedule due to hospital visits and all the new found pampering, and special attention. In usual development, young children are beginning to assert their sense of independence. Dealing with their illness may challenge their developing self-image and cause the child to feel out of control of their world. They counter lack of control over their world by challenging limits set by parents. A young child can also sense the difference in the attention now being lavished on him / her.
This special attention may feel much different to the child and may cause them to react negatively in an attempt to stop the pampering. The adolescent, in the midst of healthy adolescent behavior, may react to a diagnosis much as they would any other factor which inhibits their control ? by challenging authority and rebelling against family and friends. It is common for a teenager to choose to discontinue all medical treatments and medications. It is important to help your teenager gain a sense of control of their disease management and respect their decisions, while guiding them to safer decisions.Let's take a look at Laura: Laura is 9 yrs old. She had always been an energetic child who had maintained a healthy weight since pre-school.
Over the past few months, Laura has lost weight, has become lethargic and frequently complained she was hungry and thirsty. Laura's doctor diagnosed her with insulin-dependent, or Type I, diabetes.Laura is frightened. Her only knowledge of this disease is watching grandpa give himself his insulin shot. She would often run from the room due to her fear of needles. Laura's initial treatments must be managed in a clinical environment until her glucose is better managed.
While in the hospital she refuses to eat and eventually refuses all visitors. The emotional stress that she experiences only adds to the inability to control her diabetes. Concerned that her emotional state is indicative of depression, Laura's medical team decides to have her evaluated by the mental health team. Laura cooperates for the visit and recommendations were provided to her doctor. Laura is asked to attend group sessions for children with diabetes and begins to see children in similar situations.
Through her sessions, she is encouraged to communicate her fears and concerns to her family, which are received openly and with love and support. While in the hospital, Laura's grandmother taught her to knit which had a tremendous impact upon her ability to move forward. Her knitting was a new found strength.Here are some ways to assist your child when faced with chronic illness:? Communicate: Children need age-appropriate honesty about their illness and treatment? Self-evaluate: Keep yourself in check; your child understands verbal and non-verbal messages regarding the illness? Support: Build upon your child's strengths. ? Consult: Rely upon your child's medical team for expertiseABOUT THE AUTHOR: serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California.
Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance., author of the "Keep ?Em Off My Couch" blog, provides real simple answers for solving life's biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental health of children. To contact Dr.
Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com..
Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the ?Keep ?Em Off My Couch? blog, provides real simple answers for solving life?s biggest problems. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com.South Florida Dems seek Post Election Selection therapy over Kerry loss or "Gloating Republicans Dance over the Flames of Lossing Party"
The unfortunate suicide of 25 year old Andrew Veal of Georga over Senator John Kerry's loss last week illustrates the degree some supporters might go.
What is being called "Post Election Selection Depression" is by no means relegated to just a few.
Many throughout this country have been traumatized by not just President Bush's narrow victory, but John Kerry's narrow loss. In an effort to minimize Post Election Selection Depression or PESD many feel, The American Health Association is offering free PESD support groups with licensed mental health clinicians through the end of the year,or until this divide between Republicans and Democrats subside.Post Election Selection Depression is like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder only short-term said Rob Gordon, the Boca Raton based Executive Director of the American Health Association, himself a registered mental health counselor intern.
"But PESD like any other mental health disorder essentially without treatment can...
Depression > South Florida Dems seek Post Election Selection therapy over Kerry loss or "Gloating Republicans Dance over the Flames of Lossing Party"
Average age of onset for POF (premature ovarian failure) is 27 years.
Menopause is the loss of ovarian activity that on the average occurs to women about age 51.
Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) is a loss of ovarian function in women under 40.
The average age of onset for POF is 27 years. It is estimated that 1% of women will have premature ovarian failure naturally, but it can also occur after chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and after reproductive surgeries such as hysterectomy and tubal ligation. Premature menopause, early menopause, and POF are synonymous but the end of menstrual cycles and permanent loss of ovarian activity signifies menopause and POF may not be permanent.
Some women with POF may intermittently produce estrogen and ovulate.
This is why the term POF is preferred to premature or early menopause.
Menopause means complete cessation of periods.
In some cases, POF may be reversible.The symptoms encountered by women with premature ovarian failure are the same experienced by women in menopause.
Depression > Average age of onset for
POF (premature ovarian failure) is 27 years.
Strictly Bizness with Host Tanya Reed Profiles John Crowley - This Week's Man On The Move
Las Vegas (ContentDesk) November 15, 2005 -- Xradio.biz an internet radio station launched a new business talk show called "Strictly Bizness" with Host Tanya Reed this past October.The show is geared towards business owners, professionals, innovative women, and people on the move.On Thursday, November 17, 2005 "Strictly Bizness" will be profiling John Crowley, man on the move for the week. John Crowley is a wellness expert that believes in ministering to the spirit, soul, and body. That a person should not only think healthy but they should speak healthy as well. He will be addressing topics of emotional wellness, such as depression, paranoia, and schizophrenic. He also will be sharing tips on some natural cures for high blood pressure, diabetes, and other diseases.
Listen in on Thursday, November 17th at 8:00 a.m. by logging on Xradio.biz/lasvegas. Click on to "Listen Live" or "Strictly Bizness with Host Tanya Reed..
Strictly Bizness with Host Tanya Reed Profiles John Crowley - This Week's Man On The Move
Depression > Strictly Bizness with Host Tanya Reed Profiles John Crowley - This Week's Man On The Move
I Love you, I Hate You But Don?t Go: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
It amazes me that 6-10 million Americans have been diagnosed with this isolating disorder. What's amazing about this is that not much is written about BPD much less talked about. Almost like there is a stigma attached to the very name. The name Borderline Personality Disorder originated in 1938 by Adolph Stern. He was describing a group of patients that didn't quite fit an existing diagnosis; patients that were classified as past the neurotic stage but not quite psychotic.
However these days this disorder is seen in a different way but the name BPD has stuck.BPD is relatively common, affecting 10-14% of the general population. Women commonly suffer from depression more often than men and the frequency of BPD in women is two to three times greater than men. Nearly 20% of psychiatric hospitalizations stem from BPD.While people that suffer with depression or bipolar disorder typically endure the same mood for several weeks at a time, a person with BPD can experience depression and...
I Love you, I Hate You But Don?t Go: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Depression > I Love you, I Hate You But Don?t Go: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Playing Tetris With Time
Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the resource box is included with a live link to my site. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. ***********************************************************Title: PLAYING TETRIS WITH TIME MANAGEMENTAuthor: Email: mailto:editor@overcoming-depression.comcopyright: by Dave Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSWWeb Address: http://www.Overcoming-Depression.comWord Count: 549Category: SuccessPLAYING TETRIS WITH TIME MANAGEMENTThere I was, running around trying to juggle umpteen items and doing only a fair job of it at best. There was my therapy business, and I have been putting big pieces into place to add coaching to my business along with having to prepare a presentation for an annual convention. Then there's family, kids' needs, marital needs...
You know what I mean.Suddenly I thought about my wife. I began to notice how smoothly she manages tasks in her...
Playing Tetris With Time
Depression > Playing Tetris With Time
Medication for Headaches
There are many over the counter drugs that can be used to cure the common headache and even reduce fever. In some cases of persistent or severe headaches you could go to your doctor to get a prescription for some other medication for your headaches. Often you will be prescribed the same over drugs you can find over the counter, but with a higher grade of pain reliever milligrams.
Whether the medication you take for your headache is over the counter or prescribed by your doctor you should always be concerned with what the major side effects are. Always be sure to only take medication that has been personally prescribed to you for your symptoms. Never take someone else's prescription drugs because they could be given to that person for symptoms that they failed to tell you about other than the one symptom you may have.
When taking over the counter medication, do not mix the medication with any other medication whether it is prescribed or over the counter unless...
Depression > Medication for Headaches
Depression
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