5 Tips to Contain Your Road Rage

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Road rage is one of the most dangerous habits that a driver can develop. Even seen on an occasional basis, road rage has the tendency to lead to accidents and deaths. On just the minor level of road rage, you would do well to consider the following tips to contain it from occurring.

     1.  Give Yourself Time

Feeling rushed can have quite the effect on your driving and mood.  Plan ahead for trips as well as your daily commute. Even if you are a little short on time, work on removing this dangerous stressor. After all, making up a few minutes isn’t worth the risk.

     2.  Consider Risk/Reward

We all know the risks of road rage, and the damage that can ensue.  While that should be enough, what about the rewards? Safe drivers have auto insurance discounts, which can reward you for your safe driving. Don’t make it a question of life and death with road rage and unsafe driving habits – allow this to enhance your budget.

     3.  Tend to Your Mood

Getting enough sleep will surely help your mood, right? Would nice, relaxing music help as well? From your physical to emotional well-being, you can have control over this variable in the pursuit of safe driving habits. Take advantage of things that will improve your mood, and relieve yourself of outside problems that can undermine what is much more important – safety.

     4.  We’re All Human

You may have just been cut off, tailgated, or something else. Don’t overreact and make the situation worse. Take the high road – no pun intended – and end the possible downward spiral. Set a good example for those that may be in the car with you (children), and realize that it’s not worth it.

     5.  Eliminate Distractions

Stress is unavoidable. You might be able to handle situations with some of the aforementioned tips, and others that could be added. However, loud music and other distractions could complicate matters, adding pressure and stress to the moment. Mute the music, turn off the cell phone, and you might just find that it is easier to contain.
Search for ways that work for you in regards to road rage. With awareness and effort, you can contain road rage before it becomes dangerous. Stressful situations on the road are certainly not avoidable at all times; like driving conditions, you must practice safe habits. By taking control of these variables, you will be able to ensure the safety of all and keep your driving record clean.
Filed Under: Mental Health Guidance

Time To End A Family History of Alcoholism

July 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Do you find yourself struggling with addictions like nicotine or alcohol? Is it because this is the behavior other family members, such as parents of siblings, do for recreation and you feel like that’s just the way it is? Do you want this same lifestyle for you children? Ultimately, our children learn from us parents. If they see parents using drugs and alcohol to cope with the stress life sends your way, you may find the kids end up with the same habits you have as adults.

The power to end a family history of alcoholism really is in your hands. If you drink on the evenings and weekends, you may not think you have a problem. True, you are not in as bad shape as the person who shows up to work drunk or misses days of work because he can’t make it in for any variety of reasons related to alcohol. There are now a couple of pharmaceuticals that need a doctor prescription, but are also very successful at ending alcoholism.

These drugs work to block the receptors in the brain that give you that rewarding effect of alcohol. Instead, you will have no wish to feel the effects of alcohol and you will get only the downside of drinking without any upside. If you are an alcoholic, you may experience withdrawal symptoms even if using a regulated pharmaceutical to end the addiction. Withdrawal symptoms are generally things like insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness during the night. Ultimately, the symptoms are short-lived. Don’t let the temporary effects of withdrawal end your cost to break alcoholism from your family tree.

 

Filed Under: Addiction, Mental Health Guidance Tagged With: , ,

Go Natural to Help Your Body Come Off Drugs

July 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Alcohol and other drugs can result in addictions that are difficult to stop. No one intends to get addicted when they begin to experiment with drug use. Once drugs start playing a role in your mental health and daily functions, then it’s time to examine different treatments. The first and most difficult challenge is to conquer the mental hurdles that prevent a person from gettng the help she needs.

Making a personal commitment to not use drugs and alcohol is the most important step. No amount of counseling can help someone if they will look to find drugs at the first opportunity. Once a drug addict admits the problem and commits to not using, they can begin a detox system. Detoxing from drugs is a natural process but can have some side effects for a regular drug user. The best thing a recovering addict can do is take it one day at a time. You can’t undo years of drug abuse in a week and with each passing day, the recovery becomes easier.

The next step is to get circulation going in your body again. Drugs and alcohol slow your circulatory system and make it difficult for blood to transfer through your body. There are circulating stimulating herbs that contain natural elements like ginger and cayenne. These natural spices and herbs are essential to restore blood and nutrient flow through you system.

It’s also important to begin a liver detox. Alcohol and other drugs pollute your liver and it’s important to cleanse the organ of pollutants. Coptis, for example, is a terrific cleansing herb that can help to restore liver functionality.

Filed Under: Addiction, Mental Health Guidance Tagged With: , ,

Children and Mental Health

June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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It may seem that children of today have more mental health and stress related issues than those of the past. It can be because in changing times, more stress is placed upon children to excel in school, become popular, excel in sports or simply be the best. This is not necessarily the fault of any one person; it is simply because as a society grows and changes, people are expected to change as well.

Now there are some children that simply have mental health issues that do not stem from outside sources. However, some children may have anxiety issues, OCD, and other disorders that do stem from their environment along with a combination of their own mental capacity.

The good news is that there is help for these children. With technological advances in pharmaceuticals and therapy, often the child can simply take a medication or express their feelings to someone else in order for them to thrive in the world. While medication isn’t a cure-all for a child and while some may not even consider this kind of help valid, there are alternatives that don’t use medication as a component for mental healthcare. You, as a parent has to decide what is best for your child after consulting with family, your doctor and even your child if you feel that they are old enough to understand. It’s a decision not made lightly but no matter what you decide, know that there is help for your child if they are experiencing any feelings that are not the norm.

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Stress Really Can Kill

June 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Many of us have heard the phrase that stress can kill but according to recent studies, this is actually more fact than fiction. After testing civil servants in a 12 year study, it was found that those with higher stress levels had a 68% more chance of getting conditions that can potentially be fatal such as heart disease. This is due in part to the stress hormone called cortisol. This hormone gives a burst of energy to the body similar and related to the fight or flight theory.

Another issue with those under stress is their habits that can be potentially harmful. Those under stress tend to take part in more harmful activities such as overeating, smoking, drinking and eating unhealthy foods such as fast food and snack foods. Combined with the stress hormone, these activities can put a double whammy on your heart and affect the rest of your body’s functions to the point of becoming ill or even having a heart attack or stroke.

If you feel that you are under a life threatening stress level it can help just to take some time to yourself and focus on doing what makes you happy. Sure, you may have to still get the work done but try to balance out the rest of your time with activities that are good for you or stress free. If you feel that your stress is out of control it can be a good idea to see your physician or even a therapist to get some ideas on how to slow down the killing effects of stress.

Filed Under: Mental Health Guidance Tagged With: , ,

Best Mental Illness Blogs

May 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Sometimes you just want some quick help, some helpful and lifechanging information. Maybe you want to connect with a fellow traveler, or get some new ideas on how to better improve your life—despite your mental illness.

Blogs are a great source of help for those who need a friend or a shoulder to cry on. Some blogs are written by doctors, others by patients—folks like you just trying to get through the day. Learn what they both do by perusing these great psychiatry related blogs.

“Sandy’s Blog” takes you on a journey from her personal struggle with anxiety and depression to what she is doing about it as now.  Learn about “Therapy and Meds,” “Coping,” and a host of other issues relating to mental illness.

Adrian, a registered clinical psychologist, talks about various mental health issues on his blog, “Improve Mental Health.” Get the grit on depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep disorders; even headaches. Free e-books are provided on this terrific site.

The “Mental Health Blog” gives members an opportunity to share their story. Learn what others are doing, and share what you’ve been learning about your own mental illness. Currently, almost 40 bloggers are a part of Mental Health Blog and the site is looking for more sharing.

Your mental illness; you may think of it as your ball and chain but it doesn’t have to be. You’re not alone. Help is out there online. Puruse the blogs here, and then travel your own journey–you may just find a new friend.

 

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After the Move—Finding the Best Mental Health Clinic in your City

May 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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You want the best for your child, but it isn’t always easy or convenient to travel to the hospital for the emergencies you face. Besides, clinics usually have longer hours, and the waiting time at a hospital is often twice as long and doubly expensive. You also like the fact that when a doctor’s office is closed, a clinic is available to help.

How do you choose a mental health clinic that’s right for you when you’ve just moved to a new city?

  • Talk to your new neighbors. Find out where the best clinics are. Your new neighbor might not have an issue with mental health himself, but he may know of someone who does and refer you to them.
  • Check with your insurance company. Make sure the clinic accepts your plan.
  • Take a tour of various clinics you are interested in. Make a surprise visit. Ask questions.
  • Start early. Find a clinic before you need it. There’s nothing worse than having to fumble in the phone directory at the last minute for a place you “hope” will be able to help you.
  • Check your mail box; often, clinics will send discounts to new neighbors to get their business.
  • Try an online directory. Google “mental health clinics” and your “city” and do some research about the clinics in your area.

Know that finding the best clinic for your child’s needs soon after you arrive in your new home will take the stress off your mind later. Follow the above tips to ensure the best possible clinic for you and your child.

 

 

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Living with an Autistic Child

April 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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It can be very challenging for the parents of children with learning disabilities to lead a normal life. Having a person with disabilities in the family can place a lot of emotional, mental as well as physical stress on other members of the family. Especially if the disability is something severe like autism. Providing round the clock care for the autistic child is a requirement that asks for a lot of sacrifices on the part of the parents. However, it is important that parents learn how to cope with their child’s disability if they want to give the child a good shot at leading a normal life.

In order to overcome the psychological stress associated with caring for an autistic child, it is important to understand the condition first. To begin with, parents always need to keep in mind that their child doesn’t have complete control over his or her behavior. Autistic children can get very aggressive around strangers. They can also be very stubborn when it comes to doing tasks that they are not comfortable with. They tend to react to certain triggers like particular sounds or being touched and can become very difficult to control. It is important that parents of an autistic child deal with their child’s learning disability with a great deal of patience.

An autistic child needs to trust the people around him or her and this trust needs to be built over time. Most of the time, they are naturally comfortable around their parents but usually are closer to one of the parents. The other partner needs to work hard to build the child’s trust.

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Some of the Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Some of the Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks

Panic attacks and anxiety attacks are two names for the same thing. These are essentially just episodes of intense fear and intense panic. Anxiety attacks, when they do occur, tend to do so suddenly and with very little warning if any at all. For many people there is some kind of an obvious trigger, and yet for other people they simply launch into the panic attack without actually understanding why. Most anxiety attacks are going to peak within ten minutes or less.

Most anxiety attacks do not actually last longer than thirty minutes, but for some people they can last significantly longer or be significantly more intense. Even when the period of time of the anxiety attack is short, the level of fear and terror that exists can be so ridiculously high and severe that the sufferer may actually feel as if they are going to die or simply lose complete control over themselves until the panic attack manages to subside.

Panic attacks can be so severe for people that many people stop leaving the house. They are afraid that they will go into a panic attack in a public place and they will become trapped or otherwise unable to get out. This fear can be so intense that many people become agoraphobic where they prefer to stay only in places where they feel safe like their own home, where they are familiar with all of the exists and always feel like there is a way out. Agoraphobia and anxiety often go hand in hand for this very reason. When anxiety disorders turn into agoraphobia, the situation only really becomes worse because the agoraphobia triggers more anxiety attacks, which worsens the agoraphobia, and on and on.

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The Signs and the Symptoms of Depression

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Signs and the Symptoms of Depression

From one person to another, the signs and the symptoms that are associated with depression can really vary quite significantly. There are some symptoms that are more common than others when it comes to this particular mental illness however. It is essential that you consider the fact that these symptoms can come and go normally as part of life. If these symptoms begin to hang around for longer periods of time, or they begin to come on more seriously than before, then it might be time for you to talk to a physician  about what you are experiencing. If you are dealing with clinical depression, your physician will be able to help you find the most appropriate treatment options.

- Are you experiencing feelings of helplessness or hopelessness? You may be experiencing a bleak outlook regarding your life, or you may feel as if nothing will ever change or improve.

- Have you experienced a sudden loss of interest in activities and things that you were previously interested in? Are hobbies suddenly no longer interesting to you? Are you having trouble deriving fulfillment from things that were once your favorites?

- Have you experienced any changes in your weight or in your appetite?

- Have you experienced any changes in your sleep such as suddenly oversleeping, as in hypersomnia, or suddenly having great difficulty sleeping?

- Are you feeling irritable or restless? Do you feel agitated, on edge or restless? Are you having difficulty coping with everyday life?

These are just some of the symptoms that are associated with having clinical depression, and there are numerous others that you are going to want to consider as well. If you think that you might be depressed then you are going to need to ask for help sooner rather than later in order to get some assistance.

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