Finding Joy In Pain

There was a time when everything in life was going so well. Perhaps life was too good and complacency had set in. I may have let my guard down, not considering that bad thing's happen to good people...

My wife and I, after we discovered she was pregnant with our third child, decided to purchase a home. We found a beautiful four bedroom, three bath, two story home with a swimming pool. It could not be more perfect to raise a family. A room for every child and a garage for me in which I converted into a sports room with all the bells and whistles. I felt as though I achieved the American dream and for once in my life, I was content and happy. However, unbeknown to me, darkness loomed on the horizon that would steal my joy, shake my faith and perhaps my desire to live.

One evening my wife woke me up in the middle of the night complaining that she felt really sick and that she had a terrible pain in her right side. Being an addict, and having flashes of hypochondria, I was very familiar with the symptoms of appendicitis and rushed my wife to the emergency room. Shortly after our arrival they diagnosed her and prepped her for and emergency appendectomy. The surgery went without a hitch and they said that she would be released in a few days.
On the day of her discharge, the physician was doing my wife's exit exam, and came across a small lump on my wife's neck. He thought it best to have it looked at and reassured me that it was most likely nothing more than a swollen lymph node. Being an addict, lacking faith, and having flashes of doubt, I new better.

One week after all the test's on that tiny little lump, my wife had a follow up appointment and insisted that I go to work and that she would go to the appointment alone. When I got home from work, my wife was in the front yard watering the grass. She looked stunningly beautiful on that day. Her long brown hair neatly pinned up and her small beautiful frame covered in my Boston Celtic jersey, a piece of heaven, I'll leave it at that. As I pulled into the driveway I was so relieved to see the usual excitement and big beaming smile on her face as she greeted my arrival. Before she could get a word out I said, "well?" "What did they say?" She hugged me as I got out of my car and said," baby, it is cancer." Blood rushed to my head and knots tied in my stomach, the warmth of life was instantly filled with needles of ice surging through my veins... I thought I was going to pass out. I would love to tell you what my reply and reaction was, but the memory eludes me. But I do remember thinking in the days that followed, how can this be? What have I done God? I have always been a faithful husband in thought, word and deed. "Please!" I begged in tears, "don't take my baby from me."

During the time of her treatment, I literally became the walking dead. I stayed home from work, abused alcohol and pills again, and I couldn't be apart from her despite the financial obligations I had to keep a roof over my families head. We did the surgery and treatment and the Doctor said that he felt got it all and that the cancer should not return. Being an addict, lacking hope and having flashes of despair...I new better.

In short, the cancer came back and we underwent more surgery to remove some lymph nodes in which the cancer had spread. I continued to stay at home falling far behind on my mortgage, drinking and abusing pills to numb myself from the dreadful thought of losing my wife to the hands of this horrible disease. Within a few months we were going to lose our home. What followed however, would forever change our lives.

I was greeted by an elderly man holding some papers one Monday morning at my front door. He stated that he was here to foreclose on my home and that he had some papers for me to sign. He also said that he had to put a foreclosure sign in my front yard. I was saddened at the reality that I was actually going to lose our home. There was nothing I could do, it was a done deal. Out of nowhere the gentleman said," I hope you don't mind son, but could you tell me why you are losing your home?" I went on to explain my circumstance and he followed my explanation by saying," I am so sorry to hear that, would you mind if I came into your home and pray with you and your wife. I found his request rather odd in that I had not made known my faith,but agreed and we went into my home. I introduced the elderly gentleman and his request to my wife and we sat on the couch. The man then knelt on the floor before us while holding our hands and began whispering the most wonderful prayer. Immediately I felt the Spirit lift my grief doubt and fear and replace it with peace, joy and faith. He hugged my wife and I and said, "God is with you son it will all be alright, put your doubts and fears in His hands." In tears I thanked him and walked him out the front door. As he was leaving I said," do you do this with all the people you foreclose on?" He smile and laughed a bit and said," no my boy, this is the first time in all my years I've done that." I said,"well what made you want to pray with us?" He smiled warmly and pulled the collar of his shirt down reveling a scar on his neck, the same scar in which my wife had from her surgery and said," I too had cancer, you and your wife are going to be fine." He turned and walked away and got into his car and drive off never to enter my life again.

Instead of being distraught over the loss of our home, and wrecked with anxiety over my wifes health. I knew that we were going to be fine. I then could care less about material things, I knew God was with us and that he loved us. I also knew that my wife's cancer was not going to return, praise be to Him. Now some may say that these series of events was not God and it is all just coincidental...Being a recovering addict, with restored faith, and having flashes of God touching my life... I know better.

Autor: Thomas Duntley
Added: August 31, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Psychotic Depression - How It Differs From Clinical Depression

About twenty five percent of individuals admitted to hospitals for depression suffer from some form of psychotic depression. These individuals not only suffer from common symptoms but also from hallucinations or delusions. The illness has many similarities to clinical depression, but some important differences as well.

Other mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, can also include symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia. However, individuals with this illness generally know that the thoughts or hallucinations are not real. At the same time, diagnosis becomes difficult because many people hide these symptoms, afraid to admit that they have these more socially unacceptable symptoms.

Along with more common depressive symptoms, these individuals may experience anxiety, hypochondria, insomnia, immobility, and cognitive impairment. Scientists don't know exactly how it develops, but some believe that it may have to do with high levels of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands, which is released throughout the day and at times of stress.

The treatments also differ in some ways. Generally, a longer hospital stay is required and a closer follow up may be required for many patients. Mental health professionals have found that tricyclic antidepressants and anti psychotic medications seem to help many patients when they are used in combination. Lithium and electro convulsive therapy are also used to treat the illness, although they are usually second line treatments. Researchers have also been investigating the use of RU-486 (now used as "emergency contraception") as it appears to dramatically reduce the symptoms.

With treatment, most individuals will experience recovery within a year. Like other forms of the illness, psychotic depression can reoccur, although the symptoms are more likely to happen again than the hallucinations and delusions. However, diagnosis and treatment are important in preventing re occurrences and treating the symptoms that do come back. As the risk of suicide and other depressive illnesses is greater, it is imperative that individuals are diagnosed and treated properly.

Psychotic depression shares many symptoms with the clinical form of the illness, but is distinguished by the presence of hallucinations and/or delusions. Treatment differs from other types, as the psychotic symptoms must also be treated.

Autor: Juliann Longden

Depression Information

http://www.getdepressionanswers.com is the premier depression website. We have articles on everything from depression medications to depression self help.

Added: August 30, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Easy Grammar With The 80-20 Principle? Discover A Less Stressful And More Efficient Approach

Easy grammar and the 80/20 principle? Is there really a connection? Not only is it for real, but it's pretty amazing that it hasn't caught on yet. It's high time that it does because it can save many people a lot of headaches.

Just in case you don't already know the 80/20 principle from sales, here's a quick explanation: 20% of most salespeople's clients account for 80% of their sales. Which means, of course, that the other 80% percent of their clients aren't paying their way. The logical consequence: It pays to focus mostly on taking very good care of the 20% that do. Maybe those customers will buy even more. And if not, at least the salespeople will have a bit more free time...

The 80/20 principle doesn't just work for sales, though. When I learned English (which is my second language), for example, my favorite word-building book was based on the very same principle. It had three sections:

1) About 150 words made up at least 10% of all the words in any average document. They included the basics, such as articles, conjunctions, most prepositions, and numbers.

2) Another 1,000 or so words, together with the really basic 150 words, covered well over 90% of the words in any average text.

3) Several thousand more words were divided into subject areas, so I could study just what I needed. When I wanted to talk about the weather, I'd look up weather words. When my hypochondria got the better of me, I studied the medical section. I've been getting by very nicely ever since.

English has tens of thousands of additional words, of course, but that's what big dictionaries are for. And how often do you ever need those?

The same is true for grammar, where the 80/20 principle works much the same way. With just 20% of the "rules," you can cover almost all of the territory you'd ever need, at least if you pick the right 20%.

That seems hard to believe if you look at those grammar books filled with thousands of obscure little rules, all of them designed to intimidate. Many of you probably met all those rules in high school. How many do you remember? Not many, probably.

The traditional approach to grammar is really a factoid-based trivial pursuit-type approach. It's not very efficient. Compare how the 80/20 approach covers that territory:

1) There are the basic ingredients and a system to put them together into sentences.

2) There are a few rules that help you avoid the major problems, such as agreement errors, weird tense sequences, and dangling modifiers.

3) There are some nifty techniques to make your sentences more effective and your prose flow better. Those three make up the 20%.

Beyond that, for the other 80%, you have two options: You could look up what you need in some big grammar book. Or, and here's your secret weapon, you could rewrite the sentence. It's your sentence, after all, and you get to write it any way you want to. Just pick a way you know how to handle.

Autor: Elisabeth Kuhn Elisabeth Kuhn
Level: Platinum
Elisabeth grew up in Germany, came to the U.S. as a graduate student, and stayed. A college professor teaching linguistics for 19 years, she is ... ...

For 10 quick tips on how to edit your writing effectively, visit http://www.LinguisticLeverage.com and sign up for Elisabeth's series of grammar, writing. and copywriting tips.

Elisabeth Kuhn is a linguist and a writer, and she enjoys helping people unleash their inner grammar power. To find out more about the practical applications of linguistic leverage, including copywriting, visit http://www.LinguisticLeverage.com

Added: August 28, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Abstinence Vs Moderation

When someone first enters my care for treatment of habits that should be stopped altogether, one of the first questions I ask is, "Do you want to stop your habit entirely, or would you rather practice moderation?"

With rare exception, I hear an immediate, "I sure would like to be able to smoke or drink occasionally, like other people." or "I wish I could learn to gamble/exercise/eat/shop moderately and less often, like normal people do."

Others say, "My problem is with street drugs, not booze, so why does everyone tell me that I have to stop drinking?

It's natural to want to strive for the moderation of our habits rather than total abstinence. I can't imagine anyone indulging in their unhealthy habit of choice and not deriving some compelling benefits.

But the fact is, abstinence is substantially easier to achieve. If you doubt that, just think about all the times you were able to go on a very strict and rigid diet, or stop smoking, or abstain from alcohol, gambling or drugs -- only to find that once you started drinking occasionally, or cheating on your diet, or borrowing cigarettes, you soon ended up right back where you started.

It has become a cliche, but it's still more than a good joke: "I can quit any time I want. I've done it thousands of times!"

Of course, the issue of moderation is not subject to discussion when your habits involve eating, spending, or relationships. With activities like these, moderation is the only option.

What kind of goals should you set if your habit doesn't involve food or life sustaining activities? Such behaviors include, but are not limited to: gambling, workaholism, over spending, hyper-sexuality, obsessions with pornography, excessive exercising, hypochondria and destructive relationships.

These behavioral unhealthy habits need to be understood in the same way as addictions to psycho-active substances. While they appear to be judged by society much less harshly, they involve the same processes and you will need to use the same techniques to restore balance to your life.

You can begin by making a list of who you are, items that describe you in every detail. Now, make another list leaving out all your bad habits and see what potential for wonderful accomplishments you possess.

You will notice that YOU are NOT your bad habit! Develop your new life with activities that leave out, as much as possible, the stimulus that makes you want to indulge in your unhealthy habits.

If you are in situations that motivate you to indulge in your unhealthy habit, and you want to try to moderate the habit, be sure that you are with a group of people who will support you and motivate you to stay within your pre-set limit of moderation.

It is usually not wise to try to moderate your habit when you are alone. You will find it much more difficult to draw the line and stop by yourself.

I would also like to remind anyone who is considering moderate alcohol use of a few additional points. First, and most importantly, it is generally agreed by most experts today that moderation consists of two drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women.

If you find yourself saying, "That's no fun!" "I can't even get high on one or two drinks," then perhaps moderation really isn't for you.

Anything over these amounts is considered to be unhealthful by the medical community. Even these levels may be too much for some individuals. But if keeping alcohol in your life is still your goal, try it. If it works and you can keep your intake truly moderate, then continue.

On the other hand, if you continue to fall back into your old habits, give yourself a break, take control and stop it completely.

If it is disturbing to you to think about not having another drink for the rest of your life, it might be helpful to abstain for three to six months before attempting moderation.

This strategy serves several purposes. One, it can reduce your alcohol tolerance so that when you do resume drinking, a smaller amount will give you the desired effect.

Secondly, during the months of abstinence, you will build self-confidence and learn new ways of coping with stress, anxiety, loneliness, and boredom.

Thirdly, you may find that after a few months of abstinence, you feel so healthy and so good about yourself, that you will decide not to risk your new sense of well being by indulging at all.

At the very least, with several months of sobriety under your belt, you can't help noticing by stark contrast any impairment caused by your resumed drinking.

Remember, this is your life, and you have the power to make it better or worse.

Whatever habit it is you wish to change, you need to take sole responsibility. Give yourself all the chances you need to succeed. Just the stress of coping with an unhealthy habit wears the body and the mind down day-by-day.

So, engage yourself, don't indulge yourself.

Remember, Don't Kill Yourself, Skill Yourself!

Autor: Marc Kern Marc Kern
Level: Basic
Marc F. Kern, Ph.D., has over 30 years of clinical psychotherapy experience helping people overcome their self-defeating habits and acquire the insights and skills to ... ...

Marc F. Kern, Ph.D., has over 30 years of clinical psychotherapy experience helping people overcome their self-defeating habits and acquire the insights and skills to live happier lives. He has a deep personal understanding of the addictive process and continues his lifelong research of contemporary treatments for addiction and other destructive behaviors. http://www.habitdoc.com

Added: August 26, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Rainforest Plants - Catuaba

Family: Erythroxylaceae

Genus: Erythroxylum

Species: catuaba

Common Names: Catuaba, catagu�, chuchuhuasha, tatuaba, pau de reposta, caramuru, piratan�ara, angelim-rosa, catigu�

General Description: Catuaba is a medium-sized tree found in the Amazon rainforest in the northern part of Brazil. It is small and vigorous, with yellow and orange trumpet-shaped flowers and small yellow oval-shaped inedible fruit. Catuaba is sometimes misspelled as catauba or catawba.

Uses: Catuaba is most commonly available as a tincture. Catuaba is usually consumed as a tea made from the bark of this small shrub. It is believed to calm overactive neurotransmitters. Catuaba is said to relieve insomnia, particularly when related to nervous debility, and it also thought to alleviate depression, emotional stress and hypochondria. Some have touted Catuaba as a primary treatment for AIDS; it is actually not recommended as a primary treatment for AIDS, but rather as a defense against opportunistic infection.

Catuaba is probably the best known aphrodisiac in tribal medicine. Although used historically by both men and women, it is primarily useful in the treatment of impotence and Prostatitis. Catuaba is meant to have a cumulative long term effect first signaled by erotic dreams, and followed by increased sexual desire. Catuaba is extremely effective for the male sexual organs because it increases circulation and libido. This herb is considered an "innocent" aphrodisiac, meaning no adverse side-effects have been reported in its use.

Catuaba (pronounced with emphasis on the last syllable) is one of the most famous of Brazilian herbs, known to the indigenous Tupi Indians as the 'tree of love' or the 'tree of togetherness'. The Catuaba herb has been traditionally used by natives in the Amazon in combination with muira puama. Catuaba and muirapuama, two common trees growing widely across the Amazon river basin, enjoy centuries of safe, effective use as aphrodisiacs.

Catuaba is gentle and immensely calming, a relaxing herbal tea to drink at the end of a non-stop day.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Autor: Tony Mandarich

Tony Mandarich

Added: August 25, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Dealing With Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a non-disease condition with debilitating symptoms. The symptoms of fibromyalgia are faced by millions each year. Those with this health condition have to suffer widespread pain. This widespread pain often results in poor sleep. In many cases, fibromyalgia syndrome is diagnosed along with a condition such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Lupus.

If you suspect you may have fibromyalgia, you should see your doctor. Generally, if your doctor suspects you have this condition, you will be referred to a rheumatologist for a diagnosis and treatment plan. The rheumatologist usually starts testing for the symptoms with what is called the tender-point test. This is not to be confused with the trigger-point test used to check for Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

In some cases, physicians may suspect fibromyalgia to be hypochondria or depression. A test for Substance P would clarify the diagnosis. Substance P is a neurotransmitter present in higher quantities in those with fibromyalgia syndrome. The more Substance P that is present, the lower pain thresholds appear to be. Even the smallest injury may produce enough pain to dominate the thinking of a person suffering from it.

This may partially explain why those with this condition have a hard time getting good sleep. Many do not reach stage four sleep as often as they need to achieve optimal health. This compounds the pain problem, as injury repair takes place at greater rates during and after good sleep.

Another problem associated with fibromyalgia symptoms is what we often call "brainfog." A lot of the trouble thinking is probably related to the lack of high-quality sleep. Additionally, the brain is overloaded with messages of pain from the nerves, leaving less processing capacity for normal daily function.

While fibromyalgia is fortunately not a deadly issue, many people do report that it gets worse over time. These people must find ways to cope with the pain. Many turn to support organizations such as fibrofoglights.org and various other Internet support groups. Also, there are medications that your doctor can prescribe that help many people to deal with fibromyalgia syndrome. This type of treatment will have to do until a cure is found.

Autor: Jen Miller

Are you suffering from Fibromyalgia?

To Find out more about choosing the right Fibromyalgia Treatment for you, CLICK HERE.

Jen Miller is a health and fitness enthusiast. She runs a website providing fibromyalgia information remedies at http://www.helpforfibromyalgia.net

Added: August 24, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Coping with Fibromyalgia

Coping with Fibromyalgia is one of those things that is definitely much easier said than done. Fibromyalgia comes with a lot of symptoms, none of them pleasant. And because this is not really a disease, the person having it doesn't appear to have any reason to be in pain or acting strange to those around them. Those with Fibromyalgia may constantly deal with social issues ranging from skepticism to accusations of hypochondria because they complain of pain, and are sometimes even disabled by pain, without any apparent physical ailments. It is very important for those who have received a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to take steps to begin coping with this condition.

Getting help for Fibromyalgia requires that you at least accept that you have it and it is real. Some people don't even believe the pain they feel themselves because they can't see an obvious cause for the pain. If you do not accept your situation, you may continue to do things that will increase your Fibromyalgia symptoms. In coping with this condition, it is particularly important that you not think that just because you're having a good day on any particular day, the mysterious pain is behind you forever. You need to understand that it can come back and you should be pacing yourself on the good days as well as the bad ones. Over a long period of time you will begin to learn just how far you can push yourself. This is an important part of the process of coping with Fibromyalgia.

Do not get yourself tied in to too many commitments, particularly work deadlines. Some days you may just not feel up to doing as much as other days. You need to have flexibility in your life. In managing Fibromyalgia, you need to learn how to take on these projects and let people know that if something flares up you may be a couple days late, or you may not be able to attend a meeting, but you will get your projects done when you are again able. If you're a hard worker, this will actually tend to be harder to get family members to understand than employers.

In order to get people around you to understand that you have a real problem, and that you are a reliable person with an unreliable problem, you need to educate those around you. This is an important part of coping with it. It will begin to seem redundant after you have to give the whole speech about Fibromyalgia again for the umpteenth time, but you have to do what you have to do to begin getting help for Fibromyalgia. It may help those around you if you can refer them to an informational website or medical brochure regarding this condition. Don't take offense at the questions those around you will naturally have. The more people ask you questions about your condition, the better they will be able to understand it and work with you to help you as you manage with Fibromyalgia.

Autor: Jen Miller

Are you suffering from Fibromyalgia ?

To Find out more about choosing the right Fibromyalgia Treatment for you, CLICK HERE

Jen Miller is a health and fitness enthusiast. She runs a website providing fibromyalgia information remedies at http://www.helpforfibromyalgia.net

Added: August 22, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Problems Effecting Mental Health

Hypochondria

The popular image of the hypochondriac is a Woody Allen-type character who goes from doctor to doctor, anxiously takes his temperature every hour and imagines any headache to be a brain tumor.

Most of us suffer mild episodes of hypochondriasis (commonly known as hypochondria) from time to time. But when hypochondria becomes chronic and severe, it's no laughing matter.
Hypochondria is a psychological condition that doctors categorize as a somatoform disorder the presence of physical symptoms suggest illness, but no illness can be diagnosed. If you suffer from hypochondria, you are constantly preoccupied with sickness. You believe you have a serious illness, based on your own interpretation of certain symptoms and sensations, and go from doctor to doctor in search of a diagnosis and a cure. These fears and beliefs persist, even when no illness has been diagnosed and despite many reassurances from numerous doctors. People with hypochondria know their own medical histories in great detail, and often say that previous physicians who found nothing wrong with them were insensitive or incompetent.

It's tempting to label anyone who does this a hypochondriac unfortunately, many people with real illnesses have been dismissed as hypochondriacs until their diseases were finally recognized. However,hypochondria clearly exists as a mental disorder, and the preoccupation with imagined illness can become so severe that it impairs relationships and interferes with the person's ability to function normally. The incidence of true hypochondria in the general population isn't known, but doctors estimate that between 4 and 9 percent of people they see in general practice suffer from some degree of hypochondria. The problem usually begins after age 30 and tends to persist in to older age.

Many people who suffer from clinical depression or anxiety become abnormally vigilant about their bodies, focusing on every little change, and it's not uncommon for them to develop hypochondria. The good news is that when these disorders are successfully treated, the hypochondria tends to disappear.

Abnormal Grief

When you experience the death of a loved one, it's normal to feel grief. This may include feelings of sadness and loss, as well as physical symptoms of stress such as insomnia and fatigue. While these feelings vary widely from person to person, they tend to follow a normal course. But sometimes grieving is intense and long-lasting enough to be considered abnormal or even pathological. Such grieving can take a tremendous toll on your emotional and physical health and should be recognized when it occurs so you can get help.

Autor: Pattrick Jhonson

Learn about other mental problems like anxiety and insomnia and their cure with natural herbal supplements, as they have been found to be quite effective.

Added: August 20, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Lower Back Pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Is there a correlation between lower back pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Researchers have long argued that IBS may be caused by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. No indication or explanation is ever given as to why this malfunction might occur. To my knowledge there has been no adequate evidence to support this assumption. More over, I have not seen, heard of or read about any studies which were specifically implemented to test this hypothesis. Because of my own observations about my own IBS symptoms, I am inclined to believe and support this hypothesis.

Some of us who suffer Irritable Bowel Syndrome have tried for many years, without success, to eliminate the often debilitating affects of this mysterious disorder. Generally those who suffer have spent a great deal of time and money, having test after test only to be told that nothing conclusive was found.

Often after years of diagnostic procedures and expensive studies, patients are told there was nothing wrong with them. Their complaint of symptoms are brushed off as imaginary or more properly put in medical terms, psychosomatic. But with the ever increasing number of patients complaining of the same generalized list of symptoms, the medical community has been forced, in at least a small part, to acknowledge the malady as something more then imaginary symptoms of hypochondria.

So what can we surmise about IBS? It is a condition or disease in and of itself? Or is IBS is a condition caused by or a symptom of some other physical, neurological or possibly even psychological problem that is as yet undetected or undiagnosed as being relative to the IBS condition? I find this to be a more plausible conclusion and will provide some insight for my personal belief that IBS is a secondary condition rather then a condition unto itself.

For years doctors have proposed the secondary condition concept in relation to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Unfortunately, they have not yet been able to successfully document any evidence to conclusively say what might be the root cause of IBS. Moreover, I believe there is not just one cause, but several causes, all with the same secondary symptoms, which make up what is termed as IBS.

Please don't think that it is my intent to say the IBS condition is not real, or the symptomology is psychosomatic in nature. I know from painful experience the condition and symptoms of IBS are very real. I also would venture to say because of the sheer number of reported cases, the medical community had been forced to re-evaluate their approach while dealing with patients with complaints of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms. I am merely going to express what I personally have concluded about another possible causation for IBS which may be overlooked by the medical profession.

I would like to also toss up for consideration that IBS, with its list of many symptoms, may be a traceable progression of symptoms stemming from a single causation. I believe, in my case, this is a very valid assumption. I have as yet been unable to get any physician to agree with me, at least to the point of taking up the position on the record.

Before going any further, I think it would be a good idea to review a partial list of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. IBS may be characterized by a combination of any or all of the following symptoms:

Abdominal discomfort or pain, usually in the lower abdomen

Altered bowel habit

Chronic or recurrent diarrhea, constipation, or both. May be mixed or in alternation.

Bloating

Heartburn

Nausea

Abdominal fullness

Feelings of urgent need to evacuate the bowel

Feeling of "incomplete" bowel emptying

Low back pain

Headache

Fatigue

Muscle pain

Sleep disturbances

Sexual dysfunction

More and more it is generally believed that the symptoms of IBS are produced by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. More and more I personally agree with this as a valid and plausible perception of at least one of the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. With some personal observations, I hope to give light as to why I believe this to be a possible causation for many IBS sufferers. Unfortunately, what I have come to believe as the causation for my particular brand of IBS, most assuredly will not be a diagnosis for all cases of IBS.

I think we who have suffered Irritable Bowel Syndrome tend to minimalize our symptoms and pain. We have been led to believe that other than common sense changes to diet and exercise there is nothing we can do because there is no cure. Many people who suffer will suffer in silence for years before seeking medical treatment. By then, and I include myself in this group, we may have subconsciously lessened or even put aside some of the lesser symptoms that IBS causes, focusing only on the ones that cause the most pain and discomfort.

Worse yet, we are less likely to bring symptoms to the attention of a doctor by mere assumption that it is just another facet of our complex disorder. This could become a dangerous scenario for anyone who suffers from IBS. We may ignore persistent symptoms that have gotten more intense or new symptoms that seem to be related only because we are discouraged by being told there is nothing anyone can do.

Doing these kinds of things could lead to serious life threatening symptoms being overlooked. Symptoms of conditions that, unlike IBS, can be treated if caught in time. Things like colon cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer or many others, might be missed because we want to ignore our IBS symptoms after so many trips to the doctor.

My story of IBS starts over 20 years ago when I was a young man of 26. While helping lift a very heavy cast iron wood burning stove from the back of a pickup truck, the other person lost their grip and the load all shifted down hill onto my back. I felt my back give way as the stove went crashing to the ground at my feet. I knew I had sustained a serious injury. I couldn't erect myself from the 90 degree bent forward position I was in. I had to literally pull my self up by using my hands and arms against the side of the pickup.

Being 26 and stubborn and thinking that I was invincible, I had my wife help me home and to bed, not bothering to go to the emergency room. I had some left over pain killers which numbed the pain enough to allow me to sleep. When I awoke in the morning I was horrified as I could not feel my legs. They were both cold and numb to the touch. I could move them, I just couldn't feel them. After about 30 minutes of movement the feeling began to return to my legs and at that point I knew it was time to get to the doctor.

After the examination and x-rays what the doctor had to say wasn't pleasant to hear. He told me I had two options. One was to go to a surgical specialist and have fusion surgery on several of my lower lumbar vertebra because the discs between them had been severely compressed. He mentioned that having this type of surgery would reduce my physical mobility by as much as 30% or more. At best, he explained, the surgery was about 40% effective.

My other option, he told me, was time... time allow let my body try to heal itself. He explained I would probably never be as good as I was before the accident, but with time my body should partially heal it self. He told me the inflammation which was causing the pain and partial paralysis should lessen. At age 26 loosing permanently 30% or more of my mobility was an unthinkable option. At least the second option offered some hope of recovery. He gave me muscle relaxants and pain pills and that was that.

I trusted this doctor...we were good friends. We had a good personal and professional relationship. I took him at his word. By today's medical standards, his medical advice probably wouldn't hold water, but over 20 years ago, it was most likely a very good perception of my problem.

For the next 6 months, I would wake up to cold, numb legs and each day, but as he said, the symptoms gradually got better. I was so focused on my back injury improving; I didn't pay attention to other, minor things going on which had become bothersome.

The first and most prevalent symptom was a change in my bowel habit. Not a big change, but it seemed that instead of a daily movement, it was now once every other day, and it took a bit more effort. But with the back issue, it seemed minor in comparison and for several years seemed to be the only symptom. My back continued to get better but my bowel never did return to normal.

I have always been a large person, in 1986 at the age of 26: I weighed about 220 pounds, standing 6 feet tall. Slowly, my weight began to rise. I attributed my initial weight gain to a lessening of physical activity over the first year or two of my back problem. By the end of the second year, my physical ability and activity had almost returned to normal. I learned to deal with the pain and my legs no longer went numb. I was able to function fairly well. Only occasionally did the pain in my back become such that I was unable to function in my "new" normal fashion, and usually only lasted a day or two. I now had added 70 pounds to my weight with no real explanation.

Only in the past couple of years (over 20 have passed since my back injury) have I begun considering the original injury being related to my bowel and stomach problems. Because I believed there was little I could do to rectify the situation, I have done as well as I could to manage the pain mentally. I did this well until the pain in my back started to worsen to the point that again my legs started going numb again. Not that this happened all the time, it was only occasional, but these bouts of pain have gotten much worse.

Only now that the back pain is impossible to ignore have I come to realize the cycle of events which have taken place. Now when I notice my legs are beginning to go numb on a more frequent basis, I have also noticed an increase in my IBS symptoms. More frequent and painful symptoms seem to begin with chronic constipation, lasting for many days. This is followed by the gas distress fatigue, head aches, bloating, acid indigestion, heartburn and eventually explosive diarrhea. Along with other symptoms, all interwoven into a cycle I now believe to be directly related to some type of nerve injury due to my original back injury.

I have since gone to a neurosurgeon and been diagnosed with severe disk compression and degeneration and spinal stenosis in the lower lumbar region. The treatment is as yet to be mapped out, but I now have at least one doctor who agrees that many, if not all, of my symptoms could be tied directly to nerve dysfunction resulting from my present spinal condition.

If you have sustained a back injury, or have IBS with lower back pain, it may be prudent to have a spinal study, to find out if an underlying back problem might be involved in the causation of your IBS symptoms. It stands to practical reason that if there is injury to the spine or lower back from where the nerves controlling lower bowl function stem, there could also be bowel dysfunction. With bowel dysfunction, the progression of symptoms in logical sequence right up the line to the top of the digestive tract would be a very plausible scenario.

If you have IBS and low back pain you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having a spinal examination. At the very least you may find out that there is no problem with your spine thereby eliminating one more source.

Autor: Scott Best

Scott Best is a freelance author in association with IBS Help Site.com who also suffers with IBS. You can read more articles from Scott Best and others in the IBS Help Site Article Index

Added: August 19, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Graphology at Home-Lesson 14 - Examination and Answers

Examination for Lesson 14

1. Is a 'sign' in handwriting analysis reliable on its own, or must it be properly weighed to be regarded as proof?

A. Reliable on its own___

B. Must be properly weighed___

Describe the letterform reflecting:

2. Intelligence and culture

3. Inexactness

4. Shyness

5. Aggression and ambition

6. Interest in architecture or in mechanically related fields

7. The meddler; argumentative

8. Carelessness and neglect

9. Talkativeness

10. Inferiority complex

11. Depression; suicidal tendencies

12. "Down in the dumps"

13. Sensuality

14. The embezzler, the crook, the hypocrite (see Stalin's writing)

15. Construction and mechanical ability (see Thomas Edison's writing)

16. Hypochondria

17. Vulgarity

18. One who does not compromise

19. Musical interest

20. Culture, literary oriented (see Victor Hugo and Mark Twain's handwritings)

21. Keen observation

22. Self-admiration

23. Feeling of protection

24. Defiantly declares a social withdrawal

25. Undue claim of self-importance

26. A sex life that is of an uncommon sort

27. Writer's ego is of more importance than that of the "other person."

28. Hysteria

29. Fatigue and weakness

30. Secretiveness

31. Unusual habits

32. Curiosity

33. Money on writer's mind

34. Strong resistance to friendliness

35. Revolt

36. Friendliness and kindness

37. Depression

38. When an oval-shaped letter is wide open at the top, which

zone is being exposed?

39. Describe the writing in which inferiority feelings and temporary depressions are found.

40. When letters are written "too wide" what does this suggest?

41. Should an illegible, neglected, or omitted last letter be

taken as a warning or an indication of a trustworthy person?

A. Warning___

B. Trustworthy person___

42. When writing indicates that the minimum letters (a, c, e, etc.) are too wide, should

a lack of restraint be expected of such a writer or inhibition?

A.___ Lack of restraint

B. Inhibition___

43. Unconscious mother fixation is found in which type of loop?

Answers for Lesson 14

1. Must be properly weighed

2. A block letter. Its construction is simplified.

3. The markings (on top of the letter) are inexact and unnecessary

4. The thin, narrow capital letter

5. The left leg of the letter 'A' is considerably longer than the right one.

6. The letter ('A') is constructed in a square fashion.

7. The left leg is considerably longer than the right, and descends deeply.

8. The bar of the A is missing

9. Open-mouthed ovals

10. A low bar such as in a capital letter (A, H) or in the 't' bar

11. An in-turned arc, piercing the capital (the ego).

12. The capital A or H bar strongly descends

13. The letter is ink-filled, pasty, blotchy

14. The oval letter is open at the bottom.

15. The letter is square shaped

16. Constant changes in the letter

17. The complicated, overdone, ugly letter.

18. The letter (such as the Palmer b, which is rounded on both top and bottom) is sharp at the top as well as at the bottom

19. The letter is in the form of a musical note

20. The Greek d, e, and g

21. The capital E is shaped as two concave arcs

22. An underlength that would underline the rest of the word.

23. When the top stroke extends over the whole word

24. The downstroke extends under the body of the letter and to the left.

25. The vulgar-looking and ornate letter has a vertical line added in unnecessarily.

26. Distortions in the lower zone or strangely shaped letters

27. The first part ('hump') of the 'm' is higher than the second.

28. The letter ('m') is written in thready form

29. The end of the downstroke (as in the letter 'm') is considerably more lightly written than the rest of the letter. Heading into the lower zone, as it does, the area where the strength of the individual lies, it implies fatigue and weakness.

30. Closed oval (at the top)

31. The hump (in the 'p') on the wrong side of the stem

32. The second part of the letter ( 'r') is lower than the first

33. The letter s resembles the dollar sign

34. An angular shaped letter that is normally written (according to the Palmer method) in a rounded fashion-such as the letter 'u.'

35. The word starts in a connected fashion, and suddenly the end of the word is left stranded, alone

36. The letter is made in a soft manner. Any letter with a gentle loop in the lower zone

37. The end stroke descends when it should be horizontal.

38. The opening exposes the lower zone

39. Small minimum (middle zone) letters

40. Typical of the spontaneous, broadminded, and "large" writer, who is sociable and sympathetic, eager to share with you and willing to let you share with him- he is "extroverted."

41. Warning

42. Impudence

43. Inflated lower loops 'pointing' leftward.

Autor: Joel Engel Joel Engel
Level: Basic PLUS
Joel Engel has been a world-renowned graphologist for over 30 years. He is often quoted in the press and scientific journals for his "spot on" ... ...

Joel Engel is the author of "Handwriting Analysis Self-Taught" (Penguin Books)
http://careertest.ws
http://www.learngraphology.com

Added: August 17, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

What Are the Causes of Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorder is the sum of a number of influencing factors that help development of the problem. Many of these factors in one's life come by his or her chance of being born in a family that ultimately influences his or her lifestyle, inherited traits, family conditions, personality development under specific culture of the family, child raising habits and financial conditions, marital relation etc. Larger parts of these remain, uncontrollable except one's own personal will and choice.

The problem is substantially enhanced by alcoholism and drug abuse, or sometimes even due to prolonged usage of therapeutic drugs. Sometimes the disorder is associated with illness like hypoglycemia.

The interrelated factors that cause anxiety disorder are:

Environmental:

The immediate environment of an individual influences ones life the most in shaping up the character. Of course there is a great amount of hereditary influence. The roles of family, financial conditions, childhood experiences and so on are the inputs which shape up ones attitude towards the life.

Individual Personality:

Negative attitude assuredly works towards building lack of confidence in people as also their ability to withstand. Such people always feel neglected, and treat others with suspicion keeping the self on the inferior side of comparative scale. Thus they are always fearful and stressed.

Heredity:

It is often observed that the presence of inherited traits largely influences one's behavior, thoughts and action. One's family history, if examined appropriately, would reveal previous existence of such disorders, or closely resembling mental make up which reflects upon the behavioral pattern of an individual.

Trauma:

The root of anxiety disorder in one's life may arise out of certain traumatic experiences, immaterial in which stage of the life, like split in the family, death of a very dear one, or an accident.

Hypochondria - constantly visiting the Doctor:

Many falls pray to this kind of obsession that they must have to visit a doctor for most minor discomfort assuming it to be a beginning of some serious ailment.

Depression:

A Situation that turns into a mental illness that every situation is at a hopeless state of affair with possibility of reversal.

Sexual problems:

The mind numbing thought of underperformance.

Others:

Many a feelings are beyond our control of our body or mind, but these greatly influence actions and behavior which ultimately lead to promotion of anxiety disorders. The examples could be aggression, uncalled and unlikely entanglement in messy situations.

Medical situations that contribute to Anxiety Disorder:

Asthma

Adrenal Diseases

Cardiac problems

Diabetes

Epilepsy

Hypoglycemia

Migraines

Sleep Disorders

Thyroid problems.

Autor: Ryan Taylor

Do you want to discover more about anxiety disorder? Drop us a visit and find out more articles about topics such as adjustment disorder with anxiety and signs of anxiety disorder.

Or are you interested more in solutions and anxiety disorder treatment? Start now and compare reviews of this year's best products!

Added: August 16, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

See More And Do More With A Tiger's Eye

Tiger's eyes, which is a semi-precious stone also known as African cat's eye or crocidolite cat's-eye possesses bands which resemble the eye of a tiger, and therefore its name. In the past, Roman soldiers wore these stones to serve as their protection when they go into battle. Because of its appearance, Tiger's Eye has been believed to be an "all seeing " stone.

It has rich yellow as well as golden brown stripes and has a fine golden luster after being polished. It is a crystalline quartz variety which is formed through the alteration of crocidolite which is an asbestos mineral. When it is viewed in some kind of reflected illumination, there is a band of light or a ripple, which resembles a cat's eye that follows the asbestos' original fibrous structure. It has a hardness of 7 on the Moh's scale. The largest deposits of this stone could be found in Burma, South Africa, Australia, the United States and India. The best stones are mined in Griqualand West.

Tiger's eye has a lot of spiritual and holistic properties. It has been used to gain confidence, courage and protection. It has a solar plexus stone, which helps by improving self-perception and self-clarity. It has also been known to be good for the conceptualization or vocalization of ideas and making visualizations and ideas a reality. It has been believed to be helpful in obtaining goals through taking direct action as well as through learning when to wait or act. It could also counteract any feelings of hypochondria and psychosomatic illnesses and is effective for improving the condition of asthma patients.

Autor: Priyanka Arora

Buy ready-to-wear apparels from a well-known, trusted online store where you can shop for more than 4000 unique fashion products for men, women & kids delivered to you free anywhere in the world. SalwarKameezIndia.com offers hassles-free online purchase of semi precious stones, white sapphire gemstone and more.

Added: August 15, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Choose Happiness!

In order to be happy, you just need to choose happiness. It really is that simple!
Depending on your personal situation, outlook and beliefs, choosing happiness might seem effortless, extremely hard or anything in between.

Regardless, choosing happiness - or any other emotion - is always possible. Our thoughts create our emotions, and we can always choose our thoughts. Therefore...

We always choose our feelings!

In fact, consciously or unconsciously, you always choose every emotion you feel. So by choosing your thoughts consciously, you take charge of your emotions!

Many of us still live with the perception that our emotions just "happen" in response to to what goes on around us. Although this is a misperception, created and enforced by ego, we create our life experience according to our perceptions. Therefore, if we're unaware of the misperception then we just reinforce our separation from each other and the world around us. And enforcing separation is what ego is all about.

External influences have an effect as well: news and media, movies, television... even music lyrics. So much of it is based on the idea that we have much less influence over ourselves than we actually do.

"I can't help how I feel!"

"She made me feel that way!"

"You made me so sad when you left."

"He made me do it."

"We were forced to take these actions."

How often have you heard someone say something like that? How often have you said something like it yourself?

Well, statements like that simply cannot be true. They are all based on the belief that things outside ourselves have ultimate control over our thoughts, emotions and actions.

Yes, there are many cases where things can influence us to feel or act a certain way... but the final choice is always ours.

For every self-aware, mentally competent person on this planet, the idea that we do not choose what we think, feel and do is a false belief, nothing more. But many still cling to that belief because it's all we know. We don't believe that we can choose happiness; we believe that it all depends on what's happening around us.

It's what we were taught by others because they believed the same thing, and it's what many of us still believe. Much of our world - society, governments, world events; even entertainment and culture - reflects this.

It can also be a way to avoid taking responsibility for our actions... no matter how harmful those actions may be. For example, one of the most common traits of criminal behavior is the tendency to blame outside sources for negative actions. As mentioned above, it's certainly possible for outside sources to influence us. But ultimately it all comes from within.

The idea that nothing "makes" you happy, or unhappy, or anything else, can be hard to accept. The idea that we, and we alone, are responsible for our emotions is often hard to believe. The idea that we choose the emotions we feel at all times sounds even more preposterous. But we do choose - often unconsciously. We choose happiness, or sadness/unhappiness, or anger, or any other emotion or emotional state. No one chooses it for us.

Our thoughts - and therefore our emotional state and actions - become conditioned responses to our environment, based on our beliefs. But even conditioned responses are chosen, unconsciously. If something occurs to "make" us happy, then we unconsciously choose happiness. If not, we unconsciously choose whatever our conditioning selects as the appropriate response.

Start living consciously!

The change comes when we move out of conditioned emotional response and start choosing our emotions consciously. Then, regardless of the situation, we can consciously choose our thoughts - and therefore our emotional state - and act from it.

We begin to live consciously, as opposed to treading more or less mindlessly through life, unconsciously thinking, feeling and acting in response to our environment.

Consider the advantages of conscious living.

Let me give you a simple example: someone cuts you off on the freeway as you're driving to work. For many of us, the conditioned response would be to take it personally and get upset - even fly into a rage - for whatever reason.

"S/he endangered my life! S/he has no idea what courtesy is! S/he shouldn't have a license! What's his/her hurry anyway?"

Does this response make any logical sense? All it does is upset you, raise your stress and anxiety, and bring your energy down. You'll become a big magnet for more negative energy, and you might end up having "one of those days."

What's more, if you continue to allow negative emotions - triggered by your ego - to get the better of you, you'll probably start to drag others down with you.

You might start a "complaining session" at the water cooler or on coffee break, where everyone vents about something that's annoying them. Do you notice how often this happens? It may not seem like much, but the truth is that it's toxic.

It perpetuates negative energy and, believe it or not, it provides fuel for more and more negative events to take place in the future. (See below.)

Choose a positive response - choose happiness!

If you choose to respond to the erratic freeway driver with a positive attitude and a level head, you invite further positive energy into your life. You can look at things objectively.

Of course, if the driver appears to be impaired in any way you can alert the proper authorities. But if he or she is just driving irresponsibly, it's probably just the antics of ego. It might be some emergency that you don't know about. Again, if the driver appears to be impaired or in some kind of distress, then by all means contact authorities.

If not, choose happiness. Choose to respond with compassion. Give the driver lots of space and let him or her go. If you feel annoyance, that's okay - don't repress it. Allow it to flow through you, and take some deep breaths. You'll feel much better. As you begin to relax, send positive energy and light to the other driver and you'll feel your annoyance dissolve as it's replaced by happiness.

We can always choose happiness... but we have to want it!

Often, we have been living unconsciously for so long that choosing happiness seems like an impossible task. In some cases, our egos try to keep us unhappy because we receive some perceived benefit from it. Have you ever met a "self-described hard-luck case"? This is someone who always seems to have something to complain about; some disaster, ailment or other dramatic situation, big or small, to tell everyone about.

Sometimes a person will behave like this because of the attention and sympathy s/he gets from it. The attention is a perceived benefit... so, unconsciously his/her mind will continue to create "hard luck" situations in order to gain further attention and sympathy. This can even go beyond external events and affect the person physically as well. Ailments, illness, disease, hypochondria and other physical issues can be traced back to a psychological source in many cases.

In other words, a person will sometimes subconsciously create poor health because, at some level, s/he gains some benefit from it. The suggestion that s/he can choose happiness may be rejected. On the surface his or her response might be something like, "I could never be happy. Look at my situation. How could I be happy?"

But underneath, his or her conditioned mind/ego says, "I get a lot of attention and sympathy from this behavior. It might be killing me, but the attention and sympathy still makes me feel loved."

Negative behavior like this is toxic. It can affect others, and it does. It feeds on itself, and it grows. And it certainly affects the person who creates it within themselves! But we all choose happiness, and everything else, ourselves. No one can choose it for us. Ultimately, a person must want to change before s/he can or will change.

Learning to choose happiness can seem like "work"... but it's more than worth it!

At first, moving your energy to higher levels can take concentration. Simply be aware of your thoughts, and go easy on yourself. Don't get upset or beat yourself up if you find yourself slipping back into old ways of thinking. Notice and acknowledge it, and then gently return yourself to positive thoughts. You'll find that the more you do this, the easier it gets. Eventually, happiness becomes a habit.

Although we ultimately choose happiness ourselves, there are still many things that can enhance our happiness. To help yourself along, do things that "make you happy". Imagine yourself in happy places and situations. Relax, enjoy life, and "be here now". Do what you love and enjoy as much as you can, and also find ways to enjoy things that might be a little less pleasant. The more you focus on happiness, the more you will find that negative things - even people - change, fall away and leave your life for good.

Regardless of what goes on around you, know that you - and you alone - are always in charge of your thoughts, feelings and actions. Let go of the past: it no longer exists. Never mind the future: it hasn't happened yet. All that exists is this moment. So be here now - and choose happiness. You'll find that miraculous things will happen in your life!

Autor: Robin Bhattacharyya

Robin Bhattacharyya is an entrepreneur, writer, webmaster, self-improvement and empowerment facilitator and all-around "student and teacher of life" based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. His website, Creating-Life-Abundance.com, is a "must" for anyone looking to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Check out Robin's new e-book, "Your Passion Point", available here!

Click here to learn how your thoughts and emotions create your life experience.

Added: August 13, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

In Pursuit of Happiness

It does happen, albeit rarely. That day when you get out of bed and everything goes just right. Your face is beaming with happiness and the world is just right; but what about when circumstances spin out of control and one bad thing after another happens without seemingly any reason. Everyone has those days when you just can't seem to get things to go right. The storm clouds hang low and your wondering if you will ever feel happy again.

Just how do you stay happy during those tough times? And as for the old adage "when the going gets tough the tough get going." but you feel whomever said that hasn't walked in your shoes. Positive attitudes can help, but is there really a higher power controlling the intricacies of our lives. Are these bumps in our road of life just part of the overall plan? The deep acceptance of faith is called joy; and hard times have a hard time competing with pure joy.

Of course most of us don't understand why bad things happen to good people, but they certainly do and they always will, just as bad things do happen to bad people, this is just the way things are. We must simply understand that certain things do happen and will always happen through our lives, but there are things that happen that will always help us get through life here. Try to look at things as part of a plan and as a positive experience, find the happiness in the simple pleasures of life and overcome the circumstances of the things that seem to get you down.

Along with unhappiness comes fear. To many people, fear is a part of life. Not your usual type fears such as claustrophobia and hypochondria, but fear that keeps them from pursuing the things that could make them happy. For example that job that you know you would rather have, than the one you are in now. Or making those perceived, huge steps in life that keep us from attempting that step that will take us beyond our comfort zone. Often we are our own worst enemies. Negative thoughts keep us in our own comfort zone. We are surrounded by a fence of comfort, some bigger than others but fences none the less. We should take the time to think about where we are in our search for happiness, it is not something that we can buy or that someone will give us. It is something that comes from within.

Many books have been written on the subject of happiness, read more thoughts on the subject in a book called "Before the Secret" by Charles F Haanel.

Autor: Helen Reid Helen Reid
A desire to share an expertise in a particular field has lead to an effort to supply as much information as possible on a broad ... ...

A desire to share an expertise in a particular field has lead to an effort to supply as much information as possible on a broad range of subjects. Check out the books available at http://www.kankoolbooks.com and best wishes for your future.

Added: August 12, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

English Language Teachers - Seven Common Tropical Diseases You Need to Know

One Experience You Can Well Do Without

Have you relocated to a tropical foreign country to teach English as a foreign language? What ever may be your reason for foreign travel, you are bound to meet new friends, try new foods, use a foreign language and have new experiences. One experience you can well do without however, is the loss of your health by contracting one of these seven common tropical diseases. Some are inconvenient and uncomfortable. Some are serious, but treatable and others can be fatal.

Here Are Seven Tropical Diseases You Should Know About

Malaria

Despite advances in vaccinations and treatment of this centuries-old malady, Malaria still continues to take the lives of thousands each year in Africa, Asia and South America.

Yellow Fever

A mosquito or other blood-sucking insect transmitted disease, Yellow Fever should be treated as soon as possible. It can be fatal in a fairly short period of time if left untreated.

Cholera

Primarily transmitted by means of polluted or contaminated drinking water, there are, in fact, a few other ways of contracting this potentially fatal disease.

Giardiasis

Although far from being fatal, this parasitic infection is uncomfortable and inconvenient as you'll spend much of your day and night in the toilet or a foreign hospital emergency room.

Leptospirosis

Most commonly transmitted by flea, and sometimes rat or other rodent bites, Leptospirosis is not often heard of in many "developed" countries. Nonetheless there are occasional outbreaks in a number of countries.

Leishmaniasis

If you hike in the rain forests of Asia or South America, you can be exposed to this ameba-based infection which is very difficult to treat and even more so to cure.

Rabies (Hypochondria)

Rabies, also known as hypochondria, is most commonly transmitted through a bite from an infected rodent, mammal or other animal. Dogs, cats, bats, raccoons and other small animals are all known to have transmitted this potentially fatal disease.

An Ounce of Prevention

Any time you travel, "an ounce of prevention can be worth far more than a pound of cure", as the old saying goes. Use exceptional personal hygiene. Have up-to-date vaccinations as required. Avoid wearing dark colors which attract mosquitoes and heat-seeking insects. Don't sleep scantily-clothed outdoors, especially at night. Use insect repellent when advisable. Drink only treated or commercially bottled water. And be scrupulous in what you eat or consume. Although this still won't guarantee that you'll escape health problems, it will aid in greatly reducing your risk of contracting these and many other communicable diseases.

Autor: Larry M. Lynch Larry M. Lynch
Level: Platinum
Larry M. Lynch is an Intellectual Development Specialist, ELT Teacher Trainer, expert author, photographer and experienced world traveler who teaches language at a university in ... ...

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, prolific writer, expert author and public speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 120 countries. Get your FREE E-books, English language teaching and learning information at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Contact the author at the above blog address for more information.

Added: August 11, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Overcoming Agoraphobia - How a Fresh Look at Its Causes Can Be the Key to Success

If you've had trouble overcoming agoraphobia, and you feel like you've tried everything and exhausted all your options, it's possible that a simple change of perspective could be the answer.

By redefining the way you see your agoraphobia, you can change the way it affects and controls you. But before you can successfully change your perspective, you'll need to first remind yourself of how you see your agoraphobia right now, and for most people this will be a very stereotypical point of view.

And that stereotypical point of view is this: Agoraphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of public places or open areas, especially those from which escape could be difficult or help not immediately accessible.

That's what you'll find as the definition of agoraphobia if you look it up somewhere online, and that's how you would probably define it yourself. But for many people with agoraphobia this definition is nothing more than a memorized sentence from a dictionary - it actually means nothing to them.

And because so many agoraphobia sufferers have lost touch with what their agoraphobia actually is, and what it actually means to them on a day-to-day basis, successfully overcoming it can be next to impossible.

The key to beating this problem is to redefine your agoraphobia, because only then will you see it for what it really is, and only then will you have those eureka moments when solutions suddenly begin to suggest themselves.

First of all - what agoraphobia is not (despite many experts who will tell you otherwise). Agoraphobia is not actually a fear of public places or open areas. And it's not even a fear of having a panic attack when you're outside your comfort zone; those are all symptoms of agoraphobia, but they are not agoraphobia themselves.

Agoraphobia is a defense mechanism.

It's a defense mechanism against any unknown thing you fear.

This definition goes against a lot of common and established beliefs, but if you actually take a long, hard, fresh look at what your agoraphobia means to you, I think you'll find that you agree with the "defense mechanism" idea.

To understand why agoraphobia is actually a defense mechanism, it's vital to fully understand it's true cause. And for the vast majority of people, that cause is a different, underlying panic disorder.

Many people, many experts, believe that you can experience agoraphobia completely on its own, with no other anxiety disorders or symptoms. But these people, and these experts, have usually never suffered with agoraphobia and anxiety and panic disorders themselves. And so they're not in a strong position to make such claims.

As an example, someone with generalized anxiety disorder could become increasingly more withdrawn - their constant, unjustified worrying may cause them to go deep into their "defensive shell." This person will begin to limit their movement away from their comfort zone, simply because any new experiences and interactions could potentially become new worries.

This person will begin to go to increasingly greater lengths to avoid new situations, in order to protect themselves from new situations that could become uncontrollable worries and fears.

And that's why agoraphobia is a defense mechanism.

There are many other forms of panic and anxiety disorder beside generalized anxiety disorder, and each of them has the potential to cause agoraphobia. Health anxiety (or hypochondria), social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even phobias.

They all have the potential to cause agoraphobia. In cases where there are apparently no other panic disorders as the underlying cause, there's often one that's gone completely unnoticed - because the agoraphobia spirals out of control and becomes all that you can focus on, the smaller things, which are often the things which cause and control the agoraphobia, are impossible to see.

That's why anyone affected by agoraphobia should look at identifying any underlying panic disorder causes, and addressing those, instead of addressing the agoraphobia directly.

This has to be a better approach - it allows sufferers to address the cause, and not the symptom. Addressing the symptom will never achieve anything, except masking the problem temporarily.

So the key to discovering a way out of your agoraphobia are these: take a fresh look at it, and don't just see the dictionary definition of it; get a fresh perspective; go hunting for the true underlying cause, which will almost certainly be some other form of anxiety disorder; treat the underlying cause, and not the superficial one.

Following a simple plan like this can work wonders.

Autor: Alex Taylor Alex Taylor
Alex Taylor is a professional researcher/writer from England. Since finally overcoming severe anxiety and panic disorder in 2007, Alex now concentrates all his time on ... ...

Alex Taylor is a freelance writer/researcher from England. Having overcome a lifelong battle with anxiety and panic disorder in 2007, Alex now devotes his time to helping others recover. He achieves this via his highly-acclaimed online course, "Beat Panic Today." You can access "Beat Panic Today" free of charge by visiting Alex's website: http://www.PreventYourPanic.com

Added: August 9, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Hypochondria - Breaking the Habit Naturally

Hypochondriasis is not a derogatory term. It is a somatic disorder that proves to be real and difficult for many individuals. The person may experience symptoms of a physical ailment and yet anxiety is the culprit. An overactive mind and body is the result of constant worry.

Symptoms of hypochondria usually follow a prolonged period of worry, usually concerning an undiagnosed symptom.

Signs of Hypochondria:
Symptoms often "jump" from one area to another, Examples: stomach (digestion, IBS),

headache, skin, dizziness, flushing, lethargy, death and health fears in general.

- Doctor Shopping:
Seeking out doctor after doctor until locating one which will tell them what they wish to hear.

- Appetite Loss: Worry induced

- Adrenal Fatigue:

The Result of Constant Worry: Exhaustion, weakness, fearfulness, lack of appetite, insomnia, tension, irritability, achiness.

- Insomnia: Overactive mind, racing thoughts.
- Feelings of Depersonalization/Derealization: a mind exhausted from worry and elevated cortisol levels.
- Memory Loss/Confusion: Tired mind.
- Lack of Concentration: Exhaustion
- Related Recollections: Recollection of someone close or acquaintance who recently fell ill, with specific disease, specific symptoms.

PRESCRIPTION FOR CURE

- Acknowledgement of this condition and triggers (there are always triggers).

- Boosting Serontonin levels. Specific behavioral changing, neutralizing diet, and specific exercise work as well as most medications for relief.

- Reprogramming the mind, retraining the brain to view intrusive ailments in a less reactive manner...as perspective changes from negative to realistic.

- Learning to put down resistance after experiencing the peace of mind and true control one may exert over every aspect of their lives.

- Nutrition: Using the foods you eat to work for you rather than against you. A good diet will hold these impulses in check and allow you to view your health realistically.

- Behavioral Changes: Learning to take your thoughts and under-react to them...instead of shifting into instant worse case scenario.

Taking life as it comes and enjoying the moment. Remaining in the present instead of looking backward into the past or forward into the future. This is the key to peace of mind.

Autor: Ronnie Freedman Ronnie Freedman
Level: Basic
Dr. Freedman is the founder of Anxiety Busters, Inc and author of many anxiety/nutrition related programs. She is an advocate of natural treatment as opposed ... ...

Dr. Ronnie Freedman

Anxiety Busters, Inc.

http://www.anxietybusters.com

Your Natural Prescription for Anxiety Relief

Added: August 7, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Overcoming Agoraphobia - A Fresh Approach That Can Work Wonders

Overcoming agoraphobia is often approached in completely the wrong way. In some cases, this delays someone's recovery by months and even years.

The biggest problem is the misconception that agoraphobia is no different to any other mental illness, and so psychologists and books will often suggest traditional treatments - things like psychoanalysis, where you look into your own past for potential causes of your agoraphobia; cognitive behavioral therapy, where you're told to adjust the way you control your own thoughts; and even basic "positive thinking," where you're told to "think" your way happy.

But the truth is, these approaches rarely work. In fact, in those people who've successfully overcome agoraphobia, these methods are rarely responsible.

The vital thing to understand is that agoraphobia is not the root-cause of your problem. And because it's not the root-cause of your problem, addressing the agoraphobia itself will prove ineffective in almost all cases; the best this will do is temporarily mask your symptoms.

The true root-cause of your agoraphobia is the anxiety you experience 24/7. This may be based on another form of panic disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder, health anxiety (or hypochondria), social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or even a severe phobia of anything.

Or your anxiety may be non-specific and seem random to you.

Whatever the case, it is your anxiety that needs to be addressed, and not the agoraphobia itself.

So the first step in overcoming agoraphobia is uncovering its true cause. Once you've successfully achieved that, you'll be in a much better position, mentally and physically, to begin to work at beating it.

In the majority of cases, the cause will be one of the anxiety and panic disorders I mentioned above. And the good news is that those are generally more easy to successfully treat than agoraphobia itself.

The best approaches to beating any anxiety or panic disorder is to search for those activities and pastimes that calm you, and to concentrate on doing those as often as possible. Any time you can give your mind a break from the constant anxiety you normally experience your body will appreciate it, and your anxiety will decrease.

It would also be a great idea to cut back on all foods and drinks with "stimulant" qualities. The obvious ones are caffeine, chocolate, carbonated drinks, and sugar. So avoid those whenever you can!

The important thing to remember is that your agoraphobia has an underlying cause. The key to quickly overcoming agoraphobia is to find that underlying cause, and then to focus all your attention on beating it.

Autor: Alex Taylor Alex Taylor
Alex Taylor is a professional researcher/writer from England. Since finally overcoming severe anxiety and panic disorder in 2007, Alex now concentrates all his time on ... ...

Since overcoming a lifelong battle with anxiety and panic disorder in 2007, Alex Taylor now devotes his time to helping others recover. He achieves this via his highly-acclaimed online course, "Beat Panic Today." You can experience the same results that many others have experienced by accessing the course right now, free of charge, by going to Alex's website: http://www.PreventYourPanic.com

Added: August 6, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

The Price of Being Nice

In the history of human beings, can you identify anyone who has ever made a name for themselves for being 'nice'? And if you are thinking of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, or Florence Nightingale, all three used their powerful personas to influence others, not the fact that they were or are 'nice'.

'Nice' really is an insipid little word. It says nothing. It evokes no feeling and generates no dazzling image. Picture your own obituary reading: 'She was always nice'. No reference to character quirks, no personality foibles, just an infinitely forgettable lifetime of being blandly nice.

The dictionary tells the story of the origin of this dull little non-word. It has its history in Middle English and Latin terms that mean 'stupid' or 'ignorant'. In effect, this is what 'nice' looks like because always being nice means having to fit in or go along with, with no confrontation, no argument. So it's no wonder that from the time a girl is squeezed out of the womb, she is programmed to be nice. She's drilled to be society's doormat and like a robot, she's engineered to please.

So conditioned are women to believe in the nobility of niceness that many think congeniality is their default setting. "What's wrong with this?" was a question posed to me by a radio interviewer. "Someone," she said "has got to be nice and look after everyone else." But why does it always have to be a woman?

Of course the pay-off of niceness benefits the males around her, from her father and brothers initially, to her lovers, partners and sons later on. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that we women are conned into being nice. We are led to believe it will get us what we want.

Women buy this scam because there is an element of truth in it. Others are far more likely to cooperate with people that they like, but does being nice really make women likable? How can anyone be trusted who is nice all the time?

Men get what they want because they are respected, admired or even feared but do women get their needs met, or their own way, because they're being nice? Nice is annoying to be around, it makes people on the receiving end feel awkward. So more likely being nice, rather than being assertive or demanding, means women's wishes are easier to ignore.

Being nice has its price. To behave this way requires being lobotomized from one's real persona. This translates into stifling one's desires and exorcising one's wishes and needs. It is an extreme form of self-censorship that forces women to live half a life.

Such a life prescription is a behavioural straight-jacket that society dictates for women and - because of this - just behind the veil of niceness lurks a dark shadow; rage.

Phyllis Chesler - author of 'Women's Inhumanity to Women' - refers to this as the 'tyranny of niceness' and you'd better believe that the sweeter a woman is, the greater the rage. Through her smile she is hissing her fury and, if confronted, she'll flee into denial. As nice people's lives are one big hidden agenda, they are capable of some of the worst forms of betrayal.

Rage is destructive energy that mobilises us to fight. Stymieing this fighting spirit with a veneer of niceness stuffs the rage into our system causing us to battle with ourselves. This leads to all manner of problems including: depression, panic attacks, phobias, controlling behaviour, perfectionism, hypochondria, addictions, anorexia, bulimia, obesity, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), jaw tightening and self-mutilation. So powerful is this rage that links are also being made to cancer, infertility and an increasing incidence of heart attacks in women.

Instead of gagging your rage, make best friends with the bitch inside, for she's the one who will protect you. The bitch fights injustices; she doesn't nag, whine or squabble about petty things. But she will put her foot down when others take your generosity for granted. Ironically, only with her protection do women feel safe enough to reveal the softer aspects of their authentic character, like vulnerability for instance.

Although the bitch is usually condemned, she's the one who protects the integrity and strength of our genuine female nature, and it is through her that women can reach wholeness. So instead of being inauthentically nice, retrieve your power by stirring the cauldron that feeds the ancient witch/bitch archetype of the wise woman inside.

Autor: Stephanie Vermeulen Stephanie Vermeulen
Level: Basic
Stephanie Vermeulen of The Effective Training Corporation runs practical training programmes on applied EQ and woman's issues in business and public forums as well as ... ...

Stephanie Vermeulen runs seminars on Applied Emotional Intelligence and Women's Issues in business and public forums as well as being an inspiring speaker, writer and personal coach. Her books, 'Kill the Princess: Why Women Still Aren't Free from the Quest for a Fairytale Life' & 'EQ: Emotional Intelligence for Everyone' are available from leading bookstores and online from Amazon.com and Kalahari.net. She can be contacted via her website http://www.eqsa.co.za

Added: August 5, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

7 Helps For Better Personal Health

Health is one of the important areas of our life. Others are religion, job or business with an adequate income, building a retirement income, and owning a house. But how important are these? They are important. So how does personal health fit into the picture?

Poor health in general does not allow full enjoyment of any of the items important. Specific health problems can be short time and interfere with life enjoyment. Long time specific health problems can be a never ending diminishing of life activities including work and other important areas.

At the same time one does not want to be deluded into frequent doctor visits when there is no real problem. At its worst it is called hypochondria. In less amounts it can be delusions caused by television commercials, and magazines ads.

Some pointers are:

1. Ignore commercials. If you believe you have a real problem, or daily routines are adversely affected by what appears to be real health problems, see your family doctor. At least you can then determine if the problem is real, whether it is an important problem or not, and relieve your mind, and be able to get on with your life. But do not allow commercials to cause you health worries, when in fact there may not be any.

2. Remember that there are few doctors will tell you to get lost. The basic attitude of doctors is to serve the patient. That is good. But realize that you are wasting your time and money and the doctors time if you do not have a real problem.

3. Physicals. At nearly every age regular physicals should become routine. Through these one can learn their general and specific health, whether any areas need attention and then acting on the best plans according to your doctor alleviate them, gain peace of mind even if there is a problem because then you know what it is and what you need to do to relieve it.

4. OTC Drugs. There are a multitude of over the counter drugs most of which you do not need. Aspirin is good, a cough medication may work for light coughs or colds. First one needs to determine with their doctor if they have a problem, and if yes, what is a good OTC remedy. Your doctor can tell you also, in general, what OTC drugs that are useful for you. Remember that you can become sick from too many or too much OTC drugs.

5. Prescription drugs. Doctors have a multitude of choices when prescribing a drug for a particular health problem. That is good, but remember a prescription drug can als cause you problems, and if one does notify your doctor and get a different drug.

6. Food. Good food is a critical part of good health. Take the time to learn healthy foods and then set your diet according to them. Your doctor's office can get you started learning what are healthy foods and those not good for you. And learn to read labels. Most grocery stores and restaurants aim to sell food, and not watch out for your health. Control of your diet is up to you. Exercise that control. Generally foods prepared at home are healthier than restaurant menus.

7. Exercise. If your life style is with little exercise then you probably need exercise. Walking up stairs a level or two is better than taking an elevator or escalator, and may prove faster. Parking away from the store or mall and walking to the store is good exercise. Mowing the yard with a walk behind mower is good exercise. The point is that there are many good exercises about in your daily life. A spa or gym is not necessary. However gyms do provide a community of people doing the same thing and that may appeal to you. Remember that toned muscles are good for they also represent heart exercise. Bulging muscles look good, but they can introduce health problems. Moderation is a good goal when exercising.

Every important area of life is better enjoyed when health is good. Pills may become a necessity, but they are not a substitute for good health. Doctors can be a big help, yet your health is up to you. If you have good health don't waste it. If your health is not where you would like then you need to get working on it.

Autor: Paul Mobley Paul Mobley
Level: Basic PLUS
Now retired, Paul is active doing small farming, maintaining a website, and writing. Though some income is desireable, many efforts are for free both of ... ...

http://www.geocities.com/mobleria/me.html list more information about the author, and provide resources that a publisher would be interested in, and some of the expertise that supports viewing his articles and these materials. Paul's Book are found at http://www.lulu.com/mobleria Paul is interested in writing from article size to books and invites anyone interested to contact him.

Added: August 5, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/