Lapsi

It wasn't very long ago that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was shrouded in mystery. Unless directly affected by it through their children, most parents did not fully understand and certainly could not readily identify something like ADHD. Fortunately today parents have greater access to information through schools, community professionals and the World Wide Web. Yet even though the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that approximately 2 million children in the United States have ADHD (that's roughly 1 child out of every classroom of 25-30 students) many parents are still unsure about how to identify symptoms, who to turn to for diagnosis, and how to work with...

Mental Health Empowerment, Partnership and Recovery: Ideal or Reality? Mao Tse-Tung is not an obvious inspiration for the empowerment, partnership and recovery of mental health services and service users but it was reading "Mao - The Unknown Story", the astounding biography by Jang Chung and her husband of Red China's infamous tyrant that I found a quotation that sums up for me the attitude most conducive to both: "Ideals are important, but reality is even more important." In my opinion, which is admittedly uninformed in many ways and only that of a self-educated service user, without recovery - of the service and its staff, and service users alike - there can be no empowerment and without equality...

ANNALS Winter 2007 This 1-credit continuing education opportunity is co-sponsored by the American College of Forensic Examiners International (ACFEI) and the American Psychotherapy Association. ACFEI maintains responsibility for all continuing education accreditations. This article is approved by the following for 1 continuing education credit: APA provides this continuing education credit for Diplomates. The American College of Forensic Examiners International is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. ACFEI maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The American College of Forensic Examiners International is accredited...

Despite the fact that much more importance is now placed on the health and well being of staff in the workplace it is only comparatively recently that many businesses have begun to look at mental health issues amongst their workforce. A survey by the Confederation of British Industry reported that over 90% of its correspondents believed that the mental health of employees should be a concern of their company. Unfortunately, less than 10% of businesses actually have a mental health policy in place. Of course, many people spend a large amount of their time at work so it makes good business sense to make sure that mental health issues are not ignored. Because of the stressful nature of work the mental...

Choosing a Treatment Center You are sick and tired of being sick and tired! Perhaps your family or the court has decided that you need treatment. Regardless of your decision, choosing the right treatment center is probably one of the most important decisions you are ever going to make. So now you are on the internet. You have done a search and literally hundreds of treatment centers have popped up. Amazing, each and every one of them purports to be the very best program for you. Everybody has a great web site. How do you know what program is really right for you? The first step is facing reality. Treatment can be very expensive. One of the things we have to face in recovery is accepting the fact...

Counselors will help individuals resolve personal or family problems, in addition to helping them place themselves in a career. The role of an counselor will vary greatly depending on the profession that they are in, but the basic categories of these professionals include school, career, rehabilitation counselors, mental health, behavioral, and family therapists. School counselors will usually help students with their personal and academic development, frequently using counseling sessions in interviews in order to assess the abilities of various students. They will also operate career information centers in order to help high school students get into college, or to find their ideal area of...

Troubled adolescents are recognized as a social problem by general society and governments. There are many avenues available to help troubled adolescents. The best help is till the help provided by parents in a stable family setting. When family is unable to solve the issues of troubled teens parents should seek professional help before it is too late. Parents should identify the problem faced by the young man or woman, explore the many options available to help the adolescent with the problem and choose the option that is best suited for the unique needs of the adolescent. Family is the best help for troubled teens. Parents should monitor and solve the problems of troubled teens at an early stage...

When I speak with therapists (psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors), it truly amazesme how many of them think that being in private practice is just about doing therapy. In reality, being in private practice is about so much more. First and foremost, being in private practice means working for yourself. The benefits of that are whatever you allow them to be: Set your own hours Work your own schedule See the patients you want Set your fees Work where you want Create and re-create information And that is truly just the beginning. Now, I know some of you might be shaking your head, and thinking, "It's just not that easy." Well, you are 100% right. It is not that easy. But, if you...

The Holidays are more stressful and overwhelming, now. Do you want to be happier and healthier this holiday season? Would you like to enjoy the holidays more? This article is devoted to Holiday Stress Survival Tips to improve quality of life through the holidays. This holiday season will be stressfilled. World economic swings and terrorism have created conditions that have changed our holiday celebrations. Attitudes towards travel, being with family, celebration in the face of fear and sadness, will make this year's holiday season different than in years past. Adjustments will help to create new ways of participating in the holiday events. These can be both positive and negative. Consider new...

Since humans are unique, anxiety and panic attacks therefore vary from person to person. We have to understand that fear, uncertainty, and doubt is a normal part of human life. For example, were you anxious about your presentation, only to end up with a very agreeable crowd? That is normal anxiety. Licensed Mental Health Counselors are not interested with normal worry and everyday anxiety. However, if your anxiety comes up for no apparent reason and lasts for days (and maybe months) on end. If your anxiety happens in most days than not and lasts for months, it is called an Panic or Anxiety Disorder. Panic or Anxiety Disorder can be defined as a blanket term covering several different forms of...

There are so many people today that suffer from depression. Many try to seek relief through antidepressant drugs, but have found that these medications do not work to alleviate their symptoms, or make them feel any better. Over time, they may have tried a number of different prescribed drugs, and even some other drugs, but end up being frustrated. There are so many things that are bad about these things, and it is important to avoid them. 'Fake it till you make it' is a phrase used a lot in therapy, and if you have ever gone to a counselor for your depression, you may have heard this term. It means that you have to keep going, even if you do not feel like it, and continue as long as it takes to get...

Asperger's syndrome is a disorder that may exhibit similar characteristics with autism but somehow milder than it. The most common characteristics of Asperger's syndrome is abnormal social interaction, restricted patterns of behavior, difficulty in communicating and expressing, and may have delayed development of motor skills and thus they may usually be clumsy. Other characteristics of Asperger's may include sticking to a routine and may not be want new changes to a routine that he is used to and thus they may find it difficult to cope up with a quick-changing environment. They may also be focused on a special interest. They may also be very sensitive with touch. Because they have difficulties with...

I got a call earlier this week from a couple trying to get help for a beloved friend who was unable to get off the couch due to experiencing visions, flashes spiritual-emergency of color and light, sensations of energy coming out of her body, and ecstatic trance states. She also believes that the Messiah has returned, and it is she. The couple had found me through Google as a 'transpersonal' therapist, or one who has had training in assessing and treating what is called "spiritual emergency." For although their friend has a history of severe mental illness, many of her symptoms are the same or similar as those of spiritual awakening. She was also experiencing evidence of a broader spiritual...

If you ever had then it is really a terrible experience. Not just that it is also very scary since you feel that you are fighting for your life. At that point you wish that you have a magic pill that could stop the worst ever panic attacks that's happening to you. When panic attacks strike, it will affect your daily life routine. It could be worst when you have a family to take care of since their daily life will be affected too. One thing about panic attacks is that you don't know when it will strike and you don't know how long will it last. How could the worst panic attacks ever strike you? When your body nervous system becomes tired, this is the time that your chances of getting panic attacks is...

Private practice websites offer so many benefits. It's really hard to believe that not more mental health professionals take advantage of all that a website has to offer in private practice. One of the greatest benefits to having your own website is that it can work for you when you are not able to work. Consider it the answering machine of the new millennium. People come looking to find you, and instead they reach an answering service, answering machine, or voice messaging system. Who likes that? No one likes the informality that comes along with those services. What about the "auto-response" you sometimes receive when sending an e-mail to someone who is away on vacation or just out of the office...

Private practice success for mental health professionals is only 7 simple steps away. Step 1: Planning Begin with the end in mind. There are many things to consider, but the basic lesson here is to understand and be crystal clear about what it is you want to create. Step 2: Develop a strong foundation Evaluate your core beliefs. You must consider what you believe about developing and running a private practice. These beliefs can dramatically impact the results you work to achieve. Step 3: Begin construction Get started today. Take action and begin developing your ideas. Start small and build your momentum. Step 4: Framing the house Once you have a strong foundation, you need to support the...

In 2005, a mental health study was commissioned to examine the extent of the problem of discontinuation of therapy and treatment for patients experiencing mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. The study examined the factors that influenced whether these patients followed through with the full course of prescribed medications or not. As part of the study, 76 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with a panel of inpatient hospital psychiatrists and discharge planners and outpatient (community mental health center) psychiatrists and intake coordinators from across four states. The respondents stated that, on average, 50 percent of consumers discharged from...

What makes one clinical service succeed and another fail? How is it that we hear about the desperate need for a service only to discover that there is little demand once we open our doors? The buying patterns of consumers can be a complex, frustrating and elusive process. Consider these examples: - An Eating Disorder Clinic of some prominence is forced to close its doors due to increasing costs and a shrinking consumer base. Its closing brings about complaints from members of the community arguing the need for these services. - A therapist responds to years of community feedback asking for a substance abuse education program for adolescents. He opens his doors for six months but is unable...

What do lead, mercury, and arsenic have in common? They are all ingredients used in most artificial food coloring. For example, FD&C Red Number 3 contains lead and arsenic; while FD&C Yellow Number 5 contains lead, mercury and arsenic. Studies have shown that lead and mercury are not only absorbed when ingested, they are also absorbed through the skin. How prevalent is artificial food coloring? Just look in your pantry or your medicine cabinet. Everything from sports drinks, cereals, lotions, and shampoos to over the counter and prescription medicines contain artificial food coloring. Following are some examples of commonly used items that contain artificial food coloring: Food Items...

There is a vast network of information on the Internet about ADHD. The drug companies have sponsored ADHD forums and countless parents are writing blogs. These are certainly useful places to get free ADHD info but we should be wary of the drugs companies' websites as they will push just ONE type of treatment which is basically an amphetamines type of drug which may compromise your child's health and do very little for the ADHD problem. Info on ADHD can be biased and there are often vested interests involved which are worth millions of dollars. Look at what the journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has just reported. It refers to the MTA (Multimodal Treatment Study of...

There was a time when children who exhibited hyperactivity, inattention and disinterest in school were not labeled with ADD, (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD, (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The diagnosis of ADD and ADHD began in the 60s and became more commonplace in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Ritalin, first used to combat depression and narcolepsy, was one of the first drugs prescribed for ADD/ADHD beginning in the 1960s. It seems apparent to many that professionals are quick to label kids with the disorder. There has always been much controversy around the diagnosis. Most physicians and health care professionals believe that symptoms are usually the result of a problem with brain...

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD what do you do next? This is the most common diagnosis given to children in this country today. The AACAP (American Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) estimates that among grade school children 5% of girls and 10% of boys suffer from this disorder. The United States has roughly 5 % of the world's population yet we consume 90% of all the Ritalin produced in it. Even more concerning is the age of children being put on these drugs. In children under the age of 5 prescriptions for these stimulants increased an astonishing 107% for girls and 78% for boys between 1991 and 1995. While these drugs have been shown to help 60% to 75% of children put on them people...

Fat is one of the biggest problems facing children and teens today. Childhood obesity is on the rise, and as parents you have a choice - be a contributor or be a role model. Here are some alarming facts: - There are 9 million overweight teens in the U.S. today, and childhood obesity rates have tripled since the 1970's. (The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention). - Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). - By 2035, there'll be a double digit increase in heart disease and related deaths because of the increasing obesity in U.S. teens (New England Journal of Medicine). Obesity is not only a weight problem. It's...

Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder according to Singh (2002) is a developmental disorder that is brain based and most often affects children. This developmental disorder can be characterized as a disorder in which affects ones self control; primary aspects include difficulty with attention, impulse control, and activity levels usually diagnosed prior to the age of 7yrs. of age (Willoughby, 2003). There are primarily three sub-types of ADHD. Inattentive sub-type 1 is ADHD which those who manifest inattention without the presence of hyperactivity and impulsivity (Barkley, 2005). There is also ADHD sub-type 2 with symptomolgy related to hyperactivity and impulsivity (Barkley, 2005). Finally...

Everyone wants the best for their children and everyone wants to trust the advice of their primary care physicians. So it's no wonder that when awareness of ADHD began to rise significantly that parents were asking their family doctors if they should be concerned. Typically, the doctor would ask a series of questions about the child's behavior and assess the answers carefully before deciding whether or not medication such as Ritalin should be prescribed. There are more in-depth screening procedures that assess whether ADHD symptoms are actually present and are severe enough to warrant medication, but all-too-often physicians would prescribe the drug in moderate to low doses early and allow the...

Spending in Our Federal Prisons: Where does all that money go? One out of every ninety-nine people in the United States is currently incarcerated in a Federal Prison.  With numbers like that, increases in prison costs have skyrocketed over the past 20 years.  Since 1988, the Department of Corrections has increased their spending by 127%--which outweighs Higher Education spending; with only a 21% increase in the past 20 years.  Why is more money pumped into our prisons than into our children’s schools?  And what can we do about it? The major contributing factor in our escalating prison costs is the amount of prisoners we have incarcerated.  By 2011, there will be 1.7 million inmates in the...

One of the most common questions that most of the psychology students that are new to the field ask is that what psychology is. In simple terms psychology is defined as an applied and academic field that deals with the study of human mind and behavior. Researches in psychology aims in understanding the thought, emotion and even behavior; the fields in which psychology is applied are the mental health treatment, performance enhancement areas, self help, ergonomics and even many other fields that affect health and daily life. The word psychology owes its roots to the Greek word psyche which means soul or mind. Psychology has evolved partially from philosophy and biology, and these date as far as the...

If you suffer from a mental illness, and eating disorder or an addiction, often the first step to helping yourself is to realize you have a problem. People will make excuses for themselves for a long time before admitting that their life could be better if they sought help. If this sounds like you and you are ready to get help, here's where to start: Family - Start by talking to your family. They will most definitely take you seriously and begin to process through the possible treatment options with you. Often, a person's family turns out to be their greatest support system. Youth Groups - Your area might offer youth groups where people just like you will go to talk about their problems, and share...