2011 September

Cosmetic Dentistry – Have a Bright and Stunning Smile

The Cosmetic Dentistry in Etobicoke is swiftly gaining popularity for converting an ordinary smile in to an attractive one. It is well accepted by the young and old as it offers an attractive and dazzling smile. The first thing that someone notices about you is your smile. The latest practice of modern dentistry helps you to stand confidently in the rest of the crowd with a flawless smile. You can also get a total oral health care along with smile makeover treatments at certain dental clinics.
As oral care is the major concern in recent times, many people prefer Cosmetic Dentistry to get the perfect healthy smile and brighten teeth for a lifetime. A dark yellowish and cracked or misshapen tooth always creates the wrong impression and causes one to lose one’s self-confidence. But one shouldn’t worry because cosmetic dentistry is a kind of process that aims to enhance the appearance of your teeth by recovering the oral problems. It is a complete package of dental care, which includes a number of different treatments such as; dental bridges and dental implants, teeth straightening, teeth whitening etc.
Other than cosmetic dentistry the Porcelain Veneers in Etobicoke are the most famous, which provide an expedient route to get that perfect smile. The dentist will fit over your own teeth, giving your mouth a face-lift. The greatest feature of porcelain veneers is that your smile looks natural. These are wonderful smile-makeover treatments that provide striking and long lasting outcomes.
If you want such benefits you must visit a dental clinic for regular checkups of your teeth by a dental hygienist. The Dental Hygienists Etobicoke is one, who provides you with suggestions and assistance that may help you to deal with your teeth and also provide other preventive dental care. For searching the best dental care have a glance at dental clinic sites and find the perfect one for you. As oral care is the major concern in recent times, many people prefer Cosmetic Dentistry to get the perfect healthy smile and brighten teeth for a lifetime. A dark yellowish and cracked or misshapen tooth always creates the wrong impression and causes one to lose one’s self-confidence. But one shouldn’t worry because cosmetic dentistry is a kind of process that aims to enhance the appearance of your teeth by recovering the oral problems. It is a complete package of dental care, which includes a number of different treatments such as; dental bridges and dental implants, teeth straightening, teeth whitening etc.
Other than cosmetic dentistry the Porcelain Veneers in Etobicoke are the most famous, which provide an expedient route to get that perfect smile. The dentist will fit over your own teeth, giving your mouth a face-lift. The greatest feature of porcelain veneers is that your smile looks natural. These are wonderful smile-makeover treatments that provide striking and long lasting outcomes.
By Health Care on September 24, 2011 | Dental Care

Seacod is a Vitamin and Mineral Supplement that Can be Used by All

Recent times have seen a drastic change in the lifestyles of people and every individual has become increasingly busy and has no time to take care of their health either. There are a number of things one wants to try their hands at and they aim to be the best at it. This has taken a definite toll on people’s health as it leads to erratic schedules and missing meals has become extremely common. This leads to no proper intake of nutrients that are essential and people complain of poor health very frequently. This is one reason why most people are looking for supplements that will give them the right vitamins and minerals that are essential for proper functioning of the body.

This need has given rise to a number of vitamin and minerals supplements in the market that promise to provide the best care to the body. However, this might have side effects and it is advisable that one runs a complete research before consuming the same. One supplement that is perfectly safe and replenishes the body in the right way is seacod. This has been made after thorough and complete research and it is guaranteed that there are no side effects in consuming this capsule whatsoever. In fact, it is so safe that medical professionals also advise the use of this capsule to those who come to them asking for supplements.

Cod liver oil is a treasure trove of vitamins like vitamin A (Retinol) and vitamin D. Vitamin A is important for the health of eyes, skin and hair. Vitamin D is necessary for the good health of bones and teeth, as well as muscle regenration. Seacod oil also contains Omega 3 fatty acids, which are excellent for the health of the heart. Minerals like phosphorus, calcium, sodium and potassium are also present in requisite quantities

Seacod is a vitamin and mineral supplement that can be used by all and it is highly beneficial too. The cod liver oil with is contained within the capsule is what has the required amount of minerals and vitamins to help one get the right intake of the same. It is something that nourishes the body in a holistic manner and due to its safety quotient it is highly safe for pregnant women to consume it too. There is no risk at all either to the mother or to the unborn child.

Parents can administer seacod which is a vitamin and mineral supplement to their kids as well and see the best results. Two capsules twice a day is more than enough to show great results.

By Health Care on September 23, 2011 | Nutrition

10 Tips To Get Control Of Your Diabetes!

It is important for patients who are diagnosed with diabetes to understand that this disorder is a lifelong problem that potentially can cause serious complications. Diabetes is a characterized by high blood sugar levels that occur because the body cannot produce and use insulin properly. When high sugars are left uncontrolled, serious complications can results. These complications include kidney disease, blindness and foot problems.

Sadly there is no diabetes cure but through proper management it is possible to normalize blood sugar levels and given the appearance that the diabetes has been reversed. This is so important because diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and kidney failure. In addition, it contributes to the development of heart disease and raises the risk of stroke. These complications are very serious and it is for this reason that patients with diabetes visit their physician routinely and stick to the prescribed treatment plan. Many patients are overwhelmed by the information and their physician’s expectations. Follow these simple steps to improve your diabetes and you will find that improving your blood sugar is easier than it may seem!

Start with these 10 ways to improve your blood sugar levels!

1. Invest in a quality glucometer and use it to track your blood sugars every day.

2. Stick to the prescribed diet plan.

3. Exercise. Even a small amount of exercise can make a big difference.

4. Have an annual eye exam to screen for eye disease.

5. See your doctor as scheduled and complete the screening bloodwork!

6. Stop smoking! Smoking helps nothing! It increases your risk of heart disease and stroke!

7. Take good care of your feet. Diabetic foot problems can lead to amputation. Have your feet checked at every visit.

8. Stay up to date on vaccinations! Having the flu and pneumonia vaccinations can prevent complications from these illnesses. Diabetics are at higher risk for these types of complications.

9. Check your cholesterol!

10. Don’t skip your medications!

Successful treatment depends on how involved the patient is in his own care. Success is largely dependent on the patient’s commitment to making lifelong changes. Diabetes is a complicated disease the requires a team approach. The patient and physician need to work together to find a diet, exercise and medication regimen that works well for the patient. Patients need to remember that medications alone will not fix this problem. Try incorporating these tips a little at a time to gradually improve your blood sugar readings.

By Health Care on September 21, 2011 | Diabetes

Anxiety Disorder – Strategies For Beating Anxiety

It’s a stressful world out there; a busy world; a world that places many unrealistic demands and high expectations on us. It’s no wonder that anxiety is one of the leading mental disorders in the country today. It starts as low-key stress and worry, and if you don’t learn to manage the stress you could end up with a full blown anxiety disorder. Following are some tips I’ve learned to manage stress and anxiety in my life.
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Be Aware of the Early Signs of Stress and Anxiety in Your BodyGetting to know your body’s first signals of tension will help you intervene early enough to ward off panic attacks or severe anxiety. My first signs are tension in my shoulders. They are not relaxed and tend to be scrunched up. I have learned to check on myself during the day to see where I might be getting tense.

Another symptom for me is clenching my jaw or grinding my teeth. I am more apt to catch this one right away. Overall restlessness tells me I am working into or have already moved into anxiety. Learn your body’s physical signals of anxiety and stress and work at being tuned into them throughout the day.

Relaxation Techniques and Self-Soothing

There are many ways to relax when you feel the tension building in your body. Here are a few:

  • Yoga
  • Walking or some other exercise
  • Breathing techniques (which you can find all over the internet)
  • Progressive muscle relaxation exercises
  • Warm bubble bath or shower
Make a self-soothing first aid kit. It’s great fun putting it together. Get a box or basket and fill it with items that soothe you, covering all the senses.
Here is what is in my kit:
  • Touch – smooth stones, a silky scarf
  • Hearing – soft instrumental music (It is better to not have vocals are upbeat, stimulating music), a CD of nature sounds
  • Sight – A photo album of my grandchildren, a book on roses, an inspirational devotional writing
  • Taste– a favorite snack and/or herbal tea (nothing caffeinated)
  • Smell – Scented candle
When I feel my tension start to creep in, I try one or two of these to stop it before it gets to crisis mode. The idea though is to practice these things routinely, every day, to keep relaxed throughout the day.

Sleep

People who struggle with anxiety also struggle with getting to or staying asleep. Medication can help, but often medication does not allow you to get the appropriate type of sleep. Good sleep hygiene can be very helpful, once your brain has learned it habitually.

Here is what sleep hygiene looks like:

1. Use your bed only for sleep and intimacy, nothing else, period.
2. Go to bed at the same time each night, every night if possible.
3. Get up at the same time, even if you did not get much sleep.
4. Keep your room at a comfortable temperature. I like to sleep with a window open for fresh air.
5. Have a pre-bedtime routine. You may want to implement some of your self-soothing first aid kit activities. I have a cup to herbal tea and listen to soft music before I turn in.
6. Don’t go to bed right after being on the computer or TV. The screen will stimulate you and make it hard for you to fall asleep. Do something relaxing after you watch TV or use the computer.
7. Don’t take long naps.
8. Don’t go to bed after having a big meal or heavy snack.
9. Don’t exercise within a few hours before bedtime.
10. Keep your room quiet and dark.

If you can’t get to sleep, don’t lay in bed. Get out of bed and do something quiet, like read something light and/or, inspirational, journal in a positive way, in other words, stay solution focused. Don’t get on the computer or watch TV. Use a relaxation or self-soothing technique.

Good sleep is essential for good mental health.

Stop Intrusive, Racing, and Worried Thoughts

This is easier said than done, but with a lot of practice you can master it. Self-talk is a helpful method for me, but it’s taken a few years of learning that anxiety can’t kill me to really be able to do it. You might say things like,

“I am feeling a lot of anxiety right now. It’s okay, these feelings are just feelings, I will not die from them. They are just annoying.”

“I am anxious right now, what is bothering me? What am I afraid of? What can I do about the things I am worried about?”

“There is nothing I can do about what is bothering tonight, just pray about it, or set it aside until tomorrow when I am rested.”

“I am going to make a list of things I need to do tomorrow so I don’t sit and stress about all I have to do.”

“This is going to pass, it always does.”

Another thing to do is call a safe and loving family member or friend and run it by them. Perhaps they can offer some advice or insights you are not seeing.

Pray and meditate.

Diet

Eat healthy. Don’t overeat. Most of us know what a healthy diet consists of. Stay away from alcohol, street drugs, caffeine, sweets, and processed foods. Cigarettes aren’t food, but smoking can be counterproductive as well.

Don’t Wait for the Crisis

If you learn to implement these techniques in your daily routine, you can cut anxiety off at the pass. Once you get into crisis mode, it will be much, much harder to calm yourself down. Do some of these things 3 times a day whether you feel stressed or not. It’s a way to care for yourself.

Prioritize

I know when I have a busy week ahead that I need to prioritize or I can get crazy and build up my stress level very quickly. I start my day with prayer and meditation. It helps me to prepare my heart and mind, my attitude and my focus for the day. I try to keep a short list for each day. If I am able to get more done, then that is a bonus. But keep it doable.

If I am busy every day, I burn out real quick. I try to keep two days a week for just being quiet at home. That is not easy for most people who work. But it is a must to keep your anxiety down. Finding the balance with your time and energy takes a while to establish. But don’t give up.

By Health Care on September 19, 2011 | Anxiety

Qualifications for First Aid Certification

Many countries recognize the need to provide certification for first aid trainers and training institutions. This is because of the need to maintaining quality training services in these institutions. Such high quality services are important to maximizing the place of first aid practice in the society.

First Aid certification refers to offering a recognition, acceptance, and offering legal allowance to first aid practitioners, training resources and personnel to offering first aid related services, whether in actual treatments, advice, or training.

First Aid certification varies from one country and place to another. Many governments start their certification process by certifying schools which are meant to offer first aid training services. Usually, such a process is characterized by an investigation and assessment of the quality services and trainers it has. Some authorities then issue a certification after being satisfied that the quality of services is as demanded in law or as has been desired.

For a person or trainer to receive certification, they must have gone through special training by authorities or schools. These trainers will be taught specific allowable content for them to be certified. They are then allowed to sit for an examination and then offered certification after passage.

Instead of doing the evaluations and setting guidelines necessary for certification by themselves, many governments place the role under various bodies, private, public, or non-governmental organizations.
This does not mean that private entities only wait for government directions to provide certification. Today, non-governmental organizations that have specialized in health care recognize the need to train and offer this certification to their own employees. This is the example with the humanitarian organizations that save lives during war and crisis. However, this is driven by legal establishment and the need for expertise in health care, as is experienced during war and crisis.

Traditionally, institutions set up for the purpose of certification enroll trainees and hire trainers.

Some of the institutions offer online certification. It is the best means to acquire certification. Trainees enroll in various courses and pay a fee. Online training and certification is one of the fast evolving trends in many countries today. Companies offering certification offer a list of the courses tailored for given certifications and trainees can choose to enroll for basic or advanced first aid level courses.

Oversees-based institutions have also been providing this course online, and allow finishers to print out their certificate after completing the courses. Because of advancement in technology, it is also possible for trainers to demonstrate in online classes just as the visual class. Online classes are suited for those people who do not have travel plans, who have other commitments such as job, and most importantly, those who are unable to cope with classroom environments due to physical and mental condition or otherwise.

Among the areas that someone may be offered this course include fracture immobilization, and offering assistance in breathing, among others. First Aid certification is not, however, comparable or replaceable with first responder certification or pre-hospital care. The latter is more advanced than first aid.

Many organizations and government offer different levels of this course. Some examples include level 1, 2, 3, and 4, among others. These are tailored with different needs and intensity. For instance, level 1 of this course is best suited for those who are working in factories or any other working environments. Those who may need to get a vocational qualification will be best suited to take the second level of training. Refresher courses are also available with some trainers where trainers will get acquainted to changes occurring in the course or familiarize with practical skills.

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Identifying Your Migraine Triggers

A migraine can be triggered by many different factors which at first are not apparent to every sufferer of such a debilitating condition. Identifying those potential migraine triggers can be a very important step in helping to reduce and relieve possible attacks. These factors can be anything, from environmental, dietary, or physiologic issues, all which in turn can easily induce migraine activity within the brain.

Environmental triggers

The many types of environmental triggers include things like odours, bright lights, noise. Pains and aches that develop in the head and neck will trigger a migraine. The most widespread of which are neck injuries, pains from the jaw area, and sinus pain. It is also believed that the changes in weather can have affect on at least 40% of migraine sufferers. However the connection with regards to weather changes as a trigger for migraines is still not fully understood.

Food triggers

There are certainly numerous potential food triggers for migraine. Countless lists of foods that might bring about the triggering of a migraine can readily be located on the internet. Usually, these types of food belong to two main categories:

  1. Aging food by-products.
  2. Foods that contain certain chemicals.

Aging food by-products tend to be found in fermented products like red wine, aged cheeses, and yeast in fresh bread and yogurt. Foods with chemicals that may aggravate a migraine are coffee, chocolate, MSG (monosodium glutamate), and the nitrates used as preservatives in numerous prepackaged foods. Food triggers are certainly not the effect of an allergy, but are more than likely the direct reaction to chemicals in the food..

There is a popular myth that when an individual is sensitive to a specific type of food, they usually know it, simply because they have migraine symptoms inside an hour of eating that type of food in question. In reality, some effects can come right away or in some cases many days later. To add to this confusion the fact is that quite a few real food triggers probably won’t cause a migraine alone, but only in conjunction with other probable triggers, which collectively may trigger an attack of migraine headache or symptoms. For instance, some migraine sufferers can eat chocolate or red wine alone with no problem, but will suffer a migraine attack if chocolate and red wine are consumed at the same time. It is recommend that any initial migraine diet plan firstly avoids only the most common migraine triggers. If a migraine doesn’t subside within a few weeks, it may well be advisable to consider a more comprehensive migraine diet plan that eliminates all potential migraine triggers. This may take up to 10 weeks before there is any response from the diet plan.

Physiological triggers

  • Stress is perhaps considered one of the most common types of migraine triggers. Studies show that sufferers complain of an increase in their symptoms when stress, fatigue, or if lack of sleep is prevalent.
  • Other stress related triggers can be hunger, exercise and even pain. There is also the possibility that a migraine can be triggered from over-sleeping. Hormone changes are another trigger especially around the time of a period or after menopause
  • Eye strain is often overlooked as a migraine related trigger, however it is not uncommon especially if the sufferer has not had an eye examination. It could be that there is a need for glasses or their current prescription may need up-dating.
By admin on September 15, 2011 | Headaches-Migraines

Chocolate Is Good for Your Heart

Over the past three decades, there has been a lot of information published about the health benefits of chocolate. Chocolate contains antioxidants and other beneficial chemicals that can help improve depression and help keep your heart healthy. According to the World Health Organization, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people with cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart attacks and strokes. By 2030, it is estimated that one in three people will be obese and more than 23 million people will die from cardiovascular disease. The epidemic of type 2 diabetes continues to increase. Many research studies have shown that regular dietary intake of plant-derived foods reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Among healthy foods, chocolate might be one of the most important mediators of disease prevention.

Not only does chocolate taste good, but it is good for your health. Chocolate products and cocoa have been enjoyed by humans for centuries. A new study published in the British Medical Journal shows that eating chocolate is associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of cardiometabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart attacks and strokes. In my previous writings, I have commented on the beneficial effect of cocoa on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and blood vessel health. A variety of potential mechanisms through which cocoa might exert its benefits on cardiovascular health have been proposed, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Cocoa products contain polyphenols which are a potent antioxidant compounds. The health benefits of chocolate are mediated by the high content of polyphenols in cocoa products which subsequently lead to improvements in blood vessel function and beneficial effects on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and cholesterol.
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The study in the British Medical Journal was an analysis of 53 studies on chocolate which have been published over the past few years. The researchers found that higher amounts of chocolate consumption were associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. This benefit was seen for cardiovascular disease (37% reduction), diabetes (31% reduction), and stroke (29% reduction). This is a substantial reduction in risk.

These findings are not surprising. In fact there have been many studies in the past demonstrating the health benefits of chocolate. Unfortunately, most chocolate products are high in sugar and fat and low in actual cocoa. I want to emphasize that you should not eat a lot of high calorie, high fat chocolate. I recommend eating a few squares of dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher) as a reward for having a healthy lifestyle.

By Health Care on September 14, 2011 | Heart Disease

Laugh Yourself To Good Health

In the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Bob Haskin’s character asks the voluptuous Jessica Rabbit, whose voice was Kathleen Turner’s, why she is with the silly rabbit. Her reply is classic, “He makes me laugh.”

You can laugh yourself to health.

It turns out that all that positive thinking is good for us. Much of the self help material since the 1940’s has focused on positive thinking, not worrying, letting it go, meditation, living in the moment, and the more recent over-marketed “mindfulness”. All have their origins in Buddhism (4000 years old) and the 20th century’s Norman Vincent Peale. Peale, you may remember, is famous for his Power of Positive Thinking book and brand.

The reason all this talk therapy stuff works to make us live longer and healthier may just now be seen in some interesting research on laughter. Apparently, laughing causes our vascular system to relax and dilate. Stress, fear, and anxiety cause our vascular system to constrict. Vasoconstriction puts an extra load on the heart. Laughing and smiling, ease the demands on the heart making blood flow more easily.
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The more constricted the arteries, the more difficult it is to live long without damage done by heart attacks and strokes. Our fat-laden diet adds to this, of course, as do other factors including genetics. Still, no matter what your arteries are like, their functions are improved by laughing.

This interesting research was done at the University of Maryland School of Medicine by lead researcher, Michael Miller, and his crew. Blood flow reduced in subjects when they watched the opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan”. I, for one, had my heart completely stop for that beginning.

Those same subjects’ blood flow increased when shown clips from the comedy “Something About Mary”. I don’t know how they statistically filtered out the blood rush caused by Cameron Diaz in that movie. I think she had every male heart beating a little faster, but that’s another study.

Whenever I was in a doctor’s waiting room as a child I always found The Reader’s Digest, which was a big deal in publishing at the time. The only thing I read were the jokes. Some of the best were in a regular feature called, interestingly enough, “Laughter is the Best Medicine”. The Maryland researchers showed us the reason it works, but it has long been known that health is improved by laughter.

“Laughter reduces pain, increases job performance, connects people emotionally, and improves the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain.” That quote is from Psychology Today in 2005!

While we need to have more than one emotion to have a full life, laughing can increase with a little work. A lot is attitude. Another part is what life experiences we are exposed to. Trauma obviously makes it harder to laugh and have a positive view of life. Genetics have also been shown to influence who’s happy and who’s not.

We can, however, no matter what hand we are dealt, alter our outcomes by practicing humor and finding ways to laugh.

Get healthy. Think funny thoughts!

By admin on September 9, 2011 | Mental health

How to Go Bald Gracefully!

Introduction

So you have resigned yourself to go bald and want to do it gracefully, well there are several things you can do with your hair for it be done gracefully. Some of these steps may seem drastic, but if you look at it carefully it does come out to be quite popular ways to go bald and make it look natural.

Cause Of Baldness

The cause of baldness in some cases is temporary and hair re-grows when the cause of the baldness is removed. These temporary causes could be the use of medicines, chemotherapy, stress, and other such items.

There are certain diseases that can cause loss of hair, but most baldness in men is caused by male pattern baldness. Permanent baldness is usually caused by genetics and it is known as male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). Females can also get this condition, but they rarely go bald, they usually just have a thinning of hair uniformly across the scalp.

Male and female pattern baldness is caused by the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) that comes from the conversion of testosterone to DHT. This hormone finds a hair follicle that it attaches to blocking nutrients from getting to the follicle and hair strand. Eventually the hair strand falls out and the follicle withers and dies.

When you develop this hair condition you will eventually go bald on the top of your scalp.

Going Bald Gracefully

As you start to lose the hair on top of you scalp you can usually hide it by doing the comb-over. This is taking the hair on the side of your scalp and combing it over the thing areas. But this is only effective till it becomes obvious that you are trying to hide you bald spot.

When you get to this point in your hair loss you need to look at a different type of hair cut. One cut I would recommend is the Buzz Cut. This cut is very popular with sports figures and actors who have male pattern baldness.

  • The Buzz Cut is generally a very short haircut and is considered to be very masculine.
  • Another good hair cut for men going bald is the Faux Haux. This style grows the hair long in the middle and then gel is applied to build it up. This style is good for young men with a receding hairline.

Not sure which style is best for you, then ask your hair stylist.

But Why Go Bald

But in today’s society, why would you want to go bald if it is being caused by male pattern baldness. There are many products out there that can help men and women retain their hair and re-grow the hair they have lost. One drug approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to combat male and female pattern baldness is Minoxidil. It has been shown to be effective in 70% of men who use it and over 90% of women who use it.

By Health Care on September 8, 2011 | Main

A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

It has been shown that laughter actually affects human physiology!Laughter reduces pain by producing endorphins which act as pain killers and strengthens our immunity. Endorphins also reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) and allows the body to return to a more relaxed state.Laughter allows us to change our perspective on life by making our problems seem smaller, if only for a few moments. It opens up creativity and allows us to overcome fear.

So it’s healthy to bring more laughter into your life. Here are some ideas as to how you can do this:

1. Collect things that make you laugh – it could be a folder on your computer filled with cartoons, jokes, funny emails that really make you laugh, hang funny pictures on your wall where you will see them, keep a joke or two in your wallet to keep the mood light.

2. Do some of the things you used to love as a child – go to the park and go on a swing, go down the slide, go to the zoo or aquarium, go to a kids movie and eat lots of popcorn! The sky’s the limit.

3. Lighten up your work environment – bring in a toy or stuffed animal you like, something that makes you smile when you look at it. (I have a mini darth-vader on my computer, and I’ve got lots of pictures of Stitch everywhere – he’s a great energy to have around!)

4. Invite some friends over for a sleep-over party – keep it fun, pillow fights, eat junk food, stay up all night telling scary stories! Or have a “come as you are party” with one rule only – keep it funny. You’ll all work off of each other and the energy will heal and energise all of you.

5. If you’re in a stressful situation, step back from it and imagine if you were a character from your favourite tv comedy – what would they do? (How would Phoebe or Fraiser handle it?)

You do have a choice. Invite laughter into your life, and see where it brings you – just for a change. See where it goes – does it help? Do you feel better? Does it take the “edge” off? And know, that even though it might feel silly at first, it actually does help reduce stress in your body and that in itself creates a better perspective and clarity to handle any situation.

By Health Care on September 7, 2011 | Mental health

How PTSD Can Change Your Personality And Perspective

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can take over every aspect of your life. In addition to the damage that it does to your relationships and at times, your career, PTSD can rob you of your happiness, sense of humor, and creativity. It can steal your zest for life.

Many people who suffer this disorder report that they no longer recognize themselves. They see their reflection in the mirror and of course, they recognize their reflection, but who they are and what they see are two different images. Some people lose their ability to laugh and make jokes. It is as if their sense of humor has completely died and they are rarely able to deliver a single humorous line. Other people lose the ability to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes.

Complex problem solving and complex tasks can be more difficult for someone who has PTSD. Some are so severely affected by fear and disorientation that a simple trip to the grocery store is too much for them to handle, especially alone. They start to hyperventilate and then go into panic mode in the cereal aisle. Some can become so overwhelmed that they have to leave the store.

Some people become angry and that anger is with them 24 hours a day. They feel full of rage and out of control at times- not knowing what will set them off next, but knowing that they can’t always control their reactions. Some people cry and cry until they pass out or exhaust themselves into staring at the wall. Either way, some cry until they are emotionally drained on a daily basis. These are all extreme reactions to the symptoms of this disorder, but they are also very common reactions. Most people who have PTSD have experienced most or all of these symptoms on some level.

PTSD will change every aspect of your personality. Suffering from post traumatic stress doesn’t mean that something scary happened and now the person merely feels jittery and unsure. Biologically, the brain is working very hard to process experiences that it can barely comprehend; let alone categorize. Because of the severity of that event, the brain is physiologically altered:

– Some areas of the brain that are responsible for memory and emotion become severely damaged.
– Complex neurological pathways are distorted.
– The body either repairs them or forms new pathways and this can lead to changes in temperament, personality traits, preferences, and perspectives.

This is why nearly everyone who has PTSD and their friends and families say that they are no longer the same person. They are correct. They don’t feel the same. They don’t think the same. They are not the same person and may never be that person again. They have to rediscover who they are, which can be a long process.

Healing from PTSD does not mean that you return to your former mental self unchanged and unscathed. A big part of healing means that you discover and develop new traits, talents, interests, and perspectives. This can be very tough to accept without having gone through a proper grieving process first. Once you accept that your personality and the way that you relate to the world are now coming from a different perspective, your brain will initiate the rest of the healing process.

If you take a positive view of this concept, you may find that you enjoy getting to know yourself again. It is a progression that takes time, observation, and patience. Think of it as a mental journey to rediscover who you are and how you roll. Along the way, you could find that your sense of humor has merely been hiding and your creativity and zest are not all that far away.

By Health Care on September 6, 2011 | Mental health