The Evolution of Autism

By David Pino

What is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder that begins early in childhood; it is usually noticed in children by age 3. Defining characteristics of autism include communication deficits, poorly developed reciprocal social interactions, stereotyped behaviors, and restricted interests. These deficits occur at different levels of severity which has evolved into the contemporary view of autism as a spectrum disorder, and it is often referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Autistic Disorder (AD), or Autism.
Traditionally, the autism range has included Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Autistic Disorder is sometimes called classic autism. It is characterized by:

1. Significant language delays including reduced instances of language that has communicative and reciprocal intent.


2. Minimal reciprocal social interactions. For example, avoidance of eye contact, lack of appropriate facial expressions, inability to appropriately communicate emotions, lack of understanding of shared emotions, and inability to use verbal and nonverbal behaviors for social interchange.


3. Stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests. These may include unusual sensory interests toward objects, unusual or repetitive hand and finger movements, and excessive interest or reference to either unusual or highly specific topics or objects.

Asperger Syndrome, while somewhat milder than Autistic Disorder, has both similar and distinct characteristics including:

1. Difficulty with the social aspects of speech and language such as limited range of intonation, one-sided conversations, literal interpretations, and inability to shift topics. Vocabulary development is usually advanced while understanding of figurative language is a weakness.


2. Difficulty with social cognition a lack of social and/or emotional reciprocity, eye contact, and friendships. Social awkwardness such as not reacting appropriately to social interactions and not recognizing other's feelings or reactions. Difficulties with social cognition may result in behavioral rigidity.


3. Restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities. This may result in inflexibility in regard to routines. Preoccupation with a narrowed topic of interest which often dominates conversations and thoughts.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified is used to categorize those individuals who meet some, but not all, of the criteria for Autistic Disorder or Asperger Syndrome. PDD-NOS is usually marked by fewer and milder symptoms than Autistic Disorder or Asperger Syndrome. Pervasive deficits in the development of reciprocal social interaction, communication, or stereotyped and restricted behaviors are apparent.
History of Autism
Assuming that Autism is a neurological disorder and not caused by "bad" parenting or environmental toxins then it has, most likely, always existed among human beings; however, it was not scientifically described or empirically researched until the 20th century.
Early 1900s
In the early 1900s autism was thought to be a form of childhood schizophrenia, feeble-mindedness, or childhood psychosis.
The term autism was first used by the Swiss psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler between 1908 and 1912. He used it to describe schizophrenic patients who had withdrawn from social contact, appeared to be living in their own world, and were socially disconnected. The root of the word autism is derived from the Greek "autos" which means "self". That root is combined with the Greek suffix "ismos," meaning the act, state, or being of. Bleuler used the word "autism" to mean morbid self-admiration and withdrawal into self. It suggests a state of being absorbed by oneself, lost in oneself, removed from social interaction, and isolated from social interaction. While Bleuler described and documented characteristics of autism, his adult patients were diagnosed as having schizophrenia and children were diagnosed as having childhood schizophrenia.
1920s and 1930s
In 1926, Dr. Grunya Efimovna Sukhareva, a Russian psychiatrist described what would later become the core deficits of Asperger Syndrome in boys that she labeled as having schizoid personality disorder of childhood. In 1933, Dr. Howard Potter described children who would now be identified as autistic as having a childhood form of schizophrenia.
1930s and 1940s
The two main pioneers in autism research, Hans Asperger and Leo Kanner, began working separately in the 1930's and 1940's. In 1934 Hans Asperger of the Vienna University Hospital used the term autistic and in 1938 he adopted the term "autistic psychopaths" in discussions of child psychology. However, Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins Hospital began using the term autism to describe behaviors that are now recognized as Autism Disorder or classical autism. Leo Kanner is the one who is usually credited for using the term autism as it is known today.
Kanner's 1943 descriptions of autism were the result of his observations of eleven children who showed a marked lack of interest in other people, difficulties in social interactions, difficulty in adapting to changes in routines, good memory, sensitivity to stimuli (especially sound), and a highly unusual interest in the inanimate environment. These socially withdrawn children were described by Kanner as; lacking affective contact with others; being fascinated with objects; having a desire for sameness; and being non-communicative in regard to language before 30 months of age. Kanner emphasized the role of biology in the cause of autism. He felt that the lack of social connectedness so early in life must result from a biological inability to form affective relationships with others. However, Kanner also felt that parents displayed a lack of warmth and attachment to their autistic children. In his 1949 paper, he attributed autism to a "genuine lack of maternal warmth."
In 1944, working separately from Kanner, Hans Asperger described a "milder" form of autism, known today as Asperger Syndrome. Asperger also studied a group of children who possessed many of the same behaviors as described in Kanner's descriptions of autism. However, the children he studied demonstrated precocious vocabulary and speech development but poor social communication skills. These children appeared to have a desire to be a part of the social world, but lacked the necessary skills. He also mentioned that many of the children were clumsy and different from normal children in terms of fine motor skills.
1950s
During the 1950s, Bruno Bettelheim, a University of Chicago professor and child development specialist, furthered Kanner's 1949 view that autism resulted from a lack of maternal warmth. Bettleheim's view of autism being caused by emotionally cold and distant mothers became known as the Refrigerator Mother Theory of autism. The idea behind the theory was that children became autistic because mothers didn't interact, play, or them; in a sense, they were "frigid." He published articles throughout the 1950s and 1960s to popularize this position. Proponents of this view were searching for a place to lay blame for autism.
It was also during this decade and into the next that parents were counseled to institutionalize their children in order for them to receive appropriate treatment.
1960s
Beginning in the 1960s there was increased awareness within the professional community that the refrigerator mother theory did not adequately account for autism. The theory ignored the fact that siblings of autistic children were not autistic despite having the same mother, and scientific advancements began to suggest more biological causes.
In 1964, Bernard Rimland, a psychologist with an autistic son, stressed the biological causes of autism in his book "Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior." The publication of this book directly challenged the prevailing refrigerator mother theory of autism. In 1965, Rimland established the Autism Society of America, which was one of the first advocacy groups for parents of children with autism. He established the Autism Research Institute in 1967 to conduct research on treatment for autism.
In 1967 autism continued to be classified under schizophrenia in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. This promoted the view that autism was a mental illness rather than a developmental disability.
1970s
There was a push during this decade to better define autism and, with scientific advancement, there was better understanding of autism as having a neurobiological basis.
1980s
The publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980 finally set autism apart from schizophrenia as it was now categorized as a neurodevelopmental disorder. Autism research continued to increase during the 1980s along with recognition within the scientific community that autism resulted from neurological disturbances rather than pathological parenting.
It was during this decade that Asperger's work was translated to English and published. The term, "Asperger's Syndrome" was first used in 1981 by the British psychiatrist Lorna Wing. She also developed the Wing's Triad of Impairments, which is Impairment in Imagination, Impairment in Social Communication, and Impairment in Social Relationships to describe autism.
1990s
In 1994 Asperger's syndrome was officially added to the DSM-IV as a progressive developmental disorder. Two nonprofit groups, the National Alliance for Autism Research and Cure Autism Now, were founded to stimulate autism research and raise awareness about the disorder. Research starts to suggest that autism is a spectrum disorder. Near the end of the decade, as autism rates rose, it was speculated that autism was due to mercury in vaccines.
2000s
In 2000, vaccine makers removed thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, from all routinely given childhood vaccines. Public fears were that exposure to the preservative were related to autism. The National Institute of Health estimated that autism affected 1 in 250 children in 2001. The Institute of Medicine found no credible evidence of a link between thimerosal or any other vaccine and autism in 2004.
The prevalence of autism increased significantly during this decade as a result of better detection, broader diagnostic criteria, and increased public awareness. In 2007 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 1 in 150 children were diagnosed with autism. Part of this increase is a result of better understanding of autism as a spectrum disorder.
2010s
A hundred years later, the term autism describes a neurodevelopmental condition that results in significant social cognitive and social communicative impairment. Current research is focused on identifying biologically distinct subtypes of autism. The belief is that once subtypes are understood advance can be made in regard to understanding cause and developing effective treatments. The ultimate goal of this line of research is to eventually find a cure and be able to prevent it.
Until that time, the prevalence of autism continues to increase. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately1 in 88 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
The upcoming publication of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) in May 2013 will remove Asperger Syndrome and PDD-NOS as separate from autism. Instead, diagnosis will be autism spectrum disorder in an attempt to more accurately reflect the continuum and severity of the types of symptoms and behaviors displayed.
It will be interesting to see how these diagnostic changes and research into the biological subtypes of autism impact the future evolution of this neurodevelopmental disorder.

David Pino school psychologist has worked in education for the last 20 years. He has significant experience and expertise with learning disabilities, psychological evaluations, behavior, and special education.
He is currently serving as an educational advocate to assist families with the special education process.

Mental Illness Causes And Natural Solutions

By Madeleine Innocent

Mental illness causes a multitude of problems, from the occasional problem to a permanent deviation from natural balance. These problems are on the rise. The normal medical approach to treating them can be draconian and horrendous. None of them deal with the cause, most are toxic to the body and all depress the immune system, opening the door for future health problems.
Mental health issues are gaining notoriety. They can vary from shutting down emotionally to full clinical depression. They can include mild anxiety to debilitating and frequent anxiety attacks. Mental derangement can be extreme.
Medicine has little understanding of the causes of mental illnesses, so their approach is to subdue the symptoms rather than to take corrective action. Their solution is to use stronger and stronger mind altering drugs that are known to cause increased aggression in many. This aggression is not limited by normal boundaries most of us feel. So the result can be devastating to those involved.
Electric shock treatment is still very much in use for those unfortunate enough to consult with practitioners who support this outdated and ineffective treatment.
All these measures result in shut down zombies who tend to feel nothing - no lows, but no highs either. It makes the problem appear better to the onlooker, but makes the unfortunate sufferer much worse.
Yet it is easy to see mental illness causes when you simply open up your mind.
If you start by looking to nature, it is inconceivable that a wild animal will have these problems. They simply would not be able to survive for any length of time, if they did have them.
Logically, this means the cause must lie in what humans do, or not do.
Let's first look at childbirth. This is no longer a natural process with the due honouring of the mother's role and time to allow the baby to do it their way. Maternity wards are now in hospitals and are coming to resemble a production line, with the maternity staff eager to move on to the next 'patient'.

• Mothers are often disempowered of this natural process, leading to post natal depression.
• The umbilical cord is frequently cut before all the blood has been returned to the baby, leading to brain disorders.
• Babies are often removed from the mother immediately after birth, breaking that all so important link, which can lead to an emotional shut down.
• Vaccines are introduced at an age when the body has no defense against them, leading to mental disorders such as autism.

Although breast feeding is being encouraged more than it was in the not too distant past, it is still not fully supported with effective health care for the myriad of problems that can arise. Breast feeding is well known to support healthy children, both physically and mentally.
All these potential problems are bad enough, but the common child raising strategies don't allow for the free expression of a growing child. Instead the child is required to be molded and shaped by society, family, religion and education to become robots that support the system.
This is terribly damaging to a child's development. At every turn, their creativity is being suppressed. At every twist in the road, they are being judged. Emotions are not supported for the natural outlet that they represent.
This is all understandable when you appreciate that the same was done to the parents. But it is little wonder that not more people are suffering from mental health problems.
Mental illness causes lie in society's desire to control, in its innate fear of freedom of expression, of allowing you to be who you are. When children are honoured for who they are, when children are allowed to grow without judgement, with full expression of their creativity, then you will have a society without mental health problems.
This is all well and good for future generations. But what about those with problems now? The homeopathic treatment of mental illness always deals with the cause, whether it was from separation from the mother, a vaccine or any other cause. In this way, it is possible to cure mental illnesses, in time.
For more information on how homeopathy can help you, click the link below.

Using Homeopathy at Home

Bipolar Disorder and Chemical Imbalance Fix - Is it Possible?

By Catherine Sinclair

What is Chemical Imbalance? Why does it happen? What can you do about it? These are the three most important questions concerning chemical imbalance theories held by many in the bipolar community and the medical profession today. Researchers have spent decades trying to get to the bottom of what causes common disorders such as anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder etc. No one seems to know the exact causes of bipolar disorder. But many believe it be some form of chemical imbalance. Certain chemicals in the brain, lead to symptoms of physical and mental distress and disturbances. While the exact link between chemical imbalance and mental health disorders, have not been found, clinical studies and medical observations have been able to define a number of chemical deficiencies that occur in individuals who report experiencing symptoms related to ADD, ADHD, SAD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Anxiety Disorders.
What is Chemical Imbalance of the Brain?
Common chemical imbalances related to mental or emotional health disorders such as stated above include:

• Reduced availability of neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, GABA and Acetylcholine
• Increased levels of neurochemicals such as Homocysteine which is very toxic
• Lower levels of serum Magnesium, Zinc or Potassium
• Deficient levels of essential vitamins like B6, B9, B12 and Vitamin-C
• Under supply of key co-factors like amino acids that are used to help transport neurotransmitter percursors into the blood-brain barrier
• Increased cortisol stress hormone levels.

Why Does Chemical Imbalance Happen?Virtually no one has the answer to why brain chemical imbalance happens. But we do know it occurs. Ask any medical professional the reasons and causes for bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders and their most likely answer would be "A chemical imbalance." It is because of this belief, of chemical imbalance, most medical professionals' first impulse is to prescribe an SSRI, MAOI or similar pharmaceutical "chemical balancer" to treat the condition. In today's world, pharmaceutical drugs play a key role in attempting to balance these brain chemicals. Most pharmaceuticals used only mask the underlying problem.
So unfortunately, in the majority of cases, the most important question has not been addressed.
What's Causing the Chemical Imbalance?
Why not look to nature for some answers to the cause of chemical imbalance to see if there is a solution there?
Nutrition:
We notice in nature that everything that grows feeds on some sort of nutrition to enhance its growth. Let's take a look at our nutrition today. Everyone one who reads about nutrition understands our food supply today simply does not provide the essential minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients they once did. How do we know? Well, let's look at the food we purchase in the local Super Mart.
I did a bit of an experiment with a bag of their vine ripen tomatoes. June 18, 2008 I dipped these tomatoes in different types of bottled, tap, and distilled waters to see what effect the water would have on the tomatoes. To my surprise 80 days later all the tomatoes (including the one "control" tomato I did NOT dip in any type of water) are still exactly the same as when I bought them from the Super Mart.
Now compare that with the tomatoes I picked from my own garden. My own garden tomatoes, if not used quickly, rotted within a week. That's because the tomatoes had live enzymes in them that supply our vitamins, trace minerals and such. The store bought tomato enzymes were killed, hence preserving the tomato, but causing it to be virtually deficient in nutrition. So it is easy to understand why the general population is lacking vital minerals, vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrient etc. Why? Because they are being wiped out in the processing plant before they hit the grocery market shelves.
Exercise:
Lack of exercise causes an increase in the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to depression. Also lack of exercise causes lack of oxygen and blood circulation which also contributes to chemical toxins and imbalances in the brain.
Water:
Today many people drink bottled water. Often times that bottled water is processed by reverse osmosis. Most people today do not realize this water is more detrimental to health than beneficial because its ph value measures 5.0. A ph value of 5.0 is very acidic causing the body's ph value to reduce considerable each time one drinks a bottle of the water. A lower ph value means trouble for your body because an acidic environment is the exact environment viruses and bad bacteria love. These unwanted viruses and bacteria result in physical and mental health diseases which cause further chemical imbalance of the brain.
Sunshine:
Lack of sunshine causes tremendous amounts of changes in the brain. For one it reduces your serotonin levels. Depletion of serotonin is considered the main neurotransmitter of depression.
Temperance:
In today's world, especially in the USA, we lack temperance. We eat too much or too little, sleep too much or too little, work and play too much or too, exercise too little or too much. We seem to lack balance. And balance is the key to a balanced life in mind, body and spirit.
Air:
Much of our air is polluted today especially in the larger cities. In seeking relief we use central air conditioning which results in positive ions being blown into our houses. If you think the air you breath has little to do with your physical or mental health, ask those whose children are suffering childhood allergies, cancers, mental health disorders and other diseases which were unheard of just a century ago.
Ever try breathing carbon monoxide? It can kill you. So with our air today as polluted as it is (and especially with central air conditioning infiltrating the very air we breath with positive ions) I believe causes many chemical changes in our bodies, minds and spirits. To maintain optimal health or bodies need to breath negative ions without residual ozone.
Sleep:
How did you sleep last night? Not everyone needs 8 hours of sound sleep but everyone needs sound undisturbed sleep! Lack of sleep causes chemical imbalances in the brain. Scientists have found people who suffer from sleep disorders produce low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine and acetylcholine.
Trust in a Higher Power:
Many do not believe in a God as the creator of the earth. Unfortunately for them. There are lots of scientific studies which advocate prayer allieveates depression. I will only quote one reference here. An article in the December 1998 issue of McCall's Magazine, notes a study done at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virgina in Richmond, studied 1,902 twins. They found that those who were committed to their spiritual lives tended to have less severe depression and lower risk of addiction to cigarettes or alcohol. The healthful lifestyles of the spiritually rich and faithful clearly contribute to their well being. It is also noted those who do not believe in a higher power suffer more frequently from depression and other mental and physical health disorders.
What Can We Do About It?

Eat more nutritious foods. Try to buy your foods directly from a farmer or at a farmers market. It would be best to purchase organic foods or try to raise some yourself. In doing so you get the extra sunshine that contributes, fresh air and magnetic energy from the earth, which helps you achieve your wellness and balance.

Get appropriate amounts of exercise. Even as little as a 7 minute walk away from the house and back again has great results in warding off depression. Exercise works against depression (caused by chemical imbalance) in a number of ways.1. By reducing the stress hormone cortisol, which is linked to depression.
2. Restores One's sound sleep - raising energy levels by releasing endorphines, which are associated with good mood AND raises serotonin levels.

Drink water that is properly balanced at 7.0 ph value. This way when drinking 8-10 glasses a day of this refreshing live water (purified and infiltrated with magnetic and infrared energy) you maintain a balanced ph. Naturopathics insist that if one maintains a proper ph balance they can not harbor any disease at the same time.

Get sufficient sunshine. Appropriate amounts of unfiltered sunshine wake up your hypothalamus giving you a wonderful sense of well being. The hypothalamus' main function is maintaining the body's status quo. Factors such as blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance are held to a precise value or regulation by the hypothalamus. If your hypothalmus is not turned on by sunlight you experience low energy and feelings of sadness which consume your thoughts causing you to drag yourself from one small task to another with Herculean effort, accomplishing little. But unfiltered sunlight turns on your hypothalamus increasing production of serotonin levels.

Maintain temperance. Even the Bible tells us too much honey turns bitter in the tummy. So temperance is the key in a balanced life.

Breathe pure live air that's filled with an active electromagnetic field. Go camping in the mountains or find a air purifying system that offers not only pure filter air but one that puts back into the air that same electromagnetic field and infra red energy that produces negative ions, all of which are present in pure clean forest air. This live air invigorates your whole body and keeps your chemicals in balance.

Get your needed ZZZ's. Learn the natural ways to sleep well at night. Get a sleep mask, that will block out light pollution. Ear plugs that block out unwanted city noises. Maybe softly tune in a wilderness cd. Get a comfortable quality pillow, your dream pillow. Sleep on a quality mattress that is known to give you the best night's sleep you have ever known AND wake up fresh and ready to start a new day without aches and pains. What a wonderful feeling that is. A good night's sleep has the opposite effect of a poor night's sleep. It produces balanced levels of the much needed neurotransmitters dopamine and acetylcholine.

Begin trusting in God. Prayer goes along way in making us feel connected and balanced. Experiments by water scientists show us the amazing restructure of the water molecules when blessed verses being cursed. With our bodies being comprised of 60-70% water how much then would prayer and blessings affect us in positive connective ways with the Creator of the Universe? Think about that awhile and get your chemical imbalance in balance to day.

Catherine Sinclair, PhD. is a licensed pastoral counselor and certified wellness consultant, specializing in the naturopathic approach of overcoming bipolar disorder symptoms and chemical imbalances in the brain. More detailed information can be found on [http://www.no-more-bipolar-disorder.com]

Why Addiction Relapse Is So Powerful

By Ben Brafman

Addiction relapse is the body's response to the cessation of addictive behavior. During relapse, the mind and body effectively unify in the pursuit of homeostatic regulation, or feelings of "normalcy." This unification culminates in a strong compulsion that can force treatment clients to pursue their addiction. The regulatory mechanisms at work are among the strongest that the brain can muster, so it is no surprise that it requires strong dedication and skill to avoid addiction relapse.
A woman in recovery must first understand the entirety of the relapse process in order to overcome it. The biological, social and emotional difficulties associated with relapse are multifaceted and reasonably complex, but with a little guidance every women can work through recovery and achieve success.
Understanding and Decreasing the Risk of Addiction Relapse
What is a Relapse?
Addiction relapse is often qualified by the actual reproduction of addictive behaviors following a period of cessation. Although this standard is correct, it fails to account for the entirety of the relapse process, which begins with cravings and ends with an addictive act.
Many women in recovery will often blame a lack of willpower for their relapses and cravings. Few understand that cravings signal an addiction that has not abated and still requires addressing. Willpower is a finite resource when denying addictive impulses. Cravings will eventually overcome an individual unless she is able to identify and actively work against those cravings and avoid addiction relapse. In order to begin the craving extinction process, the biological mechanisms at work during addiction must first be overcome.
The Biology of Addiction and Relapse
Addiction is a strong and powerful disease. Although addiction often has a genetic component, even genetically predisposed individuals can avoid falling prey to addiction through strong prevention efforts. Similarly, a person that lacks any genetic influence towards a particular addiction can still become addicted through repeated exposure.
Addiction relapse occurs when the removal of an addictive substance or behavior is accompanied by a lack of biological realignment. The brain will never cease in its pursuit of an addiction unless neurotransmitter production is brought back in line with healthy, homeostatically-regulated functioning.
Decreasing the Chances of Addiction Relapse
The brain's production and regulation of signals must be balanced before addictive cravings can cease. This can be done with cognitive behavioral therapy, one on one counseling and group therapy. In some cases medication can temporarily help ease the cravings, especially during the period of withdrawal. To decrease the chances of an addiction relapse, a woman must recognize that recovery is the most important aspect in her life and dedicate herself to constantly improving her relapse prevention skills.

Major Depressive Disorder and Suicide

By Joshua M Felts

It's a normal part of the human condition to be depressed from time to time. We all have those days where we feel melancholy and don't want to get out of bed. However, for some of us, like me, we suffer from major depressive disorder. Personally, it's been something I've been dealing with for the latter part of my adult life. I, like millions of other Americans, get therapy, take medications, and try to prevent becoming incapacitated by it. As an individual, with unique experiences, I'm not going to paint people suffering with my diagnosis with a broad brush. We're all different, feel differently, and cope differently.
However, if you're a clinician, like I am, we need to understand it. It isn't a disease to mess with, and it can, like cancer, prove deadly. I can't and won't speak for others suffering from major depressive disorder, but I can tell you a little bit about my personal story and how it almost ended my life. I have, many times, felt suicidal. If I had stayed in law enforcement, a profession where I would have had a loaded firearm strapped to my waist daily, I probably wouldn't be here today. I've contemplated suicide. I've thought about jumping off bridges, parking garages, and stepping into traffic. Hell, you name it, I've probably thought about it. When working with patients with diagnoses of major depressive disorder, or bi-polar disorder, it's important to watch out for your patients.
When you're with them, watch their mood. Do they seem depressed? Do they lack appetite? Do they want to stay in bed? Do they feel hopeless? Do they talk about death? Did they start giving their personal belongings away? Did they suddenly get happy?
Many clinicians don't understand mental illness. It's complex, something we can't pin-point like a broken bone or heart disease. Still, just because we can't see it on an x-ray doesn't mean it isn't there. We're responsible for our patients: physically, mentally, and spiritually. If we overlook our patient's mental illness, we're not doing our jobs effectively. Largely, suicide can be avoided. I avoided it, as my family and friends were there for me when I needed them. My healthcare team was there for me when I needed them. I owe my life to my healthcare team, my friends, and my family. If they weren't here for me, I wouldn't be here, it's that simple.
If you're a medical-surgical nurse, don't just write your patient off as crazy, please remember your professional role, and try to empathize with them. Remember, there is a physiological explanation for this illness. Sure, they may be needy, but they're needy because they're trying to tell you something: they have an unmet need.

If you like my article, please feel free to stop by my blog at http://www.joshuafeltsrn.com.

Coping With Depression - Kick Start Your Life Again

By Karen A Crossett

Depression with all its consequences is on the increase.
Coping with depression is more than dealing with feeling low or blue, it's a major disease and it's sapping the life out of those suffering from it.
More and more people are experiencing that heavy dark cloud engulfing them in a reality of hopelessness and helplessness.
Glib remarks like "pull yourself together" "look at all you have" "Try and get on with it" or "kick start your life again" just don't cut it with the depressed person. If it was that easy they would do it. And the fact they can't follow your advice can make them feel even worse.
What would it be like, if you suddenly became lethargic and your life lost all interest for you? You preferred to stay in bed all day, because you were afraid to get up. What would it be like if life was a struggle, and there was no comfort or joy anywhere?
Many individuals are dragging themselves through their lives, coping with depression and every task experienced as a momentous burden.
And yet is it possible to stop coping with depression and really take action to kick start your life again.
Try these methods and see for yourself.
Ask yourself the question, "Am I better coping with depression or am I better kick starting my life again?"
The answer seems obvious, stop coping with depression, but it entails a commitment, a belief, that you can do it.
Can you do it? Do you want to do it?
If you do then-
Acknowledging you are depressed is important.
Many individuals believe that there is a stigma to depression, a thought that people will see them as weak or failing in some way. But depression is experienced by 1 in 4 of our population. Millions of pounds are being spent on anti-depressant drugs each year. It is a fact that life can get too much for anyone. Taking responsibility for your mental health is a big plus. Remember - stop neglecting yourself - mind matters.
STOP what you are doing and take time out.
If you continue to do the same thing over and over again you will get the same result! Take time to relax, let go, unwind and allow yourself to heal. If you take time off work, enjoy it. Don't feel guilty about what is not being done, or thinking you are letting people down, this is you taking action to kick start your life again. Think of this as a period of transformation. Your body is telling you that you have to make changes in your life, and you are up for the challenge.
Get Support:
This might be in the form of medication, counselling, a support group or a close caring friend. Find the support that you are comfortable with. Trust is a big issue here, as you want to have the freedom to talk to someone who understands and can help you through this depression.
Implement what you learn:
Taking massive action brings massive changes - taking small steps leads to big changes. It is all about making those small, simple changes and reaping the benefits. You can think of it as the 20-80 rule. Twenty percent change, eighty percent benefit.
Self-care:
Your body needs nourishment and energy. So give yourself the best chance by eating good healthy food, including Omega 3s. and drinking fresh clean water. Build up a routine. Sleep deeply and before you get up out of bed, visualize what you are going to do that day. Include exercise in to the routine. Try and find an activity that you would enjoy, if you can't at this stage, just open the front door and walk into nature, connect with the outside world, look and listen and breath. You are alive. Life is waiting for you.
Self Management:
Learn the golden triangle. What we think, generates an emotion, and the emotion motivates a physical response. Keep a mood diary and identify emotional triggers, implement the golden triangle. Events in our lives do not cause our deep emotional disturbances, it is our thoughts, beliefs, attitude to the event that is important. Whatever has happened in your life, a change in your thought pattern, can release old hurts, wounds, grief, shame. No one gets through life without challenges. Those challenges can help us grow into a strong, compassionate, conscious individual.
Kick start your life and stop coping with depression.l.

Karen has developed smart thinking - successful outcomes. Explore the power of thought to enrich your life with confidence, happiness and success.
If you would like to explore with me, check out karencrossett.com