Overcoming Physical Hurdles

June 29th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

People are born unique to the rest of their peers in one way or another. Others may find these unique traits otherwise concealed, while there are those whose points of difference are in clear view of the world. These physical differences may be comparatively more difficult to cope with. However, these needn’t be reason to allow one’s self to be overcome by these difficulties.

Often, any physical hurdle creates an almost immediate impetus to find a place to throw the blame. Unfortunately, this blame often falls inwards, particularly when the physical difficulty resulted during birth or through an accident. This unhealthy imposition of blame on the self further feeds feelings of guilt, and may in the long-run contribute to far more self-destructive attitude, leading to depressive disorders and such.

The feelings of anyone with physical difficulties may go from one extreme to another, even if they do not confess to this huge variety of fleeting emotions. This non-admission is often a way for the mind to cope with things that we have to deal with.

The good thing is that physical challenges need not be a hurdle standing in the way of your achieving your dreams and ambitions. However, this reality isn’t one that you can lecture; rather, it is one that each person must discover, learn for themselves, accept, and live by. This process will be made possible by truly being open to the possibilities beyond those that you are able to see for yourself.

Luckily, when you look closely, those who face physical hurdles are often found in the center of a supportive group of people-family, friends, and colleagues. These people are often the ones who love them unconditionally, even if loving means being tough one time or another in order to help that person grow. With the help of these people, any physically-challenged individual can be open, honest, and true to themselves.

Seek that support group, especially during times of greatest physical and emotional difficulty. The special thing about support groups-whether you are intimately related to them like family, or in public support groups-is that they offer a listening ear and no judgments.

If you have a loved one who is physically-challenged, you may find that he is less willing to accept the fact that you love him with no regard for however different he is. This may make it a challenge to love  him more openly, especially because you yourself may not have any clear physical difference. In these instances, do not be afraid to seek the support of those like you, and perhaps, in the process, find words of advice as to how to deal with this situation.

Do not treat a person who is physically-challenged in a special way. You may adjust somewhat to the way he talks or help him walk, but this does not mean you have the license to show pity and treat him any less than how he deserves to be treated. This is ultimately, a show of respect that each person-even those with physical hurdles-expect to be given him.

Differences among people that manifest physically cause challenges not only among those who possess these traits, but also for the people around them who love and support them. However, it is best to muster up the will and courage to overcome this hurdle, because doing so is every bit worth the trouble. Instil in both parties confidence and a feeling of worth, and these physically-challenged individuals may even change your life for the better.

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The Mental Stress Imposed by Dealing with Disasters

June 14th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

The term “post-traumatic stress disorder” was created in recognition of one reality: that there are some people who find it far more difficult than others to cope with and adjust to the impact of a disaster in their lives. The traditional notion, of course, was that with enough time, everyone will be able to cope with any sort of disaster they encounter, regardless of how traumatic they may have been. With the realization that this isn’t the case, there has been greater stress in trying to understand the dynamics of this post-traumatic stress disorder.

There is a gamut of emotions that most individuals have to deal with after any traumatic incident: it can range from melancholy, anger, fear, and even sadness. These emotions often peak and then dissipate after a certain period. Those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, however, tend to not get over these emotions, often seeing a progression of these feelings into some other worse for. When left to their own devices, they may withdraw from their usual activities, and begin to see difficulty in sustaining the lives they lived before the disaster.

This unique disorder was first observed among veterans who had seen the evils of war. However, there are a lot of other factors that can cause the onset of PTSD, such as trauma from a disaster that may have caused an individual to be harmed, or feel the genuine threat of imminent harm. It can also be triggered when an individual witnesses a traumatic event, or when an individual’s close friends or family suffer from a traumatic event. Sexual or physical abuse can also trigger PTSD as well.

To note: not everyone who experiences a disaster or tragedy is bound to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. There are a lot of other conditions that contribute to the propensity to suffer from this disorder. This can include genetic predisposition, the amount of control or helplessness a person felt during the tragedy, and having been exposed to this tragedy with a loved one. The feeling of helplessness can cause people to feel more than unable to cope, making them more prone to suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

There’s no need to panic if you feel stressed by having such disaster come upon you; it is a completely reasonable response. After all, this is the means through which the body prepares itself for the occurrence of other worse situations so that it is able to cope. With anxiety comes the ability to act in a faster, more alert manner, equipping a person with the ability to save ourselves and others in the face of danger. It is a cause of concern, however, if this anxiety settles long after the disaster and its implications have passed.

With proper diagnosis, post-traumatic stress disorder can be addressed properly. This is most often done through therapeutic treatment. However, pre-empting the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder, like having a loved one who has undergone a disaster see a therapist immediately, is also a good way to avoid the disorder from occurring altogether. After all, these specialists can help you work through the stress of coping with these tragedies, and may even assist you in the process of moving on and transitioning back to the way your life was before the disaster.

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Improving Your Skills as a Caregiver

June 7th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Fitness

There are certain life-changing events in a loved one’s life that we try to convince them they will be able to get over somehow. However, we do have to recognize that while we try our best, there are things like this that will not be as easy to understand. By empathizing with your loved one, you may in turn become a much better caregiver.

There’s always the temptation to simply say niceties. However, if you end up saying the wrong things and triggering undesired responses, you may be surprised that it may even be worse than saying something hurtful.

Instead, mean what you say, try to discern what your loved one needs to hear, and try your best to understand what they feel and how they see things, so that you are able to better communicate with them.

Below are some guidelines on how to become a better caregiver.

  1. Recognize the indicators.
    Those who suffer from an illness or disability can easily swing from one emotion to another. Usually, they first settle into a feeling of disbelief, as though they had been jolted out of their reality by their accident. They may feel, later on, denial, depression, self-hate, anger, and even indifference. They will go through these emotions, and it is important for you to know how you can try to help and at which point to help.
  2. Speak with them and seek to understand.
    Many people feel reluctant to open up to these individuals, fearing that they may, in the process, offend them. However, by clarifying just what they feel will help you understand where they are coming from. By taking time to sit with them, you may be surprised at how responsive they will be to your efforts.
  3. Remember that if they end up making you feel bad, it’s nothing personal.
    You may as easily feel frustrated, offended, and on edge as they go through varying mental and emotional stages. If you come under fire in the process of helping them, do not take it personally. Think of it as your being the most convenient of targets, or likely, just an unwanted witness to these outbursts.
  4. Understand what they are suffering from.
    If you are having difficulty trying to relate to your loved one because of the intricacies of his or her condition, seek ways to better understand him or her. Read books, go online and read up on resources, and even consult with his or her physician. You can also inquire about treatment, as well as ways in order to positively deal with them and assist in their betterment.
  5. Join support groups.
    Good caregivers know that at times, they need to step back and see things in a different perspective. Joining support groups will allow you to share your feelings with others, taking off your cap as caregiver and taking on the cap of the willing recipient of the support of others.

Taking care of your loved one is not easy, especially if a loved one is who you are in charge of taking care of. It can be family, close friends, or even a spouse. Make sure that you take care of yourself well so that you will be able to better assist your loved one and give them care.

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Ten Tips to Help a Physically-Challenged Loved One

May 26th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

A physical challenge or disability can happen to anyone-be it at birth, after an accident, or as a result of some illness. These challenges act in a way that impairs our ability to perform particular physical activities. Below are ten ways through which you can help a loved one cope with physical challenges.

1.  Allow them to express how they feel. Easy as it may sound, it actually isn’t. However, allowing them to express their emotions, be it through screams, tantrums, anger, or tears helps in slowly accepting things the way they are. This is the first step in finding ways to respond more proactively to this disability.

2.  Do not overly smother them with affection. The temptation will be extremely difficult to resist, especially in the face of someone we love experiencing a very difficult situation. However, you have to understand that your loved one will need time to be alone and figure things out on his own. Give your loved one the space he needs once in a while.

3.  Do not treat them as though they are children. Granted, they may have some difficulties, but treating them always as though your focus is the fact that they are physically-challenged will heighten their feelings of being pitied. Do not overcompensate by treating them like children: simply acknowledge their differences and treat them the way you normally would.

4.  Find out what they need. It doesn’t matter what you get them to improve their situation: it does not matter if it’s not something they want or need. Find out what they need so that you will be able to provide them with things that are extremely relevant to them.

5. Join them in therapy. This is especially true when your loved one just recently suffered from an event that lead to their being physically-challenged. Giving them support during therapy will help them through rehabilitation.

6.  Remember that always being on the giving end can have a toll on you. Make sure you have someone to talk to and confide to, someone who can be your sounding board while giving you support and encouragement.

7.  Support their participation in family activities. It may be too much to try to get them involved in public activities, so having them interact with people close to them, like family and friends, is a step in the right direction.

8.  Allow them time to feel sad about their fate. This period of grief and sadness is an important step so that they will be able to cope next with how they can productively deal with what has happened to them. Give them time and help them move on from this grief.

9.  Don’t keep apologizing just because someone is different. The guilt will make you feel worse. Instead of saying how much you care and love them, you’re really better off just showing them how you feel so that they will understand how genuine you are in supporting them.

10.  Try to keep changes to their lifestyle to a minimum. This sense of constancy will help make your loved one feel that whatever is good in their life will always be there for them.

It’s never easy to deal with a physically-challenged loved one. Find the safe zone where they want your help, and when helping is too much that you should just let them figure it out on their own.

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Coping with Anxiety

May 20th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state, the sources of which are less readily identified. Distinguishing among different anxiety disorders is important, since accurate diagnosis is more likely to result in effective treatment and a better prognosis. Surveys have shown as many as 18% of Americans may be affected by anxiety disorders.

Society does not look very positively on those suffering from anxiety. That is why the person suffering from it would rather retreat to himself than seek treatment from a qualified professional. They are most often ostracized. Some think of them as being crazy. With the advances of science, a lot of breakthrough in the treatment of this disorder affords the sufferer many choices of treatment.

What are the therapies for anxiety?

There are various forms of anxiety therapy available nowadays.  Those suffering from it can choose from among the following:

1.  Behavior therapy.  Many anxiety attacks are triggered by a certain behavior.  Being able to identify these behaviors can help the person suffering from the anxiety to handle situations when it arises.  The person is taught how to manage and control his emotions.

2.  Cognitive therapy.  In this method, one is taught to identify the thought processes that trigger the attack.  Through proper guidance in understanding his feelings and beliefs, one is able to handle them properly.

3.  Cognitive-behavior therapy.  This combines the behavior and cognitive therapies in order to ward off panic attacks.  This type of therapy is the most commonly used psychotherapy.

4.  Systematic desensitization.  In this method, the patient is made to undergo situations that trigger panic attack at different levels, from the less threatening to the more threatening ones.  Slowly his confidence is built so that in the long run he will be able to handle any situation that comes his way.

5.  Talk therapy.  By talking to the patient, the therapist is able to identify the cause of the problem.  With constant conversation, the therapist’s goal is to find and identify the root of the problem.  This happens over a long time.  That is why it is commonly used with other forms of therapy.

6.  Acupuncture or acupressure.  This type of alternative medical practice is widely used.  It involves the identification of pressure points, which triggers the negative energies that set off the anxiety attack.

7.  Hypnotherapy.  This is a widely used therapy method nowadays.  The American Medical Association believes in its effectiveness.  That is why it is highly regarded in the treatment of panic disorder.

There are a lot of options for those suffering from various anxiety disorders.  Prescription drugs may be recommended.  Herbal remedies may also be considered.  There are various alternative medical practices available.  Or a combination of therapies can be prescribed.  All these give the person suffering from anxiety disorders a chance to rid himself of his problem and to lead a normal life.

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