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 Headache and Eyesight Connection

May 10th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Headaches aren’t as simple as you might think. Because there are a number of things that can cause headaches, it can become difficult to figure out the right way to cure it. One thing you should consider doing if you constantly experience headaches, though, is to consult with an eye doctor.

Usually when we think of the causes of our headaches, we look outside the body. Stress is a common culprit, which is understandable since it’s known to cause a lot of damage to our health. Stress can affect all organ systems, causing symptoms like hair loss and  depression, as well as other kinds of diseases. Stress can also increase the amount of free radicals in our body, resulting in premature aging.

Physicians know the role stress plays so if a patient comes to them complaining of recurring headaches, they tend to question their patients about their activities and work. When the negative effects of our lifestyle become clear, we then take steps to improve our health.

Because most of their attention is focused on other causes, people seldom consider that the problem may lie with their eyes. A certain amount of headaches are caused by undiagnosed vision problems. So what exactly are these eye problems, and how are they causing headaches?

Our eyesight changes as we get older. As kids, our vision problems are caught through annual vision tests. This is done by reading an eye chart which grades vision according to how many lines we can read on it. People who have poor vision are usually prescribed eyeglasses in order to improve their eyesight.

A few kids may refuse to wear their new glasses and deny that they have any vision problems. They do this in order to avoid being teased at school. Though they are still young, many of them already feel the need to be like the rest of their peers. These children often end up squinting and thus develop headaches.

This reason can also apply to adults. Another possible reason is that adults rarely get their eyes checked and by the time they do, their eyesight may have worsened and their glasses are no longer the right grade for them.

How can you tell if your vision is the one responsible for your headaches? There are several signs. One is if you often remove your glasses and rub your eyes. Another is if you find yourself constantly taking off your glasses then putting them back on while you are reading.

In kids, it’s a good idea to monitor their school performance. Intelligent children who do terribly in tests may have trouble reading due to poor vision. When they try to read, they put strain on their eye muscles which then result in headaches.

That’s why it’s important to have your eyes tested yearly. If you or someone you know is experiencing headaches, you should check to see if poor eyesight may be the reason. Undergoing an eye exam can help you find out if that’s the case, so your headaches can go away.

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