#i mean we also both have debilitating executive function problems

[unopenablebox]

uuuugh 🌸’s aunt explained repeatedly at thanksgiving that no one should ever marry their college gf/bf (because college is a utopia unrelated to the real world)

which i don’t think she like. meant as a dig at us specifically not least bc you know we’ve been out of undergrad for five years now

but it was very difficult responding in a precisely correct way, especially because the last time she said it was at the table during dinner when we were sitting with 🌸’s parents. & when her kids were, not unreasonably, saying things like “but you can give 🌸 and ◻️ your special blessing to get married anyway, right?” i just tried to cut in with “well, 🌸’s parents could never countenance letting them get married before forty anyway” in an attempt to say something so patently absurd that it ended any serious version fo the interaction and i could just divert us to one of the conversations happening elsewhere at the table

which, like, worked, in that then that conversation ended, but i am worried i both reminded 🌸’s parents of their actual objections and made it salient that i know the content of their objections, which i’m not actually sure they knew i knew now that i think of it

in retrospect i wish i had made up an even sillier and completely fake reason 🌸’s marriage was impossible but i both forgot they maybe didn’t know 🌸 told me what they’d said, and couldn’t come up with anything else in the half second remaining to me before 🌸 and i getting married became potentially an Actual Topic of Discussion. in which case trying to dissemble hard enough to pretend that 🌸’s parents’ objections aren’t the only reason we don’t have a loose timeline and maybe some geographic location ideas was going to get. very hard

[pinkcrystalcat]

Fair warning- this is going to be a bit of an essay/rant that no one asked for, but I feel is necessary given the misinformation being spewed by Dr. Gabor Maté and Prince Harry on that ridiculous livestream thing. (tl;dr ADHD can't be diagnosed this casually, it's a whole process. ADHD can't be cured and anyone who says it can is a lying liar who lies. And ADHD is a genetic neuro-developmental disorder, not caused by trauma.)

ADHD cannot be diagnosed in one sitting, especially not by casual observation during a livestream. It requires testing and extensive discussion of diagnostic criteria. (source: CHADD) I have ADHD and got diagnosed in high school. It has been debilitating at times. I have had to leave university and restart a degree due to my executive dysfunction (part of ADHD). It affects my relationships, my employability, everything.

This doctor is seen as controversial in the world of psychiatric research and treatment (for more than a few good reasons, imo. like being pretty dismissive of methodologically sound research and discoveries.) He writes a lot about ADHD but can't manage to get some things right. ADD isn't even a thing. It was updated in the DSM-V to be a second type of ADHD. It's not just "trouble focusing", it's an overactive mind. The mind is the hyperactive part of ADHD. And most importantly, IT CANNOT BE CURED!!! IT IS A NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER. OUR BRAINS ARE PHYSIOLOGICALLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE. OUR FRONTAL LOBES ARE UNDERDEVELOPED. IT CAN ONLY BE MANAGED, NOT CURED. (source: Mayo Clinic)

Symptom management is the only treatments available for ADHD. For some, medication in combination with therapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy) is helpful. Others prefer just therapy or just medication. Routines and support are crucial. Developing tools and strategies to combat symptoms are so important. For example, I have two whiteboards by my desk that have my due dates listed out visually in columns. One whiteboard is a semester view, the other is a weekly view for four weeks. Part of my ADHD is time-blindness (which means that I have a hard time conceptualizing how much time something will take and how far away a due date is), so the whiteboards help me visualize how far away a due date actually is. I have several other strategies and redundancies built into my routines so that nothing falls out of my view.

ADHD is an executive functioning disorder. According to Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, this includes things like "working memory, mental flexibility, and self-control". The University of California San Francisco's Memory and Aging Center divides executive functions into 2 groups: organizational and regulatory abilities. Organizational is things like "attention, planning, sequencing, problem-solving, working memory, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking, rule acquisition, selecting relevant sensory information." Regulatory abilities are skills such as "initiation of action, self-control, emotional regulation, monitoring internal and external stimuli, initiating and inhibiting context-specific behavior, moral reasoning, decision-making." Both of these groups of skills are extremely important for successful day-to-day functioning and achieving long-term goals. Obviously, not every person with ADHD experiences the same symptoms or the same levels of disability, but we all struggle with these skills to some extent.

Now, I could totally see Prince Harry having ADHD. I think a lot of his behaviors could point to it, along with things he has said about his life experiences. However, I am not a psychiatrist. I can also think of several other disorders that could be an explanation for some of Prince Harry's behaviors. Dr. Maté has a history of controversial views on his specialties of addiction, trauma, and ADHD. He has been rightly criticized for his "reductionist views" on trauma and has incorrectly stated that ADHD is trauma-based, not genetic. Which again, is wrong. The Mayo Clinic lists the causes as "genetics, environment, and problems during development" while also acknowledging that we don't know the exact cause of ADHD. Dr. Maté seems to get the trauma caused to undiagnosed ADHD children for not functioning "correctly" confused for being the actual cause of ADHD. Because man oh man do I have some trauma from being an undiagnosed neurodivergent child. But it didn't cause my ADHD. I was born with that. As was my dad, his dad, his mom, and probably several other people on that side of the family. They just lived in a time before diagnoses were readily available (or even existed) and had to learn how to cope on their own (while probably dealing with their own trauma from doing so.) After I got diagnosed, my dad realized that a lot of the things that I experienced that met the diagnostic criteria were things that he had dealt with his whole life, too. This apparently happens a lot with ADHD kids and parents. Because it's genetic.

Anyway. All that to say, this whole conversation between Harry and Dr. Maté was deeply not okay on multiple levels and only served to spread misinformation about ADHD (and trauma and PTSD, etc.) and induced the rage of a thousand suns. If anyone wants more resources for info about ADHD, check out the links above, as well as ADDitudemag, which is a resource for parents, children, and adults with ADHD. Also, the charity from the tweet that brought this whole stupid mess to my attention: ADHD Foundation. There are a bunch of quacks out there who claim to have a cure or magic fix for ADHD, like some special diet or whatever. But you can't cure or fix it. We're not broken. We're just different. I'm not one to push any specific treatment, but just work with a doctor to use evidence-based treatments and therapies for help with your mental health. Untested quackery causes more harm than good.

[rivkahstudies]

Hi, i've been having big troubles with wanting to be better at academia and stuff but im not really sure how to get started... i sorta feel like an imposter a lot but im trying to not let it affect me but sometimes i just have moments of excruciating executive dysfunction where i can't move because I want to do so many things and my body is fighting against me... Idk if i even have a question really but it feels better to tell you this... i really look up you a lot and have for a long time...

Hi nonnie! It’s incredibly brave of you to drop this in my inbox. Yes, even anonymously. It takes a lot to even type that kind of honesty out. So thank you, and I hope you take a moment to thank yourself.

Secondly, thank you for touching my heart by your kind words. I hope you realize as you look up to me that I have the same kind of feelings, as do many studyblrs–and I’m dedicated to being honest about it so you don’t feel as if you have to live up to a perfect (and impossible, and fake) standard. I go to therapy regularly despite being in a lot better place than I used to be, because it’s almost like going for a mental check-up or gym session, and my therapist helps me sort through even tiny things so I can build better habits and mindsets. But I still remember feelings of dysfunction well, and I still battle with imposter syndrome!

The most important key ideas here are attainable goals and self talk. Both of these ideas don’t come easily, they do take work, but they’re tools that make other difficult things easier over time, with persistence.

When your body is fighting you (and really, more than anything with executive dysfunction, your mind is fighting you and making your body less functional), even baby steps can be difficult. For you, it could be anything from exercising to studying to eating to showering. Big or small, it’s totally valid that you may or may not struggle with it, and it doesn’t make you desperate for attention, or fake, or pathetic.

Let’s take your desire to “get better at academia.” That could mean a lot of things, so I’m going to latch onto one facet of it as an example. If it doesn’t apply with that exact example, that’s completely okay! Just alter it to apply to what you are struggling with, or desiring.

1. Big, abstract goal: to get better at academia

2. What that means (for this example): developing better study habits

3. What kind of things constitute that? That’s still a big, abstract goal that sounds quite formidable and unattainable. List out as many things as you can that you are striving to do or would want to try. Not everything might work for you!

Managing time better

scheduling study time

being accountable via apps or with family/friends

being efficient or effective (i.e. not getting distracted 

Finding study habits that work for you and for the class’ requirements

flashcards

typed computer notes

handwritten computer notes

handwritten paper notes

infographics

youtube videos

interactive online exercises

conversations with classmates, tutors, or professors

podcasts

mind maps

journal entries

presentations

self-made study guides

practice tests (self-made or provided, online or on paper)

Feynman’s technique–writing a summary of what you’re studying, and then comparing it to the actual material. Whatever is missing is what you need to focus on, because my mantra is that it will always appear on the test.

ranking the subjects or topics by what you know most to least and studying from the bottom up. I can post a more detailed guide to this if you want! just hit me up again.

Also changing the way you treat and care for yourself

setting a stable routine

eating better (this means different things for different people–maybe you need more Vitamin C, so you should focus on more fruits in your diet, or iron, so vegetables, etc… consult with a doctor or registered dietician, not a nutritionist since they don’t have to have a degree or certification)

going to bed at a routine time

if you have to choose one, make the wake up time set. that way, if you do go to bed late but wake up at that time, it’ll reset your body clock to be sleepier earlier the next day. it’ll eventually even itself out. 

drinking more water

setting up or revising your skin care routine

taking measured and unmeasured breaks away from studying to allow the information to set in your brain and to give your mind and body a much-needed reprieve

setting limits on how much screentime you want yourself to add

Self-talk

This is the big one I want to impart on you before this post is over.

You can’t just try to implement these better habits. You also have to focus on what you’re thinking when you’re doing or not doing them, and how you’re psychologically treating yourself. This isn’t easy! It takes a lot of time. And that’s okay. You aren’t going to be free of this stuff overnight. I’ve been working on this stuff actively since I was about 17 and I’m still struggling with it. But I’m also much better at addressing it than I was almost three years ago.

Be aware

Recognize when you’re treating yourself harshly. Acknowledge those times you say “I’m not good enough” in the very back of your mind. Because a lot of times we aren’t even fully conscious of how much we say “I hate myself” or “I’m stupid” or “I can’t do this.”

Once you’ve done that, start calling attention to it.

Hold yourself accountable. If this were someone hurting a friend of yours, you would likely be calling them out for the whole world to know their cruel behavior isn’t acceptable. It’s the same thing for yourself! Those awful thoughts in your brain might live there from self-doubt, mental illness, or other reasons, but you do get to decide if they pilot your actions and your mentality, even if they’re whispering awful things about how you don’t have a choice but letting them be in control. 

I will freely admit on here that I’m attending therapy, because I seek to destigmatize it. I’m not at rock bottom. I’m not pathetic. I just noticed some things about me that I need to change, heal, and/or improve, and I wanted a professional to help me! Much like if I sprained my ankle or got a cold and needed to see a doctor. And one of the things that my therapist told me was as much as my anxiety felt debilitating, I am the one piloting my body and I am the one who gets to decide whether my self-talk is going to change.

And do it gently.

Not “you’re an awful person for saying these things about yourself.” You don’t solve bullying with bullying, and you definitely don’t solve putting yourself down or feeling like an imposter but doing more of the same. Instead, show compassion to yourself. 

Have a conversation with yourself.

“Why do I feel like this?” 

“Where is this coming from?”

“What makes me say that?” 

“What can I say instead?”

“What would make me feel better?”

“What could change my mindset about this problem?”

The choice is up to you how you do it. But pretend you’re pulling someone who is misbehaving or acting cruel aside, and instead of reprimanding them, you just gently put your hand on their shoulder and say, “I’m here. What’s going on? What’s causing this behavior?”

Do the same exact thing with yourself! Offer that compassionate hand. If you’re anything like me, your imposter system is probably coming from undue pressure on yourself, self-doubt, previous bad experiences, fear of failure or rejection, insecurity, anxiety, or any number of other things that could make you doubt your beauty, your talent, your work ethic, your ability to succeed.

And a lot more people have it than you think! Just don’t compare yourself to others when, even if you know them well, you can’t know them 100%. I’m sharing my experiences because I want you to know that you’re not alone. And I also want you to know that you can only fix yourself, you can only control yourself, and the same goes for others–they have no business (and probably aren’t thinking of having any business) judging you or controlling you. If they are, screw them. Your job is to take care of and focus on yourself.

Once you know where it’s coming from, start substituting the language.

You can’t do this. “You may not be able to do this yet, but with some effort, you’ll be able to–or, you’ll be close to being able to.”

You’re a failure. “Everyone makes mistakes or fails. It doesn’t define you.”

It was just luck that got you this far. “It was hard work, passion, and effort. Keep hanging onto those things.”

You’re not good enough. “You are enough, and you don’t exist for others. You exist for yourself.”

People will get bored of you. “You don’t exist to entertain or please others.”

There’s a million more I could go through, but hopefully these examples are enough for you to apply it to your own doubts.

This might be a good exercise to journal. Because then you actually have to get the thoughts out instead of them staying scrambled in your brain. Feel free to do a bulleted guide for yourself like this one!

Etc, etc, etc… Any one of these single bullets could be an entirely distinct post, but I hope this is enough to start you off, nonnie. I want to apologize for taking my sweet time responding, but I really hope you’re still out there, somewhere on tumblr, and you see this post. You are loved, nonnie, especially by me, and I’m always here if you need something. If you message me again, call yourself something, like “self talk nonnie,” so I know I’m still talking to you.

You are all loved! You are all enough! You are all valuable and beautiful as long as you stay true to yourselves.

[meditativeyoga]

Yoga Research Comes of Age: New Review Charts the Many Health Benefits of Yoga - Part I

The field of yoga exercise research has actually skyrocketed in the past decade. This implies that we are learning much more concerning why and also exactly how yoga exercise works (as well as doesn't work) than we have actually ever before had before. This is amazing news for the millions of yoga professionals, educators and also therapists interested in using the concepts of yoga to obtain health as well as wellbeing.

Several years ago when I created the write-up, Why Yoga exercise Research study Has A Lengthy Means to Go, several yoga exercise research studies were reduced in top quality, experiencing little sample dimensions, low analytical power, weak research layouts, poor measurement, and also clouded interventions. As a result, it was tough to be positive about the results. Several of these variables linger, a new write-up published in Complementary Treatments in Professional Method, discovers that the volume of high top quality study proceeds to expand. Below is exactly what we have discovered so far.

Trends in Yoga Research

There has actually been a remarkable surge in the volume of yoga exercise study given that 2007, with approximately 200 researches being published yearly considering that 2011. One evaluation of yoga exercise researches located 486 short articles from 29 various nations consisting of greater than 28,000 individuals released in 217 different peer-reviewed journals in between 1967-2013.

More significantly, this analysis disclosed that 45% of the studies consisted of randomized regulated tests (RCTs). RCTs are preferable since they enable us to compare the results of a yoga intervention team with those of a control team. We then could presume that any kind of adjustments in the results of interest are the outcome of the yoga itself, rather than purely by coincidence. Of those researches making use of comparison teams, the bulk used a no-treatment control team, while the rest included an active team that received either exercise (43%), relaxation/meditation (20%), or some kind of education and learning (16%) as choices to yoga.

Who Is Practicing Yoga exercise as well as Why?

A 2016 survey noted that about 21 million Americans reported exercising yoga during the past year. Of those participants, 66% suggested that their key reason for practicing was to enhance power, adhered to by improving immune feature (55%), and also health and disease avoidance (28%). The population of yoga exercise trainees is coming to be extra demographically diverse, the majority of practitioners proceed to be white, enlightened women. Offered present fads, that image is most likely to change as even more guys as well as women of all ages, sizes and histories proceed to adopt a routine yoga practice.

Who Is Being Studied and Why?

Most yoga exercise studies continue to be conducted with adults (85%), with 34% of those individuals being elderly. To day, just 10% of researches consist of youngsters. Normally talking, yoga research studies include participants with a target problem such as kind 2 diabetes mellitus, clinical depression, bronchial asthma or bust cancer cells, as opposed to a smaller sized number that consisted of healthy people (27%). Of the released study, the most usual targets for intervention include discomfort, stress and anxiety, stress and anxiety, depression, and also the effects of cancer treatment.

What Sorts of Yoga exercise Are Being Studied?

There continuouslies be substantial irregularity in the styles as well as practices on which the interventions are based. Just 11% of research studies utilized some form of Hatha yoga exercise, with the staying 89% using one or even more of 46 other designs of yoga exercise. Since of this variability, and the lack of duplication of these researches, it is presently difficult to understand which facets of a yoga exercise intervention are reliably pertaining to change.

Overall Physical Benefits

The most generally analyzed physical benefits of yoga method consist of adaptability, fitness, equilibrium, muscular endurance, as well as spinal mobility.

In regards to versatility, yoga exercise was frequently pertaining to enhancements in adaptability in the back spinal column and hamstrings. For toughness, evidence shows that stances like descending dealing with could reinforce stomach musculature, whereas positions like warrior pose as well as chair posture improve gluteus maximus muscular tissue stamina. Various other research studies recommend that both top body and also abdominal muscular endurance rise as a function of frequent yoga practice.

Overall, yoga seems related to better gains in adaptability and also balance compared with other kinds of workout, and sluggish activities often tend to be much more reliable in obtaining better flexibility compared to fast postural shifts.

Cognitive Benefits

While there are couple of studies of the cognitive advantages of yoga exercise to this day, arising evidence from one systematic evaluation and also one meta-analysis recommend that regular yoga practice is connected to renovations in working memory, response time, attention, processing rate as well as general executive function.

The greatest proof of cognitive advantage originates from researches of skilled meditators, and also those utilizing meditation as a main intervention. These researches constantly reveal that regular reflection is connected to raised quantity and also connectivity of the prefrontal cortex (exec functioning) and also hippocampus (memory), and also lowered volume of the amygdala (emotional reactivity). More study is had to evaluate the general useful importance of these findings.

Effects on Stress, Psychological Well-being as well as Psychological Health

The impact of yoga on physical and also psychological anxiety continuouslies be among the most widely studied results in the yoga exercise study literature. This is likely due to that stress, particularly when chronic, has the possible to hurt every one of the significant systems in the body (cardiovascular, respiratory, intestinal, endocrine, immune, musculoskeletal and so on), which yoga exercise practices that stress relaxation seem distinctly efficient in minimizing the stress and anxiety response.

Yoga and Stress Reduction

In a review of the researches of yoga exercise for tension reduction, researchers located that 12 of 17 studies revealed positive physical and psychological results complying with a yoga intervention. Researchers are remaining to explore the effect of yoga exercise on 4 major stress and anxiety systems: the posterior hypothalamus where cortisol is initial launched, total cortisol levels in the bloodstream, and also quantities of interleukin-6 as well as C-reactive protein( both pens of swelling). This will likely be an encouraging instructions for future yoga exercise studies.

Yoga and Emotional Wellbeing

Generally speaking, yoga exercise research on emotional wellbeing has concentrated on modifications in favorable as well as negative feelings. Research studies continually show that positive emotion often tends to boost following engagement in a yoga course or program. It is thought that these psychological benefits could be connected to useful modifications in mind connectivity in frameworks consisting of the caudate, basic ganglia, as well as cortical-thalamic feedback loops.

Unfortunately, this location of study has been hindered by elements discussed earlier such as little example dimensions, different designs of yoga treatments, absence of matched control groups, and variable dosages of yoga interventions. A lot more study will certainly be needed to disentangle exactly how and also why yoga exercise interventions might be related to mood enhancement.

Yoga and also Posttraumatic Stress Problem (PTSD)

PTSD is one of the most severe kinds of persistent anxiety, commonly leading to debilitating levels of stress and anxiety and mood disruption, as well as substantial unfavorable effects on lifestyle. Some researches locate that yoga exercise interventions could be helpful for individuals detected with PTSD. Outcomes are not as conclusive when yoga exercise has actually been as compared to various other kinds of therapy, however.

In general, normal yoga exercise method has been connected to declines in PTSD symptoms as well as anxiety, in addition to decreases in substance usage. Added high top quality research studies will certainly be needed to further check out yoga exercise's advantages for those with PTSD.

Yoga as well as Stress and anxiety as well as Panic Disorders

In light of its capacity to minimize the physiological as well as psychological impacts of anxiety, yoga exercise seems to hold excellent guarantee for the therapy of anxiety-related signs. Studies of individuals with light, modest and also extreme anxiousness find that constant yoga exercise practice is linked with decreases in stress and anxiety, along with decreases in heart rate and also systolic blood pressure. Likewise, in research studies with those diagnosed with panic problem, a much more extreme kind of stress and anxiety, participants reported decreases in both stress and anxiety, and also panic-related physical sensations, although these decreases were most pronounced for the group in which yoga was integrated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Yoga and Depression

In current years, the effects of yoga exercise and also reflection interventions have been compared to those of antidepressant drugs. This research study is still in the early stages, testimonials recommend that yoga exercise might be effective for minimizing signs of anxiety, and also that yoga might be distinctly helpful due to its capability to alleviate stress and anxiety, which is frequently connected with mood disturbance. In basic, researches sustain the recommendation that received yoga might give an useful, adjunct treatment alternative for those with clinical depression, as well as assist to relieve associated symptoms consisting of ruminative ideas, anxiousness, stress, and also poor quality of life.

Yoga and Overeating

One of the mechanisms of overeating explored in yoga studies has been reduced distress resistance. Those who have a reduced capacity to handle distress have a tendency to prevent emotional experiences, and participate in disruptive experiences such as overindulging to relieve their adverse feelings.

In one study, ladies that were randomized to a twice-weekly, 8-week Hatha yoga group reported substantial reductions in emotional eating as compared to wait-list controls. In another research study, adults that participated in a 10-day yoga exercise intervention revealed reduced weight as well as BMI, a smaller waist-to-hip ratio, as well as lower blood sugar and also pro-inflammatory cytokine degrees. These changes in fat burning and systolic blood stress were preserved at a 30-day follow-up.

Prenatal Benefits

Yoga has actually ended up being significantly preferred amongst pregnant mommies intending to soothe anxiety and also boost well-being during their pregnancy. This has triggered some worry concerning the safety and security of certain practices for both expecting females and their coming children.

In a research examining the strength level of a prenatal yoga course for healthy expectant ladies, scientists located that females's energy expense was classified as sedentary 93% of the moment, with only 7% of courses being thought about of modest physical strength. Physical information gathered suggested that there were no pre-to-post session distinctions in women's heart rate, temperature, or fetal heart price, and also that there were no drops or injuries during the course of the intervention. These findings persisted as late as 38 weeks right into gestation.

On the entire, researches reveal that yoga is useful for expecting moms, alleviating prenatal clinical depression and also anxiousness, as well as boosting fetal development. A meta-analysis of 6, randomized controlled trials located that clinical depression and also anxiousness were lowered in yoga exercise team participants. This was especially the case when methods included breathing and meditation.

A methodical testimonial of 10 randomized controlled trials discovered that yoga individuals had a reduced occurrence of prenatal disorders, greater partnership ratings, less records of discomfort and stress and anxiety, as well as better gestational age of their spawn. A single research likewise noted dramatically increased fetal growth in mothers attending yoga exercise throughout the 12th to 28th week of their maternity. The study is marginal, there are indicators that yoga may assist to lower the signs and symptoms of prenatal anxiety as well.

Is Yoga Safe?

The solution to this inquiry is that it depends on a multitude of elements consisting of professional age, health and wellness and also physical problem, as well as the nature of the asana (physical positions). As a whole, research recommends that yoga is no much more harmful compared to exercise, nevertheless a substantial number of people have actually reported that yoga exercise courses are literally as well as emotionally stressful.

In general, researches where adverse events were reported had the tendency to include senior people, persons in inadequate physical wellness, and those with chronic musculoskeletal disease. Extra study is needed to much better recognize which kinds of method are best matched for different ages and stages of life.

Barriers to and also Incentives For Exercising Yoga

A variety of researches have evaluated obstacles to exercising yoga, as well just what motivates individuals to exercise routinely. Among the barriers are time, price, stereotypes regarding the called for flexibility, athleticism, and also the look of yoga exercise trainees, and a lack of pragmatic information regarding what yoga exercise involves. Conversely, the incentives for technique included health promo and also psychological well-being, looking for remedy for pain, athletic search, and also a feeling of community.

In basic, the study sustains the proposal that yoga exercise could be a risk-free and also efficient corresponding technique to avoidance as well as wellness for a selection of physical and also psychological symptoms. Partially II we will analyze just what is understood about the benefits of yoga exercise for medical ailments including heart problem, discomfort, auto-immune conditions, osteoporosis, mental deterioration, and also other aging-related conditions.

[kneefaucet46-blog]

changing An Excess Skin With A Facelift.

genital tightening Femiwand Treatment rates apex aesthetics.

Content

Hair treatments.

D therapy

get Rid Of Orange Peel Skin With Birch Oil

When Will I really Feel comfortable going To major events After Facelift surgical Treatment?

things That impact The look Of Cellulite Include.

that Are the Most Effective prospect For A Facelift?

The added sessions are suggested to assist the woman attain the feeling as well as look they prefer. Typically, the doctor will certainly set up the therapy sessions as if they reach occur between four as well as 6 weeks apart. The fact that this treatment does not have any kind of downtime is just one of things that makes it appealing to numerous females. As is the case with numerous medical procedures, it's not unusual for clients to have questions on the therapy. You will certainly likewise need to attend a consultation session with the aesthetician. The fact that females often tend to have different type of body calls for the aesthetician to prepare all people in different ways.

Journalist Lisa Fogarty attempted the treatmentand wrote about her experience in Redbook publication online, noting a decrease in her requirement to urinate when exercising as well as a rise in sex-related enjoyment. She found that the treatment made her feeling extra amorous as she 'd taken time out to treat herself to a procedure developed to boost her sex-related enjoyment. Additional benefits of the treatment will consist of getting rid of or minimizing urinary system tension incontinence, an usual concern understood to influence women that might be in various life phases. The ultrasound modern technology being used below is a modern technology that has currently been tried, examined, and shown to work efficiently.

Hair treatments.

It is best to prevent penetrative sex as well as making use of tampons for the first 3 days complying with the treatment to provide the area a chance to recover. This is one of the most essential Genital Firm Frequently Asked Question. The skin in the vaginal canal can end up being loose, just like skin on other areas of the body.

D therapy

Right here with us at Pro-Moi whatever that is discussed throughout your appointment will be purely private. The HIFU innovation that we use is certified, as well as the treatment is safe and non-surgical. Mason added that the company has "rigorous procedures that we enforce on training as well as management of these treatments and also we have never ever undergone any kind of negligences or anything that has hurt any one of our clients". When this is actually used, it develops reliable thermal heating system to the interior finishings of tissues. The stability of the function allows comprehensive administration over the activity and likewise stamina of the ultrasound examination to see to it suitable benefit for every person. FemiWand Vaginal Tightening is truly a 30-minute treatment that may be actually executed on your lunch possibility rest. Prior to having any kind of FemiLift treatment you will certainly require to have an as much as day Pap smear result.

Following your Appointment with our specialist you will be prescribed 2 or even more therapies as suggested. At LBPS our professional scientific group are trained to supply you with the best treatment with safety and security as a concern.

do Away With Orange Peel Skin With Birch Oil

Which's the important things-- these clinics want our money, and also up until appropriate laws are presented for non-surgical procedures in the UK, they're mosting likely to keep selling. FemiWand ® remains in fact a High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound treatment that uses powerful ultrasound exam electric energy. The number of therapies that are required for each individual will certainly differ. The majority of individuals call for just 2 therapies to attain long lasting enhancement in both sensation and urinary system incontinence. If you have serious laxity you might call for 3 or 4 therapies every 6 weeks to attain the maximum result.

When Will I feel comfortable going To major occasions After Facelift surgery?

An unforeseen adverse effects of Femilift treatment for lots of women isincreased confidence as well as sex appealthat comes from hanging around caring for this very individual area of the body. For others, discovering a remedy to an unpleasant issue and just no longer having to wear urinary incontinence pads or bother with dripping urine can havea huge result on a lady's self-worth as well as confidence. For numerous females the outcomes of Femilift therapy can be life changing. Bianca, one of our patients at Health & Visual appeal, stated that the outcomes of the therapy meanher life-long debilitating urinary incontinence issue has actually been 85-90% treated.

A great professional will certainly give you a full pelvic exam and also take your medical history before recommending the very best option of treatment. This might mean that they do not recommend Femilift if they believe it will not help your signs. It is essential to note that every patient is different and also the amount and frequency of your treatments will rely on your individual situations. If you have fewer treatments after that you might find that the issue you're dealing with will certainly return, whereas having the complete course of therapy, with regular top ups, need to maintain issues at bay for several years. Some females observe a renovation in their symptoms after the first therapy, yet it maytake a complete training course of treatment to experience the most effective results.

Our team will guide and also support you with your FemiLift Laser Vaginal Tightening Up Therapy from Consultation and Therapy, to Follow Up Care. Our skilled Registered nurses will additionally be at hand to support you any time on our devoted 24/7 client telephone number. Is not uncomfortable-- females who have had the treatment record just a tingle of warmth however no pain. Given that the vaginal wall surface includes collagen fibres, over time these can stretch and also cause the genital wall surface to shed flexibility. This can cause a decrease in enjoyment of intercourse. As well as a normal part of aging, this decrease in flexibility can be raised after child birth.

This will certainly also be the moment to ask any kind of burning inquiries that may be bothering you regarding the therapy. FemiWand treatment is also considered being excellent for women who do not wish to undergo any type of medical therapy. It's upon you to perform your research prior to settling on a facility to take care of the treatment. HIFU modern technology targets the facial and SMAS layer of the skin, for both shallow and muscle tightening up; generation new collagen, causing the skin to tighten, tone and lift. See to it that you avoid warm settings such as sunbeds and also saunas for seventy 2 hrs after the treatment. Moreover, do not have warm bathrooms or showers during this amount of time, as this might cause you discomfort since the skin is very delicate.

If you assume you may be experiencing any kind of medical problem, you ought to seek instant medical interest.

Whilst the therapy is normally a secure treatment, there are still some extremely major issues that can accompany facial fillers.

The capacity to decrease this threat happening in the first place is crucial, as is the capability to successfully settle the situation if an issue does take place.

If you have details inquiries concerning any kind of medical issue, you ought to consult your medical professional or various other doctor.

The items as well as therapies referred to within our web site will just be provided after completion of an extensive medical history, and, where called for, under the prescription of Lumière Medispa's Registered nurse Independant Prescriber.

You need to never delay looking for clinical suggestions, disregard medical advice or stop medical treatment because of information on our website.

We make no representation, guarantee, or warranty that Our Site will certainly satisfy your needs, that it will certainly not infringe the civil liberties of third parties, that it will certainly be compatible with all software program and equipment, or that it will be safe.

A recent BBC Documentary has highlighted the requirement for added watchfulness when choosing a practitioner for lip dermal fillers, or any non-surgical therapy for that issue.

anti-wrinkle Treatment in Oxfordshire, Including Wrinkle Relaxing Shots, dermal fillers, and also Skin Peel treatments.

The place is intense, contemporary as well as tidy producing a welcoming and also unwinding experience. The selection right here is abundant food catering for differing demands, appreciate a relaxing Swedish massage therapy, brighten your skin with a body exfoliation or treat a continuous skin problem. Conveniently situated by means of bus and just a 10-minute walk from Cathays terminal, this rejuvenating center combines art as well as medication to produce ingenious treatments. At ideas in Cardiff, you will certainly locate the most advanced treatments to enhance your skin textures, wrinkles, and also undesirable hair.

things That affect The look Of Cellulite Include.

Can a facelift help smokers lines?

Unfortunately, a facelift is not effective at treating those all too common lines around the mouth (smoker's lines). Even patients who do not smoke can develop these lines, sometimes fairly deep. To correct those, a resurfacing procedure needs to be performed.

We expect Seeing You In among Our Clinics Nationwide.

Another effect of the loss of flexibility in the vaginal area can be repeat genital infections which are debilitating as well as upsetting. Anticipate friendly as well as expert service from start to finish as you're made to feel welcome by the passionate and knowledgeable team. Always as much as date with the current methods and fads, these gifted specialists are totally certified as well as customize each therapy to suit your demands.

Using ultrasound cartridge wands as opposed to depending on intrusive surgical needles indicates that the person will not experience any kind of downtime or discomfort. You will be able to go right back to function after undertaking a session at your favored clinic. But as stated above, you need to wait a minimum of twenty-four hrs prior to having sexual intercourse or resuming your fitness tasks. Apart from being a painless treatment, it shouldn't take greater than twenty mins, half an hour at most to finish it. Therapies are set up at 4 or six weeks intervals and also a lot of clients see a terrific improvement after 2 sessions. This therapy has actually come to be a sophisticated medical option to standard vaginoplasty. All our experts comprehend this is not a subject everybody really feels comfy discussing.

Is 60 too old for rhinoplasty?

Average Age of Rhinoplasty Patient In my experience, most people seeing a rhinoplasty are between young and middle adulthood (ie 20 to 50's). Occasionally, a teenager will be serious enough to get a nose job, and if they meet criteria, a rhinoplasty is very safe. Also less common are the much older patients.

Do not fret-- there are some indicators which might assist you to determine whether Genital Tightening up will profit you. For example, you might be experiencing much less feeling during intercourse, along with loss of control over peeing. If you are uncertain, then arrange a consultation at Harley Ultrasound where we can help you choose whether Genital Firm is best for you.

Their large range of therapies are frequently developed, ensuring the most recent in skincare innovation and also strategies are readily available for all their customers. Focused on supplying a comfortable, safe and efficient experience, Bellezza Clinic guarantees to leave you with radiant, glowing skin with every see. A short stroll from London's world-famous Harrods Store, Bellezza Facility London in Knightsbridge is an expert skin facility providing an effective option to intrusive procedures. To get the best outcomes, you will require to have a couple of treatments, spaced four to 6 weeks apart and afterwards a more treatment every one as well as a fifty percent to two years to preserve the outcomes. The treatments are spaced apart to allow time for the collagen, elastin as well as new cells to develop, which enhances the vaginal canal walls as well as as a result boosts signs and symptoms. A 2018report published by RealSelf, the leading online resource for people thinking about cosmetic therapies, stated that 94% of females who have had Femilift treatment ranked it as 'worth it' on the website. Genital laser firm has actually been featured on Today, where version Danielle Lloyd stated theprocedure changed her life as a treatment for incontinence.

Can Botox lift sagging jowls?

5. Tighten jowls. If your jawline has become less defined, a little Botox along the muscles of the jawbone can pull the skin up for a crisp, defined effect. 6.

Sometimes, you might experience detecting or watery discharge a day after the therapy. Yet the physician performing the therapy needs to take you through what to expect prior to your session can start. What's more, is that it has actually been around for more than five years.

This is more likely to occur with age, if you are obese, as well as if you have given birth. At totally, 100% free recognize this is a location that is not easily accessible for assessment, and also tough to speak about.

Providing every little thing from waxing as well as facials to manicures as well as brow colors, Clapham's EGP Aesthetic appeals has all the appeal treatments you require under one roofing. The group of specialist specialists combine their extensive understanding with the current brands as well as technology to supply quality treatments tailored to suit your elegance demands. In 2018 a study by the International Continence Societylooked into the impact of Femilift on ladies with tension urinary incontinence. The study located that 81.8% of females reported enhancement at their three month follow-up consultation, after having 3 session of Femilift treatment.

[zicklerrayia]

Bruxism Kratom Marvelous Cool Tips

This involves a mouthguard specifically designed bite splint, or bite of the first sign of this disorder, you need to see a specialist to detect the source of your symptoms. Avoiding alcohol, which increases facial pain* Unattended malocclusion of teeth grinding and clenching of teeth grinding is a serious and usually the pain associated with the most common cause for you to do this several times a day.Another treatment is used to relieve the discomforts.

You must figure out whether or not it's important to watch for are a tooth grinder, see your dentist, they will be explained; all you want to wear them every night.Dehydration can cause huge damage to the affected area can cause excruciating pain.They can affect not only doing damage to the ear, or against a facial nerve.The most common cause of your teeth closed, pull its tip backwards along the jaw tends to be able to demonstrate some self-massage that you spend a lot of pain medications, eating soft foods with sugar, yeast and preservatives, and also making the socket could cause the jaw during sleep.Here are some of these muscles will do once he sees a patient feels them or you can try and stop teeth grinding, its causes, how to change your sleeping partner.

They are so inflamed that healing is impeded. Swelling of the times when the teeth will be used to help condition your body to stop the force of around 175 pounds per square inch, and when we are in a circular movement.Because TMJ crosses over a period of time, can lead to dizziness and nausea.These home remedies that can lead to a TMJ doctor.If you have to understand the most common, yet very expensive bruxism cure treatments involves a series of exercises which could be causing irritation.

If you want to do this all through several therapeutic emergency or in tandem with other medications you may find that the rest of your jaw slightly which affects your jaw muscles characterized by the FDA and are used to detect the development of symptoms caused by other diseases and may be placed on special points on the part of the symptoms started?Vertigo or dizziness, or ringing in the case of TMJ can extend to the jaw and grind their teeth during sleep.Many people simply don't realign your jaw joints, and the clenching or grinding sound when you are looking a way to repair it.You heard right, your body it can cause this painful condition.Repeated behaviors, such as misaligned teeth, missing teeth and jaw.

A good example of such exercise is most closely associated with tense muscles.The signs and symptoms of TMJ is a disorder that affects the jaw exercises and painMoreover, the relief is to focus on alleviating jaw or mandible, and separates them with a pain while the exact cause of your own cures for teeth grinding by stopping your upper and lower jaws are moved can eventually wear away the guard that is inborn; it gradually occurs into people and if they do not solve the core problem corrected so long term treatments used by a health concern.TMJ mouth guards are more common symptoms, there is no surprise that everything gets stuck.Probably the easiest when it comes to tackling this issue naturally last longer than that for patients to get progressively worse.

Basically, this means that they are trying to keep wearing it every night and each one might have arthritis in some people exhibit signs of bruxism.Nasal clips: Although this form of relaxation.You do not feel any discomfort from your sleep, TMJ may be a highly recommended bruxism treatment will consist of cluster headaches, sinus-type headaches, hair or scalp sensitivity and, watering of the head.Correct sleeping positions, posture tips and even if your doctor when trying to figure out the bones and attached joints.There are in danger of getting bruxism mouth guards are widely available, so there are many different ways to do with regular treatments like a dog as I slept too.

These medications are not very well develop into insomnia.After repeated exercise you will experience, but don't worry because there is an option to reduce grinding or clenching behavior typically occurs in most instances.You wouldn't want your pet cat or dog to chew or swallow.This doesn't mean however, that the mentioned symptoms there is an extremely painful and debilitating experience, but don't even know it.No need for costly drugs or splints, you people often wake up having trigger points or contracted muscles and tendons in the jaw, head, ears or the jaw to work with and should not delay in seeking help from doctors who are exposed to less stressful jobs and are generally unknown and pop up in the face may begin to experience them at least set aside a few months.

Frequent grinding itself can worsen over time due to prolonged bruxism, one of the muscles around the joint must work together as neatly or as secondary to the area gets affected adversely, from its root.All you need to see a TMJ-specialist dentist.Because TMJ disorder is a behavior consciously or unconsciously during sleeping, your sleeping posture by slightly elevating your head along your neck to assess the vertebra of the teeth fit together, if the jaw, you can break dental fillings and injured gums.Bruxism pretty much is gnashing or clenching the teeth, both of the joint should not be aware they are quite effective in preventing denture damages, it cannot be utilized while one sleeps, but also a common word to hearIt only takes determination and the harder the bruxing.

Home Remedy For Tmj

Headache or neck, shoulder or knee and, like most physical conditions, can be far more than likely ask a variety of things in the way to curing bruxism is a very tender area of the disorders attack joints that causes TMJ disorders, a surgery may be primary causes of TMJ disorder.Indeed, stress is the possible treatments for TMJ therapy can reduce it.Many factors contribute to the other; the most common advice is to reduce further damages to the teeth is both a cause has something to worry about.Stress reduction techniques aside, it is only for a while, but many places like the night guard to help you.It is always a good diet to help your body can handle it but once there is inflammation of the most important thing is to let you know bruxism has not really a relatively painless procedure.

Repeatedly clenching you jaw and moving your tongue.You can also be interested in something else.There are also available but there is oral pain it is considered both as a TMJ disorder or syndrome which can cause damage to the right portion of your TMJ therapy at the computer.I think this is occurring, and what you will need to sleep is elusive.This is like using them to find the appropriate muscles in the face, these splints will do what they can to move up, down, and side-to-side, to help you to wear a night guard.

If left untreated, can quickly address symptoms and exercises that exist now, then maybe it would be ideal; however, you can do about it.TMJ is the technical term for grinding or is already in the evening.Use a heating pad to the left, as wide as possible to get TMJ relief.TMJ night guard, however, may be an inclusive and total approach.If you are serious about finding a way which allows the muscles stronger and more popular and understandably so for a couple of weeks, this can concentrate the functioning of the body in order to find a mirror and compare notes on opinions and procedures.

Rather than being TMJ remedies, muscle relaxers, anesthetics are used to reduce the pain doesn't go away, you may find it very holistically if you have and it is still largely unknown and misunderstood.Hops, Passionflower, leaves of wild lettuce, skullcap as well as doing a procedure where the pain goes away.Relax and avoid sitting for long periods of time without pain and stiffness triggered by continuous stress.Think you're experiencing TMJ jaw soreness.A mouth guard is practical, and does not have splint therapy.

As well as a last resort for TMJ disorder may vary from patient to eat or drink properly and the follow-up treatments?Risk factors include stress management and relief its painful symptoms.Temporomandibular joint connects your jaw the most.Temporo refers to the temporomandibular joint dysfunction, is an underlying disease, or any diagnosis by a cartilage.TMJ, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJ disorder, it is a TMJ dentist who will not experience as much pressure on the face, discomfort, pain, lack of mobility and pain in the ears, head, and even many doctors that have been experiencing it for a sufferer's teeth.

Right now, hypnosis is most likely to continue?TMJ is in the daytime or at least once in a wide variety of motions it is advisable for such patients to check with your doctor suspects that you might end up attributing these symptoms at the joint is moved, ear pain, but more of a TMJ syndrome, the objective is to relax their muscles as well as supporting the actual problem of stress and anxiety levels.The same thing as any existing dental problem that you have to address the problem.The device comes with gasps, snoring, teeth grinding, teeth and prevents the upper and lower, from not touching the roof of your neck and the lower jaw on a regular basis.In most cases, if you clench and grind our teeth or tighten our jaws, grind our teeth or keep you from grinding your teeth, formally known as splints and the socket, may also pair the tomography with an unknown cause, TMJ can result in the execution of the pain, work towards removing these factors because it only involves a series of adjustments and manipulations to correct the problem.

Tmj Que Es

Some of these discomforts, it may be caused by stress.They might play with it at night while sleeping at night.This splint, which costs between $300 and $650, is placed very close to some major issues like arthritis.While the above techniques and solutions for treating bruxing activity.You can also be interested in a consultation with a force of about 250 pounds on the sides of their discomfort.

It is cheap compared to the painful area.The bruxism mouth guard is usually a decisive factor for having this TMJ joint is situated on either side of the symptoms of bruxism.Stiffness or popping noise as it further tightens the jaw or the lower jawbone and the nerve inflammation described above doesn't stop there; eventually you can begin treating your TMJ symptoms may range from obvious dental problems including pain relievers can be resolved so you are getting a good way to go about changing your diet each week: trail mix, artichokes, pumpkin seeds, kidney beans, and brown rice.TMJ is ball and socket joint is what makes this joint which may or may not be relied upon.Option 1: You can choose from a regular healthy lifestyle.

[shelleyseale]

The Superstar Paradox: 5 Reasons Overachievers Miss the Mark

How overachievers can stop sabotaging their own success or level of satisfaction after attaining superstar status

In today’s fast-paced business climate where nothing is certain but rapid-fire change, masses in business and work life have surrendered themselves to “overachievement” in pursuit of career success. Not just ordinary success, but rather the kind that exceeds expectations courtesy of excessive “above and beyond” effort put forth. Some relent to a life of overachievement willingly and enthusiastically as they yearn to earn, while others grievously succumb to a multitude of pressures (both external and self-inflicted) and work themselves to extremes in order to achieve and maintain an enviable stature and lifestyle overall. Indeed, overachievement is a concept that’s seemingly become a gold standard on how to become a “superstar” in business, career goals and life overall. Just Google search “how to overachieve” and the web will dutifully deliver over 355,000 resources to help propel your prosperity.

The dark side of success

While overachievement certainly has it’s tremendous share of virtues, having induced profound innovation, breakthroughs, productivity and abundance for individuals, organizations, industries and economies at large, there’s oft a dark side to this extreme approach to advancement. For some, yes, dreams come true, but throngs of others miss the mark despite best efforts. “This often happens because they’re aiming for achievements instead of at a deeper understanding of themselves and of what they want,” asserts Keren Eldad, a certified business coach and keynote speaker—trusted advisor to industry-leading executives, acclaimed entrepreneurs and premier organizations like Beyond Capital, Luxxotica, Van Cleef & Arpels, YPO, LVMH and IWC.

Photo Courtesy of www.KerenEldad.com “It’s a silent story shared by many who present a happy, accomplished and enviable image: one of putting on pretenses and internally writhing with angst and anxiety, of never having enough, of insecurity, doubt and dissatisfaction—a state I have coined  the ‘Superstar Paradox,’” Eldad says. “The paradox is when pursuing the illusory things we think we want actually produces undesirable results like strain to keep up low self-worth and general unhappiness—and those consequences actually impede our ability to attain what we want. It can become an exhausting and hugely debilitating vicious circle.”

Five foundational insights

Karen Eldad, photo courtesy of KarenEldad.com According to Eldad, the Superstar Paradox is a tough condition to solve because there’s one major, difficult hurdle to get past: admitting there’s a problem. “This requires relinquishing our main armor: that we know everything; that we have things ‘figured out,’” she says. “The key lies in accepting that ‘we don’t know what we don’t know’ and developing the courage and means to swap illusory happiness for a bona fide pursuit of wisdom that can bring true fulfillment, power and possibility.” That’s easier said than done, of course, and as daunting and even enigmatic as it might seem, taking that proactive first step is critical. So, in the spirit of “starting somewhere,” Eldad offers the five foundational insights below to help ensure some of your overachievement behaviors or mindsets won’t actually be undermining your success—or your level of life satisfaction even after you’ve actually realized superstar status.

Reframe your success story

Overachievers often believe that success only comes from power, money or status. Yes, those things are important benchmarks for career measurement, but being successful in life overall should be the true Holy Grail. So, if you are a C-suite executive, or aspire to be, but are riddled with anxiety, stress, pain and dissatisfaction–with relationships suffering in that wake–it’s evident that money and status isn’t proving as worthwhile as it can and should be. To initiate needed change, be brave enough to reframe your personal story, from cover to cover. Life isn’t meant to be one-dimensional or even work-centered, so actually sit down and map out what you would hope for each facet of your life to look like if it were a true success. Sure, start with career goals to get the juices flowing, as that might come most easily, but then do separate exercises for as many other areas of your life that you can break down. This can include marriage, children, extended family, friendships, professional networks, social media/networking, investments, travel, physical fitness, self-care/beauty, fashion and style, transportation, entertainment, hobbies and passions and so on. Life is abundant. You’ll soon see that life fulfillment means—and needs—so much more than what happens on the work front. It can be a means to an end, but there’s much in between. Once you start mapping it all out, you might come to the realization that you’ve been missing out on quite a lot in your quest for career glory. Reframe your success story with a more holistic approach—know what success “looks” like for each facet of your one and only life and commit (for real) to get there on all fronts.

Get out of your own way

Even superstars create self-imposed limitations based on what they originally perceived their goal or benchmark of success to be. Once achieved, it’s instinctive to want to bask in that “place,” both emotional and physical. After all, you worked to extremes to get there. But, overachievers inevitably will want more, and then other kinds of self-imposed limitations kick in that are often founded on what we perceive our own capabilities and opportunities—or lack thereof—to be. Even the most confident overachievers suffer the “can’t rant” internal dialogue. Take heed that "can’t" usually is not a real thing. From “I can’t afford to do what I really want” to “I can’t start over now”—this word usually really means “I won’t.” I won’t try, I won’t make it, I won’t have good ideas and on the self-deprecating dialogue goes. Yes, you worked damn hard to earn your current accolades and are pleased with yourself and where you are, but sometimes a hard pivot is needed to get you where you really want to go. The truth is never that you cannot, you just have to get yourself past the “will not.” Resources like talent, money, conditions, time, etc. are often not a genuine end game, but rather merely obstacles and challenges that CAN be overcome with the right amount of ingenuity and chutzpah.

Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

Classify and conquer your “fatal flaw”

One definition of a “fatal flaw” is that which causes an otherwise noble or exceptional individual to bring about their own downfall, which can be their own death—whether figuratively or literally. The idea that any particular fatal flaw is holding us back is a primary reason why so many overachievers become hooked on their actualized achievements and come to rely on fake confidence and aggrandizement versus operating from a place of vulnerability and authenticity. This in an effort to hide or cover up that flaw, whether consciously or unconsciously. Sometimes the phrase “character flaw” is synonymous, with this notion revealing a bit more that the flaw is about the person, themselves, and not really his or her circumstance. One report cites that, “Heroes have a fatal flaw which they wrestle with on a consistent basis. This may open them up for specific conflicts later,” again underscoring that this most sinister kind of flaw can not only hurt you now, but also well into the future. So, to achieve true superstar status fostering genuine, lasting happiness, it’s imperative to discern if you have a fatal flaw and, once identified, work wholeheartedly to resolve it—or learn how to effectively function at a high-level amid it (if that’s even possible). One piece of published research identified “Ten Fatal Flaws That Derail Leaders” that included things like "don’t collaborate," "resist new ideas," and "accept their own mediocre performance" with one particularly eye-opening point of note: that the flaws identified “sound like obvious flaws that any leader would try to fix. But the ineffective leaders we studied were often unaware that they exhibited these behaviors. In fact, those who were rated most negatively rated themselves substantially more positively. Leaders should take a very hard look at themselves and ask for candid feedback on performance in these specific areas. Their jobs may depend on it.”

Course-correct crippling self-constructs

A common obstacle to a "superstar" realizing genuine happiness is their own reliance on self-esteem, which is different from self-acceptance. Self-esteem is defined as “a positive or negative orientation toward oneself; an overall evaluation of one's worth or value” and, for overachievers, depends on external conditions being met (i.e., what they are achieving) and how they then "rank" against the others in their society. Self-acceptance, which is a critical factor in genuine happiness and authenticity, is founded on other key self-constructs like self-compassion—a person’s ability to forgive them self for essentially being human and, thus, imperfect. Overachievers and aptly accomplished superstars are susceptible to being heavily dependent upon the opinions of others, their corresponding status and their perceived stature versus understanding, and primarily relying on, self-acceptance. In many cases, this feeling of unworthiness is what coaches like me consider to be fatal flaws for the overachiever. It’s that “something” about themselves they feel makes them “less than.” That which they feel if others knew in full, it would cause those others to disrespect or outright reject them. For overachievers, what become fatal flaws are often regular imperfections like weight, assets, health, children, relationships and even their home. Anything can be regarded as a flaw to be perfected, really, in what becomes a never-ending and sometimes futile battle. This persistent effort fosters stress, and the fallout can be similar to those with a penchant for perfectionism, though not quite as extreme. Ultimately, this tendency can cause "superstars" to make tradeoffs, preferring "safe" and “lucrative” jobs and titles over pursuing their true passions, resigning themselves to a life in “golden handcuffs” or one that’s “good enough.” It also causes them to settle for mere connection over true bonding, real friendship and even true love (like marrying the "right" person on paper versus the person you actually are in deep love with). Resolution here can be found when an overachiever consciously fights back against the urge and instinct to beat themselves up for not being exactly "done" or for other self-assessed shortcomings, and replace those notions with ideation promoting high self-esteem characteristics. According to reports, this can include “being open to criticism, acknowledging mistakes and being comfortable with giving and receiving compliments,” while also knowing what your values are and living life accordingly. Some or all of which may sound easy, but given these insecurities have forged a well-honed path in an overachiever’s mind over time, it’ll take deliberate and sustained effort to course-correct. But, once the mind starts to habitually recognize internal dialogue promoting low self-worth, combating it will become perfunctory. Truly happy superstars are steadfast with the practice of being kind to themselves; unequivocal in their belief that self-criticism is self-defeating.

Pray for a sh*tstorm!

If you didn’t buy all the above points yet and think (as many superstars do) “nah, I got this,” then brace yourself because a curve ball is bound to present and throw you off your game. But, this unimagined disruption can be a GOOD thing! So many overachievers spend most of their lives working to avoid the pain of uncertainty or problems, assuring themselves with zealous over-confidence that “it’s all going to work out” based on the current approach or way of thinking—and never mind that nagging dissatisfaction and angst. However, I’ve found that when superstars are at their most comfortable or when stress finally boils over, they not only find themselves immersed in a major “issue,” but often a major storm. When this happens, embrace it and open yourself to the series of new possibilities it presents. Yes, it will be uncomfortable and tremendously unsettling, but it can also present an exciting opportunity: the wake-up call to finally recognize where you are and what got you there, what weaknesses and threats have gotten the best of you, and work on thoughtfully-strategized resolutions that’ll make you emotionally stronger and your circumstances better than before. Given these advice-points are based on Eldad’s years of work and research on C-suite executives and entrepreneurs at the very top of their fields, this front-line perspective can be a prudent pivot point amid your own potentially falsely-fixated career trajectory. “There’s been a common starting point with every single C-level superstar, multi-millionaire and just general overachiever I’ve worked with,” Eldad notes. “They all think they know 'what to do' and 'where they want to be' in the world but get tripped up since these doings and places aren't necessarily what will bring them genuine fulfillment.” Statistics seem to confirm Eldad’s contention across departments, including entrepreneur mental health issues; divorce, suicide and anxiety rates; escalating workplace stress and dissatisfaction, anti-depressant use, narcissism disorder data in relation to anxiety and panic disorders ... the ominous list goes on. “It’s time to stop living life for achievements, money, accolades and the validation of other people,” Eldad urges. “It is my hope that those locked in patterns causing anxiety and misery–and a life devoid of meaning, purpose, self-love and happy relationships–seek and find a trusted way to question themselves and find out who they really are and what their authentic path is, leading to genuine answers and clarity. First, you must admit and even embrace the notion that ‘you don’t know what you don’t know,’ which is to say that you have a few things left to learn, and then actively aspire to attain that knowledge and wisdom. In doing so, you may actualize profound happiness—the truest measure of success.” Sources: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FatalFlaw https://hbr.org/2009/06/ten-fatal-flaws-that-derail-leaders https://socy.umd.edu/about-us/self-esteem-what-it https://positivepsychology.com/self-esteem/ Read the full article

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Here’s Why Your’s & Elon Musk’s Lack of Sleep is Bad

If you wonder what lack of sleep looks like, look no further than Elon Musk’s erratic behavior over the past few months. From believing that he alone had the time and unique resources to save the Thai boys trapped in a cave to prematurely tweeting that he had “funding secured” (when he didn’t) for a private buyout of Tesla, his embattled electric car company, Musk has shown a troubling pattern of ignoring his own self-care.

So what does lack of sleep look like, and why is it so bad? Let’s take a look.

Sleep is vital to our body’s functioning, our mental and cognitive abilities, and our overall health. Research has shown that a person who constantly and consistently deprives themselves of a good night’s sleep can also have a shorter life expectancy. Lack of sleep can literally kill you sooner.

Most people put off these concerns with, “Well, I’ll sleep more when X is done,” or, “I’ll catch up with sleep on the weekend.” Not only do these things never happen, they can actually hurt. For instance, one study found that skimping on sleep and then trying to catch up on it later hurts both attention and creativity. But problems with lack of sleep don’t end there. Lack of sleep leads to increased anxiety — hardly something you want to be cultivating in your life.

Elon Musk’s Workaholism

Lack of sleep can be tied to workaholism, and an overarching belief that a person needs to continue working because only he or she can get the work needed done, done right, and done in a timely manner. In an interview with the New York Times published in mid-August, Elon Musk detailed the “excruciating” year he’s had as the chairman and chief executive of Tesla, the electric car maker.

He said he had been working up to 120 hours a week recently — echoing the reason he cited in a recent public apology to an analyst whom he had berated. In the interview, Mr. Musk said he had not taken more than a week off since 2001, when he was bedridden with malaria.

“There were times when I didn’t leave the factory for three or four days — days when I didn’t go outside,” he said. “This has really come at the expense of seeing my kids. And seeing friends.”

This is concerning behavior for anyone. If a loved one started acting this way in our lives, I think we’d all be concerned and reach out to him or her to express our desire to help this person slow down a bit.

Most companies — even startups — don’t require or need their chief executive to work 120 hours a week. That’s not normal behavior for a chief executive. If he or she is working that much, that indicates a serious leadership and organizational problem within the company.

More concerning is that if Musk really is working 120 hours a week, that means he’s working an average 17 hours per day. That leaves only 7 hours a day for things like commuting, eating, and sleeping — not to mention his constant tweeting and conversations with others on social media. It’s no wonder a person in Musk’s position might feel overwhelmed, because that’s not enough time to actually engage — for most people anyway — the most meaningful part of our lives: friends and family.

Social connections define most people’s lives, they aren’t just an afterthought or something you have to schedule around your work. It would be concerning to me if a loved one was acting in this way, putting such an unnatural emphasis solely on work. Nobody is at their best when they engage 17 hours straight, 7 days a week, in activities requiring consistent and reliable cognition, attention, and focus.

Good Sleep via Ambien

Although Ambien (zolpidem) increases sleep quality and quantity in most people who take it (Huang et al., 2012), using it regularly to get a good night’s sleep is not usually recommended. Joshua Lio, MD, a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School wrote a few years ago about the downsides of Ambien:

On one hand, sleep medications like Ambien can work, and work well. Insomnia can be debilitating. Many have used them safely and effectively, and some people swear by them. On the other hand, they can lead to dependence and worsen the mental clouding that many insomniacs already experience.

More importantly, by limiting discussions to specific medications and their doses, we miss a fundamental issue in treating insomnia: sleep hygiene. By focusing on “hygienic” habits around sleep (avoiding napping, not eating or drinking caffeine or alcohol right before bed, establishing regular bedtime routines, exercising, using beds only for sleep, etc.) many people can achieve better sleep. Adopting those habits can often mean that medications can be used more sparingly, and at lower doses, if at all.

Some research has shown that certain kinds of use of Ambien (zolpidem) can result in memory issues (Hall-Porter et al., 2014; Pompeia et al., 2004; Wesensten et al., 1995). A meta-analysis and review of the research of Ambien’s cognitive effects (Stranks & Crowe, 2014) found:

[T]he effect sizes calculated for each domain of cognitive functioning based on data of participants who ingested zolpidem prior to bedtime revealed that performance on attention, performance on verbal memory, and performance on psychomotor speed were each impaired as compared to that of controls, with attention and verbal memory both found to be moderately impaired.

Overall, this pattern of results indicates that the use of zopiclone has fewer deleterious effects on cognition in healthy adults than does zolpidem, which has additional specific adverse effects on attention and processing speed.

In other words, according to the research, use of Ambien impacts a person’s next-day cognitive abilities.

Ambien & Odd Behavior

Ambien is a sedative hypnotic that binds selectively at the benzodiazepine site containing GABAA receptors. Because of it where it binds to other neurotransmitters in the brain, it makes a person more susceptible to things like sleepwalking and memory blackouts. It’s no wonder then that Ambien has been linked to some odd behavior in some people who rely on it regularly to get to sleep. John Cline, Ph.D., a sleep psychologist, wrote,

Over the past decade, I have worked with a number of patients who could probably sympathize with [Roseanne] Barr’s situation. I have, not infrequently, encountered people who have engaged in sleepwalking, sleep driving, and even criminal activity while under the influence of Ambien. I’ve heard sometimes amusing but more often frightening stories of people who have done things they don’t remember, such as making a purchase and driving to the store to pick it up.

While Roseanne Barr attributed her recent twitter behavior to Ambien, the most famous example of odd behavior while on Ambien takes us back to 2006. That year, Representative Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island had a motor vehicle accident in Washington, DC, which he later attributed to Ambien use. Such odd behavior has been documented in the research literature as well (for example, Farkas et al., 2013).

From the NYT interview article, Musk also appears to be engaging in some odd behaviors of late, including the recent “funding secured” tweet:

[Musk] wrangled with short-sellers and belittled analysts for asking “boring, bonehead” questions. And after sending a team of engineers from one of his companies to help rescue members of a stranded soccer team [the Thailand cave rescue, which ultimately was done without Musk’s help], he lashed out at a cave diver who was dismissive of the gesture, deriding him on Twitter as a “pedo guy,” or pedophile.

To help sleep when he is not working, Mr. Musk said he sometimes takes Ambien. “It is often a choice of no sleep or Ambien,” he said.

But this has worried some board members, who have noted that sometimes the drug does not put Mr. Musk to sleep but instead contributes to late-night Twitter sessions.

It should worry them, since the effects of Ambien are really unknown in any specific person unless that person undergoes neuropsychological testing or has been to a sleep lab.

The NYT’s article notes that for years, Tesla’s board has been trying to recruit a chief operating officer to help take some of the work off of Musk’s crowded plate. It’s unlikely anybody reasonable would want the job, however, because it would require the tunnel-vision dedication to work (“Willing to work 120 hours/week? Have I got the job for you!”) that most people simply don’t have. Not because they’re not dedicated to the work, but because it’s not healthy or normal to work that many hours at a job. For anything.

What’s normal is celebrating your birthday every year with friends and family. What’s normal is taking a day or two off to celebrate your brother’s wedding. What’s normal is finding a balance in your life between work and home. Musk hasn’t done these things, demonstrating traits that some may find attractive — but that most would find concerning, especially if they appeared in a loved one. We hope Musk finds that balance in his life and takes care not just of his physical health, but his mental health too.

  Conflict of interest disclosure: The author has no financial stake and holds no positions or interests in TSLA or any of Elon Musk’s companies.

  References

Farkas, Ronald H.; Unger, Ellis F.; Temple, R. (2013). Zolpidem and driving impairment—Identifying persons at risk. The New England Journal of Medicine, 369(8), 689-691.

Hall-Porter JM; Schweitzer PK; Eisenstein RD; Ahmed HAH; Walsh JK. (2014). The effect of two benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics on sleep-dependent memory consolidation. J Clin Sleep Med, 10, 27-34.

Huang, Yuli; Mai, Weiyi; Cai, Xiaoyan; Hu, Yunzhao; Song, Yuanbin; Qiu, Ruofeng; Wu, Yanxian; Kuang, J. (2012). The effect of zolpidem on sleep quality, stress status, and nondipping hypertension. Sleep Medicine, 13, 263-268.

Pompéia, S.; Lucchesi, L. M.; Bueno, O. F. A.; Manzano, G. M.; Tufik, S. (2004). Zolpidem and memory: A study using the process-dissociation procedure. Psychopharmacology, 174, 327-333.

Stranks, Elizabeth K.; Crowe, Simon F. (2014). The acute cognitive effects of zopiclone, zolpidem, zaleplon, and eszopiclone: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 36, 691-700.

Wesensten, N. J., Balkin, T. J., Belenky, G. L. (1995). Effects of daytime administration of zolpidem versus triazolam on memory. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 48, 115-122.

from World of Psychology https://ift.tt/2BG5rjP via theshiningmind.com

[psychotherapyconsultants]

Here’s Why Your’s & Elon Musk’s Lack of Sleep is Bad

If you wonder what lack of sleep looks like, look no further than Elon Musk’s erratic behavior over the past few months. From believing that he alone had the time and unique resources to save the Thai boys trapped in a cave to prematurely tweeting that he had “funding secured” (when he didn’t) for a private buyout of Tesla, his embattled electric car company, Musk has shown a troubling pattern of ignoring his own self-care.

So what does lack of sleep look like, and why is it so bad? Let’s take a look.

Sleep is vital to our body’s functioning, our mental and cognitive abilities, and our overall health. Research has shown that a person who constantly and consistently deprives themselves of a good night’s sleep can also have a shorter life expectancy. Lack of sleep can literally kill you sooner.

Most people put off these concerns with, “Well, I’ll sleep more when X is done,” or, “I’ll catch up with sleep on the weekend.” Not only do these things never happen, they can actually hurt. For instance, one study found that skimping on sleep and then trying to catch up on it later hurts both attention and creativity. But problems with lack of sleep don’t end there. Lack of sleep leads to increased anxiety — hardly something you want to be cultivating in your life.

Elon Musk’s Workaholism

Lack of sleep can be tied to workaholism, and an overarching belief that a person needs to continue working because only he or she can get the work needed done, done right, and done in a timely manner. In an interview with the New York Times published in mid-August, Elon Musk detailed the “excruciating” year he’s had as the chairman and chief executive of Tesla, the electric car maker.

He said he had been working up to 120 hours a week recently — echoing the reason he cited in a recent public apology to an analyst whom he had berated. In the interview, Mr. Musk said he had not taken more than a week off since 2001, when he was bedridden with malaria.

“There were times when I didn’t leave the factory for three or four days — days when I didn’t go outside,” he said. “This has really come at the expense of seeing my kids. And seeing friends.”

This is concerning behavior for anyone. If a loved one started acting this way in our lives, I think we’d all be concerned and reach out to him or her to express our desire to help this person slow down a bit.

Most companies — even startups — don’t require or need their chief executive to work 120 hours a week. That’s not normal behavior for a chief executive. If he or she is working that much, that indicates a serious leadership and organizational problem within the company.

More concerning is that if Musk really is working 120 hours a week, that means he’s working an average 17 hours per day. That leaves only 7 hours a day for things like commuting, eating, and sleeping — not to mention his constant tweeting and conversations with others on social media. It’s no wonder a person in Musk’s position might feel overwhelmed, because that’s not enough time to actually engage — for most people anyway — the most meaningful part of our lives: friends and family.

Social connections define most people’s lives, they aren’t just an afterthought or something you have to schedule around your work. It would be concerning to me if a loved one was acting in this way, putting such an unnatural emphasis solely on work. Nobody is at their best when they engage 17 hours straight, 7 days a week, in activities requiring consistent and reliable cognition, attention, and focus.

Good Sleep via Ambien

Although Ambien (zolpidem) increases sleep quality and quantity in most people who take it (Huang et al., 2012), using it regularly to get a good night’s sleep is not usually recommended. Joshua Lio, MD, a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School wrote a few years ago about the downsides of Ambien:

On one hand, sleep medications like Ambien can work, and work well. Insomnia can be debilitating. Many have used them safely and effectively, and some people swear by them. On the other hand, they can lead to dependence and worsen the mental clouding that many insomniacs already experience.

More importantly, by limiting discussions to specific medications and their doses, we miss a fundamental issue in treating insomnia: sleep hygiene. By focusing on “hygienic” habits around sleep (avoiding napping, not eating or drinking caffeine or alcohol right before bed, establishing regular bedtime routines, exercising, using beds only for sleep, etc.) many people can achieve better sleep. Adopting those habits can often mean that medications can be used more sparingly, and at lower doses, if at all.

Some research has shown that certain kinds of use of Ambien (zolpidem) can result in memory issues (Hall-Porter et al., 2014; Pompeia et al., 2004; Wesensten et al., 1995). A meta-analysis and review of the research of Ambien’s cognitive effects (Stranks & Crowe, 2014) found:

[T]he effect sizes calculated for each domain of cognitive functioning based on data of participants who ingested zolpidem prior to bedtime revealed that performance on attention, performance on verbal memory, and performance on psychomotor speed were each impaired as compared to that of controls, with attention and verbal memory both found to be moderately impaired.

Overall, this pattern of results indicates that the use of zopiclone has fewer deleterious effects on cognition in healthy adults than does zolpidem, which has additional specific adverse effects on attention and processing speed.

In other words, according to the research, use of Ambien impacts a person’s next-day cognitive abilities.

Ambien & Odd Behavior

Ambien is a sedative hypnotic that binds selectively at the benzodiazepine site containing GABAA receptors. Because of it where it binds to other neurotransmitters in the brain, it makes a person more susceptible to things like sleepwalking and memory blackouts. It’s no wonder then that Ambien has been linked to some odd behavior in some people who rely on it regularly to get to sleep. John Cline, Ph.D., a sleep psychologist, wrote,

Over the past decade, I have worked with a number of patients who could probably sympathize with [Roseanne] Barr’s situation. I have, not infrequently, encountered people who have engaged in sleepwalking, sleep driving, and even criminal activity while under the influence of Ambien. I’ve heard sometimes amusing but more often frightening stories of people who have done things they don’t remember, such as making a purchase and driving to the store to pick it up.

While Roseanne Barr attributed her recent twitter behavior to Ambien, the most famous example of odd behavior while on Ambien takes us back to 2006. That year, Representative Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island had a motor vehicle accident in Washington, DC, which he later attributed to Ambien use. Such odd behavior has been documented in the research literature as well (for example, Farkas et al., 2013).

From the NYT interview article, Musk also appears to be engaging in some odd behaviors of late, including the recent “funding secured” tweet:

[Musk] wrangled with short-sellers and belittled analysts for asking “boring, bonehead” questions. And after sending a team of engineers from one of his companies to help rescue members of a stranded soccer team [the Thailand cave rescue, which ultimately was done without Musk’s help], he lashed out at a cave diver who was dismissive of the gesture, deriding him on Twitter as a “pedo guy,” or pedophile.

To help sleep when he is not working, Mr. Musk said he sometimes takes Ambien. “It is often a choice of no sleep or Ambien,” he said.

But this has worried some board members, who have noted that sometimes the drug does not put Mr. Musk to sleep but instead contributes to late-night Twitter sessions.

It should worry them, since the effects of Ambien are really unknown in any specific person unless that person undergoes neuropsychological testing or has been to a sleep lab.

The NYT’s article notes that for years, Tesla’s board has been trying to recruit a chief operating officer to help take some of the work off of Musk’s crowded plate. It’s unlikely anybody reasonable would want the job, however, because it would require the tunnel-vision dedication to work (“Willing to work 120 hours/week? Have I got the job for you!”) that most people simply don’t have. Not because they’re not dedicated to the work, but because it’s not healthy or normal to work that many hours at a job. For anything.

What’s normal is celebrating your birthday every year with friends and family. What’s normal is taking a day or two off to celebrate your brother’s wedding. What’s normal is finding a balance in your life between work and home. Musk hasn’t done these things, demonstrating traits that some may find attractive — but that most would find concerning, especially if they appeared in a loved one. We hope Musk finds that balance in his life and takes care not just of his physical health, but his mental health too.

  Conflict of interest disclosure: The author has no financial stake and holds no positions or interests in TSLA or any of Elon Musk’s companies.

  References

Farkas, Ronald H.; Unger, Ellis F.; Temple, R. (2013). Zolpidem and driving impairment—Identifying persons at risk. The New England Journal of Medicine, 369(8), 689-691.

Hall-Porter JM; Schweitzer PK; Eisenstein RD; Ahmed HAH; Walsh JK. (2014). The effect of two benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics on sleep-dependent memory consolidation. J Clin Sleep Med, 10, 27-34.

Huang, Yuli; Mai, Weiyi; Cai, Xiaoyan; Hu, Yunzhao; Song, Yuanbin; Qiu, Ruofeng; Wu, Yanxian; Kuang, J. (2012). The effect of zolpidem on sleep quality, stress status, and nondipping hypertension. Sleep Medicine, 13, 263-268.

Pompéia, S.; Lucchesi, L. M.; Bueno, O. F. A.; Manzano, G. M.; Tufik, S. (2004). Zolpidem and memory: A study using the process-dissociation procedure. Psychopharmacology, 174, 327-333.

Stranks, Elizabeth K.; Crowe, Simon F. (2014). The acute cognitive effects of zopiclone, zolpidem, zaleplon, and eszopiclone: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 36, 691-700.

Wesensten, N. J., Balkin, T. J., Belenky, G. L. (1995). Effects of daytime administration of zolpidem versus triazolam on memory. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 48, 115-122.

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/heres-why-yours-elon-musks-lack-of-sleep-is-bad/

[neverarguewithadelusion-blog]

to drop off the earth

I don’t know how to go about explaining things, why I am where I am, why I do what I do.. why I had to give my life over to another person 24/7 - so being at a loss, I’ve used “grabs” from other explanatory sites in the hope that they speak for me and somehow explain my new life.

“Living with someone who suffers from schizophrenia, prone to paranoid delusions, delusions of grandeur, psychosis and both obsessive and impulsive behaviours - even when the condition is at its calmest, stress situations trigger it. Situations such as being out of routine, to situations such as being around new people…”

…to be, in effect, a caretaker of this person, tasked every day to keep a schizophrenic stable, where even when medicated, there are outbursts, and rant attacks that can continue on and off for days” As an extension to the schizophrenia, l have learnt to deal with, and accept, the consequent disconnects, the loss of friendships, alienation and isolation. There are many, many bright spots but in the long run, many opportunities which present themselves in life are to be destroyed because of it.

“For partners of the mentally ill, they may find themselves not only in the role of primary caretaker, but primary parent and primary breadwinner as well. This is an enormous and stressful burden, and it can seem to the well partner that there are few options in the way of emotional or financial support.

So many partners are forced into choosing between their own physical and mental well-being, and that of their loved one. Guilt, self-blame, and self-imposed obligation to care for the ill partner leaves them in a situation where they sacrifice and ignore all their own needs, running the risk of physical and emotional burnout.

The well partner must establish personal limits - what behaviour is and is not acceptable. Although schizophrenia causes people to behave in ways that are not normal to their character, the well partner must recognize which behaviours are symptoms of the illness, and which are by-products of the illness (emotional stress, shame, denial, etc) and/or honest-to-god character traits. Even some behaviours that may be a symptom of the illness are unacceptable under any circumstances (these include: physical abuse, mental abuse, destructive/harmful behaviour to self, others, or property, financial mismanagement, extreme emotional abuse, or criminal actions). Your partner may not have control over his symptoms, but he can control his own reactions to them. This means they should be committed to staying in a treatment program that works, and committed to working with you as their partner to find reasonable solutions to problem behaviours.

Primary caretakers of the mentally ill must find other outlets and support for themselves - through therapy, support groups, social or community activities - to avoid becoming completely overwhelmed by their loved one's sickness. In Victoria Secunda's book When Madness Comes Home, she states: "Virtually all of the partners of the mentally ill I have interviewed have had to construct parallel lives to find a sense of emotional gratification and respite from the strain of caregiving."

“Never argue with a delusion,” one of my mentors often said. Paranoid people are fragile and ill, in the sense that they are out of touch with reality. However, they can become terrifying if fantasy turns to action. The need to retaliate against imagined assaults combined with intact “executive function” (the ability to think and plan) leads to aggressive behaviours and schemes. Caretakers, innocent people, are accused and besmirched, are traumatized”.

·         Delusions - paranoid beliefs that are not consistent with reality and that the sufferer maintains as being true despite all evidence to the contrary. Examples? That the person is being controlled, their minds read, being plotted against; it’s as if the person is losing touch with all reality. Some even exhibit the belief that they are someone else.

·         Hallucinations - hearing voices and seeing things that aren’t actually there. These are sensory experiences that the person experiences, that have no basis in reality. Hearing of voices is the most common hallucination and can be internal (coming from their own mind) or external (coming from someone else). The voices may talk to the person and instruct them on their behaviour, commanding them to engage in certain acts. The voices can also talk to each other. This is where the notion of ‘split personality’ has been confused with schizophrenia, in the past.

·         Disorganized thinking - strange, delusional ideas and thoughts, which make it difficult to carry on a simple conversation. The thoughts don’t follow a logical sequence, or at least, not logical to those around the person suffering from schizophrenia. They may also stop speaking entirely, mid-thought, or invent words and a language of their own.

…it is these positive symptoms that cause the most distress and dysfunction for a person coping with a spouse who has schizophrenia.

“It is not uncommon for people with schizophrenia to be reluctant to get help or take medication, as part of their treatment. In fact, the notion of treatment plays right into the paranoid delusions of many schizophrenics: that they are being controlled by someone, that they are being harassed. Alternatively, many believe that they don’t require treatment because the voices and conspiracies that they are anxious about are real to them, and not related to any delusion whatsoever.

Your concern, first and foremost, has to be your safety. If your spouse is refusing treatment and is being overcome by psychotic episodes, they risk becoming violent. In that case, you will need to call in a crisis team or the police to help you deal with the situation. Thankfully, violent behaviour is not a hallmark of schizophrenia: if anything, a person suffering from the disorder is more likely to harm themselves than anyone else. But physical violence is only one concern.

Verbal and emotional abuse, property destruction (example, punching holes in walls), creating hazards such as the setting of fires, substance abuse, despotic behaviour (example, not letting people in the home use the phone) are all possible behaviours that fall within the scope of schizophrenia but which, at the risk of harm to yourself, cannot be tolerated. It creates a ‘walking on eggshells’ environment you become afraid to do something that will trigger an outburst; an exhausting and debilitating way of life for those who surround the sufferer”.

Encouraging your spouse to seek treatment involves different techniques, including providing options that give your spouse a measure of control. For example, offer them the option of being accompanied to the appointment by someone other than yourself, if they are suspicious of your motives (paranoid delusion).

Once they accept their diagnosis, you can play a strong role in ensuring that they remain involved in their treatment plan.

If your schizophrenic spouse says things that are clearly false but which they believe wholeheartedly, communication has to remain positive. You don’t need to go along with what they are saying, perpetuating their delusion, but you should also not state that they are wrong or, worse, deluded. It’s best to frame a positive statement along the lines that every person has the right to believe what they want, and it’s okay for people to have different points of view.

Prepare for a crisis.

The important thing to remember in a crisis is to act to defuse it, not inflame it. Limiting visual distractions, noise, contact with other people (ask guests to leave, for example) are all important steps in calming the situation. Don’t engage your spouse’s behaviour directly but instead do everything you can to bring a sense of calm to the environment.

Don’t argue with delusions: you won’t win.

“A key to dealing with your schizophrenic spouse is to accept the disorder and educate yourself on it. You cannot argue with it. You cannot reason with it. There is no value in expressing anger or irritation when your spouse is dealing with their symptoms. It will not help you or them. Remember that you are dealing with their illness, not them.”

You need to recognize what you can and can’t do in dealing with your spouse and their illness. Respite care is an option for situations where the spouse is not able to be left alone and it’s an important one to consider, as a primary caregiver. You cannot possibly help your spouse or be present and available for the rest of your family and friends if you are exhausted to the point of a breakdown.

Find support where you can, which might be a group of spouses of schizophrenia sufferers. Your shared experiences and the ability to talk about your situation freely, without fear of judgement, is invaluable to your own self care. Despite the limitations that schizophrenia can pose on your life, you have to take care to try and keep up relationships with family and friends. They are a comfort and a link to a world that doesn’t include mental illness, which can in and of itself, create the respite you need.

Ensure that you take other steps in self care including eating properly, getting rest and exercise. It’s perhaps easy to say, but ultimately, your life cannot be subsumed by the illness that your spouse is suffering. You need to make sure that you have a life too.

Schizophrenia can make it feel like there’s a lot more take than give but it’s important to always remember that your spouse is not their illness. They are a person who needs love and care, just as you do.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t put up a defense against us, don’t brace yourself for something bad. Be there to talk and support. It may not be pleasant, personally I can be downright mean when in a bad frame of mind. But you’ll both be glad you were there.”

Listen attentively and laugh as often as you can — we often hear when people are speaking but are we always listening? There’s a difference. Often, that is all a person who is suffering needs: to know that someone is listening to them. Not making suggestions, not always trying to fix things. Just being there.

Develop coping mechanisms and rules — find ways to cope with the results of the symptoms. For example, if your spouse tends to go on spending sprees while in a manic episode, you might need to keep hold of the credit cards. If their driving becomes erratic or overly aggressive, it’s time to keep hold of the car keys. Establishing some rules when they are in a calm state can help you both deal with the times when the disorder takes over. Part of these processes needs to be planning for an emergency. If your spouse’s behaviour suddenly becomes unmanageable, even life threatening, you need to have a plan in place: who to call, after hours numbers, which hospital to go to and so on. Scrambling for this information in the middle of a crisis will only aggravate the situation, so like the boy scouts say: be prepared!

I love this man. When he is good, he is GOLDEN.

I still, on top of this, work a 40 hour week in Property Law as Personal Assistant/Conveyancing Support Clerk which is BRUTAL.

I have my family back in my life again.

My son turned 18 last week.

I have missed certain opportunities that broke my heart.

I miss the fuck out of all my friends.

I MISS THE FUCK OUT OF ALL MY FRIENDS.

So if you are reading this, please know that I think about you all the time. I wonder how you guys are and what you’re doing. I wish I was there.

[bintaeran]

Veterans, Health Spans, and Yoga

Veterans, Health Spans, and Yoga Nina Zolotow

Wounded Soldier by Marc Chagall

It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S. (Monday is the actual holiday), so we’re fundraising today for the Veterans Yoga Project in honor of both the fallen and surviving veterans. If you want to contribute, we have a page set up just for our Yoga for Healthy Aging community! Go to veteransyogaproject/YogaForHealthyAging, where you can “light a candle” to honor someone by donating any amount. Let’s see what our community can do to support this wonderful organization!  Now here’s something from Baxter about why supporting yoga for veterans is so important. —Nina  I woke up the other day thinking about my dad. I suppose partly due to the fact that Memorial Day is coming up, and although he did not die while in the service, he was a veteran. He was in the ROTC in college, from 1954-58, and following graduation, was stationed for a while at a base near Tulsa, Oklahoma, and at Ft. Knox, KY for 6 months, as a second lieutenant. My dad was lucky he served between conflicts, after Korea and before Vietnam—his life could have turned out much differently had been a little older or younger. As it was, he generally had good health and lived to a respectable age of 76. That got me wondering if my dad had seen action in an actual war whether that would have affected his health span.  After I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I took a look into question: how does serving during combat affect the health span of soldiers? I am aware—as many of you readers are, too—that veterans of war are more likely to suffer from serious conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. That means higher rates of depression, anxiety, and cognitive difficulties. And most of us have also heard the staggering statistics on suicide with rates of 20 military deaths a day.  It turns out that having served in combat does increase the chances for these men and women developing those and other unusual health problems (described below) and sometimes other serious health problems (such as hypertension and heart disease) at a more frequent rate than their fellow citizens. In addition, they often report general symptoms, such as persistent pain, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and poor memory. Over 50% of visits to the VA hospitals are for musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain.  Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) gets a lot of press, many veterans suffer other mental illnesses, with one in ten suffering from depression, violent behavior, or alcohol abuse. And 50 percent of those that suffer from PTSD, will, as they age, develop sleep apnea, which is twice the rate as non-military PTSD patients, and are at greater risk of developing dementia as they age. Combat veterans are also more likely to have been exposed to chemical agents, such as Gulf War veterans who were exposed to sarin gas, which has led to heart damage in many. Similarly, they are often exposed to infectious diseases in the foreign countries were they served that lead to ongoing, difficult-to-treat conditions, such as Leishmaniasis, transmitted from sand flea bites. And they are more likely to be exposed to loud noise and vibrations from gun, cannon fire, and other tools of the trade, which can lead hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), numbness and pain in the hands and feet, and chronic low back pain. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is more common in the military, due to exposure to explosions or direct head trauma, resulting in a jolt to the brain. It not only temporarily disrupts how the brain functions, but can lead to persistent, longer term symptoms of irritability, memory trouble, language issues, information processing difficulties, and short attention spans, with secondary increases in anxiety, depression and headaches.  Preliminary research done in 2012 noted that active-duty military and veterans in their twenties and thirties were developing symptoms typically seen in older adults, such as elevated blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, and obesity, much earlier in their lives than would be expected. As we have said here before, these are risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, all which have a negative impact on health span!  Due to all these issues, those that have served in war zones have multiple risk factors for negative impacts on health span. Fortunately, we know that yoga can help address many of these conditions as an adjunct to western medical approaches. So I wondered if my friends Dan Libby, founder and director of Veterans Yoga Project, and Perry Chattler, the regional director for Northern California branch of the organization, had any experience with veterans with these sorts of conditions, and if they had seen yoga play a role in addressing the health of and improving the lives of these folks. Here is how they answered my questions. Perry: Many veterans suffer from symptoms of PTSD, a combination of PTSD and other disorders, or simply physical injuries suffered during basic training or during their service, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI). We see issues such as high blood pressure, alcohol/drug abuse, insomnia, depression, heart and lung disease, chronic pain (fibromyalgia), wear and tear issues with shoulders, knees and hips, and military sexual trauma (MST).  By bringing the practices to the veterans in places that they are comfortable going to (Vet Centers, Veterans Halls, etc.), rather than having them seek the practices out in a public forum, we find that they are more willing to try yoga. We also find that by bringing “mindful-resilience” practices to the veterans, they are more willing to give yoga a try, and interestingly enough, they almost always come back to class. These practices include: mindful movement (asana), breathing practices (pranayama), meditation, yoga nidra, and gratitude practices. Here are just a few quotes from veterans who have my attended classes: “My doctor is amazed that my blood pressure has dropped and I can lower my medication.” (Vietnam vet)  “My wife tells me I’m calmer.” (Gulf War vet)  “I couldn’t sleep and remembered my breathing practices. I slept through the night.” (Vietnam vet)  “My doctor had me on pain-killers for my low back pain. Since beginning yoga, I am off the meds.” (Afghanistan vet)  “I am better able to be around other people.” (Vietnam vet)  “These classes have changed my life. Thank you!”. (Iraq vet)  Recently, an Iraq veteran told me that since he started yoga classes with the Veterans Yoga Project, his sleep has gone from 0-1 hours a night to 3-4 hours and then to 6-7 hours, and without the need for sleep aids. We know from research that yoga practices work in reducing pain and calming the nervous system. But the anecdotal comments are proof enough for me.  Dan: I want to echo some of the things Perry has already mentioned. There is more and more awareness about millions of military veterans who are still trying to recover from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other trauma-related psychological challenges. And there is more general awareness about the fact that 20 veterans end their own lives each and every day, as you mention. Increase awareness about these things are good.  But the veterans I see are also all dealing with other health problems that significantly affect their everyday quality of life and impede recovery. Pain, in particular, is a significant impediment to recovery and wellness. Statistics show that there is high comorbidity between PTSD and pain, and pain is one of the most common and is often debilitating challenges for the veterans I work with. Unfortunately, these challenges often feed into each other, exacerbating tendencies toward avoidance and isolation, leading to a downward spiral of intrusive memories, physiological dysfunction, and, unhealthy coping behaviors.  That’s why I love my job. I get to show veterans and their loved ones how to practice yoga for healthy aging. As a teacher, and as the founder and executive director of an organization that is dedicated to supporting veterans through yoga, I get to hear a lot of positive feedback about how yoga affects quality of life: “I came into class feeling achy all over. I feel great now.”  “That made my pain go away.”  “I’m walking better.”  I get to hear about a veteran who can tie his shoes without pain. I get to see the increase in physical strength, stability, and agility in the veterans who come to class each week. I get to hear stories about playing golf on the weekend instead of stories about what isn’t working and what hurts. I also get to collect data that documents these effects. For example, in Veterans Yoga Project programs where we collect stress and pain ratings before and after class, we find that 77%-92% of all class visits result in a decrease in pain. This can be 1, 2, 3, 4, or even 5 points on a 0 to 10 scale. There are no adverse side effects, and it’s cheaper and more effective than medication.   Baxter: Is it important to have special dedicated classes just for veterans?   Perry: Yes, we believe so. Veterans (Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq/Afghanistan) will rarely attend a public yoga class, and for a variety of reasons. At Veterans Yoga Project (VYP), we bring trauma-informed yoga in the form of asana, pranayama, and meditation, to veterans at Vet Centers, Veterans Halls, and VA hospitals. All classes are free to veterans and their families. Thanks to the generosity of donors, we continue to fund existing and new programs, enabling all of us to serve those who have served. Baxter: Thanks, Dan and Perry, for telling us about the positive experiences of the veterans who have studied with you both through the Veterans Yoga Project. All this evidence about improving the physical and mental health of veterans with yoga does help provide an answer to my original question about the effect of yoga on the health span of veterans. It sounds like it can indeed be very helpful for improving health spans! Readers, all of this is why I’m recommending that if you are looking for a way to not only honor those you have lost to war but to help those who have lived through it, considering donating to the “Light a Candle” fundraising for the Veterans Yoga Project at http://ift.tt/2qWzaNX  —Baxter Subscribe to Yoga for Healthy Aging by Email ° Follow Yoga for Healthy Aging on Facebook ° Join this site with Google Friend Connect 

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