This is a blog that I educate and express my opinions on some health and mental Health issues. Different therapies used in psychotherapy are also discussed.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Facts and Characteristic of Sucide among different demographics
Suicide is the act of deliberately killing oneself. This can be active suicide where one actively does something to end their life, like overdosing or shooting themselves. It could also be passive suicide where someone does something indirectly that is likely to cause death. This could be drug abuse, failing to treat a physical illness, and high risk sports.
It is estimated that 1 million people in the world commit suicide each year. 12 to 25 suicides are attempted for every one that succeeds. Suicide rates have apparently increased by 60% in the world in the last 45 years. South Korea recently surpassed Japan in having the highest suicide rate among the industrialized world. Only Guyana, Hungary, Slovenia and countries in the former USSR have higher suicide rates than South Korea.
Death by active suicide was the 10th cause of death in the United Sates of America in 2007. It is the 2nd leading cause of death among 25-34 years, and the 3rd leading cause of death among teenagers. Elderly adults male, 65 and above have for a long time had the highest rate of suicide in the USA although it seems the adolescent rates has surpassed this group.
Theories on why people commit succeed
Different theories offer different explanations as to why people commit suicide. According Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, a person kills themselves in order to murder the image of the love-hated father or mother. A behaviorist theorist believes that a person kills themselves because of inadequate reinforcement.
The humanist and existentialist whose philosophy is based on the meaning of life, believe that people commit suicide when they lose the meaning and purpose of life. Sociologist on the other hand believe that suicide is precipitated by environmental factors such as urbanization, poverty, racism, sexism, corporate exploitation of individuals among such social issues.
The medical view is that suicide is caused by chemical imbalances producing emotional and psychological instability. The Television has also been named as a cause for suicide because studies have shown that suicides, motor accidents and many non fatal accidents occur immediately after the showing of soap opera’s.
Statistical Reasons for Suicide
Research shows that 10% of those who commit suicide do so for no apparent reason. Unfortunately once they are dead they cannot elucidate why they did it. Another 25% commit suicide because they have a preexisting mental instability. In this group will be those with schizophrenia. About 40% commit suicide on impulse. They will most probably be going through a crisis and lack coping skills. This is the group that is most likely to call for help.
Another group commits suicide because they have depressive suicide. This kind of person has a high level of unacceptable rage which eventually becomes repressed and turned in against self in suicide. Not only is this person suicidal, but is also homicidal and may be the person least suspected by anyone.
Another group commits suicide to relieve pain or as a revenge against the offending person. 25% will have premeditated thoughts of suicide and will weigh the pros and cons and then actively decide to commit suicide.
Myths about Suicide
1) One of the myths is that talking about Suicide causes suicide by planting the idea in a person’s head. The fact of the matter is that a person who is suicidal is already thinking about it. Talking about it helps them diffuse the tension that is causing them to be suicidal. It also helps you understand their frame of mind and can thus intervene appropriately.
2) Another myth is that once a person is suicidal , they will forever be suicidal. The fact of the matter is most people are suicidal for a limited period of time when circumstances in their life seem overwhelming. However, suicidal feelings can recur in the future if they do not learn of better coping skills.
3) Another myth is that depression and suicide are synonymous. While people who are depressed may have a death wish, this is only because they are hurting. Depression is manageable and that is why it is important to seek help when depressed.
High risk for suicide
Be alert when someone communicates their intention to die. 80% of those who attempt suicide communicate directly or indirectly of their intention . Some may utter words like “ I want to go to sleep and never wake up” , “I wish I had never been born” or “you’ll be sorry when I am gone”.
Matters that add the risk for suicide
a) A close friend of family member having committed suicide, b) Alcohol and drug abuse increase the risk, c) Experiencing divorce, d) Physical disability, e) Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, f) A specific suicide plan, e) Mental instability
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/385972_the-facts-and-characteristics-of-suicide-among-different-populations#ixzz15CiL1qBl
It is estimated that 1 million people in the world commit suicide each year. 12 to 25 suicides are attempted for every one that succeeds. Suicide rates have apparently increased by 60% in the world in the last 45 years. South Korea recently surpassed Japan in having the highest suicide rate among the industrialized world. Only Guyana, Hungary, Slovenia and countries in the former USSR have higher suicide rates than South Korea.
Death by active suicide was the 10th cause of death in the United Sates of America in 2007. It is the 2nd leading cause of death among 25-34 years, and the 3rd leading cause of death among teenagers. Elderly adults male, 65 and above have for a long time had the highest rate of suicide in the USA although it seems the adolescent rates has surpassed this group.
Theories on why people commit succeed
Different theories offer different explanations as to why people commit suicide. According Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, a person kills themselves in order to murder the image of the love-hated father or mother. A behaviorist theorist believes that a person kills themselves because of inadequate reinforcement.
The humanist and existentialist whose philosophy is based on the meaning of life, believe that people commit suicide when they lose the meaning and purpose of life. Sociologist on the other hand believe that suicide is precipitated by environmental factors such as urbanization, poverty, racism, sexism, corporate exploitation of individuals among such social issues.
The medical view is that suicide is caused by chemical imbalances producing emotional and psychological instability. The Television has also been named as a cause for suicide because studies have shown that suicides, motor accidents and many non fatal accidents occur immediately after the showing of soap opera’s.
Statistical Reasons for Suicide
Research shows that 10% of those who commit suicide do so for no apparent reason. Unfortunately once they are dead they cannot elucidate why they did it. Another 25% commit suicide because they have a preexisting mental instability. In this group will be those with schizophrenia. About 40% commit suicide on impulse. They will most probably be going through a crisis and lack coping skills. This is the group that is most likely to call for help.
Another group commits suicide because they have depressive suicide. This kind of person has a high level of unacceptable rage which eventually becomes repressed and turned in against self in suicide. Not only is this person suicidal, but is also homicidal and may be the person least suspected by anyone.
Another group commits suicide to relieve pain or as a revenge against the offending person. 25% will have premeditated thoughts of suicide and will weigh the pros and cons and then actively decide to commit suicide.
Myths about Suicide
1) One of the myths is that talking about Suicide causes suicide by planting the idea in a person’s head. The fact of the matter is that a person who is suicidal is already thinking about it. Talking about it helps them diffuse the tension that is causing them to be suicidal. It also helps you understand their frame of mind and can thus intervene appropriately.
2) Another myth is that once a person is suicidal , they will forever be suicidal. The fact of the matter is most people are suicidal for a limited period of time when circumstances in their life seem overwhelming. However, suicidal feelings can recur in the future if they do not learn of better coping skills.
3) Another myth is that depression and suicide are synonymous. While people who are depressed may have a death wish, this is only because they are hurting. Depression is manageable and that is why it is important to seek help when depressed.
High risk for suicide
Be alert when someone communicates their intention to die. 80% of those who attempt suicide communicate directly or indirectly of their intention . Some may utter words like “ I want to go to sleep and never wake up” , “I wish I had never been born” or “you’ll be sorry when I am gone”.
Matters that add the risk for suicide
a) A close friend of family member having committed suicide, b) Alcohol and drug abuse increase the risk, c) Experiencing divorce, d) Physical disability, e) Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, f) A specific suicide plan, e) Mental instability
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/385972_the-facts-and-characteristics-of-suicide-among-different-populations#ixzz15CiL1qBl
Grief, Loss, and the Process of Healing
"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;---A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;--- A time to keep silence, and a time to speak" Ecclesiastes 3: 1,4,7.
Grief is something that everyone will experience at one time or another during their lifetime. It is the emotional suffering we feel after a loss of some kind. It may be the loss of a loved one through death, the loss of a relationship, like in the case of divorce, the loss of an opportunity, the loss of health, and the loss of youth.
Individuals are unique in how they experience loss and grief. Some people have healthy coping mechanism while others hinder the grieving process. It is important to acknowledge the grief because by so doing you promote the healing process. Grieving takes time and with support and appropriate mourning the individual does experience healing.
Symptoms of Normal Grief
Grief from a loss affects a person physically, emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively. Symptoms for normal grief are numerous and can be serious depending on how they are handled. However different people experience grief and loss differently and the symptoms will differ depending on the person’s coping mechanism.
The Stages of normal grief process
Grief is a healing process from a loss and it is therefore important to ensure that the healing process is allowed to happen. Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, OnDeath and Dying named five stages of grief that people go through following a series of losses as follows;
1) Denial and Isolation- The first thing that most people do after experiencing a loss is to deny the loss. This may cause someone to withdraw from their usual social contacts because they do not want to be confronted about the loss or to talk about it.
2) Anger- The person grieving may become furious at the person inflicting the pain of loss or at the world for letting it to happen. The person may blame themselves and feel guilt for letting it happen even if the situation was beyond their control.
3) Bargaining- The person may start making bargains with God on what they will do to stop the loss from happening. This is common in cases where someone has a loved one who is terminally ill or in the case of a divorce.
4) Depression- the person feels numb and almost has a death wish. By this time the person has accepted the inevitable but is finding it hard to move on. There maybe underlying sadness and anger.
5) Acceptance- In this stage the person has accepted the loss and the anger and sadness have mellowed off.
Dr Kubla-Ross stages of grief have been applied to other forms of personal loss like the loss of a job, or the onset of a disability. In her book, On grief and Grieving: Finding the meaning of Grief through the five stages of loss, Dr Kubler-Ross states that,
“the stages have evolved since their introduction, and they have been very misunderstood over the past three decades. They were never meant to help tuck messy emotions into neat packages. They are responses to loss that many people have, but there is not a typical response to loss, as there is no typical loss. Our grief is as individual as our lives”.
Dr Kubler- Ross further says that the 5 stages “are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Not everyone goes through all of them or goes in a prescribed order”. Some experts suggest that people go through all stages no matter what the loss is. Others suggest that not everyone goes through all the five stages while others add other stages to the five.
The greater the loss the more intense we feel each stage and the longer it may take to go through the stages. It is also important to note that people go backwards and forward through the stages. Healing is a gradual upward climb with peaks and valleys.
Grief and Stress:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/383038_grief-loss-and-the-process-of-healing#ixzz15CfNUoUv
Grief is something that everyone will experience at one time or another during their lifetime. It is the emotional suffering we feel after a loss of some kind. It may be the loss of a loved one through death, the loss of a relationship, like in the case of divorce, the loss of an opportunity, the loss of health, and the loss of youth.
Individuals are unique in how they experience loss and grief. Some people have healthy coping mechanism while others hinder the grieving process. It is important to acknowledge the grief because by so doing you promote the healing process. Grieving takes time and with support and appropriate mourning the individual does experience healing.
Symptoms of Normal Grief
Grief from a loss affects a person physically, emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively. Symptoms for normal grief are numerous and can be serious depending on how they are handled. However different people experience grief and loss differently and the symptoms will differ depending on the person’s coping mechanism.
The Stages of normal grief process
Grief is a healing process from a loss and it is therefore important to ensure that the healing process is allowed to happen. Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, OnDeath and Dying named five stages of grief that people go through following a series of losses as follows;
1) Denial and Isolation- The first thing that most people do after experiencing a loss is to deny the loss. This may cause someone to withdraw from their usual social contacts because they do not want to be confronted about the loss or to talk about it.
2) Anger- The person grieving may become furious at the person inflicting the pain of loss or at the world for letting it to happen. The person may blame themselves and feel guilt for letting it happen even if the situation was beyond their control.
3) Bargaining- The person may start making bargains with God on what they will do to stop the loss from happening. This is common in cases where someone has a loved one who is terminally ill or in the case of a divorce.
4) Depression- the person feels numb and almost has a death wish. By this time the person has accepted the inevitable but is finding it hard to move on. There maybe underlying sadness and anger.
5) Acceptance- In this stage the person has accepted the loss and the anger and sadness have mellowed off.
Dr Kubla-Ross stages of grief have been applied to other forms of personal loss like the loss of a job, or the onset of a disability. In her book, On grief and Grieving: Finding the meaning of Grief through the five stages of loss, Dr Kubler-Ross states that,
“the stages have evolved since their introduction, and they have been very misunderstood over the past three decades. They were never meant to help tuck messy emotions into neat packages. They are responses to loss that many people have, but there is not a typical response to loss, as there is no typical loss. Our grief is as individual as our lives”.
Dr Kubler- Ross further says that the 5 stages “are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Not everyone goes through all of them or goes in a prescribed order”. Some experts suggest that people go through all stages no matter what the loss is. Others suggest that not everyone goes through all the five stages while others add other stages to the five.
The greater the loss the more intense we feel each stage and the longer it may take to go through the stages. It is also important to note that people go backwards and forward through the stages. Healing is a gradual upward climb with peaks and valleys.
Grief and Stress:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/383038_grief-loss-and-the-process-of-healing#ixzz15CfNUoUv
Causes, Diagnosis, managemnet and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
ADHD is the most common childhood Disorder and is characterized by inattention, disorganization, restlessness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- IV-TR) categorizes ADHD into the Inattentive Type and Hyperactive-Impulsive Type.
When it is Attention Deficit Disorder -Predominately Inattentive there has to be six or more symptoms of inattention with fewer symptoms of hyperactivity. The symptoms must have persisted for at least six months. If it Attention Deficit Disorder- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive type, there must be at least six or more symptoms of hyperactivity impulsivity with fewer symptoms of inattention.
Current research on the disorder is focused on deficiencies in the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. The Central Nervous System is comprised of the brain and nerves in the spinal cord. It acts as the main control system of the body, directing and coordinating actions. Researchers believe that the prefrontal and limbic portions of the brain are the major sites with the neurotransmitters problems that cause ADHD.
How do neurotransmitters Work
The human nervous system has billions of nerve cells or neurons that carry messages through the body. These messages directs a individual to listen, pay attention when someone else is talking, remember assigned task or stick with a task until it is finished.
The nerve cells or neurons carry impulses (nerve cells) from one end of the cell to the other, (the dendrites to the axon). Between the neurons is a space known as the synapse in which messages from the neurons cross. The neurotransmitters are released at the synapse to help the message move across to the next neuron.
It is believed that in ADHD, the messages move down from the neuron but stop and do not always cross the synapse to the next. This disruption is mostly caused by a chemical deficiency in neurotransmitters, which interrupt the normal flow of messages throughout the body. The defective movement of the neurotransmitters cause difficulty in paying attention, controlling impulses, suppressing inappropriate responses and regulating motor activity.
Characteristic of the Disorder
Dr Russell Barkley one of the leading authority on ADHD has identified five major characteristics of the disorder. These are;
a) Lack of persistence of effort on task;
b) Behavioral Impulsivity;
c) Hyperactivity or hyper responsiveness;
d) Failure to follow through on rules or instructions
e) Fluctuation in the quality of work. According to Dr Barkley this may actually be an indicator of the disorder.
Treatment and management of ADHD
Since ADHD is considered to be genetically transmitted, family History is very important in diagnosis. A patient’s history detailing the nature and onset of behavioral symptoms is a must before diagnosis as well as a description of the current symptoms. The medication used in managing the symptoms include stimulants and certain anti-depressants.
The most common medication used is stimulants and include includes drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine. Stimulants are believed to inhibit dopamine reuptake. Additionally amphetamine promote increased release of dopamine from vesicles.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/382120_causes-diagnosis-management-and-treatment-of-attention-deficit-hyperactive-disorder-adhd#ixzz15Cc8DEV8
When it is Attention Deficit Disorder -Predominately Inattentive there has to be six or more symptoms of inattention with fewer symptoms of hyperactivity. The symptoms must have persisted for at least six months. If it Attention Deficit Disorder- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive type, there must be at least six or more symptoms of hyperactivity impulsivity with fewer symptoms of inattention.
Current research on the disorder is focused on deficiencies in the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. The Central Nervous System is comprised of the brain and nerves in the spinal cord. It acts as the main control system of the body, directing and coordinating actions. Researchers believe that the prefrontal and limbic portions of the brain are the major sites with the neurotransmitters problems that cause ADHD.
How do neurotransmitters Work
The human nervous system has billions of nerve cells or neurons that carry messages through the body. These messages directs a individual to listen, pay attention when someone else is talking, remember assigned task or stick with a task until it is finished.
The nerve cells or neurons carry impulses (nerve cells) from one end of the cell to the other, (the dendrites to the axon). Between the neurons is a space known as the synapse in which messages from the neurons cross. The neurotransmitters are released at the synapse to help the message move across to the next neuron.
It is believed that in ADHD, the messages move down from the neuron but stop and do not always cross the synapse to the next. This disruption is mostly caused by a chemical deficiency in neurotransmitters, which interrupt the normal flow of messages throughout the body. The defective movement of the neurotransmitters cause difficulty in paying attention, controlling impulses, suppressing inappropriate responses and regulating motor activity.
Characteristic of the Disorder
Dr Russell Barkley one of the leading authority on ADHD has identified five major characteristics of the disorder. These are;
a) Lack of persistence of effort on task;
b) Behavioral Impulsivity;
c) Hyperactivity or hyper responsiveness;
d) Failure to follow through on rules or instructions
e) Fluctuation in the quality of work. According to Dr Barkley this may actually be an indicator of the disorder.
Treatment and management of ADHD
Since ADHD is considered to be genetically transmitted, family History is very important in diagnosis. A patient’s history detailing the nature and onset of behavioral symptoms is a must before diagnosis as well as a description of the current symptoms. The medication used in managing the symptoms include stimulants and certain anti-depressants.
The most common medication used is stimulants and include includes drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine. Stimulants are believed to inhibit dopamine reuptake. Additionally amphetamine promote increased release of dopamine from vesicles.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/382120_causes-diagnosis-management-and-treatment-of-attention-deficit-hyperactive-disorder-adhd#ixzz15Cc8DEV8
Issues, Challenges and harmonization of a blended family
A rising rate of divorce in the Western world and new definitions of a family have ensured that most families now live in non-traditional and or blended families. The traditional nuclear family with a mother, father and children who live together under the same roof is no longer the norm
Statistics show that "approximately 1300 new stepfamilies are formed every day in the US“ and as time goes by this kind of family is getting more common than the exception. In a blended family, one or both parents have been married before. Both have lost a spouse through death or divorce and both or one of them has children from the previous relationship.
Challenges
Newly married couples without children usually spend their first month together building up their relationship. Couples in a blended family on the other hand are often more consumed with their own children than with each other. This may threaten the cohesion of the family and result in another divorce.
A second marriage may resurrect old unresolved anger and hurt from the previous marriage for both the adults and children. For example, a child may have been secretly hoping that the parents will reconcile and the new marriage destroys that hope.
The couple’s previous spouse may also act up when they learn of the new marriage, particularly if they had hopes of reconciling. A couple may also feel guilty if the children reject their new partner because they do not want to betray their other parent.
Factors about children in a blended family
Young Children (0-9 years) find it easier to adjust to the new family because they thrive on close, cohesive relationships. At this age children are more accepting of a new adult in the family, particularly if they are a positive influence to them. The parent must be careful though to reassure them because they tend to feel abandoned if they think that their parent is spending more time and energy with the new spouse than with them.
Preteens and young adolescents (10-14 years) have the most difficulty in adjusting to the blended family. This is a difficult develoment period for a child and they are more sensitive to a lot of things. A step parent must be especially aware and allow time to bond with them before stepping in as a disciplinarian.
Teenagers and young adult (15 years -21) need less parenting and may have less involvement with the step family. This is the age that the child is learning to separate from the family of origin and finding their own identity. They may therefore not be bothered much unless they feel ignored.
Another factor to remember is the way different genders accept the new family. Boys seem to accept a step father more quickly than girls. Girls are also very uncomfortable with physical shows of affection from their step father. Both in the early part would prefer verbal affection, such as praises and compliments instead of kisses and hugs
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/379714_issues-challenges-and-harmonization-of-a-blended-family#ixzz15CZueVls
Statistics show that "approximately 1300 new stepfamilies are formed every day in the US“ and as time goes by this kind of family is getting more common than the exception. In a blended family, one or both parents have been married before. Both have lost a spouse through death or divorce and both or one of them has children from the previous relationship.
Challenges
Newly married couples without children usually spend their first month together building up their relationship. Couples in a blended family on the other hand are often more consumed with their own children than with each other. This may threaten the cohesion of the family and result in another divorce.
A second marriage may resurrect old unresolved anger and hurt from the previous marriage for both the adults and children. For example, a child may have been secretly hoping that the parents will reconcile and the new marriage destroys that hope.
The couple’s previous spouse may also act up when they learn of the new marriage, particularly if they had hopes of reconciling. A couple may also feel guilty if the children reject their new partner because they do not want to betray their other parent.
Factors about children in a blended family
Young Children (0-9 years) find it easier to adjust to the new family because they thrive on close, cohesive relationships. At this age children are more accepting of a new adult in the family, particularly if they are a positive influence to them. The parent must be careful though to reassure them because they tend to feel abandoned if they think that their parent is spending more time and energy with the new spouse than with them.
Preteens and young adolescents (10-14 years) have the most difficulty in adjusting to the blended family. This is a difficult develoment period for a child and they are more sensitive to a lot of things. A step parent must be especially aware and allow time to bond with them before stepping in as a disciplinarian.
Teenagers and young adult (15 years -21) need less parenting and may have less involvement with the step family. This is the age that the child is learning to separate from the family of origin and finding their own identity. They may therefore not be bothered much unless they feel ignored.
Another factor to remember is the way different genders accept the new family. Boys seem to accept a step father more quickly than girls. Girls are also very uncomfortable with physical shows of affection from their step father. Both in the early part would prefer verbal affection, such as praises and compliments instead of kisses and hugs
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/379714_issues-challenges-and-harmonization-of-a-blended-family#ixzz15CZueVls
Alzheimer's, the condition and prognosis
It is estimated that 5.2 million in the United States of America suffer from Alzheimer's of which 2/3 of the diagnosed cases are women. In the UK the numbers are about 750,000.
Alzheimer's is generally seen as a disease of the developed West due to the number of people impacted by the disease. This is mainly because of a larger elderly population as well as lifestyle conditions. Researchers have however warned that by 2020 the developing world in particular China, Latin America and India will be heavily impacted by the disease.
Alzheimer's is a debilitating brain disorder named after the German Physician, Alois Alzheimer, who first identified it. The nature of the disease affects both the patient and those closest to them. It is not easy to have a loved one become childlike and totally lose their memory. I volunteered in a senior facility five years ago with an Alzheimer's wing, with the aim of understanding the disease. I did it for six months and it was the most humbling experience of my life.
There is a saying from where I come from that your creation is not complete until you die. Surely Alzheimer's disease epitomizes this saying because among the residents were people who were great men and women in their times and included, engineers, pilots, music teachers,and some millionaires. Yet the disease had made that irrelevant to them because they could not remember or relate to it.
Symptoms
The symptoms for one developing the disease may first be noticed by those closest to the person. It may start with lapses of memory and difficulty in finding the right words for every day objects as well as mood swings. These symptoms by themselves are also common symptoms of aging but with Alzheimer's, a pattern of symptoms emerge in a period of six months or more as follows:
1) Routinely forgets recent events, appointments, names and faces,
2) Difficulty in understanding what is being said
3) Becomes confused
4) Becomes distant, irritable,, or apathetic
5) Suffers mood swings
Late Symptoms: As the disease progresses the person may develop more serious symptoms requiring 24/7 care like;
1) Getting up in the middle of the night as well as wondering away from home and in the process getting lost. This may result in sundowner syndrome whereby the Sufferer experience periods of extreme agitation and confusion during the late afternoon or early evening hours, leading to irritability towards caregivers or hospital staff.
2) Losing inhibitions and social skills and my undress in public or make inappropriate sexual advances. Some people develop a crude language like cursing when this maybe totally contrary to their nature before the disease.
3) Eventually the person loses their personality and even the ability to swallow and is totally dependant on the caregiver. The person may be bed bound before death.
The disease is occasioned by damage to the brain cells and nerves by a disruption to the chemicals that transmit instructions around the brain. Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells. “Scientists are not absolutely sure what role plaques and tangles play in Alzheimer’s disease.
Causes and Risk factors connected with Alzheimer's
The exact cause of Alzheimer is not known although it is linked to a specific gene. Cases that can be traced to genes are however not many leading to the assumption that it is more of an environmental and lifestyle disease. Studies show that smokers are more than twice as likely to develop the illness than people who have never smoked. A chemical in tobacco, nornicotine, naturally present in tobacco, maybe partly responsible for Alzheimer's as well as accelerating the aging process.
Having type 2 diabetes has also been shown to increase a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s by up to 65%. A research from the Rush University, Chicago in 2004, identified the risk in a five year study of more than 800 people. Professor Clie Ballard, director of Research at the Alzheimer’s Disease Society stated that “ diabetes along with other conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are well recognized risk factors for Alzheimer”.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/379058_alzheimers-the-condition-and-prognosis#ixzz15CXbTzja
Alzheimer's is generally seen as a disease of the developed West due to the number of people impacted by the disease. This is mainly because of a larger elderly population as well as lifestyle conditions. Researchers have however warned that by 2020 the developing world in particular China, Latin America and India will be heavily impacted by the disease.
Alzheimer's is a debilitating brain disorder named after the German Physician, Alois Alzheimer, who first identified it. The nature of the disease affects both the patient and those closest to them. It is not easy to have a loved one become childlike and totally lose their memory. I volunteered in a senior facility five years ago with an Alzheimer's wing, with the aim of understanding the disease. I did it for six months and it was the most humbling experience of my life.
There is a saying from where I come from that your creation is not complete until you die. Surely Alzheimer's disease epitomizes this saying because among the residents were people who were great men and women in their times and included, engineers, pilots, music teachers,and some millionaires. Yet the disease had made that irrelevant to them because they could not remember or relate to it.
Symptoms
The symptoms for one developing the disease may first be noticed by those closest to the person. It may start with lapses of memory and difficulty in finding the right words for every day objects as well as mood swings. These symptoms by themselves are also common symptoms of aging but with Alzheimer's, a pattern of symptoms emerge in a period of six months or more as follows:
1) Routinely forgets recent events, appointments, names and faces,
2) Difficulty in understanding what is being said
3) Becomes confused
4) Becomes distant, irritable,, or apathetic
5) Suffers mood swings
Late Symptoms: As the disease progresses the person may develop more serious symptoms requiring 24/7 care like;
1) Getting up in the middle of the night as well as wondering away from home and in the process getting lost. This may result in sundowner syndrome whereby the Sufferer experience periods of extreme agitation and confusion during the late afternoon or early evening hours, leading to irritability towards caregivers or hospital staff.
2) Losing inhibitions and social skills and my undress in public or make inappropriate sexual advances. Some people develop a crude language like cursing when this maybe totally contrary to their nature before the disease.
3) Eventually the person loses their personality and even the ability to swallow and is totally dependant on the caregiver. The person may be bed bound before death.
The disease is occasioned by damage to the brain cells and nerves by a disruption to the chemicals that transmit instructions around the brain. Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells. “Scientists are not absolutely sure what role plaques and tangles play in Alzheimer’s disease.
Causes and Risk factors connected with Alzheimer's
The exact cause of Alzheimer is not known although it is linked to a specific gene. Cases that can be traced to genes are however not many leading to the assumption that it is more of an environmental and lifestyle disease. Studies show that smokers are more than twice as likely to develop the illness than people who have never smoked. A chemical in tobacco, nornicotine, naturally present in tobacco, maybe partly responsible for Alzheimer's as well as accelerating the aging process.
Having type 2 diabetes has also been shown to increase a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s by up to 65%. A research from the Rush University, Chicago in 2004, identified the risk in a five year study of more than 800 people. Professor Clie Ballard, director of Research at the Alzheimer’s Disease Society stated that “ diabetes along with other conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are well recognized risk factors for Alzheimer”.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/379058_alzheimers-the-condition-and-prognosis#ixzz15CXbTzja
Communication and conflict resolution between Parenrs and Adolescents
Adolescents and parents contrasting desires and experiences contribute a lot to the increase in conflict between the two. Adolescents desire for independence and peer acceptance often contribute to the tendency to conform to peer groups norms and influences and to resist and challenge parental directives and adult authorities
Parents on the other hand have difficulties relinquishing control resulting in conflictual parent-adolescent communications pathways and potentially escalating negative consequences for all involved. The adolescence stage is a developmental phase that requires a restructuring of the parent-child relationship in which communication plays a central role.
Research shows that most parent-adolescent conflict tends to be about mundane issues such as personal appearance, curfews, telephone usage, completing chores and homework among such issues. It is however suggested that such mundane conflicts may be proxies for concern over more complex and sensitive issues involving trust, independence, peer influence, risky behaviors and sexuality.
Several investigations have established that frequent and often intense relationship breakdowns between parents and adolescents can have severe effects contributing to the externalizing and internalizing problems including delinquency, running away form home, substance abuse, adjustment disorders, low self esteem and depression. On the parents side such ongoing conflict has been found to contribute to parental dissatisfaction depression, anger and marital distress (Robin & Foster, 1989).
Given the likelihood of negative consequences resulting from dysfunctional parent -adolescents relationships, the goal of treatment is to improve communication between parents and adolescents. Highlights for the intervention have included the need to assess the nature of interpersonal conflict in order to improve parent-adolescent communication and negotiation skills.
It is however not clear, whether it is the quantity, intensity, source, perceived discrepancy and or emotional impact of the conflict between parents and an adolescent that contributes most to the poor parent-adolescent relations. The challenge for clinician therefore is to develop procedure that can assess and alleviate familial conflict.
Research shows that from late childhood to adolescence, factors outside of the family become increasingly more predictive of adolescent problem behaviors. Dysfunctional conflict, engendering beliefs, anger, triangulation, cross generational coalitions, and shifting parental coalitions get in the way of family members responding and negotiating in a constructive fashion.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/375152_communication-and-conflict-resolution-between-parents-and-adolescents#ixzz15CVU221W
Parents on the other hand have difficulties relinquishing control resulting in conflictual parent-adolescent communications pathways and potentially escalating negative consequences for all involved. The adolescence stage is a developmental phase that requires a restructuring of the parent-child relationship in which communication plays a central role.
Research shows that most parent-adolescent conflict tends to be about mundane issues such as personal appearance, curfews, telephone usage, completing chores and homework among such issues. It is however suggested that such mundane conflicts may be proxies for concern over more complex and sensitive issues involving trust, independence, peer influence, risky behaviors and sexuality.
Several investigations have established that frequent and often intense relationship breakdowns between parents and adolescents can have severe effects contributing to the externalizing and internalizing problems including delinquency, running away form home, substance abuse, adjustment disorders, low self esteem and depression. On the parents side such ongoing conflict has been found to contribute to parental dissatisfaction depression, anger and marital distress (Robin & Foster, 1989).
Given the likelihood of negative consequences resulting from dysfunctional parent -adolescents relationships, the goal of treatment is to improve communication between parents and adolescents. Highlights for the intervention have included the need to assess the nature of interpersonal conflict in order to improve parent-adolescent communication and negotiation skills.
It is however not clear, whether it is the quantity, intensity, source, perceived discrepancy and or emotional impact of the conflict between parents and an adolescent that contributes most to the poor parent-adolescent relations. The challenge for clinician therefore is to develop procedure that can assess and alleviate familial conflict.
Research shows that from late childhood to adolescence, factors outside of the family become increasingly more predictive of adolescent problem behaviors. Dysfunctional conflict, engendering beliefs, anger, triangulation, cross generational coalitions, and shifting parental coalitions get in the way of family members responding and negotiating in a constructive fashion.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/375152_communication-and-conflict-resolution-between-parents-and-adolescents#ixzz15CVU221W
The Differences between Structual Family Therapy and Experientail (Satir) Family Therapy
The focus of Family therapy is on the family as a unit and how the members relate to one another within the unit. The focus is on roles, interpersonal dynamics and communication between the members.
Structural Family therapy, propounded by Salvador Minuchin, suggests that the life History of a family is a succession of experiments in living. The model focuses on the patterns of interaction within the family which gives clues as to the basic structure and organization of the system. Structure in this context refers t the invisible set of functional demands that organize the way the family interact.
A family operates through repeated transactional patterns that regulate the behaviors of family members. Such patterns describe how, when and to whom family members relate. Families are governed by two general systems of constraint; the generic and the idiosyncratic.
The generic connotes a hierarchal system in which the parents have greater authority over the children. It operates under the notion of reciprocal and complementary functions discerned by labels applied to families indicating their roles and functions.
The idiosyncratic constraint suggest that rules and patterns may evolve but with time the reason for doing things in a particular way maybe lost. The rules and patterns are however retained and become part of the family structure.
Families, according to this model operate under subsystems namely spousal, parental, siblings and extended subsystem whose rule is hierarchical. The model insists in there being appropriate boundary between generations for the proper functioning of the family.
Therapy does not focus on problem solving because symptomatic behavior is viewed as a logical response in the family’s given structure. Changing the structure will help solve the problem and changing the structure maybe the main goal of therapy.
Experiential Family therapy proposed by Virginia Satir, on the other hand operates on the premise that families are balanced rule governed systems. Through the basic components of communication and self esteem, families provide a context for growth and development.
The cornerstone of this model is the primary survival triad. This triad includes the parents and child or children. According to Virginia Satir, each child acquires identity and self esteem to the constructive and destructive interaction characteristic of this triad.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/373541_structural-family-therapy-as-compared-to-experiential-satir-family-therapy#ixzz15CU8cvt3
Structural Family therapy, propounded by Salvador Minuchin, suggests that the life History of a family is a succession of experiments in living. The model focuses on the patterns of interaction within the family which gives clues as to the basic structure and organization of the system. Structure in this context refers t the invisible set of functional demands that organize the way the family interact.
A family operates through repeated transactional patterns that regulate the behaviors of family members. Such patterns describe how, when and to whom family members relate. Families are governed by two general systems of constraint; the generic and the idiosyncratic.
The generic connotes a hierarchal system in which the parents have greater authority over the children. It operates under the notion of reciprocal and complementary functions discerned by labels applied to families indicating their roles and functions.
The idiosyncratic constraint suggest that rules and patterns may evolve but with time the reason for doing things in a particular way maybe lost. The rules and patterns are however retained and become part of the family structure.
Families, according to this model operate under subsystems namely spousal, parental, siblings and extended subsystem whose rule is hierarchical. The model insists in there being appropriate boundary between generations for the proper functioning of the family.
Therapy does not focus on problem solving because symptomatic behavior is viewed as a logical response in the family’s given structure. Changing the structure will help solve the problem and changing the structure maybe the main goal of therapy.
Experiential Family therapy proposed by Virginia Satir, on the other hand operates on the premise that families are balanced rule governed systems. Through the basic components of communication and self esteem, families provide a context for growth and development.
The cornerstone of this model is the primary survival triad. This triad includes the parents and child or children. According to Virginia Satir, each child acquires identity and self esteem to the constructive and destructive interaction characteristic of this triad.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/373541_structural-family-therapy-as-compared-to-experiential-satir-family-therapy#ixzz15CU8cvt3
You don't need to be sexy to be real
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" Proverbs 14: 12
There seems to be a calculated move in the world today to make everyone value themselves by their sexuality. Everything these days is about sex. Even food commercials manage to sneak in something about sex. We now talk about people being sexy to add value to their being. I have seen little girls aged 8 years dress provocatively because they want to be sexy. In other words our self worth has now been reduced to how sexy we are or are not.
This has led to a culture of sex without value and morality has been thrown out of the window. We want to catch up with the sexiness of others to fit in or to sound hip regardless of the consequences. This is why we laugh at virgins or those who chose a celibate life because they are the odd ones out. In fact you can be considered to be having a mental health issue if you are not having sex.
One is considered real if they are having sex as a heterosexual, homosexua,l bi-sexual or is using some form of toys to have sex. Pornography has become easily accessible and has awakened demons in people that has caused them to do things that perhaps were unimaginable before. These days I hear talk about open relationships where couples although married agree to have sex with others outside the marriage. Then there is the added element of group sex.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether sex is supposed to control our being as we are led to believe by the powers behind this campaign. What has an 8 year old child got to do with sex? The girl’s body is not even formed yet she is being encouraged to value herself by how sexual she looks. What happens to this girl later in life? It seems to me that the reason we are having all these deviant sexual behaviors is because of the message being paraded in the media.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/371288_you-dont-need-to-be-sexy-to-be-real#ixzz15CSPGQ7F
There seems to be a calculated move in the world today to make everyone value themselves by their sexuality. Everything these days is about sex. Even food commercials manage to sneak in something about sex. We now talk about people being sexy to add value to their being. I have seen little girls aged 8 years dress provocatively because they want to be sexy. In other words our self worth has now been reduced to how sexy we are or are not.
This has led to a culture of sex without value and morality has been thrown out of the window. We want to catch up with the sexiness of others to fit in or to sound hip regardless of the consequences. This is why we laugh at virgins or those who chose a celibate life because they are the odd ones out. In fact you can be considered to be having a mental health issue if you are not having sex.
One is considered real if they are having sex as a heterosexual, homosexua,l bi-sexual or is using some form of toys to have sex. Pornography has become easily accessible and has awakened demons in people that has caused them to do things that perhaps were unimaginable before. These days I hear talk about open relationships where couples although married agree to have sex with others outside the marriage. Then there is the added element of group sex.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether sex is supposed to control our being as we are led to believe by the powers behind this campaign. What has an 8 year old child got to do with sex? The girl’s body is not even formed yet she is being encouraged to value herself by how sexual she looks. What happens to this girl later in life? It seems to me that the reason we are having all these deviant sexual behaviors is because of the message being paraded in the media.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/371288_you-dont-need-to-be-sexy-to-be-real#ixzz15CSPGQ7F
The Crisis that Gets worse in America-Obesity
According to statistics 2/3 of Americans are obese or overweight. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that obesity in America has increased by 60% within the last twenty years while obesity in children has tripled in the past thirty years.
One would think that a nation like America which claim to lead the world in knowledge and progress would be better informed about such a risky healthy situation. This it seems is one area that America has failed or is unable to tame. It is submitted that before this problem can be solved, there is need to understand why America has this problem. Until this is done the problem will continue and as usual it will be normalized to make obese people feel good about their condition while increasing the numbers.
I have observed that there is a double message that is being communicated when it comes to obesity. On the one hand, it stated there is a problem caused by something that people are doing or not doing but on the other hand it is no one’s fault that people are obese. Lately some researchers are starting to justify obesity as being genetic. One then must ask whether this gene is prevalent in America.
Tied with obesity crisis is the addiction problem which again is prevalent in America or perhaps in the Western world. If one is not addicted to alcohol or drugs, One is addicted to sex, another to food, and God knows what else. This again is said to be genetic and people should not be blamed for choosing such lifestyles. After all they cannot help themselves. In reality though, American lifestyle is tied to this crisis.
For one, America, like most Western countries is an individualistic nation where community accountability is not appreciated. It seems like people are disconnected and although they are together they are disjointed. There is also a separation between the spiritual and the physical. Virginia Satir, a humanist and experiential therapist, argues that the separation of mind and soul has led the person from the Western world to equate their identity with their mind and not with their whole being.
Satir further contends that as a consequence most individuals feel “isolated inside their bodies” (Satir & Baldwin, P 167). This inner fragmentation mirrors the outside world, which is seen as a multitude of separate parts existing for the benefit of separate interest groups. The result of this is alienation from nature and other human beings. God created human beings to function as both spiritual and physical beings in a community.
When human beings are not living as intended they will act out somehow. They will look for something to feel the void. Some may turn to food, others sex, others drugs and alcohol among such things. These things by themselves cannot solve the problem and as such they end up controlling the person. People use Food as a companion, as a comfort or as medication when it was never intended to.
The other thing is the “fast” life that Americans thrive in. It seems to me like they are a people chasing after something which I suspect they do not even know what it is. Most Americans will tell you with pride that they work 16 hours a day or they have three jobs. While we all value the ethics of hard work and the ability to provide for oneself and family, how can anyone who works like that still expect to function with normalcy? Rest and relationships are part of our wholeness and when this is lacking one will fill the void with something else.
Tied to the fast life is the fast food culture. Instead of eating a diet of pure, wholesome foods coming directly from the land, Americans eat a diet of packaged, processed, and refined foods. “Fast-food restaurants have become mainstream in the past 30 years and practically all of America takes advantage of the cheap prices, quick service and tasty meals”. Convenient as these foods maybe, the fact of the matter is that they contain practically no nutrients.
Most fast foods are comprised of saturated fats and highly refined carbohydrates as well as being loaded with sodium and sugar. Even the school foods epitomizes the American culture of eating. The school meals are unhealthy and has helped to create more obese children. Few Americans ever cook fresh foods from the scratch and there seems to be a conspiracy to encourage this. I say this because foods like fresh vegetables and fruits are the most expensive compared to processed foods.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/371212_the-crisis-that-gets-worse-in-america-obesity#ixzz15CRVUFzc
One would think that a nation like America which claim to lead the world in knowledge and progress would be better informed about such a risky healthy situation. This it seems is one area that America has failed or is unable to tame. It is submitted that before this problem can be solved, there is need to understand why America has this problem. Until this is done the problem will continue and as usual it will be normalized to make obese people feel good about their condition while increasing the numbers.
I have observed that there is a double message that is being communicated when it comes to obesity. On the one hand, it stated there is a problem caused by something that people are doing or not doing but on the other hand it is no one’s fault that people are obese. Lately some researchers are starting to justify obesity as being genetic. One then must ask whether this gene is prevalent in America.
Tied with obesity crisis is the addiction problem which again is prevalent in America or perhaps in the Western world. If one is not addicted to alcohol or drugs, One is addicted to sex, another to food, and God knows what else. This again is said to be genetic and people should not be blamed for choosing such lifestyles. After all they cannot help themselves. In reality though, American lifestyle is tied to this crisis.
For one, America, like most Western countries is an individualistic nation where community accountability is not appreciated. It seems like people are disconnected and although they are together they are disjointed. There is also a separation between the spiritual and the physical. Virginia Satir, a humanist and experiential therapist, argues that the separation of mind and soul has led the person from the Western world to equate their identity with their mind and not with their whole being.
Satir further contends that as a consequence most individuals feel “isolated inside their bodies” (Satir & Baldwin, P 167). This inner fragmentation mirrors the outside world, which is seen as a multitude of separate parts existing for the benefit of separate interest groups. The result of this is alienation from nature and other human beings. God created human beings to function as both spiritual and physical beings in a community.
When human beings are not living as intended they will act out somehow. They will look for something to feel the void. Some may turn to food, others sex, others drugs and alcohol among such things. These things by themselves cannot solve the problem and as such they end up controlling the person. People use Food as a companion, as a comfort or as medication when it was never intended to.
The other thing is the “fast” life that Americans thrive in. It seems to me like they are a people chasing after something which I suspect they do not even know what it is. Most Americans will tell you with pride that they work 16 hours a day or they have three jobs. While we all value the ethics of hard work and the ability to provide for oneself and family, how can anyone who works like that still expect to function with normalcy? Rest and relationships are part of our wholeness and when this is lacking one will fill the void with something else.
Tied to the fast life is the fast food culture. Instead of eating a diet of pure, wholesome foods coming directly from the land, Americans eat a diet of packaged, processed, and refined foods. “Fast-food restaurants have become mainstream in the past 30 years and practically all of America takes advantage of the cheap prices, quick service and tasty meals”. Convenient as these foods maybe, the fact of the matter is that they contain practically no nutrients.
Most fast foods are comprised of saturated fats and highly refined carbohydrates as well as being loaded with sodium and sugar. Even the school foods epitomizes the American culture of eating. The school meals are unhealthy and has helped to create more obese children. Few Americans ever cook fresh foods from the scratch and there seems to be a conspiracy to encourage this. I say this because foods like fresh vegetables and fruits are the most expensive compared to processed foods.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/371212_the-crisis-that-gets-worse-in-america-obesity#ixzz15CRVUFzc
Saturday, October 9, 2010
How emtional Focused couple's therapy works
Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) is a theory on couple’s therapy focusing on emotional reactions between relating partners. The focus of the theory is on how negative interaction cycles provoke negative and hostile emotional reactions among primary relational partners. The therapeutic focus is to correct emotional experiences in the couple’s relationship.
The theory uses attachment theory with a perspective that there are two relationship roles that play into negative interaction cycle to support the couple’s conflict namely the “withdrawer” and the “blamer” (pursuer). To Show how Emotional focused therapy works, I have created a fictious case of a couple named Bob and Cynthia.
Bob(27years) and Cynthia (25 years) have been married for approximately three years. They met when they started working together seven years ago. The source of their going for therapy was a recent conflict between them which resulted in Cynthia moving back to her parent’s home. They have been in therapy for six sessions. Both report that when they fight they try to Say the most hurtful thing that they can to each other. They continually revisit past issues and use intimate details against each other.
In this case Cynthia is the pursuer while Bob is the withdrawer. The pursuer partner does so due to the perceived disengagement in the relationship. Cynthia pursues Bob in order to engage him into the relationship because she feels “overwhelmed, rejected and alone”. If Bob does not respond to her she becomes more upset and pursues him further and brings up times when Bob disappointed her. Bob on the other hand reacts by withdrawing until the “nagging” eventually leads him to explode in name calling and brings up a past relationship that Cynthia had in the early part of their relationship
The first thing that a therapist does in such a case is to track and reflect on emotional experiences. This allows the therapist to focus on the process of therapy as well as build the therapeutic alliance and clarify relationship roles vis-Ã -vis who is the pursuer and who is the withdrawer. In our case we have identified Cynthia as the pursuer and Bob as the withdrawer. The other issue is to identify the attachment injury by encouraging the partners to discuss a particular painful incident where the other partner was inaccessible and unresponsive.
This is referred to as the “marker event”. For Cynthia this is the time that she had a miscarriage. She relates how every time Bob is not there she “re-experiences the miscarriage”. She reflects on how Bob appeared to be disinterested with the pregnancy and even when she was rushed to hospital he did not respond or return her calls. To make it worse, after the baby was lost, Bob did not comfort or empathize with her. On the Part of Bob, the injury pertains to the relationship that Jessica had with his best friend when Bob was away due to work demands.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/369004_how-emotional-focused-couples-therapy-work#ixzz11ufAmyzd
The theory uses attachment theory with a perspective that there are two relationship roles that play into negative interaction cycle to support the couple’s conflict namely the “withdrawer” and the “blamer” (pursuer). To Show how Emotional focused therapy works, I have created a fictious case of a couple named Bob and Cynthia.
Bob(27years) and Cynthia (25 years) have been married for approximately three years. They met when they started working together seven years ago. The source of their going for therapy was a recent conflict between them which resulted in Cynthia moving back to her parent’s home. They have been in therapy for six sessions. Both report that when they fight they try to Say the most hurtful thing that they can to each other. They continually revisit past issues and use intimate details against each other.
In this case Cynthia is the pursuer while Bob is the withdrawer. The pursuer partner does so due to the perceived disengagement in the relationship. Cynthia pursues Bob in order to engage him into the relationship because she feels “overwhelmed, rejected and alone”. If Bob does not respond to her she becomes more upset and pursues him further and brings up times when Bob disappointed her. Bob on the other hand reacts by withdrawing until the “nagging” eventually leads him to explode in name calling and brings up a past relationship that Cynthia had in the early part of their relationship
The first thing that a therapist does in such a case is to track and reflect on emotional experiences. This allows the therapist to focus on the process of therapy as well as build the therapeutic alliance and clarify relationship roles vis-Ã -vis who is the pursuer and who is the withdrawer. In our case we have identified Cynthia as the pursuer and Bob as the withdrawer. The other issue is to identify the attachment injury by encouraging the partners to discuss a particular painful incident where the other partner was inaccessible and unresponsive.
This is referred to as the “marker event”. For Cynthia this is the time that she had a miscarriage. She relates how every time Bob is not there she “re-experiences the miscarriage”. She reflects on how Bob appeared to be disinterested with the pregnancy and even when she was rushed to hospital he did not respond or return her calls. To make it worse, after the baby was lost, Bob did not comfort or empathize with her. On the Part of Bob, the injury pertains to the relationship that Jessica had with his best friend when Bob was away due to work demands.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/369004_how-emotional-focused-couples-therapy-work#ixzz11ufAmyzd
8 Simple Ways to manage depression
Depression is a mental illness that is experienced by most people if not all at one time or another in their lifetime. This is because we all go through some life changes be they physical, emotional or psychological which cause us to depress
Depression can manifest as feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, hopelessness, weariness, sleeping problems and physical pains. It is important to consult a doctor if the symptoms are affecting your daily functioning and for a proper diagnosis. There are many other illness that may manifest as depression or cause depression and it is therefore important to rule out other medical conditions that maybe the cause of your symptoms.
The doctor may prescribe antidepressant but it is also important to seek a mental health therapist who will assist you to process your thoughts and feelings that maybe causing the depression. Depression is caused by feelings that are internalized which may cause chemical imbalance and the way to deal with them is to externalize.
Ways to help yourself Recover
1) Depression will cause you to want to isolate and feed on your negative emotions that are in the first place causing you to depress. The first thing to try and do is to avoid isolation. This in the beginning can be done by taking walks near where you are. Even though you are not talking to people, you will find observing your surrounding or people around you will help you take the focus out of you. If you can, take walks in the park because there is always some activity going and it is also serene.
2) Connected with this, is when you are outside you enjoy the sun. People who depress have been found to be short of Vitamin D. The sun is the greatest supplier of vitamin D which is absorbed through the skin. Most depression happen during the gloomy season and indeed the cases of depression in Africa are very low perhaps because the sun is up most days of the year.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/366241_8-simple-ways-to-manage-depression#ixzz11ueGQGT1
Depression can manifest as feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, hopelessness, weariness, sleeping problems and physical pains. It is important to consult a doctor if the symptoms are affecting your daily functioning and for a proper diagnosis. There are many other illness that may manifest as depression or cause depression and it is therefore important to rule out other medical conditions that maybe the cause of your symptoms.
The doctor may prescribe antidepressant but it is also important to seek a mental health therapist who will assist you to process your thoughts and feelings that maybe causing the depression. Depression is caused by feelings that are internalized which may cause chemical imbalance and the way to deal with them is to externalize.
Ways to help yourself Recover
1) Depression will cause you to want to isolate and feed on your negative emotions that are in the first place causing you to depress. The first thing to try and do is to avoid isolation. This in the beginning can be done by taking walks near where you are. Even though you are not talking to people, you will find observing your surrounding or people around you will help you take the focus out of you. If you can, take walks in the park because there is always some activity going and it is also serene.
2) Connected with this, is when you are outside you enjoy the sun. People who depress have been found to be short of Vitamin D. The sun is the greatest supplier of vitamin D which is absorbed through the skin. Most depression happen during the gloomy season and indeed the cases of depression in Africa are very low perhaps because the sun is up most days of the year.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/366241_8-simple-ways-to-manage-depression#ixzz11ueGQGT1
Basic Concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the models used by psychotherapist to improve the life of a client. The therapy emphasis is on our thinking, feelings and how we act as result of those thoughts
Most mental health therapies suggest a client's psychological symptoms emanate from the client's family of origin. It is presumed that the client learnt to do things the way they do from their family of origin and if they are not properly differentiated they will have clinical symptoms. CBT on the other hand suggest that people get psychological problems because of self induced rigid “musts” commands about the events in their lives.
This kind of thinking creates perfectionist tendencies where “must” and “should” are highlighted creating un attainable goals. Often this system of thinking leads to a low tolerance for frustrations, self pity, and anxiety. CBT therapy aims at helping the client think and look at how their irrational and distorted thoughts are maladaptive to achieving personal success.
The emphasis is on the therapeutic, collaborative, and Socratic dialogue which helps the client see how their feelings and behavior is affecting their quality of life. By collaboration, the therapist seeks to learn what the client’s goals in life are and then helps the client achieve the goals. By using Socratic methods the therapist gains a good understanding of the client and client’s problems by asking questions. The therapist also teaches the client to ask themselves questions.
The therapist carries out an assessment on the client to determine the areas of distortions and consequently dysfunctions that is leading to clinical symptoms. The most common found distortions in individuals and families are in the following areas:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/350963_basic-concepts-of-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt#ixzz11udGuVcM
Most mental health therapies suggest a client's psychological symptoms emanate from the client's family of origin. It is presumed that the client learnt to do things the way they do from their family of origin and if they are not properly differentiated they will have clinical symptoms. CBT on the other hand suggest that people get psychological problems because of self induced rigid “musts” commands about the events in their lives.
This kind of thinking creates perfectionist tendencies where “must” and “should” are highlighted creating un attainable goals. Often this system of thinking leads to a low tolerance for frustrations, self pity, and anxiety. CBT therapy aims at helping the client think and look at how their irrational and distorted thoughts are maladaptive to achieving personal success.
The emphasis is on the therapeutic, collaborative, and Socratic dialogue which helps the client see how their feelings and behavior is affecting their quality of life. By collaboration, the therapist seeks to learn what the client’s goals in life are and then helps the client achieve the goals. By using Socratic methods the therapist gains a good understanding of the client and client’s problems by asking questions. The therapist also teaches the client to ask themselves questions.
The therapist carries out an assessment on the client to determine the areas of distortions and consequently dysfunctions that is leading to clinical symptoms. The most common found distortions in individuals and families are in the following areas:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/350963_basic-concepts-of-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt#ixzz11udGuVcM
Managemnet and treatment of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental condition or illness that occurs in people from all cultures and from all works of life. The disorder is characterized by an array of diverse symptoms, including oddities in perception, thinking, action, sense of self and manner in relating to others. The hallmark of the disorder however is the significant loss of contact with reality.
Before the 1950s the prognosis for schizophrenia was rather bleak because there were very few treatment options. Treatment was mainly based in institutionalizing the patient in overcrowded hospitals and treated with electroconvulsive “shock” therapy. Dramatic improvement came in the mid 1950’s with the introduction of “anti-psychotic” drugs.
Currently there are two phases of schizophrenia treatment and recovery. One phase addresses severe symptoms of an acute psychotic episode and the other focuses on improving functioning and preventing relapse during the maintenance or recovery phase of illness.
Acute Phase: The aim of treatment in the acute phase is to get the psychotic symptoms under control so the patient is not in danger to self or to others. Hospitalization may be required during this time. At this time medication is the primary treatment.
Maintenance Phase: During the maintenance phase of treatment, the goal is to sustain symptom remission or control, reduce the risk of relapse and hospitalization, and teach skills for daily living. Maintenance treatment typically involves medication, supportive therapy, family education and counseling, vocational and social counseling.
Medication:
The medications used in the treatment of schizophrenia are known as antipsychotic (neuroleptic drugs). These medications do not provide a cure but rather work by reducing the psychotic symptoms of the illness. They are thought to work by changing the balance or activity of chemical that transmit message in the brain (neurotransmitters).
The antipsychotic medications are particularly effective at controlling the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The positive symptoms include hallucination, delusions, paranoia, and disordered thinking. These drugs are however less helpful in treating the negative symptoms such as social withdrawal, lack of motivation and lack of emotional expressiveness.
The two main groups of medications used for treatment of schizophrenia are the older or “typical” antipsychotic medications and the newer “Atypical” antipsychotic medications.
Read more at: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/351487_treatment-of-schizophrenia
Before the 1950s the prognosis for schizophrenia was rather bleak because there were very few treatment options. Treatment was mainly based in institutionalizing the patient in overcrowded hospitals and treated with electroconvulsive “shock” therapy. Dramatic improvement came in the mid 1950’s with the introduction of “anti-psychotic” drugs.
Currently there are two phases of schizophrenia treatment and recovery. One phase addresses severe symptoms of an acute psychotic episode and the other focuses on improving functioning and preventing relapse during the maintenance or recovery phase of illness.
Acute Phase: The aim of treatment in the acute phase is to get the psychotic symptoms under control so the patient is not in danger to self or to others. Hospitalization may be required during this time. At this time medication is the primary treatment.
Maintenance Phase: During the maintenance phase of treatment, the goal is to sustain symptom remission or control, reduce the risk of relapse and hospitalization, and teach skills for daily living. Maintenance treatment typically involves medication, supportive therapy, family education and counseling, vocational and social counseling.
Medication:
The medications used in the treatment of schizophrenia are known as antipsychotic (neuroleptic drugs). These medications do not provide a cure but rather work by reducing the psychotic symptoms of the illness. They are thought to work by changing the balance or activity of chemical that transmit message in the brain (neurotransmitters).
The antipsychotic medications are particularly effective at controlling the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The positive symptoms include hallucination, delusions, paranoia, and disordered thinking. These drugs are however less helpful in treating the negative symptoms such as social withdrawal, lack of motivation and lack of emotional expressiveness.
The two main groups of medications used for treatment of schizophrenia are the older or “typical” antipsychotic medications and the newer “Atypical” antipsychotic medications.
Read more at: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/351487_treatment-of-schizophrenia
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Man-on Fire, A mental Health analysis of the movie's main Character
Man of Fire is a captivating movie based on a novel by A.J. Quinnell. The movie stars Denzel Washington as John Creasy, Dakota Fannning as Lupita Balletto, Marc Anthony as Samuel, Radha Mitchell as Rika Balletto and Christopher Walken as Rayburn among others. The movie was released in 2004 and is about a former USA intelligent agent (Creasy) turned mercenary and currently living in Mexico. Creasy is hired by a wealthy family in Mexico to guard their 12 years old girl (Lupita).
I was captivated from the beginning by Creasy (Denzel Washington) because he appeared to be a man going through some trauma. He manifests certain symptoms from the onset of the movie which leads one to believe that he has some psychological and unresolved issues that need to be addressed to avoid future disaster. The symptoms observed are lack of appetite as evidenced by refusal to eat when offered food. Avoidance of intimate relationships, he locked himself in his room most times; job dissatisfaction; bottled up anger as manifested by angry outbursts when pushed by the girl (Lupita) he was to guard.
He further seemed to drink to numb his feelings when alone in his room; he lived a secluded and lonely life; he suffered from insomnia and appeared to have nightmares connected with his past; He cried as if in pain or out of torment. The torment or pain that he is struggling with eventually pushes him to attempt to commit suicide. Thank God the gun somehow jams which seem to surprise him and brings him back to reality. It is at this time that he makes a call while outside in the rain to someone who seemed to understand his issues.
Read more: http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/man-on-fire-a-mental-health-analysis-of-the-movies-main-character/#ixzz0xkAKCThr
I was captivated from the beginning by Creasy (Denzel Washington) because he appeared to be a man going through some trauma. He manifests certain symptoms from the onset of the movie which leads one to believe that he has some psychological and unresolved issues that need to be addressed to avoid future disaster. The symptoms observed are lack of appetite as evidenced by refusal to eat when offered food. Avoidance of intimate relationships, he locked himself in his room most times; job dissatisfaction; bottled up anger as manifested by angry outbursts when pushed by the girl (Lupita) he was to guard.
He further seemed to drink to numb his feelings when alone in his room; he lived a secluded and lonely life; he suffered from insomnia and appeared to have nightmares connected with his past; He cried as if in pain or out of torment. The torment or pain that he is struggling with eventually pushes him to attempt to commit suicide. Thank God the gun somehow jams which seem to surprise him and brings him back to reality. It is at this time that he makes a call while outside in the rain to someone who seemed to understand his issues.
Read more: http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/man-on-fire-a-mental-health-analysis-of-the-movies-main-character/#ixzz0xkAKCThr
Lessons learnt from the Family Crucibles
The Family Crucible is an interesting demonstration of the family systems theory and of therapy in session using the systems model.
From the first page when we are introduced to the Brice family we start experiencing the system in action. The book helps us see the family as a system and to understand how family problems arise through scapegoating, triangulation, diffusion of identity, blaming each other among such things. These are all common attributes in every family. Napier indicates that a lot of knowledge, energy, and interpersonal skills are demanded of the family therapist.
Therapy is considered a growth process in the lives of a family but the family must have the initiate to succeed in therapy. The therapist lets the family take the initiate while he observes. At this point the therapist provides a place of safety for the family. Being an outsider, the therapist is able to see things that the family is blind to. He monitors and interprets the family’s struggle. From this we observe how the therapist gains ground with the family during therapy. The book also introduces the concept that the family‘s problem emanates from how they relate with one another as a unit.
The different roles that the therapist plays during therapy are also addressed. One of the roles is to help the family question what they have been taught about relationships. The book exposes the underlying war that exists between the therapist and the family. Although the family recognizes that their system of operation has failed, they are not always willing to change. It is natural to resist change and the final outcome depends on the family’s courage and willingness to risk and the therapists’ real adequacy as a person both inside and outside his professional roles.
The therapist acquires the role of a parent or figure of authority with the family. He however has to earn this position because the family comes to therapy with their own structure, tone and rules. If the family’s case is very complex, the therapist may have to grow personally to be effective to the family. As an observer, the therapist notices things in the family that are not right. Part of the therapist job is to fault find which creates a dilemma and a threat to the therapist life. Some of the things happening in the family make the therapist uneasy because it strikes deeper chords in the therapist resonating with the problems in the therapist’s life.
Read more: http://bookstove.com/book-talk/lessons-learnt-from-the-family-crucible-whitaker-c-napier-a-1978/#ixzz0xk7cqiOA
From the first page when we are introduced to the Brice family we start experiencing the system in action. The book helps us see the family as a system and to understand how family problems arise through scapegoating, triangulation, diffusion of identity, blaming each other among such things. These are all common attributes in every family. Napier indicates that a lot of knowledge, energy, and interpersonal skills are demanded of the family therapist.
Therapy is considered a growth process in the lives of a family but the family must have the initiate to succeed in therapy. The therapist lets the family take the initiate while he observes. At this point the therapist provides a place of safety for the family. Being an outsider, the therapist is able to see things that the family is blind to. He monitors and interprets the family’s struggle. From this we observe how the therapist gains ground with the family during therapy. The book also introduces the concept that the family‘s problem emanates from how they relate with one another as a unit.
The different roles that the therapist plays during therapy are also addressed. One of the roles is to help the family question what they have been taught about relationships. The book exposes the underlying war that exists between the therapist and the family. Although the family recognizes that their system of operation has failed, they are not always willing to change. It is natural to resist change and the final outcome depends on the family’s courage and willingness to risk and the therapists’ real adequacy as a person both inside and outside his professional roles.
The therapist acquires the role of a parent or figure of authority with the family. He however has to earn this position because the family comes to therapy with their own structure, tone and rules. If the family’s case is very complex, the therapist may have to grow personally to be effective to the family. As an observer, the therapist notices things in the family that are not right. Part of the therapist job is to fault find which creates a dilemma and a threat to the therapist life. Some of the things happening in the family make the therapist uneasy because it strikes deeper chords in the therapist resonating with the problems in the therapist’s life.
Read more: http://bookstove.com/book-talk/lessons-learnt-from-the-family-crucible-whitaker-c-napier-a-1978/#ixzz0xk7cqiOA
How nations like the USA exhibit Personality Disorder
A person’s characteristic traits, coping styles and ways of interacting socially emerge during childhood and under normal circumstances will crystallize into established patterns by the end of adolescence or early adult hood. These traits and behaviors constitute an individual’s personality. For most adults, personality is attuned to the demands of the society they find themselves in. What this means is that most people act or behave according to their society’s norms or expectation.
If a person diverts from the norms expected by their society, that person is said to have a personality disorder. For there to be a diagnosis of a personality disorder, the pattern of behaviour must be pervasive and must be manifest in at least two of the following areas; cognition, interpersonal functioning, affect and impulse control. People find the behaviour of individuals with personality disorders confusing, exasperating, unpredictable and to varying degrees unacceptable.
This got me thinking about the general human population and how although we are similar our mannerisms are different depending on our societies. One society may have certain traits and mannerism that would be considered a disorder in another society while perfectly normal within that society. Considering that personality Disorders stem from gradual development of inflexible and distorted personality and behavioral patterns, I investigated a few countries that I am familiar with and came up with what maybe termed as Disorders to the rest of the world while perfectly normal within their own countries.
The Standard I use is to diagnose these nations is the American Diagnostic Statistc Manual (DSM –IV-TR) . I will try to explain the basis of my diagnosis and the reason why I think that people from these countries have developed what is perceived by others as personality Disorders.
1) The USA, Narcissistic Personality Disorder
According to the DSM, people with Narcissistic personality Disorder Have a “Pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy and behaviour) need for admiration, and lack of empathy as indicated by at least five of the following:
Read more: http://socyberty.com/psychology/how-nations-like-the-united-states-of-america-exhibit-personality-disorders/#ixzz0xk56862g
If a person diverts from the norms expected by their society, that person is said to have a personality disorder. For there to be a diagnosis of a personality disorder, the pattern of behaviour must be pervasive and must be manifest in at least two of the following areas; cognition, interpersonal functioning, affect and impulse control. People find the behaviour of individuals with personality disorders confusing, exasperating, unpredictable and to varying degrees unacceptable.
This got me thinking about the general human population and how although we are similar our mannerisms are different depending on our societies. One society may have certain traits and mannerism that would be considered a disorder in another society while perfectly normal within that society. Considering that personality Disorders stem from gradual development of inflexible and distorted personality and behavioral patterns, I investigated a few countries that I am familiar with and came up with what maybe termed as Disorders to the rest of the world while perfectly normal within their own countries.
The Standard I use is to diagnose these nations is the American Diagnostic Statistc Manual (DSM –IV-TR) . I will try to explain the basis of my diagnosis and the reason why I think that people from these countries have developed what is perceived by others as personality Disorders.
1) The USA, Narcissistic Personality Disorder
According to the DSM, people with Narcissistic personality Disorder Have a “Pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy and behaviour) need for admiration, and lack of empathy as indicated by at least five of the following:
Read more: http://socyberty.com/psychology/how-nations-like-the-united-states-of-america-exhibit-personality-disorders/#ixzz0xk56862g
What it takes for a man to be faithfull to a relationship
Men and women are different no doubt. They express their emotions differently and have different expectations and needs in a relationship. Many women when looking for a mate have different considerations. Some are looking for a provider and for this reason they will go for a man who is materially successful. For other women the looks of a man are important in particular his masculinity or height.
When it comes to character it seems this is an area that is overlooked. Most women assume that because a man is in a relationship with her he will stay faithful. Sometimes when a woman meets the man he may already be in another relationship but the woman assumes she will win him completely to herself. Others assume that marriage will change a man and make him faithful.
One thing I have learnt in life is that you cannot change anyone. A man cannot change a woman if her character is not right and certainly a woman cannot change a man, particularly when it comes to faithfulness. Only a man can keep a man faithful, not a woman and her ways. A man must posses certain traits to be faithful. But before he can ever be concerned with these traits, he must respect a woman and then respect himself.
Certain societies have rites of passage which ushers a boy into manhood. This teaches a man the value of integrity, loyalty, and courage, important traits for a man. A man needs these traits to be faithful to himself and to others. However having these traits is not enough, he must also apply them to his life. This is what it means to be a grown man.
Read more: http://socyberty.com/relationships/what-it-takes-for-a-man-to-be-faithful-to-a-relationship/#ixzz0xjy3KBan
When it comes to character it seems this is an area that is overlooked. Most women assume that because a man is in a relationship with her he will stay faithful. Sometimes when a woman meets the man he may already be in another relationship but the woman assumes she will win him completely to herself. Others assume that marriage will change a man and make him faithful.
One thing I have learnt in life is that you cannot change anyone. A man cannot change a woman if her character is not right and certainly a woman cannot change a man, particularly when it comes to faithfulness. Only a man can keep a man faithful, not a woman and her ways. A man must posses certain traits to be faithful. But before he can ever be concerned with these traits, he must respect a woman and then respect himself.
Certain societies have rites of passage which ushers a boy into manhood. This teaches a man the value of integrity, loyalty, and courage, important traits for a man. A man needs these traits to be faithful to himself and to others. However having these traits is not enough, he must also apply them to his life. This is what it means to be a grown man.
Read more: http://socyberty.com/relationships/what-it-takes-for-a-man-to-be-faithful-to-a-relationship/#ixzz0xjy3KBan
Why I do not suport the death Penalty
The death penalty is the one thing in the justice system that to me is the most barbaric.
The model of punishment has been used in many nations for punishment of various crimes notably of which is murder, robbery with violence and treason. The mode of death could be by hanging, lethal injection, electrocution or stoning to death as in countries of the Middle East.
Most of the times the family of the victims may even want it so badly because they assume by the person dying they feel justice will have been met. So to them an eye for eye serves the purpose of justice. Murder no doubt is a heinous crime and deserves grave consequences for the one committing the crime. But is another killing the solution?
The justice system aims at preventing crime, punishing those who offend the law, bring retribution to the offended while trying to rehabilitate the offender. The main reason really is to provide justice however that may look like. The question that we must all ask is how does the state committing the same act that the offender is convicted of help in curbing such crimes? Do we as human beings have the right to decide who should live and who should die?
The problem I have for me is based more on my faith as a Christian. Yet I note that in the country of my residence it seems to me like those who share my faith are the ones that actually advocate for the death penalty. For me I consider that to God there is no big sin or small sin, “for He who said, do not commit adultery, also said, do not murder”. James 2: 11. Now if you commit one and not the other you are still a transgressor of the law. I am not trying to minimize the offence of murder but my point is to demonstrate that the murderer started somewhere.
Read more: http://socyberty.com/issues/why-i-do-not-support-the-death-penalty/#ixzz0xjwnDCxq
The model of punishment has been used in many nations for punishment of various crimes notably of which is murder, robbery with violence and treason. The mode of death could be by hanging, lethal injection, electrocution or stoning to death as in countries of the Middle East.
Most of the times the family of the victims may even want it so badly because they assume by the person dying they feel justice will have been met. So to them an eye for eye serves the purpose of justice. Murder no doubt is a heinous crime and deserves grave consequences for the one committing the crime. But is another killing the solution?
The justice system aims at preventing crime, punishing those who offend the law, bring retribution to the offended while trying to rehabilitate the offender. The main reason really is to provide justice however that may look like. The question that we must all ask is how does the state committing the same act that the offender is convicted of help in curbing such crimes? Do we as human beings have the right to decide who should live and who should die?
The problem I have for me is based more on my faith as a Christian. Yet I note that in the country of my residence it seems to me like those who share my faith are the ones that actually advocate for the death penalty. For me I consider that to God there is no big sin or small sin, “for He who said, do not commit adultery, also said, do not murder”. James 2: 11. Now if you commit one and not the other you are still a transgressor of the law. I am not trying to minimize the offence of murder but my point is to demonstrate that the murderer started somewhere.
Read more: http://socyberty.com/issues/why-i-do-not-support-the-death-penalty/#ixzz0xjwnDCxq
A Christian perspective of Experiential Family Therapy
Therapists are faced with challenges on what theory to use if they are to help their clients. The challenge for those who identify with the Christian faith is always on identifying a theory that can blend in well with their faith. If a therapist is to be authentic and genuine in the therapeutic approach, then the theory used must align with the therapist’s beliefs. More and more therapists are called to do a work that was previously the domain of the priest in a church setting. Carl Jung saw religion as a “system of healing for the psychic illness”. He saw the therapist role as that of a “priest” dealing with problems which “strictly speaking, belong to the Theologian”.
In his book Man’s search for meaning (1985), Viktor Frankl states that more and more a psychiatrist is approached by patients who confront him with problems that would ideally be handled by a pastor, a rabbi or a priest. They want to know the meaning of life and yet most of them will not agree to be handed over to a clergy. Dr James Beck in his article, the integration of Psychology and Theology: An enterprise out of balance, suggests that “the mental health movement grows because of a relentless demand for its services. As culture disintegrates, individual lives and marriages are crumbling forcing people to seek help”. He rightful argues that the discipline of psychology desperately needs the salt and light that trained Christian practitioners can provide for it.
In this article the writer critiques the experiential theory with a focus on Virginia Satir, in relation to a Christian world view. This critique shall focus on four areas of importance: cosmology (world view), anthropology (the nature and purpose of humans), harmatology (what is wrong with the world or psychopathology) and soteriology (how we experience healing or psychotherapy). It is submitted that experiential theory provides a strong foundation for therapists to understand their clients and enhance the therapeutic process from a theory and model that has strong ingredients and principles that can be molded to fit with Biblical principles.
Read more: http://relijournal.com/christianity/a-christian-perspective-of-experiential-family-therapy/#ixzz0xjmE1yVG
In his book Man’s search for meaning (1985), Viktor Frankl states that more and more a psychiatrist is approached by patients who confront him with problems that would ideally be handled by a pastor, a rabbi or a priest. They want to know the meaning of life and yet most of them will not agree to be handed over to a clergy. Dr James Beck in his article, the integration of Psychology and Theology: An enterprise out of balance, suggests that “the mental health movement grows because of a relentless demand for its services. As culture disintegrates, individual lives and marriages are crumbling forcing people to seek help”. He rightful argues that the discipline of psychology desperately needs the salt and light that trained Christian practitioners can provide for it.
In this article the writer critiques the experiential theory with a focus on Virginia Satir, in relation to a Christian world view. This critique shall focus on four areas of importance: cosmology (world view), anthropology (the nature and purpose of humans), harmatology (what is wrong with the world or psychopathology) and soteriology (how we experience healing or psychotherapy). It is submitted that experiential theory provides a strong foundation for therapists to understand their clients and enhance the therapeutic process from a theory and model that has strong ingredients and principles that can be molded to fit with Biblical principles.
Read more: http://relijournal.com/christianity/a-christian-perspective-of-experiential-family-therapy/#ixzz0xjmE1yVG
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Diagnosis and some causes of Schizophrenia
The characteristics symptoms of schizophrenia involve a range of cognitive and emotional dysfunctions that include perception, inferential thinking, language and communication, behavioral monitoring affect, fluency and productivity of thought and speech, hedonic capacity, volition and drive and attention. The DSM -IV-TR conceptualizes the symptoms into two broad categories of positive and negative criterion.
Positive symptoms include distortion in thought content (delusion), Perceptions (hallucinations), language and thought process( disorganized speech) and self monitoring or behavior (catatonic behavior). The negative symptoms criterion include restrictions in the range and intensity of emotion, in the fluency and productivity of thought and speech, and in the initiation of goal-directed behavior.
For one to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, the disturbance must persist for a continuous period of at least 6 months. During that period there must be at last one month of symptoms (or less than one month if symptoms were successfully treated) that meet the positive or negative criterion. Once schizophrenia occurs, it becomes a chronic condition that continues throughout the remainder of the patient life with varying degree of intensity.
The DSM-IV-TR divides schizophrenia in subtypes and the diagnosis of a particular subtype is based on the symptoms that occasioned the most recent evaluation or admission to clinical care and may change with time. The five subtypes are Paranoid type, Disorganized type, Catatonic type, undifferentiated type and the residual type.
Causes of schizophrenia
No one can clearly say for sure that schizophrenia is caused by a particular factor. One may be predisposed by genetic factors but that in itself, as research has shown, is not a gurantee that one will get it. What is known is that the development of schizophrenia can be attributed to a combination of biological dispositions (e.g. inheriting certain genes) and the environment a person is exposed to.
Brain development disruption is now known to be the result of genetic predisposition and environmental stresses early in development (e.g. during pregnancy and /or early development). This, it is suggested leads to alterations in the brain making and may lead to a person being susceptible to developing schizophrenia.
A research study by Columbia University (2004) identified approximately 14% of schizophrenia cases as having been caused by influenza during the mothers pregnancy. The study indicated that flu during the first trimester increased the risk of developing schizophrenia by the child by about 7% while flu during the third trimester increased the risk by about 3%.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/336842_what-may-cause-schizophrenia#ixzz0xeJ4vmyP
Positive symptoms include distortion in thought content (delusion), Perceptions (hallucinations), language and thought process( disorganized speech) and self monitoring or behavior (catatonic behavior). The negative symptoms criterion include restrictions in the range and intensity of emotion, in the fluency and productivity of thought and speech, and in the initiation of goal-directed behavior.
For one to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, the disturbance must persist for a continuous period of at least 6 months. During that period there must be at last one month of symptoms (or less than one month if symptoms were successfully treated) that meet the positive or negative criterion. Once schizophrenia occurs, it becomes a chronic condition that continues throughout the remainder of the patient life with varying degree of intensity.
The DSM-IV-TR divides schizophrenia in subtypes and the diagnosis of a particular subtype is based on the symptoms that occasioned the most recent evaluation or admission to clinical care and may change with time. The five subtypes are Paranoid type, Disorganized type, Catatonic type, undifferentiated type and the residual type.
Causes of schizophrenia
No one can clearly say for sure that schizophrenia is caused by a particular factor. One may be predisposed by genetic factors but that in itself, as research has shown, is not a gurantee that one will get it. What is known is that the development of schizophrenia can be attributed to a combination of biological dispositions (e.g. inheriting certain genes) and the environment a person is exposed to.
Brain development disruption is now known to be the result of genetic predisposition and environmental stresses early in development (e.g. during pregnancy and /or early development). This, it is suggested leads to alterations in the brain making and may lead to a person being susceptible to developing schizophrenia.
A research study by Columbia University (2004) identified approximately 14% of schizophrenia cases as having been caused by influenza during the mothers pregnancy. The study indicated that flu during the first trimester increased the risk of developing schizophrenia by the child by about 7% while flu during the third trimester increased the risk by about 3%.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/336842_what-may-cause-schizophrenia#ixzz0xeJ4vmyP
Understanding the Causes of Depression
Major depression is the interaction between physiological factors and psychological factors. The criterion for major depressive episodes as prescribed by the DSM-IV-TR includes depressed mood, diminished interest or pleasure in most daily activities, weight loss or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, agitation, fatigue, feeling of worthlessness, inability to think or concentrate and recurrent thoughts of death.
In my opinion all human beings at one time or another suffer from depression. This is because depression is caused by both pyhsiological and psychological factors. Depression if not allowed to take a person captive can be viewed as a sign that we need a change or growth needs to take place in us. There are many causes of depression and if we listened to our mind and body we may fair better in a bout of depression.
Physiological Causes of Depression:
One's sleep pattern can have negative effect on how a person views the world and themselves. Three nights in a row without dreaming, even with plenty of sleep will cause most people to get depressed and somewhat paranoid. The brain manufactures neurotransmitters and replenishes them while you are sleeping. Thus a good, continuous night’s sleep is very important both in curing depression and preventing a relapse. Recent studies have proven that norepinephrine and serotonin initiate and maintain dreaming.
Eating patterns can also affect the physiology of a client. If one’s diet is lacking in certain nutrients and essential vitamins the body may express this deficiency through depression. It is suggested that sugar intensifies the cyclical highs and lows of our emotions with its artificial highs and subsequent lows. Research has also shown that most depressed people tend to have low levels of folic acid, a vitamin found most abundantly in leafy green vegetables. Alcohol often times is used as an escape from depression, but in actuality, alcohol can lead to vitamin deficiencies which can contribute to depression.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/335307_understanding-the-causes-of-depression#ixzz0xeGYzw1N
In my opinion all human beings at one time or another suffer from depression. This is because depression is caused by both pyhsiological and psychological factors. Depression if not allowed to take a person captive can be viewed as a sign that we need a change or growth needs to take place in us. There are many causes of depression and if we listened to our mind and body we may fair better in a bout of depression.
Physiological Causes of Depression:
One's sleep pattern can have negative effect on how a person views the world and themselves. Three nights in a row without dreaming, even with plenty of sleep will cause most people to get depressed and somewhat paranoid. The brain manufactures neurotransmitters and replenishes them while you are sleeping. Thus a good, continuous night’s sleep is very important both in curing depression and preventing a relapse. Recent studies have proven that norepinephrine and serotonin initiate and maintain dreaming.
Eating patterns can also affect the physiology of a client. If one’s diet is lacking in certain nutrients and essential vitamins the body may express this deficiency through depression. It is suggested that sugar intensifies the cyclical highs and lows of our emotions with its artificial highs and subsequent lows. Research has also shown that most depressed people tend to have low levels of folic acid, a vitamin found most abundantly in leafy green vegetables. Alcohol often times is used as an escape from depression, but in actuality, alcohol can lead to vitamin deficiencies which can contribute to depression.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/335307_understanding-the-causes-of-depression#ixzz0xeGYzw1N
Understanding the Family through the eyes of Structural Family Therapy
Fundamental processes of Structural family therapy include learning and believing in the concept of structure in families.
Structural Family therapy is a model that is mostly associated with its founder and propounder, Salvador Minuchin. It is one of the most researched models and has been successfully applied in difficult families like families with juvenile delinquents, families with someone suffering from an eating disorder, families with a chemically dependant member, families of low social economic status and families with an alcoholic.
Minuchin does not ascribe to the traditional mother/father and children family as the norm. He includes single parenting as well as blended and step families. For Minchin the healthy family builds a spouse subsystem in which each accommodates, nurtures and supports the uniqueness of the other. The model recognizes that families are organisms in a continuous process of change while trying to remain the same.
The model helps people see the patterns, processes and transactions of the family as a system. The model also helps a practitioner have a concrete concept of what should be happening in a family if it is to function properly. It also provides a map of what is wrong in a dysfunctional family.
Basic Concepts
Minuchin’s suggests that the life History of a family is a succession of experiments in living. He sees the family as an integrated whole of a system. The system also has sub-systems because its members belong to other agencies and organizations in the community which affect the family’s basic structure and pattern of organization.
The model focuses on the patterns of interaction within family members which gives clues as to the basic structure and organization of the system. Structure according to Minuchin, refers to the invisible set of functional demands that organizes the way the family interact. It could also be considered as the repetitive, organized and predictable modes of family behaviors that allows us to consider that a family has structure that allows it to function.
A family operates through repeated transactional patterns that regulate the behavior of family members. Such patterns describe how, when and to whom family members relate to. The structure of the family is governed by general systems of constraints, the “generic” constraint and the “ idiosyncratic”.
In the generic system, families have some sort of hierarchical structure according to which parents have greater authority over the children. A notion of the generic structure is the notion of the reciprocal and complementary functions discerned by labels applied to families indicating their roles and the functions. For example one parent will be over efficient while the other is inefficient; a super good child while another child is not as good.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/326456_understanding-the-family-through-the-eyes-of-structural-family-therapy#ixzz0xeFb90YI
Structural Family therapy is a model that is mostly associated with its founder and propounder, Salvador Minuchin. It is one of the most researched models and has been successfully applied in difficult families like families with juvenile delinquents, families with someone suffering from an eating disorder, families with a chemically dependant member, families of low social economic status and families with an alcoholic.
Minuchin does not ascribe to the traditional mother/father and children family as the norm. He includes single parenting as well as blended and step families. For Minchin the healthy family builds a spouse subsystem in which each accommodates, nurtures and supports the uniqueness of the other. The model recognizes that families are organisms in a continuous process of change while trying to remain the same.
The model helps people see the patterns, processes and transactions of the family as a system. The model also helps a practitioner have a concrete concept of what should be happening in a family if it is to function properly. It also provides a map of what is wrong in a dysfunctional family.
Basic Concepts
Minuchin’s suggests that the life History of a family is a succession of experiments in living. He sees the family as an integrated whole of a system. The system also has sub-systems because its members belong to other agencies and organizations in the community which affect the family’s basic structure and pattern of organization.
The model focuses on the patterns of interaction within family members which gives clues as to the basic structure and organization of the system. Structure according to Minuchin, refers to the invisible set of functional demands that organizes the way the family interact. It could also be considered as the repetitive, organized and predictable modes of family behaviors that allows us to consider that a family has structure that allows it to function.
A family operates through repeated transactional patterns that regulate the behavior of family members. Such patterns describe how, when and to whom family members relate to. The structure of the family is governed by general systems of constraints, the “generic” constraint and the “ idiosyncratic”.
In the generic system, families have some sort of hierarchical structure according to which parents have greater authority over the children. A notion of the generic structure is the notion of the reciprocal and complementary functions discerned by labels applied to families indicating their roles and the functions. For example one parent will be over efficient while the other is inefficient; a super good child while another child is not as good.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/326456_understanding-the-family-through-the-eyes-of-structural-family-therapy#ixzz0xeFb90YI
The Concept of Bowen's Family Therapy
Bowen’s family system theory deals with human behavior from a unit, in relation to their emotions.
The theory views the family as a system and based on this analysis describes the complex interactions that exist in any one unit. The way the members are connected and the way they react to one another makes the functioning of family members interdependent. “The emotional inter dependence presumably evolved to promote the cohesiveness and cooperation families require to protect, shelter, and feed their members”.
According to the theory, mental illness are seen as resulting from emotional fusion. This happens when there is an increase in the level of emotions and anxiety in the family. The least differentiated and most isolated child will present the symptoms. The adult acting out will most likely be in a dysfunctional relationship with their spouse.
8 Concepts of Bowen’s theory.
1) Triangles- This is a three person relationship created in a family system. It is considered the building block or molecule of a larger emotional system. A triangle is more stable than a dyad because it can contain more tension without involving another person. This is because the tension tends to shift around three people. An example of a triangle would be a mother, father and a child relationship.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapy#ixzz0xeDiUt91
The theory views the family as a system and based on this analysis describes the complex interactions that exist in any one unit. The way the members are connected and the way they react to one another makes the functioning of family members interdependent. “The emotional inter dependence presumably evolved to promote the cohesiveness and cooperation families require to protect, shelter, and feed their members”.
According to the theory, mental illness are seen as resulting from emotional fusion. This happens when there is an increase in the level of emotions and anxiety in the family. The least differentiated and most isolated child will present the symptoms. The adult acting out will most likely be in a dysfunctional relationship with their spouse.
8 Concepts of Bowen’s theory.
1) Triangles- This is a three person relationship created in a family system. It is considered the building block or molecule of a larger emotional system. A triangle is more stable than a dyad because it can contain more tension without involving another person. This is because the tension tends to shift around three people. An example of a triangle would be a mother, father and a child relationship.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapy#ixzz0xeDiUt91
Issues of concern in Reality Therapy
Reality therapy sees the past as the source of our wants and our ways of behaving. The focus of therapy is to learn what needs to be learned about the past but to move as quickly as feasible to empowering the client to satisfy his or her needs and wants in the present and in the future.
According to the theory, our present perceptions influence our present behaviour and it is these perceptions that the reality practitioner helps the client to work through. It is a therapy of hope based on the convictions that we are products of the past but we do not have to go on being its victims.
Choice theory provides the basis for reality therapy. The theory stresses that human behavior originates from five current sources of motivation or five human needs: Self-preservation, belonging, power or inner control, freedom or independence, and fun or enjoyment.
Most behaviors are chosen and serve two purposes: to impact the environment around us in order to satisfy the five needs and to send a message to or communicate with the surrounding world. According to the theory, if life is unsatisfactory or we are distressed or in trouble, one basic thing to check is whether we are succeeding in meeting our basic psychological needs as provided above
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/293435_my-concerns-of-reality-therapy#ixzz0xeCgXQ6l
According to the theory, our present perceptions influence our present behaviour and it is these perceptions that the reality practitioner helps the client to work through. It is a therapy of hope based on the convictions that we are products of the past but we do not have to go on being its victims.
Choice theory provides the basis for reality therapy. The theory stresses that human behavior originates from five current sources of motivation or five human needs: Self-preservation, belonging, power or inner control, freedom or independence, and fun or enjoyment.
Most behaviors are chosen and serve two purposes: to impact the environment around us in order to satisfy the five needs and to send a message to or communicate with the surrounding world. According to the theory, if life is unsatisfactory or we are distressed or in trouble, one basic thing to check is whether we are succeeding in meeting our basic psychological needs as provided above
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/293435_my-concerns-of-reality-therapy#ixzz0xeCgXQ6l
Dealing with Natural Disasters from a Mental Health perspective
Natural disasters are an inevitable part of human life. It is therefore important to learn from previous disasters as a way of preparedness to manage the aftermath of such disasters.
As disasters increase worldwide, there is greater need for effective and expedient disaster mental health response. In the last two years we have had two major world disasters in the Asian continent; the Tsunami in South East Asia and the other earthquake in China. Lately we have had more earthquakes in world, the worst of which is the one the world is dealing with currently in Haiti.
In America there have been tornadoes and fires that have caused loss of lives and left many devastated. One can therefore say that we live in a very troubled world today. While the effect of personal crisis is nonetheless painful or traumatic for the individual, the disasters that occur on a larger scale may need a different approach from the mental health professional. In the case of a huge disaster, the environment could be best described as chaotic.
In an article titled “Survivors of Natural Disasters and Mass violence” the authors consider three issues often asked by survivors which are; what psychological problems one is likely to experience as a result of surviving a disaster, 2ndly, factors increasing the risk of readjustment problems, and 3rdly things survivors can do to reduce the risk of negative psychological consequences and how best to recover from disaster stress.
The authors of the article discuss these issues at length and suggest that matters that may increase risks of adjustments problems are witnessing or experiencing the following events:
1) Life threatening danger or physical harm (especially to children)
2) Loss of loved ones and friends
3) Exposure to gruesome death, bodily injury, or dead or maimed bodies
4) Extreme environmental or human violence or destruction
5) Loss of home, valued possessions, neighborhood, or community
6) Loss of communication with or support from close relations
7) Intense emotional demands (e.g., rescue personnel and caregivers searching for possibly dying survivors or interacting with bereaved family members)
8) Extreme fatigue, weather exposure, hunger, or sleep deprivation
9) Extended exposure to danger, loss, emotional/physical strain
10) Exposure to toxic contamination such as gas or fumes, chemicals, radioactivity (Young, Bruce et al,2007)
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/232732_dealing-with-natural-disasters-from-a-mental-health-perspective#ixzz0xdyatLiM
As disasters increase worldwide, there is greater need for effective and expedient disaster mental health response. In the last two years we have had two major world disasters in the Asian continent; the Tsunami in South East Asia and the other earthquake in China. Lately we have had more earthquakes in world, the worst of which is the one the world is dealing with currently in Haiti.
In America there have been tornadoes and fires that have caused loss of lives and left many devastated. One can therefore say that we live in a very troubled world today. While the effect of personal crisis is nonetheless painful or traumatic for the individual, the disasters that occur on a larger scale may need a different approach from the mental health professional. In the case of a huge disaster, the environment could be best described as chaotic.
In an article titled “Survivors of Natural Disasters and Mass violence” the authors consider three issues often asked by survivors which are; what psychological problems one is likely to experience as a result of surviving a disaster, 2ndly, factors increasing the risk of readjustment problems, and 3rdly things survivors can do to reduce the risk of negative psychological consequences and how best to recover from disaster stress.
The authors of the article discuss these issues at length and suggest that matters that may increase risks of adjustments problems are witnessing or experiencing the following events:
1) Life threatening danger or physical harm (especially to children)
2) Loss of loved ones and friends
3) Exposure to gruesome death, bodily injury, or dead or maimed bodies
4) Extreme environmental or human violence or destruction
5) Loss of home, valued possessions, neighborhood, or community
6) Loss of communication with or support from close relations
7) Intense emotional demands (e.g., rescue personnel and caregivers searching for possibly dying survivors or interacting with bereaved family members)
8) Extreme fatigue, weather exposure, hunger, or sleep deprivation
9) Extended exposure to danger, loss, emotional/physical strain
10) Exposure to toxic contamination such as gas or fumes, chemicals, radioactivity (Young, Bruce et al,2007)
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/232732_dealing-with-natural-disasters-from-a-mental-health-perspective#ixzz0xdyatLiM
The Causes, diagnosis and treatment of autistic Disorder
Autism is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females. It is estimated that three to six out of every 1,000 children in the United States have autism, and the number of diagnosed cases is rising. It is still not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting of autism, a real increase in the number of cases, or both.
Common Signs of Autism:
There are three distinctive behaviors that characterize autism. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling. The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms of autism in their child.
As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. They may also fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people.
Autistic children have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they cannot understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and do not watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging.
These children may not know how to play interactively with other children. Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking. They have a reduced sensitivity to pain, but are abnormally sensitive to sound, touch, or other sensory stimulation. These unusual reactions may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged.
Those born with the disorder appear to have a higher than normal risk for certain co-existing conditions, including fragile X syndrome (which causes mental retardation), tuberous sclerosis (in which tumors grow on the brain), epileptic seizures, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder. For reasons that are still unclear, about 20 to 30 percent of children with autism develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/232698_the-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-autistic-disorder#ixzz0xdvK9nZY
Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females. It is estimated that three to six out of every 1,000 children in the United States have autism, and the number of diagnosed cases is rising. It is still not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting of autism, a real increase in the number of cases, or both.
Common Signs of Autism:
There are three distinctive behaviors that characterize autism. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling. The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms of autism in their child.
As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. They may also fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people.
Autistic children have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they cannot understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and do not watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging.
These children may not know how to play interactively with other children. Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking. They have a reduced sensitivity to pain, but are abnormally sensitive to sound, touch, or other sensory stimulation. These unusual reactions may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged.
Those born with the disorder appear to have a higher than normal risk for certain co-existing conditions, including fragile X syndrome (which causes mental retardation), tuberous sclerosis (in which tumors grow on the brain), epileptic seizures, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder. For reasons that are still unclear, about 20 to 30 percent of children with autism develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/232698_the-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-autistic-disorder#ixzz0xdvK9nZY
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Let Conscience and though direct the abortion debate
The debate on abortion is one that seems to divide people based on values expressed as rights. Some people cling on rights of the person aborting (prochoice) while others think of the rights of the unborn child (prolife). The prochoice and the prolife go at each other on an issue that to me is a moral issue. Some moral issues although universal, need to have meaning for the individual to be of any effect.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008, abortion is the “expulsion of the products of conception before the embryo or fetus is viable. Any interruption of human pregnancy prior to the 28th week is known as abortion. The term spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is used to signify delivery of a nonviable embryo or fetus due to fetal or maternal factors, as opposed to purposely induced abortion. Therapeutic abortion is an induced abortion performed to preserve the health or life of the mother.”
If this definition is to be accepted, then it seems there are two types of abortion. One done purposely because the mother wants to regardless of the reason and the other one is done on the recommendation of a doctor with the aim of preserving the health or life of the mother. The word “viable” in this case connotes “capable of living outside the uterus”. We all know that it takes 9 months of pregnancy for a child to be fully matured for birth. Note I use the word child because as far as I am concerned once conception takes place then the child starts developing until he/she is ready to be born.
To justify abortion many try to deny the fact that the foetus is human and therefore deserving protection. Abortion is therefore seen as an easy way out for a woman who is faced with a dilemma of being pregnant but not wanting to carry the child to term. Many times I have heard people say it is just a mass of blood and so it is okay. This is the greatest deception that people have fallen into. I went for a scan when I was 10 weeks pregnant with my son and I was shocked to see all his features developed and him very active in my womb. Yet I was told he was only the size of a pea.
Read more: http://socyberty.com/issues/let-conscience-and-thought-direct-the-abortion-debate/
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008, abortion is the “expulsion of the products of conception before the embryo or fetus is viable. Any interruption of human pregnancy prior to the 28th week is known as abortion. The term spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is used to signify delivery of a nonviable embryo or fetus due to fetal or maternal factors, as opposed to purposely induced abortion. Therapeutic abortion is an induced abortion performed to preserve the health or life of the mother.”
If this definition is to be accepted, then it seems there are two types of abortion. One done purposely because the mother wants to regardless of the reason and the other one is done on the recommendation of a doctor with the aim of preserving the health or life of the mother. The word “viable” in this case connotes “capable of living outside the uterus”. We all know that it takes 9 months of pregnancy for a child to be fully matured for birth. Note I use the word child because as far as I am concerned once conception takes place then the child starts developing until he/she is ready to be born.
To justify abortion many try to deny the fact that the foetus is human and therefore deserving protection. Abortion is therefore seen as an easy way out for a woman who is faced with a dilemma of being pregnant but not wanting to carry the child to term. Many times I have heard people say it is just a mass of blood and so it is okay. This is the greatest deception that people have fallen into. I went for a scan when I was 10 weeks pregnant with my son and I was shocked to see all his features developed and him very active in my womb. Yet I was told he was only the size of a pea.
Read more: http://socyberty.com/issues/let-conscience-and-thought-direct-the-abortion-debate/
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Integration Of Psychology And Theology: A Critique
Martin & Deidre Bobgan, in their book "psychoHeresy: The psychological seduction of Christianity", 1987, deals with the areas of concern for Christians concerning integration of psychology and theology.
They talk of four myths about psychology in the church that have led Christians to believe that there is a need for psychological intervention.
The four Myths are:
a) Psychotherapy is a science - a means of understanding and helping humanity based on empirical evidence from measurable consistent data
b) The best kind of counseling utilizes both psychology and the Bible.
c) People who are experiencing mental-emotional behavioral problems are mentally ill - they are psychological sick and therefore need psychological therapy
d) Psychotherapy has a high record of success compared to Biblical counseling
Is Psychology a Religion?
Martin & Deidre Bobgan argues that “since God’s word tell us how to live, all ideas about the why’s of behavior and how's of change must be viewed as religious in nature” (Psychoheresy: the Psycho seduction of Christianity, 1987). While the Bible claims divine revelation, psychotherapy claims scientific substantiation. When it comes to behavior and other attitudes, morals and values, we are dealing with religion. According to them Psychotherapy haunts the church because “it is perceived as a scientific salve for the sick soul, than for what it truly is; a pseudoscientific substitute system of religious belief”.
Neil T. Anderson, Julianne S Zuehlke and Terry Zuehlke also support this view in their book Christ centered therapy: The practical integration of Theology and Psychology 1987. They state that Psychotherapists and other health professionals have become the “primary caregivers and dispensers of moral guidance in our society” (Neil T Anderson et al p. 18). David Nobel, as quoted by Neil t. Anderson et al, states “trying to separate the sacred from the secular is like trying to sear the soul from the body-we must recognize that all world views have religious implications” (Neil t Anderson et al p. 38)
Read more at http://www.bukisa.com/articles/273010_integration-of-psychology-and-theology-a-critique
They talk of four myths about psychology in the church that have led Christians to believe that there is a need for psychological intervention.
The four Myths are:
a) Psychotherapy is a science - a means of understanding and helping humanity based on empirical evidence from measurable consistent data
b) The best kind of counseling utilizes both psychology and the Bible.
c) People who are experiencing mental-emotional behavioral problems are mentally ill - they are psychological sick and therefore need psychological therapy
d) Psychotherapy has a high record of success compared to Biblical counseling
Is Psychology a Religion?
Martin & Deidre Bobgan argues that “since God’s word tell us how to live, all ideas about the why’s of behavior and how's of change must be viewed as religious in nature” (Psychoheresy: the Psycho seduction of Christianity, 1987). While the Bible claims divine revelation, psychotherapy claims scientific substantiation. When it comes to behavior and other attitudes, morals and values, we are dealing with religion. According to them Psychotherapy haunts the church because “it is perceived as a scientific salve for the sick soul, than for what it truly is; a pseudoscientific substitute system of religious belief”.
Neil T. Anderson, Julianne S Zuehlke and Terry Zuehlke also support this view in their book Christ centered therapy: The practical integration of Theology and Psychology 1987. They state that Psychotherapists and other health professionals have become the “primary caregivers and dispensers of moral guidance in our society” (Neil T Anderson et al p. 18). David Nobel, as quoted by Neil t. Anderson et al, states “trying to separate the sacred from the secular is like trying to sear the soul from the body-we must recognize that all world views have religious implications” (Neil t Anderson et al p. 38)
Read more at http://www.bukisa.com/articles/273010_integration-of-psychology-and-theology-a-critique
A commentary on Viktor E. Frankl’s book “Man’s search for meaning”
Man’s search for meaning is a narration of one man’s experience inside a concentration camp and the fight for existence.
This is not a book, in my experience, that one can read in a sitting as a narration of an event that took place in the past. Although written by a humanist, the writer found the principles that the author highlights, are basic Biblical principles. This writer had to pause on many occasions to reflect on the magnitude of the events taking place at the concentration camp. At times the writer found herself crying with the prisoners as she imagined their torture. As the writer read the book, many times she had to pause to reflect on her own life and some of the challenges she had encountered. This led to a realization that all her experiences served a purpose.
As the writer read through the pages, she realized that she had been asking the wrong questions about her life. Everything in life happens for a reason; even suffering can define our destiny. Indeed Christ identified His destiny as dying for the salvation of the human race and found meaning in it. The only thing that we truly own and are masters of is our will. Anything else can be taken away or restored but once we lose our will to live we lose everything.
For full reading turn to http://www.bukisa.com/articles/249873_a-commentary-on-viktor-e-frankls-book-mans-search-for-meaning
This is not a book, in my experience, that one can read in a sitting as a narration of an event that took place in the past. Although written by a humanist, the writer found the principles that the author highlights, are basic Biblical principles. This writer had to pause on many occasions to reflect on the magnitude of the events taking place at the concentration camp. At times the writer found herself crying with the prisoners as she imagined their torture. As the writer read the book, many times she had to pause to reflect on her own life and some of the challenges she had encountered. This led to a realization that all her experiences served a purpose.
As the writer read through the pages, she realized that she had been asking the wrong questions about her life. Everything in life happens for a reason; even suffering can define our destiny. Indeed Christ identified His destiny as dying for the salvation of the human race and found meaning in it. The only thing that we truly own and are masters of is our will. Anything else can be taken away or restored but once we lose our will to live we lose everything.
For full reading turn to http://www.bukisa.com/articles/249873_a-commentary-on-viktor-e-frankls-book-mans-search-for-meaning
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
How to communicate and resolve conflict effectively
Effective communication can be the key to resolving conflict while ineffective communication often may be the cause of and exacerbate conflict. This comment was made in a paper presented by (Schwartz, Howard, Szeto, Mary Ping, Stewart, Carol, 1999) in a workshop for the Nonprofit Coordinating committee of New York.
Among factors recognized as affecting communication were conscious or unconscious “screens”. This can include values, perceptions, assumptions, body language, facial expressions, emotional status, and physical appearances, past personal experiences, stereotypes, cultural differences, nationality, race and gender, one’s use of the English language, and positioning and power.
Five broad styles of dealing with conflict are identified to include;
1) the accommodating style which entails giving in maybe because the relationship is more important than the conflict.
2) The competing style which involves win/lose scenario where one person gets what he wants at the expense of another.
3) The avoiding style where the conflict is not addressed at all.
4) The compromising style where one party meets the other half way usually giving up something in order to get something and
5) the collaborating style where the parties equally value their relationship and each others needs
For full article turn to http://www.bukisa.com/articles/250757_how-to-communicate-and-resolve-conflict-effectively
Among factors recognized as affecting communication were conscious or unconscious “screens”. This can include values, perceptions, assumptions, body language, facial expressions, emotional status, and physical appearances, past personal experiences, stereotypes, cultural differences, nationality, race and gender, one’s use of the English language, and positioning and power.
Five broad styles of dealing with conflict are identified to include;
1) the accommodating style which entails giving in maybe because the relationship is more important than the conflict.
2) The competing style which involves win/lose scenario where one person gets what he wants at the expense of another.
3) The avoiding style where the conflict is not addressed at all.
4) The compromising style where one party meets the other half way usually giving up something in order to get something and
5) the collaborating style where the parties equally value their relationship and each others needs
For full article turn to http://www.bukisa.com/articles/250757_how-to-communicate-and-resolve-conflict-effectively
Friday, February 19, 2010
Why I do not support the death Penalty
The model of punishment has been used in many nations for punishment of various crimes notably of which is murder, robbery with violence and treason. The mode of death could be by hanging, lethal injection, electrocution or stoning to death as in countries of the Middle East.
Most of the times the family of the victims may even want it so badly because they assume by the person dying they feel justice will have been met. So to them an eye for eye serves the purpose of justice. Murder no doubt is a heinous crime and deserves grave consequences for the one committing the crime. But is another killing the solution?
The justice system aims at preventing crime, punishing those who offend the law, bring retribution to the offended while trying to rehabilitate the offender. The main reason really is to provide justice however that may look like. The question that we must all ask is how does the state committing the same act that the offender is convicted of help in curbing such crimes? Do we as human beings have the right to decide who should live and who should die?
For full article turn to http://socyberty.com/issues/why-i-do-not-support-the-death-penalty/
Most of the times the family of the victims may even want it so badly because they assume by the person dying they feel justice will have been met. So to them an eye for eye serves the purpose of justice. Murder no doubt is a heinous crime and deserves grave consequences for the one committing the crime. But is another killing the solution?
The justice system aims at preventing crime, punishing those who offend the law, bring retribution to the offended while trying to rehabilitate the offender. The main reason really is to provide justice however that may look like. The question that we must all ask is how does the state committing the same act that the offender is convicted of help in curbing such crimes? Do we as human beings have the right to decide who should live and who should die?
For full article turn to http://socyberty.com/issues/why-i-do-not-support-the-death-penalty/
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