Health-References » Depression

Boost Your Self-Esteem and Believe You Can!

Health References — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:15:27 +0000

The strongest single factor in prosperity consciousness is self-esteem believing you can do it, believing you deserve it, believing you will get it.
- Jerry Gillies

Self-esteem refers to how you think and feel about yourself. These are thoughts and feelings a person may have, may it be positive, negative, or mixed — about one’s self. The more positive these thoughts and feelings are, the higher your self-esteem will be and conversely the more negative these thoughts and feelings are, the lower your self-esteem will become.

Feeling good about yourself is important as it gives you a sense of control over your life. It can also help make a person feel satisfied in a relationship. With a positive self-identity, a person is able to set realistic expectations for oneself and pursue goals. Having a negative self-perception, on the other hand, results in a distorted view of one’s self, which leads to further lack of self-confidence, poor performance, and depression.

In recent times, low self-esteem has been one of the most popular and frequently invoked psychological explanations for behavioral and social problems. Taking their cue from social commentators and media opinion leaders, people have been willing to accept that a limited sense of self-worth lies behind just about every social and personal ill from drug abuse and delinquency to poverty and business failures. The result has been a huge market for self-help manuals and educational programs.

People who have a low self esteem rely heavily on their day-to-day performances. The positive external experience and encouragements help them to battle the negative feelings that they have about themselves. These negative feelings very often trouble the people with low self-esteem. In some situations, feelings of inadequacy torture those who do not have enough confidence about themselves and about what they can do.

There are many known ways to improve one’s self-esteem. To boost one’s confidence, it may be helpful to practice the following self-improvement techniques and strategies

Rebutting the inner critic that keeps on sending self-defeating messages;

Practicing the art of self nurturing; and

Getting much-needed help and support from people who are close to you.

The first and the most important step to increase self esteem is to tell the inner voice to shut up. The inner voice might say negatively about you. In such a situation you must praise yourself. Rebutting the inner voice that keeps on criticizing you should be done on a regular basis. However this step is not enough to develop self-esteem.

The second step that one must initiate on a way to a healthy self-esteem is that a person should nurture himself. The most important part of this step is start treating yourself as a person who is worth while.

Seek out people who make you feel good. Remember that you get to choose your friends so why not choose people who think you’re great?

Moreover, both individual and group counseling can help improve self-esteem. Such therapy might include assertiveness training, communication skills, and learning to recognize and understand own emotional responses in relation to others. Therapy may also explore early and later experiences that contributed to your low self-esteem. Group therapy is particularly effective that it helps to foster trust and build relationships, and encourages a sense of belonging-components that are important for building self esteem.

Low and poor self-esteem is often the result of bad or a wrong treatment that was experienced in the past. Hence you must start regarding yourself as a worthy person. You must be able to challenge negative experiences in the past and you should start loving yourself. Try to change yourself and show to the outside world that you are valuable, competent, and a loveable person. Learn to develop high self-esteem and believe you can do it, you deserve it, and you will get it.

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Schools’ Biggest Threat

Health References — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 03:11:48 +0000

What do W.R. Myers High School, Heritage High School, Columbine High School and Virginia Tech, have in common aside from being academic institutions? Do the names Todd Cameron Smith, Thomas Solomon Jr., Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold and Cho Seung-Hui sound familiar? What is the common factor among those persons mentioned earlier? Why is it important to talk about their situation? This is basically what this article is all about. The relationship among those questions posted initially will be shown as the answers are revealed one by one.

Schools are considered by most parents as their children’s second home. This may be because most students actually spend more time in school than at home. These institutions are also known as places of learning and it is of great importance that the atmosphere and condition in these places are conducive for such undertaking. Also, most parents expect their children to be safe and secure in school. However, the situations in W.R. Myers High School, Heritage High School, Columbine High School and Virginia Tech during 4 fateful days were far from being conducive for learning. It was on 28 April 1999, 20 May 1999, 20 April 1999 and 16 April 2007 when several students were killed during school shootings at W.R. Myers High, Heritage high, Columbine High and Virginia Tech, respectively. These tragedies are just four of the several school shootings that have happened in the United States since 1966. Because of the increasing incidence of this type of crime, law enforcers, parents, teachers, and other concerned citizens are now taking action to come up with a solution for this problem.

Todd Cameron Smith killed one student and injured two others at W.R. Myers High School when he was just 14 years old. Thomas Solomon Jr. was a 15-year-old sophomore at Heritage High School when he brought a rifle and a handgun to school and randomly shot and injured six students. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were both students at Columbine High School when they bombed their school cafeteria, killed 12 students and a teacher, and injured 24 others before committing suicide. Cho Seung-Hui was a 23-year-old senior at Virginia Tech when he killed 32 students and injured a lot more before also committing suicide. All five students are said to have experienced being bullied in their respective schools, thus, partly being the cause of those students’ anxiety problems or depression. Also, their aggression towards others resulting to crimes committed may also be partly attributed to their depression and the experience of bullying.

In 1998, the National Institute of Child Health and Development NICHD conducted a survey on bullying among 15,686 6th to 10th grades students all over America. The survey showed that 30 of those students who participated have either experienced being a bully, had been victims of bullying or both. From the survey, it was further determined that nationwide, 3.2 million kids or teenagers were being bullied while 3.7 million others are bullies. Another study done by NICHD correlated the act of bullying and of being bullied with depressive and suicidal tendencies among those who have experienced it. The study indicated that frequently, bullied kids are more depressed and suicidal. Figures also reflected that among those who took part in the survey and had experienced being bullied, 26 of girls and 16 of boys have moderate to severe depression while eight percent 8 of girls and four percent 4 of boys are suicidal. Though it is said that bullies have higher tendencies to commit crimes, the profile of most attackers in school shootings are mostly those of the victims of bullying. This is supported by a study also done by NICHD which stated that those who have both experienced being bullied and being bullies may be more at-risk and more dangerous.

Various preventive measures have been promoted in response to the school shootings that have occurred over the past few years. Security within schools have been improved which included stricter screening of students who could possibly be carrying illegal firearms or weapons into campus. However, organizations such as Fight Crime Invest In Kids and the US Secret Service suggest that getting to the root of the problem rather than just mere physical security will provide the best solution to address the serious situation. Considering that these school shootings somehow resulted from distress in school caused by bullying, efforts should also be directed to setting up programs that would prevent these types of negative or destructive behavior among students. Nowadays, there are already existing anti-bullying and anti-aggression programs such as the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program which is implemented in the US and in other countries. These programs aim to increase awareness about bullying among parents, teachers and students; create rules in school that prevent bullying; provide positive consequences for those who avoid; and negative consequences for those who engage in bullying.

Through these preventive measures and awareness programs, both government and non-governments organizations, as well as numerous concerned citizens, hope to avoid another Columbine or Virginia Tech incident. It is also a way of keeping the image of schools as institutions for learning with assurance of safety and security. Preventing the incidence of bullying not only answers problems with depression among the youth but also decreases the rise in youth crimes.

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Discover The Healing Power Of Art

Health References — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:01:42 +0000

We are all creative beings. Men’s creative minds made them reach the peak of the highest mountain in the world, plant a flag on the moon, fly into outer space. Our creativity brought about inventions that have changed human history and culture such as the computer, the Internet, cell phone, TV, x-ray machines, and a long list of other innovations. These are all the end result of man’s creativity.

Suffice it to say, creativity produces works of art, which in turn, plays a large role in our everyday lives. We can see them in almost every corner, every space or walls around us. Art has been used as a visual means of communication and expression dating back to prehistoric times. Art speaks of originality, individuality, a creative process, graphic materials, colors, textures, spontaneity, risk, alternatives, and imagination. But art is not only for the creative minds or the famous painters. It is also a healthy way to express the way we feel and deal with our emotions. Art has been of central importance to the healing practices of many cultures over much of human history. As time went on, art has been developed as a tool for psychological diagnosis and treatment called Art Therapy.

According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a method that utilizes art media, images, and the creative art process to help a patient to address concerns and conflicts. Art Therapy is based on the knowledge of human development and psychological theories which are implemented in the full spectrum of models of assessment and treatment including educational, psycho-dynamic, cognitive, trans-personal, and other therapeutic means of reconciling emotional conflicts. It is also used as a tool for fostering self-awareness, developing social skills, managing behavior, solving problems, reducing anxiety, aiding in reality orientation, and in increasing self-esteem.

The beginnings of modern art therapy can be traced to the early 1900s when psychiatrists first wondered if there was a relationship between artworks and the illnesses of patients. At the same time, art educators began to observe how the free and spontaneous artworks of children were a form of personal storytelling which conveyed emotionally and symbolically meaningful messages. These two areas of interest that eventually resulted in the emergence of the distinct discipline of art therapy in the 1930s. During the second half of the twentieth century, art therapists became increasingly organized, setting up graduate programs, professional associations, and journals.

A variety of artistic methods are used in Art Therapy. These methods or professional areas include music therapy, dance therapy, psychodrama, and movie therapy. Other methods include speech therapy, recreational therapy, photo-therapy, and poetry therapy.

Art therapy has actually developed into a human care service which expands the psychotherapeutic process to encompass the clients visual and verbal expressions, and intellectual insights or reflections. Art therapy clients are able to deal with the same kinds of issues they would deal with in conventional talk therapies. They are not required to have any special artistic skills or abilities in order to benefit from art therapy. However, the clients engage in the therapy by creating with art materials in collaboration with the art therapist. The art therapist serves as a witness, guide, and facilitator — helping the artist-client to express their unique creativity and then “translate” their creative language into meaningful avenues of exploration and personal insights.

Drawing, painting, and sculpting help many people reconcile their inner conflicts, release deeply repressed emotions, and foster self-awareness, as well as personal growth. Some mental health providers use art therapy as a diagnostic tool and as a way to help treat disorders such as anxiety, abuse-related trauma, and schizophrenia. Art therapy sessions are also given to prison inmates and HIV patients.

Although there is relatively little scientific evidence to prove that that it helps people with cancer, many health professionals think it may encourage the cancer patients to express their emotions, which could help them improve their relationship with others. It can also take their minds and feelings away from pain and discomfort.

Art is found to be of great help most especially to a depressed individual. Through art, they can discover their anger and express it in a healthy way. In one study, art therapy was used with suicidal teenagers, and results showed that it had positive effects as part of an overall treatment plan. Teenagers with depression are often slowed down in their journey towards independence and to having a secure self-identity. Therefore, it is very helpful to provide a safe outlet for the distress that has triggered the depression. With the creative process of art therapy, negative factors that cause depression such as guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness are gradually addressed.

When used along with other interventions for the treatment of depression, art therapy can be an effective and creative way to aid an individuals journey toward self-knowledge and emotional health. The idea is not to focus on producing a masterpiece. The important thing to remember is to concentrate on the act of creation itself. The images that are produced can help lead the individual to a new and different understanding of how they think and feel, and this knowledge may be the tool that helps them unlock their inner happiness.

Emotional disturbances such as depression, anxiety, and stress overload are the result of losing touch with ones own thoughts and feelings. One way to get back in touch with these thoughts and feelings is through the use of art. Art therapy provides a sense of accomplishment, enjoyment, and personal expression for those interested in simple relaxation and self-discovery.

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Give Me Some of those Holiday Homecoming Blues

Health References — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:50:45 +0000

With the drop in temperature comes a certain dawning, the formation of a certain mood. Most people tend to associate the Holidays with drops in temperature and colder weather, but this is the general comfortable cold and not the frigid chill of deep winter. It is also during these days that normally sane and stable people can end up going into a bit of a panic, with all the last-minute shopping and the I can’t think of a gift relatives. For the most part, all this stress and borderline insanity is pretty much worth it once the dust settles. The Holidays, with all the reunions and homecomings that come with them, can be a source of some truly unexpected amounts of stress and anxiety, usually from the same general sources.

Students coming home from their first year in college tend to cause quite a bit of pressure and stress on the parents who are going to receive them. There’s quite a bit of getting used to, for one thing. Teenagers coming home from college for the first time have also been away from home for the first time. Having gotten used to living without parental interference, they can often cause a lot of tension when they behave like the independents they perceive themselves to be while the parents would rather still have them under their control. Parents making themselves seem unable to really accept that their child is not the same person that left their home the year before can often end up fighting short bouts of depression, though anger is also a common response. However, defiance of parental authority is not the only aspect of a family relationship that can get stretched during the season.

Stress and anxiety also come into play in the preceding days, particularly the period where preparations and gift shopping enter the critical zone. There are expectations to be fulfilled and images to maintain, which some Eastern peoples might associate with the concept of face. The drive to make sure each and every little detail fits a certain image or projects a certain image that the decorator wants it to can become a major source of stress in some communities. This can be compounded further if the decorator is intent on making things perfect for visiting family members, such as kids who have been off to college or close friends who have been working overseas.

All this pressure and over-extending stress is clearly a negative thing. The effects generally pass once the Holidays are over, but certain situations can take time to really sink into the average person. The Holidays are the times when people come home after a prolonged absence and hope to find everything untouched and unchanged from when they left. Yet, they come to realize that they’re not the same people as when they left and little things they missed, like the way their room was decorated or where their favorite little trinket from childhood was placed, have changed. The adjustments can take time because both parties don’t inform each other of these changes, which may seem insignificant to one side, but can have impact on the emotional health of the other.

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When Therapy Becomes Bothersome

Health References — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:06:27 +0000

Many people living in the United States are in psychotherapy to seek counseling for problems encountered in their lives. Psychotherapy is a method of interpersonal and relational intervention used by psychotherapists in helping people deal with their problems in life. During the process, the client usually develops a special bond with the therapist, a relationship based on trust and understanding because sensitive topics are usually discussed during sessions.
This special relationship between a client and a therapist, however, sometimes lead to emotional dependency either by the client towards the therapist, andor vice versa. There are cases that both parties involved become mutually entangled with each others problems and lives that sometimes breaking up with a lover or spouse seem easier than ending a relationship with your psychotherapist.Even without emotional dependency involved, some clients still find it difficult to break away from the therapy because the therapist would advise them not to discontinue the treatment.
One writer recently tried and found it surprisingly difficult to end a treatment that began with a simple case of writers block that turned into seven years of intensive therapy. It all started when she got hold of a bookwriting contract and realized she was having difficulty writing it. She found the therapy very helpful and was able to finish a second novel. She even felt that her relationship with her husband has improved. However, when she decided to end the treatment, her therapist strongly resisted, which made her upset Why do I need therapy, she wanted to know, if Im feeling good?
This situation brings up two related, puzzling questions How do you know when you are healthy enough to say goodbye to your therapist? And how should a therapist handle it?
Come to think of it, the ultimate goal of a good therapist is to make their clients be independent of their service the soonest possible time. Whatever it is that drove you to therapy, say depression, anxiety, relationship problems, you name it, should not keep yourself tied to your therapist forever. Whether the therapist or the client likes it or not, good therapy should come to an end.
But how does the client know when to end the therapy? Is the client at the mercy of the therapist as to when will the condition be declared cured or treated?
Even the term ‘cure’ is vague as there will always be problems to deal with everyday of our lives. The most important thing is for the client to be able to handle problems whenever it inevitably arises.
Another case involved a successful lawyer who had been in psychotherapy for nine years. The reason for his therapy was his lack of sense of direction and having no intimate relationships. But during the sixth and seventh year of the therapy, he had felt that he and his therapist were just wasting their time. Therapy had become a routine, like going to the gym.
Its not that anything bad has happened, he said. Its that nothing is happening.
It appears more like an expensive form of chatting than an overdue psychotherapy. Perhaps the only reason why he stayed is that the therapy is essentially an unequal relationship. Clients tend to be dependent on their therapists. No matter how problematic or unsatisfying the therapy is, that might still be preferable than giving it up altogether, or starting all over again with an unknown therapist.
Oftentimes, psychotherapy clients can also become stuck in therapy for the very reason that they started it, such as a dependent client who cannot leave his therapist; a masochistic client who suffers silently in treatment with a withholding therapist; a narcissistic client who is eager to be liked fears challenging his therapist, and so on.
The reason why therapists in would not call a timeout and question whether the treatment is stalled or isnt working can be one of the following
1. It could be due to therapists generally enthusiastic attitude that they can always identify new issues for you to work on.
2. Some therapists could have an unspoken and inherent financial motive in keeping their patients in continuous therapy.
3. Just like most of us, therapists also have unmet emotional needs which certain patients satisfy. They may find some patients to be interesting, exciting or fun that they have a hard time letting go of them.
It is always the prerogative of the client to periodically take stock of hisher progress and ask the therapist for direct feedback. You may also assess yourself by asking the following questions
1. How close are you to reaching your goals?
2. How much better do you feel?
3. Are your relationships and work more satisfying?
You can even ask close friends or your partner whether they see any change in you. Independent consultation helps especially when you think you are better and are contemplating ending treatment but the therapist disagrees. Learn to take a break from therapy and see what life is like without it.

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Pleasure and Empowerment Through Art Therapy

Health References — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:59:45 +0000

They say that art imitates life. It is a medium of expression of one’s creativity. It conveys a whole lot of ideas and feelings. Art is a product of human activity that stimulates the senses and evokes different types of emotions. It is the mind’s interpretation of what it perceives, and expresses it in symbols, words, drawings, music, dance, plays, etc. It comes from the mind of its creator. If art imitates life, and an expression of human activity, then art can help us understand an individual’s state of being through his works.
Some artists paint on canvasses while others find satisfaction in something deeper the art of inner healing. Artists who are knowledgeable about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, including spiritual, multicultural and artistic traditions have discovered the healing potentials of art. Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art by people who experience a variety of challenges in life, such as stress and anxiety, emotional problems, depression, illnesses, and other health conditions. It is also for people who seek personal development and fulfillment.
Art creations and its processes increase self-awareness and the ability to cope with struggles in living which include coping with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences. Art therapy helps to enhance cognitive abilities and provides life-affirming pleasures. In art therapy, creation may start with an urge to make a doodle or sketch, or with a certain feeling, dreams, memories or just a plain idea. The next step is to give it a physical form with the use of a clay or paint or any tool one would like to use for his creation. This is a creative play that provides a means to express something that has no word, or is not yet understood.
There are a number of reasons why people come to art therapy. Most people who are grieving a loss of a loved one, undergoing depression, trauma, sexual abuse, and drug or substance addiction find relief and courage through creative expression. Others who are mending broken relationships, exploring their dreams, or seeking for renewal and meaning in their lives have found the depth of art therapy to be very helpful and effective.
Art therapy can provide a deep sense of safety as it becomes to be a trusted place to consider these private images or expressions. Picture, sculptures and other forms of art offer a kind of nourishment, healing insights, and a fresh respect for one’s creativity. There are people who prefer to work in silence. But there are also times when a unique dialogue between a client and a therapist takes place. The finished art work remains as a source of further reflection after the session. For art therapy, creativity, its process and the experience is given more emphasis than coming up with a beautiful product. A drawing of an ugly picture can be an important expression. Just the act of picking up a crayon and making a mark can be a powerful expression to some people who have not done any art since grade school. Engaging in artworks can evoke feelings and relive memories of those days
Art therapists with proper training have also become professionals in the field of aesthetics and therapy. They are experts about the healing potential of art. They use art in treatment, assessment and research. They provide consultations to allied health professionals and work with people of all ages, individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities. Services are provided individually or as part of clinical teams in different locations and settings that include mental health, rehabilitation, medical and forensic institutions; community outreach programs; wellness centers; schools; nursing homes; corporate structures; open studios and independent practices. To experience and to regain creativity can be empowering, as well as pleasurable. Connecting creativity with therapy greatly helps in exploring the struggles and challenges of daily normal life.

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The Connections Between Sleep And The Mind

Health References — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:10:06 +0000

Even in this fast-paced and hectic world, sleep is one of those things that are considered indispensable. Regardless of how much stress is placed on someone, a person’s body and mind simply will not allow one to go for an extended period without some sleep. There are numerous ways to keep a person awake despite the overwhelming desire to go to sleep, such as caffeine and work-related stress and anxiety. The toll that sleep deprivation and insomnia have on the body is well-documented, but there is less concrete evidence on the effects on mental health. It is generally assumed that the mind does not fully shut down during sleep, but that does not mean it does not require a period of rest. There are several potential side effects of insomnia upon one’s mental health, some of which can aggravate the problem itself.

Among the most well-documented side effects of a lack of sleep is instability of emotions. People who frequently lack sleep tend to be moody and irritable. In some cases, their emotions seem to be on hair-triggers, shifting from normal to angry with the slightest comment. There has yet to be any form of concrete information on why this is the cause, but it is a well-documented problem related to insomnia. It is theorized that sleep somehow replenishes certain chemical receptors related to emotions within the brain, such that a lack of sleep disrupts the normal production of these chemicals. It is currently unclear whether being asleep cuts off production or increases them, or if it affects these compounds in some other way. There are other theories as to why insomnia affects emotions, but those also lack concrete studies to back up their assumptions.

One of the more infamous side effects of insomnia is depression, though it is arguable whether one is really a product of the other. In the same way that emotions are affected by a lack of sleep, one’s overall mood can also be affected by prolonged insomnia. Since depression is closely tied to one’s emotional state, the disruption caused by a lack of sleep can be enough to push a person into clinical depression. However, there is some argument as to whether or not insomnia is truly a factor for depression. There are some that believe that while there is a connection, it is more viable to assume that depression leads to a lack of sleep, rather than the other way around. It should be noted that, despite the ramifications on mental health, neither theory has been put under serious academic scrutiny.

Some have also attributed some anxiety disorders to insomnia. There is some question as to whether or not this actually counts, however. While there is clear evidence that connects the two problems, most are inclined to believe anxiety disorders cause insomnia, rather than the reverse. However, there is some data showing people developing minor anxiety disorders during a period where they lack adequate sleep. As with the above, further study is required due to the lack of any concrete statistical data to back up the theories and observations.

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Psychosis Hard to Ignore

Health References — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:46:00 +0000

Taking care of oneself can be as easy as eating the right diet, having regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and having routine check-ups with the doctor. Having certain health conditions can be bothersome, but if that person informs the physician about his particular problem, then this illness can be treated as soon as possible. But what if a person is suffering from a different kind of ailment? One that sits just inside the brain, making the person see things that are not really there?

When a person experiences hallucinations and exhibits depressive behavior, he or she could already have a serious mental health condition called psychosis. This specific condition reflects a disturbance in brain functioning, and the person with psychosis experiences some loss of contact with reality which is characterized by changes in their way of thinking, believing, perceiving, and behaving. This condition can make the person feel more disoriented and stressful.

Psychosis can be mild at first but worsen gradually over time. In many cases, the symptoms that appear during the early stages of the illness are easily ignored. Eventually, the person suffering from this mental condition may experience confusion, feelings of change, and even panic. Psychotic individuals would even be preoccupied with unusual ideas, hear voices in their head, or see or hear things that are not really there. Symptoms of psychosis vary from person to person and can eventually change over time.

The symptoms of psychosis often starts between sixteen and thirty years of age, for both male and female. People with a family history of serious mental health issues have an increased risk in developing such condition. It is fairly difficult to root the cause of such illness, but usually is associated with a number of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder manic-depressive and even substance abuse, among others. By studying these factors, psychiatrists can make a diagnosis that matches the symptoms shown by a patient.

Of course, the sooner an individual seeks psychiatric treatment, the greater the chances that the psychosis will be treated. It is wise to seek a thorough medical assessment for this type of condition as early as possible to avoid further psychological damage to the individual. Psychosis can be treated with the use of anti-psychotic medications in low doses, along with education and support for the person and his or her family members. Such treatment for this condition aims to maintain the person’s daily routine as much as possible. If a person is sure that he has this mental condition, it is important to get up and ask for help. Do not wait for any more symptoms to appear, since psychosis does not go away on its own. By talking to the family doctor, they can refer the person to a specialized psychiatrist for a full assessment.

It is also important to have an educated view about mental illness. In the past, people with psychological or mental problems were ostracized. The stigma attached to someone who is psychotic or insane prevented many people from addressing the problem or from seeking the assistance or a doctor or psychiatric care professional.

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Deaf Awareness Listen Up!

Health References — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:41:30 +0000

There are an estimated demographic figure of 36 million deaf and hard of hearing in the United States. Of this large number, only a few million are considered deaf and the remainder are hard of hearing. Further confusing statistics is the fact that some deaf people may actually be hard of hearing, and some hard of hearing people may actually be deaf.

In previous years, the labels deaf and hard of hearing were employed as subcategories of the term hearing-impaired. During that time, it was used as a generic term that was applicable to anybody with any degree of hearing loss. However, some deaf people objected to the description of their hearing status as impaired because they felt that the term also implied that the person was impaired. Such degrading terms can actually cause depression and anxiety among deaf people and, thus, this generic label has been dropped.

The deaf and hard of hearing community is very diverse, differing greatly on the cause and degree of hearing loss, age at the onset, educational background, communication methods, and how they feel about their hearing loss. How a person labels themselves in terms of their hearing loss is personal and may reflect identification with their relationship with the deaf community or merely how their hearing loss affects their ability to communicate. They can either be deaf, Deaf with a capital D, or hard of hearing.

Interestingly, the lowercase deaf is used when referring to the audiological condition of not hearing, while the uppercase Deaf is used to refer to a particular group of people who share a common language such as the ASL American Sign Language and culture. The members of this group have inherited their sign language, used it as a primary means of communication among themselves, and hold a set of beliefs and their connection to the larger society. They are distinguished from those who find themselves losing their hearing because of illness, trauma, or age. Although these people share the condition of not hearing, they do not have access to the knowledge, beliefs, and practices that make up the culture of Deaf people.

Generally, the term deaf refers to those who are unable to hear well enough to rely on their hearing and use it as a means of processing information. On the other hand, the term hard of hearing refers to those who have some hearing, are able to use it for communication purposes, and who feel reasonably comfortable doing so. A hard of hearing person, in audiological terms, may have a mild to moderate hearing loss.

To understand hearing loss, it is important to understand how normal hearing takes place. There are two different pathways by which sound waves produce the sensation of hearing air conduction and bone conduction.

In air conduction, sound waves move through the air in the external auditory canal the ear canal between the outside air and the eardrum. The sound waves hit the tympanic membrane eardrum and cause the tympanic membrane to move. Hearing by bone conduction occurs when a sound wave or other source of vibration causes the bones of the skull to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted to the fluid surrounding the cochlea and hearing results.

Fortunately, there are many treatments that are available for hearing loss. People with conductive hearing loss can have the middle ear reconstructed by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Hearing aids are effective and well-tolerated for people with conductive hearing loss. People who are profoundly deaf may benefit from a cochlear implant.

For people with hearing loss, it is a matter of deciding whether to treat it as an audiological perspective or as a cultural lifestyle. It’s all about choices, comfort level, mode of communication, and acceptance of hearing loss. Whatever the decision, there are support groups and organizations that represent all deaf and hard of hearing Americans, and advocacy work that can benefit everyone, regardless of the type of hearing loss and background.

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Even the Elderly Need a Good Night’s Sleep

Health References — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:58:03 +0000

Experts say that older Americans often have difficulty getting good night’s sleep. It is a big quality-of-life problem, since contrary to popular belief, the elderly needs about the same amount of sleep as younger adults. According to senior research associate Dr. Harrison Bloom of the International Longevity Center, sleep problems together with sleeping disorders are not an inherent part of aging. In addition, he also said that it’s pretty much of a myth that older people need less sleep than younger people.

But still, in a study published recently in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers found that more than half of older Americans have problems in getting the sleep that they need. Dr. Julie Gammack, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at St. Louis University and also the author of the study said that older people tend to have sleep fragmentation, meaning they wake up more often during the night. She also added that older people seem to get less REM sleep, the type of sleep during which rapid eye movement occurs.

It is unclear what specific role these naturally occurring changes in sleep patterns have on a person’s quality of life, but what is important though, is that older people often have actual sleep disorders and sleep problems, according to Dr. Bloom. In line with this, experts say that there is usually more than one case. A professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate director of the University of Washington’s Northwest Geriatric Education Center Michael Vitiello said that sleep disturbance in older adults is typically associated with acute and chronic illnesses, including specific sleep disorders like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome that appear with greater frequency in older populations. As people age, they typically develop more diseases and suffer from aches and pains. Gammack noted that these things can disrupt sleep, so what they may see as a sleep disorder may actually relate to the effects of some of their other medical conditions. Bloom also added that taking multiple medications, like most older people do, can also lead to fatigue and hypers omnia, or being tired all the time. Another big problem, Bloom notes, would be depression and anxiety, since these conditions are commonly associated with sleep problems.

But despite the prevalence of sleep difficulties in older adults, many patients are not getting the help they need. According to Vitiello, the average physician only receives little training regarding sleep disorders and usually does not routinely screen patients for them. This may be due to lack of time or training, or the belief that there is little that can be done to improve sleep. As a result, sleep disturbances such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and circadian rhythm disorders are left undiagnosed and untreated.

In somehow solving the problem, an organization on aging, geriatrics and sleep is currently developing guidelines to promote prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems in older adults. According to Bloom, the reason why they are concerned with the problem, besides a major issue on the quality of life and being tired, is that sleep disorders are associated with hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary disease, heart disease, depression, and anxiety. A cause and effect relationship has yet to be established between sleep disorders and these chronic health conditions, but Bloom suggests that they contribute to each other.

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