Bravery

Ok, so normally I don't go looking to tv personalities for good advice, but here's one saying that I really like...

"You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you."

Mary Tyler Moore

I'm sure that there are people who would argue with that, but you know, the more challenges that you've had to overcome, the more opportunities that you do have to become stronger, and braver. It's not fun, but it can be a good thing.....

Vice President Pick

It's been all over the news - John McCain has picked little known Susan Palin for his VP candidate. She's a mom of five, can you imagine? I have a hard time balancing homeschool, housekeeping, two of my own kids and one foster kiddo, a tiny bit of work at home, and just life!!! Wow! More power to her! I also read today that her youngest son has Down Syndrome. She certainly would bring life experience to the White House that's a bit different than your typical politician. I look forward to seeing what happens in this race!

Paralympic Games 2008

The Olympics have gotten a LOT of press coverage over the past few weeks, which is a good thing. Unfortunately another event that will be held shortly on the olympic grounds in Beijing probably will go unknown by many. The Paralympic Games 2008 will begin on September 6, with a torch relay beginning with a lighting ceremony on August 28th. A lot of information is available about the Paralympic games in general, and this event in particular, on the above linked website. If you are unable to find coverage on tv, there is even a web channel of the games. Check it out - these hard working athletes deserve a loyal fan base as well!!

A Universal Issue

"No matter your name
We have one problem the same
Paying all our bills."

Pretty clever eh? :)

I just finished taking the BillsIQ quiz on www.bills.com, so my mind is on things money... Normally I don't break into random haikus, but hey, I'm overtired and it just kind of happened :). Anyway, this site is great!! It's jam packed full of tips about debt consolidation, debt help, and debt relief. The quiz that I took is helpful too. It helps you to see which areas of your financial health need a bit more attention, and also which you're doing well with. It doesn't take more than a few minutes to take, and gives you an easy to understand summary. Check it out...

You know, money stuff is an issue that we all, no matter the rest of the details of our life, have to deal with. It can be overwhelming at times, so it's important to have as many tools as we can to help with it. The internet has many many resources on it that can serve as these tools, but be careful about who you take advice from, and especially who you give any personal information to. Happy researching!

More homework hints

I found a few more homework hints for kiddos with ADD/ADHD at Additude. These obviously aren't a one size fits all formula for "fixing" every situation, but hopefully you can pick and choose from them and find something useful. Any other ideas you'd like to throw out?? Things that have worked for you or your children?

* Make a plan for tracking homework assignments. Encourage your child to write every assignment in his daily planner. As a backup, see whether assignments are also posted on a school website. Get a phone number for a student in each class who would know the assignments. One high school senior wrote his assignments on 3 x 5 cards, preprinted with the names of his courses, that he stored in his jeans pocket.

* Establish time for homework. Some children need a break after classes. Others work best while still in “school mode.” If after-school activities make a regular schedule impossible, post a weekly calendar that lists homework start and finish times.

* Ask the teacher about assignment routines. The math teacher may say, “I assign algebra homework four nights a week, and give a test at the end of each chapter — roughly every two weeks.” This tells you that something is amiss if your child says he doesn’t have any math homework two nights in a row.

* Schedule a five-minute break for every 20 minutes of work. Short, frequent breaks help children with ADD recharge.

* Respect your child’s “saturation point.” If he’s too tired or frustrated to finish his homework, let him stop. Write a note to the teacher explaining that he did as much as he could. If he has problems focusing, writes slowly, or needs extra time to understand concepts, assignments will consistently take longer than they should.

* Talk with the teacher. If homework sessions are often emotionally exhausting,work with the teacher to determine whether assignments are too long or are too difficult for your child.

* Consider medication for homework time. Talk with your doctor about a short-acting medication, like Ritalin, which lasts three to four hours. Taking the medication between 3 and 5 p.m. shouldn’t interfere with sleep. Most medications given earlier in the day have worn off by late afternoon. When medications are working, students stay focused, complete homework quicker, and are more likely to remember the material they studied.

* Monitor your child’s progress with a daily or weekly report. Daily and weekly reports from a teacher warn parents when their child is in danger of failing and in need of more supervision at home. The reports help you and your child identify missing homework assignments, so you can find them and get them to the teacher. Younger children need more frequent feedback, so a daily report may be best for them. In some cases, weekly reports may be sufficient for students in high school.

* Request an extra textbook to use at home. Students with ADD often leave their books at school. Having access to a textbook every night is essential. Once a student with ADD falls behind, it is difficult to catch up. Since many schools have only one set of books for each student, you may have to purchase extra copies.

ADD and homework

I have a daughter who deals with some of the challenges of ADD, and we are attempting to deal without medication. Even though we homeschool, and can accomodate some of her special needs, schoolwork can sometimes be tricky. I came across a site with some great recommendations on the topic of ADD and homework.

After a long day at school, homework can be tough for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) or learning disabilities such as dyslexia—and for their parents, too. Here are strategies for wrapping up assignments:

1. Start a homework group.

Invite one or two kids from your child’s class to come over and do a little homework together. This can be an effective way to get a look at other children’s studying strategies, and the chance to play for a while when homework is done is a strong incentive to do the work more efficiently.

2. Consider your child’s daily rhythms.

Most children do much better if they do their homework relatively early in the day—maybe not immediately upon coming home from school but certainly before supper. (Everyone deserves a break, and our kids, in particular, may need a chance for some physical activity before they have to sit down again.) Some quirky kids are notoriously early risers and that can be a terrific time to get homework done.

3. Have a plan of attack.

Sit down and strategize the day’s homework with your child: How much has to be done? What looks easy? What looks hard?

4. Have a specific place to do the work.

How can you minimize distractions? How available do you, or some other supervising adult, need to be? You may want to set up a dedicated homework location. If your child’s room is the place most full of possible distractions, the best spot might be some boring adult setting: a little desk in the living room or some space at the kitchen table.

5. Reward accomplishments.

We are big believers in small, tangible rewards for small, tangible accomplishments. Finish your worksheet, and you’ll get a cookie. Finish all your homework, and we’ll go to the playground for 15 minutes before dinner. With the assignments your child really hates, there’s nothing wrong with offering a grape or a gold star for every single successfully completed sentence on the worksheet or math problem on the list.

6. Don’t overschedule.

If you fill up every afternoon with sports, therapy sessions, and other activities, then homework will have to wait until later, and that may be hard. How about moving some of these activities to the weekend? How about getting your child accustomed to bringing his homework along if you know there’s usually a wait in the physical therapist’s office? Some schools send home a weekly packet of assignments due on Friday, or the following Monday. This allows for more flexibility in planning, and the final product is more likely to be relatively neat and well thought out.

7. Plan for supervision.

Think about homework supervision as you make your child-care arrangements. If you have a babysitter overseeing some of these after-school hours, give her clear instructions for helping with homework, and make sure she understands that, if possible, it needs to be done by dinnertime. If your child spends time in an after-school program, is there some provision for homework? Many of these programs offer a supervised homework room, where kids can work in peace and get help if they need it.

8. Organize.

For many quirky kids, just keeping track of papers is a big task. When an assignment is given at school, your child should know exactly where to put the paper so she’ll be sure to bring it home.

After homework is done, she should pack it in whatever special folder or backpack is going back to school the next day. The parent who picks up and drops off the child at school may need to double-check to see that assignments or completed homework has been packed. No matter how carefully you plan, every parent has, at some time or another, driven madly back across town one morning with the forgotten, left-at-home important assignment in hand. You just don’t want to have to do it every day.

9. Check in with the teacher.

If the assignments are not always clearly indicated, or if your child has trouble figuring out exactly what is expected, you should either check in with the teacher on a regular basis or establish a connection with another parent who seems relatively clued-in, so that you can, in a pinch, call for advice and instructions. Some teachers are available by e-mail, and some even post homework assignments on a website.

10. Bend the rules.

By far our favorite homework activity for young children is reading—reading together, letting the child read to the parent, and, of course, letting the parent read to the child. If your child’s worn out by the evening, take over more of the reading and let her enjoy the pleasant one-on-one contact. We’d like to express the hope that homework reading programs will recognize the pleasures and comforts of reading aloud and will allow children to select books that interest them. If you find yourself with a homework reading program that is taking all the fun out of it, you may need to make some discreet alterations at home—with or without notifying the school.

11. Use tools to plan.

Help older children plan their time—not just for any one evening’s work but for the bigger, longer-term assignments. Some quirky children are unable to understand how to break these down into manageable steps, so a chart, a checklist, or a calendar, with separate due dates for each task, can be really helpful.

12. Remember the power of praise.

Try to make homework a period that is associated with a certain amount of praise, with some physical comfort, and even the occasional treat. It won’t make your child love worksheets, but it may start to seem like a familiar, relatively pleasant interlude in the day—or at least, like a doable assignment.

Adapted from Quirky Kids (Ballantine), by Perri Klass, M.D., and Eileen Costello, M.D.

Autism and Asperger's signs

I found a great fact sheet by Barry K. Morris about early signs of asperger's or autism that I wanted to share some of with you here. These are two diagnoses that we hear tossed around a lot, but what really are the "signs"?

This fact sheet is one of over 350 fact sheets for parents of children with autism and Aspergers syndrome. Visit www.autism-help.org for practical information on communiation issues, behavioral strategies, tips for school, personal stories and more.

All children will have both delays and sudden progress in their development. It is normal to be worried or concerned over lack of progress or unusual behaviors, and happily these are resolved eventually. However, parents are in an ideal situation to watch for potential early signs of Autism, Asperger's syndrome, and other developmental issues in their child.

Autism and Asperger's syndrome are developmental disorders and minimizing these developmental delays is very important for a child's long-term outcome. For this reason, early diagnosis and early intervention are crucial. Here are some tips for parents looking for possible early signs.

These disorders will cause delays in a child's early development, with possible indicators in social skills; the senses - hearing, taste, touch, sight, smell; play and imagination; and behavior. It should be stressed that a diagnosis of Autism or Asperger's syndrome arises from a wide range of these indicators appearing to be a consistent theme in a child's development.

THE FIRST YEAR - possible signs of Autism & Asperger's syndrome

There are certain milestones of development that the average child reaches within the first year of development. Some of these include: standing with support by parents, crawling around, saying single words, waving goodbye and other simple gestures.

Not reaching these milestones does not indicate your child has symptoms of Autism or Asperger's syndrome, as many children may be late developers and catch up at a later point. However it pays to look out for possible early symptoms as early intervention therapies can make a big difference if a diagnosis is reached in the years ahead. Children are usually not diagnosed until the second year at least but there are moves toward making earlier diagnoses to allow earlier intervention therapies.

Even in the first few months of life, it may be apparent that an autistic child does not interact with others, and avoids eye contact. They may seem indifferent to other people and prefer to be alone. They may not like attention, or just passively accept cuddles.

Toward the end of the first year, the child may not appear to react normally to certain objects and activities. They may have an extreme reaction, or none at all. They may begin to show the first signs of repetitive behaviors such as rocking, or fixating on objects with their eyes. A lack of eye contact with other people is very common at later stages but may not show in the first year.

In some cases, a child can be developing normally in the first year then begin showing these characteristics.

THE second YEAR -

Possible signs of Autism & Asperger's syndrome are a lack of interest in other children and people, lack of eye contact, not pointing at objects that are wanted, not using sentences of two words by two years of age, losing words or language skills that were already acquired, does not look at objects you are pointing to, repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping or rocking, does not play pretend games, walking on tip toes.

Unusual behaviors and the differences in the way an autistic child reacts to people may become apparent in the second year or later. This change could be sudden, with a child starting to lose language skills, rejecting people and developing some of the above mentioned behaviors. Sometimes the child ceases to progress, and this lack of development becomes noticeable when compared with other children of the same age.

TWO TO FIVE YEARS

Some possible signs of Autism & Asperger's syndrome are a lack of interest in other children and people, lack of eye contact, not pointing at objects that are wanted, strange reaction to the distress of other children, obsessed with certain objects, toys and games, focus on order, routine and arrangement of objects, distress when these orders, routines or arrangements are disturbed, repetitive movements such as rocking, hand flapping, or spinning around, sensitivity to loud sounds that don't disturb other children, sensitivity to touch ie. disliking hugs or fabrics of certain clothes, sensitivity to smell and taste.

Pre-teenage years

In some cases, a child may be at the milder end of the autistic spectrum and developmental delays may only become obvious in the pre-teen years. Some signs of Asperger's syndrome could include lack of eye contact, few if any close friends, does not share or take turns, lack of communication skills, unusual ways of talking, little use of non-verbal communication and gestures, repetitive phrases and focus on limited range of topics, does not show empathy toward others, difficulties with the 'give and take' of conversation, and unusual gestures made when excited or distressed.

Teenage years - signs of Asperger's syndrome

In mild cases of Asperger's syndrome, developmental delays may only become evident in the teenage years. Some signs of mild Asperger's syndrome could include lack of eye contact, apparent lack of emotion, difficulty in establishing close friendships, literal thinking and trouble with sarcasm, irony and subtle humor, tendency toward obsessive and compulsive behaviors, inappropriate comments or behavior in social situations, difficulties in understanding the views, emotions and needs of others.

What is psoriasis?

Another illness that I don't have a ton of info about, but I found a site that does - www.psoriasissolved.com.

There are about eight broad categories of psoriatic symptoms:

Psoriatic Arthritis - Where a person has both psoriasis and arthritis.
Inverse Psoriasis - Smooth patches lying within the folds of skin, often exacerbated due to the presence of candida or fungi.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis - The most uncommon form, and a very serious condition that can lead to blood loss.
Plaque Psoriasis - The most common form, affecting about 90% of all those with psoriasis.
Guttate Psoriasis - Short-lived, and usually affecting those under 30.
Pustular Psoriasis - An uncommon form consisting of pus-filled bumps on the skin.
Scalp Psoriasis - Dry, scaly skin. Often confused with seborrheic dermatitis.
Nail Psoriasis - psoriasis concentrated on fingernails and toenails. The nails become weak and bumpy. May also be related to fungal infections.

The "R" word

I've been wondering how people who are directly impacted by the use of this term, because of the fact that they either have a developmental disability themselves, or because they love someone who does, feel about this movie that we keep hearing about on the news, the one where the main character uses the "R" word, retarded... I found a blog where a mom of a child who's been diagnosed with Down Syndrome shares what she thinks and feels in a very eloquent way. I share with her permission....

I know you’ve all probably heard about the controversy with the Tropic Thunder movie and the word “retard”, so I won’t bore you with the details. I’m sure you all can guess how I feel about it all. Once again, people try to pass off the use of this derogatory word in a way that makes it “okay” - by saying that they’re making fun of something else with it - not actual developmentally delayed people. I don’t get it. How does that logic fly? You are reaching out for laughs by using a word that brings to mind people like my son. Not in a positive way, but because our society views these people as something funny to point & laugh at. I mean, seriously. When does anybody pull out that word when they’re not trying to elicit a laugh from people? My son is not a punch line. His abilites or disabilities are not there for you to use as a reference point for your joke. To continue to use the excuse that “I was referring to myself; I was making fun of myself!!” when they’ve thrown about the word to show how STUPID they were. Come ON, people. You’re not fooling anyone. When you hear that word, what comes to mind? A person with Down Syndrome, maybe a person who has autism or is mentally disabled, right? How is comparing yourself to someone like that FUNNY?

I’ve discussed this topic a number of times before and my stance hasn’t changed. The word no longer has any place in our society. It’s only used as an epithet or an insult referring to a certain segment of our society, which is as unacceptable as using the “n” word or any other word like that. Back in October I wrote this about it:

…October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Unless you live in a cave somewhere up in Nunavet, you know this. Because, every October, absolutely everything is pink. Pink housewares, pink storage bins, pink socks, pink underpants, pink windshield wipers, pink garbage cans - all giving a portion of their proceeds to various breast cancer groups. Which is cool. I’m all for eliminating breast cancer. My mother-in-law had it & beat it.

What you might not know is that October is another awareness month that doesn’t get a whole lot of press. But it’s one that’s near & dear to my heart. It’s Down Syndrome Awareness month. It’s a month devoted to promoting awareness about what Down Syndrome REALLY is. About how amazing people with that little extra chromosome are. About how we’ve spent centuries treating them as if they can’t do anything simply because they do it more slowly & deliberately. Because they look different than neurotypical people. But that they’re showing us “normal” people every day that they can do far, far more than we’ve given them credit for.

It’s difficult, as the mother of a child with DS, to not get frustrated with the way the world views these people. To constantly hear jokes with Down Syndrome as the butt. To hear the word “retard” bandied about as we insult ourselves & one another. I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in this world as a person with DS. Because they aren’t deaf. Or brain dead. Or blind. They know that people stare at them. They hear the jokes. They get hit between the eyes with the insults. They hear the whispering. It must totally hurt. But, in spite of it all, most of the people with DS I know don’t hold hatred or bitterness in their hearts about it. I admire that. Because I? HATE IT.

Let’s educate ourselves about Down Syndrome & what it REALLY means, okay? It doesn’t mean institutionalizing people. It doesn’t mean they’re “retards”. It doesn’t mean they can’t learn or love or do much of what we all do every day. They go to work. They go to school. They play sports. They love music. They have friends. They go on dates. They’re even going to college & getting married. They are JUST LIKE YOU & ME. From what I can see - here’s the only difference. They do what we do - just a little more slowly & deliberately. It’s not that they CAN’T do something - it’s just that it takes them a little longer to learn how to do it. Having seen the strides we’ve taken in just the past couple of decades, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a future when people with DS regularly drive, live on their own, and do a lot more. Of course, I’m speaking in generalizations, but I see it. I believe it.

Don’t be fearful of him or other people with DS. They’re people. They like to be treated like it. Talk to them. If you see someone with DS working at your store - say “hi”. Ask how they are. Don’t stare. Don’t whisper. If someone tells you a joke who’s punchline is something about DS, tell that person “that’s not funny”. Seriously. If I never hear another joke about Down Syndrome or “retards”, it’ll be a glorious world...

Do we not REALIZE these things?? These people are PEOPLE and yet we treat them as if they’re not there, shouldn’t be there, their very EXISTENCE offends us. Could you imagine going through life, hearing people whisper (or even talk loudly, assuming you’re too stupid to understand) about you, talk across you, ignore you, refuse to look at you or stare incessantly? She’s right. By too many of us, they’re all viewed as “unpeople” and their treatment by society shouldn’t matter. The fact that people cannot realize the detrimental effect of hearing that word tossed around proves it to me.

Anyway. I also ran across this site that the Special Olympics has put up. It’s a site to sign a pledge that you’ll cease & desist using the “r” word. As they say, “The r-word is hate speech that perpetuates the negative stereotypes that face people with intellectual disabilities every day. Yet, its use continues to gain in popularity.” Click on the “Learn More” there to really understand how this little word demeans, hurts and belittles. Then, sign the pledge. Try to make an effort to eliminate that word from your vocabulary. View it like you view the “n” word or any other word that offends you or makes you cringe. Do it for Henry. Or Caroline. For Jenni. For Rhett. For Delphine. For Will. For Gigi. For Steven. For countless HUMAN BEINGS who live like us, love like us and deserve respect & dignity just like us. Thank you.

From www.motherhood-unscripted.com

IBD

IBD is something I know next to nothing about, but I found someone who knows it well, personally. I'm sharing her story with permission.

I’ll just break the ice by starting with my personal story. For those who suffer either of the two, Crohn’s or Colitis, then you already know the hell. For those who don’t, or maybe know someone who does but still can’t completely comprehend, then this will help.

The fundamental cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. Evidence suggests that a genetic predisposition leads to an unregulated intestinal immune response to an environmental, dietary, or infectious agent. However, no inciting antigen has been identified.

Chronic diarrhea with abdominal pain, fever, anorexia, weight loss, and a right lower quadrant mass or fullness are the most common presenting features.

Back to the Beginning

Around the age of fourteen, I began having abdominal pain during meals. Immediately after eating, I would have to rush to the bathroom where I spent 30 minutes doubled over with cramps, and having diarrhea. Initially, my mother thought it was a ploy to get out of doing the dishes. But as the weeks went by with the same symptoms, she finally decided I was indeed sick. It’s not easy as a teenage girl to admit to having diarrhea. little did I know just how bad things would get.

First my mother took me to an Internist. He spent thirty minutes asking me questions then barely poked around on my stomach for less than two. I had always had trouble with my periods, cramping so hard I would nearly pass out. My diarrhea episodes seemed to be worse around my menstrual cycle. The doctor in all his wisdom informed my mom this was all normal for a girl my age.

So off to our regular physician I went. He’d just taken in an Internist as his new partner and insisted I see him. Next thing I know, I’m on my hands and knees on the examining room table with a cold metal rod stuck up my rear end. It was painful to say the least.

He suggested I see a Gastrointerologist, a GI doctor. When i went to the specialist, he set up my first of many colonoscopies I would have. The prep was horrible. A gallon of the foulest tasting stuff, the nasty dreaded Golytely, and several enemas. It was painful and embarrassing for a young girl.

Not only that, but I was placed on a table, unmedicated, and a long tube was inserted. During the course, the doctor pumps air into the colon, causing a cramping sensation that rivals the worst menstrual cramps I’d ever had.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that I had to endure this with him, with the tube still up my butt and cramps gnawing at me, he leaves the room and gets his partner. I felt like it was some sort of open house. Why not bring in a few more doctors and nurses to have a look at my backside. Hey, the more the merrier. I felt like not one doctor knew what my face looked like, but if I pulled down my pants they’d say, “Oh hi, Laurie, nice to see you again.”

The next day I was admitted to the hospital. The initial diagnoses was Ulcerative Colitis. Ulcerative Colitis is similar to Crohn’s in appearance and symptoms, the only exception being that UC is limited only to the large intestine. And unlike Crohn’s, there is a cure for UC…the complete removal of the colon.

…to be continued at http://ibd.overfortyandlovingit.com

Teaching Emotions Through Conversation

I have come across a blog that is a great resource in regards to homeschooling, and in regards to special needs stuff. I'd like to share a little bit, with permission, by Angela DeRossett.

One of the biggest obstacles parents face when homeschooling a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is how to teach appropriate socialization. This becomes just as important as the core subjects like math, language arts, and science.Did you ever wonder how these children learn the basics of good conversation? Perhaps you've experienced the blessing of echolalia, the repetitive conversational nature of ASD that pops up during times of stress or pure joy. Perhaps your child is non-verbal and you've been battling the 'how do I teach this kid' struggle. Communication skills are one of the greatest gifts -verbally and/or non-verbally - that you can teach your child. It strengthens their abilities to adapt in their environment. It builds positive experiences. It leads to less embarrassing situations during social functions for parents. :-)

To read more join me on Heart of the Matter Magazine: August Edition

Fibromyalgia - what is it?

I read a great article yesterday, in Women's Day, about fibromyalgia, and they had a section in it called "Defining Fibromyalgia." I know a lot of people still aren't familiar with this disease, though it wrecks havoc on many lives, so thought I'd share from it.

• What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia? They vary but may include allover achiness, pain, stiffness and tenderness in muscles and joints, fatigue, chronic headaches, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, disorganized thinking and forgetfulness, and depression or anxiety.
• What causes it? No one knows for sure, but research continues.
• How is it diagnosed? If you have symptoms for more than 3 months, talk to your primary care doctor. He may administer a tender point test or refer you to a specialist.

For more info visit the National Fibromyalgia Association at http://fmaware.org.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Quite a few years ago I was diagnosed with DeQuervain's syndrome, which is an inflammation or a tendinosis of the sheath or tunnel that surrounds two tendons that control movement of the thumb. It's similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, in that it is a repetitive motion injury of the hand. It caused me a lot of discomfort, and I ended up getting steroid injections, having surgery, and doing physical therapy for it. In hindsight, I wish I had skipped the injections and surgery, or at least held them off until I more fully explored other options. My only medical opinion was from a hand surgeon, and I think he may have shortchanged the other options that may have also worked. Now I'm starting to have some issues with my carpal tunnel region, and I certainly will be more fully exploring everything that's out there. I don't want to rush into possibly unnecessary surgery, with all of it's implications, and I can't take many pain medications, because of other medications that I am on. One thing that I am most likely going to implement in my carpal tunnel relief plan is a support splint. I'm looking at the IMAK SmartGlove. I like that it's made of washable, breathable cotton Lycra, and that it has a massaging ergoBeads™ pad under the wrist, which cushions and improves circulation. That would be a smart conservative step to take in keeping my hands healthy.

Trichotillomania

I was a psychology major in college, and yet never had heard of trichotillomania. The other day I came across a website where the author shares her story of her struggles with trichotillomania. This post was just so compelling that I wanted to share it with you.

My Trich Story

When I was about 9 I got a hair braid in my hair on holiday, and I always used to fiddle with it. When I finally undid it I continued the fiddling, which turned to pulling out the hair and it went from there (I was, in fact, quite prone to ‘habits’ such as this, for example picking out the fluff in my teddies, or my blankets, but had never yet used my own body for the purpose). In my last year of primary school my parting had grown from a thin line to over an inch wide (bald), and I also pulled out one of my eyebrows pretty much completely.

When it was at it worst age 10/11, I didn’t really know what was going on but, weirdly, I also didn’t really feel bad about it. My mum used to try and stop me pulling, and my friends mentioned how big my parting was, but I didn’t really think much of it, and I’m not sure why, but I appreciate the pain I was saved. When I started secondary school I was pulling a lot less (again I don’t know why) and had a large, very short patch of hair growing back which was very obvious. I remember getting comments about this, and one of my old friends from primary school actually started spreading things about me, telling everyone that I used to have a bald patch. This bothered me, but again I never felt too bad about the pulling.

I can’t remember when I found out what it was, but I remember reading that it was as common as biting your nails and my immediate reaction was anger. What’s so bad, then, and why do people think it’s so weird if it really is the same as biting nails?!

Since my late primary school/early secondary school years I never pulled my eyebrows again after the hair had grown back, and also eventually got to the stage where I was able to wear my hair down and feel proud of it. I remember the first time someone said I had nice hair and how happy it made me. I suppose it was at about age 16 that I would start to wear it down, and before that I used to keep it tied back every day. I think it helps that my hair is very thick, and it is long, and areas do not notice as much. I also know that I don’t pull the large amounts that I used to, but this was not a conscious effort. I started pulling my pubic hair as well, though keeping it short has pretty much prevented this as I do not use tweezers to get at the short hairs like many people do.

Facing Trich

It is only recently that I have consciously decided that I am not going to let this be a problem anymore. I have been in a relationship for over a year now, and, unlike my last relationship, I have been able to tell my boyfriend everything. He wasn’t shocked, or even too confused as to why I do it, which is of course a great help. Sometimes I do feel that he can never help in as much as he will never understand, but I know that he loves me and accepts everything about me which is amazing. Apart from him I have never really told anyone else, except my mum that it was as common as biting nails when I was a bit younger. However, I do worry that it shows, as recently with the workload of university I feel I have been pulling more, mainly from around my parting and there are a lot of short hairs that are visible, even though there are no bald patches.

One day I was working on an essay with some papers on the floor beside me. I was subconsciously pulling the whole time and when I went to pick up the paper the hairs showed up against it and I really was horrified by how much there was. It also made hoovering my room a nightmare when our hoover is not very powerful at all! Things like this may seem small, but are significant in people’s lives, no matter how much you pull.

My blog posts are anonymous, and this is, in part, due to the fact that I am not open about my trich to the majority of people who know me. Of course this is something that bothers me, but in writing I hope to come to terms with such issues.

Blogging and forums have been the greatest help for me coming to terms with the fact that trich is part of me, which is why I also decided to start this blog. If you want to write something, help yourself and others, then you can do it here. Just get in contact!

Her website is http://trichblog.wordpress.com/.

Alzheimer's and Dementia

There are so many challenges that are faced daily around the world, but the ones that I think would be hardest for me are the ones that involve your mind. How sad it must be to watch someone change so much in this way. TriVita emailed this article recently about alzheimer's and dementia.

Dementia & Alzheimer’s: The Best Hope is Prevention

Who am I? Whatever the answer, that’s our “identity.” One definition of identity is: a set of unique characteristics belonging, for life, to one individual. Another expert defines identity as the total accumulation of all life experiences, built one upon the other, up until this present moment. It’s as if we are an unfinished tower building, with each new story of life experiences being built upon the story below it.

Dementia steals all this − our memories of the past, our ability to reason in the present and our ability to plan for the future. In essence, dementia robs us of our identity.

Vascular dementiaThis is the most common cause of dementia among younger people. It may be caused by poor circulation from vascular inflammation, high cholesterol, viral and other infections, “mini-strokes,” medications, drug and alcohol abuse, or a few other rare conditions related to excessive pressure in the head.

Poor circulation in the brain is directly linked to elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood. In some people, high homocysteine ignites LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol). Thousands of fiery, burning LDL particles pierce the protective lining of the blood vessels and cause the whole artery to inflame. As the inflammation builds, it can block circulation, and thereby starve to death the area of the brain served by the inflamed blood vessel. You can help reduce LDL inflammation by lowering your homocysteine levels with HCY Guard. You can also increase your protective HDL cholesterol through daily exercise and OmegaPrime.

“Mini-strokes” are associated with nutrient deficiency and inflammation. First, nutrient deficiency causes the blood vessels of the brain to weaken. Then, inflammatory protein slices though the delicate lining in the blood vessels until they cut completely through and a small hemorrhage develops. Though this may quickly seal, tiny clots may form on the scar. These clots break off and block blood flow in random areas throughout the brain. You can toughen up the blood vessels by increasing Vitamin C intake. Vitamin C creates collagen which in turn creates resilient blood vessels that are stroke-resistant.

Alzheimer’s diseaseThe most feared of all the dementias is Alzheimer’s disease. The risk of this disease increases as we age. This is partially due to damages accumulating in the brain over time. One of the primary reasons for Alzheimer’s disease is nutrient deficiency. When there are nutritional deficiencies, the body experiences different types of breakdowns, and some of these contribute to dementia.

Attempts to overcome the nutritional deficiencies can be challenging. In part, the problem is the foods we eat. The foods of today simply do not provide the same level of nutrients as they did in the past. This is partially due to the “nutrient-poor” way in which many foods are grown. Another reason for nutrient deficiencies is that the body’s ability to extract nutrients from foods declines with age. For example, after age 40, the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B-12 from food declines. As a result, this particular deficiency is one of the most common in older people.

Finally, many of our nutrient deficiencies are based on food choices we make. And these choices, much to our detriment, are often based on cultural conditionings.

As an example of cultural conditionings, the average North American eats about 17 pounds of fish per year. In contrast, the average Japanese person eats over 150 pounds. This culturally developed habit may be one reason why the occurrence of dementia is much lower in Japan than in North America. Coldwater fish contain high levels of a fat called DHA. Much of the human brain is made from this fat. As a result, the more DHA you consume, the greater your potential for optimal brain health. A good way to obtain this is to eat fish every week and supplement your diet with DHA.

Four other factors that can help contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease are:

Genetics – The good news here is that the genetic component for Alzheimer’s really only accounts for about 1% of the total contribution to the disease. The gene family that predisposes a person to this disease is called Apolipoprotein E-4. It is the second most common gene in North America. Antioxidants reduce the expression of this gene and are known in medicine to reduce the symptoms of dementia. These specific antioxidants are Acetyl-L-carnitine, Vinpocetine and Huperazine A.

Environment – A variety of environmental factors play a significant role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. One factor is electromagnetic fields. They are an area of great interest in dementia research because of the impact they have on the brain. Another factor is environmental toxins. Those with Alzheimer’s disease have been found to have an accumulation of metals such as mercury and aluminum in their brains. Toxic accumulations of copper and iron can also contribute to this disease.

Lifestyle – By far the most significant contribution to Alzheimer’s disease comes from lifestyle factors. Smoking, a low nutrient diet, hydrogenated trans-fats, a sedentary lifestyle and an aversion to education and learning are all strong contributors to dementia. And, people that get little or no exercise are placing themselves in the highest risk category for Alzheimer’s disease.

Excess Homocysteine – The human body needs some homocysteine (HCY) to function properly. But elevated HCY levels are very toxic and strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. And, the higher the HCY level is in the blood, the more severe the Alzheimer’s disease will be. Thankfully, high homocysteine levels can be dramatically reduced with HCY Guard.
The impact of Alzheimer’s disease is powerful and widespread – affecting individuals, families, business and industry, the Medicare/Medicaid system, communities and entire nations. The best hope lies in prevention. Applying TriVita’s 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness can help protect you from a rapid decline in health. And, the recommendations are easy to follow:

Get your exercise: 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well as many other conditions.

Eat a diet rich in nutrients, and supplement it with nutrients and brain-specific antioxidants.

Get your rest and develop an interest in helping others.

Start today. The brain you save may be your own.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is very important to treat rheumatoid arthritis promptly and aggressively, once you figure out you've got it. That can keep it from spreading and causing irreparable damage to your joints and the rest of your body. Traditionally, doctors recommend one or more of a variety of prescription medications.

There are many different drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Some are used primarily to ease the symptoms of RA; others are used to slow or stop the course of the disease and to inhibit structural damage. Most of these drugs fall into one of the following categories:

NSAIDs – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include more than a dozen different medications – some available over-the-counter, some available by prescription only – used to help ease arthritis pain and inflammation. NSAIDs include such drugs as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), ketoprofen (Actron, Orudis KT) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), among others. If you have had or are at risk of stomach ulcers, your doctor may prescribe celecoxib (Celebrex), a type of NSAID called a COX-2 inhibitor, which is designed to be safer for the stomach.

Corticosteroids – Corticosteroid medications, including prednisone, prednisolone and methyprednisolone, are potent and quick-acting anti-inflammatory medications. They may be used in RA to get potentially damaging inflammation under control, while waiting for NSAIDs and DMARDs (below) take effect. Because of the risk of side effects with these drugs, doctors prefer to use them for as short a time as possible and in doses as low as possible.

DMARDs – An acronym for disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, DMARDs are drugs that work slowly to actually modify the course of the disease. In recent years, the most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis is methotrexate. But there are about a dozen others that fall into this category. They include hydroxycholorquine (Plaquenil), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-Tabs), leflunomide (Arava) and azathioprine (Imuran). A person diagnosed with RA today is likely to be prescribed a DMARD fairly early in the course of their disease, as doctors have found that starting these drugs early on can help prevent irreparable joint damage that might occur if their use was delayed.

Biologic agents – The newest category of medications used for rheumatoid arthritis is that of the biologic agents. There are currently six such agents approved for rheumatoid arthritis: abatacept (Orencia), adalimumab (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and rituximab (Rituxan). Each of the biologics blocks a specific step in the inflammation process. Humira, Enbrel and Remicade block a cytokine called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?), and therefore often are called TNF-? inhibitors. Kineret blocks a cytokine called interleukin-1 (IL-1). Orencia blocks the activation of T cells. Rituxan blocks B cells. Because these agents target specific steps in the process, they don’t wipe out the entire immune response as some other RA treatments do, and in many people a biologic agent can slow, modify or stop the disease – even when other treatments haven’t helped much. (from the Arthritis Foundation)

Research is also being done on new medications, and with using medications currently being used for other conditions. It is my hope that my daughter's generation won't have to worry quite so much about RA's effects.