This, in essence, is the FUN approach: to Focus on the asthma in a new way; to Undo (reverse, eliminate) old patterns of thought and behavior; and to Now Act so as to transform those life situations that suppress and suffocate you. We do not ask that you immediately adopt this way of thinking just on our say-so. Neither do we intend to deny your pain. But we do suggest that as you read about others who have used this successfully, and as you practice the exercises through out this book you will discover how the fun program offers a comprehensive solution to the complex problem of asthma. Through the following story, Kathy relates how fun first became important to her.

TUNING IN TO BODY LANGUAGE AND BELIEFS

In 1981, I moved from Toledo, Ohio, to New York City, and my health flourished. At the time, I thought this was because I was surrounded with concrete instead of grass and flowers. After meeting a man and falling in love, I up- root-rooted myself and moved to Florida to be with him, and the asthma returned. This time I assumed it was the dampness and vegetation that did it. Again I had focused on the outside circumstances. Trying to ferret out the reasons for my sudden relapse by paying attention to my outer environment seemed a logical way to go. My doctors never questioned me about what was going on in my emotional life, and they, after all, were the experts, so I ignored my body’s message.

If I had tuned in to what was going on emotionally and mentally, I might have noticed that in leaving my hometown, I had also left behind a restricting relationship with my family, especially with my mother. At the time I thought it just a fortunate coincidence that in New York I breathed more freely and felt lighter, happier, more spontaneous. I neglected to consider that the restrictions I felt — first with my mother, who believed she knew what was best for me, and then with my lover, who insisted he knew what was best for the both of us — might be an important part of this recurring disease all types of medications

One day, during a severe attack, I automatically reached for my inhaler. Yet the medication did me no good. I immediately sensed that this wasn’t the answer, not anymore. The attack reminded me that I was suffocating in more ways than one. My belief in a solution that would allow me to have it all (both the lover who insisted on holding me so close that I couldn’t breathe and the freedom necessary for me to thrive as an autonomous, healthy human being) had come home to roost. I had been holding my breath, literally and figuratively, while hoping the pieces of my life would fall into place. But the tight feeling in my chest mirrored my error in thinking, and my breathing got even worse. I was stuck, clinging to an old belief about the way things should be.

Many people suffering from depression or other mental health issues may turn to alcohol to ease their pain before seeking professional help. New research confirms that these patients are at an increased risk to use opioid drugs as well.

A new study published in the Journal of Psychological Medicine suggests that those suffering from mood and anxiety disorders may be more susceptible to opioid abuse.
Help is available for depression, talk to your physician.

Opioids are strong painkiller medications that are commonly prescribed for acute pain after surgery or trauma, and often for chronic pain in patients with terminal illnesses such as metastatic cancer.

Common opioids include codeine, morphine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin), and meperidine (Demerol).

Silvia Martins, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and associate scientist at the Bloomberg School’s Department of Mental Health explains, “Non-medical opioid-use disorder due to non-medical prescription opioid use was associated with any mood disorder, any anxiety disorder, as well as with several incident mood disorders and anxiety disorders.”

Dr. Martins continued, “There is also evidence that the association works the other way too. Increased risk of incident opioid disorder due to non-medical use occurred among study participants with baseline mood disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia and panic disorder, reinforcing our finding that participants with mood disorders might use opioids non-medically to alleviate their mood symptoms.”

“Early identification and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders might reduce the risk for self-medication with prescription opioids and the risk of future development of an opioid-use disorder.”

The study used data collected through a 2001-2005 longitudinal interview survey called the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) in order to assess a history of psychiatric disorders in adult participants.

Dr. Martin’s coworker and coauthor on the study, Carla Storr, Sc.D., notes, “With the current increased use of non-medical prescription drugs, especially among adolescents, the association with future psychopathology is of great concern.

Using opioids, or even withdrawal from opioids, might precipitate anxiety disorders, suggesting that there is a subgroup of people who are vulnerable to future development of anxiety disorders.”

A study published this week by the National Institute of Health notes that the opioid painkiller Vicodin was used by 8.1% of twelfth grade high school students and by 5.9% of tenth graders participating in an annual Monitoring the Future survey through NIH.

Though down from past years, these reports did not show a decline in use of the opioid Oxycontin.

If concerned about prescription drug use with your child or loved one, contact a health professional to determine the best course of action.
Painkillers

It is estimated that approximately 1 million people in the United States suffer from heroin addiction, and another 1.4 million abuse prescription painkillers such as vicodin, oxycontin, and fentanyl. Opiates, derived from morphine, have been used as painkillers for centuries.

In the presence of chronic pain, users can become quickly addicted to them, as consistent use causes the body to stop making it’s own natural painkillers, called endorphins. When an addict tries to stop using , the resulting withdrawal sickness causes vomiting, insomnia, digestive problems, anxiety, depression, and body aches; and often causes the addict to use again, to alleviate the withdrawal sickness. Overdose can cause respiratory depression and death.

No response yet from Sheriff Davis as deadline approaches

Henderson County commissioners have given Sheriff Rick Davis until noon Friday to return to work or request a formal leave of absence after he announced he was taking sick time to get treatment for manic bipolar disorder.

Neither Davis nor his attorney has commented about the commissioners’ deadline.

“I don’t have anything I can tell you at this time,” attorney Joseph McGuire said Wednesday.

In a letter issued to Davis and his attorney last week, commissioners said that if the sheriff didn’t take one of these actions, they would view it as a refusal to perform the duties of his office and be forced to “act accordingly.” Refusal to perform the duties of the position is one of the conditions under which a superior court judge may remove a sheriff from office in North Carolina.

While the commissioners have not stated that they will file a petition to remove Davis from office if he fails to meet the deadline, such a petition might be a first in North Carolina because Davis is not accused of criminal acts.

Davis took sick time Nov. 23 after issuing a statement saying he was undergoing treatment for a diagnosis of manic bipolar disorder. At the time, Davis said his behavior had become “erratic” and he had made some “bizarre decisions.”

Bipolar disorder is defined as a chronic illness with recurring episodes of mania and depression that can last from a day to months, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness website.

The mental illness causes unusual and dramatic shifts in mood, energy and the ability to think clearly. More than 10 million Americans have bipolar disorder and it is often hard to diagnose because of its irregular patterns.

Dr. Ilona Csapo, a board certified psychiatrist with Blue Ridge Community Health Services, said bipolar is the same as manic depression and that the disease has been around probably since the beginning of time.

“There is lots of thinking recently that the diagnosis is evolving,” she said. “The definition of the disease is expanding to include 2 to 5 percent of the population.”

Csapo, who is not involved in the treatment of Sheriff Davis, said bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that involves periods of depression and hypo-mania or mania.

“In my experience, doing this for about 12 years, it is the most misdiagnosed condition,” she said.

“It is often thrown around for a lot of reasons such as bad behavior or for legal reasons. There are a lot of conditions that can look as bipolar that really aren’t.”

She added that the average onset age is 19.

“There are elevated periods, depression, sadness, crying, loss of pleasure, guilt, suicidal thoughts, euphoric moods and irritable moods,” she said.

“Certain symptoms of mania include a decreased need for sleep, talking too much and everything is in overdrive. Manic people can be psychotic. Treatment consists of mood stabilizers, second-generation anti-psychotics, treating anxiety and therapy in addition to medications.”

While some people respond very well to treatment, others don’t adhere to their medication and use drugs and alcohol, which can make matters worse, Csapo said.

“Bipolar disorder is a constellation of symptoms associated with a mood state and is not the same as being moody or having a bad day,” she said.

L. Alvin Malesky, Jr., associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Western Carolina University, said the concept of mania has been around for years, but bipolar disorder is documented in the first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1952.

“There is bipolar one and bipolar two,” he said. “I think, from what I have read (about Davis’ situation), we are dealing with bipolar one, which does include manic episodes.”

Malesky said the disorder can have symptoms of an inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep and racing thoughts.

“The most common treatment for the disorder is neuro-chemical,” he said, adding that with treatment, most people can lead normal lives.

“Typically the disorder starts in the early 20s,” he said. “Half to one-and-a-half percent of the population are diagnosed with the disorder.”

As people become familiar with their illness, they recognize their own unique patterns of behavior, according to the NAMI website.

If individuals recognize these signs and seek effective and timely care, they can often prevent relapses. But because bipolar disorder has no cure, treatment must be continuous.

Mood Disorders Up Risk of Opioid Abuse

Researchers have discovered that people suffering from mood and anxiety disorders are more likely to use and abuse non-prescription opioids.

The illnesses associated with abuse of opioids include bipolar disorder, panic disorder and major depression.

Mood disorders in general heighten the risk for substance abuse. In this study, investigators made a distinction between prescription opioids commonly used for treatment of chronic and acute pain and opioid use that occurs absent a prescription.

Opioids used for medical purposes include oxycontin, hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), morphine, fentanyl, codeine, and related medications.

Non-medical use of prescription opioids was defined in the study as use of a prescription opioid without a prescription or in greater amounts more often or longer than prescribed or for a reason other than a doctor’s instruction to use them.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the current use of opioids in this fashion has increased dramatically with prescription opioids being the second most frequently used illegal drug in the U.S. after marijuana.

Prescription opioids are highly addictive and prolonged use can produce neurological changes and physiological dependence.

For the study, researchers examined the association between individuals with mood and anxiety disorders with non-medical prescription opioid use and opioid disorder.

“Lifetime non-medical prescription opioid use was associated with the incidence of any mood disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and all anxiety disorders.

Non-medical opioid-use disorder due to non-medical prescription opioid use was associated with any mood disorder, any anxiety disorder, as well as with several incident mood disorders and anxiety disorders,” said Silvia Martins, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study.

Investigators believe their findings support the belief that use of non-prescription opioids may be a method by which individuals self-medicate to reduce mood disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia and panic disorder.

As such, early identification and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders might reduce the risk for self-medication with prescription opioids and the risk of future development of an opioid-use disorder, say the researchers.

Researchers reviewed data from the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) to assess participants for a history of psychiatric disorders.

Investigators used sophisticated statistical analysis to determine whether lifetime non-medical prescription opioid uses, and opioid disorders due to this use, occur among individuals who suffer from mood and anxiety disorders. And, if the mood disorders could result from non-medical prescription opioid use.

“With the current increased use of non-medical prescription drugs, especially among adolescents, the association with future psychopathology is of great concern. Using opioids, or even withdrawal from opioids, might precipitate anxiety disorders, suggesting that there is a subgroup of people who are vulnerable to future development of anxiety disorders,” said Carla Storr, Sc.D., author of the study.

Individuals using prescription opioids need to be closely monitored not only for the possibility of engaging in non-medical use, but also for the development of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

“Additional studies are needed to examine the relationship between non-medical prescription opioid use and prescription opioid-use disorder with mood and anxiety disorders since they could co-occur due to shared genetic or environmental risk factors,” Martins adds.

1. Accidents - injuries that involve bumping of the head could lead to memory loss and the damage would depend on the intensity of the collision. The range of the effect could be from temporary to permanent memory loss. This is why, you should try to be careful all the time and always wear protective gears especially when you frequently engage in extreme activities such as cycling, skateboarding and the like.

2. Disease - some brain disorders such as dementia can lead to loss of memory and other related conditions such as Alzheimer’s. However, it is not very clear how this condition really originates but studies have shown that a regularly active mind can minimize its occurrence. So, develop a habit of playing brain games to reduce your chance of acquiring it.

3. Anxiety or Depression - this condition is common to many people and is often experienced by students. When you are under such conditions, you tend to be out of focus and this can alter the ability of the brain to retrieve stored information, thus, you experience sudden short-term loss of memory. Learn to relax and de-stress, especially before taking exams and other demanding activities so that the flow of ideas will not be disrupted.

4. Liquor - too much of this in the bloodstream can lead you to become disoriented. It hinders the brain to effectively receive and retrieve information, making you very inefficient. It is best if you monitor your drinking, particularly if you are expecting to be working on important tasks.

5. Vitamin Deficiency - this is one of the memory loss causes that are often neglected by many people simply because they do not know how important they are. The lack of vitamin B and potassium can lead to gradual memory loss and at extreme cases; it could lead to serious conditions. Take vitamin, supplements and foods that are rich with such to secure your mental abilities.

There are many other memory loss causes and most of them can be prevented. So, as much as possible, learn how to evade them because a sharp memory is truly beneficial.

For the person with social anxiety, the thought of entering such an intense social environment can be nauseating and frightening to say the least.

There is a way, however, for you to begin your college career successfully. Here are a few important things to keep in mind.

Social Anxiety in College, Tip #1 – You’re just as new as everyone else.

As you walk into your freshman orientation among a sea of strangers, it’s easy to think that they’re all confident, self-assured people. In reality, they’re in the same position you’re in.

Some are incredibly nervous, and others are looking forward to getting to know other people.

They, like you, are leaving behind high school and entering a new, unpredictable and exciting phase of life.

Whatever anxiety and hesitation you’re feeling, you’re not alone.
Generic viagra Mexico
Social Anxiety in College, Tip #2 – People are open to new friendships.

If you’ve been put off by cliques and in-groups in high school, or if your anxiety was too intense to try to penetrate already established social groups, you can put that stuff behind you.

In college, young people expand their minds and grow to appreciate others who come from all walks of life. You might still find “clique-like” groups and tight-knit circles of friends, but you’ll definitely see more and more your schoolmates growing away from that as they become more mature.

Social Anxiety in College, Tip #3 – You have the perfect opportunity to start attacking social anxiety now.

College is a major social milestone in a young person’s life. You have the chance to explore new relationships and friendships without the watchful eyes of parents.

Now is a great time to attack your anxiety and take advantage of the fertile social practice opportunities college has to offer. Your school is virtually guaranteed to have counseling services and support groups. There will be students going through the same issues you are.

You’ll also find clubs built around a wide variety of subjects. If you live in a dormitory, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to go to parties and hang out with people.

Make sure you push your boundaries little by little and take things one day at a time. If you commit early in your college career to overcoming social anxiety, you’ll get much more out of the next four years and set yourself up for an exciting future.

Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious.

So this poses the question, what makes YOU feel this way?

The reason for the emphasis on “you” above is we all have our own reasons for being stressed. But if I was in your position would I be as stressed as you? Maybe not, but Possibly more so.

This simply means that depending on the persons thoughts or how they perceive the situation to be, depends on how stressed you would become in any given situation.

An easy way in this case to stop stress all together would be to take on the mindset or beliefs of the person that perceives that this particular situation is not stressful at all. And although easier said than done I do believe to be possible. This may not be ideal though as this relaxed person may not care at all and this is not a great attitude to have when dealing with certain situations, but does seem to help ensuring low stress levels.

The point of these words are not to encourage you not to care or to try and think in a way that is less than what you are doing now, but to highlight the massive importance of how perception is everything with regards to stress.
Malegra
Your boss tells you that “you’re not performing and need to increase your productivity or find a new job” is more stressful if you have a family to support and are up to your eyeballs in debt. But the person with one million in the bank may not mind so much. This is completely understandable as there is more to lose however, they are exactly the same situation just perceived in a different way.

The reason why this advice is so important is you will always find things in life to be stressful if you perceive them in a particular way. Stress is like a habit, first you only get stressed about major things and before you know it you are shouting at the coffee table for that edge you just walked into.

But the next time you are on the edge of losing your battle against stress ask one question:

Will I deal better with this situation stressed or calm?

There are not many times I would choose the stressed option, just remember when you are making your choice (and it is a choice I promise) your health is the most important thing in the world.

A simple metaphor to describe this is like having an open wound on your arm that never heals. Not only is it painful it is also vulnerable to getting reinjured and therefore causing you even more pain. As long as the wound remains unhealed you remain vulnerable to re-experiencing the pain.

In effect it’s that vulnerability that accounts for the worry and anxiety of re-experiencing the hurt again. That implies that if there is no wound there is no vulnerability and hence no more worry or anxiety. Now the difference between a physical wound and an emotional wound is that the latter never actually heals! Why is that you ask?

Well, first let me qualify that; it never heals with any of the traditional approaches such as psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, EFT, CBT, EMDR, NLP, meditation, and hypnosis etc. The reason it never heals is because healing effectively means that the negative memories and their associated emotional pain must be permanently and completely deleted from the subconscious mind. That of course is impossible, or is it?

The approaches I mentioned above do not have the capacity to do that. This is the reason that individuals never actually permanently get rid of their worry or anxiety. Instead they may find themselves having to do ongoing “damage control” by repeatedly employing the strategies mentioned above simply to keep the worry and anxiety at bay.

So if you are reading between the lines by “healing” I mean that one a) no longer has an imprint of the negative memories and their associated emotional pain b) no longer has the worry and anxiety and c) one no longer needs to do anything to keep them a bay because they are gone! Now that may sound so simple that it is unbelievable!

Well, I would imagine so because it is such an unusual state yet it is possible.

To learn more about a new coaching process that is capable of helping you end your worry and anxiety by erasing the negative memories responsible for them kindly visit the web site below where you can request a free introductory telephone/Skype consultation that will help you begin to appreciate how you can really be free of worry and anxiety forever.

People with low incomes are more likely to suffer mental illness, a new study suggests.

It also found that a decrease in income is associated with increased risk of anxiety, substance abuse and mood disorders.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 35,000 adults aged 20 and older who took part in the U.S. National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. The participants were interviewed twice, three years apart.

“Participants with household income of less than $20,000 per year were at increased risk of incident mood disorders during the three-year follow-up period in comparison with those with income of $70,000 or more per year,” wrote Dr. Jitender Sareen, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba in Canada, and colleagues.

Participants whose household income dropped between interviews were also at an increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders and substance abuse compared to participants whose income didn’t drop.

The research did not show that poverty or a drop in income causes mental illness, only that people with low incomes are more likely to experience it than those with higher incomes.

There was also no association between a rise in income and increased or decreased risk of mental health problems.

The findings, published in the March issue of the Archives of Psychiatry, could prove important in terms of public health.

“Most important, the findings suggest that income below $20,000 per year is associated with substantial psychopathologic characteristics and that there is a need for targeted interventions to treat and prevent mental illness in this low-income sector of the population,” the researchers concluded. “The findings also suggest that adults with reduction in income are at increased risk of mood and substance use disorders.”

Is coming to America bad for your mental health?

A new report from a mental health study of Mexican immigrants has found that immigrants to the United States face more than four times the risk of depression as those who don’t immigrate, and that in general, coming to the U.S. increases their risk of depression, anxiety and other problems.

Yesterday the Archives of General Psychiatry published the results of a cross-national study conducted by UC Davis and Mexico’s National Institute of Psychiatry. The study analyzed data from interviews with approximately 550 male and female Mexican-born immigrants and approximately 2,500 peers who remained in Mexico, comparing the U.S. group with same-aged, non-immigrant relatives. From the UC Davis website:

It found that during the period following arrival in the United States, Mexican migrants were nearly twice as likely (odds ratio of 1.8) to experience a first-onset depressive or anxiety disorder as their nonmigrant peers. However, the elevated risk among migrants occurred almost entirely in the two youngest migrant groups, those between 18 and 25 years old and those between 26 and 35 at the time of the study.

The greatest risk was experienced by the youngest migrants, who were 18-to-25 years old at the time of the study. Their odds of suffering from any depressive disorder relative to non-migrants was 4.4 — or nearly four-and-one-half times greater — compared with 1.2 in the entire sample.

Recent news reports have focused on the mental health of the children of immigrants, such as Latina teens, who have a high rate of attempted suicide. But being a stranger in a strange land brings with it its own tremendous stresses – learning a new language, economic anxiety, raising children in a foreign environment – that can affect mental, emotional and physical health.

From the American Psychiatric Association:

Many older Hispanic Americans find the strain of acculturation overwhelming. Their traditional values and beliefs are often at odds with the new culture, they may lack family support and may face language barriers.

It’s not just Latinos that are vulnerable, as many Asian immigrants, as well as their children, find themselves facing similar stressors. And among refugees in general, the stress of acculturation can be compounded by baggage from traumatic events back home.

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that after more than after two decades in the United States, Cambodian refugees who fled their country after enduring the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge experienced a staggering degree of post-traumatic stress disorder. Of a sample of almost 500 people in the Long Beach area, many described experiencing starvation, forced labor, the murder of a relative or friend and other trauma. From the 2005 report:

Sixty-two percent suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and 51 percent from depression in the past year — six-to-seventeen times the national average for adults. The more trauma they endured, the worse their symptoms.

While many immigrants are susceptible to mental health issues, they are at the same time less likely to take advantage of mental health services. According to one Western Journal of Medicine report, “social stigma, shame, and saving face often prevent Asians from seeking behavioral health care.” The same holds true for Latinos, who use mental health services “far less than other ethnic and racial groups,” according to the American Psychiatric Association’s website.

As with Asian immigrants, Latinos face language barriers, as well as a lack of access to appropriate care and cultural roadblocks that include fear of being stigmatized. A 2005 National Council of La Raza white paper on mental health disparities recommended public policy changes, among them better advocacy efforts and funding for care as well as “culturally- and linguistically-relevant” mental health services.

Records: Krier Had History of Mental Illness, Substance Abuse

A rural Sigourney man who fatally shot a deputy and was killed during a standoff Monday battled bipolar disorder for three decades and was hospitalized recently for the disease, his family said.

Jeffrey Alan Krier, 53, also suffered from alcoholism and drug abuse since at least the mid-1990s, according to court records filed in Wapello County.

“While Jeff’s mental illness may have contributed to the tragedy it in no way provides comfort or solace to the many who have been impacted by his actions,” Krier’s family said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

Krier was accused of shooting Keokuk County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Stein in the head with a shotgun Tuesday. The Iowa State Patrol Tactical Unit shot and killed Krier after a three-hour standoff that followed Stein’s death.

Krier did not have a permit to carry weapons, the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported.

“Jeff was a loving brother who struggled with mental illness for the past three decades. He was diagnosed as bipolar and had tremendous difficulty managing his illness,” said Krier’s brother, Sam, and sister, Debbie, in the statement.

Jeff Krier had been hospitalized for seven days in March, his siblings said. It was not immediately clear whether he voluntarily entered the hospital or was involuntarily committed.

Krier had not worked in 15 years because of his mental illness and lived with his parents, Glen and Roselyn Krier, near Sigourney until his parents went to live at a nursing home in March.

Krier’s parents agreed to take responsibility for him following a rash of arrests in the mid-1990s including charges of carrying weapons, stalking, assault and drunken driving. He was found not guilty of many of the charges by reason of insanity.

He was charged Nov. 8, 1995, with carrying weapons after officers stopped him while he was driving a tractor with a manure spreader on the back near Ottumwa. Officers seized a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol that Krier had concealed in his pocket, court records states. Officers also found marijuana in Krier’s shirt pocket, records state.

Krier was charged with stalking, a Class D felony, in December 1996 based on allegations he called, visited and sent letters to an Ottumwa woman, causing her fear, records state.

“Victim has had to take a very large straight knife from the defendant in the recent week within he was going to be involved in a fight with another person,” according to the criminal complaint.

In another incident, Krier was charged with assault on a peace officer based on allegations he hit an officer in the arm and kicking another in the leg on Dec. 8, 1999.

Krier spent time at the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute and at least one drug treatment program, court records state. But on Oct. 16, 1997, an 8th District Court Judge released him from custody, in part, because his parents said they would house and support their son.

“The defendant currently suffers a mental illness,” Judge Dan Morrison wrote in the order. “The defendant does not currently represent a danger to himself or others.”

Krier told corrections officials in 1997 that he had a “22-year history of mixed chemical abuse” that included alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamine, according to March 25, 1997, letter to the court.

Psychiatrists who evaluated Krier during court proceedings said he suffered from bipolar disorder and akathisia, or restless leg syndrome. Dr. James Fleming, who worked at the Highland Place Care Facility in Ottumwa, said in a 1997 report that Krier was compliant with his medications and was not dangerous.

“It is my understanding that Mr. Krier wants to live with his parents in Sigourney, Iowa, (and) and look for work and his parents are in agreement with that,” Fleming wrote. “I do not oppose this proposal, but do realize that the psychiatric services available in Keokuk County are somewhat limited and I will be willing to provide this service at our outpatient clinic.”

Krier was born in Sigourney and graduated from Sigourney High School in 1976, his family said. He studied aircraft mechanics at Indian Hills Community College in 1986.

A SourceMedia Group reporter spoke on the phone Monday night with a Roselyn who lives in the Oskaloosa nursing home where Krier’s parents reside.

The woman seemed confused, had a hard time hearing and was unable to answer questions. During a subsequent phone call, a nursing home employee said the Kriers did not want to speak with the news media.

Krier’s neice, Laura Brigman, of Woodlands, Texas, started to cry when asked Tuesday about her uncle. “Right now, I don’t think they know what to say,” she told a reporter about Krier’s immediate family.

An understanding of what autism is might be the best place to start. Autism is a condition that affects how the brain works and how children diagnosed with it are able to convey their thoughts. Children with autism may find it difficult to play, think, feel, or talk like normal children. Every autistic child is affected differently by the condition.

There are many symptoms that may or may not be present in a child who has autism. The child may be one who cries all the time or cannot be still for long and goes from one thing to the next very quickly. He or she may not like to be touched or may not hear you or understand you when you speak to them. Often children with autism will seem to be very anxious and moody. An autistic child might get agitated when changes are made in their regular routine to the point where they will have an intense temper tantrum. Many autistic children suffer seizures, and still others seem not to be aware of their own pain or discomfort.

If you suspect a problem with your child, you may need to have him or her hospitalized for testing and possible treatment. Autism cannot be cured, but there are treatments available that will give your child a better chance of leading a more normal life. Again, each child is different and his or her treatment may well be different than that of another child. It may include medication, counseling, or different types of therapy such as behavioral, physical, speech, or occupational.

If you are a parent or guardian of an autistic child, ask the child’s doctor or caregiver for a list of support groups, organizations, articles, or websites where you can find help in learning how to deal with this condition and how to give your child proper autism care. As a doctor, he or she should be able to direct you onto the right path to find all the help and knowledge you will need to successfully care for your special child.

Mental Health Counselor
Generally with a master’s degree in counseling or counseling psychology, the Mental Health Counselor conducts assessments and provides psychotherapy to his patients. Most of them have attended several hours of training experience for counseling on mental health related issues. They need to procure a license from the state before starting work as an independent Mental Health Counselor.

Family and Marriage Therapist
This is one of the most commonly used terms in the context of counseling. With a Master’s degree (M.A) or Doctoral degree (Ph.D) in marital and family therapy, Family and Marriage Therapists need to complete at least two years of clinical training under the supervision of an experienced therapist. These counselors specialize in providing assessment and psychotherapy for psychological issues existing within marital and familial relationships.

Social Worker
There are many social workers who are willing to help depressed people with their counseling, but not all of them are trained for the purpose. Anyone with a Bachelor’s degree (a degree from a 4-year university or college, B.A., B.S., or B.S.W); or a master’s degree (M.A., M.S., M.S.W, or M.S.S.W); or a doctoral degree D.S.W or Ph.D.) is allowed to work as a social worker. Therefore, it is suggested that one should consult the services of a licensed social worker who has the letters L.C.S.W. or L.I.C.S.W in his qualifications.

They provide a variety of services including:

• Assessment
• Psychotherapy
• Case management

Note: There is a restriction on their practice – they cannot prescribe medication.

Psychotherapist
Any person offering psychotherapy may be called a Psychotherapist. There is no compulsion for a psychotherapist to have obtained a formal degree in a related discipline or have completed a fixed number of months for training. One should be careful before consulting such a therapist.

Psychologist
Anyone with a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in psychology can be practicing psychologist. Training is not mandatory for all of them. However, clinical and counseling psychologists do obtain special training in mental health treatment.

School Psychologists

School Psychologists are required to have a Master’s degree in the field. Besides this, obtaining a license (issued by the state) is a must for them. A professional School Psychologist can provide the following aspect of behave issues and mental health treatment:

• Consultation with parents
• Consultation with teachers
• Consultation with school system
• Providing psychological counseling
• Developing school-wide programs
• Assessing academic skills

After knowing a little about what different therapists do, it would be easier to find the services of an appropriate counselor.

I know you have heard people say, tying a string around your finger to remember something, don’t you? Amusing as it may sound, this actually makes sense. By putting something in your environment slightly askew, you can create a visual reminder for yourself. It is important to take the time to create a strong visualization for why there is a string around your finger. This will better help you to remember what it is you are trying to remember. You don’t always have to use a string. You can try wearing a ring on a different finger and/or wearing your wrist watch on the opposite hand. You can also try using an object in your environment. For example, if you are driving to work and need to remember to pick up your dry cleaning, try placing something on your dashboard blocking your view of the road after you park the car. You won’t forget to pick up your dry cleaning because your view will be blocked with the strange object.

When trying to recall recent information, using visualization and association will help you to accomplish this. This technique requires you to transform words into graphic images so that you recall the words better. For example, let’s say that you need to remember that you have a doctor’s appointment at three in the afternoon and you don’t want to forget it. Try visualizing an image for three, make it funny and amusing. This could be the story of the “Three Little Pigs.” Visualize those three little pigs waiting around in the doctor’s office talking to other patients and reading US Today. Funny images that are associated with whatever it is that you are trying to remember helps the brain to recall them better. Remembering your important doctor’s appointment at three o’clock won’t be so difficult because now you will quickly relate it to that funny image of the three pigs.

Improving your memory does not have to be difficult. Using easy methods like the ones suggested can help tremendously. If you put your tricks into action everyday, it will get to be a habit and you will begin to have an easier time remembering things that you once had a hard time with.