Posted by: Uticopa in therapy, talking cure on
Dec 06, 2008
Someone once said that the therapist's job is to put himself out of work! It's probably true of all the caring professions: the better you are, the more self-sufficient your patient, thereby lessening the need for further treatment.
One example is the role of family therapists. Newcomers to the whole process of therapy sometimes expect the therapist to take on the role of ‘mother hen'. It is often a subconscious desire on the part of people with deprived childhood experiences to search for someone to take on this role. However, it is not the therapist's job to replace or restore one's parents; rather, it is to provide a non-judgemental, encouraging and safe environment alongside the modelling of good parenting techniques. If the therapist actually took on a ‘mothering' role, she would effectively be negating the ability of the client to be self-sufficient. That would go against everyone's wishes. Clients need to become more confident in their own abilities, not dependent on the therapist's nurturing skills.
I now realise I need help, but how do I choose the right therapist?
Experience has proven time and time again that what is important is the relationship between the client and therapist, and the therapist's skills, knowledge and experience with your individual complaint. There is absolutely no point in reaching for your local Yellow Pages. There are 3 main avenues you can try:
Posted by: Uticopa in Alzheimers on
Dec 05, 2008
A new claim by campaigners is gaining momentum in the media. They say that thousands of Alzheimer's patients could be suffering more than they should be. Why? In this age of more and more Britains living longer, combined with fewer of working age paying those vital N.I. contributions, has contributed to an NHS regime no longer able to afford vital services. So, cost-cutting measures are the order of the day - and it seems that dementia services are having to bear the brunt.
Campaigners say that one in three health trusts have actually been reduced, as have vital services such as district nurses and day centres. A survey published by the Alzheimer's Society is scathing. It found that two in five trusts actually fail to provide any services at all. So, what can be done?
The society's data records show as many as 700,000 people currently suffering from dementia in Britain with the number predicted to rise to one million within the next eighteen years.
Posted by: Uticopa in hearing voices on
Dec 01, 2008
It is time that society at large recognises that hearing voices in the head is a human variation rather than a symptom of illness. As a step in the right direction, mental health professionals are urged to attend the first international congress of its kind, specifically organised to develop awareness of this variation.
The First International Hearing Voices Congress is to be held in Maastricht in Holland from 17 - 18th September 2009. It is planned that it should be both inclusive and participative, bringing people together from around the world - in fact, all who are concerned with hearing voices - in order to exchange ideas and information.
The Congress is being held to develop groundbreaking work in the field in order to empower and help sufferers in their recovery. It is hoped to change the way society as a whole perceives the experience of hearing voices. In this way, the social stigma and many misunderstandings about hearing voices can be reduced.
Posted by: Uticopa in Untagged on
Nov 25, 2008
At the age of thirty-five I was working at a residential home in Liverpool. Although I had worked there for several years, I had begun to feel that my life was like ground hog day. Every day seemed the same: no change, same old routine. My life was just so boring. I knew, deep down, that something was missing from my life but I didn’t know exactly what it was. Problems started to get worse.
Eventually I gave up my job and tried a different career in the hope that things might improve. But all I could get was a job working in a supermarket stacking shelves and unloading lorries. It soon became clear that this was no better. Some senior staff thought that I was over-qualified for the job I was doing and should be doing something else.
It was when I began to work nights that I felt strange. The dull and boring feelings set in again but this time with a vengeance. I was beginning to feel worse. I was being bullied by senior male staff and getting bad dreams in the day; these were recurrent and very real. They seemed always to involve people from my past, particularly two men who had raped me as a teenager. Over the months the dreams got worse and I was beginning to get suicidal ideas. I contemplated killing myself by cutting my wrists.
Posted by: Uticopa in therapy, self help, depression on
Nov 25, 2008
Rising unemployment, negative-equity, house repossessions...is it any wonder many of us are feeling depressed and unable to cope? According to Mind, the mental health charity, as many as one person in five can expect to suffer from a mental health problem during their lives. With today's global financial meltdown, this figure can be expected to rise still further. So, what can be done?
First, you need to assess whether you are merely down in the dumps or actually suffering the classic signs of full-blown depression. Certainly, if you've been feeling blue for longer than a few weeks, you should contact your GP. If you feel that you would like to talk to a therapist who can help, you may want to consider contacting registered specialists through our site.
There are things you can do to improve your outlook on life: see below for everyday ways to help and remember, you're not alone. As many as nine per cent of the population suffer from mild to moderate depression at any one time.
Posted by: Uticopa in therapy, talking cure on
Nov 11, 2008
When you walk through a storm,
Hold your head up high,
And don't be afraid of the dark,
At the end of the storm is a golden sky.
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown,
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone.
You'll never walk alone
Rogers and Hammerstein
As the Liverpool anthem says ‘..hold your head up high..and you'll never walk alone.' That's as true today as when Rogers and Hammerstein first penned it. But what if you are so depressed that you need professional help?
Talk therapy is everyday language for psychotherapy. No matter what you call it, it is here to stay. It's a way for people with a mental disorder to understand their illness, and then deal with the stress, unhealthy thoughts and behaviour that so often go with it.
Posted by: Uticopa in Untagged on
Nov 05, 2008
Mind-body connections: Is there a link between depression and diabetes?
Studies have shown that there may be a definite link between depression and diabetes.
It was found that people suffering from both diabetes and depression were more likely to be older, female and from ethnic minorities. Also included in the risk group were those who didn't exercise, were overweight or obese, and those who had a history of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Additionally at risk were those who were poorer, less educated, and the unmarried. They also had the highest death rates; people without diabetes and depression had the lowest.
Posted by: Uticopa in Untagged on
Nov 05, 2008
For many years insomnia was viewed as a symptom of depression, but this is no longer the case. Insomnia is now known to be a major risk factor for depression – a complete about-turn to our understanding.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia refers to sleep difficulties and this can take many different forms such as:
Posted by: Uticopa in Untagged on
Nov 05, 2008
Diagnosing depression in the elderly
Before being diagnosed with depression, elderly adults should be screened for common health issues that can affect mood. These include:
• Hormonal imbalances
• Thyroid problems
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Other nutritional deficiencies
• Electrolyte imbalances or dehydration
Posted by: Uticopa in Untagged on
Nov 05, 2008
A new study has found that genetics not only has a major role in depression, but it actually plays a bigger role in depression for women than it does for men. Researchers often study identical twins raised apart because this is the best way to find out whether a disorder is caused primarily by genes or environmental factors. Some recent studies, when analysed together, found that genetic factors accounted for 42% of depression in women, against only 29% for men.
Certainly, most of us have noticed in everyday life that women tend to have more mood swings than men. In the past this has always been put down to the fact that women have different types of brain activity than men. Men’s brains have two distinct sides, favouring concentration on one particular topic at a time. Maybe this is why women have found that it’s not a good idea to interrupt a man when he is concentrating hard on a project. Conversely, women’s brains tend to be more interweaved, continual cross-referencing happening all the time. Maybe this occurred over the centuries due to a woman’s role in needing to ‘rock the baby and stir the custard at the same time’!
But, what have genes to do with depression anyway? Depression is caused by sad events in your life, isn’t it?
