Archives for March 2015

Not many people enjoy going to the dentist office, but they do it anyway. For some people, going to the dentist seems insurmountable. Dental phobia sufferers often feel alone in their fear, but there are ways to tackle those fears.

Find the Right Dentist
It is important to find to the right dentist for you. Your fear is real and you will need a sympathetic, caring dentist in order for you to feel comfortable. You will want a dentist who will see you as a whole person. Avoid large dental chains. These dentists, while good at their trade. are often rushed and see you as another set of teeth.

Baby Steps
Dentists who deal well with nervous patients often adopt methods from children’s dentistry. This is not to say you are a child or that your fears are silly, but these psychological approaches do work. Find a dentist who is willing to tell you what they are doing, show you what they are going to do, and then will proceed. Often when you know what is happening it helps.

Technology
Like everything else, technology makes dentistry easier on both the patient and the dentist. When looking for a dentist look for one who is up to date on the latest technology. One of the best techno-gadgets out there for patients with dental phobia is the Dental Button. This button is given to you and allows you some measure of control. When you need a break you press the button and the drill shuts off. When you feel ready to begin again the dentist resets the button. Many innovative gadgets are out there and being used in quite a few dental offices.

Sedation
If you feel that the right dentist, psychological approaches, and current technology are not enough to help you overcome your fear, you can explore pharmacological options. It is important to understand that sedation is not a substitute but an addition to the right dentist. Not all dentists are comfortable with sedation. There are possible side effects and you need to talk with the dentist and think seriously before going ahead with it.

The fear of going to the dentist is a common one. Since it is so common many dentists are becoming more “patient” aware in dealing with dental phobias. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to explore your options. Taking care of your teeth is so important to your overall health that ignoring your fears can cause you many more problems.

Life can often be difficult and sometimes feel impossible to deal with. Most people find ways to cope, but for others coping is out of reach. Everyone knows the outward signs of suicidal thoughts: openly expressing the desire, withdrawal, etc. However, there are subtle signs that can alert you and allow you to help. These subtle factors are often overlooked since they don’t outwardly scream out for help. They include clinical depression, substance abuse, and family history.

Clinical Depression and Suicide
There is a difference between being sad and being clinically depressed. People who feel sad are sad for a while then pull themselves out of it. People who are clinically depressed can’t find their way out it. If you know someone who seems sad often, they may be clinically depressed. Clinical depression carries with it a high risk of suicide because these people can’t see an end to their internal suffering. They believe that suicide is the only sure solution to their problems.

Substance Abuse and Suicide
There has been numerous studies done on the reasons behind substance abuse. Some of these reasons include depression, abuse, and genetics. Alcohol and drug use are much more common than you might think especially among children between the ages of 12 to 17. Since alcohol and drugs mask the internal struggles that are going on, people abuse them in order to dull their pain only to discover when it wears off that the pain is still there. It is this discovery that often leads to suicide. Substance abusers are at high risk for suicide as they feel alone in their struggles.

Family History and Suicide
People with a family history of violence, substance abuse, and/or depression are at risk of suicide. You may look at someone who comes from an abusive background and think what a strong person they must be, but that is only an illusion. When you are raised in an abusive home or a home of substance abusers, you learn to hide your feelings so you can get by. As you grow up those repressed emotions begin to fester and sometimes become the building block for suicide.

This is not to say that everyone who is depressed or drinks, or has a dark history will commit suicide, but the risk factors are there. Anytime you feel that someone you know may entertain thoughts of suicide, be there for them. Take it seriously. A large part of what makes you human is the capacity to care and want to help. People suffering inwardly are difficult to spot, but when you notice it reach out to them.

As children grow parents eagerly await those memorable first words. In some children, those first words don’t happen like it should. Some children are simply late bloomers and may hold off talking for a bit. For others though, a delay in reaching language milestones signifies developmental speech problems. The major underlying causes of developmental speech problems stem from hearing issues, autism, and neuromuscular disorders.

Hearing and Language Development
The ability to hear is intrinsically linked to the ability to talk. When children can’t hear sounds correctly, they can’t repeat the sound. Children who suffer hearing deficits are plagued with learning disabilities and often go unidentified. Early testing for hearing deficits will ensure that your child gets the help they need. Children with hearing issues can learn other methods of communication and oftentimes working with a speech pathologist provides them with methods to improve their verbal ability.

Autism and Speech
Communication issues are an early warning sign of autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder is difficult to diagnose in young children, but one of the first signs is an inability to communicate verbally.Children suffering from autism have the ability to learn alternate methods of communication. Behavioral therapy and speech therapy will help your child to improve their ability to speak. With autism it is not so much an inability to talk as it is the mind of the autistic child moves to rapidly for them to express themselves fluently.

Neuromuscular Disorders and Language
There are a wide range of disorders within the neuromuscular classification. All of these disorders have several things in common: muscle weakness, limited muscle movement, and uncontrolled muscle movement. Often parents do recognize that the tongue and throat contain the muscles needed for proper speech development. The disorders are often referred to as dysarthrias. These disorders cause slurred speech, an inability to correctly position the tongue for sound production, and voice quality.

If your child is having problems by the age of two with speech, you need to have them tested. Language development occurs during the first three years and if children are not verbal by age 2 there are often underlying causes. Many doctors want to wait and see, but as a parent you have the right to demand they look further. The thought that your child may suffer from one of these problems can be terrifying. Don’t be disheartened or discouraged or give up. With early detection and assistance your child can learn to communicate with you and the world around them.

Stress is a silent monster that sneaks into your life when you aren’t expecting it. It will invade your professional life, your personal life, and your relationships. But, never fear for there are a multitude of techniques you can use to help reduce your stress and keep anxiety and panic away.

Stop and Smell the Roses
Take time for yourself. Join a health club, take a yoga class, go for a walk in the park, or simply do something you take up a hobby. When stress rears its ugly head, knock it down by making time for yourself.

An Apple a Day
Establish a healthy, well-balanced diet. When you eat better, you feel better. Stress and anxiety cannot stand up to nutrition and all the bounty that good health brings.

Avoid Excess
Excessive amounts of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco only add to stress. You can’t drink your troubles away. Excessive alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco only work to trigger panic and anxiety.

Let It Go
There are some things in life which no one change. Learn to let go of those things that are out of your control and focus on the things you can change. By accepting that you can’t control everything, you leave no corner for stress to hide in.

That’s What Friends Are For
When you feel stress trying to takeover your life, talk to someone you trust. Sometimes just having someone you open up to or sound off on is a huge stress reliever. It is when you bottle it all up that stress and anxiety move in.

Get Active
Being actively involved in something other than work allows you to relax. Stress likes it when you’re all work, so enjoy a little play.

Slow and Steady
Take your time and don’t rush. When you hurry, you let stress take over. Take a breath and count to ten so you can steadily complete work without stress and anxiety.

Don’t Worry;Be Happy
Avoid thinking in the negative. When you focus only on the negative aspects stress and anxiety creep into your thoughts. Look at both sides of the coin. If you find yourself focusing on the negative, look for the positive.

Molehills and Mountains
Avoid letting small things become large ones. When you look at a small problem don’t think of what it can become focus on what it is at that moment. Keeping problems small and solvable stops stress in its tracks.

Mind Not Heart
Try not to let emotions rule your life. When you let all your responses be emotional you lose the power of rational thinking. Stress and Anxiety are the rulers of irrational thought. Be your own person and keep your emotions in check.

By staying positive and thinking clearly you will keep stress and anxiety from your life. If stress control methods don’t work you should seek professional help.