As a parent, you are likely to be one of the first to recognize when your child may have a serious emotional or behavioral problem. What do you do first? What if someone you consulted has recommended that your child be hospitalized in a psychiatric facility?

Before doing anything else, gently engage your child in a dialogue about his or her feelings. You should also discuss your concerns with your kids teachers, coaches, school counselors or any other adults who may know him or her well. In many circumstances, this alone may be sufficient to begin the process of a sound resolution to the problem without more serious interventions, like hospitalization.

However, the following are some red flags which would indicate that it may be appropriate for you to assess the need for professional treatment options, such as, a psychiatric evaluation.

If you discover that your child has been sexually abused, delinquent, abusing drugs or alcohol or getting in trouble with the law, you may feel furious or panicked. As a matter of fact, you may not know what to say or do.

At this point it may be appropriate to consult a mental health professional ,apprise him or her of the situation, and ask for a recommendation.

If treatment in a psychiatric facility was recommended for your child, you may be frightened and confused. Hospitalization can be one of a range of viable options for your son or daughter. As a parent, however, you will gain a better understanding of your childs proposed treatment by receiving answers to the following questions:

1. Exactly why is inpatient treatment being recommended and how is it supposed to help?

2. What other alternatives are appropriate for my son or daughter besides treatment in a hospital, and how do they compare?

3. Specifically, what type of therapies will be included while he or she is in the hospital and how are they better than outpatient therapy?

4. How will our child be able to keep up with his or her school work while in the facility?

5. Will my child receive in depth psychological testing and psychotherapy by a clinical psychologist while hospitalized? Or will the treatment mainly consist of drug therapy by a psychiatrist?

6. How long do you expect that our child will be in the hospital, what are the fees and what avenues are open to us to pay for these services?

7. If the insurance company denies or severely restricts coverage and we can no longer afford to keep our child in the hospital, what alternatives are available if inpatient treatment is still necessary?

8. As parents, how will we be involved in our childs treatment, including the decision for his or her discharge and after-care? Will we be attending family counseling sessions regularly?

9. What criteria will be used to discharge our kid from the facility?

10. When our child is discharged, will it be necessary for him or her to receive follow-up care? If so, will it include regular psychotherapy to get to the heart of the matter, or just refinement of the medication plan? How will the family be involved and how much will it cost?

Hospital treatment is an important matter. You should raise the above questions before your child or adolescent is admitted to the hospital. It is crucial that you are informed and included as part of your childs treatment. Only then can you become all important contributors to it.

If after asking the above questions, you still have concerns, never hesitate to get a second opinion.

Dr Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Marengo, Woodstock and Lake-in-the-Hills. He provides day and evening appts and accepts all insurance. Call 1 847 516 0899 or learn more at: http://www.carypsychology.com

How are smoking and depression connected? Is one the cause of the other? Science has shown that smokers are generally more prone towards depression than non smokers. How can employers combat this and help employees be as productive as they can be?

The scientific connection between nicotine addiction and depression has been well documented. A history of depression is a common link between many people suffering from nicotine addiction. Many smokers start as teenagers, when peer pressure and anxiety are at their zenith.

Studies have shown that regular smokers have lower monoamine oxidase A and B activity (Sharma, 2006). These enzymes serve many functions in the body, one being the regulation of moods. Depression has been shown to increase when dependant smokers quit using nicotine.

Besides the time lost from smoke breaks, workplace productivity is severely affected by the depression that accompanies nicotine addiction. The decreased enzyme activity has also been linked to attention deficit disorder. The ups and downs of nicotine cravings further contribute to productivity loss. When a smoker tries and fails to quit, depression increases.

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention estimate that $92 billion is lost every year due to cigarette smoking. On average, smokers take 6.16 sick days while non-smokers take 3.86 days per year (Halpern, 2001). These two figures give a small example of lost productivity because of nicotine addiction. Some suggest that the losses are due to the depression caused by nicotine addiction and withdrawal.

Because of this loss, employers would love help their employees kick the habit. But until laws are enacted that completely ban smoking, this is easier to say then do. Fortunately, there are technologies available to employers that can help.

Air purifiers that use negative ion technology have been linked to a decrease in smoking. Negative ions are particles which remove smoke and other contaminants from the air. They attract these toxic substances and attach themselves, causing the combined result to be too heavy to float. No longer able to remain airborne, the contaminant sinks harmlessly to the floor.

Besides the benefit of clean air, negative ions have also been linked to positive moods. One of the ways they do this is by increasing the oxygen flow to the brain. Another way is by eliminating many germs from the air (Mann, 2003). One in three people are highly susceptible to their effects.

Because of the mood enhancing properties, many smokers can be encouraged to quit. The uplifting effects of the negative ions boost their ability to quit smoking, keeping the depression at bay. With the pure air surrounding them, employees who smoke are given a breath of fresh air that invigorates them. They’ll be less apt to light up once they realize that cigarettes worsen their depression.

Employers are constantly searching for ways to increase productivity. Millions of dollars are spent trying to encourage employees to quit smoking and get back to work. An air purifier that uses negative ions is exactly what they need to get their employees working at full steam.

T Fox (http://www.123vita.com) researches the different issues that are affecting collaboration and productivity. These variables consist of culture, eduction, personality, technology… Getting people to follow the leader’s directions and collaborating effectively is a complex matter.

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health diagnoses. It is essential for those suffering from these disorders that they can have many different options for treatment.

Even more outstanding is the idea that major depression has become the leading worldwide cause of disability. Depression and anxiety are both very disabling to people and their lives. However, sometimes the typical medications can have terrible side effects and many people do not want to take them because of this.

Therefore, there are anxiety and depression alternative therapies available. Anxiety and depression often occur at the same time and can make overcoming the symptoms even more difficult. Anxiety and depression alternative therapies are available to help with many of the different symptoms.

One of the leading symptoms of depression and anxiety is insomnia and sleep disturbances. The root of sleep disorders in people with depression and anxiety is physiological. There are a few very specific things that should be done to try and alleviate the sleeplessness that can occur. They are all considered to be anxiety and depression alternative therapies. The first is to make sure the body has plenty of vitamin E and B complex. While the vitamin E helps people sleep, the vitamin B complex calms the nerves. Second, it is helpful to avoid any stimulants. This includes illegal substances, caffeine, and sugar. It is also important to exercise.

Not only can exercise help counter act the depression, it can also help tire a person out and help them sleep. Then it is a good idea to learn to meditate or use relaxation exercises. Lastly it is suggested that psychotherapy be obtained. That way, there is someone the person can talk to about the disturbances, stresses, and feelings that they are experiencing. Getting the troubles out of the mind can slow down the racing of thoughts that can occur.

Anxiety and depression alternative therapies are often inexpensive and easily accessible. However, when already stressed and depressed and it can be difficult to try and make additional life changes. It is also important to note that they are not an instant help, but do take some time. So people must be patient. Another one of the anxiety and depression alternative therapies is something called Emotional Freedom Technique.

This is said to be acupressure for the mind. This is a treatment of gentle pressure of the head, chest, and hands. The pressure in specific places is said to relieve emotional difficulties. People with depression and anxiety should be able to seek treatment without the side effects or stresses of medication trial and error.

Anxiety and Stress are not to be taken lightly and our mission is to educate those suffering from these real calamities on how they can cope with them and eventually eliminate them from their lives.

Brad Hodges is President of BLH ENTERPRISES a Health e-commerce.
For more information on this article go to: http://anxiety.blhodgesenterprises.com {Alleviate Anxiety and Stress Central}
A free report and video is available to help.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects the joints causing inflammation and can result in severe complications. It is considered an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system actually attacks parts of the body. In this case, the joints are attacked. However, rheumatoid arthritis can also spread to the heart and lungs.

The pharmaceutical drugs for rheumatoid arthritis often have severe side effects from stomach discomfort and diarrhea to kidney malfunction. People who take the pharmaceuticals for this condition often find themselves in the lab frequently having their blood work monitored carefully. However, this is why there are rheumatoid arthritis alternative therapies. Especially with the high levels of side effects that drugs have and even the discontinuation of several drugs by different companies, the use of rheumatoid arthritis alternative therapies has increased.

Rheumatoid arthritis can greatly affect someone’s life. It can result in the inability to use your hands, walk, or do simple daily tasks. Therefore any rheumatoid arthritis alternative therapies that can help are greatly appreciated by the sufferers of this illness.

The rheumatoid arthritis alternative therapies are most often herbal supplements but there are also some simple symptom relief symptoms as well. The most common therapy is hot cold therapy. This means that heat is used on the affected area for about fifteen minutes to reduce the inflammation and then cold is used for fifteen minutes to help control the pain.

The most common herbal supplement used for rheumatoid arthritis is Glucosamine. Glucosamine is known to aid in the repair and health of the joints. The second most common herb that does the same is Chondroitin. There is also something called MSM. This is a sulfur based anti-inflammatory that is said to work just as well as the typical medications.

To try and slow the progression of the disease and not just symptom relief is Niacinamide. This is supposed to maintain the health of cells and therefore slows the progression of the illness. It is otherwise known as Vitamin B3. Rheumatoid arthritis alternative therapies are available at most health food stores and pharmacies. Although they each have their own benefits and are proven to be helpful, it is mentioned that when taken together in a combined supplement they are the most beneficial.

Acupressure is a common physical treatment that can help with the pain or arthritis. It works by placing pressure on specific places on the body. This can be done by a trained therapist, or techniques can be taught and done at home. Rheumatoid arthritis alternative therapies are readily available and most are not very reasonable priced. They are definitely gaining in popularity every day.

Martin Richfield has been involved in online business since 1996. He uses article marketing as his primary traffic source. He has been involved in a number of industries which gives him the knowledge to write on a broad range of subjects. For more details go to: http://anxiety.smartbizzness.com

Menopause can be very different for almost every woman. Some women experience barely any symptoms, while others seem to struggle with the worst of every symptom. Many of the common symptoms that come with menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and weight gain. However, there are more serious conditions to be cautious of like heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Over the past several years the use of menopause alternative therapies has been increasing. There are many different therapies available for women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause. There are also many different menopause alternative therapies that focus on different symptoms or specific symptoms, so that someone is not using a treatment to help a symptom that they do not have.

The typical treatment for menopause has always been hormonal replacement, however, over the decade or so, there have been many different advancements in the area of menopause alternative therapies so that women can seek help without altering their body’s hormonal balance. However, it is important for women who experience long term symptoms that do need seem to be helped by alternative therapies to look into hormone replacement.

Menopause alternative therapies can mean many different things and involve several different methods. The most common and widely used therapy is botanicals. Botanicals are herbs that are derived from plants. This is considered a natural relief. Herbs and nutritional supplements are the most common place to find botanicals. Botanicals can help with symptoms like depression, mood swings, hot flashes, and night sweats.

Two of the most common botanicals used for menopause are black cohosh and flax seed. However, another thing to consider is that many herbs and supplements are available for women in the years just previous to menopause. They can be an excellent source of preventative care to lessen the symptoms once menopause starts. Another one of the menopause alternative therapies is diet regulation. It is suggested that because of the increased risk of heart disease and heightened cholesterol that a heart healthy diet be followed. This includes foods that are high in omega 3 fatty acids as well as plenty of fruits and vegetables.

It is important to discuss any major diet changes with a physician so that it can be appropriately monitored. Chiropractic methods as well as acupuncture are also very common methods of menopause symptom relief. Both of these are still considered to be an alternative therapy even though they are administered by professionals with certification within the health industry.

Regardless of the treatments that are sought out, it is important to do what is best for you. Menopause can be a severe life change that it disrupts daily living and so it is of great relief to those women that there is a plethora of options available to them.

Martin Richfield has been involved in online business since 1996. He uses article marketing as his primary traffic source. He has been involved in a number of industries which gives him the knowledge to write on a broad range of subjects. For more details go to: http://anxiety.smartbizzness.com

Marijuana is an illegal drug. It works by affecting the receptors in the body that are involved with movement, memory, and vomiting. Therefore, it is used by people sometimes as means of reducing pain and nausea. Marijuana is also known as an immune suppressant.

It is derived from the seeds, leaves, and flowers of the cannabis plant. However, regardless of the positive effects that marijuana may have for people’s health, it remains illegal. There are pros and cons alternative medicine has determined for using marijuana for health reasons. The information available is basically there to help people gain more knowledge about the plant and how it can affect the body both positively and negatively.

Marijuana is an illegal substance because of its high levels of THC. THC is what is found in the plant that can alter the mind. However, this same component is also what takes away nausea and pain that are found in specific health conditions. For instance, marijuana is often used by people who suffer from different forms of cancer and are taking chemotherapy; it is also a common drug of choice for people with multiple sclerosis.

Pros and cons alternative medicine has developed involve many different elements of the drug. For instance, because marijuana is often smoked, it can have a negative effect on the person’s lungs and breathing. This is especially true for people with allergies or asthma. The mind altering effect the drug has can also be seen as a negative by some people who are not intentionally seeking a high.

All the available information that pros and cons alternative medicine has developed are a help to the person interested in using marijuana as a medicine. As the use of marijuana becomes more popular for people who suffer from different ailments, there are many different pros and cons alternative medicine can use to determine what can be done. Then if the pros outweigh the cons, then new therapies can be developed or may be developed.

This being said, it is not quite so simple. Some medicinal marijuana does not have the same level of THC and therefore does not have the same amount of high with it. However, this again means that it is not necessarily helping the person as much as possible when the THC has been reduced. Another one of the pros and cons alternative medicine has come up with is that chemotherapy leaves people feeling really sick sometimes and the use of medicinal marijuana can help alleviate the nausea from the chemo as well as the pain from the cancer.

Using marijuana has a pain control does not seem all that strange when it is thought about. This is because morphine, Demerol, and oxy-contin are all narcotics and illegal on the street but are very commonly used for pain reduction.

Martin Richfield has been involved in online business since 1996. He uses article marketing as his primary traffic source. He has been involved in a number of industries which gives him the knowledge to write on a broad range of subjects. For more details go to: http://anxiety.smartbizzness.com