Mental Health Counselling

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Mental health counselling can be an effective therapy as part of a wider treatment plan for an individual who is suffering from depression or an anxiety related disorder, or for people who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives and are finding it difficult to cope with, or for those who are struggling to deal with specific problems and issues. It is often a doctor who will recommend mental health counselling, however, many individuals will seek the services of a counsellor themselves, either by asking their doctor for advice or by approaching a counsellor directly.

What is counselling?

Basically, counselling can be described as a type of talking therapy. It is usually delivered in a safe and private setting so that the individual concerned can relax and talk openly and freely about their particular problems or issues and the emotions or feelings that can accompany them.

It is described as a talking therapy because the counsellor will listen empathetically to an individual in order to understand the situation from the individual’s point of view. In doing this a trained counsellor will be able to encourage an individual to see their situation more clearly, perhaps from a different perspective, and will be able to help them identify new ways of coping with their problems or circumstances. Counselling usually does not involve giving advice or telling someone what to do with their lives, it is more about exploring problems, identifying possible solutions and choices and obtaining clarity.

For counselling to be effective, it is essential that an element of trust develops between the counsellor and the person or persons receiving the counselling as only in this way can there be an open and free dialogue. It may take time for a person receiving counselling to lose any initial feelings of distrust, fear and embarrassment so quite often counselling will be offered over several sessions in order for a relationship to develop between the counsellor and the patient or client.

There are several types of mental health counselling services available, each drawing on its own particular theory of human psychology and development. There are also many different types of counsellors, some of who are trained to deal with a particular problem or circumstance. For example bereavement counsellors, counsellors who specialise in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, and counsellors who understand the issues surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, as well as many others.

Counselling can take place on a one to one basis, or in group sessions, face to face or over the phone. It can last for just one session, a specific block of sessions or be open ended with no time limit at all. Regardless of the particular type of mental health problem involved, the first step to recovery is recognising that there is a problem in the first place.

When mental health counselling can help

Mental health counselling can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have a tendency to repress feelings like guilt, frustration, anger, resentment, sadness and so on and who find it difficult to cope alone and who for whatever reason, perhaps do not want to discuss how they feel with their friends and family. It can help an individual to gain new insights into their own particular circumstances and problems and to achieve clarity and direction in life. Most of all it can help an individual cope and improve their quality of life.

There are numerous circumstances where someone might seek the services of a mental health counsellor or be referred for counselling by their doctor and these include but are certainly not limited to:

Relationship problems, including separation and divorce
Problems at work or financial worries, dismissal, redundancy
Physical, sexual and/or mental abuse
Bereavement
Depression and anxiety
Post natal depression
Eating disorders
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Alcohol and drug abuse
Phobias
Panic Attacks
Dealing with stress
Post traumatic stress

Finding a counsellor

In order to get the right kind of help it is important that you access the most appropriate type of counselling for you and as there are so many available options, it can be problematic if you decide to go it alone.

In the first instance, it would be advisable to speak to your doctor as he or she will be able to take into consideration your full medical history before recommending any particular type of therapy or counsellor. If you decide to seek the services of a trained counsellor independently, it is up to you to check out the cost and the credentials of any potential counsellor before you start.

Many voluntary organisations have counsellors and there are numerous private counsellors advertising in the press, phone books and on the Internet. However, you can find an accredited counsellor from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy website at www.bacp.co.uk or from the National Board for Certified Counsellors at www.nbcc.org if you live in the USA

Drug Patents Are Good For Our Health

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Miles White, Chairman and CEO of Abbott Laboratories recently wrote about the importance of drug patents for the future of medicine. He began by talking about a case settled by Abbott and the South American country of Brazil. Brazil felt that the price of Abbotts AIDS medication Kaletra, the most widely used AIDS medication, was too high and patients could not afford it. They were threatening to break Abbotts patent and produce a generic version locally in order to treat more patients. The two sides reached an agreement as Abbott agreed to significantly reduce the price per patient and the government agreed to honor the patent.

White points out that while this situation ended well for both parties involved, this issue should not be forgotten. He writes, we cannot let the agreement end discussion of the ideas involved; it is essential that we consider their implications so as to avoid situations that might not be so fortunately resolved. What hangs in the balance is how the world will continue to develop the medicines it needs.

He also writes about the need for a balance to exist between innovation and access to medicine:

The negotiation raised a well-worn chorus of criticisms of the patent system, but failed to address the underlying question: how would our society continue to progress without it? The problem is that our global needs and global systems are in conflict. This threatens to harm one goal, innovation, in the name of another, access to medicine. Access is the goal the world cares about and one taken seriously by innovator companies (those that conduct research and development of new medicines) that have made significant contributions to this end across the developing world – from building healthcare infrastructure in Africa, to drastic price cuts that have benefited a wide range of countries, including Brazil. But it must be recognized that access is inseparable from innovation: without access, innovation is meaningless; without innovation, there is nothing to have access to.

White concludes by quoting President Abraham Lincoln, The patent system added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius. The patent system exists so that innovation can continue. So scientists discoveries are protected.

The Main Health And Nutritional Pros And Cons of Considering A Vegetarian Diet

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Just as the saying goes, “You are what you eat,” and just what you put into your body is exactly what your body gives back to you. So, if you’re feeling unhealthy, drink and also smoke lots, consume junk food, and tend not to get sufficient rest, expect that you may most likely experience health difficulties when you become Forty. A vegetarian dish contains only fruits or vegetables, and doesn’t take into account eating any type of animal meat products, including milk and eggs. These kinds of meals also include grains as well as nuts.
Moving to a vegan diet, nevertheless, is not easy. The body might be accustomed to consuming lean meat and chicken, which might help make us long for them during the first few days of starting the diet program.

An individual gets into a vegetarian diet plan for several good reasons. It could possibly be because of health factors. They could have developed a health ailment which demands them to adjust their eating habits. Alternatively, it may be they finally decided to lose extra weight quickly and opt for a vegan or semi vegan diet regime. For other individuals, spiritual values as well as their advocacy’s is another reason. A few religions like Buddhism encourages their followers to not consume any kind of meat. They feel that it takes much of the earth’s resources in order to produce meat. It requires land, gas, water in order to fulfill our appetites with premium cut steaks and tenderloins. Becoming a vegetarian is their easy method of looking after the earth not wanting things which are even dangerous to their well being.

Other people believe in protecting the rights of animals, and is another common reason. Many think animals have emotions, and they deserve the right to live and not just to fill our daily consumption.

Varieties of Vegetarians

Not every vegetarians follow a strict diet of never eating any kind of meat products. Here are different sorts of vegetarians:

Vegan – are individuals that strictly adhere to a no meat product on their diet, that includes eggs as well as dairy products. You will find two kinds of vegans, the dietary and strict. Strict vegans don’t want anything to do with any kind of products created from animals such as accessories, apparels and make up. Dietary vegans are only those who restrict having animal dietary products.

Lacto-vegetarian – they consume only vegetable-based meals, but are actually not a 100% vegan diet as they still eat dairy products, but still avoid meats and eggs.

Lacto-ovo Vegetarian – these types of vegetarians include dairy and egg products, but still stick to no meat food products.

Ovo Vegetarians – this diet includes no eggs, but no dairy products. They do not in any way take any egg products.

Flexitarians – these vegetarians eat meat on certain occasions, but only white meat such as fishes and also poultry products. They also welcome having dairy products, in moderate helpings.

Disadvantages of a Vegetarian Diet

Just before we all tackle the benefits of having a vegetarian diet regime, it is actually best to understand their down sides first. This is not to make you think twice, but to understand how you can manage a vegetarian diet. Health risks may only be acquired based on the nutrients and vitamins which might be removed in your diet.

Protein is abundant in poultry and meats. Our body tends to make up about 75 percent of protein, and an average individual is expected to take in 40 to 65 grams each day to preserve a healthy diet. Protein is undoubtedly vital to assist us repair our tissues, protect against infection, and also heal wounds. If we eliminate protein from our diet program, we would likely end up getting reoccurring illnesses, circulatory problems, as well as anemia.

Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, acids and it’s well known all of us should really try to eat fish at least twice a week. This kind of fat is actually good and also will help stop plaque buildup within the heart, and also hardening of the heart walls, known as atherosclerosis. Omega-3 fatty acids can also help eliminate depression and also inflammation.

Iron is also within meat products. Reducing your iron absorption can lower your immune method, causes you fatigue, and hemorrhage.

Calcium is largely present in dairy products. Though, it may also be found in soy products, tofu, and also legumes, it is still crucial that you take in adequate calcium every day. The risk of low calcium intake frequently results in hypertension and osteoporosis, particularly in ladies that are on their postmenopausal stage.
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient which is found in both your meat and also dairy products. Having a deficiency of Vitamin B12 may result in brain nerve damage or anemia, cardiovascular diseases, along with a high risk of getting dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin B12’s ultimate health benefit is to promote brain health as well as change carbohydrates to sugar for energy.

Advantages of Vegetarian Diet

A vegan diet is very beneficial to one’s health, just as long as you take alternative supplements for the vitamins and nutrients that you are lacking from your diet. It may also prevent you from acquiring typical diseases related to the steroids and bad chemicals that are injected into our poultry as well as meats that are both carcinogenic.

Many vegetables and fruit contain anti-cancer properties, like terpenoids, liminoids, and also carotenoids, that decrease the threat of acquiring malignant and benign cancer, boost the immune system, and raise antioxidant activities. Vegetables and fruits contain a large quantity of flavonoids, a potent antioxidant, which reduces the danger of heart attack, atherosclerosis, reduces build-up of plaques in both the heart artery and also carotid arteries to the brain, and also prevents hypertension.

Vegetarian diets are low in fat and calories, but don’t guarantee a healthy weight because some fruits and vegetables contains more fat and calories compared to lean meat and dairy products. Vegetarian diets may well be healthy in some points, but over doing it might provide even greater health risks. It’s important that you still retain a balanced and healthy diet so that you can achieve your optimum health.

An Open Letter To President Obama On Health Care Reform And What It Means To My Family

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Mr. President:

I know that you are a very busy man so I will try to keep my questions about health care reform and the recently passed legislation as short and simple as possible.

– I could ask you why you think this is a good piece of legislation even though I truly believe that it will be a failure and will come very close to bankrupting the country. The basis for my conclusion has nothing to do with political partisanship (in fact, I have never voted for a Republican for national office in my life.) From my perspective, “Obama Care” never effectively addressed the root causes of our escalating health care costs: Americans eat too much of the wrong kinds of food, they exercise far too little, they are overweight, they smoke too much, and they are getting older. This legislation does not address these causes, it just raises taxes and moves money around within the bureaucracy. I could ask you about this but I will not.

– I could ask you why you have not stepped forward and denounced those in your party that have likened Americans like myself, i.e. those that have legitimate and honest concerns about this health care reform bill, to the racists who fought against the civil rights movement from the 1960s. I thought that we lived in a free country where citizens could freely address their elected representatives without being slurred in the most debasing way possible, just for having a different opinion. Your lack of fortitude to oppose those Democrats who frequently use the term “racist” to malign myself and those Americans expressing their honest opposition, cheapens the bravery and contributions of those from long ago that fought actual racism. I could ask you about this but I will not.

– I could ask you why you felt it necessary to pass this legislation by the back door called reconciliation. This is a major, major issue in the country that will affect every American for decades to come. Sneaking it in the back door, without using the traditional, time honored method of passing laws in his country, belittles the approach and makes it look like it was forced through without the full weight of the democratic process behind it. I could ask you about this but I will not.

Here is what I will ask you about. But first, some background facts:

– Let me reiterate that both my wife and myself have never voted for a Republican for national office in our lives.

– We both spent several decades of our lives working hard for AT&T, retiring several years ago, secure in our thinking that AT&T’s promise of health care benefits and coverage for our long years of service was a good bet.

– We both try to eat well, we exercise at our local YMCA on an almost daily basis, neither of us smoke, and we rarely drink. In other words, we take personal responsibility for our health and our health care.
One reason for our personal responsibility behavior is that we are on a high deductible insurance plan with AT&T. We are each responsible for the first $1,200 of our annual health care costs before we get any insurance coverage at all. However, for this personal responsibility, we also pay nothing in annual premiums.

– During the debate leading up to the passage of health care reform, you reiterated more than once that those of us that currently had health care coverage would be able to keep it. However, in a recent article in Fortune magazine, the CEO of AT&T, Randall Stephenson, was interviewed (several pages of the article are attached). Towards the end of the interview, he was explicitly asked whether AT&T would consider dropping health care insurance coverage for its employees and retirees. His response made it clear that this was a very viable option for two reasons. First, from a business profitability perspective, under the new health care reform law, “you’re better off paying the government a fine and dropping health care coverage for your employees”, improving AT&Ts bottom line. Second, he talks about “economic gravity” which appears to be code words for “if others in his industry do it, AT&T will have no choice but to do it also.”

Thus, a few quick questions for you:

1) Were you just naive when you made the comments that we could all keep our current health care insurance, not realizing the simple fact that companies are in business to make money and if this bill makes it easier for them to make more money by not insuring their workforce, that is what they will do? Or were you being disingenuous, knowing that this would happen and deliberately misinforming the country to help get your health care reform bill passed? Naive or disingenuous, in either case you will be making millions of American voters unhappy in November and in 2012 when we are forced out of our current health care coverage and will blame you for either ignorance or arrogance in this situation.

2) I am 57 years old and my wife is 56 years old and if Mr. Stephenson does decide to terminate AT&T’s health care coverage for employees and retirees, where do you suggest that my wife and I get coverage? What insurance company is going to want to pick us up, and millions of other older Americans who lost their coverage, at our ages even though we are both healthy and taking personal responsibility for our continued good health?

3) If we are forced out onto the market for health care insurance coverage, our new coverage is likely going to be much more expensive. Our annual health care costs will go from a maximum of $1,200 each to a minimum of several thousand dollars each. Is this how you planned to reduce health care costs for middle class America? Is so, then you need to explain the math to me. Maximum of $1,200 to a minimum of several thousand dollars, does not make sense out here in the real world. How does this reduce the escalating health care costs for the 90% of Americans that already had health care insurance prior to the passage of this bill?

Thus, I am not going to ask you about why you and the rest of Congress did not address the root causes of high health care costs in your legislating process. I am not going to ask why you have sat back and been silent while those Americans with legitimate and honest dissent against this bill have been likened to racists by members of your party. I thought you represented all Americans, not just those that agreed with your policies. I will not ask you about why you did not have the courage and guts to pass this legislation the right way, through the front door like every other piece of legislation, but instead snuck it through the back door of reconciliation.

However, I will ask you or your staff to contact me and explain where and how I can get health care coverage at my age if AT&T and the rest of corporate America decides it is a better economic choice to pay a government fine than to cover their employees and retirees with health insurance. I will ask you to explain whether you were naive or disingenuous when explaining that we would be able to keep our current health insurance coverage. And finally, please explain how paying no more than $1,200 a year under my current coverage (with many years paying nothing for coverage during healthy years) is a better deal then finding new coverage at my age and paying several thousand dollars a year for the privilege.

Although I have written to the White House many times, I have never received any answer to my questions on a wide variety of topics even though you promised to have the most open and responsive administration of all time. That has not happened yet. However, in this case I do require, in fact I demand specific answers to my three questions above. For your political sake I hope to receive those answers before early November and certainly before 2012.

Thank you for your time,

Walter “Bruno” Korschek

[Follow up note: a month after sending this to the White House, no answers to the questions have been received or even a simple confirmation that this letter was received has been forthcoming from the Obama adminstration.]

Better Male Organ Performance with 5 Easy Workout Tips

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The idea of male organ exercises might conjure up images of painful pushups or yoga poses that directly involve the manhood – an unlikely scenario. However, that doesn’t mean that there are no real exercises available that can help to boost male organ health and promote better performance, as well as overall function and aesthetic appeal. Here are five simple exercises that most men can do at home to amp up his bedroom skills – of course, all men who do not already exercise regularly should check with their doctor before embarking on any kind of physical health regimen.

1. Crunch It.

Half of a man’s male organ is tucked up inside the body cavity. If that man is carrying a spare tire up front, even more of his fabulous member could be buried in the fat. Exercises that target the core muscles of the abdomen might not make the male organ stronger, but as the fat melts away, the unit can seem longer and much more impressive. Not only that, but building core muscles can help improve stamina, lead to harder tumescence, and promote more powerful releases.

Standard crunches can bring this transformation about, and thankfully, anyone who participated in grade-school gym knows how to complete these exercises. Those who want to look at the floor, rather than they sky, can flip around and do pushups for the same effect.

2. Try Yoga.

While pushups and sit-ups are part of the collective memory of almost every student, few adults know much about yoga unless they’ve taken a class. But investing a few hours learning some techniques and poses could be a smart move. After all, a significant amount of intimate performance involves confidence and focus, and a lack of stress. Studies suggest that a daily yoga habit can help people to leave the concerns of the day behind when needed, and that might allow the male organ to do its work without worries about daily life intruding on the intimate moment.

3. Get it Moving.

A healthy, functional male organ relies on a deep and constant supply of blood that comes from a rapidly beating heart. Without this flow, the male organ is a sad and flaccid thing, but with it, the results are long and strong. Engaging in cardiovascular exercise can allow that heart to flex when it’s needed, and these exercises can also be a fun way to get sweaty with a partner. Good options include:

Running
Biking
Swimming
Dancing
Skating

4. Take Advantage of the Firmness.

Not all male organ exercises involve sweating and classrooms. In fact, many of the most effective exercises are completely private and sweat free. For example, working on the muscles that line the pelvic floor can lead to tumescence that lasts for hours and hours on end, and those exercises can be done in the wee hours of the morning in the privacy of the bedroom.

During a morning wood episode, a squeeze of the pelvic floor muscles causes the rod to do a little jump. Incorporating a few squeezes throughout the day, when bouts of firmness occur, can keep those muscles hopping, and they might be capable of delivering some intense pleasure.

5. Rest and Reward.

All of these exercises can keep the tool firm and healthy, but it’s important to nourish those tissues between workouts. People who haven’t exercised for long periods of time, or who push their bodies to the limit during a workout, can deplete their stores of vital nutrients the male organ needs in order to deliver signals of pleasure.

A male organ health creme (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) can help. These products, when applied directly to the skin of the male organ, can deliver targeted nutrition that is specially formatted for the needs of the male tissue, keeping the cells firing in the proper manner. No nutrition is wasted in a trip through the digestive system when a male organ health creme is at play. Instead, all of that goodness is placed right where it’s needed, making these products a perfect compliment to any guy’s workout.