Exercise With a Partner or Friend

Posted by Charlie Prost on November 27th, 2010

A diet is a program that has to be taken seriously. If you are fat and obese, the best weight loss program should begin with the right attitude. Just imagine if you are trying to be thin yet have the wrong reasons to be one. Being overweight is a matter of choice, the drive to be thinner is also your choice. There are thousands of diet programs in the market. Each of these will bring you closer to the best body that you want them to be. However, with the wrong reasons you will get nowhere. Analyze and see yourself in being fat. Would you like to be that way for the rest of your life? Would you like to get diseases that could harm your life? Would you simply want to stay unhealthy? If all of your answers to these questions are no, then you are on the right frame of mind. A good idea is something that you want to do for yourself and not about what others want you to do. Start off the weight loss regimen with the right frame of mind and you will definitely be on your way to losing all the excess pounds.

A good workout program would be the best accompaniment to a diet program. There are hundreds of exercise routines that you can use. The best routine, however, is one that you can be able to with a friend or a partner. Hey, having someone to chat and talk around with while doing those physical workouts will help alleviate the stresses of the fitness program. Statistics have shown that at least 45 percent of women who exercise with a friend are more likely to lose more pounds.

Here are some of the finest workout routines that you can do with a friend.

  1. Take sides. This exercise routine is targeting the areas of the butt and the thighs. Stand facing your friend and grasp each other’s hands. Lunge to the side and move lower until the butt is practically hovering between a few inches above the ground. Pause, for a few seconds, on that position and sit. Then cross the extended leg over the other bent leg and pull stand while pulling against your partner. Repeat the action on the other side. Then switch the exercise for your partner to do it.
  2. The belly buster exercise. Working on the abs and the hips is the focus of the exercise. Simply lie to face up with your heads on opposite sides. Both of your right hips should be aligned with each other. Extend both your hands until you are holding on to each other while the legs are positioned straight up to the sky. Lift your hips off the ground and lower the legs on a 45 degree angle. While raising the hips switch to the other side. This means that the left side of the hips should now be aligned with your partner.
  3. Ally arabesque is an exercise that will help tone the muscles of the back, the butt, thighs and the calves. Stand facing your partner, the distance between the two of you should be at least an arm’s length away from each other. Grasp each other’s hand with both your butts being squeezed with pressure. Lift on leg behind you, your partner should also mirror that action on the other end. The toes of the raised leg should be pointed and tense. Repeat the action on the other leg.

Treating Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Posted by Charlie Prost on November 26th, 2010

There are many ways one may try to control or treat Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Some require a specialized helping hand, while others you can practice on your own in the comfort of your home or at work. Depending on how severe your condition may be after an attack it is advisable that you seek professional help to define and get to the root cause of your panic or anxiety attack. This will enable you to find out information on and get advised on what may be best to take up in light of your physical health.

  1. Your Physical health is also a main concern when taking part in any treatment, and you should not take part in any form of treatment that could ultimately harm your physical health as you work on your mental health.
  2. The two, your mental and physical health should be worked on at the same time as they are intertwined and linked to your general well-being, that is to say, neither one can or should be left to fail as this will bring down the other; They should be both in balance.

The following are a few types of treatment one may take up after getting first hand go ahead from a personal doctor or physician:

Self Help Treatment

  • Learn the art of and practice relaxation techniques. These may be through following systems discussed in literature or audio self-help recordings by experts in the area.
  • Learn the art of and use of cognitive therapy sourced from written literature.
  • Opening up to an open and willing family member or close friend who you can discuss with and talk about your feelings, fears and anxiety that you are going through. It may even be someone who you may have found to have suffered from a similar condition.
  • A self-help group may be easier to open to and communicate with as all of the participants will be facing similar situations, and be open and ready to relate more with your problems.

Psychotherapy This is a method is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy which may be done in groups or individually for a period of time. It enables one to understand, come to terms with and control ones anxieties.

Medication

  • This is where you may be prescribed Tranquilizer type of medicines that are very effective sedative drugs that should only be taken for a short period of time due to their highly addictive nature.
  • Antidepressants may also be prescribed by a doctor but one should expect to suffer side-effects such as nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth or and constipation.
  • In order to control physical symptoms of anxiety such as shaking, a physician may prescribe reduced controlled doses pf beta blockers that are usually used to treat high blood pressure.

Learn to Massage Away Upper Back Pain

Posted by Charlie Prost on November 26th, 2010

Do you have a terrible ache between your shoulder blades? Many people suffer from upper back pain. Thin muscles in your back called rhomboids run from your spine to your scapula or shoulder blades. These muscles help hold your scapula to your back and help you keep your back straight.

In our bodies, we have opposing muscles. Opposing muscle act against each other working together to help keep your body aligned. The opposing muscles to your rhomboids are your pectoral muscles. Your pectoral muscles are strong, thick muscles that have a tendency to become short and tight pulling your shoulders forward, rounding your upper back and stretching out your rhomboids. When your rhomboids are stretched tightly the fibers restrict blood flow causing upper back pain.

In order to massage yourself to get rid of this pain try massaging your pectoral muscles. Pectoral muscles are located in the your chest. The muscle you’ll be able to focus on is the pectoralis major. The pectoralis major runs across the chest starting at the clavicle or collarbone and running down the sternum. Then it runs across the chest and attaches to the upper arm. Loosening this tight muscle will allow your rhomboids to become un-stretched and return to their original state allowing blood to flow freely in the muscle.

  • Start by using your opposite hand to massage your chest just under your clavicle. Use the pads of your fingers to make small firm circular strokes. Do this three times starting from the outer edge of the clavicle and massaging all the way across to your sternum.
  • Now starting at your sternum use the pads of your fingers to massage across the pectoralis major. Start at the sternum and glide across to the attachment point in the upper arm using firm pressure. You can simply glide across the muscle or make small circles. If you are a woman you shouldn’t use firm pressure to massage breast tissue. Instead of going all the way across the chest massage from the sternum and stop at about one to two inches from the sternum where breast tissue begins. Do this about three times down the length of the sternum.
  • Now that you’ve loosened up that area let’s move on to the attachment point. If you put your opposite hand in your armpit close to your ribcage you can feel where the pectoralis major runs from your chest to your upper arm. Grab that area of muscle, squeeze it between your thumb and fingers while pulling it slightly. Don’t put your hand way up in your armpit and massage because this area is quite sensitive and has a lot of important nerves that are close to the surface.

Repeat this massage on the opposite side.

  • Once you’ve completed the massage stretch your chest muscles out by placing your arms at right angles on a door frame and leaning forward for a nice even stretch.

Keeping your muscles balanced will help eliminate your upper back pain for good.

Ideas For Treating Panic Attacks

Posted by Charlie Prost on November 26th, 2010

Despite major advances in medical knowledge the causes of a panic attack are still something of a mystery. The fact that an episode can happen to an otherwise healthy person, as well as someone who is depressed, does not help with identifying the cause. Panic attacks tend to occur in a random pattern and can happen at any time, even while you are relaxed or not feeling stressed. When considering a treatment method each case will be different and will need to consider lifestyle, symptoms, frequency etc. Some recognised treatments include psychotherapy, medication and (CBT) cognitive behavioural therapy. Other more alternative treatments can also include relaxation techniques, meditation and natural herbal remedies. It could be that the best treatment comes from using a combination of different methods.

Here are a few ideas to consider:

  • Medication, First of all you need to be aware that anti-anxiety medication should only be used when someone has already been diagnosed as suffering from anxiety or panic attacks. Some medications can bring relief quite quickly. These are generally anti-anxiety and include Klonopin, Ativan, Xanax. To combat depression medication will need to be taken over a longer period of time before the results can be seen. These could include Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa and Zoloft. Not all medication will suit everyone. If you are unhappy with the effects of your medication go back and ask to try a different one.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    Panic attacks, and related disorders, respond well to psychotherapy. CBT has been used very effectively in reducing, or completely removing, the symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack. If someone has panic attacks CBT works by focussing the thoughts away from the negative towards the positive whilst also changing how they react to the situation that triggered the attack. As I mentioned earlier, one or both of these methods may be needed for an effective treatment.

  • Meditation – Relaxation

    Meditation and relaxation techniques have been practiced for centuries to reduce stress, calm the mind and bring a sense of well-being. The key is regular practice for the best results. One-off or irregular sessions will not give you the best chance of success. Yoga classes do not cost much and are available just about everywhere now. Reiki is another very effective way of way of relaxing and is growing in popularity.

  • Natural Herbal Remedies

    A range of proprietary herbal remedies are now readily available to help with anxiety and panic attacks. You can find remedies containing herbs such as chamomile, St. Johns Wort, gingko biloba, bacopin, plus others. All of which can be useful in reducing stress and anxiety. You can also make a tea using fresh leaves if they are available.

These are just a few ideas to get you started in finding a treatment for panic attacks. Absolutely anyone can have an anxiety or panic attack but there are answers to finding the most suitable treatment.

While you can’t personally re-grow the hair on your child’s head (and we know you would if you could!) there’s much you CAN do to ease the strain, understand and support your child and yourself. Nobody ever thinks about the possibility of hair loss as part of his or her child’s life. But once it becomes a part of yours, whether from chemotherapy or from a hair loss disease like alopecia areata, your child is going to need your help … and you are going to need help, too. And, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), the older the child, the more help and understanding your child will need. “As parents, we felt powerless. We could not grow hair on our child’s head and we could not discover new drugs that would provide an effective hair loss treatment. We could, however, raise money that would fund research that hopefully one day would do both of those things,” explain Wendy & Brian Ter Haar, parents of a grown child who suffered alopecia areata from a young age. The NAAF advises on ways to become an advocate for your child and other hair loss sufferers by reaching out to lawmakers and your community, educating your child’s school about hair loss, and especially diseases like alopecia areata along with tips for supporting your child. While many organizations exist, you can create awareness and fundraise on your own for any hair loss reason, as high-schooler Tessa Romack did In January, 2009, when she organized a head-shaving event at her school. After 70 shaves for $5 each and the sale of $2 NAAF bracelets, she raised over $2,000 for the NAAF and you can be sure that everyone at her school understood why she walked around bald! Many hair loss charities and organizations are available to support your hair loss issues. One of the biggest is the NAAF, which raises money to support research to find a cure as well as new hair loss treatments for alopecia areata. Its additional mission is to support sufferers and raise public awareness and understanding of this unpredictable, devastating hair loss disease. NAAF can help you get involved with fundraising, provide information for sufferers and the public and advocate for the concerns of those afflicted with alopecia areata. The NAAF also creates and distributes educational materials used by doctors, schools and other health professionals, which you can access for free. Anyone can fundraise for the NAAF, and most other hair loss charities and associations, and two of its most popular benefits include a Tortoise & Hair 5K & 1 Mile Run/Walk and the “Links for Locks” golf tournament which have both provided great results both financially and emotionally.

  • According to the NAAF, one of the best things you can do is get involved and find ways to educate others about the issues affecting your child. And the first step is to educate yourself about the hair loss issue that’s important to you.
  • Reach out to business leaders, health care providers, educators, civic organizations, and religious groups who share your interest and band together to find strength in numbers.
  • Join local, state or regional coalitions focused on your topic and get on their mail or email list.
  • Write letters to the editor. Check your local papers to see if they have covered your issue of interest. Let them know if you are organizing an event.
  • Attend public meetings, conferences, or “town hall” meetings held by legislators. Speak out during the public discussion portion of any town meeting that affects your issue. Ask questions. Voice concerns.
  • Get involved with your legislators. Is there an upcoming bill that affects your issue or concern? Be ready to discuss your concerns, ideas or opinions.
  • Give a donation or organize fundraisers to support your organization or its advocacy program. Vote in all elections. If any candidates represent your interests, consider joining the campaign.

If your child is suffering from a hair loss condition, no matter what the cause, it becomes important that the other people in your child’s life understand what your child is going through, too. It’s important that the kids and teachers understand that your child’s hair loss is not contagious and that it will not in itself limit your child from doing all of the activities that other children do. “When challenges are presented, it can be discouraging when resources are not readily available. The purpose of the NAAF School Packet is to provide useful information to help both teachers and parents, as it offers ideas about lesson plans, books to read, as well as feedback and insight from other teachers and parents,” says Lisa Butler, Director of Support, Public & Government Affairs for the NAAF. The NAAF has created a free children’s video that is intended for use in the home as well as the classroom. In addition most schools currently prohibit the wearing of hats within the classroom and many have adopted a school-wide “no-hat” policy. But if your child wants to wear a hat, you can apply for an exception through the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) by following the instruction sin the NAAF School Packet. You might also consider providing a “Crazy Cap Day” through the Children’s Alopecia Project or “CAP” at your school. On a specified day, everyone who wants to wear a hat pays $1 to raise awareness and funds. According to the NAAF, little ones under five years of age are generally not as affected by hair loss – it’s we adults who have to answer the questions and deal with our own feelings of pity, sorrow, guilt, or embarrassment. Once children are in Kindergarten and the primary grades of elementary school, they may be faced with curious comments or teasing which you need to be aware of. By third grade and into the teen years children become highly focused on their appearance as well as others’ appearance, which reaches its height during teen years and can be very painful. Pediatric dermatologist Nancy Easterly suggests ways to help children deal with their feelings about their hair loss:

  • Tell your child that it’s OK to feel bad, to cry.
  • Teach your kids that all kids (and adults, too!) have problems to cope with – some you can see like hair loss or skin diseases and some that you cannot see like learning disabilities. These things you overcome make you a stronger, more caring adult.
  • Explain why your child is losing their hair in the simplest terms possible depending on his/her age whether it is from medication and infection or a disease like alopecia areata.
  • Find local support groups for children with hair loss issues and join up for groups and activities.
  • Consult your child about choices when problems and feelings arise and help them follow through on appropriate actions.
  • Encourage your child to take up activities they excel at and enjoy – things that make them forget about their hair.
  • Listen to how your child is thinking and feeling about him or herself every day.

Weight Loss Programmes

Posted by Charlie Prost on November 24th, 2010

Is there any thing called permanent weight loss or guaranteed way to lose weight and remain slim. From my personal interaction with people who have taken the weight management programmes, it comes out clearly that there is no permanent solution to the issue of body weight. Every thing works for as long as you follow it. It bounces back the minute it notes that you are not serious in your efforts.

A Number of weight loss programmes including drugs and pills are being promoted in the print media, TV and the web. All promising instant results, “Learn how I lost… pounds in just a week”. Well in practise, it all does not work the way it is advertised. It might only be a sales gimmick and a trap for innocent and believing people eager to get slim.

The weight loss industry is an evergreen and thriving industry. Globally it must be a billion dollar industry. No authentic figures are available on the number of people wanting to get slim or the real income generated by the health and fitness industry. At best, it can only be guessed.

  1. Do we have weight loss programmes?

    The market is full of health and fitness programmes. Those who are eager to lose weight and gain control of their own body need not get depressed. There are some genuine programmes which, if followed religiously and regularly produce amazing results. The results for these programmes are never the same for two individuals. One cannot compare that if she lost 5 centimetres or x pounds, why it is only three centimeters or y pounds for me and so on.

  2. Are weight loss programmes successful?

    The success of any programme and more importantly the degree of success will largely depend on a number of factors. These include the quality of programme, your own life style like your diet habits, what you eat, how much you eat, how many times you eat. The nature and quantity of liquids that one consumes. It also depends upon nature of your work and work schedule. Does your work involve physical efforts or you have a desk job. Do you work sitting or standing and so on?

  3. Can diet effect the results of a weight management programme?

    Yes, most programmes target two elements, diet and physical routine. The results of any programme can be influenced by a thorough analysis of these two factors. Your daily diet, work and household routine to determining what is wrong and then substituting these with desirable healthy diet and activities. One has to therefore follow a disciplined diet and activity routines as if a doctor has prescribed them. Any misses, and you miss your target. Do not blame the programme.

  4. Do I need to consult my doctor before choosing a programme?

    Yes, it is always advisable to consult your doctor before choosing a programme. Your doctor might know your body better than you do. However it could be extremely expensive and time-consuming. You have to depend on appointments, prescriptions and paying fees for each visit. Alternatively, you could buy a known weight reduction programme and follow it rigorously. In buying a known programme, you only spend one time a

  5. nd practise it in the convenience of your home. Be careful however on what you buy.

If you are really serious to lose weight, get slim and remain that way, you should carefully explore the pros and cons of various options available and then take a considered decision. Remember it is your own body and you cannot allow it to lose its charm. Act now. Do not delay, you only live once!

You have permission to publish this article without any change what so ever electronically, in print, in your e-book, or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author by-lines are included.

Everyone entering treatment receives a clinical assessment. A complete assessment of an individual is needed to help treatment professionals offer the type of treatment that best suits him or her. The assessment also helps program counselors work with the person to design an effective treatment plan.Although clinical assessment continues throughout a person’s treatment, it starts at or just before a person’s admission to a treatment program.

The counselor will begin by gathering information about the person, asking many questions such as those about

  1. Kinds, amount, and length of time of substance or alcohol use
  2. Cultural issues around useof alcohol or drugs
  3. Effects of drug or alcohol use on the person’s life
  4. Medical history
  5. Current medical problems or needs
  6. Current medications (including pain medication)
  7. Mental health issues or behavioral problems
  8. Family and social issues and needs
  9. Legal or financial problems
  10. Educational background and needs
  11. Current living situation and environment
  12. Employment history, stability, problems, and needs
  13. School performance, problems and needs, if relevant
  14. Previous treatment experiences or attempts to quit drug or alcohol use.

The counselor may invite you, as a family member, to answer questions and express your own concerns as well. Be honest-this is not the time to cover up your loved one’s behavior. The counselor needs to get a full picture of the problem to plan and help implement the most effective treatment. It is particularly important for the counselor to know whether your family member has any serious medical problems or whether you suspect that he or she may have an emotional problem. You may feel embarrassed answering some of these questions or have difficulty completing the interview, but remember: the counselor is there to help you and your loved one. The treatment team uses the information gathered to recommend the best type of treatment. No one type of treatment is right for everyone; to work, the treatment needs to meet your family member’s individual needs. After the assessment, a counselor or case manager is assigned to your family member. The counselor works with the person (and possibly his or her family) to develop a treatment plan. This plan lists problems, treatment goals, and ways to meet those goals. Based on the assessment, the counselor may refer your family member to a physician to decide whether he or she needs Detoxification Or medical supervision to stop alcohol or drug use safely. Medically supervised withdrawal (often called detoxification or detox) uses medication to help people withdraw from alcohol or drugs.

People who have been taking large amounts of opioids (e.g., heroin, OxyContin7, or codeine), barbiturates or sedatives (”downers”), pain medications, or alcohol- either alone or together-may need medically monitored or managed withdrawal services. Sometimes, alcohol withdrawal can be so severe that people hallucinate, have convulsions, or develop other dangerous conditions. Medication can help prevent or treat such conditions. Anyone who has once had hallucinations orseizures from alcohol withdrawalor who has another serious illness or (in some cases) a mental disorder that could complicate detoxification may need medical supervision to detoxify safely. Medically supervised withdrawal can take place on a regular medical ward of a hospital, in a specialized inpatient detoxification unit, or on an outpatient basis with close medical supervision. Detoxification may take several days to a week or more. During that time, the person will receive medical care and may begin to receive education about his or her disease.

All over the world, smoking is one of the unhealthy habits that are very difficult to kick. People smoke for a variety of reasons. These reasons are mainly emotional in nature. There are smokers who smoke out of habit, and there are smokers who smoke to distract themselves from something undesirable or to comfort themselves. Quitting smoking can bring about a number of “bad behaviors,” often labeled as withdrawal symptoms. Regular sessions of hypnosis or hypnotherapy have been found to be one of the most effective, albeit requiring more time, ways to stop smoking.

Psychotherapists and hypnotists have studied hypnosis and smoking and have proven its worth effectively, helping smokers kick the habit more permanently.

There is a certain pleasure that smokers get out of puffing a cigarette. More often than not, this pleasure covers for an underlying problem a smoker has. It is getting to the root of this problem that is believed to bring a stop to the habit of smoking. Taking medications in order to stop smoking never really cures the problem. And so, even while some relief is felt out of taking these medications, the habit finds its way back. With hypnosis, the hypnotist helps the smoker get to the root of the problem by carefully unraveling the layers of issues that actually serve to mask the real reasons that bring about the urge or the need to smoke. Hypnotists like Ireland’s Paul Gill believe in using hypnosis as a viable alternative to advertised medicinal cures.

While smoking makes the smoker feel good somehow, it brings about a host of health problems. For one, it is the leading cause of lung cancer. Even second hand smokers or those who do not really derive pleasure from smoking but are exposed to the smoke coming from others’ cigarette puffs are in danger of contracting such an illness along with several other respiratory ailments. You will significantly improve the state of your health, and those around you, when you stop smoking whether through hypnosis or any other way. Your blood circulation as well as your lung function will be increased and your dangers of contracting coronary heart disease are decreased. Those who have closely researched hypnosis and smoking have found that smokers who quit smoking through hypnosis have greater likelihood of being able to do so for the long term.

Studies into hypnosis and smoking have shown a great percentage of success in stopping smoking. This is because it taps into the subconscious mind, which is what controls most of our habits. Hypnosis used in psychotherapy reprograms the subconscious mind to shun smoking and to go on a healthier pattern to deal with the issues that prompt a person to smoke in the first place. It does not take much to stop smoking through hypnosis. You only have to find a good hypnotist and commit to the process of hypnosis. It often takes quite a while with several hypnosis sessions in order to see some progress in your bid for a new smoke-free life. But, once you have reprogrammed your subconscious with the help of a hypnotist, you will never touch another stick of cigarette ever again in your life. There are very good hypnotists in Ireland, such as Paul Gill who can list a great number of successful quitters through his hypnosis treatments.

Most people are interested in spiders because of their thin and furry limbs; however, there are people who are inexplicably petrified of spiders. The actual sight of arachnids, even the little ones typical in trees, might lead to anxiety attacks in people who have arachnophobia. This is often an uncomfortable experience for many individuals, particularly those who enjoy working with wildlife. Just think how a zoo staff might react any time he encounters a large spider hanging on the branch of a tree in the cage of the monkeys he is feeding. Imagine the surprise of the individuals all around him! This is completely difficult, don’t you think so? After all, spiders abound so it’s no surprise for a few of them to appear inside a zoo a result of the many trees there.

Other people too may find themselves not able to enjoy outdoor recreation, like camping outdoors and backpacking, for fear of encountering spiders. A couple will be unable to delight in each other’s company during an outdoor trip if one of them has an unexplainable fear of seeing spiders. This could spoil their plans entirely. These are typically valid reasons why lots of people seek help to rise above their phobias through Phobias Hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy is proven as a very successful way for people to overcome their particular fears. Those who have arachnophobia might see hypnosis and neuro linguistic programming as the perfect combination to eradicate their anxieties. NLP will help a person to refocus his or her subconscious mind so that the fear associated with coming across spiders or other crawling and hairy bugs can become controllable. A hypnotherapist will help individuals see those insects as they are and wipe off any horrific mental images that create panic attacks in the first place.

Individuals who have arachnophobia may have to go through 4-10 visits to get rid of their fears thoroughly. A few may require much less while others could need more; this really is thoroughly determined by the individual’s reaction and capacity to open up their minds to suggestion. Usually, kids are much easier to hypnotise because they have not yet picked up any bias or negativity in comparison with grownups. The hypnotherapist works with the patient showing him or her how to transform behaviours to make sure that an encounter with a spider won’t become as stressful. In time people with arachnophobia will get over their fear of spiders and even find courage to touch spiders.

Well, it is always safer to start treatment the earliest time possible. The more it will take for individuals to look for help to defeat their fears, the harder it is for them to succeed in that battle. Anxiety attacks originate from deep-rooted phobias and weeding them out may become quite difficult the longer the individual waits. Hypnotherapy Melbourne can help remove your phobia of spiders instantly; book an appointment with a Melbourne Hypnotherapist right now and live the life you have always imagined.

Psychological Treatment Options

Posted by Charlie Prost on November 23rd, 2010

Every year in the UK thousands of people are diagnosed with common psychological disorders. Awareness of common psychological disorders is increasing as a result of exposure through many different forms of media. This includes storylines on premium soap operas as well as government campaigns. Increasingly the stigmas attached to these disorders are disappearing and people are more open in their attempts to seek help for them.

Treatment for common psychological disorders comes in a variety of different forms. Some people opt entirely for a drugs ailment whereas others opt for the therapy route, and in some cases is it seen as suitable to combine the two. The patient can only opt for drugs if a doctor considers that it is relevant, whereas therapy can be attended without a doctor’s authorisation. Generally the patient will prefer to obtain referral trough a doctor so that they can obtain therapy at a discounted rate or free of charge.

Below is a breakdown of the pros and cons of the different treatment options available for common psychological disorders:

DRUGS

The drug options available to the patient differ depending on the psychological disorder that is present, or is suspected to be present. Generally the patient will be started on a small dose before gradually increasing to what is considered to be a dosage that is most effective in that particular case. This is to condition the body to the drug and to minimise any potential side effects.

Pros:
• Medicine is proven to regularly have the desired result when used in the correct dosage and at the relevant times, although this is not guaranteed.
• The drug can act as a comforter to the patient. It can have the placebo effect where the patient feels a lot better just for having taken it.
This method of treatment can easily be regulated and controlled; if it is not working then the patient can just stop taking the drug.
Doctors now have vast experience of using these drugs as they are so common.

Cons:
Drugs can often have side effects, although not all people experience these. These side effects can be at their most prominent at the start of the course of medicine when the body is not used to the substance and is adapting to its presence in the system.
The patient can become dependent on the drug and the thought of stopping the course of medicine can cause a psychological issue in itself.

THERAPY

Pros:
Therapy does not have any side effects and can easily be stopped.
• It is healthy to talk to people about your issues who are understanding and sympathetic.
• Great way of building confidence.
• Therapists are professionals in the field and have vast experience in dealing with psychological issues.

Cons:
• It can be intimidating to take the first step.
• It can be frustrating if you don’t feel you cab justify your issue to the therapist
• Therapy can’t solve biological issues such as a chemical imbalance of the brain, meaning that it is not always relevant.
It can take time to get results

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