Monday, June 30, 2008

What should you do when you have a fear of leaving the house?

You have gotten ready for work, fed the dog, turned off the stove, turned off the lights, locked the doors and locked your garage. You even double checked that you did everything before finally going to work that morning. Now, you are sitting at your desk at work in a calm environment, but you can’t focus on your work. You are feeling a little worried, perhaps even perspiring a little, chewing on your pen and constantly looking at the clock wondering if you should risk a brief trip back home. What is your worry? Maybe you forgot to turn off your stove, or the lights in the living room are still on. You are also fairly certain that you forgot to feed that cute, adorable little puppy of yours. Now you are sure, you didn’t feed the dog and you left everything on. Pictures of your house on fire with your dog trapped inside start to flood your mind. Your heart races and you can’t take it anymore; you run out of the office yelling that you have an errand to run and head home as fast as you can. You get home and are relieved to see that the stove was off, as were the lights and Rover is wagging his tail after filling his belly with the food you put out for him.

There are many people out there who double check everything they do before they leave the house to try and settle their minds. Yet, even though they go through the same routine each morning to ensure that their house and/or pets are safe and secure, the safety of their home is a constant concern and distraction throughout the day. They constantly worry that their house might burn down, that their house might flood, or they will have forgotten to feed or give water to their pet. People who have these constant worries and don’t get help can lead a very worrisome life. No one should have to worry about their home and pets every day they go to work. It can be incredibly nerve racking and very damaging to pens and fingernails. The truth about suffering this kind of anxiety non-stop is that it can take its toll on the body and mind. A person could start suffering stomach aches, head aches, start to suffer heart problems and even become depressed. The constant worry can get in the way of work and social life.

Anyone realizing they might have a problem with this type of anxiety could consult an online therapist to try and get rid of the constant worry. The online therapist can work with the patient to get away from their constant worry and anxiety about the safety of their home. They can help the patient have more trust in their self. The therapist will work with the patient to calm them and help the patient be more confident that they turned everything off, fed their dog and locked the doors, so that the patient can live their life, focus on their work and have a social life.

If you or anyone that you know would like more information regarding this post, you can visit http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com or email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com

Saturday, June 28, 2008

How do you get free online counseling for your family?

When most think about counseling, they immediately think of how much counseling can cost. For some, the thought of how much a counseling session will cost is simply an excuse, but for others it is a matter that is actually getting in the way of getting the help they need. There are many reasons for getting counseling, including issues that have to do with mental health, family issues, and issues at work and so on. Thanks to online counseling, the barrier between the financially strapped and the help they need is slowly disappearing as more qualified counselors are offering some of their services online for free. In today’s world, this is a blessing for many families because they have many issues that they need to work out in order to make their family unit stronger; online family counseling can help them make this happen.

Exactly what a family may have issues with will depend on their circumstances, the age of their children, the independent lives of each spouse involved in the relationship, to name a few. Many families will not get the help that they need, for whatever reasons including embarrassment, the belief that counseling will not help the situation and so on; however, families who do go into counseling with the goal of improving the relationships within the family will often come out stronger as a result. This is because they have gone through the steps with the family counselor in order to make the changes they need so that everyone within the family are happier. Depending on the issue(s), it could be many months of counseling, or it could only be a few weeks; whether or not a family responds positively to the counseling will depend on how serious the members in the family are in correcting whatever it is that is causing the issue(s).

Many families in the past have broken up because they never really thought to give family counseling a chance. It could have been that they didn’t feel it would help, that their issues were unique and not fixable, and it could even have been that they didn’t have the money; today there is a more convenient way for families to get some of the help they need. Online family counseling is becoming more popular all the time as a way for families to sort out their problems, regardless of what they are. Free online family counseling is available in many forms, including forums, chat rooms, instant messaging and so on; many of these are free so that families who are tight financially are able to get the help that they need. There are a number of online family counselors who are aware that not everyone can afford their fees, so they have offered these options to families who are looking for help who would otherwise have to forgo the counseling they need. All a family has to do is go online and do a quick search for a website where an online counselor will offer some of their services for free. More and more families are taking advantage of this all the time and are getting the help they need.

If you or anyone you know would like more information regarding this post, feel free to visit http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com/ or email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

What should you do when you lose your appetite?

The with epidemic of obesity plaguing North America, it can come as a surprise to many that there are a number of people who suffer from excessive weight loss. There are many common reasons for this, including eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, depression, too much stress and anxiety. Of course, there is the possibility that someone who has a sudden loss of appetite could very well be suffering from a physical terminal illness; there are some people who have a sudden loss of appetite that are physically healthy, but do not feel that they are suffering from any kind of depression.

For anyone to be able to function properly, as well as be physically and mentally healthy, they have to eat enough to give their body what it needs in order to keep running. With nutrient deficiencies, the body can be open to more sicknesses and problems than if it had everything that it needed. The body is supposed to crave food in the form of hunger when it is running low on the fuels it needs. This is then supposed to lead a person to have something to eat. People who suffer from a loss of appetite seem to be missing this connection. Their body might be hungry, but their mind is not telling them that they should eat. Even if the person believes that they are mentally fit, not having a decent appetite is not normal. This can lead to worse problems that may eventually lead to depression or other eating disorders such as anorexia. Without enough food to fuel the body, a person can become fatigued, irritable, edgy and/or lethargic. Not having the appetite to eat enough means that something is not right. It could be that you might be a little overstressed, a little depressed; a loss of appetite is usually caused by something even if the individual doesn’t believe so.

Someone who finds they are starting to lose weight, but don’t understand why they don’t feel hungry should seriously consider consulting a therapist sooner than later. If the problem is dealt with soon enough, this can reduce the amount of damage done to the body caused by a lack of proper nutrition. Someone with a concern like this can easily contact an online therapist from their computer at home. The consultation does not have to take place downtown in the therapist’s or counselor’s office. As long as an internet connection is obtainable, contact with the online therapist can be made. The online therapist can communicate with the patient and work to find out why this person would have such a loss of appetite as to cause a loss of weight. In most cases, the online therapist will be able to find the reason after communicating with the patient and will be able to help the patient find their appetite again. When the cause of the loss of appetite has been found and dealt with, the patient will usually start to get their appetite back.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Is there medication for alcohol dependency?

There are so many people in North America that abuse a substance, many of whom refuse to get the help they need for various different reasons. Some believe that they don’t deserve to help themselves and feel they are destined to continue down the path that fate has apparently chosen for them. There are some people who refuse to get help because they are unable to accept that they have a problem that they need to get help for. Then, there are others who are unaware of the help that is available to them. While there is still much about the brain that is not understood, there are therapists who can help people with addictions to fight those addictions. There are also many different medications available to help people fighting their addictions to become independent of the drug they are addicted to.

Alcohol dependency can be one of the more difficult to treat. Alcohol is an acceptable social drug that most people will partake in at parties, different social functions, or even on a romantic evening. When people develop a dependency on the alcohol, they can be in denial that they have a problem. Others around them, such as family and friends, might try to help them out of it, but as the problem continues they start to disappear. Many alcoholics don’t seek help, remain in their denial, lose everything they have and eventually become isolated from their previous life. Some are even given the option to get help; they talk to therapists, counselors and psychiatrists who offer their help, but the individual turns them down instead of listening to them and opening themselves up to the help that is offered.For a person to get out of their dependency, they first have to realize that they have a problem. They then have to get the help that they need.

There are skilled therapists and counselors who can help a person who wants help, and there are also medications out there that can act as a crutch to help them get through the treatment until they gain control of themselves and get out of their dependency. Disulfiram, also referred to as antabuse, is one medication that is available to people fighting an addiction to alcohol. This particular medication is only a temporary treatment in most cases that is used while seeing a therapist or a counselor. What is does is cause an acute sensitivity to alcohol. This means that when the person is taking the medication, if they have a drink they feel nauseous and sick.Anyone who believes they are suffering from a dependency on alcohol should seek help as soon as possible. The sooner they get help, the more chance they have in fighting their addiction. Many people avoid seeking help from a therapist or counselor in person because they feel a little uneasy, nervous or self-conscious about it. Online therapy is available to people who would rather communicate with a therapist or counselor in a more discreet manner. An online therapist will work with the patient to get away from their dependency and also deal with the possible reasons why someone has become dependent. An online therapist or counselor will also be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns about disulfiram or any other medication someone might be thinking of taking.

If you or anyone else you know would like information regarding this post, you can visit http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com or email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com

Friday, June 20, 2008

How to parent through communication?

The thought of becoming a parent can be one of the most exciting thoughts for a young couple, especially if they are newly married. Starting a family is something that many couples seriously think about, though many will often forget that good parenting can be a lot of work. The work is little trouble for parents who enjoy being close to their children and who cultivate healthy relationships with their spouses and children. A large part in creating strong bonds within a family and having healthy relationships between all involved is good communication. Many families have run into trouble as a result of poor communication, which can lead to misunderstandings and even the breakup of a family.

There are many aspects of parenting that people will tend to forget or feel that is of little importance, and communication is one of them. Good communication will build trust, honesty and help the children develop better social skills that will make their life easier. Poor communication can lead to a breakdown within the family unit. In cases where poor communication exists in the family, the parents will not take the time to listen to their children, just as they don’t take the time to listen to each other, and children who ask why something is will only get the answer “because I said so” or just “because”, which can lead to frustration in the child. Children are smart and while parents will accept that children are smart to a degree, they will not to give their children the credit for their intelligence that they deserve. Children are constantly learning, and to learn about life, about their family and about themselves, they need to ask questions in order to get the answers they are searching for. As time goes on and parents continue to limit their communication with their children, their children start to look for answers on their own as they become frustrated with their parents who don’t seem to know anything. Communication breakdown like this will often cause rifts in the relationship between the parents and the children, especially when the children reach their teenage years and start to become more independent as they become adults.

Any family therapist that a troubled family talks to will say that communication is one of the key elements to having a good family relationship and a strong family unit. Without the good communication, the foundation for building and maintaining that strong bond between parent and child is gone. When starting a family, or even before starting a family, consulting an online family counselor or therapist about how to develop good communication skills with children will help to prepare the couple for parenthood. It will also set them on track to developing a healthier and more permanent relationship with their children. This will not only help to maintain a good relationship between the parents and the child, it will also help to keep the child on track to having a more successful and productive life. Children of parents who take the time to communicate with them, and help them to find the answers to any questions they may have, will often feel more secure and confident in life.

If you or anyone that you know would like more information on this post, you can visit http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com or email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

How to help someone with bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a kind of depression that can be difficult to handle, especially for those who don't have a good understanding of what it is. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a condition where a person will go through lows of depression and then highs of mania or irritability. People will bipolar disorder will appear hyper in both speech and action during the high and then appear lethargic during a low. They will lack much of a social life, will feel irritable, have mood swings, sometimes have impulsive behavior, have racy thoughts and not sleep as much as they used to. Someone with this disorder will often exhibit two or more of these signs, but few will notice it at first because few understand that these symptoms could be a warning of this kind of disorder.Bipolar disorder will often develop during the younger years; it could show up in childhood, adolescence and even as late as the early twenties. There is speculation that bipolar disorder could be genetic and is triggered in people with it after they have been through a stressful and/or traumatic situation. It is also thought that drug abuse could trigger it as well.

Many who have this particular disorder will not find help, probably because they don't personally feel that they might have a problem. When left untreated, however, a person's marriage could be ruined, as well as their schooling, their career and their social life. They can become aggressive, pessimistic and negative toward most things. People will start to avoid them because they will take the fun out of life around them. Someone who has a friend or a family member should do their best to get this person into counseling. There is, really, very little that a person can do for someone who has bipolar disorder. In most cases, all a person can do is to be as supportive as they can while they try to get this person interested in going counseling. What a person can do is to find out all they can about bipolar disorder so that they can find out if this person really is suffering from this kind of depression.

Online counselors are available to answer any questions and concerns that a person may have regarding the illness. One a person determines whether or not they think their friend or family member is possibly suffering from bipolar disorder, than they might be able to persuade the person to consult a counselor. Many people with this kind of disorder will not want to accept that there is anything wrong, so convincing them to see a counselor can be a hard task, but it must be done. Most will be more open to the idea of consulting an online counselor, because it is convenient and also because they won't have to take too much time and effort to go see a counselor in person. If they can be persuaded to give online counseling a try, they just might be able to get the help and treatment they need.

If you or anyone that you know would like more information regarding this post, feel free to visit http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com or email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com

Monday, June 16, 2008

Is your child a compulsive liar?

It is natural for kids to lie on occasion, but to lie all the time for no reason can cause concern and trouble for the parents. If left untreated, it can cause unrest in the family because trust is broken. No one wants to think that their child is a compulsive liar, but there are some who are. How does one tell if their child is a compulsive liar? Well, they will lie all the time, make up stories, exaggerate, manipulate the truth and hide the truth. While most kids will sometimes lie because they fear getting into trouble, compulsive liars will lie for no apparent reason. They could have told the truth, but they instead felt the need to make up a tall story in place of the truth.
There are many reasons why a child may become a compulsive liar and though many parents of compulsive liars would not want to admit it, they are one of the main reasons why their child has developed the behavior. It could be that in the past, regardless of whether a child told the truth or not, they were yelled at and punished; there was never a reward for telling the truth, so the child learns that if they just lie they might get through the day without punishment. Another reason why a child may develop into a compulsive liar is because they have learned the behavior from somewhere. Most people are well aware that children will learn behavior and habits from their parents because they are who the children look up to as role models, which means that if the parent lies all the time, the child will most likely follow suit. The last reason why a child might become a compulsive liar is because they were encouraged into the behavior, though not intentionally. In this case, the child has told a lie and then was confronted in a hostile manner, which only causes the child to stick to their lie because they are scared of the punishment awaiting them if they tell the truth. A good way to keep out of this cycle is to give the child a chance to tell the truth without the worry of harsh punishment. In most cases, rewarding the child for telling the truth in the form of light punishment after making them understand the wrong they did will encourage them to learn from their mistakes and be more honest in the future.
Parents who are dealing with a child who is a compulsive liar would do best to consult a counselor. Online counselors are available, as well as online family counselors who can help a family deal with the compulsive liar. Dealing with a situation like this will require the effort of both the parents and the child to work together in order to rebuild the trust that has been lost. The online counselor will also work closely with the family to help prevent a relapse in the future. Rebuilding trust that has been lost is never an easy, but it can be done if a family is serious about staying together and improving their relationships with one another so that they can have a happy future together.
If you or someone that you know would like more information about this article, you can visit http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com or email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com

Friday, June 13, 2008

What is Bi-polar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a serious type of depression that will cause someone to fall into highly irritable moods for a period of time, and then drop into a very deep depression for another period of time. This type of depression or illness is not as common as some might think, being as only about one percent of the population is affected. There does not appear to be a particular gender or age range that is affected more than others; in fact, it is found in just as many men as women and will typically develop during the teenage years. It is a serious condition that when left untreated will not only greatly affect the life of the person who has it, it will also greatly affect those who care for them. The cause of bipolar disorder or manic depression is not yet known. Research on the causes of depression continues, but there are treatments available for people who suffer bipolar disorder. It is just a matter of accepting that one has an illness and that treatment is necessary in order to get relief from the disorder. Bipolar disorder is one of the more serious kinds of depression, because it includes such a drastic change in mood, from a deep depression to a hyper and highly irritable mood in a short period of time. This hyper mood is often referred to as mania and the difference between the depression and mania can be a mild to severe change. Much research is being done to find out what causes bipolar disorder and why the severity appears to differ from person to person; however, there is some speculation as to whether it could be a genetic disorder, where it is passed from one generation to the next, and that high stress and traumatic events could trigger the manic and depressive episodes. People who have bipolar disorder will often show a number of symptoms, besides the depression and the irritable moods, including impulsive behavior, inflated self-esteem and confidence, will sleep less, have racy thoughts, rapid speech and extreme optimism. People with this disorder will often avoid getting the help that they need, mostly because they have difficulty in seeing that they have the disorder; however, those that do come to realize that they might have a problem can look for help and get some of the treatment that they need. Most that have bipolar disorder and get the help they need are successfully treated and are able to live better lives as a result. Online counselors are available to anyone who has questions about the disorder that they or someone they know may have. Online counselors are also available to help people with the disorder online. All a person has to do is contact an online counselor, who will then work with the patient by messaging back and forth online. More and more people are turning to online counseling and getting the help that they need while benefiting from the convenience of maintaining contact with their counseling from their home computer.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

How can you notice depression in the work place?

Depression can affect just about everyone at any age, but most adults who are affected by depression in the workplace are between the ages of 24 and 44. Many will not realize they are depressed, many will know they are probably depressed but don’t get help and only a small percentage of the people who think they might be depressed actually get the help that they need. Sometimes it takes the encouragement of an acquaintance or friend in the workplace to get a depressed person to consult a counselor, because on their own the thought of counseling might not even cross their mind. Many who are depressed and realize it worry about what others will think about them if they consult a counselor. Many individuals will avoid counseling because they don’t want to appear weak or crazy. Unfortunately, fighting those fears and consulting a counselor could go a long way to improving their mood, their outlook on life and their work performance. It doesn’t matter what job a person is in, the potential for depression is there.

Each type of job has its own stresses and monotony that can push a person into depression. As a result, many workplaces will have access to counselors so that there is someone for the employees to go to if they need someone to talk to; however, few will go to the counselor on their own, partly due to the fears mentioned above.How does one know if they or someone else is depressed? There are signs to watch out for, including irritability, lack of socializing, fatigue, lack of enthusiasm, accident prone, poor work performance, inability to concentrate, slow speech, lack of energy, tardiness, and decline of dependability. Most individuals who become depressed in the workplace will exhibit or experience two or more of these signs. Anyone experiencing or exhibiting these signs needs to consult a counselor as soon as possible. The sooner they are able to get help for their depression, the better chance they have of saving their career, doing better at their job and succeeding in their life in both the workplace and at home.

Depression is not something that can be ignored. If an individual does not want to talk to a counselor in person, which is the case with many people, they can easily consult an online counselor. This can be done during a break at work or it can be done from the computer at home. Online counseling is just like in person counseling, it is just online. The online counselor will work with the person to find out what is making them depressed and then help them learn how to deal with whatever it is that is causing the depression. Getting the help they need will not only help them, it will also help improve things in the work environment. Their performance will improve, they will become more dependable and a better mood will help to improve the overall atmosphere of the workplace. It will not only greatly benefit the individual; it will also benefit everyone around them because depression affects everyone.

If you or somebody that you know would like more information regarding this post, you can email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com or http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

What impact does depression have on your family?

There are many situations and occurrences in life that can test the strength of a family unit, including environmental factors, physical factors, mental factors, biological factors and social factors. It could be one of these factors, or a combination of two or more, that affects either one or two individuals within the family unit or the entire family unit as a whole; whatever it is that impacts the family, it can have a huge impact on the families overall mental health. Each individual will react to a high level of stress in their own way, but how they handle the stress can have a direct impact on the other members of their family.

When depression hits the family, everyone in the unit can be affected in a negative way. Millions of people throughout North America suffer from different types of depression; some of them suffer a lighter form of depression and with help they and their family are able to cope and work with it, while others suffer from more severe forms of depression that can cause a family unit to fall apart. When an individual develops depression, their family can often sense that something is off; that the individual is not quite the same person as they use to be, especially if the family is a tight-knit family. The signs might not be as obvious as soon for families that are not as close as others, but the signs soon become apparent in just about any family when a person comes down with deep depression. The other members in the family will react to the person’s depression in different ways to try and get that person out of their emotional rut, but family is not always able to help. Depending on the depression that the person has and how they choose to deal with it, the family could be adversely affected and the unit can fall apart. Rifts begin to grow into chasms, drawing each family member away from the unit they once knew. In too many cases, the person’s depression only becomes worse, especially if they choose to avoid help, self-medicate and then take out their frustrations on their family. It is unfortunate, but many family units that were once strong and close have fallen apart as a result of one or more family members becoming severely depressed.

There are many reasons why one or more members of a relatively happy family unit can become depressed, including stress, financial instability, a death in the immediate family and so on. Severe depression in relatively unhappy and dysfunctional families has a fairly obvious cause. Whatever the cause of the depression, a family does not have to be torn up over it. Even some families that think they are fine could possibly benefit greatly from a visit with a family therapist or counselor. It takes work to keep strong family ties within a unit, as well as to maintain trust, openness, and honesty; a family therapist or counselor can help a family to remain strong enough to weather through life’s many trials. It doesn’t always require a family to bring everyone into a family therapist’s office either. With online therapy, it is now possible for families to have sessions with an online family therapist in the comfort of their own home.

If you or any one that you know would like more information on this post, feel free to visit http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com or email jennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com

Monday, June 2, 2008

Can you receive online counseling for depression?

The idea of online counseling may still come as a surprise to many, especially older people who are not as familiar with the internet as younger people, but it is fast becoming the way for most people to get the help, therapy and counseling that they need. The availability of online therapy or counseling has been successful in tearing down the barriers that have kept many people from getting the help that they need. The barrier was the discomfort, mixed emotions and inability to physically go down to the therapist’s office and speak with them in person; these three reasons are what has prevented many people from seeking help for their depression, which has left many individuals suffering in silence.

Depression is a curious mental health problem that too many people are suffering. What makes it so curious is that depression is caused by different variables in different people. Some people suffer depression as a result of certain genes they have inherited from one or both of their parents, a poor social life or chemical imbalance in the brain; just to name a few. Study and research is still being done on the causes of depression as well as how to better treat it, but this does not mean that there isn’t help for people who are already suffering from some form of depression. Many people are unaware that they have depression, others are aware that there is something wrong but are unable to ask for help for any number of reasons and there are still others who know they are depressed and want help, but are not comfortable with speaking to someone in person; this could also be due to any number of different reasons. Online therapy is an option that is yet another way for depressed people to find help.

Online therapy and counseling is just like the regular therapy, but it is more confidential, because there is less of a chance that others will see the patient going to see the therapist, and it gives the patient the chance to speak to someone in their own comfort zone. The online therapists that people would go to for help for their depression are fully trained professionals who can help people find their way out of the depression they are experiencing. By the therapist exchanging messages with their patient online, they can work with the patient to first find out what the cause of their depression might be. Once a possible cause is found, the therapist can then help the patient learn to deal with these issues and help them get out of the resulting depression. Many people are still a little skeptical of online depression, but it has been around for a while, been proven to work just as well as regular therapy and is something that will probably be around for a very long time. More and more people are seeking help for their depression through online therapy because they feel more comfortable messaging someone in the privacy and comfort of their own home. Many people have been successfully treated for their depression through online therapy; people who would not have normally sought help if online therapy was not an option for them.

If you or anyone that you know would like to receive more information about this post, you can go to http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com or email info@completecounselingsolutions.com