ADHD can drive individuals crazy and also the people around them. Identifying and learning to cope with the symptoms are key. Some aspects of ADHD can be modified through behavioral changes and strategies. ADHD Consultants and other healthcare providers can help individuals better cope with many elements of ADHD that are the most visible and annoying.
Overcoming the worst tendencies of ADHD can be difficult. Please also review our ADHD Consulting Program
The article,“8 Ways I Will Rescue Myself from My Own Worst ADHD Instincts” by June Silny looks at ways one can escape the worst parts of ADHD. She states,
“With my ADHD, I’m in or out. I can’t focus, or I hyper-focus. I’m full of energy, or I can’t get off the couch. The word balance is not in my vocabulary. Without a middle, I care for the needs of others with every ounce of my being. Eventually, I’m left with an emptiness — emotionally drained, physically exhausted, and agitated without knowing why. That is not a healthy long-term strategy.”
ADHD can very difficult to deal with. Sometimes medication is very helpful. Sometimes though medication can give side effects. Many individuals also prefer to avoid medication when possible. If this is the case, ADHD needs behavioral modifications and coping strategies to deal with the symptoms.
Behavioral intervention strategies in ADHD can help compliment medicated use. Please also review our ADHD Consulting Program
Still, some may utilize medication but also combine with behavioral modifications. The article, “Behavioral Interventions Beneficial for ADHD” by Madeline Morr looks at how behavioral interventions are key in fighting the symptoms of ADHD. She states,
“A new study highlights the benefits of physical exercise in improving cognitive function in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a report published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. The findings support the inclusion of nonpharmaceutical interventions in conjunction with commonly used medications for the treatment of ADHD.”
To review the entire article, please click here
Behavioral interventions can play a key role in helping parents manage ADHD issues in their children. They can sometimes replace or compliment medicated use. Please also review our ADHD Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.
The loss of a pet, especially a dog, cat or horse can be a very painful thing. Even the loss of smaller pets depending on the circumstances can leave a lasting void. The loss of a dog or cat or horse can play be for some as painful as losing family. While some individuals see animals as tools or objects to an end, many form lasting bonds with their fury friends. These bonds are family bonds. This is especially true for the family dog or cat. For those with these types of bonds and situations, the loss is as painful as losing a human friend or family member.
Pets are family. They play a key role in the dynamics of family life. Please also review our Pet Loss Grief Counseling program
The article, “Losing a Pet Is as Painful as Losing a Human” by Ashley Laderer looks at why it is so painful to lose a pet and what to expect. She states,
“Many people develop deep bonds with their pets. According to a 2018 survey, 72% of Americans consider their pets to be family members, and research on pet loss throughout the years has consistently shown that the loss of a pet can feel as detrimental as the loss of a human family member.”
Society may scoff at pet loss and certain individuals may downgrade the loss and not important but those are opinions. Grief is based on the relation to the loss. While subjective, the role of dogs and cats in the life of a family are important. Seeing them as family members and missing them as family members when they are gone is not a stretch of absurdity but a true feeling of loss. It needs to be seen as a true loss and respected
If you have a child on the spectrum and the first thing they do when they are anxious is reach for a plush toy or a soft blanket, it is probably because people are more attentive to tactile stimuli when they are upset, as found in a recent study. Fabrics are particularly important for people on the spectrum because these disorders are associated with differences in responses to sensory stimuli and sensitivity to these stimuli. To what extent can the choice of fabric aid or worsen distress in persons with ASD?
Pleasure and Distress are Matters of Perception
A study published in the journal Autism Research looked into how people with autism react to different textured surfaces compared to people who were not on the spectrum. Results showed that people with Apserger’s syndrome gave similar ratings for ‘roughness’ and ‘pleasantness’ of surfaces to those of their peers. However, they had a slight tendency to find the least pleasant stimulus (mesh fabric) rougher and less pleasing than their typical counterparts. Their research also found that the more frequent the exposure to unpleasant materials was, the greater the distress with respect to the material.
Wearing Clothes Amounts to Repeated Exposure
In the above study, participants were simply ‘touched’ with different textures/materials. Because results showed that repeated exposure increased negative response, it is only logical that if participants had to actually wear unpleasant materials, the result could be the kind of distress that could trigger anxiety. As found by research by Gillott and Standen, increased anxiety for people with ASD in strongly related to sensory stimuli and unpleasant events.
People with ASD React More Intensely to Unpleasant Stimulation
Dan King’s study showed that people with ASD have a more intense reaction to unpleasant rather than pleasant stimuli. This means that when choosing fabrics for everyday shirts, trousers etc., it is almost more important to beware of fabrics that are known to distress a person with ASD, rather than trying to find clothing that seems pleasant to someone who is not on the spectrum. Less grating fabrics such as cotton are typical choices for everyday wear, while rougher materials such as linen or rafia may be more distressing.
ASD and Sensory Anxiety
Taking great care to find the right fabric is key for anyone with ASD, but if they also have sensory processing disorder (SPD), then doing so can have a big effect on a person’s quality of life. For people with SPD, a sensorily unfriendly environment is a trigger to anxiety. Triggers can come from uncomfortable clothing, loud noises, or bright lights. Symptoms of this type of anxiety range from dizziness to stomach cramps, and even poor balance. Some advocate slow exposure to the source of anxiety (e.g. touching an unpleasant fabric, wearing a small piece of this fabric then eventually a larger piece) until exposure becomes less distressing.
The clothes people with ASD wear can play an important role in affecting mood and anxiety. They can react particularly strongly to fabrics they find unpleasant, so exposure should be gradual. If they also have severe SPD then avoidance (prevention) can be a better option than battling against distress. Each individual should decide what fabrics they are comfortable with, especially when it comes to clothing – which is worn for various hours straight and on repeated occasions.
Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.
Politics can be very dividing. It is one of the topics that is commonly dismissed as an inappropriate subject at dinner or public discourse. The polarizing nature of it is not something novel but has existed at the core of every nation. The United States is no different. Modern America has entered into a very divisive epoch of her history. The divide in the two party system is at an all time high and extremists exist in both camps.
The extremism seems to be the loudest beyond the norm. It is heard on the news and on social media. Extreme views that are uncompromising and blind to the other side dominate message boards. The extremism is enhanced through social media. Social media has supplied a voice to many to share their views. This is fine to share views but a civil way of communicating has vanished as individuals can hide behind a computer screen.
Anger and politics can erupt into everyday life. It is important to control unhealthy anger in politics. Please also review our Anger Management Consulting program
Furthermore, violence through the extreme elements are becoming stronger and stronger in public arenas. Even though these elements are a minority on both sides, they receive the most press, leaving a cloud and sense of anger and hate throughout the country. Extreme nationalists have emerged with their hate filled rhetoric, as well as extreme liberal movements that while teaching respect, hypocritically seek to silence and disrespect others who disagree.
One may ask is the country really this divided? Is it only seen in the political chambers of Washington, at rallies, and on social media boards? It is hard to say but the reality is it has created an environment of tension. A tension that exists even for moderates who become stressed by its very existence in the negative energy that has encompassed the country.
With polarization on social, religious and political issues, as well as lack of common and academic dialogue, emotion has taken over reason. Each side is seen as a threat and enemy to the republic or to humanity. This justification to hate the other extreme leaves open doors for violence and hate speech in public. The result is a ticking time bomb for violence and anger.
How one conducts oneself is key. One needs to avoid the noise of extremism. One needs to manage one’s own emotions in the this tense atmosphere. One needs to give respect to other opinions, even if it contradicts one’s own beliefs. Diplomacy, patience, and understanding are key to compromise.
Anger, especially misdirected anger, leads others away from compromise and mutual respect. It is hard when two extremes are playing the country against each other for one to find reason and sanity in emotion and insanity. The extremes only continue to irritate the soul of the United States leading to a collective angry environment within the nation. Some may disconnect from social media, watch less of the news, but others wish to remain engaged. They wish to engage with reason and mutual respect in dialogue. Unfortunately, even those that hold moderate views are not immune to anger.
How to manage this anger in a era of social media and extreme views is a difficult thing. It is even more difficult for those who find politics and social issues to be the most important thing in their lives. However, one should never become so intense about something to the point where it produces a state of perpetual anger. That anger is not only unhealthy for oneself but it also plants seeds that can lead to other arguments, fights and social uneasiness. Like sports, sometimes, its important to take a step back. It is important to value your opinion, but to also know when and where not to share it. It is truly an ego thing but somethings or debates are not worth it. Adding fuel to a fire is not always the best answer.
The other important element that many forget is that the over egotistical value of one’s opinion. This does not mean, one should not share it when needed, or that it is irrelevant, but it does point to an ego element where one must always be right. One needs to know when to let something go. Many things are not worth fights or escalation over things one cannot change. One’s opinion at the restaurant is not going change who is president of the nation or not. One’s opinion will not alter on going legislation. This is why it is important to not over emphasize one’s ego as well as not to place one’s opinion in unnecessary settings that do little to change the situation but only enhance tension.
It is important to know when and where to share political views. It is important to value your belief but not at the abuse of others and not allow static noise of others on social media or at the other “table” to affect your daily feelings. There is more to life than political ramblings from those not educated or extreme or obnoxious. If you cannot filter out political noise or feel the need to delete individuals with different values, then something is far more wrong with you as an individual. You need to be passionate but not emotional.
Controlling illegitimate anger is about controlling emotion. Once one associates things more intensely with one’s identity, then emotion is always more sure to erupt. One needs to see themselves as first an American before party affiliation. One can be anger but have reason but not angry having emotion. Anger with emotion leads to more division, frustration and ruining one’s own day. So if one needs to ignore other posts or comments, it may be the only way they can avoid the frustration but it points to a deeper problem. The best situation is to be able to read, laugh and then continue to scroll down the threads or just ignore stray comments from the other side of the room. This involves controlling ego, understanding the time and place, and not becoming emotionally attached to a situation that is not personal to start.
Sometimes its important to know when to let something go of a political nature. If you cannot, then there may be deeper anger issues with yourself
If Americans do not start to filter out the noise of extremism and learn to control their own impulses, political anger will continue to divide the country and make everyone exist in a more perpetual state of anger than they need to be.
Please also review our Anger Management Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and open to qualified professionals. Those who meet the requirements can earn a certification in Anger Management through AICHP’s online and independent study program. The online courses lead to a four year certification that can be renewed very four years.
Grief among military veterans is something that does not receive enough attention. Military members come into greater contact with death and traumatic experience than any others. It is important that they receive the grief counseling and care they need
Military members deal with much grief and need continued aid and counseling. Please also review our Grief Counseling Training Program
The article, “Grief Is Common Among Military Vets — But Rarely Recognized” by Emily Dugdale looks into this problem. She emphasizes the importance of military members and their grief being recognized and discussed. She states,
Researchers have amply documented veterans’ PTSD and depression, but grief has not gotten the same level of attention, said Roxane Cohen Silver, a UC Irvine psychological science professor who co-authored a study of grief among veterans. “What we’re identifying are very important psychological consequences of serving in the war that are clearly being missed,”
Military veterans deserve continued counseling from their experiences. Grief and trauma need addressed. Please also review our Grief Counseling Training program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.
Grief in its deepest times can force us to question our very existence. We can question why and how one’s life has lost so much. We can question if there is a God, or a divine being. We can question our own moral code and way of living. Grief has the strongest ability to shake one to his or her very core.
Existentialism has for years questioned the how and why of existence. It has mourned over the fear of what is beyond the grave and what truly matters in this life. When torn by grief, many Christians may look feel this philosophy and its emptiness matches their current emotional state. The thought of nothingness and the fact that acts of loss or violence are merely random can in some ways maybe soothe the conflict within. The conflict that sees a contradiction between evil acts and a good God.
Grief can utter our existential outlook on life. We need to turn to Christ for guidance. Please also review our Christian Counseling Program
The temptation of existentialism to create one’s own code of existence and live by it alone may be strong in grief. It may be a way to get back at God and to create one’s own subjective reality based on one’s own existence. Or as existentialists proclaim, to bravely put aside pre-ordained moral paradigms and to venture into the unknown and to bravely create one’s own existence. It may seem attractive to dismiss all cares when in the pit of despair.
However, God is a loving father. He knows our grief. His Son, Jesus Christ, and his holy Mother Mary, all experienced this deep grief. Christ on the cross even in his deepest agony, questioned the Father, and mournfully cried out, ” My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me”.
We all come across grief and its darkness. We face the existential question and all the unknowns behind it. We question how evil can exist while a good God rules, and we can question why God would “punish” a loyal servant. We can mourn like Job but ultimately like Job not allow our own emptiness to lead us astray. We can follow in Jesus, who while mourning and isolated, still remained loyal to the father.
Grief disrupts life. It disrupts the very existence of our day to day plans. One needs to be able to understand how to incorporate grief and loss into one’s existential narrative without dismissing God or his plan. It is the most difficult cross but one Christ himself did not deny himself. He should serve as our example when we fall into the depth of agony and loss.
Tests can be difficult times. Grief is a test. Grief is a time when our loyalty to God can be tested at the highest level. We can question our existence or give it to God. It is ultimately our choice.
Please also review our Christian Counseling Program as well as our Christian Grief Counseling Program and see if they meet your academic and professional goals. The programs are online and are open to qualified professionals who look to share the teachings of Christ in a counseling setting.
Substance abuse counselors need to have a successful system in place for any program to help the addicted overcome substance abuse. Most systems or plans have four components that are necessary.
Good recovery programs are necessary for individuals. Please also review our Substance Abuse Practitioner Program
The article, “4 KEY COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY PROGRAM” by Jennifer Thew lists these important aspects. She states,
‘Educating the nurses and physicians on how to utilize the Peer Recovery Specialists’ services as well as teaching them the clinical aspects of substance abuse disorder is another component of the program.”
To read the entire article and identify the four components, please click here
Helping others overcome addiction involves a good program with the necessary components to ensure success. Substance Abuse Practitioners need to understand the best ways to help their patients and clients. Please also review our Substance Abuse Practitioner program
Burnout can happen to even the most energetic and optimistic person. Over work, heavy schedule, stress and sickness can all lead to a burnout. If someone pushes him or herself too much, it can happen suddenly. Burnout can be avoided by properly scheduling oneself and setting limitations. It can also be avoided by taking time to take care of oneself. It is important to give self care for one’s own health.
Identifying burnout before it hits is critical to health. Please also review our Stress Management Consulting Program
The article, “Prevent burnout – 3 burnout symptoms and how to avoid them” by Thea O’Connor reviews the various issues surrounding burnout and how to avoid and also overcome it. She states,
“Burnout affects about 5-7 per cent of the working population, according to Michael Leiter, professor of industrial and organisational psychology at Deakin University. Leiter explains that it is difficult to say if the condition is on the rise, since burnout has not been tracked over time, and is likely to be hidden in the “mental stress” category of workers’ compensation claims.”
To read the entire article on burnout, please click here
Burnout can happen suddenly to someone who constantly is doing too much. It is important to notice the signs. Also, please review our Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
Stress causes so many health issues. From heart to high blood pressure and ulcers, stress can become a major cause of illness and bad health. Bad ways of coping with stress can also cause health issues. Many individuals look to cope with stress via binge eating. Over eating and eating unhealthy as a way to cope with stress can cause multiple issues for those on restricted diets or those trying to stay in shape. There are far more productive ways to cope with stress but unfortunately many turn to food when depressed or upset.
Proper coping with stress determines if one handles it properly. Stress eating only makes matters worst
The article, “Stress eating — there are ways to cope, and change the way you think about food” by Sandra Guy looks at this unhealthy coping method. She states,
“ny rationale for coping with and overcoming unhealthy eating habits — especially over-eating high-fat, high-sugar and highly processed food as a stress reliever — requires a full-scale change of mindset, desire and behaviors, experts say. “Stress eating is poor stress management,” says Sylvia Herbozo, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and surgery and director of the Body Image and Eating Behaviors Lab at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s College of Medicine.”
Please also review our Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. As a Stress Management Consultant you can help individuals cope with stress in a variety of healthy ways.
