Kids Warning on Flu Drugs

Government health regulators recommended adding label precautions about neurological problems seen in children who have taken flu drugs made by Roche and GlaxoSmithKline.

Many drugs have not been tested for children. Many drugs are tested for 6-12 weeks however children may take drugs for much longer than 6-12 weeks.

Unhealthy Narcissistic Traits

The following is a list of dysfunctional traits in a relationship that the unhealthy narcissist maintains:

Inflated sense of self

Selfish

Jealous

Interacts with others due tp their usefulness.

Blames others does not take accountability or responsibility for behavior.

Is about power and control...wants to control others.

Is disconected to your feelings, hopes, needs.

Displays inappropriate anger.

No Empathy

Perfectionistic

Values Money

Values Power

Values Attention

Values Beauty

Highly Toxic

Highly Negative

Highly Draining

Highly Critical

Extremely Selfish

"Me Me Me is their life motto"

Human Growth from Relationships and Self.

In order to grow and transcend ways we look at our pain we must be open to growth and change.

We must be open to learning about ourselves and from others.

Letting go of rigid thinking and being humble allows us to grow and learn from our past.

Being humble allows us to be open to what is happening inside ourselves as well as outside ourselves. It is any extremely powerful way to recover from our pain and emotional wounds.

Healthy People and Healthy Relationships

There are many characteristics of safe people in relationships. The following are some healthy and positive traits: honesty, loyal, authentic, accountable, responsible, does what they say, empathic, listens to what you say and truly hears you by his/her actions, non judgmental, not critical, supportive, affirming, direct, clear, accepting, can look directly into your eyes when communicating.

Unhealthy and unsafe relationships are: critical, dishonest, judgmental, invalidating, rejecting, not listening, competitive, no listening, does not hear, not empathic, selfish, not supportive, not interested in your hopes, feelings, wishes, desires, can not give of their time or their emotions, truly not interested in anyone but themselves, not any advocate, narcissistic, self-absorbed, conditional, controlling, jealous.

David Abrams MAPC, LPC, CAGS is a psychotherapist helping children, teens, and adults. David helps people understand healthy relationships and boundaries as well as helping others recognize unhealthy relationships. More of David's info can be found at www.lifeworksaz.com

Reduce Anxiety and Fear

It is important to exercise at least 5 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. Aerobic workouts will will reduce tension and will reduce adrenaline. You will feel a sense of control and it will take your mind off things that are bothering you.

Eat a healthy balanced diet. Calcium, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids is associated with lowering levels of feeling anxious.

Make sure you get at least 8 hours sleep. Sufficient sleep allows your body to produce hormones that regulate anxiety.

www.lifeworksaz.com

Children Trauma

Teaching children thought interruption and positive imagery techniques helps prepare a child for ongoing negative intrusive thoughts about a traumatic event.

Children who feel they can eliminate the negative thought can help some children if they begin to feel overwhelmed while talking about a traumatic issue.

Depression

An article in Body and Soul November 2007 states after an hour of yoga study members showed a surge in brain levels of a neurotransmitter often found at low levels in people with depression.

There are numerous activities that can potentially help with depression including: exercise, diet, cognitive behavioral therapy.

Release Negative energy Anger.

Thoughts that focus on anger, fear, guilt, and shame will keep you in a negative low energy state.

It is important to change these depleting thoughts to higher levels of thought.

Work on changing your anget toward forgiveness and compassion. Work on changing your fearful thoughts to those of joy and peace and love.

Positive healthy thoughts will empower you to create the happiness you want in life.

6 bucks a book call

1 888 OP-Books
www.outskirtpress.com
David Abrams
MAPC, LPC, CAGS
Counseling & Psychotherapy
Children, Teens, Adults, Families

LifeWorksAZ.com
(602) 575-4030

Drug safety

In September, congress passed and the president signed drug safety legislation. The law was prompted in part by problems with pain medication Vioxx and the antidepressant Paxil. The law will require results from clinical drug studies to be made public so that consumers and doctors will have pros and cons of the medications.

The law requires Pharma companies to post detailed summaries of their drug trials on the internet.

All print ads will include a number and web site address for consumers so they can more easily report negative drug issues to the FDA.

The new law decreases the number of panel members from FDA who have industry conflicts by 25 percent over five years.

Parents Listening to their Child is essential.

Parents should avoid criticizing and lecturing children.

Healthy communcication and listening involves mutual respect and accepting your child's feelings.

Effective listening means turning off your TV, cell phone, video games, radio, computer, etc and establishing eye contact with your children. Your open posture and body languague convey 80 percent of whether or not you are open to communication.

Reflecting back what your child says and feels is important so you can convey to your child he is being understood and heard.

David Abrams provides counseling and psychotherapy for children, teens and adults in the greater Phoenix area. His web site is:
www.lifeworksaz.com

Molding Healthy and Happy children, teens; building self esteem as parents.

Recognizing your child's effort and improvements is important. Unconditionally accepting your children is essential.

If a child misbehaves it is important to explain why the child's behavior is "not ok" however it is vital to continue and display love for your child. We must seperate the behavior from the child's gifts and strengths and continue to give unconditional love.

Encouraging your children is helpful in developing self worth and confidence. For example: I appreciate how you helped out..., you are making improvements....I know you can do it....

Focus on the good and positive qualities in your child.

www.lifeworksaz.com

Suffering and Pain

I read a great quote from Dan Millmans book called Wisdom of The Peaceful Warrior

" If you dont get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you do not want you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can not hold onto it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change, free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is a law, and no amount of pretending will altre that reality."

"Socrates, you can really be depressing, you know that? If life is nothing but suffering, then why bother at all?"

"Life is not suffering; it's just that you will suffer it, rather than enjoy it, until you let go of your mind's attachments and just go for the ride."

www.lifeworksaz.com

Finding your Purpose in life.

I highly suggest reading the book Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankel. This book gets to the root of what finding purpose in life is all about.

Finding purpose is about serving others and is not about the ego.
It is about doing things because you love to do them.

When you turn your thoughts and activities to helping others the things you used to chase will follow you wherever you go. Since you are not attached to the outcome they will flow freely into your life.

www.lifeworksaz.com explores individuals hopes, desires, and purpose on the earth, as well as provides counseling for children, teens, and adults in Phoenix Az.

Angry Women Angry Men

Men and women who feel angry have angry energy inside your bodies. Everything you feel and experience is a result of the energy you are putting out onto the world. So what you are attracted to is what you give away.

Changing your inner thoughts to positive thoughts in relation to: love, harmony, kindness, and pece will allow you to attract these type of people in your life. These positive thoughts will wipe out the lower energetic thoughts.

It is important to watch your thoughts in relation to loving and respecting yourself.

We can only give what we have. If we have healthy self love we can give love. If we have happiness we can give happy uplifting thoughts.

If we have negative thoughts: hate, depression, anger, anxiety, we must ask why we have chosen to focus on these thoughts?

Hope and Action a big part of Mental Health Counseling

Staying positive and maintaining hope that "life" will improve is a giant piece in getting better and creating desired change in counseling according to David Abrams www.lifeworksaz.com, counseling in Phoenix Arizona.Taking action steps is also essential for our mental health.

Exercising daily is a great way to stimulate your immune system and increase ones energy and mood.

Eating vegetables daily instead of breads can be desired and positive as well as drinking 4-6 glasses of water on a daily basis. Minimize caffiene and sugars.

Maintain healthy and regular communication with family and friends.

Be aware of your thoughts, feelings, and mood. Reaching out to a professional is always beneficial for objective support during difficult and stressful times.

Mental Health Disorders

The most common mental health disorder are anxiety disorders.

The next most common mental health disorder is depression/Bipolar Disorder.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among high school students.

Forty five percent of college students report a depressed mood.

www.lifeworksaz.com offers counseling for children,teens, adults and is located in Phoenix Az.

Emotions, energy, and Work

We need to become aware of how we feel during the day at work. If we are feeling negatively we will not be able to perform at a high level.

Anxiety, irritation, anger, and other emotions will drain our energy and cause tension at work as well as in other relationships. We must become aware of what is creating these negative emotions so we can make a change.

We can change our energy and negative emotions by looking at our negative thoughts that depletes our essential energy source Counseling children,teens, adults, in Phoenix Arizona, www.lifeworksaz.com.

Organic Foods for Mental Health

By eating organic foods we can avoid the following: petcicides, antibiotics, hormones, and many other chemicals used in the foods we eat.

The top ten foods we should purchase that are organic are: meats, dairy products, fish, Berries,Mushrooms, salad crops, waxed fruits, Bannanas, Coffee and Tea. The above article is taken from Spirituality and Health Magazine Nov 2007 from living green by Greg Horn called Top 10 Foods to Buy Organic. www.lifeworksaz.com, counseling, child, teen, adults in Phoenix Az.

Teenagers Behavior and Parenting.

Adolescene is a time of confusion for teens and parents. Teenagers need support and guidance during this most challenging time in their growth.

Teens are searching for their identity. Adolescence is a huge transition period. Learning responsibility, accountability, values, ethics, norms, and coping with peer pressure.

Give reasons for rules and boundaries. Communicate in a calm manner and be very clear regarding expectations as well as logical consequences that will occur if rules and boundaries are disrespected.
Respond with sympathy instead of anger and yelling!

Parents need to understand their teens behavior and support them to make healthy life choices.Lifeworksaz.com, counseling is in Phoenix Az.

Counseling adults, children, and teens. Why people avoid counseling?

Many people fear that if they attend counseling they will be judged or treated in a manner they are not open to.

Many people belive that seeking counseling is looked at as a weakness instead of in a positive light.

Many people seeking counseling are not willing to share their pain or personal emotions.

Self esteem plays a role in seeking counseling as well.

www.lifeworksaz.com

Children Toys and Danger

"Millions of Chinese-made toys have been pulled from shelves in North America and Australia after scientists found they contain a chemical that converts into a powerful date rape drug when ingested. Two children in the U.S. and three in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing the beads.
Scientists say a chemical coating on the beads, when ingested, metabolizes into the so-called date rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. When eaten, the compound -- made from common and easily available ingredients -- can induce unconsciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death".

"The two U.S. children who swallowed Aqua Dot beads went into nonresponsive comas, commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said Wednesday afternoon.
In Australia, the toys were ordered off store shelves on Tuesday when officials learned that a 2-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were hospitalized after swallowing the beads. A 19-month-old toddler also was being treated."

Article was from cnn.com 11-7-07.

www.lifeworksaz.com

Children and Teenagers in Arizona have 797:1 student-Counselor Ratio.

The maximum recommended ratio is one counselor per 250 students. Arizona's average is about three times the recommended amount according to the US Dept of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.

The good news is the ratio improved from 479:1 to 476:1 from a year ago as far as the US average.

It is important that parents spend quality time with their children. It is important for parents to listen to their children because school's Can. Never take the place of parenting children and teens.

www.lifeworksaz.com

Energy Drinks and health

Red Bulls energy drinks state it is dangerous to consume more than 1.5 cans per day.

A 28 yr old man drank eight cans of Red Bull in eight hours and "it nearly killed him". The ambulance arrived and
his heart had stopped.

The EMT's used defibrillation and fortunately saved his life.

It is important to explain the dangers of excessive drinking in relation to energy drinks as well as with anything in excess. Parents must look out for their children since their are many unhealthy choices available to teens, children, and adults.

Energy drinks raise blood pressure and can impact our bodies and minds.

www.lifeworksaz.com

Depression adults and Teenagers.

In depression levels of serotonin a
key neurochemical are abnormally low.

Four times as many men as women die by suicide. Boys kill themselves six times as often as girls.

The highest rate of suicide is white men over 85.

If you are depressed seek professional help from a medical doctor or a counselor.

Depression in Children and Teens

Depression in children and teenagers has become a serious issue. If depression in children- teens is left untreated it can result in: substance and drug abuse, behavior problems, and even suicide.

Depression in children can be at times be masked by: anxiety, oppositional defiance, anger, disruptive behavior at school, and medical illnesses.

Depression can be treated by counseling, CBT, antidepressants, exercise, and nutrition, as well as many other ways. Seek professional advice.

www.lifeworksaz.com

helping yourself through depression

The weather is great from Oct-April in Phoenix Arizona to spend time outside and exercise or to resonate with nature.

The Phoenix summer is hot and miserable and is the time to get creative when you feel the need to elevate your mood.
Depression can become more intense if we feel trapped by the heat.

If the weather is nice you can : walk, run, garden, read outside, hike, bicycle, read uplifting books, spend time outdoors with nature, explore outdoor hobbies. Eating well is important for ones mood in relation to depression. Spending time with friends and family can be important during times where you feel depressed. Calling your close friends and loved ones can be helpful.

If the weather is hot you can plan a day trip up north and cool down on the weekends. You can plan a trip to the beach with loved ones to break up the feeling of being trapped. Laughter is a great tool to help with depression. Watching funny movies or laughing at life is helpful with depression. Find activities that make you feel good( a bath, singing, dancing, exercising indoors).

You may need professional support from: a medical doctor, psychiatrist, counselor, counseling, psychotherapy, medications, hospitalization.

If you are a danger to your self or others call 911 .

www.lifeworksaz.com

Depression Costs in Europe

A study in 2004 stated that depression cost 120 Billion dollars in 28 European countries.

Twenty one million people out of approx 450 million people were affected by depression per year.

Depression is considered a brain disorder in europe and causes a burden to many individuals and society.

www.lifeworksaz.com

Creating Peaceful Children

Children are bombarded with media, advertisements, video games, TV images, noise, violence etc. These messages affect thoughts, feelings, and moods. How many video games boost self esteem? Teach ethics? Teach values? Teach manners? Teach compassionan or humility? So what messages are we really tuned into? Death? Violence? Murders?
Can this facilitate depression in children? Anxiety in children? Mood disorders in children? ADHD in children?

The media's message is you need to consume and buy things to become happy. You need designer clothes and
all sorts of games to be happy. The message is certain snacks will make you or your child happy. True happiness comes from inside ourselves and not from meaningless objects we purchase!! The message is happiness comes from outside your self which sets your child up to desire objects to create happiness. This affects your child's beliefs if we do not challenge these messages.

A child that spends a lot of time on a computer playing video games may not understand healthy ways to interact with peers, healthy social skills, interpersonal skills, and may not be active and healthy. Many children who watch a lot of tv are hyper and unfocused and are overweight.

Quiet time leads to introspection and inner awareness and insight. A time to focus on ones self without constant media bombardment. This helps a child develop kindness and compassion.

Teach your children the value of quiet time and set boundaries that create quiet time.

www.lifeworksaz.com