Is it Important to You to Be Healthy?

How important is your physical health to you?
Of course, most people will say that they really want to be healthy, but what are you willing to DO to be healthy? And what are you willing to NOT DO to be healthy? In other words, what is more important to you than being healthy?
Is more important to:

• Eat fast food, or packaged, frozen and processed food, than take the time to cook healthy meals with fresh, organic healthy ingredients?• Spend money on clothes and toys and other "stuff" than on fresh, organic, healthy food?
• Go along with what others say about what creates health rather than take the time to do your own learning?
• Sleep in, watch TV, play video games, gamble, work, stay on the phone, constantly text, or do other addictive activities rather than get exercise?
• Take drugs for anxiety, depression or insomnia rather than learn how to take responsibility for your feelings?
• Turn to substance addictions rather than take responsibility for your feelings? Continue to act out addictively with alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, caffeine, or drugs rather than learn to take loving care of yourself?
• Neglect your spiritual practice rather than take the time to create inner peace?
• Be "one of the gang" and eat like everyone else is eating, drink like everyone else, or take drugs like everyone else, rather than support your own health?

How are you rationalizing your unhealthy choices?

• I don't have the time.• I don't believe that food has much to do with health.
• So and so smoked his whole life and never got lung cancer.
• Why bother? My genes are against me.
• I'll get around to it when I have some time.
• Food is the only reward I have. I'm not giving up sweets and other so called "junk food".
• I'm still young. I don't have to worry about it for years.
• I have too much pain in my life, and I won't be able to handle it if I get off drugs or give up my addictions.
• What's the point in living if I can't do what I want?
• I won't have any friends if I don't do what they do.

The question to ask yourself is: "How do I want to live my later years? Do I want to be vital, clear-headed and energetic as long as I live, or do I want to be suffering with cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and other degenerative diseases?"While there are many factors that influence our health, such as genetics, the environment, accidents, and trauma from childhood, we each have much power to create health when it is important to us.
If health is very important to you, then I encourage you to start to take responsibility for yourself in three major areas:

• Food• Exercise
• State of mind

All three are equally important and affect each other. If you are judging yourself and ignoring your own feelings, then your self-abandonment will be creating stress in your body. When we go into stress, the body goes into fight or flight, which means that the blood leaves the brain and organs and goes into the arms and legs for fighting or fleeing. When this happens often, the immune system is compromised, leaving you open for illness. In addition, the stress may lead you to act out addictively in an effort to relieve it, further fostering poor health. Exercise not only helps your state of mind, it helps your body function well. Poor food affects your state of mind and your energy, making it more difficult to exercise and create inner peace.Today, ask yourself, "How important is my health to me?" Then be honest with yourself. If you are not willing to take loving care of yourself in all three areas, then you need to accept that your health is not that important to you.

Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is a best-selling author of 8 books, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding® healing process. Are you are ready to heal your pain and discover your joy? Learn Inner Bonding now! Click here for a FREE Inner Bonding Course, and visit our website at http://www.innerbonding.com for more articles and help. Phone Sessions Available. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Paul,_Ph.D.

By Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

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ADHD Child Symptoms - A Parent's Guide of What to Look For

If you suspect your child has ADHD, you may wonder what, exactly, the ADHD child symptoms are. While hyperactivity, impulsivity, and lack of concentration can pretty much sum of the symptoms of ADHD in child patients, there are several more specific symptoms of ADHD, and there are a few ways to tell whether or not these symptoms might add up to an ADHD diagnosis.

When looking at ADHD child symptoms, it's important to realize that all children will exhibit some of these behaviours at times and that some of these behaviours are completely normal for children of certain age groups to exhibit consistently, which is why ADHD is almost impossible to diagnose in preschool children. Some of the following, though, when shown consistently over time in a child who should have outgrown the behaviours, are considered symptoms of ADHD in child patients:

• Inability to pay attention to certain tasks for extended periods of time - Such tasks could include schoolwork but could also extend to activities the child enjoys, like playing games.
• Disorganized habits - This could mean a sloppy desk at school, a messy room at home, or simply an inability to see one piece of schoolwork all the way through before beginning another.
• Easily distracted - Most ADHD children cannot concentrate at all when there are things going on around them, making it incredibly difficult to work in a classroom setting.
• Shifting ideas in conversations or blurting out unrelated thoughts - An ADHD child is often unable to keep up with the normal flow of conversation and may change the topic at random.
• General forgetfulness - ADHD children often have trouble remembering day-to-day things like bringing homework folders back to the classroom and shutting the door when they walk outside.
• Difficulty paying attention - Many ADHD children can't pay attention to instructions and make careless, sloppy mistakes.
• Talking and/or fidgeting excessively -Most ADHD children are always on the go, either with their mouths or their bodies.
• Restlessness and difficulty playing at quieter activities - Many ADHD children want to be moving and active and won't enjoy puzzles, building blocks, and other calm activities.
• Impatience - Children with ADHD tend to have no patience for sitting quietly or waiting their turn. They may constantly act out and interrupt conversations.
• Frustration -Because ADHD children may not be able to concentrate long enough to solve basic problems, they may become easily frustrated with themselves and others.

Most children will not show every one of these ADHD child symptoms, and certain symptoms may come and go as a child ages. Most of the time, for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, he must show constant ADHD child symptoms over a period of six months, and the symptoms must impair the child's ability to function in at least two different settings, such as school, the home, extracurricular activities, or the playground.

If you are noticing ADHD child symptoms in your child but aren't yet ready for a full-blown diagnostic doctor's visit, you can actually start treating the symptoms using herbal supplements. More and more scientific studies are proving the efficacy of certain combinations of herbal supplements, which are safe and side-effect free. These supplements can actually be used to alleviate or lessen the severity of ADHD symptoms in borderline or undiagnosed ADHD children. If you are interested in treating your child's symptoms with homeopathic supplements, find a combination supplement that is well-researched by homeopathic practitioners. You really don't have anything to lose by trying a homeopathic remedy. You do have everything to gain should your child be able to lead a life without the symptoms of ADHD.

Shannon Pollock is a passionate advocate of natural health remedies who has been researching their use for many years. Find out more about some of the most effective treatments for ADHD on her site, Natural Health Remedies and More.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Pollock

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Diagnosing ADHD - Problems and Challenges For Parents

By Robert William Locke

In diagnosing ADHD, sometimes mistakes are made and the child does not have ADHD at all! Let me give you just two examples. If a child has a milk allergy, then some of the symptoms are quite similar to ADHD such as hyperactivity. Another example is where a child is extremely intelligent and gifted and starts to act out at school. The reason is that he has become bored and is looking for something to do while he waits for the rest of the class to catch up! While he does that he may be distracted, squirm and become impulsive. This then is one of the problems in overdiagnosing ADHD as the costs to society and family life are extremely high.

Let us assume that diagnosing ADHD in your child's case is correct, you are now faced with the challenge of how to treat it and make sure your child grows up to be a well-balanced adult. In the multimodel study organised by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a combination of child behavior therapy together with medication came out best especially for kids who were suffering from sort of oppositional disorder (ODD).

In diagnosing ADHD, lots of attention is given to features of behavior and how he or she behaves in certain situations and environments. It is not surprising then that child behavior therapy is now so highly regarded and that the results over time are realistic and long lasting. You may have problems in implementing some rules but the whole concept of child behavior therapy is based on a step by step approach centred round time and scheduling and routines at home.

There is a system of rewards and consequences and the child is praised a lot for good behavior. There are lots of behavior plans available on the Internet so that part is the easy bit ! You have to work out what are the most important behaviors that your child needs to function in school , at home and with friends. By focusing on the essential ones and working on them one by one, you can achieve an awful lot. The main point to remember is that everything is noted and improvement is always rewarded. Everyone needs praise and we adults crave it all the time ! If good behavior or any small success like in getting on both shoes in the morning, is not praised, this may lead to a low self esteem and a certain amount of frustration.

These then are the problems and challenges in diagnosing ADHD and in establishing ground rules in the home if you opt for child behavior therapy. The great thing is that they will work for the whole family and will be an anchor in the stormy sea.

Robert Locke is a Health enthusiast who specializes in Children's Health. He has written extensively on ADHD. Discover what ADHD Alternative Therapy is available. Find out how ADHD behavior therapy can save your sanity.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_William_Locke

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Combat Stress by Creating Your Own Oasis

Stress and anxiety can prematurely age our mind and body. If not dealt with effectively, chronic stress and worrying can place undue strain upon our cardiovascular and immune systems. It can also make us prone to mood disorders and negatively affect our cognitive functions. Having a safe and comfortable place where we can relax and unwind can help improve our well-being and produce feelings of peace and tranquility.

Ideally, creating an atmosphere that induces calmness throughout your home is best. However, if space is limited, you still can create your own oasis, even if it is in only a corner of a room or in a cubical at work. Here are eight easy ways to make your personal space a true comfort zone.

1. Tranquil Sounds. Your favorite music, sound machines and water falls can help you relax and unwind. Sounds have the ability to alter our perceptions and instantly change your mood.

2. Living Plants. Live plants create a peaceful atmosphere. They improve the ambiance and air quality of indoor environments, and induce a positive energy around them.

3. Soft Lighting. Soft and adjustable lighting can create a soothing atmosphere. Look for light bulbs that are bright, but not harsh. Being able to adjust the brightness of your lighting will give you more control of the mood of your space.

4. Pleasant Smells. A fresh and pleasant odor can transport you to a peaceful place and time. Open a window to get an exchange of air, use air purifiers or deodorizers to create the scent you find most pleasing.

5. Furniture Arrangement. Place your furniture and other items to best fit your daily needs and actions. Personalize your space with things that bestow happy memories.

6. Comfortable Textures. Use pillows, throws and soft materials to create a comfort zone. Our sense of touch has a powerful impact upon our feelings.

7. Symbols of Nature. Bring the outdoors inside with shells, rocks, feathers, wood, leaves, etc.

8. Answering Machine. When you need to unwind and revitalize, turn your answering machine on and the volume down. You can always return calls when you are recharged and ready to talk.

Take control of your surroundings, whether they are just a corner of a room or a desk at work. You can even use these steps when traveling to help you unwind. By creating your own personal oasis, you will be better able to relax and rejuvenate. A few changes may be all that you need to make yourself calm, peaceful, energized and inspired.

Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. is a Personal Health, Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach, Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor and Author. Monique's coaching helps people get healthy, manage stress, lose weight and keep it off. Visit http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com to learn more about Monique's personal coaching program.

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