Importance of your Skin's pH

Our skin’s functions are too many to go through here in detail, however it protects our ‘insides’ from the external environment, acting both as a barrier and a filter between ‘outside’ and ‘inside’.

The skin helps in regulating our body’s temperature, like when we have a fever or we’re physically working hard, we tend to sweat, which is the body’s way to attempt to lower the temperature.

Our skin also protects us from harmful substances entering our body, and it eliminates many toxins. This takes workload off our Liver and Kidneys to filter out by-products from our body’s metabolism. The skin also breathes!

The pores of our skin are made up of a combination of oil and sweat glands (sebaceous and sudoriferous glands) helping to keep our skin healthy and elastic. An excessive sebum secretion is often associated with oily skin and acne. This is particularly common in adolescents as the increased levels of sex hormones stimulate sebum production and secretion. When in balance, the combined excretion of oil and sweat from the skin’s pores has a pH of about 5.5.

This slightly acidic layer, also referred to as the “Acid Mantle”, is our body’s first defence mechanism against bacteria invading it and is not a favourable environment bacterial growth to occur. This defence layer develops at puberty, which is why children are more susceptible to disease, viruses and fungal infections such are ringworm. The pH of children’s skin is closer to neutral (pH 7).

At puberty, however, we start to produce more hair on our bodies. Hair follicles have an associated sebaceous gland or glands which become active as hair growth increases, causing changes in the skin’s pH. The hormones that control sweat also become active and the whole surface of a teenager’s skin is totally different to that of a young child. This is our body’s way to increase our defence system.

The pH of normal, healthy human skin is somewhere between 4.5 and 6. However, this varies with age. Typically, newborns have a pH closer to neutral (pH 7) that quickly turns acidic in order to protect young children’s skin.

In the late teens to early 20’s, our Acid Mantle is well developed and provides good protection against potentially harmful, external environmental factors. Our skin usually looks healthy, heals quickly when injured and seems to take care of itself.

With increasing age however, the skin’s pH becomes more and more neutral, and thus more susceptible to bacterial growth. This reduced acidity kills fewer bacteria than before, leaving the skin susceptible to bacterial growth and infections. The skin weakens as a result and begins developing problems with increasing age. (Interestingly, the pH value rises beyond 6 when a person actually suffers from a skin problem or skin disease.)

The aging process of the skin causes biochemical changes in collagen and elastin, the connective tissues underlying the skin, which give the skin its firmness (collagen) and elasticity (elastin). The rates of loss of skin firmness and elasticity differs from individual to individual, depending on their genetic makeup, general health, over exposure to the sun, skin care regime, or lack there of, and other factors.

As the skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier; the underlying fatty tissue begins to disappear resulting in the skin beginning to sag. Our skin is less supple, and wrinkles begin to form. At this stage, our skin is more easily injured, heals more slowly and tends to dry out more quickly.

As outlined above, the skin’s pH is important and maintaining a slightly acidic pH of around 5.5 is critical.

The skin’s pH value is one of the major contributors to acne and other skin problems. Propionibacterium acnes is a bacteria that normally lives on the skin and is a normal bacteria found in all persons regardless of the presence or absence of acne.

However, in individuals prone to acne, the number of P. acnes is greatly increased. It has been found that the growth of this bacteria is very much dependent on the pH value of the skin and its growth is at its minimum at the normal skin pH of 5.5. A slight shift towards the alkaline pH would provide a better environment in which it can thrive.

One of the major culprits that radically alter the pH of the skin, is soap. Ordinary, commercially available soaps are highly alkaline (pH range 9-11) and raise the skin’s pH to be much more alkaline. This can be adjusted by using products such as the Wild Herb Toner or Milk of Roses Toner available from http://www.wildcrafted.com.au/Toners.html, depending on your skin type. These toners restore normal pH of the skin and thus provide an environment not conducive to the growth of bacteria. In addition, soap dries out the skin, because of its high alkalinity. Thus if you choose to use a commercially available soap, you must restore the pH of your skin to prevent loss of moisture and the excessive growth of bacteria. It is important to remember that this applies to the entire surface of your skin, not just the face.

Instead of using ordinary soap, you need to use products such as the Skin Renewal Gel from Wildcrafted Herbal Products, which cleanses your skin, removing dead skin cells and leaving your skin’s pH as it is meant to be. Following this with the use of a Toner will close the open pores, preventing blackheads and loss of moisture from the skin.

Another factor that helps in regulating your skin’s pH is the presents of microflora on your skin. Staphylococcus epidermis is involved in the breakdown of fatty acids, and is therefore partly responsible for the acidic pH of skin. The use of ordinary soap, not only changes the pH of the skin to be more alkaline, effectively removing the protective acid mantle, but also kills the bacteria responsible for creating, at least in part, the acidic pH of your skin – a double whammy.

It is therefore of great importance to have a good skin care regime in which high quality, natural skin care products are employed. There are a couple of simple steps to take before buying a particular brand of natural skin care products.

1. Identify the skin type(s) on the face. There are usually two or more. One skin type is usually isolated to the T-Zone (forehead and nose), the other applies to the rest of the facial skin.

2. Carefully select your natural skin care products. It is not good enough to choose products, which add natural ingredients to an otherwise non-natural base crème or lotion, as is the case in many supermarket brands. READ the label carefully, ask questions and if you are buying the products on-line, make sure there is a guarantee that allows you some time to evaluate the products before they need to be returned for a refund.

3. Look for manufacturers that have qualified herbalists or naturopaths on staff. These people generally do not support the use of artificial ingredients because it goes against everything they teach their patients, friends and family. – For the most part, it’s a pretty good indication that the products are pure, when natural therapists are in charge of the formulation of the products.

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RBD Sleep Disorders

Rapid eye movement behavioral disorder, or RBD Sleep Disorders, is a relatively new condition which wasn't diagnosed until 1986 and was brought to light by an individual by the name of Schenck as well as Schenck's associates. This sleep disorder has psychiatric overtones related to it and some general information relating to RBD Sleep Disorders will be discussed in the paragraphs which follow.

What is RBD Sleep Disorder?

RBD sleep disorder entails a loss of muscle control of an individual who is in the rapid eye movement stage of sleep. During this loss of muscle control, the individual flails about in his or her sleep and may cause injury to themselves as well as any other individual in the bed with them. The convulsions may range from small to severe and frequently an individual is acting out their Dreams without even knowing that they are doing so.

Symptoms of RBD Sleep Disorder

The main symptom of RBD sleep disorder is the loss of muscle control while in the REM stage of sleep. There are also other sleep conditions which go along with the RBD sleep disorder. Some of these sleep conditions include sleepwalking, narcolepsy and night terrors. Again, the symptoms will vary with each individual with regard to frequency and intensity.

Causes of RBD Sleep Disorder

Some causes have been related to the condition of RBD sleep disorder. Incidents such as cerebrovascular trauma and tumors have been correlated with RBD sleep disorder. Medical health professionals have alluded to the fact that some brainstem damage may result in RBD sleep disorders.

Treatments for RBD Sleep Disorder

RBD sleep disorder has often been seen as a chronic medical condition. Although, the good news is that there is treatment available to remedy the situation. Those who suffer from RBD sleep disorder may find that an anticonvulsant drug such as Clonazepam may help to relieve symptoms and prevent them from experiencing the RBD sleep disorder.

Dangers of RBD Sleep Disorder

Some individuals may not think that this type of sleep disorder is detrimental. However, RBD sleep disorder is something which can be traumatic not only for the individual afflicted with it but for their sleeping partners as well. Although the intensity and frequency of RBD sleep disorder episodes vary from individual to individual, it is something which can be a cause of concern for everyone involved. Individuals with this disorder may not only cause injury to themselves due to their convulsive episodes while sleeping but could injure others around them as well. This is why RBD sleep disorder needs to be addressed.

Conclusion

It is important for individuals with RBD sleep disorders to know that help is available to remedy this medical condition. Speaking with a medical health professional may help an individual with RBD sleep disorder to alleviate their symptoms and figure out why this medical condition is present.


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Alex Wilson is currently one of the article writers and editors for http://www.help-with-sleep-problems.com where you will find lots of useful sleep related information, reports, articles and tips.

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Sleep Problems : List of Clinical Sleep Disorders

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Sleep Study Findings

Sleep Study are available to anyone who suffers from any type of sleep disorder. As part of our powerful sleep solutions this article will answer some of the questions that you may have.

Are you aware that you will spend almost one third of your life sleeping? During the time our body is awake the nerve cells constantly active become more or less fatigued. This is why you may need a nap some times during the day. Sleep gives the body cells a chance to throwing out the waste and the opportunity to repair themselves. To insure a recovery period from such fatigue, we undergo the periodic loss of consciousness known as sleep. Sleep is a very important function, and though we may put off going to sleep, it will eventually take over.

Necessity and importance of Sleep

Sleep is a usual and necessary part of our survival and having a good sleep solution plan is essential to brain function. As each person rests, the body rejuvenates, so that it will be ready to function properly the next day. What happens when you body gets too much or too little sleep. The brain causes stress on the body and you become easily irritated and grumpy. When you sleep you are giving your body a mini-vacation. Sleep also gives your brain a chance to sort things out. Although it is not known what functions take place in the brain while you are sleeping, it is believed that this is the time that the brain sorts and store information, replace chemicals or corrects imbalances, and solves problems in the body.

Sleep is a type of unconsciousness state, and is essential to good health. It refreshes the body and the mind, and helps the body heal from trauma of the day. If you get enough sleep regularly every night you will feel and work better.

Sleep effectiveness

Sleeping and waking are part of your internal clock controlled by your brain. How much sleep should a person get each night? The amount of sleep a person needs depends a lot on his or her age. As an example babies sleep about 14-15 hours, while older people need only 7-8 hours each night. Most kids between the ages of 5 and 12 years old somewhere in between need 10 to 11 hours of sleep. Some kids might need more and some need less. However, can we have less than 8 hours of sleep? Find out more!

It depends on the individual. Some people need a great deal of sleep, while others require only a minimum of sleep. The individual needs to get the amount of sleep necessary to feel alert, healthy, and totally fit. If an individual is dragging during the night then he needs to get more sleep. Some people may require more sleep due to their circadian rhythm and their metabolism. Their body processes may require more time, so they may need more sleep to rest and restore their body.

Skipping one night's sleep can make a person irritable and inept. Once a person misses two nights of sleep, that person will have problems thinking and doing things. The brain can no longer do their normal tasks as well. After five nights without sleep, a person will hallucinate. Eventually, it becomes impossible for the brain to give its directions to the rest of the body without sleep.

The amount of sleep not only affects your mortality but also your personality. Some people are by nature long sleepers, and some are short sleepers. Studies show that people, who tend to sleep longer, tend to be more introverted and creative. People who require less sleep tend to be more extroverted and concrete.

Whether or not you are a long sleeper or a short one, getting too few hours of sleep can make one cranky and less energetic, which the majority of people have probably experienced. Continual lack of sleep can lead to mental issues such as depression, deprive one of thinking clearly, and hinder the quality of work.

Recorded brain waves have helped in the study of the different stages of sleep. The studies have indicated that there are four stages of sleep that occur in cycles each lasting about ninety minutes.

When you first fall asleep, your brain waves will slow down, as you become more relaxed. As you experience the third stage your body and mind become more unaware of the world outside. The fourth stage is the deepest stage in the cycle known as Rapid eye movement, which is the stage in which most people dream. After ten or more minutes of Rem Sleep, the sleep cycle repeats. This goes on all through the night at least three or four times. During Rem Sleep, not only do your eyes move around quickly, your heart rate increases, and your automatic body processes speed up. These periods last about twenty minutes a stretch and occur four or five times during the night, alternating between REM sleep and non-REM sleep. During this time your body functions slow down and you get your deepest sleep.

Myths of Sleep

If you sleep longer, you'll be more awake and have more energy in your life. Getting more sleep than your body needs actually will rob you of energy and damage your effective sleeping patterns. If your body sleeps longer than it needs to you put stress on a number of other factors such us your melatonin hormone levels, your exposure to sunlight, and your body temperature rhythm.

Sleeping for longer than normal periods of time or trying to catch up on sleep only weakens your effective sleep system, which in turn can lower your immune system.

You need to Catch Up on Sleep that you have missed. Unless you have not slept for several days, there is no need to catch up on sleep. During the first 3 - 4 hours of sleep is when we experience most of State 3 and Stage 4 sleep. Sleeping longer than you usually do is not beneficial in anyway.

I feel low on energy; I must not be getting enough sleep. Quantity is not the answer here, quality is. People have a tendency to think that sleep is a very basic thing. The truth is that sleep is actually quite a complex system that most of us take for granted. Due to the fact that most people do not understand how our inner sleep system works, we aren't aware of the actions being taking that are damaging our effective sleep systems and patterns that are depriving us of energy.

Key Tips for Using a BiPAP Machine for Breathing Disorders

Individuals whose sleep patterns or ability to sleep comfortably and deeply may be disrupted by breathing difficulties, can be helped by using a medical device known as a BiPAP machine. This machine was developed in the 1980s as a non-invasive way to assist patients with such breathing disorders as Sleep Apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pumonary Disease (COPD). The BiPAP, which stands for bi-level positive airway pressure, is considered a non-invasive ventilatory assist machine, because it helps the individual using it without having to insert breathing tubes directly into the body. The machine works by providing the user with positive air pressure during inhaled breaths and lowered air pressure during each exhaled breath, by having the patient wear a mask connected to an airflow tube.

Although designated for home use, a BiPAP machine is only designed for use by an individual who has received a medical diagnosis by a physician for some sort of breathing disorder such as COPD. If medical testing indicates the patient can be helped by using one of these machines, then a prescription will be written in order for the patient to obtain the device. After the machine is delivered to the patient's home, it is vital to have either a respiratory therapist or a nurse from a home health agency offer at least some minimal instructions on the proper use of it.

The machine itself doesn't take up a lot of room, and can usually be positioned on a table or night stand near the patient's bed. Some machines are outfitted with lightweight nasal pillow masks, which have the least facial contact, which some patients find the most comfortable. Other units come with full face masks that cover both the nose and the mouth in order to assist with breathing. The mask selected should fit comfortably enough, yet not allow any air to escape. The tubing connected to either mask, helps control the intake and outflow of air into the patient during sleep, and comes in a variety of lengths for the best comfort of the patient. Each patient should discuss their particular needs with his nurse or respiratory therapist in order to use a machine that will be the most quiet, efficient and helpful for their breathing needs.

Once the recommended settings have been set on the machine, it is important for the patient to leave these settings alone and not change them without instructions from their doctor or respiratory therapist, for best results. Investing in a backup generator to operate the machine during any periods of power failure, is important for any patient who relies on this type of therapy since the machine needs electricity to operate properly.

Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like to learn more about BiPAP machine, visit http://www.cpapplus.com.

Dental Sleep Medicine and the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines

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Dental Sleep Medicine and the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines

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J. Roslyn Antle

Influential Schools of Magic

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Witches And Witchcraft In Current Times

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Spell Casting In History

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Sleep Apnea Symptoms

How do you know if you have Sleep Apnea? Thanks to the wonderful technology of online resources, millions of Sleep Apnea patients are now aware of their current health condition and sleep apnea symptoms. Sleep apnea is a very common sleeping disorder affecting more than twelve million people. Studies show that the male-to-female ratio of sleep apnea patient is 2:1 or higher. Men snore at least twice as much as women do that it actually becomes a diagnosable condition! To be more specific, sleep apnea also affects people over forty and the young African American population the most. It is also promoted by being overweight, high blood pressure, having problems in the nose and throat, and smoking. These are all significant factors that can contribute to experiencing sleep apnea. But what about the symptoms? How do we know if we have sleep apnea or just a bad case of snoring?

Sleep apnea comes in three forms and all of them have different symptoms. The first is Obstructive sleep apnea. It is the most common form and is caused by an airway blockage that results in the collapsing and closing of the tissue at the back of the throat during sleep. To put it simpler, a person who suffers from this form of sleep apnea unconsciously experiences a sudden cessation on snoring followed by a silence because of the stoppage in breathing. This alternating pattern of snoring and silence can repeat over a hundred times a night causing poor sleep quality. This is one of the first symptoms to be detected for sleep apnea sufferers. Central sleep apnea is the second form of this disorder and it is brain related. What happens is the nerve signals are not sent to the muscles intended for breathing which causes the breathing problems to get irregular even when there is no blockage in the airways. This irregular breathing is a second symptom to look for. Finally, Mixed sleep apnea is a mixture of the central and obstructive sleep apneas. Despite the different names, you may now conclude that those three forms have the same effect, that the patient stops breathing while sleeping. Think about the life-threatening possibilities and the danger of this experience while you are in an unconscious state of mind! Sleep apnea is a very serious disorder that should be treated with extreme caution.

It is very difficult for anyone to determine if they are suffering from any type of sleep apnea simply because the condition is a sleep disorder and it is impossible to monitor yourself while sleeping. Seek out assistance! A member of your family, for example, can be the most credible in helping you evaluate these matters.

The main symptoms of sleep apnea happen while sleeping. The individual suffering may be unaware of the symptoms such as loud snoring due to breath recovery. They might also be unaware of the silence that comes immediately after, which is due to the inability to breathe caused by the blockage of the airway. Another symptom is the lack of rapid eye movement or Rem Sleep. Most normal people experience REM whenever they enter a deeper stage of sleeping. This is characterized by the fluttering of the eyelids while sleeping. You may have observed this natural movement of the eye from a normal person who is sleeping. This is easy to observe in children who are healthier and more capable of having a deep sound sleep. REM is impossible for sleep apnea patients because of the blockage in the airways and the lack of breath. The brain of the patient sends signals to the muscles for their breathing to continue again but they never enter a deep state of sleep. This causes constant tossing and turning in bed and a very poor sleep quality.

Aside from the symptoms experienced while sleeping, there are also obvious changes in behavior which can be considered as symptoms related to sleep apnea. They include irritability and excessive sleepiness that can even cause sleeping while driving. They also include less interest in sexual activities and memory problems. If one of your family members is complaining about your loud snoring and, at the same time, you are experiencing some changes that are affecting your daily normal activities, seek medical advice immediately! Untreated sleep apnea can be life-threatening and can develop into high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, weight gain, impotence, and headaches.

Becoming aware of and treating your sleep apnea symptoms will help you and others in your family to continue with a normal lifestyle. Sleep apnea can be life-threatening so don’t let this hinder you in experiencing a happier life with your loved ones.

REM sleep behavior disorder and sleep deprivation project

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Sleep Disorders in Children

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Doctor, Do I Have To Wear This CPAP For The Rest Of My Life?

Yes, you may just have to wear that CPAP for the rest of your life. Those are hard words to say and even harder words to hear. The fact is the more mild your Sleep Apnea and the less pressure you need to open your airway, the better chances you have of getting off of CPAP. It may take some life style changes or even undergoing surgery-- but it has been done. The problem is that not every one has mild Sleep Apnea. Allot of us take high CPAP pressures to hold open our airways.

Let me try to explain why everyone needs a different CPAP pressure to open their airway. Think of your airway as a balloon. Some balloons are hard to inflate and hurt your cheeks, others will inflate slightly easier. An airway that is obstructed may not even begin to inflate until you get into the upper pressure ranges. Your weight and the severity of your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are the two main factors that play a large part in how high of a pressure you may require for your CPAP machine. The pressure acts like a splint or cushion of air that holds open what gravity is trying to close. Yes gravity plays a large role in obstructing your airway. That is why most OSA patients have learned to sleep on their side rather than their back. Because of this, some mild OSA patients can be treated with positional therapy. This position allows the airway to stay open as long as they do not lay on their back. The more weight you carry the harder it is to keep your airway fromcollapsing under your own body weight because gravity is pulling down on it.

There are a number of reasons why you may have OSA. For example, when lying on your back gravity will pull your tongue back and obstruct your airway. Another contributor to OSA is the excess stomach weight that is pushing up against your diaphragm. Again it can be relieved by lying on your side. Gravity now will prevent it from pulling into your diaphragm. Instead the stomach lies to the side along with your tongue. Genetics also plays a role by the way it has shaped your jaw, the size of the airway opening, the size of your tonsils and adenoids. These are just a few of the reasons why a patient will be predisposed to having OSA.

As you can see it may not always be just one factor that will cause your sleep apnea. Weight reduction alone may only reduce your risk of OSA. Most people who have moderate to severe OSA have more them one problem going on. That is why correcting one problem through surgery or weight loss may lower the pressure you need, but not always fix the entire problem all together. This is not to say that for most moderate to severe apnea patients losing weight will not allow you to discontinue CPAP therapy. It may just get you into the realm of ‘Very Mild’ which can then be then treated by alternative measures such as the positional therapy, surgery or possibly even a dental appliance. Each person has there own combination of problems which they would need to discuss with there doctor.

The first thing you need to do to feel better is get on CPAP. Then when you feel better try exercise with a weight loss program, then go from there. There are a lucky few who everyone hears about who are able correct one problem and manage to reduce their pressure or eliminate CPAP altogether. Unfortunately most people don't fall into that category. My advice to you is that if you can correct something through surgery or weight loss, go back for a repeat Sleep Study to determine if you truly are with out OSA. You may think you’re cured only to find that you may still need CPAP therapy but at a lower pressure.

Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder (Sleepwalking)

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Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder (Sleepwalking)

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Can Stress Be Measured?

Stress no doubt has been identified as a risk factor of heart disease, yet most of us will think that stress is something that cannot be seen or measured although some symptoms such as difficulty of falling in sleep, headache, bad temper, etc. can more or less tell whether you are in stressed!

Can stress be measured? Yes, of course. I have mentioned that two tests can be used to measure stress in my previous articles, "Do Not Overlook Stress That Can Raise Risk Of Heart Disease". But what tests are they, and how can we do it? These are questions that might have been in your mind for a while awaiting answers. As a matter of fact, the correlation between stress and health of your heart can always be measured by taking a stress test.

What is a stress test? It uses a treadmill or an exercise bike to get a person's heart working, and an electrocardiogram and blood pressure cuff to measure heart function. Nevertheless, taking stress test alone may not be sufficient.

A United States study showed that stress tests aimed at detecting blocked arteries in patients may miss more than half the case of early heart disease. The study reported that 56 percent of patients who breezed through their stress tests in fact had hardening arteries needing treatment with diet, exercise and medication.

Their findings showed that a relatively high number of patients who had normal readings on their stress tests had a calcium score of greater than 100, a score that is accepted as implying the need for aggressive medical treatment. To get the calcium score, you will need to take a calcium test.

So, what is calcium test? The test uses a quick burst of specialized X-rays called a computed tomography, or CT scan, to find evidence of plaques that block arteries. Calcium scores of zero are the best scores. Patients with calcium scores from 100 to 400 are at increase risk for cardiac events such as heart attacks, while patients with scores above 40 have the highest risk for a heart attack.

Stress test results are very important for short-term events that occur over the next couple of years, while calcium test results are important for long-term events.

Experts believed that most men over 45 and most women over 55, as well as smokers, people with high cholesterol and other risk factors should have a calcium scan.

Former Heart Surgeon Reveals ... How to prevent and even reverse heart disease - without drugs or surgery. Read more about Dr Robert's confession at: http://www.howtopreventheartdisease.com/dr-robert.html


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Heart Disease Prevention - 8 Simple Ways You Can Do Immediately, Go to: http://www.howtopreventheartdisease.com

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IMPROVING COMMUNICATION WITH FOREIGN EMPLOYEES

It is common knowledge that our nation is a nation of immigrants. Because of being recognized around the world as being "The Land of Opportunity," the U.S. has historically been and continues to be a popular destination for foreigners wanting to come here to learn English and gain experience working for an American company. Historically, many of the associations Americans have had with foreign workers was in the context of them working in a physical labor capacity type job but in more recent decades, an ever growing number are here working in various salaried professional job capacities from engineering to middle management. While their growing presence in the workforce has represented an opportunity for American corporate cultures to gain valuable exposure to alternative non-American approaches to problem solving and thought processes, it has also predictably created communication problems due in large part to the obvious linguistic shortcomings of the foreign expatriates but also in significant part due to the varying degrees of cultural myopia many of us Americans sadly suffer from.

While it is clear that any person who is hired on to be a salaried professional in an American company should rightfully be expected to communicate in English competently, it is far too easy to place the burden of responsibility for effective communication exclusively on the shoulders of the foreign expat worker. I say this because the line of reasoning upon which this misplaced accountability originates from is overly simplistic. It's easy to blame communication problems with foreign expats merely on the expat's perceived linguistic deficiencies totally ignoring or forgetting the fact that effective communication is not merely the product of a sterile exchange of language between two people. There are a lot of subtle but important contributing factors that come into play such as cultural context, linguistic register, collocation, pace of communication, idiom usage, body language cues, and vocal intonation. The first five in that list represent major areas of communication challenge for almost all non-native speakers of English because they are largely learned through authentic experience within that language's concomitant cultural and social context rather than from a formal linguistic education process. Although many (though certainly not all) foreign expats working here are able to communicate fairly competently from a linguistic standpoint, they often can struggle mightily in the other aforementioned communication areas. There is almost no way that a foreign expat could excel in those other areas of communication in English that for their American counterparts come easily and naturally due to a lifetime of exposure to English in an American social, cultural, and educational context. It's quite unfair to expect that a foreign expat could acquire that with ease, regardless of his level of education in the English language. If progress is to be made towards resolving these communication barriers, our biased conventional notions will need to be reexamined and refashioned so that accountability is equally distributed. Let's address these communication challenges from each of the first five subareas of communication that I mentioned starting with cultural context.

Cultural Context

I looked up the definition of "language" on Dictionary.com and the first definition listed was; "a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition." Notice how language is tied to people belonging to the "same community or nation" or the "same cultural tradition." What can be inferred from this? I think it's clear that simply being able to organize words together does not necessarily constitute effective communication. Language is indeed a cornerstone of communication but it's critical to understand that language is indelibly linked to the culture that it's spoken in. Without this knowledge of the cultural context that a language is spoken in, it's easy for miscommunication to occur. This even happens between two people who are speaking the same native language but come from different cultural perspectives. For example, in Australia it might be perfectly acceptable to joke with someone by poking fun at a personal attribute like his appearance or a personality trait without it seeming offensive while in the United States, such a form of joking can largely be taken as an affront. Understanding how to use language in its cultural context can be a critical factor in how effectively someone communicates. If this is important even when two people speak the same language natively but come from different cultural backgrounds, imagine how critical it is when one person is speaking the language from a second language perspective and is unfamiliar with the cultural context of that language from where it is spoken.

Linguistic Register

Linguistic register refers to level of formality a person's choice of words is associated with. Look at these three examples:

1) It's dangerous to swim here.

2) Swim at your own risk.

3) Swimming prohibited when dangerous conditions exist.

All three communicate a similar idea but all three convey the message with increasingly higher levels of formality. Clearly, the last example is appropriate for a public sign but would be a rather awkward way to communicate in an informal conversation. However, that is certainly not to imply that it is not useful to know how to communicate in a more formal manner. All three are perfectly acceptable ways to communicate the same idea but knowing when and how to use each manner of expression separates a novice user of English from a more sophisticated one. Depending on the level of competency and experience a foreign speaker has with English, it is quite likely that at least some would not clearly understand what's being communicated in the second example and many would likely not know what's being communicated at all in the final example. Foreigners that learn English as a second language often acquire a type of macro-level, vanilla vocabulary that is often serves them adequately in informal conversation circumstances but lack the ability to understand and communicate with the subtlety that is required in more sophisticated situations.

Collocations

Collocations refer to the very specific way that some words need to be paired or grouped in order for a certain idea to be accurately expressed. Phrasal verbs (or pairings of a verb with a preposition) are one of the most common forms of collocations (and also one of the most difficult for foreign speakers of English to master). For example, if you want to express to someone that they need to be sure that a particular task is completed, you would say, "Follow through with this." However, it wouldn't make sense to say "Follow with this." "Take out the trash." isn't quite the same meaning as, "Take away the trash." In America, we would say, "Did you have breakfast?" but we wouldn't say "Did you take breakfast?" When you want to retell a dream you had, you would say, "I had a dream about.." but not "I had a dream with..." There is an ocean of these very specific collocations in the English language that can be next to impossible for all but the most diligent and experienced speakers of English as a second language to master.

Oral Reduction and Pace

One problem that many foreigners discover upon arriving here in the United States is that even if they have diligently studied English extensively prior to relocating to the U.S., they discover that what they studied in their English classes and in their English textbooks doesn't seem to have much relationship to what real people are saying to them in every day encounters. They discover that English is spoken much more rapidly than they were exposed to in their classroom environment and they also discover that spoken English is often reduced, sometimes quite aggressively. For example, an ESL (English as a Second Language) student might learn something like, "What are you going to do this weekend?" However, when he encounters someone in an American office, he'll more likely hear; "What'r you gonna do this weekend?" If the reduction is really aggressive, he might encounter something like; "Whatcha gonna do this weekend?" I've had students who had come to the U.S. feeling quite confident after having studied English for years both privately and in college in their native country only to feel completely discouraged upon arriving here and speaking to real people on the street. They sometimes feel that they were studying a completely different language than what they are hearing on a daily basis.

Idiom Usage

Day to day spoken English is saturated with idioms. It's hard to have a conversation between two Americans that doesn't include idioms. Even the simplest of common dialogue between people can contain numerous instances of idiom usage. For example, two coworkers encountering each other in the hall on a Monday morning might have a conversation like this:

John: Hey Mike! How's it going?

Mike: Not bad. What were you up to this weekend?

John: I just hung out with my wife. We threw some dogs on the grill and watched a little ball on tv.

Mike: Pretty low key weekend.

John: It was alright. How bout you? Did you get into any trouble this weekend?

Mike: Nope. Just laid low with some friends.

To a foreigner who hasn't been in the U.S. very long, that whole conversation would likely make no sense at all. Learning the incredible number of idioms that make up every day language in the U.S. is something that takes years of exposure to English to learn. It is quite unlikely to learn purely from the context of studying an idiom guide book formally like some ESL students have often attempted.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

So, if you are an American company who has foreign expat professionals working among your workforce, how do you address these challenges? Here are two recommendations. First of all, contract the services of a quality ESL provider. Secondly, assume an equal level of accountability for effective communication with foreign expat workers.

Contract with a Quality ESL Provider

It's important to provide linguistic support to your foreign expat workforce by utilizing the services of a quality ESL provider. How do you identify a quality ESL provider? One of the most important attributes of a quality ESL provider is that they place a high priority on identifying and working with highly qualified and experienced ESL teachers. They also pay them commensurately. At the company that I run, Premiere English, I look for teachers that have had significant practical ESL teaching experience abroad. I just feel really strongly that if you want to reach your students, it is critical that you be able to empathize with them by having been in their shoes at some point. To me, a large part of teaching is not merely imparting knowledge, it's connecting and building a rapport with your students and I feel that my years of teaching overseas were of incredible value in helping me to do that. I also believe that a quality ESL provider also does a good job in assessing a company's language needs and then delivering the service effectively not only on the front end (in terms of quality instruction, a well organized program, and professional instructors who prepare effective classes and consistently show up on time) but also on the backend (in terms of accurate record keeping and invoicing). Sadly, many ESL providers are lacking on both ends.

Equal Accountability

It's important for companies that employ foreign expats to put themselves on the same side of the table when it comes to facilitating effective communication. Creating a corporate culture that promotes a heightened level of self-awareness in situations that require an American coworker or superior to communicate or interact with a foreign expat can be incredibly beneficial. By self-awareness, I am referring to monitoring the way you use English when communicating with a foreign expat. Taking care to remove idioms and avoiding reductions when communicating can significantly improve communication. Observing when an expat might look confused by something you said and taking the time to rephrase what you said in more vanilla language can make a big difference. Not only will communication improve, the confidence and comfort level of the foreign expat will improve. Contracting with a quality ESL company to provide cultural awareness and communication consultation can also be of immense value. That is something that my company Premiere English offers all of our clients in addition to ESL instructional services.

When accountability for effective communication is equally distributed between the foreign expat and his American coworkers, communication issues can be significantly reduced if not eliminated. The fundamental key to resolving these communication issues is understanding that language is not the only component to communication.



Chris Franek runs an on-site language services company in Houston called Premiere English that specializes in providing premium English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction as well as Spanish instruction to corporations, companies, businesses, manufacturing facilities,, and private schools. Premiere English also provides consulting to schools and companies regarding how to more effectively communicate and work with foreign expatriates.

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Aging and Sleep Disorders | Symptoms

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Interpreting The Most Common Dreams

The most common Dreams, according to surveys by www.psychicsuperstore.com are Dreams of falling, being naked, and of your teeth falling out. Close runners up include dreams of flying, and of exams.

Strangely, these dream themes are fairly consistent across all cultures, and may well reflect a deeper facet of the human condition than we would ordinarily suppose. Lets look a little closer at the interpretation of these dreams, starting with the common dream of falling.

The basic interpretation draws your attention to the possibility that you may have insecurities or general anxieties. Often, this dream is your subconscious telling you that it is not happy with the level of control you appear to exercise in your life, especially work or relationships - wise. The feeling of falling reminds you that once a fall begins, the ultimate destination is the ground (although contrary to popular legend, you will NOT die if you hit the ground while asleep!).

Often reflecting an internal feeling of failure, either at work, school or in love, falling dreams according to Freud indicate your desire to give in to a sexual urge of some kind.

Next, let's look at dreams of losing your clothes in public. The situation usually starts out normally, and may seem very 'real' - you may be going about your day to day business working for www.psychicsuperstore.com when you suddenly realise you are naked. Oops! the obvious interpretation is that in your real life, you are hiding something, or are ashamed of something, and are internally terrified of the secret being exposed. Clothes hide a multitude of sins and other problems, so the removal of them is quite significant. Naked, one is defenceless. and facing up to the need to take action to address a problem you are currently hiding is the first step in dealing with this dream.

A secondary interpretation of dream nudity is that it represents the fear of being unprepared for something - a work task, school, financial demands and so on. If no one else in your dream has noticed, then a further interpretation becomes possible - your fears may be unfounded, and your subconscious is trying to tell you just to 'get on with it' and stop worrying.

We will continue this series with dreams of being chased and flying at www.psychicsuperstore.com next time.

3 Quotes On Reaching Goals To Help You Achieve Your Desires

I’d like to share with you a few quotes on reaching goals that have helped many people find success in their life. I hope that you read them with an open mind and heart. Let these words flow through you and inspire you to reach all your goals successfully.

Quote # 1 On Reaching Goals: “If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.” - Lawrence J. Peter

A true educator, Lawrence J. Peter puts an emphasis on the importance of identifying your destination. According to him, blindly stumbling towards tomorrow will get you nowhere.

This quote applies to both big and small things - from improving your class standing to dealing with life itself. Letting your feet take you wherever the circumstances may take them, without putting any thought into where you want to go, will only waste your time.

And if your goal has an expiration date, then wouldn’t you want to achieve it as soon as possible?

Quote # 2 On Reaching Goals: “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” - Henry Ford

In this quote, Henry Ford shares that there are no obstacles. There shouldn’t be any when you are determined to reach your goal.

Obstacles are but distractions. If you have a deadline to beat, then nothing should stop you from meeting it. Control your desire to watch TV, deny invitations to go out drinking and other time wasters.

Stop thinking about how you won’t make the time, because thinking about that is already taking up too much of your time! Keep your eyes on your goal and ignore the obstacles.

Quote # 3 On Reaching Goals: “Goals are Dreams with deadlines.” - Diana Scharf Hunt

This quote is very direct to the point. According to Diana Scharf Hunt, goals have time limits because they are meant to be achieved one day.

Dreams, on the other hand, are nothing but unfulfilled wishes. Do you want your goals to remain dreams for the rest of your life?

Take that dream house of yours. When are you going to stop looking at magazines and actually start taking action to build your dream home?

These are just some of the millions of quotes on reaching goals out there. I don’t want to confuse you by putting together an overwhelming list. For now, why don’t you focus on these three quotes and make use of them in your life?

Parasomnia Sleep Disorder | Nightmares, Night Terrors, Confusional Arousals

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Speaking of Health Episode 36 - "Sleep Disorders"

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Shih Tzu - Solving Your Shih Tzu's Jumping And Roaming Problems

Every shih tzu owner must eventually deal with some unwanted behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of the most frequently encountered training problems with shih tzu puppies and shih tzu dogs alike are jumping on people and performing those amazing feats of escape.





Jumping up on people

Jumping up on people can be a cute trick for shih tzu puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior as the shih tzu gets older, larger and heavier. A very heavy shih tzu can easily knock a child or even a small adult off his or her feet, so jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as well as an annoying one.



The reason shih tzu puppies and older shih tzu jump on people is obvious – they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways. Many well meaning owners, family members and friends inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the shih tzu puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.



This type of inconsistency is anathema to proper shih tzu training, and in order for the shih tzu to be trained not to jump, every member of the family must recognize and accept the importance of the training. If one member of the family allows the shih tzu dog to jump up while other family members do not, the shih tzu will understandably become confused and frustrated. The training must be firm, kind and consistent in order to be effective.



One way to redirect the shih tzu dog's happiness and excitement from jumping is to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you. This "shaking hands" posture is an acceptable way for the shih tzu to show his happiness and his respect. Many people even teach their shih tzu to do simple tricks, like rolling over, instead of jumping on people.





Escaping and roaming the neighborhood

A responsible shih tzu owner would never dream of allowing his or her shih tzu to roam the neighborhood freely. Allowing a shih tzu to roam on its own is irresponsible, dangerous (to the shih tzu and the neighborhood), and probably even illegal. Most towns have ordinances which prohibit dogs from being allowed to roam around free, so you could be in legal trouble if your dog is found wandering the neighborhood unattended.



Of course sometimes that wandering shih tzu is not the owner's idea, and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on their own. The temptations for unattended dogs are many, including passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats and other dogs. It is much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a loose shih tzu, so let's talk about some preventative measures every dog owner can take.



Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution. A bored shih tzu is much more likely to spend his day plotting the great escape. A shih tzu that is surrounded by everything he or she needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh clean, water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.



In addition, a shih tzu with lots of pent up, unused energy is likely to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play sessions with your shih tzu into your daily routine. Make one of those play sessions right before you leave. If your shih tzu has a chance to work off his or her energy, chances are he or she will sleep or relax much of the day.



Of course dealing with the shih tzu is only half the problem. It is also important to make the property as escape proof as possible, through proper fencing and other measures. For shih tzu that dig, it may be necessary to extend the fence underground by placing metal stakes in the ground every few feet. For shih tzu that jump, it may be necessary to make the fence higher. And if none of these measures work, it may be necessary to confine the shih tzu to the house when you are not at home.



Connie Limon is a shih tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

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Exactly How Does A Lack of Sleep Affect The Body?

Many people that regularly skip sleeping for the recommended amount of time each night or regularly experience insomnia will find that a lack of sleep can have many negative effects on the body. Getting enough sleep rejuvenates the body and repairs the damage that is caused to the body during the normal actions of the day. When the body does not get enough rest, the damage can not be repaired and continues to get worse as each day passes.



It is important for people to understand how lack of sleep affects the body so that they will be more conscious about the effects of not getting the recommended amount of sleep each night. A lack of sleep can cause injury, loss of brain function, and even death if continued for a long period of time. The effects of a consistent lack of sleep can be very dangerous to the person and others around them. The longer the person goes without sleep, the worse the effects will be until the person collapses and becomes hospitalized or has a fatal accident.



A lack of sleep affects different parts of the body in different ways and in different degrees depending on how long the person has gone without sleep. The biggest effects of lack of sleep on the body can be seen in the brain of the person. Going without sleep for a 24 hour period can result in the person exhibiting behavior resembling drunkenness, with studies showing that people in this condition are more dangerous when driving than people that are legally drunk.



People that are suffering from a lack of sleep can experience memory lapses, decreased concentration, and hallucinations. As this continues, the person can experience depersonalization where they do not believe that they or any of the people around them are real, almost as if they feel they are living in a dream. Psychotic episodes may also appear in the person which may or may not disappear after the person has returned to a normal sleeping schedule.



A lack of sleep does not only affect the brain, but affects many other areas of the body as well. People that have gone without the proper amount of sleep for a long amount of time can experience muscle fatigue, a weakened immune system, blurred vision, headaches, and nausea. Other effects such as muscle tremors, color blindness, hyperactivity, and weight loss or gain may also occur.



Lack of sleep has been linked to many different health conditions including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and many different mental conditions. In most cases, returning to normal sleep each night can stop these conditions but in some cases, the damage is irreversible. There are many different ways that a lack of sleep can affect the body and each of the consequences of not getting enough rest at night can be dangerous to the person's health and well being.



Do you know enough about the effect of insomnia on your body? Insomnia can be treated and you can learn how now by clicking on over to www.Slumbertroubles.com/

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Home Based Sleep Studies Help Diagnosis Sleep Problems

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Home Based Sleep Studies Help Diagnosis Sleep Problems

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Study to help sleep disorder sufferers

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Study to help sleep disorder sufferers

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What is REM Sleep and Sleep Apnea?

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What is REM Sleep and Sleep Apnea?

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The Wonders of Natural Sleep Aids - Audio Article

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Romantic Love Letters and Poems - Why should I Bother?

Are you in love? Do you want to share your feelings with your special person? Are you a man of few words? Check this out! Romantic love poems would enable you to realize your dream of winning over the heart of love of your life. Even if you have already treaded the path of love and gone too far, love poems can impart a special meaning to special relationship that you share with your special person. Make your courtship a joyous experience with love poems.

Love poetry is like the potion of romance that has been around since donkey's years and without it romance almost stumbles. Poem is more loved and liked than the prose because of its rhyming quality and the highly imaginative style that compels people to dream. Just a glance at these love poems would send a shiver down your body if you have a sense of understanding the essence of love and romance.

You can find love poems online that are sentimental. Sending love poems online to your love is a simple gesture that's filled with emotions and warmth. Enclosing a love poem in a card is like the icing on the cake. You can either create your own poem or look for any of the great poetry that you might have read earlier. Classic poems are for love stories that are legendary.

Some couples find romance in humor too. There are funny love poems for those romantic couples who are class apart.

Romantic poems can be written and presented on any occasion, birthday, anniversary and wedding, to name a few. Love poems can be read for fun too. You can get inspired from reading them. You can also share them with your friends and relatives. If you have never fallen in love then you must read and discuss romantic love poems, who knows cupid might strike its arrow in your heart too.

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Streamlining Sleep Apnea Diagnoses

Doctors perform sleep studies or polysomnography (PSG) to diagnose sleep related illness or symptoms. Traditionally, patients have a diagnostic study performed for an entire night to diagnose obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Once the doctor confirms OSA, he sets up a separate therapeutic study. During this second study the doctor adjusts (or titrates) continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure (CPAP or BiPAP) to levels that eliminate or significantly reduce the number of respiratory abnormalities (apneas and hypopneas).

Doctors perform therapeutic PSG with CPAP titration if patients have a diagnostic study demonstrating an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). They may also perform it if the patient’s respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of at least 20 events per hour regardless of symptoms or an AHI/RDI of 10 events per hour associated with excessive daytime somnolence (EDS).

To reduce costs and improve efficiency many centers now combine the diagnostic and therapeutic studies into a single night, called a split-night study. Research by Yamashiro and Kryger, as well as Rodway and Sanders have demonstrated the effectiveness of this strategy especially in patients with significant elevations in AHI/RDI. Split night studies are now incorporated into the guidelines for treatment of OSA published by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).

Split-night polysomnography (PSG) divides the patients testing into two phases in one night. During the first part of the night, sleep specialists diagnose obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and the second half determine the appropriate level of positive airway pressure (CPAP or BiPAP). Medical necessity guidelines for PSG must meet two conditions for healthcare plan payments. The patient must show a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) greater than 40 during the first two hours of testing; or a RDI of 20-40 if associated with prolonged events or significant desaturations. Split night testing has shown to be less dependable in patients with AHI/RDI measurements less than 20 events per hour. Some doctors have been successful utilizing a split night strategy in patients with AHI/RDI as low as 10 events per hour if associated with EDS, impaired cognition, mood disorders, or documented hypertension, heart disease, or a history of stroke.

There is good evidence that split-night studies can be used under these guidelines. The challenge is that the patient must fall asleep promptly and demonstrate an elevated RDI early in the evening. Only about 25-30 percent of patients have successful split-night studies. The patient must have at least two hours of sleep documented in the diagnostic phase of the study with the documented increase in AHI/RDI. At least three hours of time is necessary for the therapeutic phase.

If the RDI is elevated early in the sleep cycle, then the patient is awakened. The specialist places a pre-fitted CPAP mask on the patient and then patient resumes sleep for another three hours as the pressure is titrated to eliminate the respiratory events. That is, the first part of the split study is diagnostic, and the second is therapeutic.

When a split-night study cannot be accomplished, then a therapeutic titration study is indicated. There is no specific timeframe for the performance of a titration (therapeutic) study after a diagnostic study. It should be done as soon as is practical.

Requesting a split-night study is a very cost effective strategy. If 100 percent of the studies in a practice or sleep lab were done by means of separate diagnostic and therapeutic studies on two separate nights this would indicate that the recent recommendations regarding the effectiveness of split night studies were overlooked. Seventy to 75 percent of studies may require two separate nights.

Include a specific statement about why a split night study could not be accomplished helps in the patient’s file to indicate the necessity for a second study.

References

Iber, C, O'Brien, C, Schluter, J, et al. Single night studies in obstructive apnea. Sleep 1991; 14:383.

Loube DI,et al. Indications for Positive Airway Pressure Treatment of Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients. A Consensus Statement. Chest 1999 ; 115: 863-66.

Sanders, MH, Black, J, Costantino, JP, et al. Diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing by half-night polysomnography. Am Rev Respir Dis 1991; 144:1256.

Yamashiro, Y, Kryger, M. CPAP titration for sleep apnea using a split-night protocol. Chest 1995; 107:62.

Common Sleeping Problems (Part 2 of 3) | HealthNation

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Can A Neurotransmitter Imbalance Be Causing Your Mood Problems?

Neurotransmitters are powerful chemicals that regulate numerous physical and emotional processes such as cognitive and mental performance, emotional states and pain response. Virtually all functions in life are controlled by neurotransmitters.

Interactions between neurotransmitters, hormones, and the brain chemicals have a profound influence on overall health and well-being. When our concentration and focus is good, we feel more directed, motivated, and vibrant. Unfortunately, if neurotransmitter levels are inadequate these energizing and motivating signals are absent and we feel more stressed, sluggish, and out-of-control.

Disrupted communication between the brain and the body can have serious effects to ones health both physically and mentally. Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders are thought to be directly related to imbalances with neurotransmitters. Some of the more common neurotransmitters that regulate mood are Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine. Serotonin imbalance is one of the most common contributors to mood problems. Some feel it is a virtual epidemic in the United States.

Serotonin is key to our feelings of happiness and very important for our emotions because it helps defend against both anxiety and depression. You may have a shortage of serotonin if you have a sad depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks, low energy, migraines, sleeping problems, obsession or compulsions, feel tense and irritable, crave sweets, and have a reduced interest in sex.

Additionally, your hormones and Estrogen levels can affect serotonin levels and this may explain why some women have pre-menstrual and menopausal mood problems. Moreover, stress can greatly reduce your serotonin supplies.

Dopamine and Norepinephrine are responsible for motivation, energy, interest, and drive. They are associated with positive stress states such as being in love, exercising, listening to music, and sex. These neurotransmitters are the one's that make you feel good. When we don't have enough of them we don't feel alive, we have difficulty initiating or completing tasks, poor concentration, no energy, and lack of motivation. Low neurotransmitter levels drive us to use drugs (self medicate) or alcohol, smoke cigarettes, gamble, and overeat. For many years, it has been known in medicine that low levels of these neurotransmitters can cause many diseases and illnesses. A neurotransmitter imbalance can cause Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, irritable bowel, hormone dysfunction, eating disorders, Fibromyalgia, obsessions, compulsions, adrenal dysfunction, chronic pain, migraine headaches, and even early death.

What causes neurotransmitter dysfunction?

• Prolonged periods of stress can deplete neurotransmitters levels. Our fast paced, fast food society greatly contributes to these imbalances.

• Poor Diet. Neurotransmitters are made in the body from proteins. Also required are certain vitamins and minerals called “cofactors”. These are precurors to neurotransmitters. If your nutrition is poor and you do not take in enough protein, vitamins, or minerals to build the neurotransmitters, a neurotransmitter deficiency develops. We really do think and feel what we eat.

• Genetic factors, faulty metabolism, and digestive issues can impair absorption and breakdown of our food which reduces are ability to build neurotransmitters.

• Toxic substances like heavy metals, pesticides, drug use, and some prescription drugs can cause permanent damage to the nerves that make neurotransmitters.

• Certain drugs and substances deplete neurotransmitters such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, NutraSweet, antidepressants, and certain cholesterol lowering medications.

• Hormone Imbalances

Testing is now available to detect Neurotransmitter Imbalances.

Basing a treatment on symptoms alone (traditional medicine) will not provide the information needed to address the underlying imbalance. A visit to a doctor or practitioners office for depression involves telling them how you have been feeling emotionally. The typical depressed person leaves the office with a prescription for an antidepressant without ever having any conclusive laboratory evidence of what is causing their symptoms. New sophisticated equipment and tests are now available to evaluate neurotransmitter imbalances using a urine or blood sample. This provides a neurotransmitter baseline assessment and is useful in determining the root causes for diseases and illnesses such as those mentioned above. Laboratory analysis can now provide precise information on neurotransmitter deficiencies or overloads, as well as detect hormonal and nutrient co-factor imbalances which influence neurotransmitter production. Individuals require individual solutions. Testing helps to determine exactly which neurotransmitters are out of balance and helps to determine which therapies are needed for an individualized treatment plan. It also helps in monitoring the effectiveness of an individual's treatment.

Treatment

Nutrient therapies greatly increase the levels of neurotransmitters that a person has been found to be deficient in. Studies have shown that it is both safe and effective. These nutrients will cross the blood brain barrier into the brain where they will be synthesized into neurotransmitters and this will raise the number of neurotransmitter molecules needed by the brain. They are prescribed according to the results of laboratory testing giving the imbalanced person a more individualized plan of treatment. Prescription drugs such as antidepressants do not increase the overall number of neurotransmitter molecules in your brain, they merely move them around or stop the breakdown. If your levels are too low to start with, medication may work initially, then "poop out" or not work from the beginning. There is also the issue of side-effects and more recently the FDA warning that SSRI antidepressants could cause suicidal thoughts in some children, teens and adults. There are specialized nutrient formulas which help antidepressant medications work more effectively. Under the supervision of a trained practitioner these treatments may be used in addition to the persons existing medication to boost their effectiveness or to target another neurotransmitter that is also causing symptoms. Many antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications just target one neurotransmitter but many mental health disorders involve multiple neurotransmitters.

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Excessive Worrying=Bad Health

The struggle of daily life has dealt upon us a most contagious aspect of reality that oftentimes cost our health more than what we can bargain for. And as to what this aspect is, it is none other than the most annoying amorphous thoughts that preoccupy everyone's mind from time to time: worry.


Have you ever known anyone who does not worry?





Invisible Burdens





With all the demands of living posed on us, it seems as if none of us would ever be rid of worries. We worry about anything and everything: our bills, our lives, our work, our families, our properties, ourselves, other people, possibilities, the list goes on and on and on. In fact, even the realization that we worry too much is another weight we unconsciously and ridiculously burden ourselves with.


Worrying oneself to death may sound like an overstatement, but when our worries get out of hand, such a seemingly ludicrous notion can become reality. Worrying can indeed cause our health to take a nose dive for the worst. The longer we worry, the greater our worries are magnified in our minds; the greater our worries become, the more anxious we get. And from here onwards, you can very well tell the many dark probabilities you could end up with once worry has eaten up your entirety.





Getting to know Worry





The term "worry" is derived from the Greek word merimanao, which resulted from the connection of the words merizo, meaning to divide, and nous, meaning mind. True to its origin, worry is a variety of thoughts that snatches our attention, dividing it and eventually conquering it. It is hardly bothersome at first-depending on what particular kind of worry you are preoccupied with. But it can grow with time, taking up more attention as it worsens, eating you up from the inside little by little.


With worrying comes stress. You may hardly be aware of it, but the interception of worry in your otherwise focused or calm state of mind is enough to make your system act up. On the positive side, worry can be beneficial: it alerts you into action should the possibilities be awry. It gives you the advantage of turning things around to your advantage.


But just like spices in soups, you can never have too much of worries or worrying. When you are encumbered with worries, you suffer mentally, emotionally, and physically. The rate in which they begin to wreak havoc in your system depends on three aspects: their gravity, the time you spend contemplating on them, and the frequency in which they intercept your thoughts. Medical science has confirmed the adverse effects of excessive worrying. Studies have shown that an estimated 75-90% of patients pay their doctors a visit due to stress related conditions caused by the latter.





How worry affects your health





Although worry can trigger our "flight and fright response", an essential aspect for our survival, having too much of it ups your stress level to dangerous heights. Consequently, excessive worrying can deal damaging effects to your health, making you susceptible to contracting any of the following illnesses:





headaches


stomach related illnesses


fatigue


anxiety illnesses


depression


chest pain


fatigue


obesity


skin disorders


Sleep Disorders


high blood pressure


cancer


diabetes

REM Behavior Disorder During Sleep Study

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REM Behavior Disorder During Sleep Study

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The 7 Dimension Addiction Treatment Model

Introducing a Multidimensional Public Health Approach for Poly-behavioral Addictions


By James Slobodzien, Psy.D., CSAC





The sun was thought to revolve around the earth for 1500 years. It wasn’t until a European astronomer named - Nicolaus Copernicus first formulated a modern heliocentric theory of the solar system that we began to change our thinking. This insight ultimately ushered in a major paradigm shift in astronomy and physics.





Every model or viewpoint for recovery maintains the integrity and importance of its own position, often to the exclusion of other explanations. For example, there are recovery models and theories for: biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual viewpoints that can all explain human behavior. Unfortunately, these viewpoints may thus "blind" their adherents to alternative interpretations until some new insight is achieved that resolves the problems left unsolved. This article describes a public health model that could possibly be a step towards a "Copernicus" type paradigm shift.





The Unitary Syndrome Healthcare Model (The Problem)





Acute Care





Our present healthcare system is set up to focus on acute care rather than chronic illnesses (e.g., obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and addictions, etc.). An acute illness is sudden and severe and an immediate response is needed for events like heart attack, stroke, or violent injury. Acute disease is episodic, relatively brief and often fatal.





Acute care focuses on a Unitary Syndrome model in which the sole marker of treatment response or success is specific symptom-reduction, rather than a multi-dimensional approach that can address the multitude of risk factors and contributory causes.





Chronic Care





A chronic illness is defined as a disease that is ongoing, rarely cured, afflicts young and old, varies in severity, and typically lasts more than a year. The goals of treatment for chronic disorders and diseases are to preserve body function, minimize symptoms, ensure the best quality of life possible and maximize a patient's independence.





In 1990, 50 percent of the mortality (over 1-million deaths annually) in the United States from the 10 leading causes of death were linked to chronic addictive behaviors such as tobacco use, poor dietary habits, alcohol misuse, illicit drug use, and risky sexual practices, (McGinnis and Foege, 1994). The term "Poly-behavioral Addiction," will be used in this article to categorize the combination of substance and chronic behavioral (lifestyle) addictions (e.g., pathological gambling, food addiction, sex addiction, and other potentially obsessive-compulsive behavioral patterns such as exercise, shopping, internet, and religion, etc.).





If the goal is to eliminate or at least reduce alcohol, substance abuse, and other poly-behavioral addictions in the United States and the rest of the world, then a major shift in thinking will be required. We will need to expand our efforts not only in treating these disorders, but also in preventing them through early (multi-dimensional) interventions (Foley & Hochman, 2006).





The Public Health Model (7 Dimensions)





In the 1990s, the U.S. Congress directed the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to work with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to develop a Public Health Model that encompasses the following 7 strategies for the prevention, treatment, and maintenance of emotional problems that include addictions (Dozois & Dobson, 2004).





1. Universal Interventions: Efforts aimed at influencing the general population.





2. Selective Interventions: Efforts aimed at specific subgroups of the population that are considered at risk for developing problems, such as adolescents or ethnic minorities.





3. Indicated Interventions: Efforts directed toward high-risk groups of individuals who are identified as having minimal symptoms but do not meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis.





4. Case Identification: Efforts aimed at screening, assessing, and diagnosing high-risk individuals.





5. Short-term Treatment: Efforts aimed at utilizing standard approaches to treat individuals.





6. Long-term Treatment: Efforts aimed at assisting individuals with the compliance of their long-term treatment goals to reduce relapse and recurrence.





7. Aftercare: Efforts aimed at maintaining gains including rehabilitation.





The 7 Dimensions Addiction Treatment Model





According to a recent (2010), addendum published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), concerning the criteria for preventing and managing the relapse of addictions - patients now being referred to treatment are presenting with much greater complexity of pathology and chronicity of relapse behaviors.





Early treatment for Alcoholism patients was modeled on the philosophy of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and they underwent "rehabilitation," that is they had already acquired the skills to function effectively, but their drinking interfered with the application of these skills. Later, as the field broadened its scope, patients required "habilitation," with treatment focused on the acquisition of skills to function effectively for the first time.





It became clear that to offer effective treatment, the field must expand its set of tools to include psychosocial interventions to improve life functioning skills to overcome problems with living conditions, housing, education, employment, job skills, childcare, and transportation , etc.





"Increasingly, our appreciation of addiction as a chronic, relapsing disorder - reflects scientific advances in our understanding of the structure and function of the brain, the genetics of addiction, and the pharmacology of motivation and behavior," (ASAM, 2010).





Healthcare consumers are increasingly advocating for a Multidimensional Healthcare model that takes into account an array of life-functioning domains that influence patient treatment progress. Evidenced-based meta-analysis studies purport the prognostic power of life-functioning variables to predict outcome as well as their importance for treatment planning over a Unitary Syndrome Healthcare model that has had little empirical support.





Accurate diagnosis is also dependent on a thorough multidimensional assessment process along with the possible help of a multidisciplinary treatment team approach. Behavioral Medicine practitioners have come to realize that although a disorder may be primarily physical or primarily psychological in nature, it is always a disorder of the whole person – not just of the body or the mind.





In 2005, the "Addictions Recovery Measurement System (ARMS)," was published - describing the following 7 life-functioning therapeutic activity dimensions for progress outcome measurements. 





The 7 Life-functioning Dimensions of Wellness:





Medical/ Physical Dimension


Self-regulation/ Impulse-control Dimension


Educational/ Occupational Dimension


Social/ Cultural Dimension


Financial/ Legal Dimension


Mental/ Emotional Dimension


Spiritual/ Religious Dimension





Each of the 7 Dimensions of wellness encompasses the following individualized criteria:





I. Medical/ Physical Dimension





A. The Medical/ Physical Dimension of wellness includes the following combination of


attitudes and behaviors:





1. Building endurance, strength, flexibility, and fitness through adequate exercise,





2. Eating a variety of healthy foods to maintain proper nutrition and diet,





3. Maintaining healthy sleep patterns to acquire a restful nights sleep,





Having the ability to identify symptoms of disease, and taking personal responsibility for minor illnesses and self-care such as getting regular medical checkups.





5. Pursuing an active lifestyle on a daily basis to maintain consistent health,





6. Understanding the importance of the relationship between nutrition, activity, performance and health, and





7. Monitoring your stress levels to get through your daily activities without feeling fatigued or physically stressed.





II. Self-regulation/ Impulse Control Dimension





A. The Self-regulation/ Impulse Control Dimension of wellness includes the following combination of attitudes and behaviors:





1. Recognizing that by replacing unhealthy habits with healthy habits - we can attain the psychological benefits of enhanced self-esteem, self-control, determination and a sense of direction,





2. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption: Drinking no more than 4 drinks in a sitting, not drinking and driving, avoiding risky behaviors and situations while drinking, and choosing non-alcoholic, non-caffeine, and low sugar beverages,





3. Avoiding nicotine and tobacco products that are unsafe and that can potentially cause cancer. Also avoiding second-hand exposure to tobacco smoke that is very dangerous and that can cause cancer,





Avoiding the use of illegal drugs, non-prescribed drugs, addictive substances and/ or abusing over-the-counter drugs, and choosing a drug free life-style,





5. Avoiding excessive sexual compulsive behaviors, practicing safer sex, if you are sexually active, by using condoms and dental dams that can greatly reduce your risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases,





6. Avoiding behavioral addictions, such as excessive gambling, food - binging/ purging, (control meal portions) obsessive religious practices, and excessive internet use, shopping, exercise and work activities,





7. Avoiding high-risk and dangerous behaviors, such as speeding/ reckless driving, and/ or assaults/ violence/ self-harm, and by proactively using seat belts, helmets, and other protective equipment.





III. Educational/ Occupational Dimension





A. The Educational/ Occupational Dimension of wellness includes the following combination of attitudes and behaviors:





Creating a vision for your future career that will be meaningful, enjoyable and rewarding,





2. Exploring a variety of career options that are consistent with your personal values, interests, and beliefs,





3. Choosing educational/ vocational goals to pursue a career that suits your personality, interests, and talents,





4. Visiting a career planning/placement office and using the available resources to make you marketable in your field,





5. Being open to change and learning new skills to balance your work, family and leisure time activities,





6. Preparing and making use of your gifts, skills and talents in order to gain purpose, happiness and enrichment in your life, and





7. Maintaining a positive attitude in your place of employment.





IV. Social/ Cultural Dimension





A. The Social/ Cultural Dimension of wellness includes the following combination of attitudes and behaviors:





1. Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with family, friends and co-workers,





2. Learning social skills to develop a good support system and deep, meaningful relationships,





3. Developing good communication and listening skills by practicing empathy and compassion as well as caring for others to generate more satisfying and meaningful relationships,





4. Interacting with people of other cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs by cultivating healthy relationships, sharing your talents and skills, contributing to your community, and communicating your thoughts, ideas and feelings to others,





5. Living in harmony with fellow human beings, seeking positive interdependent relationships with others, and developing healthy interpersonal behaviors,





6. Being involved in socially responsible activities to protect the culture and environment such as: conserving water and other natural resources; reducing, reusing, recycling, minimizing your exposure to chemicals, and renewing your relationship with the earth,





7. Promoting health measures that improve the standard of living and quality of life in the community, including laws and agencies that safeguard the physical environment.





V. Financial/ Legal Dimension





A. The Financial/ Legal Dimension of wellness includes the following combination of attitudes and behaviors:





1. Contemplating your personal beliefs concerning: security, peace of mind, economic freedom and choice to determine your concept of financial/ legal health and wellness,





2. Assessing your debt-to-income ratio, your savings rate and your ability to respond to a financial emergency,





3. Creating, planning, managing, monitoring, and conserving your money and assets,





4. Avoiding spending more than you’re earning, and sticking to a budget to keep debt in check,





5. Seeking advice from a reputable financial planner,





6. Buying the necessary health, auto, and life insurance,





7. Obeying the law, complying with rules and regulations, and becoming a community role-model.





VI. Mental/ Emotional Dimension





A. The Mental/ Emotional Dimension of wellness includes the following combination of attitudes and behaviors:





1. Learning, problem-solving and creative pursuits as well as reading, writing and other mentally-stimulating and challenging activities,





2. Striving to improve your intellect and your creative spark by: taking a course or workshop, learning a foreign language, reading for personal enjoyment, seeking out persons who challenge you intellectually, and/ or taking up a hobby,





3. Cultivating optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance, and the ability to share your feelings by tuning-in to your thoughts and feelings, seeking and providing support to others and accepting and forgiving yourself,





4. Understanding yourself and coping with the challenges of life by acknowledging and sharing your feelings of anger, fear, sadness, stress, hope, love, joy and happiness in a productive manner,





5. Coping with normal life stressors, relationships with others, job satisfaction and success as well as quality of life and happiness,





6. Assessing your limitations, developing your autonomy, and being aware of your personal limitations and understanding the value of seeking support and assistance from others,





7. Expressing feelings freely, managing feelings effectively and learning to accept a wide range of feelings in yourself and others.





VII. Spiritual/ Religious Dimension





A. The Spiritual/ Religious Dimension of wellness includes the following combination of attitudes and behaviors:





1. Possessing a unique set of guiding beliefs, principles, values or spiritual guidelines that help give direction to your life,





2. Establishing peace and harmony in your life by developing congruency between your values and your actions,





3. Seeking meaning and purpose in life through meditation, religion, music, art, literature, nature and through connections with loved ones and other people in your community,





4. Exploring your spiritual core, being inquisitive and curious, listening to your heart and following your principles, and allowing yourself and others around you the freedom to be who they are,





5. Having a sense of selflessness and empathy for others, and a commitment to a higher, greater power,





6. Being able to ponder the meaning of life and being tolerant of the beliefs of others instead of being close minded and intolerant, and





7. Being mindful, appreciative and accepting of the opportunities for growth in the challenges that life brings you.





The "7 Dimensional" Public Health Model Components





The 7 Dimension Addiction Treatment Model has various components that can be incorporated into the public health models' focus on the individual within the psychosocial environment in the following ways:





Universal Interventions: Public education and prevention campaigns can promote the 7 Dimension Health and Wellness Programs (See the 7 University Campaigns below).





Selective Interventions: The 7 Dimension Health and Wellness Program can be targeted at specific subgroups (College students, Military members, etc.).





Indicated Interventions: The 7 Dimensional Intervention can be utilized to screen and assess high-risk individuals (See below for a brief description of this intervention).





Case Identification: The 7 Dimension Diagnostic Classification system can be utilized to diagnose patients without labeling or stigmatization (A Prototype Model for the Alcohol/Substance Dependence diagnosis has been developed and proposed for DSM-V).





Short-term Treatment: Standardized 7 Dimensional treatment plans can be utilized.





Long-term Treatment: The 7 Dimensional Tracking Team can be utilized to assist with treatment compliance.





Aftercare: 7 Dimensional Treatment progress reports can be utilized to assist with acquiring outcome measures.





Note: These seven dimensional program components have been delineated in the book entitled, Poly-behavioral Addiction and the Addictions Recovery Measurement System (Slobodzien, 2005), and also in the article entitled: The 7 - Dimension Intervention - A Holistic Diathesis-Stress Approach to Stress-Management





The 7 Dimension Intervention





The Diathesis-Stress Model





The 7 Dimension Intervention is a unique stress-management assessment process that is based on the Diathesis-Stress Model. Researchers have proposed that many disorders are believed to develop when some kind of stressor affects a person who already has a vulnerability or diathesis for that disorder (Ingram & Luxton, 2005; Meehl, 1962; Monroe & Simons, 1991). The diathesis or vulnerability which could be a genetic predisposition or adverse childhood experience is not generally sufficient to cause the disorder itself, but it is a contributory factor. For example, a child who experiences the death of a parent would be at a higher risk to develop depression as an adult. In this case the vulnerability itself was a childhood stressor.





The 7 Dimension Intervention utilizes the following three instruments - to systematically document and assist a client with visualizing their childhood vulnerabilities, current life stressors, and current positive activities on a "Wheel of Life." The goal is to decrease stress, build resiliency, and improve their overall wellness to hopefully motivate them to develop and monitor a health and wellness plan for their lives:





1. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Questionnaire


2. The 7 Dimensional - Psycho-social Stressor Inventory (7D-PSI)


3. The 7 Dimensional - Therapeutic Activity Survey (7D-TAS)





What is the ACE Study?





The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations ever conducted on the links between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being. As a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente's Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) members undergoing a comprehensive physical examination provided detailed information about their childhood experience of abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction. Over 17,000 members chose to participate. To date, over 50 scientific articles have been published and over 100 conference and workshop presentations have been made (Slobodzien, 2009).





For more information see the article: The 7 - Dimension Intervention - A Holistic Diathesis-Stress Approach to Stress-Management (Slobodzien, 2009).





The 7 Dimensional Hypothesis





The 7 - Dimensions hypothesis acknowledges that there is a multidimensional synergistically negative resistance that individual’s develop to any one form of treatment to a single dimension of their lives, because the effects of an individual’s addiction have dynamically interacted multi-dimensionally. Having the primary focus on one dimension is insufficient. Traditionally, addiction treatment programs have failed to accommodate for the multidimensional synergistically negative effects of an individual having multiple addictions, (e.g. nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and sex, etc.).





Behavioral addictions interact negatively with each other and with strategies to improve overall functioning. They tend to encourage the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, help increase violence, decrease functional capacity, and promote social isolation. Most treatment theories today involve assessing other dimensions to identify dual diagnosis or co-morbidity diagnoses, or to assess contributing factors that may play a role in the individual’s primary addiction.





The 7 Dimensional Theory





Many healthcare consumers of addiction recovery services have a genetic pre-dispositional history for addiction. They have suffered and continue to suffer from past traumatic life experiences (e.g. physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, etc.) and often present with psychosocial stressors (e.g. occupational stress, family/ marital problems, etc.) leaving them with intense and confusing feelings (e.g. anger, anxiety, bitterness, fear, guilt, grief, loneliness, depression, and inferiority, etc.) that reinforce their already low self-esteem. The complex interaction of these factors can leave the individual with much deeper mental health problems involving self-hatred, self-punishment, self-denial, low self-control, low self-respect, and a severe low self-esteem condition, with an overall (sometimes hidden) negative self-identity.





The standardized performance-based 7 Dimension Addiction Treatment philosophy incorporates a bio-psychosocial disease model that focuses on a cognitive behavioral perspective in attempting to alter maladaptive thinking and improve a person’s abilities and behaviors to solve problems and plan for sustained recovery.





The 7 Dimensions’ theory promotes a synergistically positive effect that can ignite and set free the human spirit when an individual’s life functioning dimensions are elevated in a homeostatic system. The reciprocity between spirituality and multidimensional life functioning progress, establish the deepest intrinsic self-image and behavioral changes.





The 7 Dimension "Long-term Goal"





The long-term goal is the health-consumer’s highest optimal functioning, not merely the absence of pathology or symptom reduction. The short-term goal is to change the health care system to accommodate and assimilate to a multidimensional health care perspective. The 7 Dimensions model addresses the low self-esteem - "addiction - common denominator" by helping individuals establish values, set and accomplish goals, and monitor successful performance.





Additionally, when we consider that addictions involve unbalanced life-styles operating within semi-stable equilibrium force fields, the 7 Dimension philosophy promotes that there is a supernatural-like spiritually synergistic effect that occurs when an individuals’ multiple life functioning dimensions are elevated in a homeostatic human system. This bilateral spiritual connectedness reduces chaos and increases resilience to bring an individual harmony, wellness, and productivity.





Other Evidenced Based Multi-dimensional Models





Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)





It was suggested that the DSM-IV Classification be organized following a dimensional model rather than the categorical model used in DSM-III-R. A dimensional system classifies clinical presentations based on quantification of attributes rather than the assignment to categories and works best in describing phenomena that are distributed continuously and that do not have clear boundaries.





A joint committee of the American Psychiatric Association and the National Institute of Mental Health charged with identifying pressing issues for the DSM – Fifth Edition (DSM-V) concluded that: ‘there is a clear need for dimensional models to be developed and for their utility to be compared with the existing typologies.'





American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)





The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (2003), "Patient Placement Criteria for the Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders, 3rd Edition", has set the standard in the field of addiction treatment for recognizing a multidimensional, bio-psychosocial assessment process. These dimensional assessments involve asking if the patient’s daily living activities were significantly impaired to interfere with or distract from abstinence, recovery, and/ or stability treatment goals and efforts.





The Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA)





CRA is a comprehensive behavioral program for treating substance-abuse problems.  It is based on the belief that environmental contingencies can play a powerful role in encouraging or discouraging drinking or drug use.  Consequently, it utilizes social, recreational, familial, and vocational reinforcers to assist consumers in the recovery process.  Its goal is to make a sober lifestyle more rewarding than the use of substances.  Oddly enough, however, while virtually every review of alcohol and drug treatment outcome research lists CRA among approaches with the strongest scientific evidence of efficacy, very few clinicians who treat consumers with addictions are familiar with it.





Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF)





CSF a multi-dimensional holistic fitness program for Soldiers, families, and Army civilians implemented in 2009 in order to enhance performance and build resilience.





7 Dimension Health and Wellness Campaigns





The following 7 Universities/ Colleges have instituted 7 Dimensional Health and Wellness Programs:





1. University of California, Riverside


2. Ball State University, IN


3. University of North Dakota


4. North Dakota State University, Fargo


5. Illinois State University


6. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point


7. Salem College, North Carolina





Conclusion





The 7 – Dimensions Model is not claiming to be the panacea for the ills of addictions treatment progress and outcomes, but it is a step in the right direction for getting clinicians to change the way they practice, by changing treatment facility systems to incorporate evidence-based research findings on effective interventions. The challenge for those interested in conducting outcome evaluations to improve their quality of care is to incorporate a system that will standardize their assessment procedures, treatment programs, and clinical treatment practices. By diligently following a standardized system to obtain base-line outcome statistics of their treatment program effectiveness despite the outcome, they will be able to assess the effectiveness of subsequent treatment interventions.





For more info see: 7dimensions.net





Books: Poly-Behavioral Addiction and the Addictions Recovery Measurement System (ARMS) at:





http://www.amazon.com/Poly-Behavioral-Addiction-Addictions-Recovery-Measurement/dp/1591136903





Published Articles:





1. Contemplating a 7 - Dimensional Theory of Everything


2. Ancient Mysteries of the Seven Dimensions


3. The 7 Dimensional God and Ancient Mystery Religion


4. 2012 And the 7 Dimension End Time Prophecies


5. Spirituality 101 (Part-1)


6. Spirituality 101 (Part 2 - Religion)


7. The Pope and the "Holy War"





For further information see the following books:





1. Hawaii and Christian Religious Addiction: A Survey of Attitudes Toward Healthy Spirituality and Religious Addiction Within Christianity





http://www.amazon.com/Hawaii-Christian-Religious-Addiction-Spirituality/dp/158





2. Christian Psychotherapy & Criminal Rehabilitation: An Integration Of Psychology And Theology For Rehabilitative Effectiveness





http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Psychotherapy-Criminal-Rehabilitation-Rehabilitative/dp/1581125399


Read more at http://www.articlealley.com/article_1817416_51.html?ktrack=kcplink





References





American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition,


Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 787 & p. 731.


American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (2003), "Patient Placement Criteria for the


Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders, 3rd Edition, Retrieved, June 18, 2005, from:


http://www.asam.org/


Arthur Aron, Ph.D., professor, psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook; Helen


Fisher, research professor, department of anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.;


Dozois, D. J. A., & Dobson, K. S. (Eds.). (2004). The prevention of anxiety and depression: Theory, research, and practice. Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association.


Foley, G. M. & Hochman, J. D. (2006), Mental health in early intervention: Achieving unity in principles and practice.: Baltimore Brooke Publishing.


Kessler, R.C., (1994), Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States: Results from the national comorbidity survey. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 51, 8-19.


Paul Sanberg, Ph.D.,professor, neuroscience, and director, Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair,University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa; June 2005, the Journal of Neurophysiology Gorski, T. (2001), Relapse Prevention In The Managed Care Environment. GORSKI-CENAPS Web


Publications. Retrieved June 20, 2005, from: http://www.tgorski.com


Lienard, J. & Vamecq, J. (2004), Presse Med, Oct 23;33(18 Suppl):33-40.


Monroe, S.M., & Simons, A.D. (1991). Diathesis-stress theories in the context of life stress research: Implications for the depressed disorders. Psychol. Bull., 110, 406-25.


Morgan, G.D.; and Fox, B.J. Promoting Cessation of Tobacco Use. The Physician and Sports medicine. Vol 28- No. 12, December 2000.


Slobodzien, J. (2005). Poly-behavioral Addiction and the Addictions Recovery Measurement System (ARMS), Booklocker.com, Inc., p. 5.


U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010 (Conference Edition). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 2000.

You can find additional info at the following links:

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