Solitary Confinement -- for Life!Written by Phyllis Staff, Ph.D.
Continued from page 1
What signs should lead you to suspect serious depression? ·Lethargy and or refusal to get out of bed; ·Changes in Sleep Patterns, such as sleeping all morning ·Unusual Complaints ·Memory loss and loss of ability to concentrate ·Frequent sighs or weeping if unusual for sufferer ·Feeling fear and loneliness; ·Thoughts of death ·Refusal to eat ·Refusal to take prescribed medications ·Thoughts or talk of suicide (remember, notion that suicides do not signal their plans is a myth!) ·Significant changes in personality ·Irritability What Can You Do? A few simple steps may improve their condition rapidly: ·Call more often than usual. ·Take your elder for outings away from house. ·Schedule a medical appointment to confirm or deny your suspicions, and be one to take your elder to that appointment. Depression often accompanies early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. ·Check bottles to be certain that your elder is actually taking prescribed medications at recommended dosages. Too many or too few pills in bottle can warn you of problems. If you find evidence that medications are not taken as prescribed, gently probe to see if you can learn why. ·Include elder in parties and holiday festivities, but keep duration of their participation at a level they can handle comfortably. ·Drop in more often than usual on homebound elders. You don’t have to be a doctor or social worker to recognize signs of depression. Take action now to protect those who protected you.
Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. - Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, an internet company that helps seniors and caregivers find trustworthy residential care. She is the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them. She is also the daughter of a victim of Alzheimer's disease. Visit the author's web site at http://www.thebestisyet.net.
| | ADHD Holiday Help TipsWritten by Jeannine Virtue
Continued from page 1
Outline rewards for positive behavior and consequences of infractions but do not make hollow threats of Santa withholding presents. Establish a fallback plan for when or if your child becomes over-stimulated. You might have a sitter on standby, or a quiet place in house for retreat. _ Holiday ADHD Help Tip #8: Expect worst and hope to be pleasantly surprised. In this hectic rush of free-fall flurry, much can go wrong. Expect it. After a day of unwrapping presents and eating cookies, your Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child may wallop his cousin or throw temper tantrum of century. Know that this is a possibility and cross your fingers but do not be terrible surprised if your child acts up. Be prepared to make a quick exit if your Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child cannot get himself under control. _ Holiday ADHD Help Tip #9: Take time unwrapping presents. Unwrapping a pile of presents in one setting can over-stimulate your Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child. Encourage your child to slow down and play with a few toys in between presents. Withhold a couple big presents for after breakfast to keep thrill alive. Extending unwrapping will not only help with over-stimulation, but it will also help with holiday letdown. Many children feel disappointment after waiting so long for this special day, only to have it finish in a matter of minutes. _ Holiday ADHD Help Tip #10: Prepare well for extended family get-together. Most people love their siblings and parents dearly but let's face it, throwing everyone together for this once or twice yearly gather can cause stress. Parenting insecurities (and what parent of an Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child doesn't have them from time to time?) only compound, especially if your always-hyper child gets in a fray with "perfect" cousin. The commotion and noise level of so many people in one place added with a wild mix of foods and beverages only add to havoc. Prepare well for this event. Map out a place for your child to escape if he becomes over stimulated. Be ready to leave early if your child cannot settle down. Bring books, movies and a crafts to occupy your Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child. While together with your family, remember to brag up your child while he is within earshot. This self-esteem booster that will help your child behave better in present. _ Holiday ADHD Help Tip #11: Prepare well for travel as well. If travel plans are on your holiday schedule, consider giving a few travel-related gifts to your Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child. A VCR that plugs into car is probably one of best gift ideas for saving parent sanity if your budget can afford. New books, crossword puzzles, books on cassette tape, travel games and coloring books are also good ideas for your travel pack. Remember to schedule frequent breaks for your Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child to get up and move around. _ Holiday ADHD Help Tip #12: Remember to set aside quiet time. In a season marked with high energy and many activities, scheduling quiet time becomes absolutely necessary. Spending time curled up reading a book after a hectic day or simply sitting in a darkened room listening to holiday music can effectively calm your Attention Deficit and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder child. _ Holiday ADHD Help Tip #13: Remember "Reason for Season." The holiday season is about giving but children, by nature, often focus only on gimmee, gimmee aspect of season. Set a giving example by donating to a homeless shelter, by dropping a few dollars in Salvation Army buckets, by "adopting" a family in need, by picking up extra dry goods for local food pantry or any number of worthy ways of showing care for others. The holiday season is also about family, warm feelings, caring and love. Do not forget to have fun in midst of rushing about trying to finish off last-minute details. Remember – your children will quickly forget presents received this year but will long remember quality time spent together.Kids Crafts: Holiday Glitter Ornaments Your child can make these ornaments as gifts for their teachers, friends, grandparents and other relatives. Handmade presents have a special way of saying, "I care" and are often best gift that a child can give. For this simple and inexpensive holiday craft you will need clear glass ball ornaments, a variety of holiday colored glitter and glue. _ Remove ornament cap and clean ball using glass cleaner. _ Mix one part glue with two parts water. _ Using a small funnel, pour a small amount of glue mixture into glass ornament, coating entire inside area and pouring out excess. _ Using a different funnel, pour glitter into ball, coating all inside areas and pouring excess out onto a sheet of paper. _ Allow ornament to dry overnight. Viola, you have beautiful ornaments to hang on tree! ADHD RECIPES: Frozen Yogurt with an Omega 3 boost 4 eggs 2 cups plain yogurt 2 boxes sugar-free pudding 1 cup frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, bananas…) 2 Tbsp. flaxseed oil 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups skim milk Blend all ingredients except milk in a food processor or blender. Gradually add milk. Place in freezer until soft frozen. Enjoy! For more information about Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center, visit us at www.add-adhd-help-center.com.
Jeannine Virtue is a freelance journalist and mother of an Attention Deifict son. Visit her web site to find drug-free alternatives to Ritalin and other ADHD medications.
|
