Thursday, January 22, 2009
Women Hold Up Half the Sky
Mental illnesses affect women and men differently. Some disorders are more common in women, and some express themselves with different symptoms. Scientists are only now beginning to tease apart the contribution of various biological and psychosocial factors to mental health and mental illness in both women and men. In addition, researchers are currently studying the special problems of treatment for serious mental illness during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Research on women's health has grown substantially in the last 20 years. Today's studies are helping to clarify the risk and protective factors for mental disorders in women and to improve women's mental health treatment outcome. Depressive Disorders In the U.S., nearly twice as many women (12.0 percent) as men (6.6 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder each year.1 These figures translate to 12.4 million women and 6.4 million men. Depressive disorders include major depression, dysthymic disorder (a less severe but more chronic form of depression), and bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). Major depression is the leading cause of disease burden among females ages 5 and older worldwide. Depressive disorders raise the risk for suicide. Although men are four times more likely than women to die by suicide, women report attempting suicide about two to three times as often as men. Self-inflicted injury, including suicide, ranks 9th out of the 10 leading causes of disease burden for females ages 5 and older worldwide. Research shows that before adolescence and late in life, females and males experience depression at about the same frequency. Because the gender difference in depression is not seen until after puberty and decreases after menopause, scientists hypothesize that hormonal factors are involved in women's greater vulnerability. Stress due to psychosocial factors, such as multiple roles in the home and at work and the increased likelihood of women to be poor, at risk for violence and abuse, and raising children alone, also plays a role in the development of depression. While many women report some history of premenstrual mood changes and physical symptoms, an estimated 3 to 4 percent suffer severe symptoms that significantly interfere with work and social functioning. This impairing form of premenstrual syndrome, also called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), appears to be an abnormal response to normal hormone changes. Researchers are studying what makes some women susceptible to PMDD, including differences in hormone sensitivity, history of other mood disorders, and individual differences in the function of brain chemical messenger systems. Antidepressant medications known to work via serotonin circuits are effective in relieving the premenstrual symptoms. Women with susceptibility to depression may be more vulnerable to the mood-shifting effects of hormones. Postpartum depression is a serious disorder where the hormonal changes following childbirth combined with psychosocial stresses such as sleep deprivation may disable some women with an apparent underlying vulnerability. NIMH research is evaluating the use of antidepressant medication and psychosocial interventions following delivery to prevent postpartum depression in women with a history of this disorder. NIMH researchers recently found that women who suffer depression as they enter the early stages of menopause (perimenopause) may find estrogen to be an alternative to traditional antidepressants. The efficacy of the female hormone was comparable to that usually reported with antidepressants in the first controlled study of its direct effects on mood in perimenopausal women meeting standardized criteria for depression. Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders, which include panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder, affect an estimated 13.3 percent of Americans ages 18 to 54 in a given year, or about 19.1 million adults in this age group. Women outnumber men in each illness category except for OCD and social phobia, in which both sexes have an equal likelihood of being affected. Results from an NIMH-supported survey showed that female risk of developing PTSD following trauma is twice that of males. PTSD is characterized by persistent symptoms of fear that occur after experiencing events such as rape or other criminal assault, war, child abuse, natural disasters, or serious accidents. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression and feeling angry, irritable, or distracted and being easily startled are common. Females also are more likely to develop long-term PTSD than males and have higher rates of co-occurring medical and psychiatric problems than males with the disorder. Eating Disorders Females comprise the vast majority of people with an eating disorder?anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. In their lifetime, an estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of females suffer from anorexia and an estimated 1.1 to 4.2 percent suffer from bulimia. An estimated 2 to 5 percent experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period. Eating disorders are not due to a failure of will or behavior; rather, they are real, treatable illnesses. In addition, eating disorders often co-occur with depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders, and also cause serious physical health problems. Eating disorders call for a comprehensive treatment plan involving medical care and monitoring, psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and medication management. Studies are investigating the causes of eating disorders and effectiveness of treatments. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is the most chronic and disabling of the mental disorders, affecting about 1 percent of women and men worldwide. In the U.S., an estimated 2.2 million adults ages 18 and older, about half of them women, have schizophrenia. The illness typically appears earlier in men, usually in their late teens or early 20s, than in women, who are generally affected in their 20s or early 30s. In addition, women may have more depressive symptoms, paranoia, and auditory hallucinations than men and tend to respond better to typical antipsychotic medications. A significant proportion of women with schizophrenia experience increased symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. Alzheimer's Disease The main risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), a dementing brain disorder that leads to the loss of mental and physical functioning and eventually to death, is increased age. Studies have shown that while the number of new cases of AD is similar in older adult women and men, the total number of existing cases is somewhat higher among women. Possible explanations include that AD may progress more slowly in women than in men; that women with AD may survive longer than men with AD; and that men, in general, do not live as long as women and die of other causes before AD has a chance to develop. Research is being conducted to find ways to prevent the onset of AD and to slow its progression. Caregivers of a person with AD are usually family members. Often wives and daughters. The chronic stress often associated with the care-giving role can contribute to mental health problems; indeed, caregivers are much more likely to suffer from depression than the average person is. Since women in general are at greater risk for depression than men are, female caregivers of people with AD may be particularly vulnerable to depression.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
Anorexia Nervosa occurs when an adolescent refuses to maintain body weight at or above a minimal normal weight for age and height. The weight loss is usually self-imposed and is usually less than 85% of expected weight. The condition occurs most frequently in females, however, it can occur in males.
Generally, the teenager has an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight. Self evaluation of body weight and shape may be distorted and there may be denial of the potential health hazards caused by the low body weight.
Physical symptoms can include:
absence of regular menstrual cycles
dry skin
low pulse rate, and
low blood pressure
Behavioral changes commonly occur such as:
social withdrawal
irritability
moodiness, and
depression
Without treatment, this disorder can become chronic and with severe starvation, some teenagers may die.
Generally, the teenager has an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight. Self evaluation of body weight and shape may be distorted and there may be denial of the potential health hazards caused by the low body weight.
Physical symptoms can include:
absence of regular menstrual cycles
dry skin
low pulse rate, and
low blood pressure
Behavioral changes commonly occur such as:
social withdrawal
irritability
moodiness, and
depression
Without treatment, this disorder can become chronic and with severe starvation, some teenagers may die.
Tips For Healthy Eating
In our diet crazed culture, what really is healthy eating? Here are a few tips that will go a long way in feeding your family a balanced mealtime experience. For starters, teach your children to listen to their body -- eat when you?re hungry, stop when you?re full. Remember balance means that most of the time you eat because you are hungry and use food as fuel for your body. But, it also means that sometimes you eat simply when the food appeals to you or when it is appropriate in a social setting (e.g., popcorn at the movies), allowing yourself to eat for enjoyment.
Try to eat different foods everyday, in other words, create an adventure for your taste buds. Aim to inspire your family to eat 3 meals and 1 to 3 snacks a day. The idea that snacking between meals is bad is a thing of the past. By teaching your kids to eat every 2 to 4 hours, they will prevent their body from getting overly hungry which could set them up to overeat later. Plus, the body uses the fuel from food very efficiently when smaller amounts of food is eaten more frequently throughout the day.
The bottom line: eat normally, exercise moderately, and let your body weigh what it wants. Yes, it will take courage and perseverance, but the rewards of knowing you are teaching your family how to eat for pleasure is a true legacy to leave.
Try to eat different foods everyday, in other words, create an adventure for your taste buds. Aim to inspire your family to eat 3 meals and 1 to 3 snacks a day. The idea that snacking between meals is bad is a thing of the past. By teaching your kids to eat every 2 to 4 hours, they will prevent their body from getting overly hungry which could set them up to overeat later. Plus, the body uses the fuel from food very efficiently when smaller amounts of food is eaten more frequently throughout the day.
The bottom line: eat normally, exercise moderately, and let your body weigh what it wants. Yes, it will take courage and perseverance, but the rewards of knowing you are teaching your family how to eat for pleasure is a true legacy to leave.
Anorexia Nervosa: The Drastic Effects Of Anorexia On Teenagers
With more and more teenagers suffering from anorexia nervosa, it almost seems that we can do nothing but blame ourselves for creating a society in which anorexia seems necessary for a young person. When a teen begins to suffer from anorexia nervosa, it is never just a random snap into having the disease. There are always conditions that have led up to the teen feeling like he/she can?t be good enough, and ultimately leads to anorexia. These conditions come from every single aspect of a teen?s life.
The main culprit blamed for anorexia among teens is the media. Many media images depict people as being extremely thin. This is an image that seems to pervade through the media, and may create the delusion in young people that this is how they were meant to be. Lots of people are naturally a bit chubby during their younger years. When an anorexia sufferer looks at his or herself in the mirror and compares this image with the magazines and TV ads that they are constantly assaulted with, it can seem like there is a huge deficiency. This makes it harder for anorexia sufferers to feel good about their own self-image. Is it any wonder that so many people suffer from anorexia?
This perfect image created by society is not really what a person should look like, and this should always be made clear to anorexia sufferers who have grown up around these sorts of images. Models in magazines are usually modified by computer programs extensively, and not even the models look how they look in the magazine. It is a strange and double-sided standard that society had drawn up which is endangering the health of young people in the form of eating disorders such as anorexia.
Many anorexia sufferers can also be affected by their peers. At a young age they are often extremely cruel in their teasing. A few insults that another teenager says or hints at in passing could leave the other teen completely crushed, particularly the anorexia sufferer, thinking of nothing but the negative comment. It is unfortunate that teens can be affected so much by the thoughts or comments of a peer, but it is true. It is critical that everyone in the anorexia sufferer?s life be supportive, not just family, but peers as well.
It is very important that someone suffering from anorexia gets help as quickly as possible. The first and critical step is setting up an appointment with a mental health professional. In particular try to find a professional who deals with anorexia. The most effective treatment for anorexia appears to be Cognitive Behavioral therapy.
Matthew Wagner has a degree in Psychology, and has additionally studied Physics, Consciousness, and Wellness. His passion involves researching and sharing useful information with others via the internet to help them improve the quality of their life. Most relevant here is Matthew?s website (shown below) on Anorexia Nervosa which contains critical information that anyone suffering from Anorexia needs to know.
http://www.anorexiahelp.org
The main culprit blamed for anorexia among teens is the media. Many media images depict people as being extremely thin. This is an image that seems to pervade through the media, and may create the delusion in young people that this is how they were meant to be. Lots of people are naturally a bit chubby during their younger years. When an anorexia sufferer looks at his or herself in the mirror and compares this image with the magazines and TV ads that they are constantly assaulted with, it can seem like there is a huge deficiency. This makes it harder for anorexia sufferers to feel good about their own self-image. Is it any wonder that so many people suffer from anorexia?
This perfect image created by society is not really what a person should look like, and this should always be made clear to anorexia sufferers who have grown up around these sorts of images. Models in magazines are usually modified by computer programs extensively, and not even the models look how they look in the magazine. It is a strange and double-sided standard that society had drawn up which is endangering the health of young people in the form of eating disorders such as anorexia.
Many anorexia sufferers can also be affected by their peers. At a young age they are often extremely cruel in their teasing. A few insults that another teenager says or hints at in passing could leave the other teen completely crushed, particularly the anorexia sufferer, thinking of nothing but the negative comment. It is unfortunate that teens can be affected so much by the thoughts or comments of a peer, but it is true. It is critical that everyone in the anorexia sufferer?s life be supportive, not just family, but peers as well.
It is very important that someone suffering from anorexia gets help as quickly as possible. The first and critical step is setting up an appointment with a mental health professional. In particular try to find a professional who deals with anorexia. The most effective treatment for anorexia appears to be Cognitive Behavioral therapy.
Matthew Wagner has a degree in Psychology, and has additionally studied Physics, Consciousness, and Wellness. His passion involves researching and sharing useful information with others via the internet to help them improve the quality of their life. Most relevant here is Matthew?s website (shown below) on Anorexia Nervosa which contains critical information that anyone suffering from Anorexia needs to know.
http://www.anorexiahelp.org
Anorexia Treatment
Many parents, frantic with worry when their child is diagnosed with anorexia, do not know where to turn to for help, but there are many good treatment programs available and they need to examine all options carefully.
Treatment may be offered at a residential clinic or at a day center and the earlier it starts the greater the chances of recovery.
A good anorexia treatment program will be tailor-made for each individual patient and may include a variety of approaches.
Group therapy offers support and encouragement to discuss thoughts and feelings, developing a sense of worth and self-assertiveness so often lacking in patients suffering from anorexia. Gaining self-confidence will help patients to return home with the ability to control the disorder.
Family therapy is also encouraged. Research has shown that parental involvement in the patient's treatment produces significant results. Parents often feel they are responsible for the patient's condition and involving them in treatment can be beneficial for all concerned.
Some anorexia programs also offer specialized adolescent programs, as this is often the age for the onset of anorexia and a time of emotional turbulence.
As many anorexia patients are depressed, anti-depressants, combined with therapy, may be prescribed as part of the treatment. Patients will also require expert advice for a qualified nutritionist.
One of the main difficulties with anorexia treatment is that patients are often an unwilling participants. They do not accept there is a problem but believe that they are overweight and unattractive. In the worse cases dealing with nutritional needs may be the first priority in treatment and involve hospitalization. This is a short term measure to offset severe medical complications.
The ultimate goal of treatment is to restore long term health. Anorexia patients often suffer from low self esteem, building confidence and a recognition of self worth is of primary importance.
When choosing a treatment center you should consider the following:
The qualifications of the staff and how long they have been practising.
The type of program on offer and what it involves.
Residential or day treatment.
Number of individual therapy sessions per week, as patients need frequent support.
Number of sessions with a qualified dietitian.
If your child, or a member of your family is suffering from anorexia, or you suspect any eating disorder, please talk to your doctor. Anorexia is life threatening, the sooner treatment is started the greater the chances of recovery. Anorexia sufferers are devious, do not believe them if they say they are eating. If they are young and you can control access to a computer, do not allow viewing of pro-ana websites.
Margaret Tye runs the http://www.fromtots2teens.com/anorexiatreatment.html website. You are welcome to use this article as long as the author is acknowledge and a link to the website is given. This article is for information only and the author accepts no liability for any action taken. Always seek advice from your physician.
Treatment may be offered at a residential clinic or at a day center and the earlier it starts the greater the chances of recovery.
A good anorexia treatment program will be tailor-made for each individual patient and may include a variety of approaches.
Group therapy offers support and encouragement to discuss thoughts and feelings, developing a sense of worth and self-assertiveness so often lacking in patients suffering from anorexia. Gaining self-confidence will help patients to return home with the ability to control the disorder.
Family therapy is also encouraged. Research has shown that parental involvement in the patient's treatment produces significant results. Parents often feel they are responsible for the patient's condition and involving them in treatment can be beneficial for all concerned.
Some anorexia programs also offer specialized adolescent programs, as this is often the age for the onset of anorexia and a time of emotional turbulence.
As many anorexia patients are depressed, anti-depressants, combined with therapy, may be prescribed as part of the treatment. Patients will also require expert advice for a qualified nutritionist.
One of the main difficulties with anorexia treatment is that patients are often an unwilling participants. They do not accept there is a problem but believe that they are overweight and unattractive. In the worse cases dealing with nutritional needs may be the first priority in treatment and involve hospitalization. This is a short term measure to offset severe medical complications.
The ultimate goal of treatment is to restore long term health. Anorexia patients often suffer from low self esteem, building confidence and a recognition of self worth is of primary importance.
When choosing a treatment center you should consider the following:
The qualifications of the staff and how long they have been practising.
The type of program on offer and what it involves.
Residential or day treatment.
Number of individual therapy sessions per week, as patients need frequent support.
Number of sessions with a qualified dietitian.
If your child, or a member of your family is suffering from anorexia, or you suspect any eating disorder, please talk to your doctor. Anorexia is life threatening, the sooner treatment is started the greater the chances of recovery. Anorexia sufferers are devious, do not believe them if they say they are eating. If they are young and you can control access to a computer, do not allow viewing of pro-ana websites.
Margaret Tye runs the http://www.fromtots2teens.com/anorexiatreatment.html website. You are welcome to use this article as long as the author is acknowledge and a link to the website is given. This article is for information only and the author accepts no liability for any action taken. Always seek advice from your physician.
Eating Disorders Are An Unsafe Way To Be Thin
The two most common types of eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia. These two disorders have similar characteristics so they can be hard to set apart from each other. A person will have a unclear image of his or her body with both and the person will appear to be fixated with what he or she eats.
Girls tend to be affected more than guys with both anorexia and bulimia. Guys are more likely to concentrate on athletic appearance with an eating disorder. People with anorexia have a strong concern of being overweight. The sufferer barely eats at all when she has anorexia and the little quantity of food that is eaten becomes a fixation. Weighing food before eating it or impulsively counting the calories of food is a symptom of anorexia. Exercising exceptionally in an effort to lose weight is also signs of someone having anorexia. A person with anorexia has a strong longing to be very thin they don't see themselves as thin even though they are losing weight dramatically. They actually see a fat person when they look in the mirror.
People with Bulimia don't avoid eating. They eat a big quantity of food then get rid of it fast by vomiting. This is normally known as "binge and purge" behavior. Bulimia often affect girls more than guys. Someone with bulimia may appear average in size, so it's difficult to detect if they have this disorder based on their appearance alone.
When a young lady goes through puberty, her body changes and it can make anyone feel a bit out of control. People with eating disorders feel as though they can recover a little bit of control by doing unhealthy things to their body. Some people react to this change by becoming very afraid of their new weight and feel forced to get rid of it any way they can. Young woman feel pressure to be like skinny role models and teen celebrities, it's not difficult to see why some teens develop a distorted body image.
Eating disorders might run in families. Our parents influence our beliefs, including those concerning food. There also is a suggestion that there may be a genetic part to having an eating disorders. An eating disorder does much more damage than good. People who weigh at least 15% less than the normal weight for their height may not have sufficient body fat to maintain healthy organs. A person with anorexia can do harm to the heart, liver and kidneys by not taking in enough food.
The emotional hurt of an eating disorder can take its toll, too. When a person becomes preoccupied with weight, it's hard to focus on anything else. A lot of times people with eating disorders become withdrawn. Try talking to a teacher, a neighbor, or another trusted adult if you need to someone to talk to about this. An eating disorder is common among teens and there is treatment for you.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders
Girls tend to be affected more than guys with both anorexia and bulimia. Guys are more likely to concentrate on athletic appearance with an eating disorder. People with anorexia have a strong concern of being overweight. The sufferer barely eats at all when she has anorexia and the little quantity of food that is eaten becomes a fixation. Weighing food before eating it or impulsively counting the calories of food is a symptom of anorexia. Exercising exceptionally in an effort to lose weight is also signs of someone having anorexia. A person with anorexia has a strong longing to be very thin they don't see themselves as thin even though they are losing weight dramatically. They actually see a fat person when they look in the mirror.
People with Bulimia don't avoid eating. They eat a big quantity of food then get rid of it fast by vomiting. This is normally known as "binge and purge" behavior. Bulimia often affect girls more than guys. Someone with bulimia may appear average in size, so it's difficult to detect if they have this disorder based on their appearance alone.
When a young lady goes through puberty, her body changes and it can make anyone feel a bit out of control. People with eating disorders feel as though they can recover a little bit of control by doing unhealthy things to their body. Some people react to this change by becoming very afraid of their new weight and feel forced to get rid of it any way they can. Young woman feel pressure to be like skinny role models and teen celebrities, it's not difficult to see why some teens develop a distorted body image.
Eating disorders might run in families. Our parents influence our beliefs, including those concerning food. There also is a suggestion that there may be a genetic part to having an eating disorders. An eating disorder does much more damage than good. People who weigh at least 15% less than the normal weight for their height may not have sufficient body fat to maintain healthy organs. A person with anorexia can do harm to the heart, liver and kidneys by not taking in enough food.
The emotional hurt of an eating disorder can take its toll, too. When a person becomes preoccupied with weight, it's hard to focus on anything else. A lot of times people with eating disorders become withdrawn. Try talking to a teacher, a neighbor, or another trusted adult if you need to someone to talk to about this. An eating disorder is common among teens and there is treatment for you.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders
Teen Advice On-lineTeen Advice Online
by: Angela Butera Dickson
There is no doubt about it. We are an electronic society. From our cable television sets to our satellite radios, our cell phones to our beepers, our global positioning devices to our palm pilots, and of course the world wide web we are a truly connected society.
There are opportunities for educational and interest driven activities all around us but no where are they more readily available than on the World Wide Web. I wonder if we parents are prepared for the global reach of these intrusions into our parenting practices?
Our children no longer depend solely on the advice of their closest friends. Friends that we as parents can get to know and trust as not more or less worldly than our own children. There is so much information available to our children today on the internet, in the privacy of our homes, that it is often easier for our children to look for answers to personal questions on the web than risk the inquiry and concerns of their parents.
Children today are tech savvy so we parents had better be too! Often our children are independent on the computer before we are. Writing their own web pages, downloading their own pictures, getting into chat rooms and sometimes circumstances that their limited experience hasnt prepared them for, gleaning advice from young or uneducated individuals or people with different values than those of your family.
Of the many potential hazards on the internet faced by our children the sites with the biggest potential for causing the most serious harm are the teen advice web sites. These kind of sites have the ability to give out incorrect information to a stunningly large number of individuals by posting questions and the answering reply right to their web page. Only one teenager need ask the question and many more will believe the answer, correct or not, because its written right there in front of them and they are often too afraid or too embarrassed to look for another opinion. These question and answer sites are most often presided over by young, inexperienced or barely experienced, teens. These teen counselors are typically ages 13 and up. They give free, solicited, advice on everything from health care, sex and birth control, mental / emotional health concerns and legal issues. These sites rarely have adult preceptors. Most sites do have a disclaimer stating that they are not responsible, nor liable for your teens life or any further problems your teen may experience in relation to the advice given. Those simply worded disclaimers wont protect your teenager from the potential harm of an often-misinformed teen counselor who dishes out incorrect and possibly dangerous information.
Anything your teen wants to know and may not want to ask you about is available on the internet. These teen advice sites cover just about every subject you can imagine and many you wouldnt want to. There are "Pro-Anorexia." sites - dedicated to the encouragement of anorexic and bulimic behaviors. Sites specifically to give advice to young teens on methods of birth control (one of these I was presided over by a sexually active, 13 year old, girl). Gay, lesbian and straight sexuality sites. Sites for the practice of self-abuse and mutilation, Sites for finding ways to get high and more.
In reading some of these I was most amazed by the sheer volume of incorrect, often potentially life-threatening advice doled out by these teen counselors. They covered such topics as how many additional birth control pills to take if your partner didnt use a condom. How to maintain a successful anorexic diet. The best way to purge and getting the cheapest high from everyday, household items. Do these internet sites serve a useful purpose? Yes, I think they can if they are catalysts for discussion between parents and their children. We have all read the flood of warnings about the internet hazards our children face, there seems to be a plethora of new ones daily, but these hazards can be educational tools as well. You can turn them into unique opportunities to increase our childrens knowledge and self-confidence. You can empower your children to find and make the right choices for themselves and to learn to trust their inner voices.
Give your children guidelines on what you find acceptable. If they want to explore something outside of those guidelines tell them it needs to be done with a parent so you are able to talk about any issues that arise. Teens want, need and deserve privacy and showing them where to get high quality, up to date information will help empower them to make safe choices.
Not all-teen sites should be grouped into one negative category. I found some high quality sites, for very young children up through the teen years, which offer complete, correct, and responsible information. Though no one site will match everybodys family values and preferences it may be a good idea for parents to search out some of the sites they feel are best suited to their own family and email or bookmark them for their children.
Here are a few sites to check out:
Kids Health, Everyday Illness and Injuries: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/ This is a great site for younger children to gain comforting information about common childhood questions, illnesses and injuries. Great basic information without the fear-factor.
CoolNurse: http://www.coolnurse.com/ Lots of high quality teen information! As a nurse myself I was gratified to see this site up. Its upbeat and packed with information that is up to date and complete on just about any topic a teen could wonder about. This comprehensive site is also written in a modern, straightforward, non-condescending style that all age groups will appreciate.
Teen Advice On-Line: http://www.teenadviceonline.org/ This site has many articles with teen oriented topics. Seems conservative without preaching. Most of these counselors are 18 to 24 years in and they are from all over the globe.
About The Author
Angela Butera Dickson is a full service, freelance copywriter offering some of the best prices on the web. From articles to brochure copy, ghostwriting to marketing letters, she can help you cultivate a polished, professional business image. www.angeladickson.com
There is no doubt about it. We are an electronic society. From our cable television sets to our satellite radios, our cell phones to our beepers, our global positioning devices to our palm pilots, and of course the world wide web we are a truly connected society.
There are opportunities for educational and interest driven activities all around us but no where are they more readily available than on the World Wide Web. I wonder if we parents are prepared for the global reach of these intrusions into our parenting practices?
Our children no longer depend solely on the advice of their closest friends. Friends that we as parents can get to know and trust as not more or less worldly than our own children. There is so much information available to our children today on the internet, in the privacy of our homes, that it is often easier for our children to look for answers to personal questions on the web than risk the inquiry and concerns of their parents.
Children today are tech savvy so we parents had better be too! Often our children are independent on the computer before we are. Writing their own web pages, downloading their own pictures, getting into chat rooms and sometimes circumstances that their limited experience hasnt prepared them for, gleaning advice from young or uneducated individuals or people with different values than those of your family.
Of the many potential hazards on the internet faced by our children the sites with the biggest potential for causing the most serious harm are the teen advice web sites. These kind of sites have the ability to give out incorrect information to a stunningly large number of individuals by posting questions and the answering reply right to their web page. Only one teenager need ask the question and many more will believe the answer, correct or not, because its written right there in front of them and they are often too afraid or too embarrassed to look for another opinion. These question and answer sites are most often presided over by young, inexperienced or barely experienced, teens. These teen counselors are typically ages 13 and up. They give free, solicited, advice on everything from health care, sex and birth control, mental / emotional health concerns and legal issues. These sites rarely have adult preceptors. Most sites do have a disclaimer stating that they are not responsible, nor liable for your teens life or any further problems your teen may experience in relation to the advice given. Those simply worded disclaimers wont protect your teenager from the potential harm of an often-misinformed teen counselor who dishes out incorrect and possibly dangerous information.
Anything your teen wants to know and may not want to ask you about is available on the internet. These teen advice sites cover just about every subject you can imagine and many you wouldnt want to. There are "Pro-Anorexia." sites - dedicated to the encouragement of anorexic and bulimic behaviors. Sites specifically to give advice to young teens on methods of birth control (one of these I was presided over by a sexually active, 13 year old, girl). Gay, lesbian and straight sexuality sites. Sites for the practice of self-abuse and mutilation, Sites for finding ways to get high and more.
In reading some of these I was most amazed by the sheer volume of incorrect, often potentially life-threatening advice doled out by these teen counselors. They covered such topics as how many additional birth control pills to take if your partner didnt use a condom. How to maintain a successful anorexic diet. The best way to purge and getting the cheapest high from everyday, household items. Do these internet sites serve a useful purpose? Yes, I think they can if they are catalysts for discussion between parents and their children. We have all read the flood of warnings about the internet hazards our children face, there seems to be a plethora of new ones daily, but these hazards can be educational tools as well. You can turn them into unique opportunities to increase our childrens knowledge and self-confidence. You can empower your children to find and make the right choices for themselves and to learn to trust their inner voices.
Give your children guidelines on what you find acceptable. If they want to explore something outside of those guidelines tell them it needs to be done with a parent so you are able to talk about any issues that arise. Teens want, need and deserve privacy and showing them where to get high quality, up to date information will help empower them to make safe choices.
Not all-teen sites should be grouped into one negative category. I found some high quality sites, for very young children up through the teen years, which offer complete, correct, and responsible information. Though no one site will match everybodys family values and preferences it may be a good idea for parents to search out some of the sites they feel are best suited to their own family and email or bookmark them for their children.
Here are a few sites to check out:
Kids Health, Everyday Illness and Injuries: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/ This is a great site for younger children to gain comforting information about common childhood questions, illnesses and injuries. Great basic information without the fear-factor.
CoolNurse: http://www.coolnurse.com/ Lots of high quality teen information! As a nurse myself I was gratified to see this site up. Its upbeat and packed with information that is up to date and complete on just about any topic a teen could wonder about. This comprehensive site is also written in a modern, straightforward, non-condescending style that all age groups will appreciate.
Teen Advice On-Line: http://www.teenadviceonline.org/ This site has many articles with teen oriented topics. Seems conservative without preaching. Most of these counselors are 18 to 24 years in and they are from all over the globe.
About The Author
Angela Butera Dickson is a full service, freelance copywriter offering some of the best prices on the web. From articles to brochure copy, ghostwriting to marketing letters, she can help you cultivate a polished, professional business image. www.angeladickson.com
Anorexia - Killing American Teens Everyday
The vicious eating disorder known to all as anorexia is one of the most deadly out there. More common in females than males, it's estimated that 1% of all teenage girls have this disorder, and that out of that 1%, up to 10% may die from it.
The individual with this disorder believes they are obese or overweight and have a very poor self-image of themself. In an attempt to quickly lose weight by whatever means necessary, people with anorexia have been known to starve themselves, take laxatives in order to expell food from the body, and it many cases extreme amounts of exercise. Any of these three are enough to take a terrible toll on the body.
Don't confuse anorexia with bulimia. Anorexia is when a person refuses to eat (or eats very little). Bulimia is when a person consumes large amounts of food (binging) and then force themself to vomit in back up (purging). Both stem from an incredibly poor image of self and the person thinking or feeling extremely overweight, but they are very different diseases.
What are the symptoms and medical problems?
If you think someone might have a problem with anorexia, here are some short term signs to look for:
Extreme weight loss over a short period of time
Unwilling to eat in front of others
Anxiety
Constant Fatigue
Unusual concern about calorie intake
For women only: 3 consecutively missed menstrual cycles
These are just some of the most common signs that someone may be anorexic. This is by no means a complete list nor do these signs always indicate anorexia. This is just a guide to use. If you feel that someone you know and love may have a problem, sit down with the person, surround them with friends and family, and have a loving, understanding discussion with them.
And let's not forget the affects of pregnancy on an anorexic, or even a recovering anorexic. Most women gain between 20-25 lbs during their pregnancy. How well do you think someone with an eating disorder would react to this?
Depriving your body of food while you are pregnant can take away nourishment from your unborn child and put his or her life in jeopardy. Children who are born to anorexic mothers may develop heart disease, underactive kidney and liver, and have weak bones and teeth. No child deserves to be handicapped unneccesarily even before they are born!
If anorexia goes undiagnosed and untreated for too long, the effects of this disorder become much worse. Some long term effects include:
Lowers Average Body Temperature
Loss of Minerals
Bone Shrinkage
Irregular Heartbeat
Increases the Risk of Developing Osteroperosis and Bulimia
Why do so many people develop anorexia and eating disorders?
The answer is quite simple. Tragic, but simple. We live in a society that equates skinniness with success, happiness, and beauty. When young children are bombarded with these images daily, they develop the idea that they too must look a certain away in order to be accepted by society and be happy. Without the proper education about healthy eating and weight maintainence, many will do whatever it takes to lose weight. Here are some eye-opening statistics about anorexia, and eating disorders in general.
1% of American women binge and purge as a way to lose weight (bulimia)
10% of female college students have been diagnosed with a full or borderline eating disorder
Only 5 - 10% of all people with an eating disorder are males
10 - 15% of people who suffering from an eating disorder will die because of it
40% of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade girls want to be skinnier
80% of 10 year olds worry about their weight
Many children have begun to diet as early as age 9
What a happy world we live in!
These statistics are freightening! What is our world coming to when a 9 year old is more concerned about their weight and appearance than playing and having fun? There is more, MUCH more to life than worrying about weight and your image to others. Sure, there are plently of health reasons to lose weight, but people with anorexia or other eating disorders are going about the entirely wrong way. It's time to put an end to this tragedy.
What has led our society to such a low level of moral standard? How can someone put themselves, their body, and their family through the rigors of a deadly disorder such as anorexia? It's not the individual's fault, that's for sure. Society is to blame for such an epidemic. And yes, I do mean epidemic. People are dying from these disorders daily just so that they feel like they fit into a society who could care less about them.
Is this fair? Nope!
Is this what you want for your children? Nope!
Is it time to do something about teach kids about anorexia and eating disorders? You betcha!
No one deserves to feel like society is making our young ones feel. To feel as if they aren't good enough, aren't pretty enough, aren't skinny enough to function in the world and be happy. It's obvious that something needs to be done about this. More health education needs to be taught in schools with an emphasis on acceptance of all body types so children and teenagers don't feel as if they is something wrong with them for not looking a supermodel.
Just imagine someone from a third world country would think if they knew about the anorexia epidemic happening in America and other, richer parts of the world? To purposely avoid food and starve? Insane! That's exactly what it is.
Acting now can save lives!
Just imagine five to ten years down the road, I'm willing to bet that person will thank you for potentially saving their life. Once a person gets their head out of the fog of being trapped with an eating disorder like anorexia, it will become clear to them how much better their life is without obsessing over food and how they look. It really takes a drain on the body and the mind and can make life miserable and barely worth living.
Change your life for the better today!
Think of it this way: do you really want to live this way for the rest of your life? Not only are you harming yourself, but think of the emotional damage you are pushing on your friends, family, and loved ones? Do you really want to put them through that? Like anyone with a disease or disorder, it takes time to heal and fully recover. Don't fear. Once you get going and your life starts to improve, I'm sure you will see how much better it feels to be healthy and free from the vices of deadly disorder like anorexia.
So start reading and beat anorexia once and for all! Hopefully these resources will help those in need and give them the knowledge and treatment they need to turn their life around and escape the grip of this deadly disorder.
Getting help from medical professionals
If you feel you would like to learn more, do not hesitate from contacting your medical doctor with any questions and concerns you may have. Remeber, medical professionals deal with patients with these disorders everyday. They know how to help you.
Do not feel embarassed or ashamed, you are not the only one who has ever had this problem. Leave those emotions in the past because the misery you've dealt with is over. With that in mind, be willing to take constructive advice on how to change and be willing to implement those changes in your life.
Steve Urbick
The individual with this disorder believes they are obese or overweight and have a very poor self-image of themself. In an attempt to quickly lose weight by whatever means necessary, people with anorexia have been known to starve themselves, take laxatives in order to expell food from the body, and it many cases extreme amounts of exercise. Any of these three are enough to take a terrible toll on the body.
Don't confuse anorexia with bulimia. Anorexia is when a person refuses to eat (or eats very little). Bulimia is when a person consumes large amounts of food (binging) and then force themself to vomit in back up (purging). Both stem from an incredibly poor image of self and the person thinking or feeling extremely overweight, but they are very different diseases.
What are the symptoms and medical problems?
If you think someone might have a problem with anorexia, here are some short term signs to look for:
Extreme weight loss over a short period of time
Unwilling to eat in front of others
Anxiety
Constant Fatigue
Unusual concern about calorie intake
For women only: 3 consecutively missed menstrual cycles
These are just some of the most common signs that someone may be anorexic. This is by no means a complete list nor do these signs always indicate anorexia. This is just a guide to use. If you feel that someone you know and love may have a problem, sit down with the person, surround them with friends and family, and have a loving, understanding discussion with them.
And let's not forget the affects of pregnancy on an anorexic, or even a recovering anorexic. Most women gain between 20-25 lbs during their pregnancy. How well do you think someone with an eating disorder would react to this?
Depriving your body of food while you are pregnant can take away nourishment from your unborn child and put his or her life in jeopardy. Children who are born to anorexic mothers may develop heart disease, underactive kidney and liver, and have weak bones and teeth. No child deserves to be handicapped unneccesarily even before they are born!
If anorexia goes undiagnosed and untreated for too long, the effects of this disorder become much worse. Some long term effects include:
Lowers Average Body Temperature
Loss of Minerals
Bone Shrinkage
Irregular Heartbeat
Increases the Risk of Developing Osteroperosis and Bulimia
Why do so many people develop anorexia and eating disorders?
The answer is quite simple. Tragic, but simple. We live in a society that equates skinniness with success, happiness, and beauty. When young children are bombarded with these images daily, they develop the idea that they too must look a certain away in order to be accepted by society and be happy. Without the proper education about healthy eating and weight maintainence, many will do whatever it takes to lose weight. Here are some eye-opening statistics about anorexia, and eating disorders in general.
1% of American women binge and purge as a way to lose weight (bulimia)
10% of female college students have been diagnosed with a full or borderline eating disorder
Only 5 - 10% of all people with an eating disorder are males
10 - 15% of people who suffering from an eating disorder will die because of it
40% of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade girls want to be skinnier
80% of 10 year olds worry about their weight
Many children have begun to diet as early as age 9
What a happy world we live in!
These statistics are freightening! What is our world coming to when a 9 year old is more concerned about their weight and appearance than playing and having fun? There is more, MUCH more to life than worrying about weight and your image to others. Sure, there are plently of health reasons to lose weight, but people with anorexia or other eating disorders are going about the entirely wrong way. It's time to put an end to this tragedy.
What has led our society to such a low level of moral standard? How can someone put themselves, their body, and their family through the rigors of a deadly disorder such as anorexia? It's not the individual's fault, that's for sure. Society is to blame for such an epidemic. And yes, I do mean epidemic. People are dying from these disorders daily just so that they feel like they fit into a society who could care less about them.
Is this fair? Nope!
Is this what you want for your children? Nope!
Is it time to do something about teach kids about anorexia and eating disorders? You betcha!
No one deserves to feel like society is making our young ones feel. To feel as if they aren't good enough, aren't pretty enough, aren't skinny enough to function in the world and be happy. It's obvious that something needs to be done about this. More health education needs to be taught in schools with an emphasis on acceptance of all body types so children and teenagers don't feel as if they is something wrong with them for not looking a supermodel.
Just imagine someone from a third world country would think if they knew about the anorexia epidemic happening in America and other, richer parts of the world? To purposely avoid food and starve? Insane! That's exactly what it is.
Acting now can save lives!
Just imagine five to ten years down the road, I'm willing to bet that person will thank you for potentially saving their life. Once a person gets their head out of the fog of being trapped with an eating disorder like anorexia, it will become clear to them how much better their life is without obsessing over food and how they look. It really takes a drain on the body and the mind and can make life miserable and barely worth living.
Change your life for the better today!
Think of it this way: do you really want to live this way for the rest of your life? Not only are you harming yourself, but think of the emotional damage you are pushing on your friends, family, and loved ones? Do you really want to put them through that? Like anyone with a disease or disorder, it takes time to heal and fully recover. Don't fear. Once you get going and your life starts to improve, I'm sure you will see how much better it feels to be healthy and free from the vices of deadly disorder like anorexia.
So start reading and beat anorexia once and for all! Hopefully these resources will help those in need and give them the knowledge and treatment they need to turn their life around and escape the grip of this deadly disorder.
Getting help from medical professionals
If you feel you would like to learn more, do not hesitate from contacting your medical doctor with any questions and concerns you may have. Remeber, medical professionals deal with patients with these disorders everyday. They know how to help you.
Do not feel embarassed or ashamed, you are not the only one who has ever had this problem. Leave those emotions in the past because the misery you've dealt with is over. With that in mind, be willing to take constructive advice on how to change and be willing to implement those changes in your life.
Steve Urbick
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)