Mental Health

Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. It includes having a positive mental and emotional attitude based in reality. It allows you to enjoy life and maintain balance in the face of life's ups and downs.

We all worry and experience mood swings. Many people wonder sometimes if they have mental problems and some are afraid to get help. They may feel sad or elated, anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, fearful disoriented, or forgetful. Relationships may become difficult. Something feels wrong. Life may be a struggle. If feelings or symptoms are affecting life, consider getting help.

Professional Mental Health Help
Medications and a variety of therapies (psycho, talk, play, art and more) can help. There are many types of mental health specialists that help with mental, emotional and behavioral problems. We offer detailed information on finding and selecting a mental health clinician.

Mental Health Condition Centers
Each of our Mental Health Condition Centers provide information about the symptoms, diagnosis, tests, treatment, prevention and available support resources for a variety of conditions:

• ADHD
• Anxiety
  - Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  - Panic Disorder
  - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  - Social Anxiety Disorder
  
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
  - Depression in adults and in children
  - Postpartum Depression
  - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Schizophrenia (both for children and for adults)

Each Center also provides self-help assessments and programs, advice for those who were recently diagnosed or are in treatment, helpful articles recommended by mental health professionals, resources and links to organizations and authorities, medication and drug interaction tools, selection advice and a search tool for finding the right mental health service provider near you, and a 24/7 support line. They are always accessible and easy-to-use.

UBH Prevention Program
The UBH Prevention Program is comprised of centers for the following commonly occurring behavioral health disorders:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The UBH Preventive Health Program consists of information that you can use on your own or you can discuss with your clinician. The main goal of this information is to help you learn more about depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or alcohol and substance abuse and assist you to get professional resources if you believe that you or your child (in the case of ADHD) have one of these conditions. As with all medical diagnoses, the treatment outcomes for behavioral health issues are generally better the earlier the condition is identified. The information and tools are designed to be helpful if you're exploring these conditions for the first time or if you are already in treatment. You will find the following information for each center:

• A screening tool to help you decide whether to seek care.
• Articles about behavioral health conditions and how they are treated.
• A list of organizations you can contact if you want more information about a condition and its treatment.
• Contact information for self-help groups if you want to talk with others who can provide support and encouragement.
• Information on how to contact United Behavioral Health if you have questions or concerns.

Our web site also contains information and tools for behavioral health and primary care providers.

Mental Health

Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. It includes having a positive mental and emotional attitude based in reality. It allows you to enjoy life and maintain balance in the face of life's ups and downs.

We all worry and experience mood swings. Many people wonder sometimes if they have mental problems and some are afraid to get help. They may feel sad or elated, anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, fearful disoriented, or forgetful. Relationships may become difficult. Something feels wrong. Life may be a struggle. If feelings or symptoms are affecting life, consider getting help.

Professional Mental Health Help
Medications and a variety of therapies (psycho, talk, play, art and more) can help. There are many types of mental health specialists that help with mental, emotional and behavioral problems. We offer detailed information on finding and selecting a mental health clinician.

Mental Health Condition Centers
Each of our Mental Health Condition Centers provide information about the symptoms, diagnosis, tests, treatment, prevention and available support resources for a variety of conditions:

• ADHD
• Anxiety
  - Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  - Panic Disorder
  - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  - Social Anxiety Disorder
  
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
  - Depression in adults and in children
  - Postpartum Depression
  - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Schizophrenia (both for children and for adults)

Each Center also provides self-help assessments and programs, advice for those who were recently diagnosed or are in treatment, helpful articles recommended by mental health professionals, resources and links to organizations and authorities, medication and drug interaction tools, selection advice and a search tool for finding the right mental health service provider near you, and a 24/7 support line. They are always accessible and easy-to-use.

UBH Prevention Program
The UBH Prevention Program is comprised of centers for the following commonly occurring behavioral health disorders:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The UBH Preventive Health Program consists of information that you can use on your own or you can discuss with your clinician. The main goal of this information is to help you learn more about depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or alcohol and substance abuse and assist you to get professional resources if you believe that you or your child (in the case of ADHD) have one of these conditions. As with all medical diagnoses, the treatment outcomes for behavioral health issues are generally better the earlier the condition is identified. The information and tools are designed to be helpful if you're exploring these conditions for the first time or if you are already in treatment. You will find the following information for each center:

• A screening tool to help you decide whether to seek care.
• Articles about behavioral health conditions and how they are treated.
• A list of organizations you can contact if you want more information about a condition and its treatment.
• Contact information for self-help groups if you want to talk with others who can provide support and encouragement.
• Information on how to contact United Behavioral Health if you have questions or concerns.

Our web site also contains information and tools for behavioral health and primary care providers.

Teen Suicide

The reasons behind a teen's suicide or attempted suicide can be complex. Although suicide is relatively rare among children, the rate of suicides and suicide attempts increases tremendously during adolescence. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), surpassed only by accidents and homicide.

The risk of suicide increases dramatically when kids and teens have access to firearms at home, and nearly 60% of all suicides in the United States are committed with a gun. That's why any gun in your home should be unloaded, locked, and kept out of the reach of children and teens. Ammunition should be stored and locked apart from the gun, and the keys for both should be kept in a different area from where you store your household keys. Always keep the keys to any firearms out of the reach of children and adolescents.

Suicide rates differ between boys and girls. Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, and tend to attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or cutting themselves. Yet boys die by suicide about four times as often girls, perhaps because they tend to use more lethal methods, such as firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights.

Which Kids Are at Risk for Suicide?

It can be hard to remember how it felt to be a teen, caught in that gray area between childhood and adulthood. Sure, it's a time of tremendous possibility but it can also be a period of great confusion and anxiety. There's pressure to fit in socially, to perform academically, and to act responsibly. There's the awakening of sexual feelings, a growing self-identity, and a need for autonomy that often conflicts with the rules and expectations set by others.

A teen with an adequate support network of friends, family, religious affiliations, peer groups, or extracurricular activities may have an outlet to deal with everyday frustrations. But many teens don't believe they have that, and feel disconnected and isolated from family and friends. These teens are at increased risk for suicide.

Factors that increase the risk of suicide among teens include:

• a psychological disorder, especially depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol and drug use(in fact, approximately 95% of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of death)
• feelings of distress, irritability, or agitation
• feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that often accompany depression (a teen, for example, who experiences repeated failures at school, who is overwhelmed by violence at home, or who is isolated from peers is likely to experience such feelings)
• a previous suicide attempt
• a family history of depression or suicide (depressive illnesses may have a genetic component, so some teens may be predisposed to suffer major depression)
• physical or sexual abuse
• lack of a support network, poor relationships with parents or peers, and feelings of social isolation
• dealing with homosexuality in an unsupportive family or community or hostile school environment

Warning Signs

Suicide among teens often occurs following a stressful life event, such as a perceived failure at school, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a major family conflict.

A teen who is thinking about suicide might:

• talk about suicide or death in general
• talk about "going away"
• talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty
• pull away from friends or family
• lose the desire to take part in favorite things or activities
• have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• experience changes in eating or sleeping habits
• self-destructive behavior (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving too fast, for example)

What Can Parents Do?

Most teens who commit or attempt suicide have given some type of warning to loved ones ahead of time. So it's important for parents to know the warning signs so that kids who might be suicidal can get the help they need.

Watch and Listen

Keep a close eye on a teen who seems depressed and withdrawn. Poor grades, for example, may signal that your teen is withdrawing at school.

It's important to keep the lines of communication open and express your concern, support, and love. If your teen confides in you, show that you take those concerns seriously. A fight with a friend might not seem like a big deal to you in the larger scheme of things, but for a teen it can feel immense and consuming. It's important not to minimize or discount what your teen is going through, as this can increase his or her sense of hopelessness.

If your teen doesn't feel comfortable talking with you, suggest a more neutral person, such as another relative, a clergy member, a coach, a school counselor, or your child's doctor.

Ask Questions

Some parents are reluctant to ask teens if they have been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves. Some fear that by asking, they will plant the idea of suicide in their teen's head.

It's always a good idea to ask, even though doing so can be difficult. Sometimes it helps to explain why you're asking. For instance, you might say: "I've noticed that you've been talking a lot about wanting to be dead. Have you been having thoughts about trying to kill yourself?"

Get Help

If you learn that your child is thinking about suicide, get help immediately. Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, or your local hospital's department of psychiatry can provide a list of doctors in your area. Your local mental health association or county medical society can also provide references. In an emergency, you can call (800) SUICIDE or (800) 999-9999.

If your teen is in a crisis situation, your local emergency room can conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and refer you to the appropriate resources. If you're unsure about whether you should bring your child to the emergency room, contact your doctor or call (800) SUICIDE for help.

If you've scheduled an appointment with a mental health professional, make sure to keep the appointment, even if your teen says he or she is feeling better. Suicidal thoughts do tend to come and go; however, it is important that your teen get help developing the skills necessary to decrease the likelihood that suicidal thoughts and behaviors will emerge again if a crisis arises.

If your teen refuses to go to the appointment, discuss this with the mental health professional — and consider attending the session and working with the clinician to make sure your teen has access to the help needed. The clinician might also be able to help you devise strategies to help your teen want to get help.

Remember that any ongoing conflicts between a parent and child can fuel the fire for a teen who is feeling isolated, misunderstood, devalued, or suicidal. Get help to air family problems and resolve them in a constructive way. Also let the mental health professional know if there is a history of depression, substance abuse, family violence, or other stresses at home, such as an ongoing environment of criticism.

Helping Teens Cope With Loss

What should you do if someone your teen knows, perhaps a friend or a classmate, has attempted or committed suicide? First, acknowledge your child's many emotions. Some teens say they feel guilty — especially those who felt they could have interpreted their friend's actions and words better.

Others say they feel angry with the person who committed or attempted suicide for having done something so selfish. Still others say they feel no strong emotions. All of these reactions are appropriate; emphasize to your teen that there is no right or wrong way to feel.

When someone attempts suicide and survives, people may be afraid of or uncomfortable about talking with him or her about it. Tell your teen to resist this urge; this is a time when a person absolutely needs to feel connected to others.

Many schools address a student's suicide by calling in special counselors to talk with the students and help them cope. If your teen is dealing with a friend or classmate's suicide, encourage him or her to make use of these resources or to talk to you or another trusted adult.

If You've Lost a Child to Suicide

For parents, the death of a child is among the most painful losses imaginable. For parents who've lost a child to suicide, the pain and grief may be intensified. Although these feelings may never completely go away, survivors of suicide can take steps to begin the healing process:

• Maintain contact with others. Suicide can be a very isolating experience for surviving family members because friends often don't know what to say or how to help. Seek out supportive people to talk with about your child and your feelings. If those around you seem uncomfortable about reaching out, initiate the conversation and ask for their help.
• Remember that your other family members are grieving, too, and that everyone expresses grief in their own way. Your other children, in particular, may try to deal with their pain alone so as not to burden you with additional worries. Be there for each other through the tears, anger, and silences — and, if necessary, seek help and support together.
• Expect that anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays may be difficult. Important days and holidays often reawaken a sense of loss and anxiety. On those days, do what's best for your emotional needs, whether that means surrounding yourself with family and friends or planning a quiet day of reflection.
• Understand that it's normal to feel guilty and to question how this could have happened, but it's also important to realize that you might never get the answers you seek. The healing that takes place over time comes from reaching a point of forgiveness — for both your child and yourself.
• Counseling and support groups can play a tremendous role in helping you to realize you are not alone.

THANKS FOR : KIDS HEALTH
&
REVIEWED BY : Mathew .K , knock, PHD

DATE REVIEWED: June 2008

Teen Suicide

The reasons behind a teen's suicide or attempted suicide can be complex. Although suicide is relatively rare among children, the rate of suicides and suicide attempts increases tremendously during adolescence. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), surpassed only by accidents and homicide.

The risk of suicide increases dramatically when kids and teens have access to firearms at home, and nearly 60% of all suicides in the United States are committed with a gun. That's why any gun in your home should be unloaded, locked, and kept out of the reach of children and teens. Ammunition should be stored and locked apart from the gun, and the keys for both should be kept in a different area from where you store your household keys. Always keep the keys to any firearms out of the reach of children and adolescents.

Suicide rates differ between boys and girls. Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, and tend to attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or cutting themselves. Yet boys die by suicide about four times as often girls, perhaps because they tend to use more lethal methods, such as firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights.

Which Kids Are at Risk for Suicide?

It can be hard to remember how it felt to be a teen, caught in that gray area between childhood and adulthood. Sure, it's a time of tremendous possibility but it can also be a period of great confusion and anxiety. There's pressure to fit in socially, to perform academically, and to act responsibly. There's the awakening of sexual feelings, a growing self-identity, and a need for autonomy that often conflicts with the rules and expectations set by others.

A teen with an adequate support network of friends, family, religious affiliations, peer groups, or extracurricular activities may have an outlet to deal with everyday frustrations. But many teens don't believe they have that, and feel disconnected and isolated from family and friends. These teens are at increased risk for suicide.

Factors that increase the risk of suicide among teens include:

• a psychological disorder, especially depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol and drug use(in fact, approximately 95% of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of death)
• feelings of distress, irritability, or agitation
• feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that often accompany depression (a teen, for example, who experiences repeated failures at school, who is overwhelmed by violence at home, or who is isolated from peers is likely to experience such feelings)
• a previous suicide attempt
• a family history of depression or suicide (depressive illnesses may have a genetic component, so some teens may be predisposed to suffer major depression)
• physical or sexual abuse
• lack of a support network, poor relationships with parents or peers, and feelings of social isolation
• dealing with homosexuality in an unsupportive family or community or hostile school environment

Warning Signs

Suicide among teens often occurs following a stressful life event, such as a perceived failure at school, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a major family conflict.

A teen who is thinking about suicide might:

• talk about suicide or death in general
• talk about "going away"
• talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty
• pull away from friends or family
• lose the desire to take part in favorite things or activities
• have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• experience changes in eating or sleeping habits
• self-destructive behavior (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving too fast, for example)

What Can Parents Do?

Most teens who commit or attempt suicide have given some type of warning to loved ones ahead of time. So it's important for parents to know the warning signs so that kids who might be suicidal can get the help they need.

Watch and Listen

Keep a close eye on a teen who seems depressed and withdrawn. Poor grades, for example, may signal that your teen is withdrawing at school.

It's important to keep the lines of communication open and express your concern, support, and love. If your teen confides in you, show that you take those concerns seriously. A fight with a friend might not seem like a big deal to you in the larger scheme of things, but for a teen it can feel immense and consuming. It's important not to minimize or discount what your teen is going through, as this can increase his or her sense of hopelessness.

If your teen doesn't feel comfortable talking with you, suggest a more neutral person, such as another relative, a clergy member, a coach, a school counselor, or your child's doctor.

Ask Questions

Some parents are reluctant to ask teens if they have been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves. Some fear that by asking, they will plant the idea of suicide in their teen's head.

It's always a good idea to ask, even though doing so can be difficult. Sometimes it helps to explain why you're asking. For instance, you might say: "I've noticed that you've been talking a lot about wanting to be dead. Have you been having thoughts about trying to kill yourself?"

Get Help

If you learn that your child is thinking about suicide, get help immediately. Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, or your local hospital's department of psychiatry can provide a list of doctors in your area. Your local mental health association or county medical society can also provide references. In an emergency, you can call (800) SUICIDE or (800) 999-9999.

If your teen is in a crisis situation, your local emergency room can conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and refer you to the appropriate resources. If you're unsure about whether you should bring your child to the emergency room, contact your doctor or call (800) SUICIDE for help.

If you've scheduled an appointment with a mental health professional, make sure to keep the appointment, even if your teen says he or she is feeling better. Suicidal thoughts do tend to come and go; however, it is important that your teen get help developing the skills necessary to decrease the likelihood that suicidal thoughts and behaviors will emerge again if a crisis arises.

If your teen refuses to go to the appointment, discuss this with the mental health professional — and consider attending the session and working with the clinician to make sure your teen has access to the help needed. The clinician might also be able to help you devise strategies to help your teen want to get help.

Remember that any ongoing conflicts between a parent and child can fuel the fire for a teen who is feeling isolated, misunderstood, devalued, or suicidal. Get help to air family problems and resolve them in a constructive way. Also let the mental health professional know if there is a history of depression, substance abuse, family violence, or other stresses at home, such as an ongoing environment of criticism.

Helping Teens Cope With Loss

What should you do if someone your teen knows, perhaps a friend or a classmate, has attempted or committed suicide? First, acknowledge your child's many emotions. Some teens say they feel guilty — especially those who felt they could have interpreted their friend's actions and words better.

Others say they feel angry with the person who committed or attempted suicide for having done something so selfish. Still others say they feel no strong emotions. All of these reactions are appropriate; emphasize to your teen that there is no right or wrong way to feel.

When someone attempts suicide and survives, people may be afraid of or uncomfortable about talking with him or her about it. Tell your teen to resist this urge; this is a time when a person absolutely needs to feel connected to others.

Many schools address a student's suicide by calling in special counselors to talk with the students and help them cope. If your teen is dealing with a friend or classmate's suicide, encourage him or her to make use of these resources or to talk to you or another trusted adult.

If You've Lost a Child to Suicide

For parents, the death of a child is among the most painful losses imaginable. For parents who've lost a child to suicide, the pain and grief may be intensified. Although these feelings may never completely go away, survivors of suicide can take steps to begin the healing process:

• Maintain contact with others. Suicide can be a very isolating experience for surviving family members because friends often don't know what to say or how to help. Seek out supportive people to talk with about your child and your feelings. If those around you seem uncomfortable about reaching out, initiate the conversation and ask for their help.
• Remember that your other family members are grieving, too, and that everyone expresses grief in their own way. Your other children, in particular, may try to deal with their pain alone so as not to burden you with additional worries. Be there for each other through the tears, anger, and silences — and, if necessary, seek help and support together.
• Expect that anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays may be difficult. Important days and holidays often reawaken a sense of loss and anxiety. On those days, do what's best for your emotional needs, whether that means surrounding yourself with family and friends or planning a quiet day of reflection.
• Understand that it's normal to feel guilty and to question how this could have happened, but it's also important to realize that you might never get the answers you seek. The healing that takes place over time comes from reaching a point of forgiveness — for both your child and yourself.
• Counseling and support groups can play a tremendous role in helping you to realize you are not alone.

THANKS FOR : KIDS HEALTH
&
REVIEWED BY : Mathew .K , knock, PHD

DATE REVIEWED: June 2008

Life

Life like a Train. People Can't control their life. Because , life is controlling us. The definition of life, the determination of the fundamental nature of living things, and the explanation of life's origin and evolution , have engendered much thought, debate and research throughout history. The perspective on life at any given moment in history, even today, qualifies as realistic and fruitful only to the extent of human knowledge at the time. In this article we focus defining the activity of living.
We focus on what essential activities living entities perform that enable their living — specifically, we focus on the fundamental processes of living, those that constitute the System that counts as a living thing, the "common denominator that allows for the discrimination of the living from the non-living", as inferred from the study of Earth's living things in the light of science. This article takes, as its theme, “Life is what is common to all living things on Earth” (Christian De Duve).
Those include the basic working unit of life, the biological cell, and the many molecular structures and processes cells have in common, including a boundary; the importation of energy and exportation of entropy;metabolism;information processing and communication; self-organization and self-defense; adaptation; death; (re)production from parents; and, cognition of self and the outside world.

How to live a happy and satisfied Life

In each day that passes by, we stand by and witness how our lives are being lived without the full happiness and satisfaction we crave and need. Most people spend their time stressed out, worried and on a constant panic about what needs to be done for their futures, raising their children, wired up over work, school, along with everything else. Does this sound familiar? Well if it does, it is because so many people live with this style and pattern. When you can start living that fully happy and satisfied life?

The only way you can live a happy and satisfied life, is when you start doing things that make you happy and satisfied. Sure, it sounds easy, and can be easy if you just remember to make yourself one of your top priorities. Too many people neglect themselves, feeling that it would be selfish if they took any time out to focus on their own being. While it is good to take care of others and other important things going on in your life, it is mandatory that you never forget about yourself. Discover who you really are and what matters most to you. Living a great life does not just happen. It requires, planning and following those plans to a life that reflects who you truly are.

Most people avoid planning goals and dreams in their lives because they may have a fear of committing to it or failing. They feel that by officially writing it down, they would actually have to go through with pursuing it. This is where you need to rate the importance of your life missions. What is most important to you? Is it losing a certain amount of weight? Getting your degree? Spending more time with your spouse or children? Whatever the reason or reasons may be, just write all of them down. You may feel that making a mental note of your goals and dreams is enough, but you could very well be setting yourself up for disappointment and failure. By writing it down, you will become a visual witness of those goals. Try writing them in an organizer, with a little reminder written in each day.

Setting deadlines for these goals would be a great way to assure they will be accomplished. Avoid disappointment by setting realistic deadlines. For example, if you wanted to lose 10 pounds, do not give yourself a week to do so. You will only torture yourself and become depressed when the week is over and see that you did not come even close to losing the 10 pounds. In fact, you may give up losing weight altogether because of the failure you experienced, simply because your deadline was unrealistic. Take some time everyday to look over your goals and remind yourself of how important they really are to you. Ask yourself why they are important to you too. Knowing that something is important is not enough. You must know the reasons behind the importance of the dreams and goals you have, so that your mind can see it more clearly and understand exactly why it is so necessary to go through with your missions.

Excuses are demons you must learn to fight off if you wish to start living a happy and satisfied life. Most people claim to have many dreams, but say they just do not have the time to approach them. Stop making excuses! You are the only one who holds the power to make a real difference in your life. Sure, we all have busy lives with our careers and families, but nothing takes up 24 hours of your day. So if something is truly important to you, you will be sure to make the time to work on it. You can do this by replacing it with something less important. For example, if you claim you do not have the time to work on the other important goals in your life, perhaps it is time for you to start making close observations on the way you spend your time. If you spend several hours of the day working, studying, and then several hours taking care of house chores and family, what else are you doing with the rest of your day? If you spend a good portion watching television, then you need to cut back on that and use that time to begin and follow an exercise plan you have been thinking to focus on for a long time (or whatever goal it is you have).

Making yourself one of your first priorities is not selfish. It actually is obligatory to do so in order to succeed in the other subjects of your life. Without a happy and satisfied you, there will be no happy and satisfied life, because you will be stressed out and unhappy. You might be consciously ignoring your needs and desires, but your subconscious mind has not forgotten about you and will constantly remind you through stress, anger, sadness, insecurity and feelings of failure.

Start listening to yourself and becoming the best friend and supporter you need. No one is going to work on your happiness for you, so find the power and motivation stored up inside you, and use it to direct yourself into the path of true happiness and satisfaction. You can do anything you set your mind to, and once you have stopped and gotten in touch with yourself, you will learn and realize just how wonderful and capable you really are, and how you always have been. You will not only realize these things, but also begin loving who are more and more, which will not only lead you to achieving the things that make you most happy, but will guide you into a world of many new dreams come true.

Life is Happy & Sad: A Roller Coaster of Artistic Anguish from The Catastrophic Theater.

Houstonist would like to preface this article with a simple fact: you need to go see this play. Anybody who takes the time to invest a bit of themselves digging into the arts scene in Houston knows that there is a veritable treasure trove of secret gems waiting to be found - often right in front of our faces.Life is Happy and Sad definitely one of those secret gems.

We arrived at Diverswork for this Catastrophic Theoter Production with a cursory knowledge of Daniel Johnston - his famous manic depression, his sizeable catalog of songs, the myriad of artists who have claimed him to be a wonderful songwriter - and having seen an exhibition of his drawings at Station Museum a couple years ago. We've only got one collection of his recordings - The Late Great Daniel Johnston Discovered Covered, a double-disc collection featuring a smattering of Daniel's songs on one disc and those same songs covered by various artists [including Death Cab For Cutie, Sparklehorse, M Ward, and Tom Waits] on the accompanying disc. Houstonist even made sure to catch him performing a few songs at SXSW this year. Perhaps we entered with an above average knowledge of Daniel's story, but Houstonist had never really cracked the lock to the mystique that has made Mr. Johnston an inspiration and influence on so many of the artists we love

Jason Nodler's Life Is Happy & Sad was the proverbial locksmith of whom we were in need. After seeing the performance of Nodler's second Johnston-related piece, we feel as if we truly understand the beauty of Daniel's art. He is the quintessential tortured artist, but Johnston is also perhaps the truest artist we have ever known. Nodler's play is adapted from a cassette tape previously heard only by David Thornberry [Daniel's friend for whom he recorded it in college] and his wife - a tape that Thornberry handed to Jason during the run of Speeding Motorcycle, a Johnston-inspired rock opera that Nodler wrote a few years ago.

The first act of Life Is Happy & Sad is a heart-rending reenactment of Daniel recording the cassette - a letter of sorts - performed excellently by Matt Brownlie [of Bring Back The Guns fame]. As we sat in the intimate theater, peering in on the set - a rehearsal room at UT populated by a piano, Daniel, his notebook and a tape recorder - we were perplexed at how well Brownlie sells his character. As the story spills forth, with Brownlie swinging from manic excitement to wrenching loneliness, we were hanging on every word. The pacing and passion that he has thrown into playing Johnston makes him incredibly believable - be it the obsessive manner with which he checks the recorder's microphone, the frantic excitement as he describes a Meat Joy album, the reflective stops and pauses of the recording or the desperation as he begs Thornberry for mail. It is a roller coaster of artistic anguish offering intimate insight into Johnston's creative drive and inner loneliness. As the lights dim on Happy & Sad playing Heart & Soul at the piano, we sit back and exhale, unable to think of a more fitting close to the first act.

Act two is a fantasy concert which runs the gamut of emotion from ecstasy to despair, drifting amid songs and themes that are covered in the previous act. Make no mistake, this part of the piece is stunning as well, but it is more of a relaxing comedown compared to what we had just witnessed. It will still tug at your heartstrings, and Nodler has charted its path with excellence - much of it is Daniel performing songs as Happy & Sad make spot appearances. Joe Mathlete enters as Bill, who stumbles across Daniel writing in the rehearsal space, and plays backing guitar for a song that closes with Daniel reading-slash-singing an excerpt from How To Win Friends And Influence People. At one point Happy shows up with a rucksack and provides Daniel with extra tape recorders, and we see Daniel executing his own lo-fi multi-tracking. Three-fourths of local group Roky Moon & Bolt arrive and play an onslaught of a rock song behind Daniel before the act recedes back yet again.

The Bolt boys show back up to accompany him in the practice space and play Story of an Artist, a tremendously appropriate pick by Nodler and one of our absolutely favorite Johnston songs. At the close of the song Brownlie hits stop, removes the tape from the recorder, and tosses it out into the audience before sitting down to play a final number. Houstonist found ourselves exhaling deeply again, heart beating fast in our chest, satisfied and exhilarated and convinced that we had stumbled across greatness upon this small parcel of the Houston artistic landscape.

Challenges You Face in Life – Overcome These Challenges You'll Manifest Wealth & Inner Peace

What is the Greatest Challenge You Face in Life & Business? How would you answer that question? Before jumping to an answer you might consider that the greatest challenge you face in life and business is in making daily choices.

The moment we awaken we begin the stressful tack of choice and decision making and before the days end we have attempted to restore some internal peace of mind over choices made.

Why do we agonize over so many choices? More importantly, how do we find inner peace of mind once we choose? Everyday we struggle with opposing viewpoints that battle it out in our minds.

Subtle and simple little choices - like buying a pair of shoes. Or making a sale and marketing decision to advertise your business through a new and unproved channel can create chaos, conflicts, contradictions and tensions in our mind.

Regardless if our choices are emotional or intellectual we seem to go through a process of tricking ourselves into thinking we made the right decision in order to establish some peace of mind. As consumers we wrestle with ill feelings of fear in our stomach many times because of our decisions - which is commonly referred to as buyer's remorse.

Fear of making wrong decisions and choices becomes a major challenge in life and business everyday.

My clients struggle with different and difficult fears everyday in making choices that require changing habits, attitudes and behaviors. In the words of JC who has been a smoker for more than 10 years and a client our company said: Every time I light up a cigarette I read the warning sign on the package. I stop for a moment and ask myself why am I smoking? Then I reason with my mind that I don't smoke that much and I get plenty of exercise and my grandfather smoked well into his 90's giving me some peace of mind until the next time I light up a cigarette. But regardless, of the mind game I play, the fear of cancer lurks deep within me.

People I work with daily who struggle with their fear of making choices have become very creative at attempting to reduce mental tension for their choices and decisions. But, in doing so, they have brought on deepening negative behaviors of procrastination, uncertainty, guilt and greater stress into their lives.

Fear and not willing to make good choices has stopped people dead in their tracks from accomplishing great things in their life. In addition to the fear people are confronted with. There are two other issues that come into play while making daily choices that bring in more mental tension. That is the issue of money and time.

Every endeavor in life and business that produces accomplishment requires some degree of investment in time, money and resources. The one major reason people procrastinate over choice and don't take immediate and consistent action and the biggest inhibitor in creating wealth, happiness and living life exactly the way want it -- is fear.

As you listen or read this article your may be saying to yourself right now -- I don't fear making more money and having more success. I'm not afraid of making better choices for having greater happiness in life. I don't fear having a wonderful committed relationship and living exactly the way I want to. But, if you want to make more money and create wealth, and you haven't, then fear in getting your way. If you are always struggling on the path to happiness and living your life well and you haven't done it -- then the choices you make are being influence by your fears.

As for time: There are some people being so busy living a life of pain, procrastination, quilt, fear, disbelief, and anger that their time is consumed with lack and limitation instead of abundance.

As for the money: most people work for money their whole life and will use lack of money, regardless of their net worth, as an excuse for their choices. They trick themselves into some peace of mind to stifle the guilt or embarrassment for their decisions. If they do it long enough it become habitual and their self deception becomes almost guiltless and unnoticed within. Needles to say in the process of tricking ourselves to justify daily choices in order to establish some peace of mind is not the solution. What needs to happen for you is to begin acting in accordance with not only your true conviction but with your true desires and honest reasons.

While questioning JC about her smoking I discovered that her greatest fear was not cancer. Her two greatest fears where graining weight after she quit smoking and her fear of spending money with no guarantee she would quit. JC's desire to quit smoking was strong but her fears were much stronger causing her to play self sabotaging mind games.

While we my believe that our greatest challenges, lie in wait outside of our control, the truth is the solutions to our greatest challenges are within each and every one of us. The solution is to confront the real problems not the symptoms.

Fast food restaurants may contribute to obesity in this country but not the problem. The problem is in the eating behaviors of people. A highly profitable and proven MLM business system may have hundreds of people who quit the business for lack of success. The failure is not in the business but the fear of rejection, call reluctance, passion, desire and lack of commitment in the people.

People can change quickly once they confront their fears and resolve the money and time issue. To achieve long-term behavioral change we must first reinforce our desires and goals with new attitudes of behavior and the quickest ways to change is through hypnosis which speeds up the learning process 2 to 5 time faster than will power.

When you confront your fears and have a burning desire, backed by belief your fears begin to diminish. Your mind becomes dominated with positive emotion, which gives shape, form and action to your projects or ideas with imagination. You then become unstoppable in your attainment of successfully accomplishing your goals.

Let me give you a challenge. Identify some behavior that you battle with in your mind. It could be smoking, procrastination, call reluctance, social anxiety, fear of flying, lack of motivation or what ever challenges you. Now carefully and truthfully examine the reason for ending that behavior and write them down. Next list all the benefits for change and write down your new behavior next to the benefits. Now make a commitment with clear intention to act out your new behavior. Avoid all the tempting situations that would have you act out your old behavior and see what happens.

For some of you the chance of making a positive change with a great deal of willpower will come forth in time. For others you'll continue repeating old behaviors until you change your behavior and for that to happen you'll need to change habits of thought. However, hypnosis will speed up and guarantee that change of behavior will come forth easier, quicker and effortlessly in less time.

Professional Keynote Speaker Motivational Speaker Hypnosis Sales Seminars Success Coach From Don L Price
Secret Strategic Mental Approach to Higher Performance in Life and Business from Professional Keynote Speaker Hypnosis Sales Seminars Success Coach Motivational Speaker Sales Hypnosis Trainer Don L Price

by Don Price

Suicide

If you are feeling suicidal now, please stop long enough to read this. It will only take about five minutes. I do not want to talk you out of your bad feelings. I am not a therapist or other mental health professional - only someone who knows what it is like to be in pain.

I don't know who you are, or why you are reading this page. I only know that for the moment, you're reading it, and that is good. I can assume that you are here because you are troubled and considering ending your life. If it were possible, I would prefer to be there with you at this moment, to sit with you and talk, face to face and heart to heart. But since that is not possible, we will have to make do with this.

I have known a lot of people who have wanted to kill themselves, so I have some small idea of what you might be feeling. I know that you might not be up to reading a long book, so I am going to keep this short. While we are together here for the next five minutes, I have five simple, practical things I would like to share with you. I won't argue with you about whether you should kill yourself. But I assume that if you are thinking about it, you feel pretty bad.

Well, you're still reading, and that's very good. I'd like to ask you to stay with me for the rest of this page. I hope it means that you're at least a tiny bit unsure, somewhere deep inside, about whether or not you really will end your life. Often people feel that, even in the deepest darkness of despair. Being unsure about dying is okay and normal. The fact that you are still alive at this minute means you are still a little bit unsure. It means that even while you want to die, at the same time some part of you still wants to live. So let's hang on to that, and keep going for a few more minutes.

Suicide is not the answer for the problems and challengers in life

That's all it's about. You are not a bad person, or crazy, or weak, or flawed, because you feel suicidal. It doesn't even mean that you really want to die - it only means that you have more pain than you can cope with right now. If I start piling weights on your shoulders, you will eventually collapse if I add enough weights... no matter how much you want to remain standing. Willpower has nothing to do with it. Of course you would cheer yourself up, if you could.

Don't accept it if someone tells you, "that's not enough to be suicidal about." There are many kinds of pain that may lead to suicide. Whether or not the pain is bearable may differ from person to person. What might be bearable to someone else, may not be bearable to you. The point at which the pain becomes unbearable depends on what kinds of coping resources you have. Individuals vary greatly in their capacity to withstand pain.

When pain exceeds pain-coping resources, suicidal feelings are the result. Suicide is neither wrong nor right; it is not a defect of character; it is morally neutral. It is simply an imbalance of pain versus coping resources.

You can survive suicidal feelings if you do either of two things: find a way to reduce your pain, or (2) find a way to increase your coping resources. Both are possible.

Now I want to tell you five things to think about.

1.You need to hear that people do get through this -- even people who feel as badly as you are feeling now. Statistically, there is a very good chance that you are going to live. I hope that this information gives you some sense of hope.

2.Give yourself some distance. Say to yourself, "I will wait 24 hours before I do anything." Or a week. Remember that feelings and actions are two different things - just because you feel like killing yourself, doesn't mean that you have to actually do it right this minute. Put some distance between your suicidal feelings and suicidal action. Even if it's just 24 hours. You have already done it for 5 minutes, just by reading this page. You can do it for another 5 minutes by continuing to read this page. Keep going, and realize that while you still feel suicidal, you are not, at this moment, acting on it. That is very encouraging to me, and I hope it is to you.

3.People often turn to suicide because they are seeking relief from pain. Remember that relief is a feeling. And you have to be alive to feel it. You will not feel the relief you so desperately seek, if you are dead.

4.

Some people will react badly to your suicidal feelings, either because they are frightened, or angry; they may actually increase your pain instead of helping you, despite their intentions, by saying or doing thoughtless things. You have to understand that their bad reactions are about their fears, not about you.

But there are people out there who can be with you in this horrible time, and will not judge you, or argue with you, or send you to a hospital, or try to talk you out of how badly you feel. They will simply care for you. Find one of them. Now. Use your 24 hours, or your week, and tell someone what's going on with you. It is okay to ask for help. Try:

*Send an anonymous e-mail to The Samaritans.
*Look in the front of your phone book for a crisis line.
*Call a psychotherapist.
*Carefully choose a friend or a minister or rabbi, someone who is likely to listen.
*Call to the police.

But don't give yourself the additional burden of trying to deal with this alone. Just talking about how you got to where you are, releases an awful lot of the pressure, and it might be just the additional coping resource you need to regain your balance.

5.Suicidal feelings are, in and of themselves, traumatic. After they subside, you need to continue caring for yourself. Therapy is a really good idea. So are the various self-help groups available both in your community and on the Internet.

Well, it's been a few minutes and you're still with me. I'm really glad.

Since you have made it this far, you deserve a reward. I think you should reward yourself by giving yourself a gift. The gift you will give yourself is a coping resource. Remember, back up near the top of the page, I said that the idea is to make sure you have more coping resources than you have pain. So let’s give you another coping resource, or two, or ten...! until they outnumber your sources of pain.

Now, while this page may have given you some small relief, the best coping resource we can give you is another human being to talk with. If you find someone who wants to listen, and tell them how you are feeling and how you got to this point, you will have increased your coping resources by one. Hopefully the first person you choose won't be the last. There are a lot of people out there who really want to hear from you. It's time to start looking around for one of them.

RELATIONSHIP

FAMILY BONDS

Family bonds or ties play a major role in our lives. It is the deep attachment between, and among family members. It lasts for ever. The affectionate relationships bet ween family members:father and mother;father and mother,mother and children, father and children and among children bring happiness, good fortune and success.

Family bonds arise out of living together in harmony with love, affection,caring and sharing.No matter how rich or poor, family bonds are the same.love and affection do not depend on wealth. All children grow up to be adults passing different phases.A child becomes a teenager, an adolescent and a grown up. In the process. of growing up family ties should be protected. They serve as an anchor in later life, in times of difficultly.

In the modern world family bonds are drifting apart. Modern society pays much attention to money. Money seems to give status and importance in the society. As a result people have become a competitive.They have o time to think of others. Thus family bonds or ties have become frail. When we learn to care or the family, we learn to care for our society and to care for our world.