By Stanley Popovich

Some people have a difficult time in managing their depression.  Sometimes, their depression and fears can get the best of them.  As a result, here is a short list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their depression.

One of the ways to manage your depression is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, your afraid that if you do not get that job promotion then you will be stuck at your job forever. This depresses you, however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there all are kinds of jobs available and just because you don’t get this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.

Some people get depressed and have a difficult time getting out of bed in the mornings.  When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get their mind off of the problem.   A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. Doing something will get your mind off of the problem and give you confidence to do other things.

Sometimes, we can get depressed over a task that we will have to perform in the near future. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship volleyball game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self-Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket.  Whenever you feel depressed, open up your small notebook and read those statements.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your fears and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem.  By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future. Managing your fears and anxieties takes practice.  The more you practice, the better you will become.

The techniques that I have just covered are some basic ways to manage your depression, however your best bet is to get some help from a professional.

BIOGRAPHY:

Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to:http://www.managingfear.com/ 

By: Stanley Popovich

Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a difficult time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties.

When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success.

Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the problem.  A person could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things.

A person should visualize a red stop sign in their mind when they encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, a person should think of a red stop sign that serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. A person can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket.  Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your small notebook and read those statements.   This will help to manage your negative thinking.

Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem.  By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future.  Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.

Dealing with our persistent fears is not easy.  Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problem will go along way in fixing your problems.

BIOGRAPHY:

Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to:http://www.managingfear.com/ 

"Teaching Our Children About Tolerance and Kindness" is an article that offers practical ways on how to help your children to build an acceptance towards children who have special needs.  

Below are thoughtful and sensitive ways that not only include having conversations with your children, but also serving as a role model yourself - a very powerful way to communicate this message! And, not only will your actions serve as a model for your children, but to other parents in the community as well. 

Read on and start practicing!
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By:Stefanie Weiss
7-18-12
As parents, it is our job to teach our children to always be kind and tolerant of others. A few weeks ago, my oldest son graduated from elementary school along with 58 children from his grade. Their class was fortunate to have graduated with some amazing children who have special needs. Children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and other challenging disorders were amongst their class of 2012. For many kids who have not been exposed to different children at an early age, these disorders can be scary and misunderstood. To this class it was not. As I looked into the bleachers and saw the children high fiving each other after singing their songs, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion to see how much the students cared about their fellow classmates who needed a little extra TLC over the last six years.

Here is some important advice I think all parents can benefit from to enrich the lives of their children:

- Be a role model. Kids look to their parents to mirror how they should behave around kids that are different. If you are accepting, they will be too.

- It’s easy to do nothing. We all get busy with our daily lives and forget that sometimes people have it tougher than we do. If you go out of your way for others, it truly can make a difference.

- Be a leader and your child will be one too. Set up a play date with someone who you know doesn’t get asked all the time. It will make their day and yours too. It feels good to do something kind for others.

- Watch; your good example will inspire others and quickly your friends will follow suit. This is one way in which your friend’s can copy you in a “good” way.

- Teach your kids about children who are different. Parents should address wheelchairs, walkers, as well kid’s that display uncommon behaviors. Kids have questions and once they are answered appropriately they “get it”.

- Exposure is key. If your school is filled with only mainstream students, volunteer somewhere with your child. Reach out to family or friends that would welcome the gift of meeting someone new and special.

- Not everyone is born the same and that is OK. It is our job as parents to teach our children to treat all types of children with respect and kindness.

- Remember the old saying your mother told you, ”Don’t judge a book by its cover”. What someone looks like on the outside is often very different from who they are on the inside.

– Tell your child that it is important to reach out and help a child who is struggling. It will feel so good to really make a difference in another child’s day. Wouldn’t you want someone to do this if it were your child who needed this?

- Show your child that these types of kids are more similar than different to them. Explain that no matter what someone looks like on the outside, children have so many things about them that are the same. Whether it’s swimming, ice cream, video games, or a movie, find a way for them to connect on some level. Finding similarities can be instrumental in helping your child see that kids with special needs are really children just like them.

Having your child connect with a child with special needs is mutually beneficial. The parents that have a child with challenges will be so grateful to have a friend reach out and make an effort. Think about how good it will make your child feel to know they made someone feel included and understood. To me, there is an incredible sense of pride I feel when I see my own child go over to a child that has challenges and give them a warm smile and a high five. Kids who have tolerance, respect, and acceptance at an early age will realize how very special and needed those qualities are throughout their life.

Stefanie Weiss
ASK STEFANIE
Mental Health Consultant

This article presents promising information about the possibility of using EEG to diagnose children with Autism. At present, Autism is diagnosed via behavioral observation that is documented by parents, physicians, teachers, behavioral specialists and psychologists. This research is focused on finding electrical brain patterns that are consistent in the brains of children with Autism in an effort to create a diagnostic technique that is simple and quick. 

There is yet much more work to be done; however, these early findings are 
encouraging!  
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EEG Test To Identify Autism In Children: Brain Activity Captured In Diagnostic Test
By Andy Coghlan newscientist.com

Characteristic patterns of electrical brain activity seen in children with autism could provide a new test for diagnosing the condition. At present, autism is diagnosed by carefully observing a child's behaviour and assessing their clinical history. Now, Frank Duffy of Boston Children's Hospital and colleague Heidelise Als have developed an electroencephalogram (EEG) test that involves placing 24 electrodes on a child's scalp.
      
This enabled them to identify 33 patterns of connectivity between brain regions that were strikingly and consistently different in 430 children with autism aged between 2 and 12, compared with 554 neurotypical controls."I'm very optimistic this data will provide a potential for early diagnosis," Duffy says.

The researchers analysed patterns of connectivity for all possible pairings of the 24 electrodes, amounting to more than 4000 in total. Duffy calls the patterns "coherence factors" because they are a measure of how well signals from different brain regions match up with each other. This reflects the strength of the connectivity between the regions from which the signals originated.

A key feature of autism is thought to be poor connectivity between brain regions linked with language. And as expected, the greatest differences between neurotypical and autistic children were in a pattern, called factor 15, which showed very poor connectivity in a part of the brain vital for language processing called the arcuate fasciculus.

The differences between children with autism and the controls were marked in all age groups analysed, raising the prospect of diagnosing autism early on, when treatment is likely to be most promising .

Duffy says that the patterns seen were so consistent in so many of the children with typical autism that they could represent the first neuro-physiological "phenotype" of the disorder. "What stunned me was that a pattern of coherence differences could have this power," he says. "It really does reflect the common physiological phenotype of autism."

Duffy warns, however, that doctors shouldn't rely on the test until it has been validated by other teams and compared against neurological conditions with which autism could be confused, such as Asperger's syndrome.

If the test is validated, it could provide a much simpler and more reliable way of diagnosing the condition than any currently available, says Duffy. He points out that tests based on genetics are still a distant hope, and there are logistical problems with using fMRI to scan children's brains, not least because they have to be sedated or anaesthetised to undergo the scans.

With the EEG, by contrast, the electrodes can be put in place within a few minutes because they come prefabricated into a head net. Patients can move around while wearing the net, and the readings only take 20 minutes at most.

"The idea of using EEG to diagnose autism is important," says Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, UK. "We need more research using this and related techniques, towards making diagnosis more objective and reliable, and hopefully they'll also be quicker and cheaper," he says.
 
Journal reference: BMC Medicine, DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-10-64