Tremendously Rewarding and Compassionate Giving To Childrens Charity

By Eugene
December 19, 2018

Giving to a childrens charity can be among the most rewarding things you can do with your money.

Selecting the right childrens charity, however, can seem complicated with the wide variety of charities out there.

While most charities are reputable and trustworthy, there are some instances of fraud or other issues that can make giving to charities something worth taking a closer look at.

Overall, thankfully, the act of giving to children’s charities can be tremendously rewarding and compassionate.

Picking a Charity : When choosing a childrens charity, take a look at your own priorities first.

What issues are important to you? If you have a relative with a particular illness, you may want to donate to a charity that has an association with that particular illness.

Most people give to children’s charities with which they have a particular emotional attachment. To pick a charity, make a list of some of your own priorities and start planning from there.

Next, take a look at the geographical location and situation of the children that the charity aims to help. Are you interested in helping children internationally or are local children’s charities more your cup of tea?

Your charitable donation can make a difference regionally, locally, nationally, or internationally. Make sure you learn as much about the location your donation will be assisting, so as to be able to give with confidence.

Also take a look at what activities the charity will perform to assist children.

In many cases, you can assign your own donation to the areas in which it is needed most. If, for example, you wish to distribute some funds or equipment to the building of a new playground at a children’s cancer center, you can request that those funds are given to the proper area.

If it appears that your charitable donations will simply be allocated to administration purposes, you may want to consider another more active charity.

Giving to a large organization differs from giving to a smaller organization in a number of ways. With your donation to a large children’s charity, you may be helping with a big project or helping fund other parts of a large charity organization.

With a smaller grassroots organization, you may be able to be more aware and enlightened as to where your funds or donations are being allocated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Cn7mModSE

When it comes to making sure that the children’s charity you intend to work with is legitimate, you can contact the tax services branch of your local government.

All registered charities will have a business number and will have ample tax and government information. If the charity you are looking to work with does not have a business number or registration information, do not donate to them.

Finally, decide what type of donation you wish to make. Some charities accept monetary donations primarily, while others accept donations of time or even toys.

There are some organizations that offer ways to connect children with great toys, like dollhouses or stuffed animals.

With a simple internet search, you can find out more information about helping the various children’s charities and how your money, time, or toys can be donated to help brighten the day of a youngster today.

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Coping With Life

Anxiety Lives On in Adults Long After Childhood Abuse and Depression

By Eugene
December 14, 2018

Childhood abuse is associated with psychiatric disorders in adulthood.

With childhood abuse it has been established that nature and nurture should not be taken as enemies or total opposites, but as two intertwined realities that function together to make up the human experience.

Nature was designed for nurture. Many recent and notable studies have documented the effects that early childhood experience can have on both the physical and chemical makeup of the brain.

In particular, childhood abuse and/or neglect can permanently alter an individual’s physiology.

These physiological changes may lead to a greater likelihood of the person suffering from depression or anxiety later in life.

Groundbreaking results from a major study of depressed women in the US have shown that women who were abused as children have abnormally elevated hormonal responses to stress compared to women with no history of abuse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2uudbMMJ0U

It suggests that childhood abuse is associated with persistent hyperactivity of the hormonal system associated with the stress response and this may cause greater vulnerability to psychiatric disorders in adulthood.

The study, headed by Dr. Charles Nemeroff at Emory University, looked at women diagnosed with clinical depression who had been abused as children; depressed women with no past abuse; and healthy women.

Each person was given a moderately stressful experience and asked to perform simple mathematics problems aloud for a panel of stalwart non expressive judges.

Cortisol and ACTH (two hormones that play a critical role in a person’s response to stress) were measured in each subject while she completed the task.

It was found that the levels of these hormones were especially pronounced in women who were abused as children and who also had current depression.

In fact, their ACTH response indicators were more than six times those of the healthy women.

In addition to high levels of stress hormones, other studies by the same group found that women who had been abused as children had abnormal development of the brain’s hippocampus, which suggests another physical result of early abuse that could lead to permanent brain abnormalities in later life.

Other brain structures can also be affected by early child abuse or neglect.

While the basic unit of the brain is in place at birth, neuronal pathways for the body’s reaction to different experiences are still developing.

There is a critical period of time in a child’s first three years of life during which most of these pathways are formed.

If a child receives primarily negative stimulation early in life, pathways for forming lasting relationships and responding to positive experiences can be stunted or destroyed.

While this may be a reaction to help the child survive, it can cause permanent difficulties for the individual.

Other research shows that the brains of severely neglected children tend to be smaller than average with underdeveloped areas in the cortex.

The long term implications of this are still being examined, but it shows one more way in which nurture or lack of it can affect a person’s biological make-up.

The knowledge that nature and nurture are two crucial aspects to a person’s health will undoubtedly prove to be a very useful tool in the research and treatment of psychiatric illness and may lead to even more effective treatments in the future.

Courtesy of Dr Leo Kady

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Coping With Life

Healing Grief and Bereavement : Finding Help After Loss of A Loved One

By Eugene
December 14, 2018

Grief and bereavement are horrible but natural parts of life.

It’s inevitable that someone you know and love will die someday, and grief is a normal part of recovering from such a loss.

Grief isn’t easy; it is painful, debilitating, and can leave you feeling empty and alone. The best thing you can do is find constructive, positive ways to deal with your grief before it cripples you or causes long-term harm to your mental and physical health.

Grief is a term used to describe any number of negative psychological states that occur after the death of a friend or family member. Depression, sorrow, apathy and lethargy are very common consequences of grief.

Recognizing your grief is the first step in coping with it and moving on. Ignoring grief is a dangerous and temporary fix, and can do major harm in the long run.

Grief is separated into five common “stages of grief”; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Developed in 1969 by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the five stages of grief act as your guide to grief, cluing you in as to what emotions you should expect after the death of a loved one. They by no means apply to everyone — grief affects different people in different ways — but knowing what emotions are common amongst the bereaved will help you through your grieving process.

There are a number of ways to cope with grief in a healthy, positive way. Some people seek out spiritual guidance from pastor, rabbi, or other religious leader. Some people prefer the more structured support of a psychologist or support group.

Others might briefly seek out isolation as a time to reflect on the memory of their loved one. Whatever path you choose in dealing with your grief, remember; as long as you are not doing yourself or anyone else harm, there is no wrong method.

Pick what works best for you and surround yourself with people that support your grieving process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R7mUkttgU8

One of the most popular forms of coping with grief is to find a support group or enter counseling.

Surrounding yourself with supportive people, especially ones that have been through or are currently going through the same thing you are going through will help lift your spirits when you’re feeling low and sustain them when you’re feeling good.

Support can come in many forms; religious congregations, family members, friends, discussion groups, or counseling. It can be as simple as having someone to take a walk with or a friendly chat with a coworker.

Whatever form your support system takes, make sure it is consistent and positive.

Another great way to cope with grief is to stay busy.

Find a creative outlet and let yourself get lost in it. Arts and crafts, home improvement projects, and keeping a journal are all great ways to keep your mind focused and yourself productive. You can even combine your creativity with the memory of your loved one by starting a memorial journal or scrapbook.

These are great ways to honor the deceased and deal with grief.

Make sure you exercise and maintain a healthy diet during your grieving process. Many people fall into unhealthy patterns that keep them from progressing past their grief and ultimately cause them long-term health problems.

Grief is difficult, yes, but it is not impossible to deal with.

By surrounding yourself with a positive support system, making healthy lifestyle choices, and keeping busy, you will find that your grief will soon fade and you’ll be left with the wonderful memory of a life you are glad you were a part of.

Courtesy of Ben Nystrom,

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Coping With Life

Techniques for Coping With Grief from Sudden Death of A Loved One

By Eugene
December 13, 2018

Grief is a common, expected, and necessary reaction to loss of any kind.

Each person will experience grief in a different way and, depending on how well they cope with those emotions, they may have positive or negative long-term effects from their bereavement.

What is Grief?

The term grief comes from the Old French word greve which means a heavy burden. Normal characteristics of grief include depression, apathy, lethargy, and sorrow.

What is so difficult about grief after the loss of a loved one is that it can renew and manifest again when special occasions or key dates come around each year.

Though physical absence is the most obvious reason to grieve, many have a more difficult time getting over the constant reminder that they will never share a special moment or memory with the loved one again.

Responding To Grief

The response to the loss of a loved one varies depending on how the person passed way, the relationship between the griever and the deceased, and individual personalities.

When a person dies unexpectedly, the grieving process may last longer than the grief associated with an anticipated death. Feelings of guilt and regret are often heightened in situations where a person dies who one has not spoken to in a long time or where fights were going on.

People prone to depression may find the grieving process more difficult than someone with a more positive personality.

Stages of Grief

In 1969, psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross developed five stages of grief based on her work with terminally-ill patients.

The five stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and, acceptance. These stages serve as a good blueprint for what types of emotions people may experience after the death of a loved one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSBG6NoYcnU

Grief vs. Depression

Symptoms of depression may accompany grief. However, major depression is a psychological disorder that requires long-term treatment and care.

Grief is a healthy human response; it should not be treated with antidepressants or medication. Grief can evolve into depression under certain conditions.

Any one suspecting this to be occurring should seek the professional opinion of a psychiatrist or counselor.

Coping With Grief

Surround yourself with supportive, loving people is the best way to cope with the loss of a loved one. Dealing with grief alone is a dangerous and unhealthy idea.

Find a discussion group or seek out a counselor if you need to talk with professionals and others that have gone through similar experiences. Find a friend to share time with, even if its just watching a movie at home or taking a walk.

There is no embarrassment in sharing your time with people that are willing to offer you the support you need, regardless of what form that support takes.

Some find that a creative outlet, such as painting or keeping a memorial journal, is a good way to bring their minds out from under the burden of grief.

Families often find that creating an online memorial or a memorial scrapbook helps give them a sense of peace as well as a place to always go back to and remember their loved one.

Don’t be ashamed of whatever form your grief manifests itself in so long as it is not self-destructive or detrimental to your long-term health.

Grief and Trauma

It is important to be aware of the how trauma may have an affect on the grieving process. Trauma is a disabling reaction to the unexpected death of a loved one that may block or hinder the grieving process and can lead to more damaging psychological problems.

If you think you might be experiencing trauma, you should seek professional help.

By recognizing your grief and making strides to work through it in a safe and healthy way, your ability to cope with your emotions and move forward will be easier.

Courtesy of Ben Anton

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