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Understanding Neurodiversity

Many 18th c. treatments for psychological dist...

Neurodiversity is an aspect of mental health. It explains the workings of the brain in detail. Understanding the concept of Neurodiversity will help understand mental health problems.

As per Neurodiversity, the brain is not considered to be a computer. Rather, it is understood to function like an ecosystem. Conventionally, the brain has been compared to work like a computer. But the computer does not have the ability to imagine on its own. So how could the brain be a computer? The brain is a network of ecosystems. Each ecosystem has its own knowledge base, and levels of sensitivities and sensibilities.

Neurodiversity attributes mental competence to culture. A culture determines the way the brain is utilized by the human body from birth. A cultural value determines the definition for a mental health. For example, autistic people are defined so because their behavior is compares vis-à-vis the culture. While other people behave in a particular way, autistic people behave differently. Over here, majority wins. So majority behavior is taken to be as normal behavior.

Neurodiversity defines success of people to adapting to situation rather relying on in-born traits. The human mind is able to adapt to situations. People can make themselves like and love things that might not have interested them earlier. Again, the issue of ecosystem comes up. Early ecosystems influence a person’s liking towards something. But this does not mean that the person likes only this and not other things.

Neurodiversity has put pad to many myths. It has created new definitions to the way people perceive mental health and behaviors. Cutting across conventions, Neurodiversity is a science that is enlightening people immensely.

Filed Under: Autism, Health, Treatments · Tagged With: Mental disorder, Mental Health, Neurodiversity

How to Address Autism with Your Pediatrician

Autism is a developmental disorder. Toddlers and young children with autism might exhibit signs of delayed development. Questions that your child’s doctor asks at routine pediatric visits help to determine any autistic characteristics early on in life. However, autism is not easy to diagnose under the age of three. Children also develop at different stages; if your child doesn’t walk by 12 months, for example, this doesn’t necessarily mean that he is autistic. It is important that you know that signs of autism and address any concerns with your pediatrician.

Symptoms of autism vary, but signs can show up in late infancy and before the age of two. Between ages one and two, toddlers are starting to develop language abilities. They say one to two words at a time and then move on to small sentence formations. Autistic children typically have a more difficult time talking, and might instead just repeat what you say. Autistic children prefer to have routines and may seem to be in their own world. Such kids also lack social skills, because they prefer to be alone.

Autism cannot be cured; however, treatments can help your child live a better life and excel easier in school as well as socially. Medications can help your child concentrate and learn easier, although prescriptions for autism are not typically recommended before the age of five. Speech therapy can help improve communication skills, and occupational therapy can improve any delays in physical movements, such as walking. The earlier you address your concerns about autism and your child, the earlier you can help him. Avoiding the issue out of embarrassment will only delay the treatment process.

Filed Under: Autism, Health · Tagged With: Autism, Autism spectrum, Pediatrics

Adults With Autism

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 27: A man mends a c...

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Adults with autism face the normal challenges of transitioning from youth to young adulthood. They also have to factor in the challenges that their autism entails. Although the transition can be a challenge, it can occur successfully.

Autistic adults can live meaningful and purposeful lives and contribute to their families and communities.

Generally the public school system is responsible for persons with autism until they reach the age of 22 years old. This means until then, an autistic person can qualify for programs and services offered through the state’s educational system.

As parents raise children with autism, they should look ahead to the future and evaluate their children’s capabilities. Then they can determine the best path to follow after high school.

Some adults with autism can function very well on their own—living on their own, working, and taking on responsibilities. They may encounter challenges along the way with communication and social situations. It is important for co-workers, employers, family, and friends to be supportive, lend help where it is needed, and to be optimistic about the situation.

For those not eligible for main stream employment there are other options. An adult with autism can evaluate their skills and offer services for pay on an hourly basis. There is also the option of working in employment organizations specifically for employees who have autism or other disabilities. Adults can still perform simple to complex work for pay.

An adult with autism also needs to consider living accommodations. There is a wide variety of options from independent housing arrangements to living at home to living in a supervised group home with other adults with disabilities. If an autistic child chooses to live on his or her own, there is the option of having a friend, family member, or professional come in to assist where needed, such as with finances or paperwork for government agencies offering help. If the adult chooses to live at home, there are financial means available through the government to help out. One such example is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Filed Under: Autism, Health · Tagged With: Adult, Autism spectrum, Mental Health

Learning of Your Child’s Special Needs

The birth of a new baby is one of the highlight events of any parent’s life. Each parent cherishes those precious moments as a child grows and develops.

Although parenthood is extremely stressful and at times more challenging than many like, it is very rewarding. The regular roller-coaster emotions that parents go through as they strive to raise the next generation with love and discipline, could compete with any amusement park thriller ride.

Add in special needs or a disability though, and one may feel the parenting ride is overwhelming. As a parent starts to notice unusual behavior or notes that their child doesn’t respond as other children do, this may seem like a cause for alarm.

The first thing parents need to recognize that all children come unique with different talents and abilities. This is why when you bring your child to the doctor’s office; they are comparing your child’s progress to percentages. It is a subjective comparison. Do not jump to conclusions immediately, but take careful account of symptoms and behaviors that may be different.

Next do some research. For example, if your child’s language or social skills are lacking at a young age, it is possible he or she are a candidate for autism. Take time to research the various possibilities. While searching for causes is helpful, sometimes it can distract from the present problem and focusing on a solution.

Once you have conducted thorough research and found a diagnose, accept this head-on. It is natural to feel some denial or even frustration/anger at learning that your child is developmentally different than other children. As in the case of autism, you do not need to feel alone or extremely different though. It is more common than you know. With an acceptance of reality, you can face the problem head on.

Do not put all your eggs in one basket and focus all your energy on one of your child’s symptoms or one treatment. Rather spread your net as wide as possible to learn all you can and to benefit from varying resources.

Filed Under: Health, Parents · Tagged With: Autism spectrum, Parent, Social skill

Pregnancy and Drug Abuse

The outreaching effects of alcohol can take more of a toll on the body than most people realize. When drugs and alcohol enter the bloodstream, they can remain in that person’s system for hours or even days at a time. The side-effects of the drugs can linger on in the body and cause even more issues. For instance, a pregnant woman who abuses drugs and alcohol may produce a child who is dependent on the drugs. Essentially addicted, weaning the child from the drugs in their system may require the same course(s) of treatment that it would take for an adult, but since the child is much smaller than an adult and weighs significantly less, the side effects are greater and the child experiences more of them and more frequently.

Developing fetuses are harmed by drug abuse behavior. Their bodies, lungs, and growth pattern are often disproportionately affected and their growth may be stunted. Their organs may have a hard time coping with the aggressive, foreign material that pulsates through its veins, and eventually they will be overcome with the effects, and will then need some type of treatment. The fetus may also experience problems outside of the womb with quivering, shaking, and nervous habits that are a result of the drug and/or alcohol dependency. In later years, children who were once exposed to drugs as a fetus may experience learning problems, developmental delays, and issues with healthy social interaction.

If someone who is pregnant and has an addiction to abusive substances, they should seek immediate help from drug and alcohol treatment centers to alleviate the abusive issues that they are dealing with. Professional treatment facilities specialize in helping patients find alternative solutions to their dependency, finding other coping mechanisms, and in extreme cases like pregnant mothers abusing drugs, the treatment facility may choose to use alternative methods to help the patient and their loved ones find success.

Filed Under: Health, Treatments · Tagged With: Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, Substance dependence

Furthering Your Education can Help you with Your Autistic Child

Mothers who have children who are Autistic or suffer from other physical or mental disabilities may think their opportunities to further their educations are very limited. This isn’t true; there are many resources available which provide several options for mothers with children who have physical or mental disabilities.

These include resource websites such as earnmydegree.com. These websites give information on how to find the best online schools and some of the degrees available to be pursued. They list the subjects in which mothers with children can major, so that they can find the one that best suits their interests or needs.

Furthering your education through an online school can have many benefits. These can include:

Learning ways to teach autistic children or those with physical or mental disabilities basic life lessons such as caring for one’s personal hygiene or even participating in therapies and treatments.

Learning ways to provide or boost the child’s education.

In addition to those mentioned above, furthering one’s education by utilizing earnmydegree.com and other resources may actually provide mothers with ways to contribute to or otherwise increase the family’s income. These can include such things as learning computer skills, then offering one’s services to others for a fee, learning a skill to prepare for a work-at-home job, and other opportunities.

If earning an online education does lead to opportunities to increase the family’s income, the benefits will be seen in the offset of expenses necessary for raising and caring for an autistic child. This can help alleviate stress that is sometimes brought on by financial difficulties.

Further, using a resource such as earnmydegree.com can give a mother a renewed sense of self-worth and confidence, something which she will pass along to her child. This in turn may be the catalyst needed to encourage the child to try harder to learn, even with his autism or other disabilities.

Filed Under: Autism, Health, Parents · Tagged With: Autism, Autism spectrum, Child, Developmental disability, Disability, Education, Health, Mental Health

Starting a Weight Loss Plan

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Sometimes I feel very proud of the many blessings I have in my life such as my children, my husband, having a college education, and a great home. I am able to stay at home with my children and also work from home. However, there is an area of my life that has been the source of pain, embarrassment, and disappointment for many years and that is my weight. I have successfully lost over 60 pounds over the past two years and now they are slowing creeping back on. I have gained a total of 18 pounds in the last two months and seemed to have lost my motivation to get started losing again. I just lack will power. I recently surfed the web in hopes of finding some information that may help me get started once again on a great weight loss plan.

How do I Start?

I know the answer, but just like most people who have repeated this process for the umpteenth time, you have to begin with the basics once again. I know the problem I have with food and my addiction to it, so dealing with those issues is where someone like me must start. Just like someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol may benefit from help that is provided at Rehab-International.org, I have to try and make the connection of why I feel the need to abuse my body in this area. The first thing I must do when starting on my weight loss plan is to figure out my BMI which is also known as my body mass index. The next step I am going to have to take is making the long-term commitment to lose the weight. I also have to plan a schedule of daily exercise. This is very vital for me staying on plan. I realized that what gets scheduled, get done.

Filed Under: Health · Tagged With: Body mass index, Health, Weight loss