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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Separation Anxiety
My greyhound, Willow, had full-blown, severe separation anxiety. I tried various things, but no one "trick" worked, and I regret the wasted time and pain to my pup while I puttered around. I got the help of a behaviorist, got a comprehensive program to combat this problem, and we finally have it under control. Here's what worked for us:
* Clomipramine. It does not have an immediate, dramatic effect -- it works subtly, over time, usually starting a month or so after the dog starts taking it. He may need to take it only during the re-training, or for a long time; your vet or a behaviorist would be able to help you decide if and when to decrease it. I don't give meds lightly -- I am generally a believer in natural remedies, but things like Valerian, Bach's Rescue Remedy, St. John's Wort and other OTC remedies, (yes, I tried each!) don't seem to be effective for full-out SA.
* Crating -- Willow endangered herself and my house without it. A dog that is desperate to get to you may rip splintery pieces out of doorframes and windowsills, and may even try to jump through a closed window. If you can do without, great, but consider it if you need it -- no guilt!
* Here's the biggy -- a full, gradual desensitization program, during which the dog is never left alone long enough to become even mildly upset, until you've licked the problem. This is very difficult for most folks, I know -- I am a teacher, and made it a summer-long project. But it was the only thing that worked. If you can do it alone, or with help from family or hired dog-sitters, it really is worth it.
At each stage, you should never let the dog develop any stress. Signs of stress are: ignoring favorite treats, panting, whining, barking, digging and biting at barriers, drippy nose, and even just sitting up watching you, rather than lying down, fully relaxed. If the dog cannot be left alone without stress for 30 seconds, then don't leave him alone for 30 seconds.
Throughout this process, you should be cheery and calm, never over-comforting or punishing the dog, not showing your own distress at a setback or nervousness about leaving the dog.
o First, if you are using a crate or small area, and he has any anxiety about this area, make it a joyous place, where he gets special treats and toys -- start giving him the kind of treat-puzzle that you're going to use for departures (see below). Hang out near it, pet him, etc. Start with the door open, then try closing it briefly. If he shows no stress, close it for longer periods (but still only seconds, building up unevenly to minutes, etc.), while he's working on a treat. Watch for full relaxation in the crate before proceeding to the next step. This could take a day or weeks
o Second, do many repetitions of any "departure cues," without going anywhere. For most folks, it's stuff like picking up keys, putting on a coat, etc. If he has already learned what signs mean you are going out, he needs to have these signs become meaningless again. Depending on how savvy he's gotten about your departure preparation, this could be one evening's work, or many days. Mix the signals -- weird combinations (like wearing a winter scarf and jingling your keys while sitting in an easy chair reading) may knock out the logic of what goes with what. I added the "going out" smells -- makeup, perfume -- on days when I was staying in. Do these things with him out of, and then in, the crate.
o Third, when he shows no negative reaction to your departure cues or the crate, crate him, give him fabulous treats that require work to get into, and do very short departures. I cannot stress strongly enough that you are building a structure here -- if the base isn't firm, it will topple. You may get to this step in a few days, or in weeks.
Willow gets Kong toys filled with raw ground meat, ground veggies, and crushed dehydrated-fish-treat (very stinky!), frozen; I put something soft at the top (peanut butter or a piece of banana) to make sure she starts on them before I go. I've taken to freezing the mixture in lumps that are the right size to put in the Kong, on a cookie sheet, then bagging them for future use. Make sure he's started eating before you go out (refusal to eat is a hallmark of SA, and, if he hasn't started eating before you go, he won't start after). If there is anything else that changes when you leave the house, try to eliminate it .
Videotape if you can (another advantage to a crate is the ability to set up a camera that shows everything that happened while you were gone), and/or look for signs of stress when you come back -- shedding, dandruff, anything chewed or destroyed, terrible breath from panting and not drinking water (it's a very distinctive smell -- once you know it, you won't confuse it with anything else), etc. If there are any signs of stress, go back a few steps in the process.
Gradually increase the length of departures, but not in perfectly neat increments. You are trying to make a powerful, lasting impression that you USUALLY come right back, and that he is fine when you're gone. Neatly increasing the length runs the risk of proving that it will get predictably worse and worse! Here's a sample pattern of departures to start: out and RIGHT back in, 10 seconds, out-in, 20 seconds, out-in, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, out-in, one minute, 10 seconds, 2 minutes, out-in, 20 seconds, 3 minutes, out-in, 4 minutes, out-in, 1 minute, out-in, 5 minutes, etc. But don't do anything except out-in if he shows any signs of stress. I did 8-15 short departures on most days with Willow, and a few "saturation days" of 30-50 very short departures. Take the treat away most of the times you come in, so he begins to associate being alone with the fabulous treat (this may seem to contradict the advice about not having predictable departure cues, but, at this point, the dog should be convinced that being alone, briefly, is OK, and can even be pleasant). If you drive a car, some of the short departures should include your starting the car, then turning it off and coming right back in. When you're up to 5 minutes or so, some should include your driving around the block.
Once you are up to 10 minutes, you may increase departures by larger increments, but only do one or two at the length of the dog's longest tolerance each day, still mixed with a lot of very short ones. I went through a couple of weeks where I ran 2-3 errands every day, as I worked up from 15 minutes to 2 hours, in 5-15 minute increments, with a bunch of short departures in between. Once you are up to 2 hours, increase in half-hour, then hour increments, until you are up to the length of time you generally need. But always add a few very short departures at the beginning and end of each day's session, still including some that are just out-ins and 10-30 seconds. And don't forget, this is not in addition to leaving the dog for a normal day -- he can never be left alone longer than the longest current departure.
If he shows any stress, drop back to square one (you will be able to build up more quickly, but you need to check each "level" first). Once they've started adjusting to being alone, getting through the first hour or so seems to be the key for SA dogs, so that's how long the treats should last. Willow used to get 2-4 of her special Kongsicles; I just counted it as part of her regular diet. Now she's happy with just one. She doesn't get any breakfast on days when I stay home, which has made having me home less desirable to her. Now she dances with joy when I'm ready to go out, and leads me to the freezer to get her Kong. Believe me, we still have a wonderful bond, just a healthier one!
Thunder phobia is common in dogs with SA -- on stormy days at the beginning of this process, I didn't even try short departures. A storm, siren or hubbub outside of the house still gave Willow a few bad days at first, and sometimes a mild setback for a few weeks, but she's never gone back to full-blown, panicky SA.
* Physical tiredness helps a lot -- give him as much exercise as possible before going out.
* Make his day smoother, rather than having peaks and valleys of emotion. Ignore him for 10-15 minutes before leaving, and after coming home. When I came home during the time they were crated, Willow and her canine housemate, Music, needed to stay lying down, no whining, before they were let out, and nobody got petted if they were leaping around after they got out. I found a few things to do in the house before opening the crates, and then again before taking them outside. This is incredibly hard, totally against my loving nature (and my sympathy for any creature who needs to pee!), but it really helps. I gradually worked up to my sentimental, playful, loving self after I'd been home for a while. Willow no longer needs to be crated, but she and Music know to stay upstairs and be calm until I come up to them. I still get a joyous greeting, but not a desperate one.
* Do other training besides the desensitization -- positive, operative conditioning training (clicker work, for example) is good. Trainers say it builds the dog's confidence, as well as the sense that you're a competent leader (so, when you act casual about leaving, the dog knows it must be safe). Train a down-stay, and gradually increase the amount of time -- up to 5 minutes with you in another room, if possible. It reinforces the idea that being away from you is OK. Our behaviorist also has us doing NILIF -- nothing in life is free. Willow needs to respond to a cue (sit, down, etc.) before getting fed, getting a toy she wants, getting her leash on for a walk, etc. Not a big hardship -- since I've used positive training, it's all a game to her.
* A variety of humans -- if the dog doesn't have contact with a lot of other people, try to increase this. The idea that a lot of humans are wonderful sometimes makes them less dependent on the Beloved One. If other folks can walk him, feed him, dog-sit, whatever, that may help.
Some people leave TV, radio and/or lights on. If it's something you've done when you're out, he now associates it with being alone, so there's not much point in wasting the electricity! If you have a radio on most of the time when you're home, it might be worth it, since it's associated with your being home. It can also mask some noise from outdoors that may be upsetting.
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Stopping Panic Attacks Naturally
If you want to understand how to stop panic attacks naturally then it sounds like you are planning to go the self help option instead of making use of prescription drugs to manage your anxiety and panic. Anxiety attacks can be halted and there are incredible all natural means of accomplishing this. Panic and anxiety attacks start off in the brain and they are created in the area of the brain referred to as amygdala. This really is rather like a switch that turns anxiety and off.
Controlling the amygdala is the vital thing to mastering precisely how to cease panic and anxiety attacks naturally. Panic and anxiety believe it or not accomplish a useful purpose as their function is to alert you of approaching threat so that you can do something to assure your own survival. This process is named the fight or flight response. Panic and anxiety symptoms happen once this process becomes too easily induced due to over excitement of this response.
The good news is that panic attacks and anxiousness really are a behavioural pattern which you acquired over time when you are in contact with stressful stimulus. Any kind of behaviour that is acquired may be unlearned as well. This is how to prevent panic disorders naturally. Although there are natural cures for panic and anxiety attacks such as natural herbs they simply offer you short-lived reduction because the secret is unlearn this behavour rather than manage it using drugs or herbal treatments.
Learning how to overcome your anxiety and panic necessitates finding out how to do a few simple techniques that can stop this pattern. It is easy to avoid anxiety and panic attacks as soon you feel anxious by performing psychological exercises which have been intended to retrain the amygdala. Once you are in the position to stop the amygdala initiating panic and anxiety attacks this ultimately turns into a brand new behavior which changes the previous behavour where panic and anxiety attacks are brought on easily.
The most essential approaches to getting to know how to stop panic attacks naturally is finding out how to breath correctly. When panic attacks arise your breathing becomes faster and shallower. It's a sign of the fight or flight response getting triggered. By taking power over your breathing by taking extended deep breaths you'll be able to seize control preventing an anxiety attack. It is essential to make deep breathing exercises a part of your everyday regimen because this will help you become a more serene person and less at risk from the stimulus that bring about panic and anxiety.
The most beneficial step you can take with regard to ending panic attacks naturally would be to follow a training course that will take you through each of the approaches you must learn to bring your anxiety and panic under control. The very best help I have found with regard to learning how to end anxiety attacks naturally are The Linden Method and Panic Away. They are easy to understand self help products created for assisting you to simply triumph over any kind of panic and anxiety disorder. Myself and also 1000's of other individuals have found these programs to be very effective methods for teaching the best way to stop anxiety and panic attacks naturally.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Causes of Panic Attacks Disorder - Here's the Information That You Were Looking For
Causes of Panic Attacks Disorder - Here's the Information That You Were Looking For
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Ways To Beat Panic Attacks
panic attacks very often accompany a person's exposure to the thing they most fear. The simple sight of a spider can send an arachnophobe into a full blown panic attack. Understanding what is happening can help you better cope with your body's response to that spider.
Anyone who has had a panic attack can tell you it is no fun - at all! It can be very, very scary for the sufferer and even make them think they are dying.
When overcome with anxiety, the body will react by doing a semi-shutdown. Breathing becomes very rapid and shallow. Eventually you will not be able to catch your breath and will be gasping for air.
The world will take on a different view and you will almost feel disconnected from it. This can be accompanied by dizziness and even fainting.
Your heart will beat very fast and you will feel pressure in the chest area. Many people who have panic attacks think they're actually having a heart attack. You may also feel very warm and sweaty and you will probably shake noticeably. It's very difficult to think straight during a panic attack, so it's very important to identify that you may be going into panic mode and start procedures toward combating the fear that began the attack in the first place.
First, keep in mind that your life IS NOT in danger. As we have already noted, during a panic attack, the sufferer is often convinced that s/he is having a heart attack or a stroke, and is dying. This is not the case. The symptoms of heart attacks and strokes are quite different from those of extreme fear.
A panic attack is not a sign that you are going crazy. It is true that you are in the grip of something and therefore 'out of control' of yourself, but the symptoms and feelings are very different from those of any mental illness.
They are exactly the same as those of a person in extreme physical danger. They occur in response to a signal you are misinterpreting. The fear is maintained by what you think about your feelings in response to it. The fear is real. It is not an illusion or a hallucination. You are not crazy.
A panic attack is not a sign of weakness. Anyone can have them, in the right (well, wrong) circumstances. With phobics, they are brought on by specific situations. With some people, they can be brought on for no rational reason and in no specific situation.
Remember that you can control it. Just knowing the facts can help a person get rid of panic attacks, even if they have been a problem for many years. When you feel the next panic attack coming on, say to yourself:
"This will be uncomfortable, but it cannot kill me. It's not a sign that I'm going crazy. If I can stop being scared, it will never come back. Anyone can have a panic attack."
Also try "stopping statements" such as
"STOP! These thoughts are not good for me. They are not healthy or helpful thoughts, and I have decided to move in a better direction and learn to think differently."
By doing this, you are reminding and reinforcing your brain each and every time you make this rational and realistic statement. There are some other positive self-affirming statements you can use to try and combat your panic attacks.
Visit the Phobia List website to learn about commitment phobia and list of phobias.
Anyone who has had a panic attack can tell you it is no fun - at all! It can be very, very scary for the sufferer and even make them think they are dying.
When overcome with anxiety, the body will react by doing a semi-shutdown. Breathing becomes very rapid and shallow. Eventually you will not be able to catch your breath and will be gasping for air.
The world will take on a different view and you will almost feel disconnected from it. This can be accompanied by dizziness and even fainting.
Your heart will beat very fast and you will feel pressure in the chest area. Many people who have panic attacks think they're actually having a heart attack. You may also feel very warm and sweaty and you will probably shake noticeably. It's very difficult to think straight during a panic attack, so it's very important to identify that you may be going into panic mode and start procedures toward combating the fear that began the attack in the first place.
First, keep in mind that your life IS NOT in danger. As we have already noted, during a panic attack, the sufferer is often convinced that s/he is having a heart attack or a stroke, and is dying. This is not the case. The symptoms of heart attacks and strokes are quite different from those of extreme fear.
A panic attack is not a sign that you are going crazy. It is true that you are in the grip of something and therefore 'out of control' of yourself, but the symptoms and feelings are very different from those of any mental illness.
They are exactly the same as those of a person in extreme physical danger. They occur in response to a signal you are misinterpreting. The fear is maintained by what you think about your feelings in response to it. The fear is real. It is not an illusion or a hallucination. You are not crazy.
A panic attack is not a sign of weakness. Anyone can have them, in the right (well, wrong) circumstances. With phobics, they are brought on by specific situations. With some people, they can be brought on for no rational reason and in no specific situation.
Remember that you can control it. Just knowing the facts can help a person get rid of panic attacks, even if they have been a problem for many years. When you feel the next panic attack coming on, say to yourself:
"This will be uncomfortable, but it cannot kill me. It's not a sign that I'm going crazy. If I can stop being scared, it will never come back. Anyone can have a panic attack."
Also try "stopping statements" such as
"STOP! These thoughts are not good for me. They are not healthy or helpful thoughts, and I have decided to move in a better direction and learn to think differently."
By doing this, you are reminding and reinforcing your brain each and every time you make this rational and realistic statement. There are some other positive self-affirming statements you can use to try and combat your panic attacks.
Visit the Phobia List website to learn about commitment phobia and list of phobias.
How to Treat Belching
Belching or burping is also medically referred as eructation or ructus. Essentially it is a process of releasing gas from the digestive tract through the mouth. A typical odor or sound may also accompany the process of gas release. Belching is a common universal phenomenon and not limited to few people with any specific disorder. Infants to older adults belch or burp to expel air that has been swallowed in excess. Belching relieves the abdomen of discomfort caused due to the excess air.
Belching, burping, gas or whatever you want to call it, they all have the same qualities, and that is to embarrass you when you're out with your friends. However, this process is completely natural and it is your body's way of releasing gasses that have accumulated within your digestive tract. In many cases a good belch will allow you to find relief from abdomen pain, which is caused by you swallowing air as you eat. However, there are times when burping is not appropriate and in rare cases individuals actually has Gastro esophageal diseases which causes involuntary burping.
After drinking carbonated beverage or eating a hearty meal, excessive air builds up due to a distressed stomach, and burping or belching is the escape of air to relieve the condition.
Took two lemons and squeezed the juice into a glass, and then added a half tea spoon of baking powder, and as it foamed.
The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also known as burping, is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort.
Peppermint is a widely used herb for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Peppermint tea has long been used in treating children's digestive problems such as colic, flatulence, and upset stomach. The oil of peppermint is used routinely in Europe as a spasmolytic, carminative, and cholagogue, with its most prevalent use in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Fruits like apple, watermelon and banana are recommended for people with hyperacidity problem. Avoid fried food, pickle, hot and spicy food. Take your meals regularly on time, don't skip them. Drink plenty of water. Avoid garlic, onion, pepper, radish and cabbage. Avoid unripe fruits. Does not haste while eating, always chew your food properly? Include plenty of green and leafy vegetables in your diet.
Some foods, such as legumes and certain grains, increase the production of gas. These foods contain significant quantities of no absorbable complex carbohydrates that pass into the colon, providing an excellent place for gas-producing bacteria to grow. The most commonly studied of these foods is beans, which contain oligosaccharides that cannot be broken down in the small bowel, but pass into the colon and are metabolized by colonic bacteria.
Aerophagia, or excessive air swallowing, is a potential cause of belching, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal pain and may contribute to a worsening of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. A limited number of published reports of aerophagia treatment indicate that behavioral methods may be of benefit. A case report is presented describing the behavioral treatment of chronic belching due to aerophagia in an adult female. The collaborative application of single-participant design research helped identify open-mouth, diaphragmatic breathing and minimized swallowing as an effective intervention.
Grapefruit seed extract has been reported to be a broad-spectrum antimicrobial. Studies indicate that the antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed extract causes the membrane of the invading bacteria to lose its ability to breathe and then die.
Read about home remedies .Read about beautiful nails and laser hair removal
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Belching, burping, gas or whatever you want to call it, they all have the same qualities, and that is to embarrass you when you're out with your friends. However, this process is completely natural and it is your body's way of releasing gasses that have accumulated within your digestive tract. In many cases a good belch will allow you to find relief from abdomen pain, which is caused by you swallowing air as you eat. However, there are times when burping is not appropriate and in rare cases individuals actually has Gastro esophageal diseases which causes involuntary burping.
After drinking carbonated beverage or eating a hearty meal, excessive air builds up due to a distressed stomach, and burping or belching is the escape of air to relieve the condition.
Took two lemons and squeezed the juice into a glass, and then added a half tea spoon of baking powder, and as it foamed.
The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also known as burping, is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort.
Peppermint is a widely used herb for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Peppermint tea has long been used in treating children's digestive problems such as colic, flatulence, and upset stomach. The oil of peppermint is used routinely in Europe as a spasmolytic, carminative, and cholagogue, with its most prevalent use in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Fruits like apple, watermelon and banana are recommended for people with hyperacidity problem. Avoid fried food, pickle, hot and spicy food. Take your meals regularly on time, don't skip them. Drink plenty of water. Avoid garlic, onion, pepper, radish and cabbage. Avoid unripe fruits. Does not haste while eating, always chew your food properly? Include plenty of green and leafy vegetables in your diet.
Some foods, such as legumes and certain grains, increase the production of gas. These foods contain significant quantities of no absorbable complex carbohydrates that pass into the colon, providing an excellent place for gas-producing bacteria to grow. The most commonly studied of these foods is beans, which contain oligosaccharides that cannot be broken down in the small bowel, but pass into the colon and are metabolized by colonic bacteria.
Aerophagia, or excessive air swallowing, is a potential cause of belching, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal pain and may contribute to a worsening of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. A limited number of published reports of aerophagia treatment indicate that behavioral methods may be of benefit. A case report is presented describing the behavioral treatment of chronic belching due to aerophagia in an adult female. The collaborative application of single-participant design research helped identify open-mouth, diaphragmatic breathing and minimized swallowing as an effective intervention.
Grapefruit seed extract has been reported to be a broad-spectrum antimicrobial. Studies indicate that the antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed extract causes the membrane of the invading bacteria to lose its ability to breathe and then die.
Read about home remedies .Read about beautiful nails and laser hair removal
You can find additional info at the following links:
Click Here for more informationClick Here for more information
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