The True Meaning of Alternative Medicine

YOU AND YOUR CHILD: BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS

In infancy, behaviour that is problematic for parents stems from intrinsic, biological attributes. Colic, excessive crying and fussing are usually attributable to individual biological predispositions, such as particular temperament profiles. It is often in the toddler period that a child’s behaviour becomes a problem for parents. Temper tantrums, eating problems, problems at bedtime, and aggressive behaviour tax the resources and patience of even the most confident and laid-back parent. It is often the interaction between the child and his parents that determines how severe the behaviour problems are and whether they are transient or will persist as he grows older. It is normal for toddlers and preschoolers to exhibit behaviour that may be difficult for parents to manage. It is developmentally appropriate for their age to be testing limits as they engage in their struggle to assert themselves as individuals. Parents who do not have a strategy for how to deal with these behaviours may inadvertently reinforce them, and increase the likelihood that they will persist. Discipline is the setting of sensible but firm limits, in a manner that is sensitive to the individuality and the needs of the child, yet clear and consistent. *169\90\8*

POWER OVER PANIC/TAKING BACK THE POWER: WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK?

I have often been told people can’t let an attack or the anxiety happen because other people may see it happening. So what if they do. Why are we giving our mental health away to everyone else? We can spend all day trying to hide our symptoms from employers, work colleagues, family and friends. The extraordinary energy and control we use to hide our symptoms only makes us more anxious and exhausted. The more anxious we become the more we have to hide it. Taking the power back means we cannot let the fear of what other people think get in our way of full recovery. If our hands and legs shake, let them shake. If our face turns bright red, then our face turns bright red. If we feel faint, then sit down on a chair, on the floor, on the footpath, if need be. If we vomit or have an attack of diarrhoea, then we vomit or have an attack of diarrhoea. Let it happen. When we let it happen, we turn off the adrenalin and it will be over as quick as it starts. We will not have to waste all of our energy trying to keep it under control and thereby turning on more adrenalin. Our mental health needs to be more important than other peoples’ opinions. The feelings of embarrassment are created by our thoughts. We have to move from ‘what if to the all powerful attitude of ’so what’. ‘So what’ if we have an attack, ’so what’ if we are feeling anxious, ’so what’ if people see. So what. Depending on how high our anxiety level is, the anxiety may not disappear as quickly. Learning to manage the anxiety by being aware of our thoughts, letting them go and by letting the anxiety be there, is part of the recovery process. As we work through the process of recovery our anxiety level diminishes, until we are anxiety-free. We will reach the point where we will have a choice in how we respond, either with fear or by letting it happen. This choice will always be there. After recovery in times of extreme stress we may experience further attacks. We can choose how we respond: either with fear, ‘what if, or by letting go and letting it happen. So what. The working through process can at times be very frustrating, but the final result is worth every step. Everything which has been taken away from us by the disorder will be given back to us through the clarity of thought and freedom wbich recovery brings. *83\94\8*