 
Misery Loves Company
Â
 “Misery loves company and our company loves misery.â€
–I.M. Kidding, NOT founder
The happiness movement has reached epidemic proportions. It is now constantly in the news, and more blogs, journals and websites are featuring outcome studies indicating that happiness is within our grasp. Too many scientists, teachers and practitioners are pointing the way to cheerfulness. Where is it all going to end?
Right here.
Negatively Oriented Therapy (NOT) is specifically designed to blunt and reverse happiness. Here is an excerpt from a book we are working on that we have little or no hope of getting published. Stumbling on Misery is not likely to see the light of day. But this would be the introduction. Here are the top 10 ways to get you into, or help you maintain, a foul mood.
- Dwell on the missed opportunities, broken relationships and mistakes you have made.Barbara Fredrickson’s work on positivity says we need a 3:1 ratio of positive to negative thoughts. If you dwell on what has gone wrong you’ll never get close.Â
- Do not count your blessings. Counting blessings is one of the surest ways to stop negative thoughts from building up a critical mass. Instead, count your miseries. There are many more of them and they are easier to remember.
- Isolate from others and do not socialize. Avoid support groups of any kind, and develop a new fear every day. Avoid twelve step programs that are effective in helping with support and recovery. In particular do not engage in any of the online support programs at Psych Central. There are over 160 of these and you need to be vigilant and steer clear. Remember the N.O.T motto is: Stay alone — don’t ask any questions.
 
There should be a special award for husbands like mine. Thirty-six years of marriage to a woman with bi-polar disorder; not to mention current menopause.
I was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder on October 13, 1988. I also remember what I was doing on the day I heard that President Kennedy had been shot. And I usually remember my wedding anniversary. After that I tend to become a little bit like Edith Bunker, but the date of my diagnosis is forever etched into my memory.
The spiral to hell began with a family outing to the Grand Canyon and ended with a half-frozen chicken.
Our two teenage sons helped pack the family van with tents and fishing poles and we sang songs and reminisced as we drove the 650 miles; our first visit to the Grand Canyon. We arrived in time for a glorious sunset, set up our camp, enjoyed our meal, and slept well in the mountain air.
Read in Full:Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=39618&cn=4
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Parents are the best medicine for children with anorexia or bulimia
 
BY MAE YOUSIF-BASHI • mbashi@news-press.com • September 21, 2010
1:10 P.M. — Gabriel Schmitt looked at the three pictures in front of him.
The 8 year old picked up the one that showed two people walking and handed it to his teacher.
“Great, good job,” said Renee Kowalski, as she gave him an excited high five. “Now, touch drink.”
Gabriel did and he got a cracker and “nice job” in return. He can barely speak and mostly communicates through sign language.
Gabriel is one of 12 autistic students who now attend Eden School in Fort Myers. The school was opened Monday by Eden Autism Services Florida. Before Monday, Eden’s students in the Fort Myers area had to hop in a van and travel to the private school’s Naples location each day.
Administrators say the difference between Eden Florida schools and other area schools is the student-teacher ratio, which ranges from one teacher to every student to one teacher for every six students, depending on need.
“It’s a safe and stimulating learning environment that’s tailored to the individualized needs of students with autism,” said teacher Michelle Metcalfe.
Read in Full:Â http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20109210349
 
By Lauren Joos
Correspondent
Last Modified: Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 11:47 p.m.
Jacob has a mild version of autism, which makes him focus on certain subjects and exclude others.
He is one of two children at Autism Oasis for Kids who communicates verbally. The other five children attending High Spring’s new private school are non-verbal, even at 7 and 8 years old.
Autism Oasis for Kids opened in a small house right off Main Street on Aug. 23, just in time for the 2010-11 school year. While seven children currently attend the school, three more are expected to join in the coming months.
Marie Trempe and her husband, Rob Cecil, founded the school. The couple’s inspiration: their 10-year-old son, Narottam, who has autism.
 
20 September 2010 Last updated at 09:18
An autism charity has called on the Department of Health to identify the exact number of families currently waiting for a carer’s assessment.
Autism NI says social services are ignoring the needs of parents whose children have autism and only an audit will reveal the true extent of the problem.
The BBC has learned that official figures fall short of the number of carers who say they need help.
Earlier this month, a High Court judge found the Western Health Trust had breached its duty to carry out assessments and provide services to carers of children with autism.
The case triggered hundreds of calls to local charities and the Children’s Law Centre.
According to most of these families, they were either unaware that as carers they were entitled to an assessment, or if one had been carried out, services such as respite care were not provided.
The Western Health Trust said on Monday that it was doing its best to meet the needs of families with autistic children.
Read in Full:Â http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-11348181
 
 NAS – Carer’s Rights
This page explains the financial and service support carers of people with disabilities are entitled to. It also provides guidance on flexible working and parental leave.
There are about 855,000 carers in Britain who provide more than 50 hours of care a week. Over half of these carers are in full-time or part-time employment and a quarter of them are retired. Providing such care has led to half of these carers developing their own health-related concerns.1
Since 1986, the UK Government has passed three acts that have increased the rights and recognition of carers:
- Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986
Says that where a disabled person is living at home and receiving regular care from someone who is not paid to do so, the local authority should look into whether they can provide any services to the disabled person. When making this decision, the local authority should consider the ability of the carer to continue providing care on a regular basis. - Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995
Acknowledges that carers are essential providers of services in the community. The act calls for an assessment of the ability of carers to provide care, allowing carers to express their views and concerns to social services about their caring needs. However, carer’s assessments are not carried out automatically; they must be requested by the carer. There are no age restrictions on who can have a carer’s assessment, so young carers can also be assessed. - Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 (CDCA 2000)
Introduced the right for carers to have an assessment even where the person they care for has refused an assessment for themselves or refused services following an assessment. If the carers assessment identifies that the carer has an eligible need, the carer could receive services such as holiday trips, driving lessons, training courses, equipment such as a computer and help with laundry and housework. These services are usually provided to help the carer continue caring, and social services can place a payment charge or contribution for them.
1 UK Department of Health (1999). Caring about carers: A national strategy for carers.
How is a carer’s assessment carried out?
A carer’s assessment can been requested by speaking to the social worker of the person you care for, or by contacting your local authority social services department if you don’t have a specific social worker to contact. You can also request a carer’s assessment in writing (see Appendix 1 for a letter template).
Carer’s assessments can be carried out at the same time as the community care assessment of the person you care for.
The assessment looks at a carer’s ability and willingness to continue assisting a disabled person. It should look into any difficulties the carer experiences, either with actual tasks or due to their own health concerns etc, and whether the carer has work, education or leisure commitments that they want to continue with.
Once the social worker has completed the carer’s assessment, they will then decide what services need to be provided to (a) the individual and (b) the carer (under the Carers and Disabled Children’s Act 2000)
The social worker will then write up a care plan for the individual, outlining exactly how their care needs will be met by social services. If services are to be provided to meet the carer’s needs as well, this will be outlined in the care plan.
What type of services can a carer get?
If a carer is found to be eligible for services, the types of services they can receive include:
- Respite (short break) so that the carer can take a break from their caring responsibilities. The individual may spend some time away from the home or the carer may spend time away, knowing that the person they care for is being looked after at home by care attendants provided by social services.
- Under the CDCA 2000, social services will provide vouchers to the carer that can be redeemed for respite and short breaks when the carer wants or needs a break. The vouchers will normally be accepted by a number of agencies that are suggested by the local authority.
- Carers can also receive direct payments to help pay for additional care services. If an eligible care need has been identified, these services could include:
- trips (eg holidays or special events)
- driving lessons
- travel assistance (eg help with taxi fares)
- training
- laundry
- gardening
- help with housework.
What is Carer’s Allowance?
‘Carer’s Allowance’ is a benefit for people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a severely disabled person. The carer does not have to live with or be related to the individual being cared for. It is not means-tested and does not depend on National Insurance contributions but it is taxable.
Find out more about Carers Allowance and how to apply at: www.autism.org.uk/19043
What is a carer’s grant?
As part of the 1999 National Strategy for Carers, the government created a carer’s grant that would be given to local authorities to improve and develop services that would give carers a break. The carer’s grant can be used in many ways by local authorities, such as by creating a carers centre or by awarding the carer with a lump sum of money that can then be used by the carer to arrange respite, a holiday for themselves or paying for leisure and education classes. Carer’s grants can be applied for through the social worker of the person being cared for.
Is there any help for carers who work?
Working and caring for someone can be difficult and stressful at times. Therefore whatever support an employer can give is always much appreciated. It’s up to you if you want your employer to know that you are a carer but in some instances telling them can lead to more support being offered, such as access to a telephone, a car parking space near work, unpaid or paid leave and the option of working from home. Some companies also offer counselling services to their employees. It is worth speaking to your line manager or personnel manager to see what services are available to carers.
As a legal right, carers of children or adults can now request flexible working hours from their employers to help them manage working and caring responsibilities.
Flexible working could be:
- working from home or teleworking
- job sharing
- flexible start and finishing times (flexi time)
- compressed hours (where you work your total number of agreed hours over a shorter period)
- part-time work.
In order to request flexible working, you have to meet the following criteria:
- be an employee who has worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks
- be a parent of a child(ren) under six or a disabled child(ren) under 18 or
- be a carer to a spouse, partner, civil partner or adult child, parent or relative. (Relatives include parents-in-law, adopted adult children, siblings (including in-laws), uncles, aunts, grandparents and step-relatives.
Although you have the right to request work flexibility, this does not mean your employer has to agree to it. However, they must seriously consider your application and can only refuse it if there are good reasons for doing so.
Read in Full:Â http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/benefits-and-community-care/care-and-benefits-for-parents-and-carers/carers-rights.aspx
Pride: Stevie Lee and husband Jerry with their five-year-old son JossÂ
By Stevie Lee
Last updated at 1:30 AM on 20th September 2010
Some things really shock you to the core, like the time I was having lunch with my five-year-old son Joss in the local Giraffe restaurant, a favourite because it is so child-friendly.
After finishing eating, Joss got up from the table and began switching the lights on and off, a regular pastime of his, which can be vaguely annoying, but is hardly in the same league as kicking and screaming.
Within minutes, a woman sitting at another table with her two daughters, said in a loud voice: ‘That child is a monster.’ I could not believe my ears. What gave her the right to describe my son in this way? Is he a feral child? Does he have an ASBO?
No, he is autistic. I stormed up to her and told her: ‘He’s not a monster. He’s autistic.’ But our lunch was ruined. She just looked down and ignored me and we left the restaurant, feeling like pariahs.
More than half a million people in the UK now have autism, a lifelong developmental condition which affects the way they relate to the world. But those with autism do not look disabled - and consequently there is a real hostility from the public towards them.
Both my husband, Jerry, and I have been astounded at the vitriol levelled at us, and towards our son. We are stared at in the streets, whispered about behind our backs and treated like second-class citizens in hospitals, restaurants and supermarkets.
We are deemed bad parents - and our son is a monster. Joss was born on December 2, 2004, and was a joy of a baby - big, healthy and very happy. We were adoring new parents - I am a 42-year-old drama-producer and my husband, 47, a TV documentary-maker - and Joss made our lives complete.
Read in Full:Â http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1313232/My-child-monster-He-autistic.html?ITO=1490
 
‘Self-Embedding’ Takes Teen Self-Injury to the Extreme
Radiologists recommend minimally invasive procedure to remove staples, paper clips and more
TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) — The 16-year-old went to the emergency room because of a painful infection in her arm. When doctors used ultrasound on the area, they were shocked to see about 20 foreign objects under her skin, including a paper clip, a screw from a pair of eyeglasses and multiple pieces of pencil lead.
The teen had engaged in “self-embedding,” an extreme form of self-injury, in which people — often adolescents — deliberately hurt themselves or mutilate their bodies without intending suicide. Self-embedders insert objects made of glass, wood, metal or other materials under the skin.
Determining how many teens “self-embed” is difficult, doctors say. As with other forms of self-harm, such as “cutting” or burning, many teens are ashamed of what they’re doing and take steps to conceal their behavior, said William Shiels, a pediatric interventional radiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Between 13 percent and 23 percent of U.S. teens have reported intentional self-injury, according to background information in a study by Shiels and colleagues that was released online Sept. 7 in advance of publication in the October print issue of the journal Radiology.
Read in Full:Â http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/642862.html?campaign_id=rss_topStories
More information
The Center for Young Women’s Health has more on teens and self-harm.
 
Article Date: 21 Sep 2010 – 2:00 PDT
What happens after a teenager or young adult experiences his or her first psychotic episode? It can be an isolated instance, never to recur; become a life-long, continuous battle against a ferocious illness; or symptoms may emerge periodically for years.
Research shows that, on average, there is a lapse of one to two years between the onset of psychotic symptoms, such as paranoia, delusions, loss of motivation for many everyday activities, and hallucinations, and the start of treatment, typically an in-patient hospitalization. Rates of suicide, noncompliance, and denial of treatment are high in first episode patients, but few services are specifically tailored for this population.
Starting this month, state-of-the-art treatment will be available to these young people as inpatients. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-University Behavioral HealthCare (UHBC) and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have teamed up to create FIRST — Fostering Individual Recovery Through Supportive Treatment.
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/201819.php
Jan
22
 
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on September 21, 2010Â
Despite a remarkable track record of resiliency, Holocaust survivors still present various psychiatric symptoms.
The findings come from an analysis of 44 years of global psychological research.
Jewish Holocaust survivors living in Israel also have higher psychological well-being than those who live in other countries, which suggests living in that country could serve as a protective factor.
Researchers from Israel and the Netherlands analyzed Holocaust survivors of Jewish ancestry.
Their findings are published in the American Psychological Association’s Psychological Bulletin.
“Six decades after the end of World War II and we are still learning how a mass genocide like the Holocaust is affecting its victims,†said the study’s lead author, Efrat Barel, PhD, a psychology professor at the Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel in Israel.
“What we’ve found is that they have the ability to overcome their traumatic experiences and even to flourish and gain psychological growth, but it may not be as easy as it seems.â€
The central question of this analysis was how the Holocaust affected survivors’ general adjustment, according to Barel. General adjustment levels were determined by examining the participants’ psychological well-being, post-traumatic stress symptoms, cognitive functioning, physical health, stress-related symptoms and psychopathological symptoms.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/09/21/holocaust-pain-persists/18490.html
 
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