Understanding Social Anxiety in Teenagers

Social anxiety can prevent teenagers from participating in everyday social interactions, engaging in groups, and going places outside their comfort zone. It’s normal to feel discomfort or fear towards high-pressure social situations. However, if this fear starts to affect what you will or won’t do in your daily life, or causes you to avoid certain triggering situations, you may currently be experiencing the effects of social anxiety disorder (SAD).

For high levels of this phobia, social anxiety medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other forms of teen treatment can help conquer symptoms and increase overall quality of life. It’s important to understand that social anxiety is not an unusual condition. According to WebMD, it affects about 5.3 million people in the United States- many of whom are teenagers between the ages of 11 and 19.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to predict how many people are truly affected by the symptoms of social anxiety because many of the people who are experiencing the disorder are afraid to ask for help. If you feel that your social anxiety is restricting different aspects of your life, it might be a good idea to reach out to your doctor to discuss managing these feelings or seeking further treatment options.

Defining Social Anxiety Disorder

Approaching new people, beginning a conversation, and presenting in front of a group of people in class are all situations in which it’s normal to feel uncomfortable and nervous. It’s important to stress that there is nothing wrong with feeling uncomfortable with these types of situations, unless the fear or phobia surrounding it is overwhelming enough to prevent you from entering the situation altogether or from functioning normally. Many individuals with social anxiety are only triggered by certain social conditions, while all public interactions can be a continuous challenge for others. 

Common Social Anxiety Triggers

Social anxiety affects each individual in a unique manner- the situations that trigger social anxiety vary greatly from person to person. To understand how social anxiety affects you, it’s essential to identify these trigger situations so you can better cope with them. 

Public speaking and Performances 

Getting up on stage for a musical performance, presenting a slideshow or project in class, or playing a sports game with spectators are all situations in which it commonly feels like there is a build-up of social pressure. Many individuals with social anxiety fear they will be unable to perform well or remember what they want to say, causing them to avoid the situation whenever possible.  

Meeting New People

The fear of starting up a conversation or making small talk with someone you haven’t met before causes people to avoid more situations than they likely realize. Part of the challenge of entering these situations is controlling the thoughts about someone’s first impression of you. However, it’s always best to approach the problem as an opportunity rather than a challenge.  

Parties & Other Social Gatherings 

Entering a room where there’s a large group of people poses a challenge for many individuals with social anxiety disorder. The stress of talking with people where many people can hear you, stating your opinion, or avoiding peer pressure causes many teens to avoid these situations altogether. 

Eating in Front of Others

Some people experience increased symptoms of social anxiety while eating in a social environment- even if they don’t know the people around them. The fear of spilling your drink, swallowing incorrectly, or embarrassing yourself at a formal meal can all make eating in social situations challenging if you’re dealing with SAD. 

Using Public Restrooms

The fear of using public restrooms holds many individuals back from outings and get-togethers with friends, prolonged visits to other people’s homes, and traveling in comfort. This phobia can often make normal parts of a daily routine seem difficult to navigate. 

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is first and foremost a mental health disorder, but many of its long-term effects can manifest themselves in physical symptoms. High self-conscious thinking in social situations creates more than shyness. The fear of other people’s judgments is often the primary concern that creates these physical triggers. 

Physical Symptoms

The physical effects of social anxiety disorder vary significantly from person to person. In other words, the same trigger situation may not result in the same physical responses. A quick, rapid heartbeat, blushing, sweating, and muscle tension are all common occurrences in response to a situation that triggers anxiety. Dizziness, fainting, crying, and stomach aches are also frequently reported symptoms, though they often only occur in more severely perceived circumstances.  

Long-Term Effects of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety disorder can pose a substantial hurdle to living in the way you want. It can interrupt personal connections, and for many teens, make it a challenge to develop new friendships. It can also change how you approach -or don’t approach- dating and relationships. The negative thinking, low self-esteem, and poor social skills that may result from social anxiety in the long term can lead to depression and other serious medical situations. 

Treatment Options for Social Anxiety

Managing symptoms of social anxiety is rarely easy. Because this mental health disorder causes affected individuals to avoid new social situations, the individuals who need the most help with their social anxiety frequently avoid seeking help. If you or someone you know is experiencing severe symptoms of social anxiety disorder, it’s important to avoid isolating the problem and instead bring the topic to light. A doctor or other medical professional can assist in finding the right treatment solution to reduce social challenges. 

Social Anxiety Medication

SSRIs and Benzodiazepines are both medications available for anyone experiencing intense symptoms of social anxiety disorder. However, these medications aren’t the best solution for everyone- your doctor may first recommend other forms of treatment, particularly for teenagers. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a common treatment for a wide range of anxiety disorders that can be particularly helpful for those experiencing social anxiety. This treatment challenges how individuals think when approaching a trigger situation to reduce negative feedback loops and other unhealthy thought patterns.
 

This is a guest blog entry.

Improving Your Daily Routine to Support Healthy Aging

Healthy daily routines and rituals play a significant role in supporting your overall wellness as you continue to age. The habits that these routines assist in creating make you think consciously about how you’re managing your health and help you identify some of the ways to improve these habits to better support graceful aging. In addition, these routines will assist with helping you avoid other more serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, joint pain, and cancer.

In the modern digital era, it might seem like everyone has a solution for preventing aging. Many companies advertise new, profound ways to improve muscle strength and exercise performance. At the same time, natural health laboratories offer new supplement formulas, and the latest television program pledges to a new diet that they say works magically. Which of these health-oriented solutions actually work, and which are little more than a scam? In short, it’s tough to make sense of all the noise surrounding your health habits and routines as you continue to age. And for this reason, it’s good to start with the basics.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the essential elements of a few healthy, morning, mid-day, and evening routines that won’t interfere with your current lifestyle. While many of these solutions might seem obvious, they are often overlooked in favor of shortcut methods for improving your health. The goal of these routines is to make healthy living easy and practical, so you won’t have to worry about whether or not you’re doing all you can to slow down the aging process. You’ll essentially feel more confident about aging and more willing to accept that aging is, of course, a normal, natural process. 

Creating Healthy Eating Practices

A daily routine that supports your health and wellness begins with the foods you eat. Creating healthy eating habits is essential for reducing your risk for a wide variety of medical conditions, including everything from cancer to heart disease. Your immune system won’t function optimally without the right mix of protein, fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Let’s go over a few of the essential elements of a healthy diet that will help you to better manage your health. And if you’re ever in doubt about how to create healthy eating habits, the best and most accessible resources are usually at your local health department and the myplate.gov website. 

Fruits and Vegetables

The general recommendation for fruits and vegetables is five servings per day. However, additional servings beyond this number are often beneficial for your health and rarely carry any negative side effects. According to a recent study from the CDC (center for disease control), only one in ten American adults eat enough fruits and vegetables on average per day. If you’re planning out new healthy eating habits, then chances are, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake is an excellent place to start. Ideally, these servings will be as varied as possible in color to ensure that you’re getting the right nutrients and vitamins that come with these foods naturally. For fruit specifically, it’s best to focus on whole fruits rather than purchasing too many dried or pre-sliced alternatives. 

Choosing the Right Grains

Wheat, rice, oats, and barley are the basis for the majority of the carbohydrates you’re taking in on a daily basis. Pasta, bread, crackers, tortillas, and oatmeal are examples of grain products that you will likely come across regularly. The next time you’re picking up one of these items at the store, select the 100% whole grain option rather than the lighter, lower nutrient alternatives. The USDA recommends that at least half of your grains should fall into this category to ensure you’re getting enough B vitamins and fiber. 

Reduce Red Meat and Choose Fish

Red meat can be tricky for your heart health, which means many dietitians recommend skipping it entirely if possible. Instead, salmon and other fish offer valuable vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12 and fish oil. As with your grains, fruits, and vegetables, it’s best to select a wide variety of protein choices for your diet. 

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

In many cases, your average daily food intake doesn’t provide you with optimal vitamins and nutrients. To cover some of these deficiencies, a daily multi-vitamin or natural health supplement might be the right option for you. To learn more, speak with your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Organizing Your Exercise Routine

Exercise and regular movement is the best supplement to a healthy diet. It keeps your muscular system, nervous system, and bones in better shape. In addition, it can even support your immune system, so you can avoid feeling ill and stay away from dangerous long-term medical conditions as you continue to age. 

Starting Small

Making exercise a healthy part of your routine doesn’t mean you need to develop a workout program and commit to it right away. When you’re planning out your daily routines, the first thing to do is dedicate a certain amount of time each day to get up and moving- even if that’s only ten to twenty minutes at first.   

Scheduling Your Time

Consider signing up for a health class or group exercise at your local rec center when you feel like you’re getting more into the exercise routine. Alternatively, consider choosing a set time each day in which you’ll go for a walk and exercise. The goal in adding exercise to your daily routine is to set up a commitment to yourself that you feel comfortable with and that you’ll eventually be able to fulfill without a second thought.  

Make Sleep a Priority

To lower stress levels, boost immune system health, and support other aspects of a healthy daily routine, try your best to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. To make healthy living easy, choose a set time to get up each morning. Prioritizing and scheduling time for sleep sets you up to succeed in all other aspects of your new healthy routines. To support healthy aging, make health a habit.

This is a guest blog entry.

The History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical theory that has experienced ups and downs in popularity for centuries. Though the origin of this medical treatment is debatable, what’s not debatable is that acupuncture had extensive influence over both Eastern and Western medicine that can still be found today.

Full-service chiropractors and acupuncturists are still ubiquitous today in the US and across most of the world. These professionals can use needling therapy to help respond to a wide range of conditions such as lower back pain, swelling, and osteoarthritis. 

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture includes the insertion of thin needles through your skin at strategic points in your body that can respond to overall wellness and stress management. Traditional Chinese energy explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force known as qi, though Western practitioners view acupuncture as a method to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. 

Why Use Acupuncture?

Acupuncture can respond to the following conditions:

• Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting
• Dental pain
• Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines
• Labor pain
• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Menstrual cramps
• Respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis
  

Documented History of Acupuncture 

The theory and origin of acupuncture originated in China. It was first mentioned in documents dating a couple hundred years before the Common Era. Prior to needles, the Chinese used sharpened stones and bones around 6000 BCE. They also used these instruments for simple procedures such as lancing abscesses. 

Development of Chinese Medicine 

Though traces of acupuncture can be found as far back as 6000 BCE, the earliest traditions of Chinese medicine date back to the Shang dynasty in the 17th century BC. These people believed heavily in ancestors as being capable of endangering or destroying humans. The Chinese healing practices attempted to restore not only the living, but the dead.

As ancestral medicine waned, magical, demonological, and supernatural beliefs became the chief cause of disease in the Chinese people’s eyes. The demons of the human body caused swelling, and the insertion of needles and stones were used to exercise these demons.

The Han Dynasty represents the most influential period of Chinese medical traditions. During this time, the Chinese intellectual elite tried to categorize phenomena into limited numbers of cause and effects. Thus, Chinese medicine took a decisive turn. Yin-Yang and the Five Elements emerged during this period as preventative and therapeutic strategies.

Not that Han medical theorists didn’t consider demonological theories passed down from generations before- they did. However, their theories were more rationally based comparatively. Acupuncture evolved in lock-step with these competing theories. 

Development of Acupuncture in China 

The chronology of acupuncture follows a somewhat uneven timeline in China. The exact origin of acupuncture is widely debated. The very claim that acupuncture began in China also depends on two factors: the willingness to accept the early dating of historical texts and the definition of ‘needling.’ Given the use of other instruments as ‘needles,’ one could logically debate that acupuncture existed in contemporaneous cultures.

Documents as far back as 168 BC mention the first descriptions of mai, which are imaginary channels associated with diagnosis and treatment. However, needles aren’t mentioned in these texts. The earliest text referring to needles is in the historical text Shiji (Records of the Historian), of Sima Qian, in 90 BC.

The classic text, Huang Di Neijing contains the practice and theoretical concepts we largely associate with acupuncture today. The book introduced the concepts of the body containing functional centers connected by primary and secondary channels allowed for influences such as qi. The theory gradually became systematized from 960-1279 AD. The fine steel needles we associate with acupuncture today took place during Qing times, around 1644-1911.

Large scale skepticism surrounding needling occur in China by at least 1757. Eventually, Chinese and other Eastern cultures tried to eliminate the practice altogether. In efforts to modernize medicine, the Chinese government attempted to ban acupuncture in 1822, officially prohibited the practice in 1876, and by 1911 had eradicated it as a subject of examination for the Chinese Imperial Medical Academy.  

During the 1950s Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, Chairman Mao Zedong promoted traditional medical techniques as pragmatic solutions to providing healthcare to a vast population. 

Development of Acupuncture in the West 

Chinese medicine is mentioned in the Western annals as early as 13th century AD. The Western world started using acupuncture a few centuries earlier. By the late 16th century, a few stray manuals had reached Europe. Accounts of practice followed. It has since been rejected, forgotten, and rediscovered in four major waves.

Initially, acupuncture was well established in Europe, especially France and Germany. But by the mid-19th century, the practice had faded into obscurity in Europe. The practice would experience a revival during the 20th century. Though none of the early American accounts of acupuncture make note of acupuncture points, channels, meridians, they all claim to have substantial success as a result of inserting needles into painful areas.  

By the second half of the 19th century, Western practitioners had largely abandoned acupuncture. In 1859, Western medicine concluded that acupuncture had grossly over exaggerated the benefits of acupuncture. 

Conclusion

Twentieth century scholars have imagined a trial and error system of development whereby knowledge was collectively accumulated into a medical ‘system.’ One view has been that, over time, crude stone lancets were replaced with fine metal needles, and acupuncture points and channels were codified, leading to a new age of medical sophistication. However, there is now considerable doubt about the existence of a trial and error system,25 as well as the assumption that ‘needling,’ as described in historical Chinese medical texts, is today's acupuncture. Indeed, despite antecedent ideas and practices, modern acupuncture, which includes novel variants such as electroacupuncture, may never have existed in traditional China in anything like the form in which it is practiced today.

This is a guest blog entry.

How Long Does Online CPR Certification Last?

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an important medical procedure that almost anyone can learn. With a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths, a bystander can effectively stabilize a cardiac arrest victim until medical help arrives on the scene. And now, with the popularity of online CPR certification, it’s easier, faster, and more affordable than ever to earn this important (and potentially life-saving) type of certification.

But before you enter a CPR certification class, you’re bound to have quite a few questions. One of the most common: how long does my CPR certification last? To ensure that your information is current and your skills are fresh, most if not all medical certifications come with an expiration date to ensure you keep learning and improving. Here, we’re taking a closer look at CPR certification, why you need it, and how long this type of certification will last. 

What is CPR?
 
CPR is a medical procedure used primarily to assist victims of cardiac arrest. However, CPR can also be effective whenever the victim’s heart has stopped or they are unable to breathe. This may result from electrocution, poisoning, smoke inhalation, a near-drowning event, or choking. CPR combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to keep the victim stable until professional medical help reaches the scene.
 
But how does this work? Essentially, CPR works to mimic the functioning of the heart. Chest compressions help the heart pump blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body. It’s essential for nutrient-rich blood to continually reach your vital organs. In fact, if the brain is deprived of oxygen for even just a few minutes, permanent brain damage or death can occur. This is why performing CPR immediately is so critical.
 
Additionally, rescue breaths provide oxygen directly to the lungs. While important, some advocates now claim that rescue breaths aren’t entirely needed for effective CPR. According to some studies, hands-only CPR, where the CPR provider only performs chest compressions, can be just as effective as regular CPR. It may also increase bystander participation rate, as some people are hesitant to provide this type of mouth-to-mouth contact. 

Why Do You Need CPR Certification?
 
At first glance, CPR may seem like a relatively straightforward procedure. While CPR can be easy to learn, this doesn’t mean you should simply settle for a few YouTube videos or online articles to learn this important skill. Just think: when someone’s life is in your hands, do you want to leave your training up to chance?
 
This is why we have CPR certification. Enrolling in a CPR certification course ensures that you receive the best education and training from certified instructors. Not only do they have the best materials and training methods at their disposal, but they also understand the most effective ways to impart this information. CPR instructors understand how to make these lessons stick for their students, meaning you’ll retain more information and be able to quickly and effectively pass your test to become CPR certified.

Believe it or not, but CPR has changed quite a bit over the years. Earlier methods of resuscitation involved being dragged from a horse, having bellows blow hot air into the victim’s mouth, or massaging the actual heart itself. With advancements in medical knowledge, we now have a much more effective and safe version of resuscitation—our modern CPR. With CPR certification classes, you’ll receive the best training possible. 

How Long Does CPR Certification Last?
 
Nothing good lasts forever and the same goes with CPR certification. Whether you receive your online CPR certification or opt in for the traditional, in-person model, your CPR certification is valid for two years. While this may seem like a short amount of time, this limit also ensures that students are receiving the best, most current information. By recertifying every two years, it also helps to keep your skills sharp. Just because you learned CPR once doesn’t mean you necessarily have the opportunity to use this skill in real life. By returning for an online CPR recertification course, you’ll stay fresh and effective at performing this procedure.
 
Luckily, earning your online CPR recertification is just as simple (if not more so) than earning your CPR certification the first time around. In most cases, you can use the same online CPR training program to earn your CPR recertification. Just like earning your certification, all you have to do is select your course and pass the final test. From there, you can instantly print off your proof of certification and you’re officially CPR certified for another two years.

Earning Your Online CPR Certification
 
These days, more and more students are turning to 100 percent online classes when they want to learn CPR. Compared to traditional, in-person classes, there are quite a few distinct benefits to learning this important skill online. With the rapid advancements of digital technologies and platforms, we can do almost anything with a Wi-Fi connection these days. So, why not learn CPR online, too?

Online CPR training is fast, convenient, and often more cost-effective. These classes are designed to fit your busy schedule and you can start and stop your lessons at any time. Accessible from any internet device, whether it’s a tablet, laptop, or smartphone, you can learn CPR from almost anywhere with professional, guided instruction. 

Conclusion – How Long Does Online CPR Certification Last?
 
Every year, hundreds of thousands of lives are lost to cardiac arrest. Since so many cardiac arrest episodes occur far from a hospital, it’s critical to train as many bystanders as possible in performing CPR. When CPR is performed immediately on a cardiac arrest victim, studies show that their survival rate increases dramatically.

Even if you’re not involved in the medical community, you should become CPR certified. Learning CPR and becoming CPR certified will help to make your home, workplace, and community a safer space. In the event of a medical emergency, you may even make the difference that could save a life. CPR training and certification provides you with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to make this difference.
 
This is a guest blog entry.

How Do I Know If I Should Perform CPR?

CPR is a lifesaving technique used for anyone who has slipped into cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is a life threatening condition where the heart stops beating. This can cause tissue and brain damage, and even death. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by ventricular fibrillation, a condition where the heart spasms and stops.

CPR involves chest compressions and rescue breathing to circulate oxygenated blood throughout the body and restore a normal heartbeat. AEDs are often used specifically to administer an electric shock to the body and restore a normal rhythm to the heart.

Bystanders can receive instructions on how to perform CPR online and there are many online CPR certification courses available to anyone looking to sharpen their response skills. This article intends to explain some of the various guidelines and protocols determining when you should perform CPR. It is by no means an exhaustive instructional guide but it can provide some insight. 

They Are Not Breathing 

If the person has stopped breathing, you should perform CPR to circulate their blood and prevent tissue death. Without blood flow and oxygen, the heart stops beating and brain death can ensue.

The average person can only go for six minutes without oxygen before sustaining irreversible brain damage. However, if you start CPR within that time period, you double or triple the person’s chances for survival. 

Occasional Gasping Breaths 

If someone enters cardiac arrest, they may breathe for a period. If their breathing is abnormal, particularly if they are gasping for breath sporadically, you should start CPR chest compressions right away. 

The Heart Has Stopped 

Before beginning CPR, you should check the person’s pulse to see if you can detect a heartbeat. If you cannot feel a pulse, you should begin CPR immediately. Chest compressions keep the blood flowing to the heart and brain until emergency responders take over and can implement more advanced methods.

The Person Is Unconscious

If the person is unconscious, not breathing, and you can’t detect a heartbeat, you should intervene using CPR. Even if they are still breathing when you arrive, you should monitor them until emergency services arrive. Patients’ conditions can quickly worsen and they can quickly lose control of their breathing. 

 
When Should You Start Chest Compressions?

If you determine someone needs CPR, do not delay. The earlier you begin CPR, the more you improve their chances for survival. Delaying longer than necessary can result in damage to the brain or other organs, leading to more health problems.

Why Would Someone Need CPR?

Cardiac arrest can occur from a multitude of events. It can be sudden, which is typically caused by ventricular fibrillation. If someone endures a near drowning experience, they might slip into cardiac arrest. Electrocution can stop the heart due to the interruptions in the electrical signals sent from the brain to the heart. People involved in car accidents also might slip into cardiac arrest. 

When Should You Not Perform CPR?

While CPR is one of the most useful responses a bystander can use to ensure someone’s safety during cardiac arrest, they also need to consider their safety and the safety of others before beginning chest compressions. If the area is too dangerous or if the person has normal vitals, there is no need for a bystander to perform CPR. 

The Area Is Too Dangerous

In the event of a near drowning or electrocution, the area might not be safe to try to perform CPR. Choosing between delivering CPR in a hazardous situation is a difficult decision for anyone. However, you should weigh the risk before trying to perform CPR. If the likelihood of you sustaining harm is higher than the chances you can remove the person from the hazardous situation, you should call 911 and wait for emergency services to arrive with the proper equipment and expertise to respond to emergencies with that degree of risk. 

The Situation Seems Suspicious 

If you come across a person lying down and they seem like they need help, but something about the situation doesn’t seem right, you should pause and examine the surroundings. Unfortunately, criminals often fake distress to lure you in. If you are in a group of people, you shouldn’t have to worry about this as much. However, if you are alone during the night walking home, you should take extra precaution before helping the bystander. 

The Person Is Still Breathing At a Normal Rate 

If someone is still breathing normally, you shouldn’t have to perform CPR. Oxygen is still flowing to the brain. If they are unconscious, call 911 and watch them to see if their condition changes. If it does not, wait for emergency responders. If they stop breathing, you should begin CPR immediately.

During the time you wait for emergency responders to arrive, if you are with someone else, you should direct them to look for an AED. If their condition changes and you have an AED on hand, you should use that instead of performing CPR.

When Should You Stop Giving CPR?

There are instances when you should suspend giving CPR and the person might not need your help anymore. Some of those instances are as follows:

• If the person returns to a stable condition or regains consciousness or starts breathing normally on their own, stop performing CPR. This means your efforts were a success. 
• If the area becomes unsafe or dangerous, you should discontinue your CPR efforts. For example, if you find someone in a bad storm or you get caught in dangerous traffic, you need to take care of yourself and others, as well.
• If emergency personnel arrive, you should let them take over. 
• If an AED becomes available, you should use the AED. You should also use it throughout resuscitation.
• CPR is the first step in the chain of survival but it is also physically demanding. If you have been performing CPR for a long time, you might get exhausted. If you are fatigued, you won’t think as clearly and you might make mistakes. If you are not sound of mind, then you shouldn’t perform CPR.

Conclusion- How Do I Know If I Should Perform CPR

Performing CPR can be a lifesaving measure during cardiac arrest but there are certain instances when you should examine the scene and make sure it’s safe to perform CPR. In situations where you fear for your safety, you should contact emergency services immediately. They have the expertise and tools to assist during these situations.

You should always perform CPR if the person is not breathing, they are gasping for air, their heart has stopped, or they are unconscious. You should stop giving CPR if medical personnel arrives, if an AED arrives, or the person regains consciousness.

This is a guest blog entry.

Vagal Tone Is The Physiological Marker of Stress Vulnerability

Image Source: Unsplash

The vagal tone is a novel index of stress vulnerability and reactivity with applications in all branches of medicine, but especially pediatrics.

A model emphasizing the role played by parasympathetic nerves like those found on either side of your neck is called “the vagus nerve,” which mediates homeostasis when under pressure or challenged significantly.

Measurement of cardiac vagal tone is proposed as a way to assess on an individual basis not just stress response but also one's vulnerability when stressed.

The monitor tracks neural control via the vagus nerve, which affects how responsive your heart becomes under pressure or worry about something going wrong (ie: homeostasis).

The method provides a standard instrument with statistical parameters that are comparable between patients and throughout the life span.

This noninvasive assessment will allow you to assess how stressful specific treatments may be on young infants, identifying those who may be more vulnerable than others. This article will help you understand what vagal tone is and its role in your body.

Vagal Tone

The vagal tone is the degree of activity occurring within our parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in changes like heart rate and other key functions.

When it increases or decreases, we can experience dangerous levels that could lead us into an incident with possibly fatal consequences.

When you're active, your heart rate will change due to the inhibitory effect of the vagus nerve on cardiac muscles.

Patients with decreased tone have tachycardia, and patients who are otherwise healthy but have a higher resting pulse enjoy bradycardia (slower heartbeat). It can be either a temporary or long-term health problem.

The vagus nerve is a fascinating organ that functions to keep the body in balance. It has reflex reactions like those seen when you're doused with cold water or tensed up, and these responses can change how fast your heart beats depending on what type of stimuli are present.

When a patient's parasympathetic nervous system is active, medical professionals can use various techniques to examine its level of influence. It includes listening for heartbeats and testing responses with stimuli to determine if any disorders are present involving the vagus nerve.

Some patients may faint because their bodies do not react properly when faced with an intense stimulus (such as loud noise).

The vagus nerve can provide important information about stress levels.

Researchers believe that fluctuations in tone may indicate rising or falling states of chronicity, where people's bodies are stuck at a permanent state of high alertness due to their constant exposure and response to environmental stimuli.

Ab example is trauma which will lead people to various health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Understanding this concept helps medical practitioners explore methods for treatment such as medication plus psychotherapy designed specifically around reducing your level of worry through mindfulness techniques.

A Physiological Marker of Stress - Vagal Tone

The vagal tank is like your gas gauge for nervous system activity. The more you use it, the better acquainted with how much pressure different things put on this resource will make them and what they do in terms of slowing down or speeding up cardiac function.

It depends upon where there are excesses/ deficiencies within our supply at any given time.

The heart is an extremely complex organ that relies on the vagal nerve for many functions, including cardiomyopathy.

The term “cardiac” refers to how we can index those phenomena with high responsivity and precision by means which are sensitive enough not only to detect changes in tension but also energy flow through nerves ending at various parts throughout your body's muscular system.

The heart has been shown to influence behavior, and this relationship can be reciprocal. For over 150 years, the French physiologist Claude Bernard worked tirelessly on how it is connected with your brain through what we now know as "the vagus nerve."

The ability of an individual to self-regulate is what makes them capable of goal-directed behavior over time and across changing circumstances.

Self-regulations also ensure that you maintain your health in the organism by making sure all parts work together as they should be without any interference from outside forces such as stress or anxiety.

The polyvagal theory suggests that our cardiac vagus nerve controls what we feel, think, and do. It also helps us be more empathetic with others by regulating different parts of our brain involved in social behavior. You will have a better understanding of why people act as they do.

The neurovisceral integration model postulates that the positive association with cardiac vagal control is strongest when it comes to executive functions, emotion, and health.

This overall better self-regulation of an organism can be attributed largely in part due to its connection between cognitive processes. Specifically, those concerning our ability for planning or organizing activities, also known as "executive" are responsible.

From a neuroanatomical perspective, the brain structures involved in self-regulation and those involved in cardiac control largely overlap, and specifically regarding the prefrontal cortex.

Functionally, the links between cardiac vagal control and self-regulation can be explained by a functional network linking the heart to the prefrontal cortex and through the physiology underlying the functioning of the vagus nerve.

Balance Your Stress

Our gut-brain axis and vagus nerve may play a key role in defining what we consider stressful. It has been found to have value for pediatrics patients who often need increased care because they are more sensitive than adults when it comes down to their response towards stimulation or pain.

If we want a better quality of life, the mind and body need to work together. There are many ways you can stimulate your vagus nerve, which will lead to long-term improvements in mood and pain management or resilience when struggling with stressful situations.

There are various methods people can use to de-stress or avoid depression in easy ways, like listening to music and all the other ways that you can find calmness with.

Strengthen vagal tone and live wellness today. Meet the vagus nerve stimulation device from Neuvana and help yourself. Tackle stress, boost sleep and improve focus. Plugin and chill out.

This is a guest blog entry.

Important Things to Know When In Need of Vision Correction

Vision correction is any of several techniques required to improve eye problems caused by refractive errors. The eye works by focusing light through the pupil onto the retina – the light-sensitive layer of nerve tissue at the back of the eyes. The retina cells transform light rays into electrical impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. 

Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from hitting the retina correctly. The eyes cannot focus on objects properly, leading to blurred or impaired vision. The most common refractive errors are:

●    Far-sightedness (hyperopia) – inability to see near objects clearly
●    Near-sightedness (myopia) – inability to see close objects clearly
●    Astigmatism – irregularly curved cornea leading to distorted vision
●    Presbyopia – age-related difficulty in seeing things at arm’s length 

If you have refractive errors and think you need vision correction, here are some essential things you may need to know:

Refractive Errors Are Pretty Common

Over 150 million people in the United States live with refractive errors, and many are not aware they could have better vision. Some people never know they have refractive errors until a comprehensive eye exam. The doctor will ask you to read letters far away and near during an eye exam. They may also check for other problems by dilating your pupils with eye drops. The symptoms of refractive errors are:

●    Blurred vision
●    Double or hazy vision
●    Sensitivity to light
●    Headaches
●    Strained eyes
●    Difficulty concentrating when reading or looking at a screen

People with a family history of refractive errors are at higher risk of developing a refractive error. You cannot prevent refractive errors, but you can catch and correct them quickly by going for comprehensive eye checks. 

Surgery, Contact Lenses and Eyeglasses Are the Main Ways to Correct Refractive Errors

The vision correction option you opt for will depend on your daily needs, health, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Surgical intervention is ideal for individuals who do not like the idea of wearing glasses or contact lenses and are in good overall health. Vision correction surgeries modify how the eye processes light, providing clearer vision. Some surgery may require replacing your natural lens with an artificial one to correct vision. LASIK is the most common type of vision surgery available. Others include EpiLasik and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK).

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are thin plastic materials placed directly on the eyes to correct refractive errors. Depending on your needs, they may be soft, hard, hybrid, or tori contact lenses. A doctor will prescribe the most suitable contact lens after an eye exam. It is possible to have different contact lens prescriptions for each eye. For sensitive eyes, a gas permeable (GP) or hydrogel lens may be suitable. GP lenses are smaller and do not absorb moisture from your eyes. On the flip side, a soft contact lens made from hydrogel material has unique biocompatibility with the eye making them the ideal fit for sensitive or dry eyes. 

Contact lenses rest directly on the eyes, and using them comes with some responsibility. Unsafe use of contact lenses can cause eye infections and vision problems.

Here are some recommended guidelines for the safe use of contact lenses (Source: WebEyeCare):
●    Wash and dry your hands before inserting or removing your contacts
●    Use fresh, unexpired contact lens solution
●    Do not use water, saliva, or any other liquid than the recommended solution for cleaning or storing your lenses
●    Replace your lens case every three months
●    Do not sleep with your contact lenses
●    Do not swim or take a shower with your contact lenses on

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses are a quick, easy vision correction option. You can put your glasses on or take them off pretty much anytime you want. They rest on the bridge of your nose without making contact with your eyes, and you do not need much care or have to worry about cleaning solutions. They also come in various styles, frames, sizes, and colors.

However, glasses may distort vision, especially for individuals with a strong prescription. Some people may not like the feel or look glasses on their nose or the pressure on their ears. Glasses may also not be great for sports or outdoor activities as the lenses can fog up. 

Your Eye Health and Overall Health Are Interlinked 

The need for regular eye checks goes beyond seeing clearly. Eyes exams can tell doctors about the general state of your health. Your eyes are connected to blood vessels, nerves, and veins that hold vital health information. An eye check can detect the development or progression of diseases like: 

Diabetes 

Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, can cause blindness and other complications. It damages small blood vessels of light-sensitive tissues in the retina. An early eye exam can detect this condition and reduce the risk of vision loss. 

Hypertension 

The blood vessels in the eye can also reveal early signs of high blood pressure. Eye doctors often detect hypertension before other health specialists. The information from an eye exam can also provide some insight into an appropriate treatment approach. 

Cancer 

Doctors can detect cancerous growths during a comprehensive eye check. Brain tumors may also be responsible for loss of peripheral vision or abnormal eye movements.

There Are Different Kinds of Eye Doctors

If you need vision correction, you may need more than one type of expert, and your eye health may depend on knowing who to meet. An optometrist’s duty is to meet your primary vision care needs, including sight testing, diagnosis, management, and treatment of vision problems. Optometrists are not medical doctors. They perform minor surgeries but may be unable to handle complicated cases. 

Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who specialize in surgical procedures. They diagnose and manage eye diseases, subspecialties and perform complicated surgeries. 

Opticians are technicians who design and fit glass lenses, frames, and other corrective devices. They are not licensed to make diagnoses or write prescriptions. 

Final Thoughts 

Poor vision can impede your ability to navigate the world and accomplish your daily objectives. Fortunately, there are corrective options to help you see clearly, and it will help if you equip yourself with basic information on vision correction options and what they mean for you.

This is a guest blog entry.

It’s Essential that Older Adults Practice Self-Care During the Pandemic

Credit: Han Chenxu via Unsplash

Let’s set the record straight about what self-care is not before we explore what it is, and how older adults can benefit from practicing it.

Self-care is not:

•    Selfish
•    Self-indulgent
•    Self-absorbed
•    Solipsistic
•    A reward for good behavior 

On the contrary, self-care is the conscious practice of taking care of yourself holistically—that is to say, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—so that you can enjoy better overall health and a higher overall standard of living.

More, when you practice self-care, you enable yourself to care for others. By taking better care of yourself, in other words, you empower yourself to take better care of those around you. Love thyself to love thy neighbor.

Why is Self-Care Trendy? 

You may have noticed that the term self-care has been popping up everywhere these days.

The term began to gain popularity among medical communities in the 1960s. Health practitioners used it when discussing how patients who lacked autonomy could exercise healthy habits under their guidance. 

But the term self-care did not become mainstream until around 2016. Since then, as the data shows, Google searches for the term have steadily climbed worldwide, with a record number of searches coinciding with the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Rise of Self-Care 

The connection between COVID-19 and the surge of Google searches for self-care is rather obvious. Impelled to quarantine and keep themselves healthy, more and more people across the globe in the early days of the pandemic began wondering how to take better care of themselves and their overall health and stave off pandemic-related anxiety and depression.

The rates of anxiety and depression rose by a staggering 25% in 2020, and during that year one in four older adults reported anxiety and depression. 

Older adults who live alone experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than those who live with family members, caregivers, or in the sort of social environment that a well established retirement community provides. 

How Older Adults Can Practice Self-Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

It is especially important nowadays, when people of all ages are encouraged to keep their bubbles small, that older adults—many of whom felt isolated even before the pandemic—practice self-care. Self-care can help prevent or lessen symptoms of depression and anxiety, which isolation only exacerbates. 

There are different ways that older adults can practice self-care without puncturing their social bubbles.

 They can:

•    Pursue creative activities, such as painting, writing, or music
•    Relax
•    Meditate
•    Exercise

All these self-care practices keep the mind and body active and therefore combat symptoms of isolation-induced anxiety and depression. 

Practicing Self-Care Takes Practice 

It’s unlikely that an older adult, or for that matter, anyone of any age, will be able to suddenly start practicing self-care out of the blue merely because they’ve decided to. Practicing self-care takes practice. 

If you’re an older adult, the first step to practicing better self-care is to adjust your daily routine so it becomes healthier. You can do this by incorporating into your routine small acts of kindness to yourself. For instance, taking five minutes out of your morning routine to journal, paint, stretch, or meditate.

The Bottom Line

When older adults practice self-care, they can improve not only their overall health but also their overall standard of living. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, where isolation-induced health troubles among older adults have increased while the overall quality of life for many people, not just older seniors, has decreased.

This is a guest blog entry.

What if my accident made a pre-existing injury worse?

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When you are in an accident and suffer injuries, you have many things going through your mind. How you will recover your health, what medical issues might you encounter along the way, or how you will face the financial requirements needed to help your injuries heal. You might also be wondering what will happen to your pre-existing injury and whether the accident might play a role in making it worse. All these thoughts may add to your worry as to whether the pre-existing injury might make it difficult or impossible for you to be successful with a personal injury claim. Before worrying yourself sick, talk to a personal injury lawyer who will be able to give you some guidance as to the particular circumstances of your accident and the settlement you might seek.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

Legally speaking, a pre-existing medical condition refers to injuries or illnesses you might have had before the accident took place. If you have a pre-existing condition, this fact must be disclosed when filing your lawsuit since it will be taken into consideration when your compensation is calculated.

Pre-existing conditions may range from a previous injury that has not completely or properly healed to congenital abnormalities, and more.

Do pre-existing conditions offer advantages in personal injury claims and settlements?

Depending on what your pre-existing condition is, you may be benefitted in terms of your settlement. Let’s say you suffer from chronic pain in your back or neck and then you are involved in an accident where your neck or back get injured. This may make your medical bills even higher than if the original condition had not existed.

However, this may become a difficult point to prove and you may have to find a doctor who will be willing to testify to the fact that your current complications are all due to the recent accident. If you are successful in finding someone to go on record, you may be awarded a larger amount to cover your increased medical costs.

Are there any disadvantages to having a pre-existing condition when filing a claim?

In some cases, and depending on your specific pre-existing condition, it may be so difficult to determine when certain injuries happened that the settlement you receive may actually be reduced. It may also come into question whether you had really been doing everything in your power to recover from the previous injury as well as from the new one.

The defense might also argue that you are exaggerating the extent of your previous injuries in order to have them foot the bill for a pre-existing condition. Whether this is true or not it may still be used in an attempt to lower the amount of your settlement.

Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer

It is clear that having a pre-existing injury and then being in an accident where you suffer further injuries does not make for a straightforward personal injury claim. Atlanta personal injury lawyer Henningsen recommends you do your research and find someone with experience in this type of case. This is not something you should plan to tackle on your own since there is a great possibility that you will either leave money on the table or end up walking away with nothing at all.

This is a guest blog entry.

Interesting Facts, Culture and Traditions You Should Know About the French People

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Most people connect French culture with Paris, renowned as a hub of fashion, food, art, and architectural design, but life beyond the streets of Paris is highly diverse and differs by area. France not only has culture; the term "culture" was coined in France.

France is regarded as one of the top study locations in the world, with thousands of foreign students choosing to further their education in this country. Let us look at some of the significant factors that contribute to the development and preservation of our country's unique culture.

la langue française | The french Language

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The primary language is French, and the mass of the population communicates in it daily. An intriguing fact concerning the French language is that it is the second most extensively learned foreign language globally. As a result, if you want to live, visit, or study in France, you must learn how to communicate in the language. A minority of the population speak German dialects, Flemish, and Italian.

Variety

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The French culture has been shaped by several civilizations throughout the history of France. France evolved into a patchwork of local cultures and ethnic groups as a result of these impacts. Despite today's rising global culture, France has worked to maintain the customs of its smaller villages.

Family

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For millennia, the family has been the foundation unit of French society. Historically, the family system consisted of either extended or nuclear households. That composition has altered in recent years to predominantly represent nuclear families, as well as variants such as single-parent homes or civil unions. If your ancestors originated from France, they may have lived in a family unit.

Religion

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The majority of French people believe themselves to be Christians (primarily Catholic). Catholicism played a crucial part in molding French culture in ancient times, and it was the official religion until 1789. Before 1825, kings were inaugurated at the Notre-Dame de Reims church, according to French tradition.

Today, the majority of the existing population identifies as indifferent or atheists. Nonetheless, there are considerable Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist communities in modern-day France.

Fashion

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Paris is often considered the world's fashion center. It is home to major global businesses, including Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Commencing with the reign of Louis XIV, France has become a key fashion influencer. During that period, France became recognized across Europe for its high-end items.

Today, French fashion may be defined as refined and trendy. Dresses or suits with heavy jackets and scarves are traditional outfits. Try out the fashion trends in fashion and buy some makeup brushes and kits to complete the look. Also, look into false eyelashes and false eyelash packaging wholesale to get a variety at a relatively affordable price.

Cuisine

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In France, meals are designed to be savored. Food is prepared with great care, and mealtimes are a fantastic opportunity for mingling. While French food is well-known around the world, cooking methods, ingredients, and meals vary greatly in each region.

However, classic French cuisine is distinguished by its dairy, wines, pastries, and sauces. Nowadays, French cuisine has drifted away from the more customary heavy sauces and elaborate preparations and toward lighter meals. Breakfast in France is often light, consisting of a French pastry or bread eaten with a hot drink. Lunch and supper, on the other hand, are regarded as the two most important meals of the day.

Values

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The French are extremely proud of their country and government and are often angered by any disparaging remarks about it. The French value flair and refinement and they take pleasure in the fact that even their public areas have a royal air about them.

The French motto "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity" embodies French society's principles. The French exemplify romance and passion, and it is widely assumed that they are amenable to extramarital affairs.

In addition to regular marriage, French couples can enter into a pacte civil de solidarité (PACS). This is a relationship that has many of the same advantages as marriage, however, this can be dissolved by issuing a written notice or by marrying another partner.

Art and Media

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The arts are highly valued in French culture. Hobbies and professions have always been held in high regard for the workmanship that goes into them. French poetry, painting, and film have all had global historical significance. Works like Les Misérables and painters like Monet are among the most well-known in the world.

Art is very highly valued in France today. The Louvre, located in Paris, is the world's biggest art museum. If you visit France, you will most certainly find artists sketching and spray painting in the streets.

The Bottom Line

France is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for tourists, students, and digital nomads. If you visit France there are a couple of extra things you should do. Firstly, do remember to buy some face masks to protect you and others from the coronavirus covid-19.

Secondly, if you're ever in doubt about how to act in France, watch what the locals do. Imitating French locals' behavior can help you remain courteous and appreciative of their culture and customs. The French principles of unity, decency, respect and family are reflected in their customs and culture.

This is a guest blog entry.

What You Can Do With Your Career as an APRN

Nursing is a very vibrant career that you can do a lot with. You can work as a nurse in almost any industry and in every country and state around the world. There are barriers, of course, those being the legal restrictions and licensing requirements you will need to adhere to in order to operate as an APRN.

The good news is that, though there are definitely barriers, overcoming them is incredibly straightforward. There is a large nursing shortage that is only going to get worse as time goes on and the existing RNs and APRNs that operate today start to retire.

Not only is there a large population of nurses set to retire soon, but there are also more roles and more opportunities than ever before. Working as a nurse has never been so exciting, but if you are currently in the role, then you owe it to yourself to take your career to the next level.

Working as an APRN means being at the top of your field. At the moment, it requires an MSN in your given specialty, but in the future, you may need to further your education into a doctorate. Those plans are still in discussion, however, so you don’t need to fret just yet. Regardless, you will still need to earn your MSN, so use this guide to help you decide on which specialty is right for you and to understand what career opportunities exist for you as an APRN today:

The Top APRN Specializations to Consider

There are many, many great roles that you can work in as an APRN. You can work as a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a nurse anesthetist, or a nurse-midwife. When it comes to NPs and CNSs, however, you can specialize even further.

Just a few of the top specializations to consider include:

Family Nurse Practitioner

One of the best and most rewarding nursing roles in the country is that of the Family Nurse Practitioner. FNP nurses work with the entire family, from babies to seniors, and provide primary care in clinics directly to their communities. In some states, they can even operate and manage their own clinic, though you will need to check in advance before you start planning to open your own business.

To become an FNP nurse, you simply need to hold an existing RN license, have enough hours under your belt, and have graduated with a BSN degree. Once you have these requirements, you will then be able to start and progress through a top FNP program at TWU.

As an FNP, you diagnose, prescribe medication, treat, and provide preventative and holistic care. In many states, FNP nurses are used to offsetting the shortage of primary care physicians, so you can understand the power and potential of this career route.

Nurse Midwife

An emerging specialization is as a nurse-midwife. Unlike traditional midwives who worked holistically and through oral training, nurse midwives combine that holistic, personal touch with medical expertise and knowledge. Many couples and single expecting parents are now relying on midwives to guide them through their pregnancy and to deliver their babies, even in their own homes. This is because there is renewed distrust in modern medicine, particularly in the unnatural methods used to deliver babies that gained popularity years ago and is now already falling out of fashion.

Becoming a nurse midwife means being able to offer patients the comfort of a natural birth with a greater medical guarantee. You will be able to spot and know immediately if a patient giving birth needs to be taken to the hospital and be able to provide on-site care until they get there.

Nurse Anesthetist

If you are interested in becoming an APRN for their high salaries, then look into becoming a nurse anesthetist. They earn the highest and operate alongside surgeons and dentists alike to provide the anesthesia necessary for the patient.
 
If you Operate in an eNLC State

There are so many great specializations to consider when earning your MSN, but don’t just think about the area of medicine; think about where you will work. If you started out in a state that is either part of the Nurse Licensure Compact or will be soon, then you have a lot of options ahead of you. What this compact means is that you can easily move from one state to another and exchange your license without having to take the test again.

You can travel as a nurse and take on many more interesting roles.

Working in Healthcare

There are new opportunities opening up in healthcare all the time, and not just for in-person roles. Telehealth has come far in the past few years, and great nurses, particularly FNPs, are going to be essential in offering services to those in rural communities through telehealth services.

In healthcare, there are also a greater number of specializations and more states than ever looking into providing FNPs with autonomy and the ability to open and manage their own practice.

Working Outside of Healthcare

Don’t assume you have to work within a healthcare setting as a nurse, however. You can work in entertainment, you can train future nurses by working in education, and you can even work in research. In fact, human health is such a universal part of the society that you can technically work in any industry, provided there is a need and the budget to hire an on-site nurse.

This opens up your possibilities and means that the sky is the limit. All you need to get started is to explore what is out there. A good way to do this is to look up job boards and set up alerts. Not every job role is going to be posted, but when first starting out, this can help you discover your options.

Don’t be afraid to apply, even if you don’t have all of the soft qualifications they are looking for. Hard qualifications like having the right license are non-negotiable from a legal standpoint, but other than that, there is no reason not to leap.

This is a guest blog entry.

What is Online Therapy?

Online therapy is where mental health services are provided over the internet. This may be via texting, e-mail, instant messaging, face-to-face video call, or regular phone calls. Online therapy is often referred to as e-counseling, teletherapy, and e-therapy.

What is online therapy?
Therapy is where an individual (or group) meets with a professional therapist to resolve mental health issues, problematic behaviors, relationship issues, and beliefs. Therapy is overwhelmingly considered by the scientific community to be useful in becoming healthier, even for people who do not have a diagnosis or believe they need therapy.

Generally, therapy can be an effective way to change bad behaviors and habits, improve relationships, resolve and heal past traumas, and many other problems. Online therapy is no different, only the communication between therapist and client is done through the internet.

Are all therapists the same?
The short answer here is no, therapists differ from a wide range of backgrounds, education, and practices. An important point of distinction is that psychologists cannot prescribe medication but can provide therapy sessions, whilst psychiatrists can do both. However, in some states, psychologists can prescribe medication in some scenarios.

What type of therapists provide online therapy?
There is a wide range of types of therapy, from using ketamine and psilocybin to group counseling sessions. However, online therapy is almost entirely through a process of communication over the internet between a psychologist and a client.

One common concern with online therapy is that it’s lacking transparency, and the therapists aren’t as qualified as traditional therapists. The truth is that all therapists used by the key, reputable online therapy providers are all licensed professionals with the appropriate qualifications.

Is online therapy effective?
Many will wonder, is online therapy good? Is online therapy safe? The truth is that online therapy is considered to be as effective as traditional therapy. There are some advantages and disadvantages to restricting communication to being over the internet only. For example, some psychologists make use of body language when in the same room as the client. However, such drawbacks are met with unique advantages, such as being more easily reached and on-demand due to the instantaneous messaging infrastructure.

Ultimately, the core of therapy remains the same: a client communicates with a licensed, professional psychologist. Studies suggest that the vehicle of communication is far less important than the communication itself.

There is also evidence that online therapy can more easily provide access to mental health services for people who live in rural areas, or those who are too shy to go to traditional therapy. In this sense, online therapy is often perceived as an important stepping stone to more traditional therapy.

In rural United States, internet-based cognitive therapy was discovered to be an effective treatment of psychiatric disorders such as panic disorders, OCD, GAD, addiction, and substance use disorders. With the increased internet access in rural areas, online therapy proved to not only be an effective alternative but often the only viable option.

When was online therapy first used?
Online therapy isn’t a recent phenomenon, it has been around for almost as long as the internet itself. Online therapy can be dated back to as early as 1986, where Dear Uncle Ezra, a Cornell University Q&A forum, would produce many questions surrounding mental health. Soon after this, forums began a place of communication for almost anything in life, of which mental health inevitably plays a big role.

It has only been the past 15 years or so since online therapy has been legitimized through scientific study, which is why more therapists are now drawn to it. With the backing of the scientific community, online therapy has become a job role of preference for therapists that enjoy working from home, remotely, and can be in contact with patients more easily.

When did online therapy become mainstream?
Therapy has rarely entered the mainstream due to it being somewhat a taboo to talk about, though this is slowly changing. Therapy is featured in some popular culture, such as The Sopranos, but was never as openly talked about as it is today.

Online therapy has played an important role in this. Rarely do we see celebrities partner with mental health providers, but today we can see some of the world’s most successful pop stars work alongside online therapy providers. For example, in July 2021, Ariana Grande sponsored a $1 million free therapy giveaway in partnership with Betterhelp. The Instagram post generated over 1 million likes, as well as a lot of news exposure. Demi Lovato also partnered with Talkspace to advertise the platform’s services.

This is as mainstream as therapy has ever been, in part due to the power and profitability of tech companies.

Is online therapy safe?
Online therapy is considered to be highly safe due to the regulations and licensing that they must comply with. Legal and reputable online therapy providers will declare on their website the credibility of their own therapists, usually stating that each and each one is vetted and licensed. It is true that the vetting process isn’t often transparent, but it’s a guarantee that any therapist you speak with will be licensed with the same credentials that are required to provide traditional therapy.

How to start online therapy
Starting online therapy is considered to be somewhat easier than traditional therapy, hence its success and vast number of sign-ups. Signing up to online therapy is a matter of deciding on what your needs are, finding the best online therapy sites, and picking one that suits your needs.

From here, signing up can take all of 10 minutes, along with payment or exercising a promotional offer. An advantage of online therapy is that it’s fast and instantly available, and this is reflected in the onboarding process.

This is a blog post by Jacob Reeves.

What are the Drug Options for Depression and Anxiety?

Did you know that anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States? In fact, anxiety affects over 40 million people above the age of 18 in the U.S., or 18.1% of the total adult population. The sad part is that only 39.9% of people who suffer from anxiety ever receive any form of treatment. That's why it is important to see medicine for depression and anxiety.

When looking for the right medicine for depression and anxiety, it's a good idea to take a look at every option available. That's because each type of medicine for depression and/or anxiety can react differently. Here's a look at the top five options that are currently available.

1). Alprazolam (Xanax)

Alprazolam or Xanax is perhaps the most common perception medicine front the treatment of anxiety. While this medication is extremely effective, there is a risk that it could become addictive. Some side effects of alprazolam include drowsiness, poor concentration, and irritability. Does alprazolam work in the long term? Since this is one of the most prescribed medications for the treatment of anxiety, it can be said that it is indeed effective. Chances are that if you are seeking treatment for anxiety, you will likely be prescribed alprazolam.

2). Citalopram (Celexa)

Citalopram is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. As one of the top prescription medications for depression, this is one of the top options that you can have to treat symptoms of common depression. Like most perception medications for depression and anxiety, you will not be able to have alcohol while you are on Citalopram. Some side effects of Citalopram include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. Overall, millions of people currently take Citalopram and it should be a top option for treatment.

3). Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax)

Fluoxetine is available under a number of brand names including Prozac, Sarafem, and Symbyax. Known as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), fluoxetine can help with the treatment of depression as well as common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and bulimia. One of the big appeals of fluoxetine is that you are likely to experience fewer side effects than other prescription medications.

4). Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)

Paroxetine is currently available under the brand names Paxil and Pexeva. This medication is also an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). This medication is not only used for the treatment of depression and anxiety, it can also be used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks,or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some of the side effects that you can experience with paroxetine can include headaches, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, and nervousness.

5). Sertraline (Zoloft)

Finally, there is sertraline, also known by its brand name Zoloft. This medication is also a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This medication can treat many types of mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Some side effects of Sertraline include nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting.

This is a guest blog entry.