The Content Composer Org

During the late ’80s and early ’90s, I had the opportunity to work with expert systems in real-time production environments. I found artificial intelligence, or AI, to be thoroughly intriguing. I even went so far as to write an expert system package, under Microsoft Windows, called WindExS. However, as I continued my work, and expanded into other areas of knowledge management and, eventually, remote viewing, I began to find some unusual inconsistencies in the AI world and the desires to create “truly intelligent” and “thinking” machines.

One of the issues that people usually claim as a requirement of true intelligence is that “one must have a soul.” These ideas and dabbling prompted me to write a short screenplay entitled “Sylvie,” which was the story of an “emotionally intelligent” system. That small inkling of creativity still did not allow me to delve as deeply into the topic as I had wanted. However, it did bring up the question: “what is a soul?”

— What is AI? —

AI is the science and engineering of making machines intelligent, especially through the creation of intelligent software. It is similar to the task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable. Intelligence is the computational part of the ability to define a plan and achieve goals. Different types and levels of intelligence occur in people, animals, and some machines. However, the ultimate premise behind creating an intelligent machine is the ability to think creatively, solve problems using abstract information, and devise new solutions.

— The Biological Parallel Computer —

Consider the vast amount of information that we acquire and process every day. It is difficult to imagine that so much information and activity could be stored in such a small amount of tissue and fluid. Scientists have been theorizing that, indeed, the mind is not as much of a storage device as it is a communications device to some larger “knowledge base.” The mind appears to be a way to pre-process data for storage and a way to analyze data for use while all the time maintaining a connection for data storage and acquisition with this knowledge base.

This knowledge base surrounds us with information and intelligence. Everything that every creature in the Universe knows, and will ever know, is stored and made available for us by simply asking for it. However, accessing it requires a connection, a field, which connects us all together in a large “bio-circuit.” It can be seen as a “biological parallel computing environment.” The information presented by this bio-circuit consists of a limitless and accessible Universal source of knowledge.

— Why be creative? —

I remember my days in school where I was taught that, indeed, daydreaming and excessive creativity could destroy your life. However, the important thing that I learned along the way is that, without creativity, there can be no progress. Creativity is a way to expand one’s consciousness by taking abstract ideas and turning them into a new reality. It is a way to take what you know as an absolute, and stretch it into the unknown. Each stretch takes you further and expands your absolutes along the way.

Without creativity, you would do the same things that you’ve always done in life without ever moving forward or backward. Consider it as being “caught in a rut.” You can’t leave the rut because you can’t figure out how to get out of it. When you think creatively, you’re taking things that you know, applying it to things that you don’t, and devising a solution to achieve a goal.

To access the vast resources of creativity, the mind reaches into the bio-circuit and extracts bits and pieces of information that it can use to create intelligent solutions. By developing your creative abilities, you are opening that circuit to more knowledge, a greater intellect, and a broader understanding of life.

— What is the soul anyway? —

A discussion of creativity once again brings up the question of: “what is the soul?” After some thought and evaluation, I would have to say that the soul is the link, the transceiver, between our physical world and the bio-circuit. It is the living essence of everything within each of us.

By closing ourselves off into our own worlds and hiding our souls under the muck and mire of challenges, we close off our connection to the bio-circuit. Our soul essentially dies and we become a stand-alone computer with only the knowledge we have saved as our guide. However, by working to bring your soul forward and using your creativity in everything you do, you can acquire knowledge from every part of the Universe.

— True AI —

Scientists have tried to mimic the way the human brain functions. Storage, processing, intelligence, and self-learning are all components of AI. However, what if the basic premise of how the brain functions was — wrong? Indeed, it provides control over our bodies and accepts stimuli; however, what if the ideas of processing, intelligence, storage, and self-learning all truly based on the connection of our minds with the bio-circuit. In this way, to create a mimic of the human intellect, we must understand how we interact with each other through the bio-circuit.

— What’s next? —

What an unusual foray into strange territory. However, this has been a general concept that has been eating at me for years. It wasn’t until I began remote viewing that I was able to see and apply the ideas of Universal intelligence to the ideas of artificial intelligence. I am not going to say that, in this context, a machine cannot have a soul, as stranger things have happened. However, I will say that the true nature of intelligence will not be realized until we understand and believe the true purpose and function of the soul.

About The Author

Edward B. Toupin is an author, remote viewer, life-strategy coach, counselor, and technical writer living in Las Vegas, NV. Among other things, he authors books, articles, and screenplays on topics ranging from career success through life organization and fulfillment. For more information, e-mail Edward at etoupin@toupin.com or visit his sites at http://www.toupin.com or http://www.make-life-great.com.

The impact of unacknowledged and unresolved childhood emotional issues, physical and sexual abuse can last a lifetime, unless the survivor has completed a healing process. The impact includes mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, relational and sexual aspects of your life. Abuse affects the very core of our being, as well as:

• your self-worth, self-esteem and self-trust
• your ability to love yourself and others
• your ability to experience true intimacy

• your belief in your ability to manage your life

• your belief in our own power

• your belief in the validity of our personal values and perceptions

• how we are treated by those we are in relationship with

• how we treat our children

These and many other areas of your life are directly influenced by the recorded experiences of your early life as well as the interpretations (or misinterpretations) you have made of those experiences. In the healing process you will work directly with the emotions, traumas, relationships and sometimes distorted life perceptions associated with child abuse. You will complete a seven step process to determine the main limiting patterns, beliefs and traumas that are holding you back from having a happy life.

In the Healing process you will learn to:

• Identify and release negative beliefs and thought patterns that no longer serve you
• Free yourself from old self-perceptions that no longer serve you

• Create and maintain the positive intention to change your life

• Break the karmic patterns that negatively influence your life

• Let go of fear, anger and guilt

• Identify your boundary issues in relationships and change them

• Understand how early life perceptions and decisions influence your current life

• Understand how your past beliefs create your current reality

• Free yourself from the controlling influences of your unconscious mind

• Turn the seemingly meaningless events of abuse into opportunities for learning and growth

• Practice a variety of self-healing methods and meditations

• Communicate with your spirit guides

• Consciously move into the realm of your personal power

• Open your heart in relationships and trust your own inner guidance

• Map out a positive course for your life and your relationships

Traditional psychotherapy/psychoanalysis focuses on symptoms and better coping strategies and fails to address the all-important relationship to one’s true spiritual nature.

Traditional religious practice often bypasses -and thus fails to transform – the psychological conditional patterns and unconscious beliefs that arise from our personal histories and adaptations.

Both, in general, neglect the fact that we feel, sense, and experience global political mass consciousness, as well as our individual consciousness, like never before. A healing process addresses all three, therefore opening the door to true balance and transformation.
Well-being comes from the understanding of the Self and others. We are each one heart of the Whole; each heart here to express its unique piece of the Whole. Knowing Self creates a sense of “I as a piece of this Whole,” different and one at the same time.

The healing process is direct, focused, and combines healing the past while creating the future. You will make a subtle and effective transition to self-discovery and empowerment.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, If I’d Only Known…Sexual Abue in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention/Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

If you are like me …you love your sleep!

Sleep deprivation has numerous positive but also negative effects. It may break our sleep neurons due to long times of sleeplessness causing malfunction. This will result in bad conduct or bad interaction or bad speech towards others.

Studies also illustrate that people deprived of sleep experience difficulties in thinking imaginative thoughts or terms. Also they suffer difficulties in delivering their declarations well. Without sleep, our brains grow weaker, and our actions and deeds will be affected.

Good sleep promotes regeneration of our system and maintains our good health and immune system function.

Physical and Other Dangers

Lack of sleep also poses dangers to ones body. As we have learned earlier, lack of sleep damages the brain and causes behavioral damages and because our brain controls the other functions in our body, sleep deprivation may also damage them.

It seems that people who lack sleep get sick more often. Also, sleep deprived persons are prone to accidents (particularly car accidents). I have found out in the internet that around 200,000 accidents are caused by sleeping drivers on their sleeping wheels.

The person who experiences sleep deprivation may also suffer financially. Because the brain (again) is affected, the person produces low-quality work. This may cause him to be kicked out of office or fired by his boss.

Sleep deprivation may also affect the person mentally. Studies shows that people who don’t get enough sleep experience difficulties in remembering things and expressing their thoughts creatively.

Researches also suggest that people who lack sleep seem to age quicker than those who get enough sleep.It seems lack of sleep affects you in many ways and you need to take action where you can rather than accept it just happens to everyone.

You could be suffering from depression or anxiety problem of some kind.

Think about events and stresses you have at present from young children crying to horrible work environments. Something is causing this and its not always one factor but can be many.

A proper bedtime routine

Every time before you go to sleep, you listen to your favorite classical tune. Then the day came when you have to go on a business trip and you forgot to bring the classical tape with you. Night comes and you simply could not get yourself to sleep without listening to that music first. That classical melody is the anchor. It signals your brain to prepare for dreamland.

Anchors could be a very powerful instrument to put you to sleep. Some people could not get to sleep without having a midnight snack. Having a light snack may have a sedative effect and is not bad at all. But eating too much before going to slumber may affect the quality of your sleep.

There are certain anchors that you do not want to be associated with sleep. Avoid watching TV in bed, because it can stimulate your senses. Do not make your bedroom an office, because you might associate your work with sleeping time. As a general rule, your bedroom is designed only for sleep.

Researchers prove that using an alarm clock to wake you up is not good. They say that alarm clocks used to wake people disrupt the sleep cycle and keeps the sleeper from having a complete, natural, and high quality sleep.The use of alarm clock also promotes sleep problems for the following days.

Don’t take naps if you have sleep problems.Just go to bed when you feel tired.A nice warm shower can relieve stress and relax your system.

Couple that with low light and some soothing music, and you’ll feel much better when you go to sleep. You may even add some herbs like lavender, chamomile, or passion flower for a more pleasant experience.

Finally, just try and stand back and look at your present life circumstances and ask yourself are you content or feel stressed.
Stress is bad for your body long term and you may have symptoms of depressive illness.

For more related information visit: http://www.DepressionSymptomsTreatment.com – a site that offers advice for avoiding, coping with depression. Get professional knowledge on dealing with symptoms, drug side effects and improving your life!

Kicking depression can be a life-long battle for many sufferers, and people are always looking for additional techniques and options to help defeat it. Well, surprisingly enough owning a pet – especially a dog or cat can help you defeat your depression once and for all.

There have been several academic studies that support the physical and mental health benefits of owning a pet. Owners moods have improved based on several factors.

Exercise

1. Ask any mental health professional, and they will tell you the benefits of an exercise regime for relieving depressive symptoms. When you own a pet like a dog, you have to walk the dog, bathe and brush the dog, go to the store for the dog’s food and other care items. It gets you up and moving. Something that many depressed people do not do.

Affection

2. Giving your dog or cat affection such as stroking, hugging, brushing, rubbing etc. has been proven to help decrease stress in humans, therefore lowering blood pressure, and improving quality of life.

Unconditional Love

3. A pet offers its owner unconditional love and affection. Pets simply want to be want to be loved and cared for and desperately want your companionship. This type of love without strings is very calming, relaxing, and pleasurable for most people – especially people who are depressed.

Loneliness

4. The presence of a pet helps depressed people who are suffering from loneliness, whether they are actually physically alone in the world or whether they have created a self-imposed lonely world for themselves. A pet is there giving love, sitting by your side, and creating a presence in your home.

Routine

5. The routine of caring for a dog, walking a dog, buying food, etc. is something that helps people with depression. Many depressed people no longer have a positive routine – but are “stuck” in their lives with mundane tasks, work, or perhaps do nothing at all. Being a responsible pet owner creates routine — enabling someone who is depressed to get out into life.

So now that you have been convinced– what now?

Well, it doesn’t really make sense to buy pure breeds for hundreds of dollars unless you are planning to breed them – the perfect companion dogs and cats are ones up for adoption that are hungry for homes.

Quick Tip: Try going to the The North Shore Animal League of America for information on how to adopt the right pet for you in your area.

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Lisa Angelettie, “GirlShrink” is a relationship coach, author, and online advice authority.

Visit her at http://www.GirlShrink.com and learn about her exciting Relationship 911! Program.

You can also grab the FREE report “3 Simple Ways to Save Your Relationship from Sabotage!” instantly when you go to: http://www.girlshrink.com/betterchoices.html

© GirlShrink Inc. The author grants reprint permission to opt-in publications and websites so long as the copyright and by-line are included intact and the article is not used in spam. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

Imagine a child of one and half years of age playing with his toys, this child would not interact with other children except may be scream if one of the child takes his toy. At this age the child does not have the capacity to take into consideration others point of view, but as he grows up to be six or seven, he will engage in group play and understand different people’s perspective and progressively as he enters into his teens he would feel the need to develop positive human relation-ships (Hetherington et al, 2006). The intriguing question is what accounts for this progressive and steady evolution of the child’s ability to perceive and describe complex relationships and learn new things efficiently? The quest for its answer and research into the area has lead to the inception of the field of developmental psychology (Papers4you.com, 2006).

Developmental psychology is the scientific study of progressive psychological changes that transpire in human beings as they age (Margaret & Butterworth, 2002). Child development is its rapidly emerging sub-field of study, which seeks to account for the gradual evolution of the Childs’s cognitive, social and other capacities, first by describing changes in the child’s observed behaviours and then by uncovering the process and strategies that underlie these changes (Hetherington et al, 2006, p4). Although field has seen rapid developments recently, it’s relatively young with the first theories coming up just a century ago.

Proposing one of the first theories on the children’s emotional development was none other than the legendary Charles Darwin, who based most of his work on his son’s earliest emotional expressions. Alfred Binet was another individual who pioneered in the filed by studying children’s learning and methods of assessing intelligence (Hetherington et al, 2006). Moreover, the field of cognition i.e. the way the human mind acquires, remembers and learns to use knowledge forms an integral part of the field and has a wide range of implications. From devising teaching methods in schools to big organisations employing it to create a learning environment for its employees the field has had a far reaching effect.

The nature of the subject is such that it has seen a flurry of theories, one contradicting the other, especially in the area of Cognitive development (Papers4you.com, 2006). There have been several different approaches to cognitive development like Jean Piaget’s theory, which emphasizes developmental changes in the organisation or structure of children’s thinking process or the Lev Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of cognitive development, which attributes the advancement in the child’s thinking and learning to his/her interaction with the social world (Hetherington et al, 2006).

The field has limitless implications especially in improving children’s functioning and opportunities for development in important areas of their lives, especially in relationships with their family, friends, peers and personal development. There is no doubt that child psychology is a field on the move.

References
Hetherington, E. et al. (2006). ‘Child Psychology: A contemporary viewpoint’. 6th ed. McGraw-Hill, London.

Margaret, H & Butterworth, G. (2002). ‘Developmental Psychology: Student’s handbook’. Psychology Press, Hove.

Papers For You (2006) “P/PS/67. Disclosure of sexual abuse in children”, Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtpsy5.htm [20/06/2006]

Papers For You (2006) “S/PS/50. This essay critically discusses the assertion that the principles of transactional models of development help us to understand the causes of disturbing behaviour in young children”, Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtpsy5.htm [19/06/2006]

Depression is a very serious matter, which does not discriminate.
Depression doe not care what your age is, what gender you are,
or even what your race or social class is.

Depression can often make a person feel sad, helpless, hopeless,
and irritable. It is normal for people to have these feeling
sometimes, but some people cannot just snap out of it and this is
the difference between what is normal and major depression. It is
the determination and brutality of the emotions that determine the
mental illness of depression from normal mood changes.

We are going to talk about different types of depression and how
it can affect you. Depression is an illness that affects your body,
mind, disposition, thought, sleep, energy, concentration, weight,
and much more. Depression is not a mood, it is not a sign of
personal weakness, and it cannot be simply willed away.

Clinical depression is constant and can interfere significantly with
an individual’s ability to function by emotional experiences of
sadness, loss, or passing mood states. Clinical depression can be
devastating to all areas of a person’s everyday life, including family
relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or go to school.

Bipolar disorder (manic-depression) is a mood disorder, which
means that the symptoms are abnormalities of mood. Bipolar
disorder involves episodes of both serious mania and depression.
Bipolar disorder can have a devastating impact on sufferer’s lives
and can lead to suicide if it is not treated.

Major depression is a more common illness, the symptoms of which
are mainly those of ‘low’ mood.

Causes

Several things can cause depression; one of the causes can be
attributed to a deficiency of certain neurotransmitters in the brain
that signal from one nerve cell to another. The immune system of
a depressed person is usually very low and therefore ineffectively
responding to diseases, including cancer. The everyday stressors
faced by Americans have simply become too much for many to
bear, and reasonably so. In recent years, taking an anti-anxiety
medication or anti-depressant has become as common as taking a
multi-vitamin.

How to Alleviate

Two amino acids are known to alleviate depression in many
persons. They are tyrosine and L-phenylalanine. The two amino
acids are a natural precursor of certain neurotransmitters.

You can’t afford what?

Perhaps the only thing worse than depression is having
depression and not being able to afford treatment. Needy Meds is
a website that offers all the information you need to get your meds
free, just click the name of your drug in the list on the left side of
the page.

The Medicine Program is for people who do not have insurance and
do not qualify for government programs you may qualify to enroll in
a privately sponsored program. They do charge a $5 processing
fee but the medications themselves are free. Volunteers staff this
organization and the processing fee covers their expenses. This
company will contact the drug manufacturer on your behalf, or you
can choose to contact the drug companies themselves.
Free Samples – Often pharmaceutical companies provide physicians
with free samples. Ask your doctor is he/she has any samples on
hand of your medication.

For more information, visit The Depression Info Center

David Chandler

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Bipolar Disorder is one of the most difficult to treat. Not only is it difficult to find the right medicine recipe for each person, patient compliance is a major obstacle. Some people suffer debilitating side effects or cannot tolerate the high dosages of some medications. Some start feeling better and make a conscious decision to stop taking their medications. Others simply don’t like taking medication at all. Some of these same people will turn to vitamins, health supplements and holistic answers instead. Herein lies the problem. It seems to me that the general population is much more willing to trust the claims on vitamins bottles and health supplements than that of prescription medications that are governed by the FDA. Who is it that regulates vitamins and health supplements- the “natural healing fairy?

Well, come to find out, many studies are being conducted on holistic approaches to bipolar treatment and they are being funded by organizations like The Stanley Organization, National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health. Some important organizations are taking notice that maybe there is something to this “natural” approach. Maybe there is and maybe there isn’t. I am convinced that doing everything possible to make this illness more bearable is worth a shot, but I’m not willing to give up my medication yet and neither are any of the organizations funding the studies.

Nothing that you read here is meant to replace any advice that you are given by a trained professional. The information is simply what I researched and the claims may or may not be accurate. Please do not try any holistic approach without consulting with your physician or psychiatrist first. Also, all of these approaches, by their own admission are to be used as an adjunct to psychiatric medications. In other words, they are meant to help reduce the dosage, not replace the medicine all together.

VITAMINS & MINERALS

Mood Stabilizing Substances
Lecithin (Phosphatidyl Choline)
L-Taurine (Amino Acid)
GABA (Amino Acid)

To Fight Depression
B- Complex
Folic Acid
B1 (Thiamin)
B6
B-12
Magnesium & Calcium
Manganese
Zinc
L-Tyrosine
Methionine
L-Phenylalynine & DL-Phenylalynine
L-Triptophan (Amino Acid)

Most of these vitamins and minerals can be found in a good multivitamin. The ones that are separate supplements should be verified with your doctor before you go spend a lot of money on them. I didn’t even start taking my multivitamin without checking it out with my psychiatrist first – but then I’m a little anal when it comes to managing my bipolar and my money. I don’t
know about your insurance but mine doesn’t cover vitamins.

ST JOHN’S WART

This is the supplement that we’ve all heard does wonders for depression. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but marketing and advertising people create all that hype. I know this, because I work in advertising. I found tons of information on St John’s Wart (SJW) and most of it echoed the same warnings, that bipolar patients should use extreme caution and consult their physicians before attempting to use it. I know I won’t be adding it to my recipe. The only time it seems to be recommended is for people with very mild depression who almost don’t need to take prescription medication and they still suggest checking with your doctor.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School believe that SJW could be a mania trigger for those who are bipolar but who haven’t experienced a manic episode yet. This is similar to what some antidepressants do to people with bipolar. It can also precipitate hypomanic states or rapid cycling. They mentioned that if you have bipolar you should use extreme caution and confer with your doctor before hand.

In Feb 2000, the FDA released a public health advisory warning that there was a risk of dangerous interactions between SJW and certain prescription medications. Bipolar meds included mainly the Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA’s) Tofranil, Asendin & Elavil and the anticonvulsant Tegretol. It is assumed that the similar TCA’s Vivactil and Palemor and the similar anticonvulsant Trileptal could also be in the risk group.

There are also reports that when SJW is combined with Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) it can cause Serotonin Syndrome. Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome symptoms can include dizziness, cognitive difficulty, faintness when standing or walking, unsteadiness when walking, muscle spasms and a racing heart beat. Do not combine SJW with any SSRI’s or with the newly FDA approved Tamoxifen that is used
for depression.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3) are found in fish, fish oil and flaxseeds. Yummy! You can bet I was not too excited about the thought of fish oil as a cure for bipolar. Oddly enough, every bit of information I found on Omega-3 was positive. Positive that is as an adjunct to standard bipolar medications. So for people who cannot tolerate high doses or the side effects of their medications, this is something to check out with your doctor.

Many studies have been done, but the one I read most about was a 4 month double-blind placebo controlled study comparing 9.6 g/day of Omega-3 vs. olive oil in 30 patients (Stoll et al., 1999). 8 co-authors concluded that not only were the Omega 3’s well tolerated, but the improved the short term course of the patients with bipolar. They would not suggest using Omega-3 as a first line treatment but would try it for patients who had failed with other medications. Omega-3’s should only be used alone in patients with a very mild form of the illness.

Patients seem to be quite interested in the Omega-3’s because they are a natural supplement with very few side effects and little or no toxic effects. The only reported symptom was mild gastrointestinal distress – generally characterized by loose stools. Many psychiatric medications have this same effect along with a myriad of other more unpleasant ones. If my
meds plagued me with a tremendous number of side effects, I would certainly be looking into this one myself.

TRUEHOPE (Synergy Group of Canada, Ltd.)

If you haven’t heard about this one, it’s pretty interesting – depending on how you look at it. Personally I thought they were a couple of quacks until I started investigating it deeper. I mean, when all you know is that it started out with supplements that they give to pigs who are prone to ear and tail biting, you have to be a little skeptical. Don’t you?

Well, they didn’t start with actual pig nutrients; the biologist of the pair, David Hardy created a supplement for humans that were then given to Anthony Stephan’s 2 bipolar children. You can read the entire story at their website, referenced below. The supplement was named EM Power and consists of common minerals, vitamins and amino acids. In fact, the ingredients are so common that they cannot receive a patent for their work.

Several small independent studies were done through individual doctors with small numbers of patients. The results were good – up to a 50% reduction in symptoms compared to when the patients were on psychotropic drugs. Then Harvard psychiatrist Charles Popper monitored 15 patients within his own practice and the results were reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Of the 15 patients that were treated, 11 were stable for 6 – 9 months without taking psychiatric medications. They also did research with Dr. Bonnie Kaplan, PhD. This helped get a grant of a half million dollars to do a placebo-controlled double blind study of 100 bipolar patients at the University of Calgary.

The two drawbacks with EM Power (besides it’s odd
origins) are that it isn’t cheap and it’s a lotof pills to take. Initial treatment requires 32 capsules per day until your symptoms disappear and the cost is approximately $220.00 a month. The maintenance dose averages 16 capsules a day. It is safe for children as well – as long as they can take that many pills.

ACCUPUNCTURE

Boy did I find a ton of information on the treatment of depression and bipolar with the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture. What I didn’t find was any proof. No real trials with quantifiable results. I did find one small study done at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, which simply reported positive results using it for major and unipolar depression. That was it.

That was it except for 2 major grants being given to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas (where I am trying to get in on some studies!). Both the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Health have awarded UT Southwestern significant grants to study the effects of acupuncture. NIMH’s grant with be used to study bipolar patients in their depressive states. The NIH grant will be used for a study similar to the one done at the University of Arizona.

The NIMH trial is the first being conducted regarding acupuncture as an adjunct to medication for bipolar disorder. Once again, not a full cure, but the possibility of reducing medications to tolerable levels.

So, after all of this am I still a skeptic? Sure I am. I’m skeptical of everything until I see proof – but that’s just me. Am I skeptical of “Wholistic Healing” – using holistic methods with psychiatric medications and anything else you can do to make your life better? No. I think there are some great alternative options available for those who cannot handle the symptoms or for those who seem to get little or no results from psychiatric medications. My biggest concern is that if you try any of these, please check with your doctor so that you can work together at managing your bipolar. Don’t go it alone!

I attended the Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression Conference at the headuarters of the manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator in Houston. The meeting was attended by the leading psychiatric thought leaders in the United States.

The scientists and researchers at the conference made the some comments that are important to you:

• 20% of patients cannot tolerate antidepressants, 35% of patients will lose the efficacy of an antidepressant that previously worked for them

• Patients who suffer from chronic depression have a high co-morbidity rate with respect to other illnesses, i.e. they suffer other illnesses such as chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, obesity and are at higher risk for Type II diabetes

• Anatomic targeting of parts of the brain is very important

• Patterns of stimulation can dramatically improve outcomes

• There is a direct pathway via the vagus nerve that targets those areas of the brain responsible for mood and depression

• Compared to ECT, which can be very effective, the sustained benefit and lack of memory loss with vagus nerve stimulation is very important

• Vagus nerve stimulation projects to key brain stem regions

• The advantage of stimulation compared to drugs is that stimulation leaves no residue on the brain

• Formal research by scientists about vagus nerve stimulation and depression will continue for the next 5 years

Clearly the impulses sent to the brain via the vagus nerve are superior to antidepressants because they strategically target the critical areas of the brain in a much more efficient and effective way then pharmacuticals.

You can learn more about the first ever FDA approved long term treatment option for depression at http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient’s Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

The book was exhibited at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting in May. It is available on his web site, 24 hours a day/7 days a week through the toll free number 1-888-VAGUS-88, Amazon.com and Barnes 7 Noble.com. He is founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com Web Site.

I like to always have something “big” to look forward to. It’s not that I don’t enjoy my life from day to day – I do! But, I still find myself looking forward to that big once-a-year vacation or trip home to Texas to visit family. We just have to wait too long for those special “big” events.

My first coach had me start this habit, and many of my coaching clients have enjoyed developing this easy, little life-changing habit. Instead of waiting for that once-a-year thing to look forward, how about having an abundance of good things to look forward to – at least one thing every day! Keep in mind the simple things, too, as they are frequently the most rewarding of all.

To get you thinking, here are some suggestions:

* A walk with your significant other
* A bike ride through the park
* Bring home a bunch of beautiful fresh flowers
* Enjoy a special cup of hot tea
* Make a visit to a neighbor
* Write in your journal
* Play a round of golf
* Call a friend you haven’t talked to in while
* Take your assistant out to lunch
* Buy a magazine you haven’t read before
* See a play
* Get a manicure
* Try a new restaurant

Every day you need something to look forward to! If you have to put it on your calendar, then do that, but make sure you are intentional about thinking ahead to the next day to have something special to look forward to.

Remember, your look-forward-to doesn’t have to be elaborate, expensive, or unusual. The fact that you are singling one thing out to be your special “thing” for the day brings it to a higher level of significance, and does something psychologically for you when you look forward to it and then wring every ounce of pleasure from it! There are so many things to enjoy about life each and every day!

Here’s an exercise to help you with this. Get out some paper or your journal and take several quiet minutes alone to write your answers, in vivid detail, to these two questions:

What is your ideal morning?

What is your ideal evening?

By treating yourself with as many elements of your ideal day as possible, you’ll be happier and more energized throughout the entire day.

OK, what is your “look forward to” for tomorrow?

Visit LifeHouseCoaching to sign up for “Blueprints for a Dream Life” and receive Edi Sowers’ f*r*e*e* weekly articles, coaching tips, and offers.

There are three types of kids who may be at the highest
risk of extreme violence. Obviously, you must take
seriously any threat or indication of danger from any
kid, so if a dangerous child you know doesn’t fit one of
these categories, please don’t just breathe a sigh of
relief. Rather, the point of emphasizing these three
top-risk youth, is to have you apportion your time
wisely. You can’t monitor each child equally. This
information may guide you on who you monitor most closely,
especially in the absence of other events or information to
guide you.

In this space, we will have time to cover only one of
these youth in any kind of detail. We will cover the
second two kids in a subsequent article. But, we
understand you may want to know all that right now,
so if you want to learn more immediately
about any of these three youth, go to our web site to
http://www.youthchg.com/hottopic.html and read a
reprint of the full article that this text is
excerpted from.

The youth at highest risk of extreme violence may be
the conduct disordered child. If you don’t already know
this term, visualize the fictional character, J.R. from
the TV show “Dallas” because the hallmark of being a
conduct disorder (c.d.), is having no heart, no conscience,
no remorse. Only a mental health professional can diagnose
a conduct disorder for sure, but being aware that you may
have a conduct disordered child in your class or group,
is important to ensuring your safety, along with the
safety of your kids, because you work with conduct
disorders completely differently than other kids. Since the
c.d. child has little relationship capacity, you should
not use relationship-based approaches with a diagnosed
conduct disorder.

It would be insensitive to call a conduct disorder a
“baby sociopath,” but that is close to what the term
means. It means that the child acts in ways that appear
to be seriously anti-social, and the concern is that the
child may grow up to be a sociopathic type of person. Since
this child cares only about himself (c.d.’s are
predominately male), there are little brakes on this
child from serious or extreme violence. Not every conduct
disordered child will engage in horrific behavior. There is
a range of misbehavior c.d.’s may get involved with,
ranging from lying to setting fires or being a sexual
predator. At the most serious end of the spectrum, lies
the possibility of extreme violence, such as a school
shooting.

Note that this introductory article is just a starting point to
managing conduct disorders and unmanageable students.
This intro will not be adequate to give you more than
a start. Check out these initial guidelines below:

METHODS FOR CONDUCT DISORDERED YOUTH

There’s not space for all the critical do’s and don’t’s
that you must know but here are some of the most
important:

DO’S:

*The main point we give in our classes is that these
children operate on a cost-benefit system, and that to
control your c.d. kids, you must keep the costs high,
and benefits low.

*These children also especially need to pro-actively
learn how to manage their fists, mouth, and actions.

*Your goal is to teach them that when they hurt others,
it often hurts them too. All interventions must be in
the context of “I-Me,” because that is all this kid is
capable of caring about.

DON’T'S:

There are so many of them, it is hard to know where to
start because so many of the techniques you use with
other kids fall apart with this kid. Here are some of
the most critical don’t and do’s when you work with a
diagnosed– that’s the important word here– conduct
disorder. Without the diagnosis, use these guides
especially carefully.

*Don’t: have a heart-to-heart relationship.

*Don’t work on building trust.

*Don’t put an emphasis on compassion, caring, empathy,
values, morals.

*Don’t expect compassionate behavior.

*Don’t trust.

*Don’t give second chances.

*Don’t believe they care or feel remorse.

Hopefully this brief guide to the hardest-to-manage, most
potentially dangerous kid will help you avoid using
everyday interventions that will be unproductive, even
dangerous. Hopefully this information will steer you
towards relying on non-relationship-based interventions
that emphasize learning skills like anger control, managing
the fist, etc. along with firm rules, boundaries and
limits. Be sure to visit our web site
(link below) for 100s more strategies and guides to
additional information.

Get much more information on this topic at
http://www.youthchg.com

Author Ruth
Herman Wells MS is the director of Youth Change,
(http://www.youthchg.com) Sign up for her free
Problem-Kid Problem-Solver magazine at the site and
see hundreds more of her innovative methods. Ruth
is the author of dozens of books and provides workshops and training.