Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is characterized by decreased attention span or inattention and/or hyperactivity. The disorder is quite common among children and adolescents, and may also manifest in adults.

ADHD symptoms

The symptoms are illustrated under 3 heads –

Inattention

Hyperactivity

Impulsivity


Inattention:

• The individual is easily distracted by trivial and inconsequential stimuli, which are usually ignored by others.

• Poor concentration and inadequate attention to details, results in messy and careless work.

• There is an inability to finish school work or college work or paper work

• He can not perform tasks that require attentiveness.

• Shows a strong tendency to procrastinate

• Shifts from one incomplete task to another.

• The individual is disorganized at work and home.

• Forgetfulness and memory lapses are common.

Hyperactivity:

• The child / adult is restless, unstill, fidgety, gets up repeatedly and walks around the room, squirms in the seat.

• Difficulty in being engaged in quiet activities.

• Talks excessively.

Impulsivity:

• Impatience is highly marked.

• He will intrude and interrupt others.

• Starts conversations at the wrong time, blurts out answers even before the question has been completed.

• Occasionally, some could engage in potentially dangerous activities or situations, without taking into account the consequences.

ADHD diagnosis:

A person suffering from ADHD, will show some or all of the above clinical features.

These symptoms may be apparent in other individuals too, but the intensity and frequency of symptoms, is a lot higher in ADHD people. Manifestations occur at school, college, work, home or when visiting friends. It affects their ability to function normally.

Diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is made when the symptoms manifest for a period of 6 months and more.

ADHD treatment:

Treating ADHD is a multi-disciplinary approach.

Management for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

• Educating the parent, the teacher, and the child about the disorder is very important. It makes understanding the symptoms and dealing with them a lot more easy. School teacher and counselor involvement and participation.
• Family support is a crucial aspect of the management of ADHD, especially for ADHD adults.
• Drug therapy is advocated by counselors, but the usage of the drugs is associated with certain side effects.
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy to battle ADHD:

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psycho-therapeutic approach that aims to solve problems concerning behavior, cognition, conduct, and dysfunctional emotion through a goal-oriented and systematic technique.

Behavior management focuses on accepting the patient’s behavior as a symptom of the disorder and not as a negative trait.

The therapy sessions are aimed at concentrating on the good behavior or appropriate behavior, while, ignoring minor inappropriate behavior.

Goal setting is an important element of the therapy. It is of essence that you set realistic and specific goals for the patient and help him accomplish them.

Rewards or consequences are also an integral part of the program. Appropriate behavior is rewarded whereas negative behavior bears the consequences.

Consistence and long-time therapy is needed for complete, effective, and lasting cure.

Meditation helps treat ADHD effectively:
  • Meditation is a very strong and powerful tool that helps deal with all psychological issues. It is a wonderful way to support yourself during the healing process.
  • Meditation will promote greater relaxation and peace.
  • It will make you more mindful of your thought patterns, and help you identify and change negative thought patterns.
  • It provides a more relaxed way to work, function and focus.
  • Meditation helps prevent mistakes and accidents, and is highly useful to manage ADD (attention deficit disorder).
  • It reduces mental chatter and aids in focusing at a task at hand.

 Homoeopathy helps fight attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:

  
Homoeopathy is a highly composite and efficient system of medicine. The system aims at bringing about holistic cure. Homoeopathic medicines bring to equilibrium, the chaotic and deranged vital force of the patient, and thus, cause cure. Innumerable homoeopathic medicines have shown beneficial results in the management of ADHD. Homoeopathic remedies have a favorable influence on the brain and the nervous system. The remedies act as nerve tonics, especially, in cases where the individual has difficulty in keeping the mind fixed on one particular thing, is restless and wakeful, extremely sensitive to noise, and cannot keep still. The drugs soothe the nervous system and have a strengthening and beneficial effect.

Importantly, homoeopathic remedies are extracted from nature – flowers, fruits, animal extracts and products, and minerals, and are completely devoid of any unfavorable side effects. Homoeopathy, coupled with meditation, dietary corrections, aromatherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, counseling, and adequate family affection and support, will bring about extensive improvement in individuals suffering from ADHD. It is very important to bear in mind, that all disorders and medical conditions are treated well by a multi-disciplinary approach, and not one particular therapy in isolation.


 Homoeopathy management, requires the physician to take a detailed account of the symptoms before prescribing the optimum and most suited drug. Here are 2 drugs that have proved to be highly efficacious in the treatment of ADHD.

  
Passiflora

 • Passiflora has a strengthening and calming effect on the nervous system.

• It successfully treats insomnia or disturbed sleep patterns, associated with ADHD, and produces normal, restful sleep.

• It checks restlessness and wakefulness.

• The drug is especially beneficial in children and the aged.


 Argentum Nitricum

 • This is a wonderful remedy to treat and handle impulsiveness in those suffering from ADHD. The patient demonstrates an impulse to jump out of the window, to jump in to the water.

• There is extreme nervousness and restlessness, which is managed exceedingly well by Argentum Nitricum.

• The patient has irrational motives for his actions.

• Characteristically, he does everything in a rush and hurry.

• There is forgetfulness and the patient’s memory is very weak.

Keeping your Heart Healthy with Yoga and Meditation: Yoga Precautions for Cardiac Problems

As per the World Health Organization, cardiovascular ailments contribute to 17 million deaths annually of which about 80% deaths take place in the developing world. As per the British Heart Foundation, 34% of premature deaths in males and 25% of premature deaths in females are attributed to ischemic heart disease. Studies have reiterated the role of yoga and meditation therapy in combating anxiety and stress; however they play a crucial role in keeping the heart healthy.


A healthy Heart
Benefits of Yoga and Meditation: Taking care of the heart

The human heart is a wonderful organ, keeping us alive; and pumping day in and day out, relentlessly. This is how meditation and yoga may be beneficial,
  • Paying attention to your heart beat will motivate you to take care of yourself better, and teach you to appreciate how important the heart is, and the significance of life. Meditating on subtle body sensations like the heart beat or the pulse increases the mindfulness about your body through the day.
  • Yoga asanas dilate the blood vessels and thus help to lower the blood pressure. The postures improve circulation and overall vitality.. If stress is responsible for the shooting blood pressure levels, then a regular and sustained yoga practice will definitely be fruitful. 
  • Yoga postures and meditation are preventive therapy. Along with developing the physical body, yoga helps develop psychic spaciousness, and tunes you to the subtle energies. Stay mentally present while you practice yoga. Be reflective.

 Yoga posture for a healthy heart

 Shashankasana is an essential yoga posture which improves circulation and stimulates the heart 
  • Sit down on a yoga mat, in such a way that your buttocks rest on to your toes and the spine is erect
  • Place your palms on your lap.
  • Gently inhale, raise your arms in front of you, parallel to the floor. Then gradually bend forward, so that your forehead touches the floor, hands straight out in front of you.
  • Stretch the body and relax in to the pose.
  • Let the breathing be gentle and rhythmic. Hold the pose for some time. Then release.
This asana helps the body to become peaceful and serene, slowly down bodily activity. Additionally, it banishes mental clutter and excessive thinking, thus fighting fluctuating blood pressure levels.

A meditation technique to keep your heart happy!

A meditation session will augment and deepen your mindfulness of your body sensations, thus making you more aware about your body’s needs and wants. It helps you to be grateful to your body, and teaches you the importance of being healthy.  
  • Sit comfortably on a cushion or a straight backed chair. Sit in a quite place where you will have 20 minutes of uninterrupted time.
  • Focus on your breath for a few moments, gently breathing in and breathing out. Let your body calm down and relax.
  • Pick a spot on your body, where you can feel the heart beat – temples, wrist, or the chest. Touch the spot lightly, and close your eyes. Focus on the spot.
  • Now gradually extend your awareness to the various arteries and veins in your body. Imagine the blood circulating through the body. Visualize the heart pumping blood. Concentrate on your body.
  • Express your gratitude to your heart, resolve to care for it better, and slowly come out of the meditation.
Precaution to take while practicing Yoga for Cardiac Problems

Though yoga is considered to be one of the most safest therapies which attempts to tune the body, there are certain precautions that are needed.
  • Start slowly and gradually. Don’t overdo yoga postures. A body which is not tuned to yoga postures may not be as agile and flexible and would take some time to adjust
  • If the blood pressure is too high, it is best to keep the head above the body and not try any of the inversion poses
  • Finally Yoga therapy when used in combination with dietary restrictions and life style modifications like reducing the consumption of alcohol and quitting smoking will have profound influence on your heart.