Play it safe

Parents and relatives are concerned about the safety of children, especially if they are babies. Mothers have constant doubts and fears over their children's safety. Thus, toys need to be purchased after careful consideration.

As a baby wants to bite and grab everything that comes his way, parents should take special care when they go shopping. It is especially important to monitor children's play. "During the first year, the baby takes everything, including toys, in his mouth and nibbles on them, which also serves to massage the gums," said a study by the Association for the Promotion of Child Safety (APSI) in Portugal.
If the child is irritable by nature, he needs toys that constantly stimulate him. Playpens and children's gyms allow babies and small children to explore their surroundings safely. They make life easier for mothers because they allow the execution of important day-to-day tasks without interruption. The mother can cook while the baby is playing, and watch him at the same time.
How to choose a playpen
As with other toys, choosing the right playpen is essential. It should be appropriate for the intended age group. Note the minimum safety requirements carefully. Always read the warnings and instructions and, if possible, remove the playground from the packaging to examine it thoroughly.
In Portugal, all manufacturers need to follow EU directives for the marketing of toys and baby products. This is known as the CE mark. It must be clearly visible on the toy or its packaging before it is introduced in the market. It should also include the manufacturer's name, business name, brand name and the address of the manufacturer, dealer or importer.
When to use a playpen
The use of a playpen is recommended from the time a child begins to explore the world around him. "Although the baby does not start moving all of a sudden, prepare the house for what can happen when he eventually does. Something untoward can happen when you least expect it," the study said.
Since the floor is not the safest place for playing, a children's gym is the best alternative. The playpen should be used in specific situations, such as when the supervising adult is bathing or cooking. In case of the latter, it is recommended that you place the playpen in the kitchen to see what the child is doing, and to keep track of his activities. A major advantage of a playpen is that it can be moved easily.
However, some safety regulations should be followed. If your baby is often alone with an adult, you should choose a sufficiently large playpen so the child can move freely. Use it only for small periods of time. Also check the method of assembly and the mechanism of opening/closing the pen.
Do not put toys that may harm the child, or others used for climbing or stacking, in the playpen. Last but not the least, do not put the playpen near objects that can be pulled or accessed by children, such as wires or lamps. The playground can be unsafe if parents are not attentive.

Love and betrayal

Several times during my professional life, I have encountered people who have cheated on their partner or been cheated on in relationships. Those who have been cheated on usually end up feeling lost and not knowing what to do or think. Betrayals of this kind cause severe pain and lead to serious self-doubt all over the world. I truly believe that a person in love will not betray. One who is truly in love does not feel the need to experience anything else. He/she is not open to new experiences and is in a particular relationship as a result of a mature and adult choice, and not because of moral values or fear of losing the person they fell in love with.
Being in love is much more than what a person wants or needs. It is a sharing that takes place naturally from both sides, with no demands and no stronger links. I believe the big problem of society lies here, because we don’t know about real love.
Modern society doesn’t permit us to develop and be mature when it comes to our emotions. As a result, we end up falling in love or being in a relationship in an immature and selfish way. If this is the case, it is very natural that people will cheat, after all, it's almost a condition of being human. We must understand the need for seeking and experiencing different things that sharpen our senses and stimulate our emotions.
In therapy, with the issue of betrayal usually comes the question: Should I forgive him or not? Will he/she do it again? Can I ever trust him/her? The reality is, what is that part of love that made you feel betrayed? How do you love and how do you feel about it?
The answer usually lies in the way that we love the other someone. Is our love mature? If you someone asks you why you love your partner, would your answer be something like, “He/she makes me feel good,” or, “He/she makes me feel stronger,” or prettier, safe, etc? Then it seems you are not experiencing real love, but what you like in this relationship is the way that person makes you feel about yourself and about life. So the lack of maturity and over self-centeredness are what stop us from reaching out with love.
Sometimes we are just in the wrong relationship, but if you end up there it is usually not by chance. The worst part is that you can recognise it, but you can’t end it.
If you can see yourself in any of these situations, you should consider therapy to find yourself and understand whether you love, if you are loved as per your expectations, and whether those expectations are real.
So, once again you might ask me, shall I forgive or not? Which of these options is conducive to mental health? That will only depend on how you love. Trust me, it is always possible to be truly happy!

Is your child Hyperactive?

It is common for any child to be active, sometimes even excessively, and this is normal. Likewise, it is common for children to lack interest and become disorderly, especially at school. But before we categorise this behaviour as 'hyperactivity,' we must understand that hyperactivity is characterised by uninterrupted activity. A hyperactive individual is active 24 hours a day, and even sleeps restlessly. When he is physically exhausted, his mind still needs to be active. Even though the body can not take it, the mind remains in action.
Hyperactivity is not a disease in itself, and is usually a symptom of disorders such as Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, some types of Attention deficit disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder and other learning or behavioural disorders.
There are several angles to consider: When a child is very active, always busy and never seems to get tired, you should observe how he sleeps. If he has restless sleep with or without nightmares, sleeps fitfully, falls out of bed or suffers from tics, seizures or other symptoms, he should be referred to a professional (paediatrician, therapist or psychiatrist) who is able to identify and treat the condition, or can refer the child to a specialist.
If the child's sleep is quiet and restful, we can say that he is normal. Then all you should do is leave him to spend all his energy during the day and to sleep and rest quietly at night. If the child is of school-going age, he should attend a school that has enough space for playing, and good toys.
If the child is not in school yet, it is up to parents to take him to a public park or playground. They can play instructive games with him, like play puppet theatre, for example. It is possible to make simple puppets with your child and then use them for this purpose. It will keep him busy for a long time and is an educational activity. In addition, many other activities can be organised with creativity and patience. Parents can explore several avenues to keep their children occupied and entertained.
In the case of indiscipline in small children, the quality of education should be reviewed as indiscipline and poor education often go together. If the child has a discipline problem in school, the number of unruly students in the class should be analysed.
If the entire class is well behaved and only a few students are disobedient, you should check who is responsible, since one child's bad manners may be causing a disturbance. When in doubt, a psychologist's intervention can be sought, because a psychologist can see if the children have any problems and/or forward them to other professionals for treatment.
If the whole class is undisciplined, it is likely that the teacher is boring, or some other factors are at play. A creative and interested teacher can surely find ways to make a class dynamic and interesting, and also discipline the children.
In case of exaggerated hyperactivity, seizures without complications, or if it is impossible to control the child, he should be referred to a psychologist or neuropsychologist who will be able to identify the disorder and treat it.

Consumerism among children

The current model of consumerism forces one to think about the audience targeted by advertisements, and their consequential effect on the psychological, social and physiological development of human beings, children in particular. The consumer ideology robs a child of a fundamental part of personal development. Children exposed to unbridled consumerism stop playing and start behaving like adults. They are often immature and their development may be retarded. According to eminent psychologists Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, the school is the fundamental institution for a child's development. It helps him develop communication skills and contributes to his intellectual, emotional and social development. However, there is also a sense of competition and social inequality in the school environment. Those that do not fit in are excluded.
A child exposed to the consumer model unconsciously believes that he needs a particular game, toy or another possession to fit into a group. Paradoxically, this same object is also used as a differentiator between people, thus causing the exclusion of those who have no coveted object to compete with.
According to the North American Dietetic Association's Borzekowiski Robinson, it only takes 30 seconds for a brand to influence a child. In Brazil for example, unlike other countries such as Sweden, England, Belgium, the USA, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Norway, there is no regulation to limit advertising aimed at children.
There is no control, and advertisers are free to pursue profits unethically and without sparing a thought for children's well-being. The scenario in Oman is a complete reversal of roles. Children are routinely exposed to reality, and may resort to stealing to fulfil their wishes. They may experience a difficult adolescence and be prone to childhood obesity, early sexualisation, and premature use of tobacco and alcohol due to family stress. They may even become violent if their wishes are not fulfilled and if they feel they are socially unequal.
According to the socio-historical perspective of Vygotsky, man is a product of social interaction. It is therefore necessary to restructure the social scene in Oman, as well as and in the world, so that children do not fall victim to consumerism and other ills.

School inclusion and mental deficiency

The concept of integration is a fundamental principle of the consequences of standardisation. So, it is the key to the whole educational process. Taking the positive results achieved by the practice of educational inclusion in developed countries in the last two decades as its starting point, the Brazilian educational system has experienced a moment of transition in the care of pupils with special educational needs. Leaving a model of special education it embraced the idea of special classes and building a model for integration of special children in regular education classrooms as it is deduced from studies that the process of inclusion/integration of children with disabilities in regular education allows them to interact spontaneously in different situations, while helping them gain knowledge and develop.
This integration, however, should not be easily solved from a resolution of a nature legal or theoretical, since variables related to group processes and reactions of prejudice can influence it, either facilitating or hindering the integration of people with those called 'normal.'
The proposed school inclusion of children with special educational needs seeks to avoid the deleterious effects of social isolation these children face, create opportunities for interaction among children and reducing prejudice.
By the end of 80 years of the 20th century, the term integration began to wane, being replaced by the idea of inclusion, as the goal is to include, without distinction, all children, regardless of their abilities.
In addition, it favours the integration of special needs students while sharing their responsibility, while inclusion tries to advance, also requiring the society in general to do so. Inclusion in practice, however, realises that even those students who are included in the regular school system are still isolated from their classmates who are not disabled. There is physical inclusion, but not social and emotional.
The result is that students with severe disabilities have little opportunity to practice, refine and expand their repertoire of cognitive and social skills that will be useful in the course of their lives. These skills, if not learned in time, may cause social maladjustment, thus reaffirming the poor condition, while maintaining reduced likelihood of developing friendships. The rejection is closely linked to the perception that students will special needs have behaviors considered inadequate by their colleagues.
Students with special needs also have difficulty with their peers. According to Turner (1984), a failure to meet these students with their peers are both in acceptance and identification with the group. It's not just proximity that makes one think that he belongs to a group. He has to identify with the group because it is the basic process of group formation. Having a partner in development and acceptance in a group reduces prejudice and raises self-esteem.
Another aspect that may explain lack of relationship with colleagues is the time factor of exposure of special needs students to broader social situations; their low frequency ends up making them act stereotypically and reinforces the differences between them.
It was evident to all that there is a need for curriculum changes, an approximation of the parents to this 'new' school environment and then help children to adapt to this new reality in a healthy way where they have to learn and teach, in addition to a special student to student contact since the early school years to avoid a clash of reality, thoughts, and prejudiced attitude.

Alzheimer's and Families

Alzheimer's disease is most prevalent among those over the age of 65. With the diagnosis, families are faced with issues that undermine self-esteem, security and hope. In addition to medical facilities for diagnosis and treatment, the family may also require members of the community to help the patient in times of difficulty.
In the initial phase of the disease, the patient is able to venture out alone, but at some point, he will cease to recognise a well-known street and other landmarks. So it is necessary that the news of the diagnosis is shared with others outside the home, such as the doorman, the mailman or even the owner of the neighbourhood newsstand. Any of these people may be in a position to assist the patient to return home in case he gets lost.
Reaching out beyond the nuclear family also reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation. It may help if the patient and his family have some kind of support system during the process of developing the disease. Many families give some kind of identification documents to the patient in terms of personal data and diagnosis, so he can get help if needed.
As this form of dementia progresses, patients are more at risk when they leave home by themselves. The house will now require structural changes such as grills on windows, handrails on the stairs and other measures to help prevent potential accidents.
As far as family relationships go, I find that all the family members are affected by the presence of the disease. The patient needs a great deal of restructuring and care during the development of the disease. The caregiver often has to deal with fear, insecurity, rejection and interference from other family members, who are in one way or another involved with the affected person.
The marital relationship hangs in the balance. The patient's relationship with children and grandchildren becomes more vulnerable to arguments.
Impatience and intolerance in the face of the patient's inconsistent attitudes are some of the most common difficulties we see in the dynamics of these families. When a spouse is the affected party, the situation becomes more complex because caregivers have to deal with their own ageing and health problems, and their own problems may be heightened due to stress.
Unresolved issues may resurface between the couple in times of conflict and disappointment. Feelings of resentment, frustration and guilt that were not addressed in the past come to the fore. The patient now requires more attention and care, since these feelings need an outlet for expression.
Among the patient's children, the first impasse is in deciding whether to institutionalise the patient or keep him/her at home, and deciding who will be responsible for his/her care. Some people believe they will be punishing or even abandoning the patient if they choose to hospitalise him/her.
Choosing to put the patient in a clinic means that constant supervision and care are needed. In many cases, a particular caregiver's presence may make a bigger difference to the development of symptoms associated with Alzheimer's.
On the other hand, keeping the person at home demands that one takes care of one's children as well as the patient. With increasing complications as the disease develops, the caregiver is likely to be in constant conflict with other family members' welfare, and may not be able to bear the fatigue and suffering. Life expectancy and fear of developing the disease themselves are the most frequent concerns aired by family members.
The caregiver's anguish over the continued suffering and loss of a loved one's cognitive abilities can lead to intense feelings that must be shared, else they can lead to illness. Role reversal can also be noticed in the speech of caregivers.
At some point of time, the person with Alzheimer's will be totally dependent on the care of another person. The person who was once a provider and caregiver will need someone to take care of him/her.

HEADACHE & MIGRAINE

Headache is one of the most common symptoms in medicine, is one of the most frequent complaints of consultations with clinicians, pediatricians and neurologists, physical therapists specializing in osteopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture specialists and dentists in Temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain and one of the most common reasons absence from work.


Headache is a universal symptom in humans. It is estimated that 90 to 100% of people will have some type of headache throughout life.

The headaches are divided into primary and secondary schools.

The most common primary headaches are migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache.

Other less common forms of primary headache include migraine continues, new daily persistent headache, stress headache, cough headache, cold stimulus headache, chronic paroxysmal hemicranianic.

Headache experts also generally treat facial pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain.

Secondary headaches are those caused by some other disease, such as brain tumors, head trauma, meningitis, stroke, hydrocephalus, and aneurysms.

Headaches can be divided into primary or idiopathic are those that have a cause or origin of its own.

The headaches that stem from other causes or diseases are called secondary headaches. These may have to do with problems with the nervous system, the level of the cranial sacral system (meninges, etc.). Or have to do with problems in some part of the body.

A secondary headache is such that you acquire when you have the flu, this being the cause of the headache.

The tension headaches are the most frequent and are felt as a heaviness, tightness, or mill, either at the front or in the neck or even on top of the head. The headache is often associated with fatigue, nervous system disorders, restlessness, depression, awkward postures, stress, too much noise, etc.. Sometimes there are too muscular tension level of the shoulders and neck, and can last hours or days.

A migraine headache is a strong or very strong that normally appears periodically and is normally pulsating or throbbing. Any movement of the head usually worsens as the physical or mental efforts. Often find only one side of the head and are usually accompanied by intolerance to light and noise and are often accompanied by vomiting.

The people suffering from this problem seek a dark, quiet place where they can rest or sleep. Migraines are usually a crisis that may last hours or days during which the person is completely to the ground and unable to function normally.

Sometimes there are so-called migraine with aura in which the person has impaired vision, as loss of vision on one side, blurring of images, sensations of bright lines, luminous dots or figures or even numbness or tingling in the face or the hand.

Unfortunately there is no medical examination to determine the causes of migraines.

The medical solutions are usually the same analgesic or anti-inflammatory.

However, the only medication used to control seizures and not to address the causes as they still do not know what they are.

However, and by observation of some people who suffer from these problems, to detect problems with the body and cranial sacral system that once corrected, substantially improve the crises and frequency of migraines and headaches.

A menstrual migraine is one that significantly decreases or disappears when correcting problems in body and cranial sacral system.

The other headaches, they disappear when it is correct because the causes giving rise to them.

But sometimes correct the body and cranial sacral system is not enough because sometimes there is also work those emotional factors that sometimes lie behind these problems.

This is often the reason for many failures in addressing the causes behind headaches and migraines. Is that there are few professionals who have training and sensitivity to detect and correct problems with the body and cranial sacral system and even less those who work together emotional factors that often exist behind these problems.