Showing posts with label Recovery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recovery. Show all posts
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Recovery Inc and Dr Lows Wisdom for OCD Sufferers
A few years ago I came across the writings of Dr. Abraham Low, a psychiatrist who is a early forerunner of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He created a self-help program called Recovery Inc., in 1937, to help mental patients reclaim peace of mind and their lives. I subscribed to Dr. Low's Wisdom, which mails a daily quote from one of his books. Sometimes he sounds very odd to my ears with his emphasis on complete trust in the physician, but he eloquently describes much of my experience with OCD, and advocates a form of Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy in his slogan "Doing the things you hate and fear to do."
I found an interesting blogger, Not A Saint--Just an Average Person, who describes his process of working through his anxieties and fears using Recovery, Inc.'s tools of identifying the thinking that leads to aggravation of symptoms.
I have not been to a Recovery, Inc. support group, but I know some people who have had a positive experience attending meetings. If there isn't an OCD support group in your area, consider looking into a RI group.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Understanding How To Treat Lyme Disease Promptly Is Essential For Recovery
Those who spend time in the woodland areas of Europe and North America may be at risk for contacting deer ticks, which are known to harbor the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria responsible for causing Lyme disease. Fortunately, there are several measures one can take to avoid tick bites, but if they do contract the illness, it is important to understand how to treat Lyme disease by seeking prompt medical attention.
It may take as long as a month for symptoms to begin to appear, and these can vary from one patient to the next. There is normally a bull's-eye pattern of inflammation that forms around the bite, headache, achy joints and muscles, fever, chills, and fatigue. Some patients may also develop a body rash. Although uncommon, serious complications which may result include meningitis, Bell's palsy, eye or liver inflammation, miscarriage in pregnant women, and heartbeat irregularities.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
Diagnosis is not normally done based on symptoms alone since there are also many other conditions which have similar manifestations. Without the characteristic rash, the doctor will likely ask the patient a series of questions, and also order some lab tests to look for antibodies to this particular strain of bacteria, namely the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot tests.
Once confirmed, Lyme disease will be treated using antibiotics. How quickly treatment is begun plays a big role in determining the outcome for the patient. Doxycycline or amoxicillin are the usual drugs of choice and they are to be taken orally for a period of two to four weeks. It is not recommended to take antibiotics longer than this, as this could have an adverse effect.
Intravenous antibiotics will likely be given for one or two weeks, to patients with involvement of the heart or nervous system. Instead of doxycycline which can discolor developing teeth, penicillin or amoxicillin will be prescribed if the patient is a child under the age of 9, or a breastfeeding mother. In the case of allergies to penicillin-based drugs, erythromycin is a suitable alternative.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
Serious implications are generally not a issue with Lyme disease provided the patient seeks treatment right away. It is important to note however, that the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream does not mean that one is immune to future infections. Taking preventative measures before going outside is always recommended.
It may take as long as a month for symptoms to begin to appear, and these can vary from one patient to the next. There is normally a bull's-eye pattern of inflammation that forms around the bite, headache, achy joints and muscles, fever, chills, and fatigue. Some patients may also develop a body rash. Although uncommon, serious complications which may result include meningitis, Bell's palsy, eye or liver inflammation, miscarriage in pregnant women, and heartbeat irregularities.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
Diagnosis is not normally done based on symptoms alone since there are also many other conditions which have similar manifestations. Without the characteristic rash, the doctor will likely ask the patient a series of questions, and also order some lab tests to look for antibodies to this particular strain of bacteria, namely the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot tests.
Once confirmed, Lyme disease will be treated using antibiotics. How quickly treatment is begun plays a big role in determining the outcome for the patient. Doxycycline or amoxicillin are the usual drugs of choice and they are to be taken orally for a period of two to four weeks. It is not recommended to take antibiotics longer than this, as this could have an adverse effect.
Intravenous antibiotics will likely be given for one or two weeks, to patients with involvement of the heart or nervous system. Instead of doxycycline which can discolor developing teeth, penicillin or amoxicillin will be prescribed if the patient is a child under the age of 9, or a breastfeeding mother. In the case of allergies to penicillin-based drugs, erythromycin is a suitable alternative.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
Serious implications are generally not a issue with Lyme disease provided the patient seeks treatment right away. It is important to note however, that the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream does not mean that one is immune to future infections. Taking preventative measures before going outside is always recommended.
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