New research published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases (Almendrala, 2014) studied reasons why children survive ebola more often than adults. One conclusion was that children have stronger immune responses to the disease than do adults. The levels of a protein called RANTE, which is a molecule that helps cells in the immune system communicate with each other, were higher in children than in adults. This protein also assists T-cells, the ‘killers’ of invading bacteria and viruses in our bodies. A possible reason for the higher levels of RANTE in children has to do with better health and a stronger immune system. This includes lower stress levels overall.
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Several different types of counseling, including Art Therapy, are available and have been shown to help people heal from the effects of emotional trauma (Moon, 1994). Art Therapy, specifically, has been a treatment for mental illness for over 100 years, but it is a type of therapy that people may not consider when seeking help. This type of therapy can help both children and adults to process a traumatic event and begin to heal (Art Therapy and Mental Health, 2009).
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There appears to be a connection between dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Vitamin B-12, but not one that suggests a cure for dementia of the Alzheimer’s or another type. If B12 reduces memory loss and deterioration of brain volume, it is a step in the right direction for the eventual effective treatment of the terrible condition known as dementia.
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November 21, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
Happy Thanksgiving, at least, if you're in the United States that's what today is! If you're reading this right now, then you've likely stumbled upon us after a delicious meal or you're hanging out with your family and watching the football game(s). That being said, did you know that thankfulness and gratitude are actually incredibly important factors when it comes to your mental health and overall well being? Absolutely! In this blog post, I'm going to explore how thankfulness affects mental health and what you can do in order to be more thankful, not just during this time of the year, but all year long.
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November 20, 2014
by Caleen Martin
There have been teachers and visionaries from the past whose words continue to hold meaning regardless of when they were originally spoken. It's time to stop this cycle and really listen to what these teachers have to offer.
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November 14, 2014
by David Porter, MA
Writing in a journal, or journaling, can serve as a valuable adjunct to psychotherapy. Keeping a journal is useful to gain and maintain perspective, to process stressors, generate ideas, and recognize functional and dysfunctional patterns in one's life. A journal can be a place for you to vent your emotions, and to take some private time every day to reflect on your life (Bodeeb, 2014). Journals can be used to record changes and milestones in life, and can also be passed on to the next generation as a part of family history.
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What gets you out of bed every morning (besides your alarm clock or your children)? What motivates you and keeps you going every day? What do you feel truly passionate about? Everyone is unique, and we will each answer these questions in different ways. Maybe your love for your family is what gives your life the most meaning.There are no right or wrong answers, and no one can give us the answers. Nonetheless, they are important questions for each of us to ask ourselves.
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Everyone deserves access to high quality, culturally competent, and affordable behavioral healthcare. But accessing treatment for these issues can be challenging for many people in America. Increasing outreach and education to minority and underserved communities, increasing the diversity of behavioral health providers, and improving cultural competence in healthcare will help to engage those who are not getting the treatment services they need.
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November 11, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
This week focuses on the overall mental health wellness that we all should be taking care of, no matter whether or not we have a mental illness or another issue that may come up. In this article, we're going to talk about why we need a week that is focused on mental health awareness and wellness, and some tips that can help you to seek wholeness in your mental health endeavors.
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For the entire time Alzheimer’s Disease has been around since first described, there has been no effective treatment. No medication to attack the multiple elements of the disease, no non-medical treatments to do more than blunt the effects of peripheral symptoms. But maybe that’s about to change.
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