June 2016
MENTAL HEALTH
MANAGE YOUR CONDITION
IMPROVE COGNITION
IMPROVING AWARENESS
THERAPY
RELATIONSHIPS
www.HealthisYourWealth.co.uk
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 1
Editors Message
Readers Letters ‌ Send letters to: letters@healthisyourwealth.co.uk
for it, not wait until
Please note that some of these articles are written by patients who are still in recovery. These articles are unchanged and may contain spellings, punctuation and grammar mistakes.
arrives ! Anything
Keep up this great
worthwhile will take a
work. People are
little time but be patient
needed like you to
and never give up. Things
help all those out
Good thing happen to good people and I am a firm believer that good things come to those who work
I find the e-magazine very useful. Samuel, Subscriber
I love this mag, here is an old Irish proverb which tells you a carers perspective
Patricia, Ireland
you keep trying eventually
A copy of our medical there suffering in disclaimer is on some way or another. our website
you reward will come !
Mrs Pether, East
will improve slowly but if
Dominic, Editor
Thank you for your letters. We can’t acknowledge all the letters but will aim to respond to each one!
Mids.
Please note that errors and omissions are exempt from this publication. For terms and conditions please see www.HealthisYourWealth.co.uk
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
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Contents Editors message and Reader Letters Contents Contributors
2 3 4
RELATIONSHIPS
THERAPY Exercise -Body Maintenance
40-42
Speech Matters
COMA story
5
Inappropriate Behaviour
6-8
A Parents Uncertainty
12-14
Living with Brain Injury
15-18
IMPROVING AWARENESS Statistics and Awareness
19
Macmillian Cancer Support
20
Headway Essex
21-25
Parkinsons
26-28
Stroke
29 MENTAL HEALTH
43
MANAGE YOUR CONDITION Importance of Nutrition
44-46
Learn to pace yourself
47
IMPROVE COGNITION
Train Your Brain
49-52
Brain Training Applications
53-55
REVIEWS & SUBSCRIPTIONS Book Review
56
Movie Review
57
Subscriptions
58
OCD
30-31
Key Contacts
59
Depression
32-38
Supporting Awareness
60
How to keep motivated
39
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
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Contributors To this issue Thank you to the authors who had input to this magazine. Without your valuable content this issue would not have happened!
Brain Training: mybraintraining.com
How I came a brain surgeon—Mr. Michael Jenkinson Children's Corner: Living With Brain Injury: Tom Massey A Parents Uncertainty : Ev and Jeff Rockach
Exercise: Body Maintenance: Trpti Gyan
Statistics and awareness Erica Bart
THE ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE IS AUGUST 20th Health is Your Wealth Magazine
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bed I was in felt hard and shaped like a
“COMA story�
dentist chair. The room I was in appeared to be white in colour but was in a state of disrepair. There was a hole in the ceiling
Jonathon had a car crash in 2012 and spent
and reminded me of a building site as
three months in hospital, two weeks of which
there was tools and brick dust all over the
was in a medically induced coma. The
place. The conditions were so bad that I
following is his account of the experience.
organised a protest. This is obviously incorrect as hospital hygiene has to be good and at that time I was unable to walk
sure if they are real or not. To this day I still
or talk yet remember walking around and
can not decipher which parts were a dream,
talking to what appeared t be other
reality or in perhaps I have just made them up
patients, although some of them were no
as some sort of coping strategy!
wearing gowns.
I have no memory of the three months before
When I asked my wife and children they
my accident and for six months afterwards
told me that they talked and read to me
things are a little patchy. I was in a coma for
frequently so perhaps I have memory of
13 days and because I was able to breath on
some of the events they told me about.
my own was withdrawn from the induced
Certainly this incident was a lot more
state. I think that is correct but because of all
stressful for my family than for me. I
the medication that was continually pumping
imagine that the whole situation was an
through my system my memories are a little
appalling ordeal for them but an glad that
like dreams or hallucinations. I remember
they had the strength and courage to get
feeling like I was in a warm country and the
through it !
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
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Relationships
It's all fuzzy! I remember parts but I am not
inappropriate.
“Inappropriate Behaviour following T.B.I.”
Or the opposite might happen … a once bubbly and jovial personality may become muted or seemingly emotionless. This is known “flat
A young man is soft-spoken and gentle
affect.”
sustains several concussions through sports. In his late 20s, he is fired from his job for his
Some of the most common behavioural and
uncontrollable bouts of anger. His girlfriend
emotional problems people with TBI can
leaves him, and his parents are at their wits’
experience include:
end with his behaviour. His personality was and
Verbal outbursts
unpredictable. When he finally seeks help, he
Physical outbursts
is diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury,
Poor judgment
Impulsive behaviour
Negativity
Intolerance
sure
footed
and
is
now
erratic
a result of the repeated blows to his head.
Depending on what part or parts of a person’s brain
are
individual
may
behavioural
and
Apathy
emotional changes. The frontal lobe, for
Egocentricity
example,
and
Rigidity and inflexibility
impulsivity. If damaged, there might be no
Risky behaviour
“filter” for self-control. A person may find it
Lack of empathy
Lack of motivation or initiative
Depression or anxiety
experience
injured,
the
significant
helps
govern
personality
difficult to control his anger or aggression. He may also make inappropriate comments to friends or strangers not realizing they are
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
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“Mood swings”
Some people call them mood swings because for people after TBI, emotions can often be hard to control. Because of the damage to the brain, a TBI can change the way people feel or express emotions. A person may feel they are constantly on an emotional roller-coaster, full of glee and excitement one moment,
“What to do”
Consulting
a
neuropsychologist
or
behavioural therapist is a good place to start. They can help with strategies like learning to breathe deeply when you feel you are getting angry or intolerant or like redirecting your thoughts and actions to more positive choices.
devastated the next. Another person may experience unpredictable bouts of laughing or
the person is actually feeling or what is going on around her.
TBI can learn to take action to regain a sense of control over their behaviours. Here are some practical suggestions for people
It’s imperative for people with TBI and their
with
TBI
who
experience
emotional highs and lows:
families (especially children) to understand that these behavioural and emotional changes are a result of the brain injury; they are not the injured person’s fault. That said, dealing with these issues can be even more difficult, especially for family and friends. Typically the person with the brain injury is unaware of the fact that they are different from how they
Let friends, family, and co-workers know about your difficulties with behaviour control. Enlist their help and support. For example, they may be able to help you better understand what
triggers
inappropriate
behaviour or emotional responses
were before the injury.
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Relationships
crying, which have nothing to do with how
With support and patience, people with
and help you learn how to avoid those
can take many sessions before results are seen
triggers.
and when progress is made they are small
Confide in friends or family members.
iterations rather than dramatic changes in
Sharing your worries helps lift the
personality. Therefore these improvements are
burden.
going to take a little time spanning many
Clean up your messes. If you have acted
months. However there is usually quite a
inappropriately, apologize.
positive response resulting in attendees being
Tell people to walk away from you if you have an emotional outburst. They can talk to you once you have calmed down.
Avoid people, places, or situations that trigger inappropriate responses.
their “filter” back enabling them to function more appropriately in social situations and properly integrate back into family life.
For further information visit
Join a support group or find a peer
www.headway.org.uk
mentor. Talking to others who have
or contact the free phone helpline on 0808 800 2244
“been there” can help.
better able to manage their condition and get
Get regular exercise. It’s good for the
E-mail: helpline@headway.org.uk
body and calms the mind.
• Try learning to meditate to keep your mind clear.
It is important to remember that should this be a situation you find yourself in that usually there is no “Quick fix”. Consultations with neuropsychologist or behavioural therapists
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Key Facts about childhood acquired brain injury
Relationships
Many people think of acquired brain injury (ABI) as a result of road traffic collisions, but as can be seen above, there are many causes of ABI, which are often overlooked in later years when difficulties may start to arise. As detailed on the right, these figure are ONLY those children who are admitted to hospital; there will be many more children who were not admitted and some whose ABI remains undiagnosed. The majority of children will return to school following ABI and will look just like their peers, with no visible injuries; however as the brain does not mature until mid 20’s, we can not be sure of what difficulties may be ahead.
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Following a survey of over 100 families in early 2016, we can see that friendships and socialising are more difficult after ABI; with many young people feeling excluded. With increased awareness of ABI, which is actually one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, children can be better supported and understood of following ABI. For more details about childhood acquired brain injury, or to request support from one of our Regional Child and Family Support Coordinators, please contact us: Email: Telephone: Website:
helpline@cbituk.org 0303 303 2248 www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk
Twitter:
@cbituk
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/childbraininjurytrust
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Jackie called to see me one afternoon fit and
“A Parents Uncertainty”
well and I did not know that very afternoon our lives would be changed so dramatically.
Jackie took up the hobby of paragliding and Having a family member with a Head Injury is something you just cannot prepare for or would even want to!
this particular afternoon Lee and Jackie went paragliding together. It was at this time that another pilot offered to take Jackie up with him but he had a motor-paraglider this being different to the normal paragliding with a wing.
The pilot’s equipment failed and Jackie fell 150/200 feet spiralling down dramatically. The pilot and the motor falling onto Jackie, this causing Jackie’s helmet to crack from the impact and leaving Jackie with several broken bones and later to discover a serious head injury. Our daughter Jackie was a aerobics instructor and very fit and full of life. Jackie loved the idea of trying out new and exciting things. Lee, her husband enjoyed paragliding and Jackie was very keen to take up this hobby.
It never occurred to Jackie’s Dad and I that the main problem was the head injury. I had never given much thought to head injuries and never realised what a head injury does to change peoples lives.
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Jackie was in Intensive Care and stayed in
Jackie did not speak for a few weeks and
hospital for three months.
when she did it did not make any sense.
The shock was
when the Doctors stressed the chances of
However at least she was talking again.
survival was 50/50. I told Jackie’s brother Drew to prepare for the worse.
The most upsetting thing was the bad language and actions (not like Jackie at
I am writing to help others in the same
all) but I kept telling myself that all this
situation and hope it will help to keep going
was part of the healing process and NOT
and look to the light at the end of the tunnel.
to take anything said by Jackie as
More often than not there is one.
personal.
equipment all around her but this obviously
The family were waiting for all this
saved her life.
nightmare to be over. One day we walked into the hospital and Jackie recognised all
It was more stressful to see that Jackie didn’t
the family and although her personality
even know us or called us all by the wrong
was slightly different ,this was a small
name. If anyone is in the same situation keep
price to pay to have Jackie back with us.
in mind this is temporary and has the body heals and any swelling goes down you can
In the beginning it is natural to have
have your loved one back again.
negative thoughts, such as Jackie not walking or doing the things she loved
The first few weeks we prayed that we would
doing before the accident.
cope with this situation and always never let Jackie know we were worried.
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It was upsetting to see Jackie with hospital
Jackie’s new personality was sharp and quick
Occasionally we do see the accident scars of
tempered but all this was the healing process.
being impatient, but Jackie survived and most of the time Jackie is as she was before the
Eventually Jackie was discharged from
accident.
hospital and started her own business as a nail technician.
A few years later she had
beautiful Bethany now 7 years.
I can sincerely say to others who are going through this frightening and most stressful time, never give up and be patient until your loved ones come back to you.
There is always light at the end of the tunnel. I used to tell myself, that if Jackie changed in any way, at least she was back with us all.
I hope my writing this brings some comfort to those who are going through what Jackie’s family have been through.
Ev and Jeff (Jackie’s Mum and dad)
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majority of us are born with all five
“Living With a Brain Injury”
senses working well. We become used to these skills and senses that makes life so much easier.
“Damage to my senses, eye patches and comic books”
It is only now that I have suffered something as life changing as an ABI and I can see life and the gifts we are given from both vantage points. I realise how much I took for granted when I was fully able and in the prime of life.
Damage to My Senses & Memory
As a result of my ABI, I lost my sense of smell and taste; I am permanently deaf in my left ear with a permanent case of tinnitus in that same ear. I also suffered severely from a condition called diplopia
‘As fully Able People, What Did We Take For Granted?’
counter the issues with diplopia was to close
one
eye.
This,
while
being
exhausting (trust me, try walking around I am speaking from personal experience, when I say that we (people) tend to overlook the things we have, and underestimate the difficulties of living life without the ability to do certain things. I know that I used to take many things for granted. The majority of us learn to read at an early age, by our early teens most of us are able to cook a basic meal, we
with one eye closed for the entire day), did eliminate the double vision. This did mean though that it eliminated my ability to perceive depth and to focus on objects properly from any distance. This meant I had to be accompanied by an adult on any journey that I was to make due to potential dangers regarding road safety.
learn to walk and talk at a young age, the vast
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
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Relationships
in my left eye. One way that I managed to
Another reason I required the company of an
The issue I had with reading was the ability to
adult on any outdoor excursions was because I
read the word and to also use my mind at the
was also left with severe issues regarding
same to imagine the scenario that was being
memory. These two issues combined had the
depicted in word form.
worst effect on my ability to read. My ability to read was an ongoing problem as Reading – What Was The Issue & How Did
time went by. The issues caused by my fault
I tackle It?
vision the potential to stop me achieving my goal of attending university but we (my family
When it came to reading for practical purposes
and I) didn’t know how to improve that
in everyday life, it was not so much my ability
particular issue, which was the key issue that
to actually recognize words but more my
could be tackled and now, reading also caused
ability to attribute meanings to certain words
extra fatigue on top of it all.
when, for instance reading signs or reading a menu in a café. I definitely had issues with the
So, as an alternative to me closing my eye all
dual thought process required with reading a
day, every day, we went online and found a
word, recognizing that word and using your
website that sold eye patches. I brought a few
mind to attribute meaning. That was the
different patches with different patterns and
trouble I had with using reading as a tool.
designs to make it a little more “livable” with. The introduction of the eye patch came a slight
What really upset me though was the fact that I
improvement in the fatigue. With that extra
could no longer read for pleasure. I have
energy also came a slight improvement in the
always loved novels; I am a huge fan of the
reading.
Harry Potter series, His Dark Materials trilogy and the Bill Bryson books to name just a few.
One thing I would like to mention is about the
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benefits I gained from reading
comic
books and how the illustrated form of written
positive reinforcement, those affected by an ABI can achieve.
works can be hugely beneficial for ABI patients. That particular medium negates the
“There is strength in all of us that
necessity for the dual thought process that
I think is often underestimated.”
reading prose requires. I am not an expert, so I cannot say for definite, but I believe that it being a visual medium along combined with reading, reading comics allowed me to read the words and the pictures help to reinstate
Tom’s blogs and much more information can be found on headwayworcestershire.org.uk. He can also be found on Twitter @ABIBlogger
and reapply meaning to those words in a more Headway Worcestershire aims for a more integrated We must remember that there are certain aspects we may not be able to do anything about.
For
example,
my
memory
has
improved since I suffered my injury but I would still consider it my biggest handicap. The only thing we can do when it comes to this aspect of the recovery stage is to learn everything we can about what the problem is and to never underestimate the affect it can have. Finally though, while we must never underestimate the enemy we face, never underestimate what, with time, patience and
professionals-to-community
approach where it comes to ABI’s. We can support adults with brain injury through a range of services including: day opportunities,
outreach
support,
psychological support, counselling, selfhelp groups, volunteering opportunities and much more. Please get in touch should you be interested in finding our more about how we can work together, or how we can help someone with a brain injury in Worcestershire: enquiries@hwtl.org.uk | 01905 729 729
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Relationships
concrete way.
If you are not in Worcestershire please note that Headway is a UK-wide charity that supports people affected by brain injury. For further information or support, or to find your nearest Headway group or branch, visit
About the author
www.headway.org.uk or contact the free phone helpline on 0808 800 2244 E-mail: helpline@headway.org.uk My life was changed for ever on the 30th of August 2009 when an attack on a night out
Headway Worcestershire is affiliated to
left me with sever brain injuries. I was left in an induced coma after suffering fractures to the skull, bleeds on the brain, as well as severe bruising to the frontal lobes. Since the injury I have found it hard to find and keep work, to maintain relationships, and generally stay positive. I have decided to share all of my journey with you, in the hope we can bring brain injury awareness to the level it should be at. Please, follow my own WordPress blog Life After Brain Injury to keep up to date with my brain injury journey!
Follow me on Twitter: @ABIBlogger Tom Massey, ABI Blogger
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“Mental Health statistics: UK and
Statistics and Awareness
worldwide�
Mental health problems are a growing public health concern. They are prevalent
About Mental Illness Mental illness affects one in four people at an point in time and the impact touches every person in society. There is a wide spectrum of conditions,
including
obsession,
phobia,
anxiety, depression,
addiction, bipolar
an eating disorder.
Mental health problems are one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide.
Mental health and behavioural problems (e.g. depression, anxiety and drug use) are
These conditions can lead to profound emotions of despair and thoughts of suicide. People's experiences can often be further complicated by alcohol or drug addiction.
There are many misconceptions about mental illness, often fuelled by images we see on television and stories we read in the media.
SANE is committed to helping people with
reported to be the primary drivers of disability worldwide, causing over 40 million years of disability in 20 to 29-yearolds.
Major depression is thought to be the second
leading
cause
of
disability
worldwide and a major contributor to the burden of suicide and ischemic heart disease.
these conditions as well as their families, carers and health professionals
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Improving Awareness
disorder, personality disorder, schizophrenia or
not just in the UK, but around the world.
emotional support when things get tough. Right from the moment you’re diagnosed, through your treatment and beyond, we’re a constant source of When you have cancer, you don’t just
support to help you feel more in control
worry about what will happen to your
of your life.
body, you worry about what will happen to your life. How to talk to those close to you. What to do about work. How you’ll cope with the extra costs.
We
are
millions
of
supporters,
professionals, volunteers, campaigners and people affected by cancer. Together we make sure there’s always someone here for you, to give you the support,
At Macmillan, we know how a cancer
energy and inspiration you need to help
diagnosis can affect everything. So
you feel more like you.
when you need someone to turn to, we’re here, because no one should face cancer alone.
We are all Macmillan. For support, information or if you just want to chat, call us free on
We can help you find answers to questions about your treatment and its effects. We can advise on work and benefits, and we’re always here for
0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk
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Improving Awareness
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“While most injuries are obvious, the signs of concussion can often be difficult to identify and yet at Headway, we know the damage that can caused if people continue to play sport Click here or visit
while concussed. “A great deal has been achieved in the past few
www.concussionaware.org.uk
years to improve concussion protocols, with
A new charity campaign launched during
the emphasis being placed on professional
Action for Brain Injury Week is urging
sport to set a good example for others to
grassroots and junior sports clubs across the
follow.
UK to be concussion aware and take an ‘if in
“But we believe everyone who plays sport
doubt, sit it out!’ approach to head injuries.
should be concussion aware – particularly
The Headway #ConcussionAware campaign
those at grassroots level who are playing
has the backing of a number of local and
purely for the love of it and do not have
national sports governing bodies, including the
ambulances and doctors on standby should
FA and Rugby Football Union.
something go wrong.”
Amateur and junior sports clubs, as well as
Clubs can also take advantage of a range of
academic institutions, are being encouraged to
free information materials about concussion on
sign an online pledge stating that they take an
the
‘if in doubt, sit it out!’ approach to concussion.
www.concussionaware.org.uk,
“Sport plays a key role in keeping us fit and
factsheets, posters, a digital awareness stamp
healthy,” said Peter McCabe, Chief Executive
for club websites, and signposting to sport-
at Headway – the brain injury association. “As
specific concussion protocols.
with everyday life, however, accidents, falls
Former professional rugby player Lewis
and collisions can happen.
Moody and sports concussion expert Dr Willie
c a mp a i g n ’s
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website
at
including
recent years to address the issue of concussion, with much of the focus being on elite-level athletes. However, more needs to be done to incite a cultural change at grassroots level to ensure amateur and junior players are as well protected as professional sportspeople
campaign.
from the incorrect management of brain
Former England rugby union captain Lewis
injury.
Moody said: “Concussion is something that
“Headway’s Concussion Aware campaign
everyone who plays sport – at whatever level
is a most welcome initiative which should
or intensity – should be aware of. Don’t play
encourage safe engagement in sport,
on regardless – you could be putting yourself
while at the same time protecting people
in danger while also letting your teammates
by promoting a no-risk approach to head
down.
injury.”
“I urge everyone who plays sport to be
Please help us raise awareness of this
concussion aware and take a no-risk approach
important campaign on social media
to head injuries.”
using the #ConcussionAware hashtag,
Consultant Neuropathologist and leading
sharing the campaign film, and
sports concussion expert Dr Willie Stewart
encouraging people to pledge their
said: “There is no doubting the benefits of
support at
participating in sport. There is also no doubt
www.concussionaware.org.uk.
that head injuries in sport are best managed by adopting an ‘If in doubt, sit it out!’ policy. “The world of sport has made progress in
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Improving Awareness
Stewart have also shown their support for the
Headway UK. "With the campaign growing each year, we are delighted with the positive response from our supporters across the country and would like to thank everyone who took part, whether by designing a hat, playing the photographer or Hats off to charity fundraisers! On Friday 13 May, Headway supporters from all corners of the country were united in donning their wackiest hats to raise vital funds for brain injury survivors and their
making a donation. "There were some incredibly quirky creations and it was great to see schools and local businesses getting into the community spirit and sporting an array of eccentric headwear. "We’ve had fun, raised funds for vital frontline
families. Dozens of businesses, clubs, schools and colleges capped off Action for Brain Injury Week (9-15 May) by taking part in the brain injury charity's annual #HatsforHeadway Day. Members of the charity also got creative for the event as many service users chose to design and make their own hats to wear as part of a local competition for 'best hat'.
services, and hopefully helped more people to understand the impact a brain injury can have upon whole families in the process." Additional activities organised by Headway's groups and branches across the country during ABI Week ranged from awareness days at hospitals
to
conferences
and
sponsored
skydives, generating awareness and funds for the charity's frontline services.
“Hats for Headway Day is a fun and simple way to raise awareness of brain injury," said Luke Griggs, Director of Communications at
For further information or to support Headway UK, visit www.headway.org.uk.
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Improving Awareness
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Page 25
symptoms reported not wanting people to feel awkward or embarrassed around them (63%), feeling they would be judged (34%), or not feeling like the symptoms were socially acceptable (32%).
People with Parkinson’s forced to hide or lie about their condition
There
are
127,000
people
living
with
Parkinson’s in the UK, with someone being diagnosed with the condition every hour
Nearly two fifths of people with Parkinson’s (37%) (1) have felt the need to hide their symptoms or lie about having the condition -
(2).
The charity estimates that 42,000 people in the UK have delayed sharing their diagnosis with someone close to them (3).
according to new findings realised to mark the start of Parkinson’s Awareness Week
by
Those who delayed telling family or friends (33%) said it was because of:
Parkinson’s UK.
The research, released by the charity to mark
Not knowing how to bring it up (36%)
Not wanting to accept their diagnosis (33%)
the start of Parkinson’s Awareness Week, has revealed an alarming level of fear around
Being unable to find the words (28%)
sharing a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, cutting
Thinking they would be stigmatised
people off from vital support available at a
(21%) or look weak (19%).
time when many report struggling emotionally to come to terms with their condition.
The findings come as three in ten people who have told friends, family or colleagues about
Those who did feel the need to hide their
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 26
having Parkinson’s (29%) felt that telling
and round a square in London, completely
people for the first time they had the condition
dazed. Then I went to a bar in Victoria
was like ‘coming out’.
station and drank too much before getting the train home. And so I entered the dark
The charity is concerned by the findings,
days. Panic, claustrophobia and no sleep.”
which reveal a worrying level of emotional “Parkinson’s is not a flag I wave. There
Parkinson’s. Over a third (37%) of those
are a few people I told quickly but after
surveyed experienced negative emotions in the
that I didn’t announce it. I’ll often try to
year following their diagnosis, with the news
hide it if my symptoms are showing, as
having the hardest emotional impact on
sometimes it’s embarrassing. When going
younger people with Parkinson’s.
out on dates or in social situations it’s not something you want to say first off. A
Many people reported feeling ‘like their world had
ended’
(18%),
‘like
they
part of me wants to hide it.”
were
grieving’ (14%) or ‘like they didn’t know who
Positively, people who have shared their
to turn to’ (13%).
diagnosis with their immediate family reported feeling ‘able to accept they had
David Plummer, 47, a wildlife photographer,
Parkinson’s’ (45%), while one in four
from Henfield, West Sussex said;
reported feeling relieved (27%), and 15% say they felt glad they didn’t have to hide
“After six months of tests, I was diagnosed
their symptoms anymore.
with Parkinson’s. I ended up walking round
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Improving Awareness
repercussions for people diagnosed with
Steve Ford, Chief Executive at Parkinson’s UK said;
“No-one should feel alone in dealing with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. Too many people are struggling with their diagnosis alone because of fear of what people might think, say or do.”
“It’s
worrying
that
many
people
with
Parkinson’s, for a wide range of reasons, are not able to access the help they need - and it’s having a devastating impact on their emotional health. We are determined that each and every person with Parkinson’s is aware of the support available so they can feel equipped to have these difficult conversations.”
“We know that the right support, whether through family, friends or Parkinson’s UK, is vital for those with the condition, to help them come to terms with their diagnosis and know that they’re not alone. We are here to help people find the support they need, when they need it.”
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 28
Our meetings consistently centre around
Weymouth Stroke Support Group
19 to 20 members and generally involve chats, relevant information, games and quizzes and regular physical therapy sessions.
Also outside interests have included lawn green bowls and sailing.
David Dowle
Improving Awareness
Secretary.
The Weymouth Stroke Support Group is affiliate to the Stroke Association and is in its Fourth year. We are open to Stroke survivors, caters and family members and meet twice a month on the first and third Tuesday at:
Weymouth Bay Methodist Church. 32 Melcombe Avenue, Weymouth DT4 7TH. Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 29
hands over and over again. Other compulsive
Mental Health
rituals may have no connection to the nature of the obsessive thoughts.
“Obsessive Compulsive Disorder” Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common form of anxiety disorder involving distressing, repetitive thoughts. That makes OCD particularly difficult to make sense of or
Common obsessions include:
Fear of contamination
Fear of causing harm to someone else
Fear of behaving unacceptably
Need for symmetry or exactness.
to explain to other people. Compulsions commonly involve checking, Obsessions are distressing or frightening repetitive thoughts which come into your mind automatically, however irrational they may seem and however much you try to resist or ignore them.
Some people describe these
thoughts as being like a ‘stuck record’, but trying to stop them can make them worse.
Compulsions are actions which people feel they must repeat to feel less anxious or stop their obsessive thoughts. For example, some people cannot stop thinking about germs and the diseases they could catch. To cope with this anxiety, they may start washing their
cleaning,
counting
or
dressing
rituals.
Carrying out a ritual usually gives people temporary relief from their anxiety. At other times, they can be full of doubt that they have carried out the ritual properly and so repeat the ritual to ‘get it right’ – a process that can go on for hours.
It can take people many years to seek professional help. People may be aware that their rituals are irrational and be ashamed of that and try to hide them. Some people feel that they lack will power because they cannot stop their thoughts and rituals
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 30
What are the symptoms of OCD?
first step in getting treatment is to explain your symptoms to your GP who can then
Most of us have worries, doubts and
refer you for specialist help. The most
superstitious beliefs. It is only when your
effective treatments for OCD usually
thoughts and behaviour make no sense to
involve talking treatments – such as
other people, cause distress or become
counselling, psychotherapy and cognitive
excessive that you may want to ask for help.
behaviour therapy – and medication.
OCD can occur at any stage of your life. If you experience OCD you may also feel
How family and friends can help
anxious and depressed and you may believe
As family or a friend, you may feel
you are the only one with obsessive thoughts.
frustrated and confused by the symptoms
What causes OCD?
accepting your partner’s, friend’s or
OCD has been linked to increased activity in
relative’s feelings and understanding that
certain parts of the brain and some experts
this is their way of coping. Negative
think low levels of a brain chemical called
comments or criticism tend to make OCD
serotonin may be involved,2 although others
worse; a calm, supportive family can help
disagree with this theory. Stress does not
improve the outcome of treatment. When
cause OCD, but a stressful event such as
children or young people have OCD, it’s
giving birth, the death of someone close to
important for parents to work with
you or divorce may act as a trigger.
teachers to be sure that they understand the problem.
What are the treatments for OCD? There are a number of treatments and
See more at: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
strategies to help you deal with OCD. The
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 31
Mental Health
of OCD, but you can help a lot by
of time that it takes to recover ranges from
Depression
around six months to a year or more.
Depression is a common mental disorder that
Living with depression is difficult for those
causes people to experience depressed mood,
who suffer from it and for their family, friends,
loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or
and colleagues. It can be difficult to know if
low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite,
you are depressed and what you can do about
low energy, and poor concentration.
it. Signs and symptoms
Depression is different from feeling down or which
Tiredness and loss of energy.
everyone feels at one time or another, usually
Sadness that doesn’t go away.
due
Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem.
Difficulty concentrating.
Not being able to enjoy things that are
sad.
Unhappiness
to
a
experiencing
is
particular depression
something
cause. will
A
person
experience
intense emotions of anxiety, hopelessness, negativity and helplessness, and the feelings
usually pleasurable or interesting.
stay with them instead of going away.
Depression can happen to anyone. Many
Feeling anxious all the time.
Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends.
successful and famous people who seem to have everything going for them battle with this
of
he lp le ssn e ss
and
hopelessness.
problem. Depression also affects people of every age. Half of the people who have
F e e lin gs
Sleeping problems - difficulties in getting
depression will only experience it once but for
off to sleep or waking up much earlier
the other half it will happen again. The length
than usual.
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 32
Very
strong
feelings
of
guilt
or
injuries, may also lead to depression.
worthlessness.
condition which frequently follows head
Finding it hard to function at work/ Sometimes, there may be no clear reason
college/school.
Loss of appetite.
Loss
of
sex
for your depression but, whatever the drive
and/or
sexual
problems.
original cause, identifying what may affect how you feel and the things that are likely
Physical aches and pains.
Thinking about suicide and death.
Self-harm
to
trigger
depression
is
an
important first step.
Types of depression
If you experience four or more of these
some of which are listed below.
symptoms for most of the day - every day for more than two weeks, you should seek
Mild depression
help from your GP.
Depression is described as mild when it has a limited negative effect on your
What leads to depression? Depression can happen suddenly as a result of
daily life. For example, you may have difficulty concentrating
physical illness, experiences dating back to childhood,
unemployment,
bereavement,
family problems or other life-changing events. Examples of chronic illnesses linked to depression include heart disease, back pain and cancer. Pituitary damage, a treatable
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 33
at
work
or
Mental Health
There are several types of depression,
motivating yourself to do the things you
Post-natal depression
normally enjoy.
Many new mothers experience what are sometimes called 'baby blues' a few days after the birth. These feelings of anxiety and lack of
Major depression Major
depression
interferes
with
an
confidence are very distressing but in most
individual’s daily life - with eating, sleeping
cases last only a couple of weeks. Post-natal
and other everyday activities. Some people
depression is more intense and lasts longer. It
may experience only one episode but it is
can leave new mothers feeling completely
more common to experience several episodes
overwhelmed, inadequate and unable to cope.
in a lifetime. It can lead to hospital admission,
They may have problems sleeping, panic
if the person is so unwell they are at risk of
attacks or an intense fear of dying.
harm to themselves.
They may also experience negative feelings towards their child. It affects one in ten
Bi-polar disorder
mothers and usually begins two to three weeks
The mood swings in bi-polar disorder can be
after the birth.
extreme - from highs, where the individual feels extremely elated and indestructible, to
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
lows, where they may experience complete
SAD is associated with the start of winter and
despair,
feelings.
can last until spring when longer days bring
severe
more daylight. When it is mild, it is sometimes
symptoms where they cannot make sense of
called ‘winter blues’. SAD can make the
their world and do things that seem odd or
sufferer feel anxious, stressed and depressed.
illogical.
It may interfere with their moods and with
lethargy
Sometimes
and
people
suicidal
have
very
their sleeping and eating patterns.
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 34
cause depression. It teaches you skills to
How do I get help? Talking
therapies
such
as
cognitive
identify patterns of behaviour and thinking
behavioural therapy (CBT) and some forms of
that are causing you problems and change
counselling and psychotherapy work well for
them.
depression, although you may have to wait to see a therapist on the NHS. You can pay to see
Psychotherapy
someone privately and your GP may be able
Psychotherapy can be more intensive than
to recommend someone. Always check that
counselling
although
any private therapist is registered with a
organisations
often
professional body.
interchangeably. It often looks at how past
people
use
these
and terms
experience may be affecting your life now, so it may involve delving deeply into early
therapy. Your GP can advise you about which
experiences and key relationships.
you might find most helpful. This may take more time, although Counselling
shorter, more focused ways of doing this
Counselling gives people the chance to talk
have also been developed. Interpersonal
through everyday issues that may be causing
therapy focuses on how you relate and
depression and to develop strategies for
behave towards others. It helps you to
resolving them.
build a better self-image and communicate more effectively with others.
Cognitive therapy Cognitive
therapy
cognitive
behavioural
(sometimes therapy
or
called
See more at: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
CBT)
addresses the way you think and how this can
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 35
Mental Health
There are several different kinds of talking
Is this magazine in your doctors waiting room yet?
IF NOT GO TO www.HealthisYourWealth.co.uk and click on subscriptions.
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 36
informed choices. The Infoline gives
Mental Health help and support services If you are experiencing mental health problems or need urgent support, there are lots of places you can go to for help.
Samaritans
information on types of mental distress, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind also has a network of nearly 200 local Mind associations providing local services.
Saneline Telephone: 0845 767 8000 (6pm-11pm) Website: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/ support/helpline
Provides
non-judgmental
Saneline is a national mental health
emotional support for people experiencing
helpline providing information and support
feelings of distress or despair, including those
to people with mental health problems and
that could lead to suicide. You can phone,
those who support them.
confidential,
email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.
Mind Infoline Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday) Email: info@mind.org.uk Web site: www.mind.org.uk/help/ advice_lines Mind provides confidential mental health information services. With support and understanding, Mind enables people to make
ChildLine Telephone: 0800 1111 Email: http://www.childline.org.uk/Talk/ Pages/Email.aspx Website: www.childline.org.uk ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine
counsellor
for
free
about
anything - no problem is too big or too small.
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 37
Mental Health
Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to call) Email: jo@samaritans.org Website: www.samaritans.org
“How to KEEP Motivated?” “You think you can do things but you can't”
“So what can you about it?”
Either you can get someone to help you achieve your goal or find a new goal, something you can do! There maybe some things you will never do again but in the greater scheme of things
This is one of the largest road blocks that you have to overcome. Trying to live at the same
‘are they really that important?’
pace that you did before your accident / Illness and watching other people do things that seem
The danger is that you end up thinking I can’t
like a great idea but in practice may not be
do that anymore and spending so much time
practical in your situation. You can run with
and effort in ‘the recovery phase’ that other
an idea, make plans, spend money, travel to a
just as important (if not more critical) things
destination etc. But when you actually start to
can be missed.
do something you realise that this is not as simple or as easy as it first appears. It’s not
Therefore maybe it's not about getting things
until you break down the task into individual
back to the way they were, perhaps it's about
components that can realise the complexity
making the future better for you and your
and how difficult it maybe. This scenario
family.
happens every month to us and usually results in another disappointment with the question
Remember the glass is full not half full or half
being asked again,
empty but it’s full right to the top! All you have
“Why is this so difficult?”
to do is look at it that way!
Which can then lead to frustration and anger.
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 38
Exercise, “Maintenance for your body !” Are you seeing what is there? “Evidence is not the enemy of informed certainty. However the two should never be juxtaposed. We find what we find, and we believe what we believe.” Before we start, have a look at this square.
were Christ, to be housed together in the Ypsilanti State Hospital in Michigan, USA, in what became known as the Ypsilanti experiment. But far from the stormy encounters he expected, these men got along well, each coming up with complex and often absurd explanations
patient,
Joseph
Cassel,
accurately
observing that the other two ‘were insane What colour is it? We will come back to this later.
whilst confidently maintaining their own delusions. This story was detailed in a
In the late 1950’s a psychologist named Milton Rokeach was inspired by an article he had read about two women both having the delusional belief that they were the Virgin Mary.
and belonged in a mental institution’)
He decided to replicate this and
arranged for three men who believed they
book The Three Christ’s of Ypsilanti by Milton Rokeach in 1964. This classic psychology study is bizarre but anecdotal. Clearly these men were delusional and, when confronted with clear evidence, they refused to accept the obvious
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
reality
but
Page 39
instead
twisted
Therapy
for the beliefs of the other two, (with one
everything around to keep their delusion
they had even finished?
intact at all costs. The question is, how much
often been found to stop asking symptomatic
do we do the same every day? Few of us
or historical questions because they reached an
claim to be the Messiah, but when it comes to
early conclusion, thus failing to unearth key
protecting our beliefs, decisions and first
information.
impressions, psychological research is pretty
reinforcement is known as anchoring bias -
clear: none of us is much better than the men
once the human mind has made a decision we
in Ypsilanti hospital.
are very reluctant to reject it for another
This
form
Medical staff have
of
confirmation
(Wallsten, 1981; Larue, 1995). Based in rationality and Bayesian-reasoning as the scientific and medical worlds are, us
So how can we overcome this? Well, it is not
human actors within them are still human,
easy, and there is no perfect solution.
and carry these behaviours along with us.
Klein’s extensive review provides a few
Alas, those of us educated in these fields
pointers:
seem to be very capable at rationalising
1) Be aware of base rates;
cognitive biases, actually believing they are
2) Consider whether information is truly
the result of a logical thought process. This
relevant, rather than just salient;
often manifests as confirmation bias, with
3) Seek reasons why your decisions may be
potentially serious implications for our
wrong, and entertain alternative hypotheses;
patients. In taking medical histories, medics
4) Ask questions that would disprove, rather
often ask questions that solicit information
than confirm, your current hypothesis;
confirming early judgments. Have you ever
5) Remember that you are wrong more often
listened to a patient tell you the first few
than you think.
symptoms, then make a diagnosis in your
(Klein, 2005)
mind, and decide upon a treatment before
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 40
But
In many areas of research into overcoming
obviously it is yellow. Except of course,
biases and avoiding simple errors, the act of
it isn’t. It isn’t if you are reading this post
writing the presenting factors down, or
on a computer screen or your phone,
working through checklists, repeatedly comes
tablet, or television.
out as a significant factor. This is common
never seen yellow light on any of these
practice in professions such as pilots, military
devices. No one has.
personnel
and
nuclear
reactors
In fact you have
control.
Adopting a similar practice in surgery has
You see, screens do not emit yellow light;
halved the error rate (Cohen, 2003).
they are made up of red, green and blue elements
that
emit
light
at
these
But of course, we all listen to our patients,
wavelengths in varying relative amounts,
and see the world as it is. We are not insane,
referred to as RGB.
and unlike the men in Ypsilanti hospital what
specific proteins in the cone cells of your
we witness is objective and real.
Well,
retina, themselves only responding to
remember at the start I asked you to look at
certain wavelengths, sending a signal to
this?
your visual cortex that decides that a
The light hits
yellow, and tells your conscious mind that that’s what colour it is. A more detailed explanation of this phenomenon can be seen here
(https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=R3unPcJDbCc) or with white light here And I asked you to keep in mind what colour
(https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=uNOKWoDtbSk).
it was? Well, it is yellow isn’t it? Quite
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 41
Therapy
certain pattern of RGB light equals
Oncologists and primary care physicians' If your brain is lying to you constantly about
attitudes toward pain control and morphine
something as simple as what colour you are
prescribing in France. Cancer 1995;76: 2375-
looking at, how can you be sure that your first
2382
impression about that patient you saw or that
Cohen BJ. Theory and Practice of Psychiatry.
theory you believe in is correct? The answer
2003; Oxford University Press, 1st Ed. ISBN-
is that you can’t. Every one of us is in thrall
13: 978-0195149388
to classical confirmation, recall and anchoring
Muller S & Patel HRH.
biases. And if you’re still thinking this doesn’t
checklists: lessons learned from the aviation
describe you, then scroll up to those squares.
industry. Journal of Surgical Simulation.
They’re still yellow, aren’t they?
2013;1:1–4
“Careers do not come with instructions.
BBC
There are no ‘hard and fast’ rules. This is
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7825780.stm
News,
14 th
Jan,
Safe surgery
2009;
http://
because you will work for - and with - other human beings, and people are complex and
Suffered an injury?
confusing creatures.”
Book an appointment with TG Physiotherapy Care today.
Wallsten TS. Physician and medical student bias in evaluating diagnostic information. Med Decis Making 1981;1: 145-64. Klein JG.
Five pitfalls in decisions about
diagnosis and prescribing. BMJ. 2005;330:
TG Physiotherapy Nottingham
Care
has
venues
in
You can contact us on: Tel: 07866-464-385 (Within the UK) Tel: +44 (0) 7866-464-385(Outside the UK) Email: tripti@triptigyan.com
781–783 Larue F, Colleau SM, Fontaine A, Brasseur L.
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 42
Therapy
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 43
bread.
“Importance of Nutrition”
Be selective with your seconds
“more focus on diet and a small amount but frequent exercise !”
Finish your meal with fruit rather than chocolate cake. An apple will help to fill you up more than a couple of squares of chocolate, but both contain similar amounts of
Portion Control Controlling your portions doesn’t mean you
calories.
need to eat tiny amounts or weigh your food. But if we’re eating too much, then we may
Don't pick at leftovers
need to retrain our brains to see a smaller-than
Avoid the temptation to polish off children’s or
-normal portion as satisfying enough. Here
grandchildren’s meals or to nibble leftovers.
are some ways to achieve this:
This is especially difficult to do if you dislike waste however it is probably the most hygienic
Use a smaller plate
thing to do so keep reminding yourself that
A standard-sized portion will look small on a
small children often don’t wash their hands
larger plate. Use a smaller plate to prevent
frequently!
overeating. Use leftovers as another meal You don’t have to finish everything on the
Don’t double your carbs starchy
table! Get into the habit of cooking less and
carbohydrate with your meal, do you need
have a plan to use up leftovers in another meal.
If
you
already
have
some
bread, naan or chapatis as well? You could be doubling your portion! So cut out the extra
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 44
20-minute rule
Eat the right quantity of the right food
Think you haven’t had enough? Wait for
This is not easy to get right but is well
about 20 minutes before reaching for a second
worth the effort you put in as you will be
helping. It can take a little while for you to
rewarded eventually. Remember there is
feel full after you have eaten. So avoid the
little point in working many hours in the
temptation to keep eating and see if you get
gym each week if you are not eating right!
that feeling.
Check food labels Make sure you know what portion the
Managing Your Condition
nutrition information on the front of pack relates to. You maybe surprised to learn which foods contain high amounts of sugars, fats, carbohydrate or calories.
Don’t ‘Go Large’
Snacking
When you’re eating out, watch out for
Perhaps the biggest culprit! The easiest
supersized portions. It’s easier to avoid
trap to fall into and the hardest habit to
temptation if the food isn’t on your plate to
break.
begin with, so say no to the bread basket and consider a small adult portion rather than a
Create some new snacking rules:
large. Define when to snack: Just because you always grab a granola bar and coffee in
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 45
the morning, doesn’t mean you should. Don’t snack because it’s part of your daily routine; do it when you’re a little bit hungry. Don’t
Don’t multitask
punish your rumbling belly. Go ahead and have a bite. Just change what you snack on and the quantity.
when you eat Simply enjoy the flavors of the food. Try to apply
What to snack on?
This basic guide will help you a lot. It’s
this strategy at regular meals, too. A
study conducted at the
University of Birmingham, in England,
biscuits, chocolate bars and crisps any
showed that when you’re distracted
use these alternatives.
during mealtime (watching television), you may be more likely to snack later in the day.
A handful of nuts
Eating the right qty of food, at the right time. Giving 100% at the #gym & resting yet not loosing weight? To see results try
Keep boiled eggs
measuring
in the fridge
months! Eventually you should see a
your
limbs
every
three
difference! It will come, just not as
Replace sweets
quickly as you want it to...
with fruit Drink a glass of lemon water Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 46
Managing Your Condition
not perfect however try and avoid the
efficient?'. I guess the answer to my ques-
“Learn To Pace Yourself” “Can you be too efficient?”
tion is yes. Because efficiency drives is to a conclusion and at the pace we now operate at this can result in making a decisive move, hastily. Typically people with brain injury are not very good at making deci-
It's a funny Question, one I have never asked anyone or myself. I guess before my accident I was classed as ‘super organised and efficient’. However nowadays things take two to
can be created in the process! This drives my
you are not sure which way to jump - find out what the consequences are of doing nothing! At first this sounds like you are in decisive but actually you have consciously made a decision ‘to do nothing!’
partner crazy as from their perspective they have enough things to do without me adding to the list!
It is different in each situation and some things do require expedition however usually your not going to lose significant
The issue with being super efficient is that you become super impatient. Then when things take longer it is a source of annoyance both to you and to everyone else around you. In order to enable other people to continue to 'run at 100 miles an hour' I have learnt to be
amounts of money and nobody is going to die by introducing a delay and the result can be a release of stress and pressure! This pressure and stress can affect your mood, sleeping pattern, physical characteristics plus mental health.
extra courteous. In letting everyone else go first so that they can continue to do things quickly I find myself asking: 'Can you be too
It’s a big jump to conclude but makes sense. Is all this running around and being
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 47
Managing Your Condition
four times longer and sometimes more work
sions, especially rushed ones. Therefore if
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 48
Brain Training “Each issue will include exercises to strengthen your brain!” The rules of brain training: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Try and do a minimum and maximum of thirty minutes each day. Try and commit to doing for ten weeks. This duration requires that you set time to one side to complete this. It has to be challenging to work. If it’s to easy there are no benefits. To keep motivated set yourself rewards. If you complete an exercise give yourself a reward, something to look forward to! As well as doing exercises on your own work with others to increase your social skills.
Improve Cognition
Word Search Exercise For The Brain holiday, Drinks Beach Sea Restaurant Food Language Culture Tanning sunny
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 49
Brain Training Applications “A selection of applications that are fun but will also improve cognition� This maze is much more complex than usual. You start on the left hand side and have to escape to exit on the right hand side. However there are multiple dead
ends and only one solution! Perhaps time yourself to see how long it takes you, take a note of the time and try it again a few weeks later. Have fun!
START
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 50
“MyBrainTraining - the Online-Fitness-Center for your brain!” MyBrainTraining Professional
approximately 10% of patients with schizophrenia commit suicide.
(proven effective in study with Schizophrenia Patients
Depressed schizophrenia patients are
conducted by University of
at particularly high risk for suicide the
Hamburg, Germany, Prof. Steffen
first few months after diagnosis and after
Moritz)
hospital
University 25%
of
schizophrenia
patients experience course-related depression. Depression in patients with schizophrenia is linked to reduced social
and
vocational
functioning,
increased likelihood of psychotic relapse and
Re-hospitalization,
and
other
problems. Depression in patients with schizophrenia also has been linked to undesirable life events, especially “exit events” such as losing people in their lives, as well as suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, Overall,
and it
has
completed been
suicides.
noted
that
Hamburg
The
utilized
MyBrainTraining Professional in a study with a total of 90 subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia and participated
in
a
randomized -
controlled study executed via the Internet.
All
subjects
were
either
former
patients or have participated in online forums
pertaining
to
psychotic
disorders. Various control measures were employed to ascertain their disorder with a high probability, e.g. checks for plausibility. After a baseline
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 51
Improve Cognition
Approximately
of
discharge.
evaluation,
subjects
were
randomly
assigned to three treatment groups:
the so-called “Fish Test”) and high confidence in own judgment in the meta-cognition treatment arm at time
(1) MyBrainTraining
Professional
(standard version). (2) MyBrainTraining
of follow-up. This indicates that patients
Professional
h a ve
b e c o me
mo r e
–
conscious about their problematic
including a meta-cognitive extension
cognitive strategies leading to altering
(now part of the standard version)
of decision making patterns.
(3) Control Group. The frequent use of MyBrainTraining
Notably, subjects showing reluctance to make decisions could, per current readings, be an important indicator for
of depression; the correlation between
avoiding
using MyBrainTraining Professional and
symptoms of psychotic disorders and
the reduction of feeling depressed was
harmful behavioral consequences.
or
reducing
recurring
significant. To The frequent use of MyBrainTraining
learn
more
www.MyBrainTraining.com
Professional with metacognitive extension (assessment
of
confidence
in
please
one’s
judgment; feedback on mistakes when being overly confident or responding too hastily) led to a significant reduction in premature/hasty decision making (i.e. reluctant decision making – measured by
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 52
go
to
Improve Cognition
Professional led to improving symptoms
✔ Daily crosswords, every day
Crossword Puzzle Free
✔ 400 free crosswords in English (American) ✔ Easy of use This is the perfect game for all ages, from kids to puzzle lovers. However if you need a little help?
Crossword Puzzle Free is a crossword puzzle for the entire family. This educational game
✔ Reveal word button ✔ Reveal solution button
lenge and discover an easy and fun way to learn new words and general knowledge.
✔ Check progress button How friendly is it? Easy for all ages to pick up and play. What phone/system is it compatible with? Available on Google Play and iTunes Review of application and rating We give this a ★★★★ rating. Its very good and simple to use plus it’s free and a good time killer!
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Improve Cognition
will test your vocabulary, accept this chal-
✔ Reveal letter button
How friendly is it?
ZigZag
Simple to install, navigate the menu to start the game and easy for all ages to pick up and play.
What will it do? Similar to the game ‘Tilt’ it uses your hand to eye coordination to navigate the path and ‘drive’ the ball forward. This game will Stay on the wall and do as many zigzags as you can! Just tap the screen to change the
improve you concentration and long term may even help with muscle control in upper limbs.
direction of the ball. Try not to fall off the edges! How far can you go?
What phone/system is it compatible with? Available on Google Play and iTunes
Review of application and rating We give this a ★★★ rating. Simple yet addictive, eventually you will get better with practice!
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How friendly is it?
CovertPad
Simple to install, navigate the menu and helps with calculations which we could do but can no longer! What will it do? We use this tool every week to convert weights / measures from imperial to
featured Unit converter, Currency converter
metric and is great when following
and Calculator. It's a simple but the most
recopies to convert fluid ounces to the
powerful
(10,000,000+
number of cups etc. Also very useful
downloads). ConvertPad is intuitive and easy
when looking at houses to convert square
to use. Features fast, real time currency and
metres to feet and working out the size
unit conversion in a clean interface.
of the land (are in hectares to acres)
unit
converter.
Features; * Universal Unit converter and Calculator . Unit Comparison Table . Country-Specific Units * Currency conversions
(Support 160+
What phone/system is it compatible
Currencies)
with?
. Option for selecting favourite exchange rate
Available on Google Play and iTunes We give this a ★★★★★ rating.
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Improve Cognition
ConvertPad is the most powerful and fully
Book Review No Stone Unturned Considering every possibility in their search for remedies to Bart’s catastrophic injuries, the Goldstein’s
explored
several
promising
alternatives, including craniofacial, hyperbaric oxygen, restoration
sensory
learning,
therapies.
Bart’s
and
vision
remarkable
recovery resulted from a combination of conventional medicine and alternative and emerging therapies.
Bart Goldstein was only sixteen when he
TBI has now become the “signature injury” for
suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a car
thousands of wounded warriors returning from
accident in 2001. No Stone Unturned is the
Iraq and Afghanistan; this timely book offers
saga of Bart’s struggle to regain his life. Told
profound insights into what survivors and their
from his father’s point of view, the book
families must face. Anyone struggling with this
chronicles the family’s ordeal, and flashbacks
“invisible” disability will find the book
fill in Bart’s life since he arrived from Korea
insightful, inspiring, and useful.
at the age of five months. We give this book a ★★★★ rating
Health is Your Wealth Magazine
Page 56
Movie Review Broken well. Their old friend James, however, stirs up trouble. James continually picks on Adam, and the two keep getting into trouble at school for fighting. One day a speech competition is announced. Adam wins it, does his speech but gets into another fight with James and the two get expelled. Adam plummets in depression but writes a book and gets it published. Years later his book is this story.
We give this film a ★★★★ rating
When Adam is 8, he gets hit by a car, suffers
It will appeal to head injury survivors and their
brain trauma, one arm and leg will always be
families as it depicts a suite of emotional
weaker than the other and he has a
conflict very well.
pronounced limp. During this time his parents get divorced and he grows up with his mother, Karen. Now Adam is 17, a senior and attending a new school. Jackie, a pretty girl, is nice to him and some of the popular kids, Ethan, follow her lead and treat Adam pretty
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PLEASE NOTE that today the E-Magazine is FREE!!! And can be printed out for your patients to read.
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Key Contacts Sales/ Advertising Gary Simpkims Telephone: +44 (0) 7956 698847 E-mail: gs@healthisyourwealth.co.uk Carolyn Wright Telephone: +44 (0) 1332 416131 E-mail: cw@healthisyourwealth.co.uk
Positive Mental Attitude
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Editor: Editor@HealthisYourWealth.co.uk
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This publication helping increase awareness for these organizations:
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