Feelgood 06-11-2009

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Feelgood Friday, November 6, 2009

Gift of Life

Amy O’Sullivan and others now enjoy full health thanks to family members who generously made a living organ donation: 8,9

STORY TIME

Decoding your children’s dreams and nightmares: 4,5

MY STORY

Young woman on living with mental illness: 7

TESTING TIMES

Fertility specialists debate new genetic screening test: 11

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Take care with hair dye products, warns Arlene Harris, after one woman was left scarred by a colour from Boots Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON UCC TALK: At a Public Forum in UCC this Thursday, — “Microbes and Mankind — how bacteria and viruses shape humanity“ — speakers will discuss how microbes affect our lives. Prof Colin Hill, will use examples such as plague, smallpox and AIDS to illustrate some of the epidemics and pandemics that have shaped our political and social evolution. Prof Fergus Shanahan, consultant gastroenterologist, CUH will speak on “Hygiene, Modern Lifestyle and Disease” and Dr Mary Horgan, consultant physician in infectious diseases at CUH, will discuss the swine flu. Prof Paul Ross, head of food research at Teagasc, will describe how bacteria can be used to benefit human health. The forum will take place from 7.30pm to 9pm in Brookfield Health Science Building.

All are welcome and admission is free.

BABYCARE EVENT: Mallow Late Night Pharmacy, Bellevue, will be hosting a babycare and healthy living event this Wednesday from 10am to 4pm.

Advice available from an instore midwife, dietician, and healthcare representatives. For information call 022-44576.

AWARE GROUP: The new Mallow Aware support group is now meeting on Thursdays at 8pm in the Le Cheile Family Resource Centre, Fair Street, Mallow. All those who feel depressed or anxious are invited to attend. Meetings last 90 minutes and are facilitated by trained volunteers. Further information is available at 066-7194713; www.aware.ie. Helpline: 1890 303 302.

BENEFIT CONCERT: Proceeds from the After The Rain concert at axis Ballymun, Dublin on November 17 will go to The Irish Hospice Foundation for two programmes. The concert will feature the premiere performance of After The Rain by Irish composer Brian Keegan. Tickets are F20 from 01-8832100; www.axis-ballymun.ie, or www.aftertherainconcert.com BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC: There will be an Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) Blood Pressure Clinic this Wednesday at Ballinlough Community Centre, Cork, from 10.30am to 12pm. For information call on 021-4505822. If you have questions about stroke or heart disease you can talk to an IHF nurse Locall 1890 432 787.

DIABETES DAY: World Diabetes Day is on November 14. The Diabetes Federation of Ireland’s southern office will hold a free screening and information event in Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre, Cork this Friday from 10am to 4pm. For more details contact 021-4274229 or email sro@diabetes.ie Items for inclusion in this column can be sent to koreilly8@gmail.com

A DIY DISASTER F OR many women the economic downturn means greying roots are now more of a challenge. The monthly trip to the salon has had to be curtailed and a growing number are turning to DIY. But while most home dye jobs are fairly successful, recently one English woman was left with horrific burns after attempting to colour her own hair.

Zoë Vernon, a call centre worker from Manchester, suffered a severe reaction to Boots Permanent Hair Colour in Ebony Black. She spent three days in a special unit and doctors say it’s one of the worst reactions to a hair product they’ve encountered.

The 22-year-old, who may be left with permanent scarring on her face and neck, says she followed the instructions on the packet and completed a patch test before using the dye, which is currently on sale in Ireland.

She urged people to think twice before attempting to use hair colourants. In a statement to the Daily Mail she said: “People need to be aware of how strong the chemicals in these dyes are. I will not be using a home dye kit again, I’d be too frightened.”

A spokesperson for Boots says the incident is isolated and currently under investigation. “The health and wellbeing of our customers is of paramount importance to us and we are concerned to hear that Ms Vernon has had such an experience. We are now undertaking an immediate and full in-

BURNS VICTIM: Zoë Vernon before (below) and after (left) she suffered a severe reaction to Boots Permanent Hair Colour.

Picture:MEN Syndication

vestigation to help ascertain the cause of this reaction.

“We would also like to remind customers of the importance of following the instructions on hair colourants packs carefully before use, and to ensure that a skin sensitivity test is carried out 48 hours before use.”

Consultant dermatologist, Dr Cal Condon of the Blackrock Clinic echoes this advice. “Instructions are vital and should be very clearly available to customers — if not, the product should be avoided,” he says.

“Regular users often stop reading instructions after a while, but it is best to get into the habit of re-reading before every

use — just in case something has changed.”

The doctor says while it’s impossible to tell what exactly caused this severe reaction, it could be down to an allergic reaction.

“For some people the chemicals in these products may be an irritant,” he explains.

“And others may become sensitised after using them for a long period of time, so it is possible to become allergic to something after years of use.

“The best advice is to always do a patch test before every application of hair dye and if you become irritated in any way, seek medical advice as early intervention could prevent a serious reaction.”

HEALTH NOTES A DOCTOR-led allergy consulting organisation is urging employers to ensure proper ventilation of workspaces following a survey of air quality in 10 offices in Ireland, where occupants were complaining of ill-health.

The survey found eight out of 10 of the premises had inadequate ventilation levels, leading to a rise in carbon dioxide and symptoms of ill-health including headaches, nausea and fatigue. In some cases, the primary source of indoor air contamination was due to biological contamination (with bacteria, moulds and dust mites) of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Some buildings had fresh air intakes located beside exhaust outlets and smoking areas. For more info, visit www.healthfriendlyair.com.

A NEW training tool has been launched by Barnardos, designed to support children and young people who are dealing with domestic abuse or bullying. ‘Supporting Children: Domestic Abuse and Bullying’ is an interactive pack that identifies the issues and symptoms of domestic abuse/bullying.

It provides practical materials on how to approach and support children dealing with these issues. Two further packs — ‘Supporting Children’s Positive Behaviour’ and ‘Childcare Practice for Voluntary Management Committees’ are also available to buy online for F50 plus F7.50 package and posting, or the packs can be bought separately for F20 plus F3 p&p.

Visit www.barnardos.ie/training-resources

FRESH AIR: In a survey of air quality in 10 problem offices, eight had inadequate ventilation systems.

Picture:iStock

COFFEE-lovers get a chance to do a good deed courtesy of a new partnership between Starbucks Coffee Company Ireland and RED. Each time a customer pays with their Starbucks-Red card at participating coffeehouses in Ireland, Starbucks will make a 5c contribution to the Global Fund to help support AIDS programs in Africa.

FISH oils may protect against stroke, according to a study of 41 patients, who underwent surgery to remove plaque build-up — deposits of fatty materials — in their carotid artery, a major neck artery supplying blood to the brain. Researchers found patients with “unstable” plaques (those in danger of rupturing and resulting in stroke) had less omega 3 fatty acids — found in fish oils — than healthier patients.

HIP fracture rates could be reduced if patients at risk of osteoporosis take calcium and vitamin D and get their bone mineral density tested. This is according to a US study of people aged over 50 who underwent an osteoporosis management programme. Their hip fractures dropped by 38%.

ITV sport presenter Craig Doyle launched Ireland’s search to discover what home means to us. If you want to share what home means to you, visit www.homeis.ie.

Denny will donate F1 to the Simon Community on behalf of everyone who shares their thoughts. Denny’s also looking to film people to feature in their TV adverts in 2010 and will donate F10,000 to Simon on behalf of each person involved.

Helen O’Callaghan

feelgood@examiner.ie EDITORIAL: Irene Feighan 021-4802292 ADVERTISING: Niamh Kelly 021-4802215

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

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THE SHAPE I'M IN

Finbar Furey

Key to a fit Furey LEGENDARY folk musician Finbar Furey achieved fame as lead singer of The Furey Brothers and Davy Arthur. These days, the 63-year-old — who had the hit song New York Girls in Martin Scorsese film Gangs Of New York — is working with Terry Wogan for a Children In Need CD. “It’s for underprivileged children. Every country has them. It’s the adults who create the problems in the world, not the children,” says Finbar, who fundraises for children with Down’s syndrome each year.

A father of five, his children range in age from 40 to 17 — the youngest, who came after a gap of 11 years, he describes as ‘plan B’.

“I was abroad making an album a nd Sheila, my wife, wasn’t feeling well . We didn’t know what was wrong and I was phoning every night.

When I got back, she was waiting in the airport with the champagne and two glasses. I said ‘you’re joking!’ She said this’ll keep us quiet for the next 20 years. That youngster is the best thing that ever happened to us — he’s a fabulous football player and hurler.”

What shape are you in?

I put on a lot of weight around 1996. Then one day I took a look in the mirror and realised I was looking like a little bonham. So I went back training and lost weight very slowly over a period of 18 months. I ate a lot less — just a boiled egg for breakfast and my main meal at 5pm.

How do you keep in shape now?

I walk a lot and I don’t slouch along — I go at a good pace.

Do you have any health concerns?

Nothing at all — the whole family’s as clean as a whistle.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I take a lot of cod liver oil. If I’m on the road, I eat very little. I’d have two nice handy meals a day. I eat before 5pm to give myself time to digest.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

I’m an absolute martyr for Indian food and love curry.

For my birthday at the end of September we booked an Indian restaurant. I’ll binge like that for one night and then I’ll get back to square one again.

My father taught me that if you can do something about an issue, do it. If you can’t, let it go

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Just one — my wife, Sheila. I think three’s a crowd.

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What trait do you least like in yourself?

Impatience — I’d be terrible as a music teacher. I expect other musicians to play like I do. When they say: ‘Oh, I can’t play that’, I keep at them. I say to them: ‘God gave you two hands and 10 fingers — for God’s sake, play!’

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Do you pray?

I used to enjoy going to Mass. My father used to say there’s a force, and we’re not strong enough to understand it. I’d go to Mass now if I wanted to ask for help for someone.

What would cheer up your day?

Seeing my kids in good form, walking down the street and having one of the neighbours ask: ‘How are you?’

Every morning, I go out to the garden, smoke a cigarette, read the paper and give thanks for another day — I think: isn’t it brilliant, I’m part of this.

Helen O’Callaghan

IN CHARGE: Finbar Furey, has a healthy attitude to life, takes plenty of cod liver oil along with a healthy dose of walking and music. Picture:Des Barry

When did you last cry?

On my brother, Paul’s anniversary this year. My old fellow used to call us four brothers ‘the four winds’, and Paul was definitely the east wind. We all miss him.

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What would you change about your appearance?

Nothing — I have a good solid face that my parents gave me. I still have all my own teeth.

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What’s your favourite smell?

Lavender — I absolutely love it. I love to pick a few sprigs and put it under my hat.

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What trait do you least like in others?

I don’t like smart-arses. I can tell from a person’s eyes whether that’s what they are. I don’t like people who take a lot and give nothing back.

What would keep you awake at night?

Not much, unless I’ve got a very heavy tour coming up or an early flight in the morning. My father taught me that if you can do something about an issue, do it. If you can’t, let it go.

How do you relax?

Music helps me relax. I love writing too — I’ve been writing poetry since I was 10. I love inventing music. I’m not a great golfer but I play to relax.

I remember once coming back from Australia after a nine-week tour and I was jet-lagged. Hitting a few golf balls in Tramore was like heaven.

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■ FROM FANCIFUL FANTASY TO HORRIBLE HORROR KNOW YOUR Psychologist Dr Pam Spurr’s own children showed her the importance of paying attention to their dreams

SLEEPING

I

CLEARLY recall the moment I realised how important my children’s dreams were in understanding their emotional and developmental state. It was one ordinary morning over a bowl of cereal when my son aged four exclaimed: “Mum, I had the most exciting dream last night about a friendly dinosaur!” I asked him to describe his dream, admittedly paying only casual attention with the busy day ahead at the forefront of my mind.

My son described riding across an open plain on the back of a baby diplodocus. There was such exuberance in his tone and detail in his description that I was caught up in the excitement and touched by the expression on his little face. I’d recently done some dream interpretation seminars, albeit aimed at adults’ dreams, but until that moment I hadn’t really thought about the potential significance of my children’s dreams. It dawned on me that merely flicking through a dinosaur book from the library had touched my son’s inner creativity, sparking his dream.

“Why don’t we go to the museum on Saturday?” I suggested, picking up on his enthusiasm. The idea thrilled him and he couldn’t wait to see the “friendly” dinosaurs as well as some scary ones. After that morning, his dreams of adventures and exploration fuelled many outings, drawings and projects. And it was the same when my daughter was old enough to recount her dreams — they stimulated all sorts of dressing-up costumes, artwork, and little productions in which she roped-in friends to play various roles.

As time went on and I went through a difficult divorce from their father I became sensitive to any nightmarish images in their dreams. There were times when such images said more about how they felt than what they actually said during the day. These raised my awareness to being particularly responsive to their emotional needs.

This is a key point I’d like to share with other parents: your children’s dreams speak volumes about their inner life, not only about happy and confident feelings. Their dreamscapes, as I call them, abound with information about

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■ sweet dreams

■ nightmare scenarios

AS your child’s dreamscapes can be very complicated, images within dreams can serve as a starting point for understanding their meaning. It’s important to bear in mind that your child’s dream may be influenced by a specific context (whether that’s bed-wetting, bullying, problems with siblings etc). Therefore the symbols overleaf are only a guide.

Positive dream images give your child a sense of happiness but they can also indicate levels of confidence and well-being.

They can give you insight into what your child is feeling good about as well as being a springboard for creative play.

how they feel in the face of challenges, say, at school and with their peers, as well as anxieties they might harbour over events in the family and other issues.

Adults’ dreams are bursting with symbolism too. Some of the examples of common symbols in the dreams of children aged four to 11 (see panel) are common to adults’ dreams.

I believe your child’s dreamscapes are so rich that I recommend listening to, and talking about, their dreams and nightmares as a creative parenting technique that provides you with unique information about your child’s innermost thoughts and feelings.

As with the adult mind, when your child

GENTLE probing of bad dreams will give you important details about your child’s coping strategies — does your child freeze in the face of these threatening images, run from them or face them down? These, in turn, indicate how overwhelmed your child feels, or how prepared they feel to face things that worry them. Always use worrying dream symbolism or nightmarish images that your child reports as one piece in the puzzle of trying to work out what may be troubling them. It can be a starting point for open-ended questions about the subject matter of the symbols.

dreams, the limbic system — the primitive brain system involved in our most powerful emotions — goes into overdrive. It throws up all sorts of images and feelings that have meaning deeply rooted in the psyche. Exploring your child’s dreamscapes reveals things percolating deep in their mind. Very often a child absorbs things occurring around them, processes them at this unconscious level, only for them to be revealed in dream images. It’s helpful to think of their sleeping mind as actually “awake” but at another level — the unconscious mind is willing to reveal things that in waking life your child may keep to themselves.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

A perfect example can be found in Mark’s nightmare. Mark was eight when he had a terrifying nightmare of being on a ship that resembled his home but felt “wrong”. Waves started to envelop the ship and him. Every time he moved the waves came closer to completely swamping him. He felt helpless in the face of these waves despite the ship looking like his home. Mark had woken up and gone into his parents’ room for comfort.

A little probing found that his parents argued frequently and believed he wasn’t old enough to understand these rows or be affected by them. However, these did overwhelm Mark and the crashing waves were a

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CHILDREN’S HIDDEN WORLD ■

DUTY

Some common themes from slumberland are snooze news ■ Flying or having other extraordinary powers Images around these themes can symbolise your child going through a positive period of personal and emotional growth.

■ Wild animals on the loose Lions, tigers, wolves and so on that roam around unfettered usually signify a specific anxiety-provoking situation. It may be the fear of a teacher or a bully and this fear takes the form of a wild animal.

■ Discovering something such as buried treasure, special implement, or exotic item Symbols such as these show that your child has just learnt something new that he or she is pleased about whether that’s a particular skill or a new project.

■ Doing something in front of a classroom or peer group Dream images where your child sings, speaks, or shows something to their class or peer group, accompanied by happy feelings, reveals a very positive, confident adjustment to that particular group.

■ Raging fire or volcano These may signify an explosive sense of fear and represent a new and frightening situation a child has been put into.

■ Talking animals or family pets that act like companions This demonstrates that your child feels very attached to, and gets comfort from, a household pet. Or if it’s not a pet, but is still a happy experience with a talking animal, it can symbolise a positive connection to nature.

dream symbol of how “enveloped” Mark felt about life at home. This came as a revelation to Mark’s parents who acted to reassure him and resolved their discord.

Not only can you learn much about their emotional state, but your child’s dreams and nightmares often tie in with their developmental stage and how they’re coping with demands at school. Take Fiona, 10, who had a nightmare about her science teacher.

She found herself in the science classroom without her school jumper and tie. Suddenly the science teacher yelled at her to: “Come here!” He demanded to know where her school uniform was but she had

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no idea what to tell him. He chastised her repeatedly in front of the class, as all the class stared, and no one attempted to stop him.

When, over breakfast, Fiona mentioned her horrible nightmare, her mother naturally started questioning her about it. She knew Fiona always went to school with her uniform and wondered what was really at the bottom of this. She then discovered the science teacher had sometimes embarrassed and undermined Fiona in class by singling her out when she didn’t fully understand something. Her mother had been surprised

by Fiona’s declining science marks that year.

Now she had an explanation and could address this appropriately with her daughter.

She also planned a meeting with the science teacher.

Of course, it is not always possible to understand the symbols in your child’s dreams.

And certainly dream symbolism at times can be absurd, having been strung together by a child’s sleeping mind from unrelated incidents. In such cases the symbols don’t have any real meaning. However, the simple act of paying that special bit of attention to what your child says about their dreams is enormously beneficial to your relationship.

When a child feels you’re interested in

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

■ Monsters, ghosts and ghouls Unlike nightmares of wild animals symbolising specific worries, images of monsters and ghosts tend to represent generalised anxieties. These anxieties can take the form of shyness, timidity and clinginess.

Like these nightmare images, their feelings of anxiety are hard for a child to describe.

■ Meeting their favourite sports or pop star Dream images where the child gets to meet someone famous symbolises wish fulfilment. It’s a very straightforward emotional state: something they’d love to happen simply occurs in their dream.

■ Scaling a mountain or a big wall with a positive and happy feeling Your child is excelling at something, perhaps at school. He or she is rising to the challenge and gaining confidence.

■ Getting lost in a jungle, wilderness, or other unknown territory When a child has a nightmare containing such an unknown image it often symbolises the sense that he or she is completely lost with a situation.

Often such nightmare images aren’t as frightening as others but are still unpleasant, often relating to things such as developing skills and academic achievement.

■ Being taunted by other children Such images can symbolise actual bullying that your child is experiencing or a sense that they don’t fit in.

■ Falling off a high wall, from a building or a cliff This can imply that your child feels unsupported at home over something he or she feels anxious about.

something generated from within them — not just when they bring home something from school that’s been marked, or they achieve a certain level some skill — they immediately begin to feel more secure.

Such external things show progress, skill-development and achievement are important but shouldn’t take precedence over your child and their inner emotional life.

Their dreams give you the chance to connect with them in a way that’s rare and special, strengthening your parent-child bond.

■ Your Child’s Dreams: A Parent and Child Workbook by Pam Spurr is published by Connections at £ 7.99 (F8.90)

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Government and banking betrayal of the trust placed in them stems essentially from a betrayal of self

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Trust in yourself Tony Humphreys

T

RUST is essential in a mature relationship, be it between a parent and a child, husband and wife, lover and lover, friend and friend, citizen and politician, client and banker, employee and manager, church-goer and priest, teacher and student.

It is difficult to ignore the great betrayal of trust within government, church, banks, other financial institutions, health boards and many workplaces.

It is going to take considerable personal reflection and mature action on the part of individual politicians, clergy, bankers, financiers, managers, health-care personnel and employers to regain the trust of their clients.

What is often not appreciated is that the betrayal of trust that has been part and parcel of the economic recession belies a deeper betrayal of one’s own integrity. Unless the inner betrayal is resolved, then the betrayal of others is likely to continue.

The source of the inner letting down of self can be traced back to one’s earlier years, and the key relationship between each parent and the child. An infant emerges from the womb fully confident of being loved and cared for, and does all in its power to attract the parent to his or her unique and individual presence.

When the child experiences unconditional holding for his presence — physical, sexual, emotional, intellectual, behavioural, social, creative and spiritual — he becomes secure and trusts that it is safe for him to fully reveal and inhabit his own individuality. As a result, he learns to trust self and significant others.

This experience will be repeated with other significant people in the neighbourhood, play school, primary school, church, and so on.

However, when a child experiences a lack of unconditional love, or has little sense of belonging, then the darkness of this betrayal leads to the powerful protective response of repression of his true self and the creation of a false/shadow self.

It is in the fashioning of this false persona, that the child learns to not trust his own power — being real and authentic. If the child were to show trust in self in the face of betrayal of trust by the significant others (mother, father, teachers, aunts, uncles, doctors, nurses) in his life, he would be in even greater peril. It is in this way that an inner and outer world of untrustworthiness is formed. The greater the betrayal of trusts, the greater the inner protective betrayal has to be.

As adults, we need to examine the whole

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issue of trust and to determine whether or not we are continuing to depend on others for our security rather than learning to depend on ourselves. In redeeming our trust in our own unique nature, we will encounter considerable risks — the enemies are still out there — but while there is a comfort in being hidden, it is an utter disaster for ourselves and, indeed, for all others — especially significant others — when we do not find and express the fullness, breadth and depth of our individuality.

Such an inner examination needs to be integral to the training and preparation of all professionals, especially as they occupy positions of power over others, and because their own, unresolved inner betrayal of self can lead to havoc in their personal, interpersonal and professional lives. It is in this way that personal effectiveness lies at the heart of professional effectiveness, that an inner trustworthiness determines an integrity and trustworthiness in personal, interpersonal, and professional relationships.

It is worrying that those professionals who

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A DIFFERENT VIEW ON LIFESTYLE ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL: As long as we betray our own integrity, we will continue to betray others.

Picture: iStock

betrayed the trust clients had in their care are not even remotely examining their actions.

There is a frenetic scramble going on to get things back to the way they were, with little or no consciousness that this return to defensive ways, in time, will only lead to another recession.

The word recession is better understood as a break to review how the present economic crisis has come about, and to examine the inner dark ‘recesses’ of the mind that led to the grossly neglectful actions that are apparent to many of us, but not to those who perpetrated them.

Lessons from history are not learned when individuals fail to examine their greed, avarice, arrogance, denial, egocentricity, depersonalisation and target-fixated mentality.

The only hope is that clients and voters will put a lot more trust in themselves and monitor, closely, the actions of those professionals to whom they entrust their health, wealth, and overall well-being. It is best never to entrust yourself totally to anybody — professional or otherwise. Trust and take responsibility for your self and keep a keen weather eye on the professional practice of service providers and those who govern.

■ Dr Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist and is author of several books on practical psychology including The Power of ‘Negative’ Thinking

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

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A new website finds ways to boost mental health, Colette Sheridan reports

Road to recovery I

SOLATION was one of the biggest problems 24-year-old Amy Lalor experienced during the worst periods of her mental health issues. The Dubliner, who lives in Cork, has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and is a recovering substance abuser having been addicted to aerosol sprays, alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy.

She welcomes the launch yesterday of reachout.com, a web-based service that helps young people to help themselves through tough times and find ways to boost their mental health and well-being.

While Lalor is now getting expert help, she felt very alone during the bad times. “There is a big stigma attached to mental health problems in Ireland. When people have something wrong with them, they tend not to talk about it. The fear of people’s reaction is debilitating. I’m now comfortable talking about how I feel because I have an understanding of myself. Three years ago, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth to my friends or anyone. I didn’t know what to say because my head was so messed up”.

Lalor attends Grow, a support group for people with mental health problems and also sees a psychiatrist. She has spent time at the Rutland Centre in Dublin as well as Renew, a centre for addiction recovery in Cork.

“A lot of people think addiction is just selfindulgence and that depression is just being lazy. There are very closed minds when it comes to these issues and it’s hard to deal with that.”

Lalor says her problems started when she was 13 when her mother’s partner moved into the family home. Her parents had split up when Lalor was eight years of age. “I was under a lot of stress and my school work suffered. I had no motivation or concentration. I started taking anti-depressants when I was 17. My mother had caught me inhaling aerosols and took me to the doctor. I stopped taking the anti-depressants after six months as I didn’t feel they were helping. I had been saving them up and was thinking of taking an overdose. But my mother found the tablets.”

At 18, Lalor had to leave the family home as she wasn’t getting on with her mother. She moved in with her father and later, stayed with her older sister. Three years later, Lalor started treatment at the Rutland Centre.

She says her substance abuse was “a way of escaping reality”. The Rutland Centre “was tough and I don’t think I was ready for it but it set me on the path I’m on today. I had to bring my family into the centre and talk about what I was like to be an addict.”

Lalor’s difficulty with relationships, problems regulating emotions and dealing with certain situations was diagnosed as borderline personality disorder.

“When I got this diagnosis, it was as if someone had gone into my head and written everything down. The symptoms described me down to a tee. I was so relieved that I wasn’t going crazy and that there was something I could do.”

Currently on medication, Lalor says her psychiatrist is careful not to prescribe her any drugs that are addictive. “My psychiatrist says that I won’t be on tablets forever. She’s very good and I’m able to talk to her. I attended an addiction counsellor during the summer.

Feelgood

PROPER SUPPORT: While Amy Lalor now has expert support, she felt very alone when her mental health was in a bad state.

Picture: Denis Minihane.

A helping hand for young people REACH OUT was started in Australia in 1998 by Jack Heath whose cousin committed suicide. It has just been launched in Ireland as reachout.com run by the Inspire Ireland Foundation (inspireireland.ie) with support from Headstrong.

One of its main funding bodies is the Irish philanthropic organisation, The One Foundation.

It aims to improve young people’s health and wellbeing

by building skills and providing information, support and referrals. It has a privacy policy that safeguards information from site users.

■ Reach Out helps young people by improving their understanding of mental health issues and providing information to improve understanding of other people’s experiences.

■ It increases people’s ability

But I stopped when I started studying at the Cork College of Commerce.”

Lalor is studying applied psychology and social care and hopes, with further study, to become a counsellor. As well as attending Grow meetings, she uses the website, spunout.ie, which provides support and advocacy opportunities to young people throughout the country.

“I’m in touch with people who under-

to bounce back from a tough time by building communication, problem solving and coping skills and thinking styles.

■ It breaks down the stigma attached to seeking help and it connects young people to each other so that stories can be shared and support can be found in a safe and positive environment.

■ For more information log onto reachout.com

stand. They all suffer from mental health issues and it’s great to be able to talk to them.

It’s therapeutic to be able to write how you feel on a computer. Nobody is sitting there judging you. You can help others because of your experience. It takes you away from yourself. The first thing I try to do if I’m feeling very bad is to call somebody. You might feel that you’re a burden on them, but you’re not. You’re probably helping them.”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Picture: iStock

Lalor says she is not out of the woods yet.

“I still have a tendency to get panicky and anxious. What makes me anxious is being by myself a lot or just not thinking right. I find it hard to pinpoint but I’m getting better at managing it. When you’re going through mental health issues, it’s like being pushed into a rose bush. It really hurts. When you’re coming out of it, you still feel some pain but at least, you’re on the way out.”

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GIVING OF ONESELF Arlene Harris says waiting lists for people on dialysis could be drastically reduced if living donations were embraced

NO HESITATION: RTÉ journalist Vivienne Traynor in her kitchen. Insert, her nephew, Martin, who received one of her kidneys. Picture: Maxwells

A

LMOST 1,700 people are on dialysis in Ireland and 850 of those are awaiting a kidney donation. With the majority hoping to be the recipient of a deceased donor’s organ, they could be waiting for four years.

If these patients received a kidney from a living relative, the waiting time for surgery would be drastically cut, their prognosis would be significantly greater and their longevity greatly extended.

Living donors are commonplace in many countries, but due to the death of a donor 25 years ago, the once-thriving practice is only making a slow return. Mark Murphy, chairperson of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA), is campaigning for the resurgence of a living-donor programme, supported and funded by the government.

“As with any major operation, there is a slight risk of death,” he says. “The system was traumatised when a donor died, but it is now back and is currently operating on up to 20 living donors a year,” he says.

“This is within expectations, but if we could increase numbers, then, obviously, there would be fewer people on waiting lists.”

Murphy says organ donation needs to be made more accessible and patients’ rights legalised. “We have sent a proposal to the Health Minister, outlining the need for legislation that would offer a social welfare payment, similar to maternity pay, to donors who are off work while recuperating,” he says. “There are also a number of other issues, which, when dealt with, will make it easier for Irish people to donate an organ to their loved ones.”

When RTÉ journalist, Vivienne Traynor, 38, donated a kidney to her nephew, last July, she highlighted the extraordinary lengths some people will go to save another life.

Mum to Holly, 12, Joe, 10, and Alison, 2, and married to Justin Treacy, also an RTÉ journalist, she decided, along with several of her family members, to undergo tests to see if she was a suitable donor for her nephew, Martin. Results showed she was the closest match and she immediately offered to donate one of

125 deceased kidney transplants take place each year Feelgood

her kidneys to the 29-year-old, who was suffering from kidney failure.

“Both my sister and I were deemed a good match for Martin, but my kidneys were slightly larger, so were thought to be the better option,” she says.

“Once I had decided to go through with the operation, I went on line and tried to find out as much as I could. Unfortunately, there is very little information available in Ireland, but I did find some American sites that were invaluable,” she says.

Things progressed rapidly from there, and, on July 17, Vivienne and her nephew underwent surgery in Coventry University Hospital, in Britain (patients with underlying complications are not transplanted in Ireland).

Now fully recovered and just recently back at work, the journalist is positive about the experience.

“Having read everything about organ donation, I knew that the difference my kidney would make to Martin’s life would be far greater than anything that would happen to me,” she says.

“The operation was a total success, my nephew has his life back, and mine is unchanged, apart from a few abdominal scars — everything worked out fantastically,” she says.

The same is true for Deirdre and Ned Crowe, from Waterford. A 53-year-old store worker, Ned had been suffering from polycystic kidney disease and was on the waiting list for a transplant from a deceased donor.

But weakening health and daily dialysis meant he had no quality of life, and his three sons — Sean, six, Niall, seven and David 13 — were missing out on time with their father.

So, student nurse Deirdre decided to take things into her own hands and put herself forward as a potential donor.

“Organ donation between spouses was unheard of in this country,” says the 40 year old.

“But I knew it was done routinely in America, so I approached Ned’s doctors here and asked if they would look into it for me.”

Surgical and medical advances means it’s now possible to perform successful transplant operations between people who are not related. So, after a series of physical and psychological assessments, Deirdre was pronounced a positive candidate for kidney donation.

That was almost three years ago, and now the Crowe family is proof of the success of a living donor transplant. Both parents are in their full health and, apart from a few physical scars, the stress of the surgery is just a distant memory.

“When I decided to donate an organ to Ned, everyone was worried,” Deirdre says.

“My parents didn’t think I was strong enough.

Ned didn’t want me to go through it and the boys were obviously anxious about both of us having surgery. But I wasn’t afraid — I knew it would all be okay. When you see the person you love suffering on a daily basis, you know you have to do it,” she says.

Waiting list for deceased kidney is approximately three to four years

When you see the person you love suffering on a daily basis, you know you have to do it — Deirdre Crowe

Living donor programme

SPECIAL BOND: Amy O’Sullivan, who received part of her aunt Ann Marie’s liver, shows a picture of herself as a baby. Insert, Ann Marie who is now very close to her niece. Picture: Dan Linehan And despite his reservations, husband Ned’s quality of life and life expectancy wouldn’t be the same today if it wasn’t for his wife’s donation.

“I was practically dead before the operation,” he says. “I had no energy and wasn’t able to do anything — the surgery has totally transformed my life.

“I was so nervous for Deirdre, but we had to do something, as my sons needed their father back and my wife wanted her husband. My life has begun again and I am now fitter than ever,” he says.

Kidneys are the most common organs donated by living donors, but Dublin woman, Annemarie O’Sullivan, gave part of her liver to her niece in a pioneering operation three years ago.

Diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer at just four months old, Amy O’Sullivan was a very sick little girl. After numerous bouts of chemotherapy, it was decided she needed a liver transplant.

Various members of the family volunteered to be tested, but it was her aunt who was the closest match.

“Amy was just nine months old when we were scheduled for surgery,” says Annemarie.

“It was an extremely tense time, there were two lives at risk, but I never had second thoughts — without my liver donation, Amy’s

1,700 people on dialysis in Ireland. Over 550 on waiting list. A further 300 awaiting

chance of survival was very slim.”

So, in 2005, the 34-year-old singleton underwent surgery to remove 20% of her liver, while, simultaneously, her young niece had her entire liver removed to make way for transplantation.

The operation was a success. Amy bounced back to perfect health and, after a couple of weeks, scientist Annemarie was back at work.

“Although I had major surgery, I was out of hospital after a week and entirely back to normal after six weeks,” she says. “And, since then, the operation had absolutely no impact on my life — there is nothing I cannot do and the only reminder is a scar.

“But, as far as my niece is concerned, it has turned her world around completely — she is a happy, healthy little girl now and we have the most amazing bond together — it was really worth it,” she says.

“I would encourage other people to think seriously about donation — and if they can’t face being a living donor, they should at least carry donor cards,” she says.

Amy’s mother, Mary, says they will never be able to thank Annemarie enough for her extraordinary gift. “Annemarie did something so amazing — we will always be indebted to her for what she has done — she is an absolute angel who has given our daughter the chance of life,” she says.

SPOUSAL SUPPORT: Deirdre Crowe and her husband, Ned. Deirdre nominated herself as a donor for her husband, despite the rarity of such a procedure here. Picture: Patrick Browne Ireland has an impressive record for deceased organ donation: a 50% higher rate per capita than Britain. When the late Frank Deasy went public about his need for a liver transplant on the Joe Duffy Show recently, over 10,500 requests were generated for donor cards.

But the living donor programme is still at the fledgling stage. Professor Peter Conlon is a consultant nephrologist and renal transplant physician at Beaumont Hospital. He says we need to establish a larger pool of living donors, in order to reduce waiting lists and save money for the HSE. “As with everything in this financial climate, there is not enough funding to promote a thriving living donor programme in Ireland,” he says. “We can’t actively look for people to donate their organs to loved ones, but we can discuss the matter with recipients and let them know the benefits.

“Kidneys from a living donor tend to last longer than those from a cadaver — in some cases, up to 10 years,” he says. “Also, every living donor will save F1m for the health system,

Surgery usually takes place on emergency basis as soon as organ becomes available

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

as that is what it costs to keep a patient on dialysis while they wait for a kidney to become available.”

In Britain, there is a handful of anonymous donors where the living donor programme is well established. But the IKA and Beaumont would be quite cautious about accepting an anonymous donor.

Professor Conlon says the shortfall in donations would improve if more living donors came forward.

“We have a very good record for organ transplants in this country,” he says. “We are currently 10th in the world for deceased donors and have a 97% success rate for transplants.

“We performed 10 operations on living donors last year, and, this year, that figure has doubled, but waiting lists would be cut if more people were aware of the possibility of donating an organ.”

■ There are currently around 25 living donors being processed.

■ 16 transplants from living donors have taken place this year.

■ Waiting time from consent to transplant is about three months.

Benefits of transplants from living donors: ■ Surgery is elective so is less stressful for everyone involved.

■ In some cases, the operation can be planned before the need for dialysis.

■ Recipients who are transplanted prior to dialysis have better long-term transplant survival.

■ A transplanted kidney from a living donor lasts on average between 18-28 years.

Risks involved in transplantation: ■ It’s a major operation — complications may occur.

■ There is a one in 3,000 chance of death.

■ Patients will need to take time off work before and after surgery.

■ For more information, visit www.ika.ie or call 1890-543639.

Keeping a patient on dialysis costs around F1m per annum

A kidney from a deceased donor lasts on average 15 years

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Q

Dr Niamh Houston

FAMILY

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Dr Niamh Houston is a GP with a special interest in integrative medicine. If you have a question about your child’s health email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

CAN you tell me about the swine flu vaccine, Is it safe to give to children? What should you do if your child gets swine flu?

A. The swine flu (H1N1 flu) pandemic has, at breath-taking speed, reached global proportions since it was first identified in Mexico last April. The number of people attending their GP with flu-like illness has increased and the figures are expected to rise as winter arrives. For most people, swine flu is a mild illness from which they recover at home without any special treatment. However, the swine flu seems to cause a more severe illness in younger children and pregnant women, as well as those with pre-existing health problems such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

The HSE swine flu vaccination programme is started on Monday. Before a national roll out, the vaccination is being offered first to people believed to be at high risk.

■ Pregnant women from 14 weeks to six weeks after giving birth ■ Anyone aged over six months and under 65 years who has heart or kidney or lung disease or diabetes, or who are immunosuppressed.

People aged 65 and over seem to have some immunity to swine flu so they are not in the most at-risk group and will be vaccinated at a later stage.

At the moment, clinical tests on the vaccines are being done in various countries, so more information is becoming available of the safety profile and the effectiveness of it. Like all other vaccines, swine flu vaccines has to be put through a rigorous testing process before being licensed by the EMEA (European Medicines Agency). Young children (under 10) need two doses of the flu vaccine because their immune system is less well developed. Protection begins two to four weeks after vaccination.

If your child has something that looks like the flu, with fever and chills, headache, body ache, coughing, sore throat, they should be kept at home until at least 24 hours after their symptoms go away. Make sure your child drinks enough fluids and gets a lot of rest. If your child has asthma, diabetes heart disease, a neurological problem, or a weakened immune system get him seen by his doctor. Any child under three months with a temperature should always be checked out.

Parents should watch their child for signs that he or she is getting worse and get urgent medical care if your child develops any of the following: flu-like symptoms which improve but then return with fever or a worse cough, not drinking enough fluids, has severe or persistent vomiting, not urinating well, irritable, drowsy or not interacting well. Talk to your GP and be aware

FLU FEARS: While swine flu is a mild illness for most people, it can be severe for younger Picture: iStock children and pregnant women. of what is going on in your area.

Q. My 10 year old has been diagnosed with migraine. I thought only adults suffered with this. What can I do to help reduce the frequency of attacks?

A. Unfortunately, migraines are common in children. A typical migraine attack can last from one to 72 hours and cause an intense and pounding headache, sometimes with nausea. Light and noise can make the pain of migraine worse and often the child will look pale and not want to eat anything and withdraw to a quiet, cool, dark place to rest.

It’s not something that should be self-diagnosed, so I am glad to hear that your child has had an accurate diagnosis by your doctor. Other causes of recurrent, frequent headaches would need to ruled out first.

Headaches due to a brain tumour are rare, and can be discovered by a physical examination and tests such as MRI or CT scan.

Start keeping a headache diary. Write the date and time of day of the headache, the severity of headache (on a scale of one to 10), the location of the headache, how long it lasts and any activity, food, stress that you think may be related. Simple lifestyle changes can make a difference such as making sure meals are not skipped, not

spending too long at the computer, getting enough sleep and regular exercise. Most children will have only one or two migraine attacks per month, and over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or paracetemol taken within 30 minutes of onset of the pain is the mainstay of treatment.

For children and adolescents who average one or more migraine headaches per week, there are preventative medications that are available. Experts believe that the likelihood of getting migraines is inherited. If there is a family history of migraine, there is a greater chance of children having these types of headaches.

Some doctors teach a technique called Biofeedback to patients with migraine. It helps a person learn to relax and use the brain to gain control over certain body functions (heart rate and muscle stress) that can cause tension and pain. If a migraine begins slowly, many people can use biofeedback to stop the attack.

Acupuncture has also been shown to help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

Both these treatments are suitable for older children and teenagers.

Certain herbal remedies have been shown to help some people, but their safety and effectiveness is children is not fully known.

NOTE: The information contained in Dr Houston’s column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor first

Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD

Feelgood

FRAGILE as glass from a gastro bug’s efforts to wreak havoc, I considered the lesson life had taught me with my head down the loo.

It is while death is doubtless the great leveller, a spot of spewing can knock us flat too.

A woman with her head in the can has less airs than a g string and does not want an audience to witness her hacking and hawking.

The bathroom is her sanctuary, the toilet bowl her repository and she clings to this trunkless leg of porcelain.

It offers cold comfort to each vile vomit and reminds her of her mortal soul. Sat by its side, she suffers in silence, the nausea taking its toll.

The next time she hurls, her young son overhears and decides to investigate the sound. He enters the bathroom and espies

some poor creature sitting, dejected, on the ground. Her hair is disheveled, her face pale and gaunt and she can’t keep anything down.

He sees that it’s his mother and rushes to her side, begging her to tell him what’s wrong. His tenderness is touching, she’s close to tears, but for his sake, she wants to be strong.

“It’s nothing Lughaidh, Mammy’s a bit sick,” she says, urging him to scarper to the playroom. Her words are scarcely uttered when she feels her stomach heave and resumes her place beside the toilet bowl. Another wet retch leaves her shuddering as her son looks on in admiration.

“Do it again Mammy,” he says gleefully, playfully, clearly quite thrilled by what he’s seen. He approaches the loo, peers over the rim and into a sea of bilious green. “Do it again Mammy,” he pleads,

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

“I want to see you do it, OH PLEASE.” She does because she has to and not because he asked and he is pleased as punch with this new trick. He decides to try it out, leans over the bowl, and before she can stop him, he spits. “Look Mammy,” he cries, “I can do it too,” and he spits. And spits. And spits.

This duet of hawking is not to her liking so Mammy tries to bring it to a halt. She explains to her son that puking’s not a game and she’d rather he went playing ball. But spitting’s more fun so he sticks to his guns and together they burp and gawk. He finally gives up when he runs out of burps and when Mammy slides to the floor. Besides he hears his favourite theme tune playing downstairs and wants to see what’s in store. Mammy is fine for passing the time but Balamory is less of a bore.

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A new test offers hope for couples trying to conceive, says Ailin Quinlan

One step closer A

is as promising at it might be, and wait for the costs to NEW genetic-screening test, which more than doubles the success of IVF (in vitro fer- come down — it’s about £2,000 (F2,232) at the moment. tilisation) could be available in Irish clinics “Obviously if it bears fruit and continues to look as within two years. promising, we would consider It would be “cruel” and using it. “unethical” not to provide “Most clinics who do IVF it, once the testing procedo not do any genetic tests on dure has been proven bethe embryo. This is a British yond reasonable doubt, technology applied to an IVF says Dr David Walsh, unit in the United States — it’s medical director of the been more common in the Sims International FertilUSA to do these genetic tests ity Clinic in Dublin, one on embryos before they’re put of the country’s biggest back into the womb, but most IVF clinics. clinics here don’t test emHe described the procebryos.” dure as “one step closer to Although testing is not routhe Holy Grail” of the fertiltinely carried out on embryos ity profession. in this country, Dr Walsh indiAccording to British sciencates he is optimistic about the tists, the screening technique, future of the test: “I think the called Comparative Genomic technology would be proven Hybridisation (CGH), detects ultimately — you have to be as abnormalities in the number of FERTILITY BREAKTHROUGH: It would be ‘cruel’ chromosomes in an egg or em- not to provide CGH if its success is proven, says Dr close to 100% sure as possible about this and once the techbryo.

David Walsh. Picture: Maura Hickey nology reaches that, certainly By using CGH, the best emnearly every clinic in the bryos can be selected and transworld, including Ireland will offer it — but until then any planted into the mother’s womb.

While the findings are extremely exciting, experts here clinic will hold back.”

It’s crucial to first carry out comprehensive testing, he emphasise that CGH is still primarily “unproven” technology, and would have to undergo rigorous testing pro- says, pointing to the area of pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS). “There were more babies born in the cedures before being released onto the Irish market. group of patients who did not get the screening as part of Seven out of eight top Irish fertility clinics surveyed said they did not yet offer the test and one clinic failed to their IVF treatment, than to those who did get the screening. PGS can help a certain section of the population but respond to the query. is not for universal use. So we need to be sure this latest “We’re very interested in it but the Irish Medicines test will help people — beyond a reasonable doubt.

Board has a very high regulatory standard — between “With CGH, what they’re doing is taking cells from a F300 and F500 of the F4,000 cost of an IVF cycle is blastocyst embryo on day five. This test is essentially a step spent on costs incurred as the result of regulation,” says closer to the holy grail of our profession in that it tells us Dr Walsh, adding that as far as he was concerned, once with more accuracy which embryo is most likely to develthe technology was proven beyond a reasonable doubt it op into a baby. would be “unethical” not to introduce the test.

“It is also the case that, where there is little hope, you “The idea is that you could choose one embryo that can more quickly tell patients that a particular fertility cycould become a baby,” he explains.

It’s very early days for the test, agrees Dr John cle is not likely to work. I think it’s going to be very useWaterstone, medical director of the Cork Fer- ful.

“If we know that it is robust and can be used for this tility Centre — but, he says, if it is proven reliable, the Cork Centre will consider using it: purpose it could be in operation in Irish clinics by 2011 “It’s a very preliminary test. It’s a brand-new — within a year or two of it being confirmed as a valid technique and we’ll have to wait and see if it and reliable technology.”

WHAT is Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (CGH)?

■ CGH is a screening process that appears to more than double the chances of having a healthy baby through IVF — and remove the risk of Down’s syndrome.

THE FACTS

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■ It screens embryos for genetic abnormalities by detecting abnormalities in the number of chromosomes in an egg or embryo.

■ By using CGH, the best embryos can be selected and transplanted into the mother's womb. So far, more than 20 babies have been born as a result of the screening.

Picture: iStock

Feelgood

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■ According to a study by British scientists, 66% of women became pregnant after screening, which was more than double the amount of women who became pregnant without the screening (28%).

■ This makes it significantly more effective than normal IVF, where between a quarter and a third of pregnancies usually end up as live births.

■ Many of the 115 women in the study were on their “last chance” of IVF — aged 39 and having already undergone two failed IVF cycles — so the test is believed to double the rate of conception, even for patients in their late 30s.

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Let them eat cake Roz Crowley

C

OELIACS spend a lot of time reading food labels.

Avoiding foods with gluten is no fun, and means regular flour and products with porridge oats are off the menu. No oatie biscuits, no light fairy cakes, no light pastry, no tossing fish in flour before frying. Many sauces, including gravies, tomato sauces and mayonnaise, are thickened with flour.

“It’s embarrassing going into restaurants,” says Claire O’Brien, a coeliac who wants to enjoy eating out, but finds the trouble of explaining that she cannot eat flour-thickened sauces and gravies, foods made with batter and a huge range of desserts, tiresome. She is the latest to add to a growing band of excellent suppliers of gluten-free foods, who understand that coeliacs are entitled to tasty food as much as the rest of Delicious Gluten-Free Scones, F2.70 each Single-packed to avoid contamination at all stages of storage for cafes, these can be warmed up in the packet. The scones will suit those will multiple intolerances of gluten, dairy and yeast, and have no salt or hydrogenated fats. All the products in the Delicious range are worth trying, especially the chocolate brownies, already mentioned on this page. The company also makes pizza bases and takes orders for gluten-free wedding cakes. www.delicious.ie.

us. Her new company, Gan Gluten, is supplying cafes in Cork, such as Fellini, on Carey’s Lane, where I tasted her sausage rolls, listed below. News of this new company is hot off the presses, and, following years as a chef in her sisters’ Farm Gate restaurants in Cork and Midleton, she plans a wider range of savoury and sweet treats, and already bakes cakes flavoured with orange and chocolate, lemon, orange and coffee, selling at F7.50 and F8.95 for 500g sizes.

Well-established is the dynamic Denise O’Callaghan, whose company, Delicious Gluten-Free, is now producing single-packed scones and bread rolls for restaurants, which saves them the trouble of cooking gluten-free foods separate from others that could contaminate them. Details of both below.

Because flour is so often added to convenience foods and restaurant food, gluten-free food is a problem, but with demand increasing, due, in part, to better diagnosis, there are delicious gluten-free foods to be enjoyed. This is the best we could find.

Dee’s Organic Spicy Bean Burger, 2 x 115g burgers, F3.99, from health food shops, butchers and food stores Free from gluten, dairy, meat, additives, soy, cholesterol, added salt and sugar, you could expect these burgers to be too wholesome to be tasty, but they are quite the opposite. Made in Ballincollig, Cork, and certified organic, these are tasty, have a texture of well-minced beef and are quite spicy. Tasters, not all of them vegetarian or coeliac, liked them.

Score: 8.25

Picture: iStock

Bombay Pantry Gluten-Free Mild Chicken Tikka Masala, 330g F4.49 For me, Bombay Pantry was always Dublin’s best take-away outlet and now they are supplying their excellent dishes, pre-packed and cooked, to supermarkets.

Gluten-free, this Chicken Masala has no colourings or preservatives, with cream and yoghurt providing the thickening for the sauce. Plenty of flavour, with 35% chicken pieces in mild spices.

We licked our plates.

Score: 9

Score: 8

Marks & Spencer Gluten-Free 2 Chicken & Mushroom Crispbakes, 227g F1.50 The golden crumb on the outside of these patties is made from rice flour, cornflour and salt. The batter coating contains maize flour, cornflour, potato starch.

Inside, 87% chicken thigh meat is minced finely and mixed with water, rapeseed oil, cornflour, salt and lemon juice. Cooks in 15 minutes for a nice, crisp outside with a creamy inside, but bland taste. Not bad value.

Coeliac and non-coeliac tasters loved these sausage rolls and gave them top marks. The sausage meat is 100% organic, with low fat and very low salt.

The shortcrust pastry is not greasy and not crumbly, and the roll is at its best warmed slightly.

The sausage meat has a clean taste with no grease. Gan Gluten will make Christmas puddings and cakes to order.

Score: 8

Sowan Bread Mixes F4.50 This gluten-free Real Bread Mix, gluten-free Real Wholegrain Bread, and gluten-free Brownie Mix are all organic and have a wholesome, fresh taste. Excellent products and easy to store until needed. In the oven within minutes, they’re a terrific standby.

Score: 8.75

Pádraigín’s Gourmet Gluten-Free Pizza, 400g F4.80

Livewell Hot Cross Buns, F3.99, Dunnes Stores

This Bandon-based restaurant produces pizzas for dining in and takeaway, for speciality shops and supermarkets. The base was crisp and light and had good flavour, while the topping was generous, with a predominant taste of peppers and just the right amount of mozzarella and cheddar.

Tasters were happy. Packaging needs work.

Four separately wrapped, hot cross buns are free of gluten, wheat and milk, so could suit those with dairy as well as gluten intolerance. The ingredients include stabilisers and additives. Gluten-free, baked products are difficult to store, so we can expect additives in exchange for a reasonable shelf life.

This package will last until December 30.

Toasting is recommended for these hot cross buns, and is good for lightening the dough, which is heavy when cold. They taste like regular hot cross buns. And at F1 each, fair value.

Score: 7

Score: 6.25

Score: 6

Feelgood

Gan Gluten Sausage Rolls. F3 each in Douglas East Village market and cafés, Cork (Farm Gate Cork and Midleton, Fellini Cork)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

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Man about the house Deirdre O'Flynn

I

MOSTLY MEN

T’S a difficult time for men as many find themselves home alone for the first time in their working lives. Partners may have returned to work, or taken on extra hours to make up for the loss of income, as the man of the house has been made redundant.

“When men lose the traditional breadwinner role, there can be huge emotional turmoil. Men can feel lost and undermined, because they feel they don’t contribute to the household in the same way,” says Gwen Steward, a couples counsellor who runs The Wellness Centre, in Wexford town.

Nowadays, men can find themselves staring, literally, at the four walls, wondering

HOME ALONE: Nowadays, men can find themselves staring, literally, at the four walls, wondering how to kill the time until either a child or partner comes home at the end of their day. Picture:

how to kill the time until either a child or partner comes home at the end of their day.

“It makes it difficult from a couple point of view, if the man becomes low in himself and sits around all day, while his partner feels like she has to do the housework when she comes home from work,” says Steward.

“A lot of men have had no idea how to run the family home, because they never had to. I recommend that couples plan out the jobs that need to be done. Listing all the jobs on a chart and deciding who should do them is almost a business-like approach and helps to de-personalise the work.”

This time at home is also an opportunity for men to develop their own style — and partners need to allow this, even if dinner isn’t cooked the way they cook it, or the house isn’t as clean as they’d like.

This time at home is also an opportunity to be part of the engine that keeps the family life ticking over.

“It gives men an insight into how the family works. A lot of men don’t know their teenagers, in particular, but now they have an opportunity to spend time with them in the car when collecting them from school, for

iStock

instance,” says Steward.

“There’s no doubt that a lot of men are finding that they love having extra time at home with their partner and children, so that, apart from the financial stress, the current climate has been a positive thing for families.”

Prisons are ‘no place for people with mental illness’

Eggs important to balanced diet

PEOPLE with mental illness are over-represented in Irish courts and prisons. They tend to accumulate in prison partly because they can’t get bail due to their underlying illness.

Obstacle s to bail may include being unable to provide an address because they are homeless, unable to pay even small sums of money, or an inability to provide a person to vouch for them.

“Prisons are toxic and inappropriate places to manage people with major

EATING eggs as part of a healthy balanced diet does not significantly raise blood cholesterol levels.

That’s according to recent report commissioned by Bord Bia, which showed that eggs are a very valuable, nutrient dense and low-cost food.

“The importance of including eggs as part of a healthy balanced diet is something everyone should be aware of,” says Dr Aine Hearty from the UCD Food and Drink Institute.

“Based on recent scientific research it has become evident that the link between egg intake and blood cholesterol levels is weak, thus strengthening the value that eggs can offer in the modern Irish diet.” However, just over a third of Irish households buy eggs once a week, while 75% buy eggs once a month.

W

TAKE

orried about the winter blues, colds and other bugs? Some new products aimed at optimal winter health are: SUN VITAMINS: Brighten up winter with Solgar’s limited edition Sunshine in a box kit.

According to SADA, the charity for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), the symptoms of winter blues include: low mood, increased mental and physical fatigue, stress, lack of concentration, and

Feelgood

4

mental illnesses, who are vulnerable in such settings and it is not the role of the criminal justice system to arrange mental healthcare,” said Dr Conor O’Neill, consultant forensic psychiatrist, Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum. He was speaking after the Prison Inreach and Court Liaison Service (PICLS), won a recent Irish Healthcare Award. The PICLS was developed by the Central Mental Hospital at Cloverhill and its main objectives are to identify and assess all new remands with major mental illness.

weight-gain.

The new Solgar kit provides nutrition essentials including: ■ Vitamin D3 — “the sunshine vitamin” which strengthens immune health.

■ Megasorb B complex — to stabilise mood and hormonal changes.

■ Rhodiola — herbal remedy enhances mental and physical energy and supports the immune system.

Solgar’s Sunshine in a box kit costs F35 from health food stores and selected pharmacies.

DIFFERENT VIEW: Couples counsellor Gwen Steward, says men forced to stay at home can get an insight into how the family works.

Picture: Patrick Browne

DId you know...

Irish men spend 30 minutes longer grooming weekly than Irish women ■ Souce: 4men.ie

What’s New For Winter BANISH BUGS: Exclusive to Boots, the new Responsebeta Anti-viral Hand Sanitiser kills viruses and harmful bacteria, providing residual protection for up to two hours. Alcohol and odour free, it is suitable for all the family — simply spray it twice in the palm of the hand and rub until dry.

Responsebeta Anti-viral Hand Sanitiser comes in two sizes: 50ml (F3.79), for hygiene on the go, and 200ml (F7.49), ideal for around the home or office.

HEALTHY GUT: OptiBac is a new range of seven probiotic products all targeting specific areas of the digestive system.

OptiBac Probiotics for Daily Wellbeing, F13.43, for example combines six probiotic strains with prebiotics to boost digestion, immunity and energy levels. There is also a specific product to take after Antibiotics, F7.23, which contains Lactobacillus. A special blend of pre and probiotics is tailored for children’s needs which costs F8.50 for a box of 10 sachets and there are also probiotics for bowel calm containing Saccharomyces boulardii. This product is suitable for children aged 3+ and costs F4.33 for eight sachets.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

NEW TONIC: According to Dublin GP, Dr Paul Heslin, more people are finding it difficult to recover from illness as quickly as they would wish. “While it is important to allow the body to heal at its own pace — difficult at our ever increasing pace of life — what we digest has a crucial role in recovery,” says Dr Heslin.

Metatone Tonic provides a combination of vitamin B1 and four essential minerals in an easy-to-take liquid formula.

It provides a gentle boost after illness such as colds and flu, when you’re feeling tired and run down or with a loss of appetite. It costs F8.35 and is available in pharmacies nationwide.

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From bigger hair to wild colour — the ’80s are back with a bang

The news on ...

BALMS BALMS are wonderful in winter. Each year, we invest in one and leave it in our bathroom cabinet to cover all manner of cold-weather woes. One of our new discoveries is Trilogy’s Everything Balm, F16.95. It has a thick, almost wavy texture, which looks a bit unsettling when you open the pot, but it melts on touch and has a divine scent.

Use it for soothing dry skin (especially skin that has been exposed to extreme temperature — when skiing, for example), for repairing rough skin, for softening cuticles, as a massage oil, on lips as a lip balm, and even on babies. The delightful scent comes from a combination of organic marula oil, organic rosehip oil, jojoba, olive, avocado, honey and vitamin E.

TAKE THREE

Emily O’Sullivan

A

INYONE old enough to have experimented with make-up 20 to 30 years ago may be having a little difficulty with this season’s obsession with all things ’80s. It feels like we’ve come a long way since the days of perms, matte blue eyeshadow, chalky pink lipstick, bright orange blush and caked-on foundation. And we have.

While the styles this season are influenced strongly by the decade of Bananarama-chic, the textures and formulations owe nothing to the originals. But mark our words, ’80s looks are super-hot right now and they are going to rise to scorching over the next 12 months or so. Admittedly, some of the styles being touted by top beauty brands are seriously unwearable — especially for anyone over 35 — but beauty’s rediscovery of colour comes as a welcome change from the omnipresent smokey-eye. And while ’80s is a young look, it doesn’t have to be exclusively so.

At the Basso & Brook spring/summer catwalk shows, L’Oreal Paris International make-up artist James Kaliardos created a look called Techno Baroque, which sets the tone for a wearable modern version of the original.

Influenced by the work of ’80s make-up artist Tyen (with pale, powdered faces), James mixed this with references to the 17th century for a versatile look that is bang up to date.

The base foundation should be lighter than in the ’80s, but it does need to be uniform, while shine should be minimised with L’Oreal Paris Mattifying Minerals, F21.08. Go for a soft flush of light pink innocent blush on the cheeks, and strike out with a mix of gold

ORGANIC MOISTURISERS Give your skin a little treat this winter and go for a light, but nourishing, organic moisturiser — they smell heavenly, feel great on the skin, and contain no chemicals, whatsoever. And you can’t really argue with that.

Picture: PETER MARKS

REAL RETRO

and soft pink on the eye, finished with lashings of black mascara.

Blue eyeshadow is an increasingly hot look, on the catwalk and on the street, but the soft sheer textures are what set it apart from the garish ’80s looks. From deep sophisticated navy right through to paler shades of blue (a big look for next spring/summer), blue is where it’s at this season. Use the colour right across the eye or go for a flash of bright blue eyeliner against a pale background — try MAC’s Greaspaint Stick in Bright Blue Violet, F19 for a real flash of brilliance.

For those who find blue eyeshadow is a bit too Cindi Lauper, then shimmy down the colour spectrum towards violet and the pale purples, which are one of the biggest trends for autumn/winter. You can give it a disco factor by mixing purples and violets with shimmering silver metallics by night, or else opt for a translucent wash of colour during the day.

The big difference between the retro ’80s

look and the real ’80s look is we’ve learned to tone it down. So keep the complexion matte, keep blusher subtle and underplayed, and focus on a flash of bright colour either on the eyes or the lips.

Strong fuchsias, hot oranges and pillar-box reds really stand on the lips when set against a neutral background or teamed with a sweep of navy liquid eyeliner. While eye-popping shadows look a lot more knock-out with a neutral lip.

Don’t forget about your hair: crimping is a massive look this season and according to top Peter Mark stylist Helen Reacy, the ’80s are hot across the board in hair.

“The 1980s were all about experimentation with cuts, colour and styling,” says Reavey.

“More and more people are now asking for bigger hair, plaits and volume. Curls are back, but instead of the fuzzy perms of the ’80s, we are seeing sophisticated shape and colour.”

Look to Madonna’s Express Yourself video for blonde bouncy curls full of attitude.

Voya Me Time, F55. Housed in an elegant, tall, slim bottle, this lovely moisturiser is made by an Irish company using seaweed extracts to nourish the skin. It’s a great daytime moisturiser — it’s light, delicately fragranced and feels silky to the touch. Best of all, it kept our dry skin well-hydrated.

Score: 8 Origin Organics Nourishing Face Lotion, F48. A very pleasant lotion that sinks into the skin beautifully and keeps it well-hydrated. It’s quite light, however, so if you have dry skin, something more substantial may be needed. And while the smell is pleasant, it is quite strong, so not good for anyone who prefers their creams to be scent free.

Score: 6 Neal’s Yard Frankincense Hydrating Cream, £20 (F22.17). If high-tech, anti-ageing creams leave you cold, then opt for this organic moisturiser from Neal’s Yard Remedies. Frankincense and myrrh are included to keep skin looking fresh and radiant. The texture is satin-soft and it keeps skin well-hydrated throughout the day, without too much of a heavy fragrance.

Score: 6

STUFF WE LIKE No 7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in Tangerine Touch, F13.50. Orange lipsticks are the ultimate in ‘80s retro, and they look great against a pale, porcelain winter complexion. This one from No7 has a nice texture, which lasts the pace without drying out the lips. If you’ve particularly dry lips, then use it over a lip balm.

Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Fuchsia Fix, F17. This season, it’s all about matte lipsticks, but if strong matte shades are too much of a leap for you then try this super-cool lip condi-

Feelgood

tioner from DSquared, at MAC. It gives a flush of strong fuchsia with a glossy texture.

L’Oreal Paris Shadow Minerals in Gold, F12.04. Go ‘80s fabulous with this gold shadow, which can be blended with soft, matte tones of pink for a soft, romantic, day-time look, or can be bigged up come night-time for a touch disco-diva excess.

Elnett hairspray, F6.95. The ultimate ‘80s hairspray is still going strong. It’s great for setting styles and styling — simple, but effective.

ELF Duo Eyeshadow Cream in Blueberry, F1.70. Unsure you want to go for the look? Well, don’t spend a fortune on an eyeshadow you may regret. This little number from eyeslipsface.co.uk has a lovely, creamy texture, which makes it easy to blend, and costs less than two euro. Need we say more?

Too Faced Metal Eyed Liner in Twilight, F19. Jumping into blue after years of taking a more sophisticated route can be a daunting prospect, but this navy, sparkly eyeliner makes it all a cinch. Team it with a bold, orange lip and a pale

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

complexion.

Yves Saint Laurent Cream Blush No 2, F42. This looks like a very strong, coral pink in the pot, but it works a treat on the skin. It has a very light, almost whipped texture that melts on application and blends in beautifully. The pink shade is great for warming up a cold complexion and a little goes a very long way.

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Q

Megan Sheppard Do you have a question for Megan Sheppard?

Email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

I SUFFER from chronic constipation. You recently recommended psyllium husks to a reader. I’ve tried this myself, taking two teaspoons in a big glass of water first thing in the morning.

While I had a wonderful result the first morning, there has been little or no improvement since. Should I be taking more?

A. In my experience, people have great variations in result with the psyllium and so the dose needs to be tinkered with until you find what works for you. I have known people who find that as little as one teaspoon of psyllium husks is enough to alleviate constipation, while others require up to two tablespoons per large glass of water.

You can also experiment with the frequency of dosage — I always recommend to take the psyllium first thing in the morning and last thing at night. But some need to take it once a day only and others need to take it three times daily. You have already noted that the psyllium worked well for you, so it is just a case of finding out the dose you need to maintain this, and adjust as necessary as time goes on.

It is worth noting that psyllium is not only good for constipation, it is also useful in treating diarrhoea and can help to detoxify the intestines and colon — gently carrying out toxins and waste products from the body.

This is why it is useful for a number of gastrointestinal disorders, and can help ease bowel movements for those who have internal or external haemorrhoids.

Q. I am over 70 and have to go to the toilet at least four or five times every night. I usually pass about two litres. If I am going shopping I can’t afford to drink water in the morning — just a cup of tea, porridge and brown bread. My last meal is at 6pm — a cup of tea, salad and brown bread. I usually have a Petits Filous at 9pm. I tried tablets prescribed by the doctor. They didn’t work. I went for an operation in 2006 — a stitch at the mouth of the bladder — but it didn’t work either. Is there anything I can do?

A. Because your situation is likely a combination of physiology and loss of elasticity in the internal tissues, the best I can do is to make some suggestions for you to try, at least for a fortnight each, and see if any of them have an impact.

My first suggestion is to cut out tea. It’s a diuretic, meaning that it increases urination.

You would actually be better off drinking water since it will hydrate the tissues, which helps to increase the elasticity of internal tissues and general organ health and functioning.

Your cut off point of 6pm for your last meal is a great idea, and no doubt this will

CLEANSING TOOL: Psyllium is not only good for constipation, it is also useful in treating diarrhoea and can help to detoxify the intestines and colon by carrying out toxins and waste products from the body.

Picture: iStock be helping since this enables the body to prepare for sleep (and the myriad of processes which take place during our rest phase) without the added burden of digestion. You may want to eat the Petits Filous earlier than 9pm since this will need to be digested. If, however, you are eating it because it helps you to sleep (as dairy products can do for many people), then by all means continue with it since you have chosen a food which is easy to digest and only a small amount at that.

There are some herbs which have an affinity with the urinary system, in particular cornsilk. butcher’s broom, and juniper.

It would be worth asking a local herbalist if they could put together a formulation containing these herbs so you can take them as a tincture.

Avoid uva ursi, although it is great for bladder infections (including E. coli infection) and strengthening the urinary tract, it is a strong diuretic and so will not help your situation at all.

Pelvic floor exercises would also be of benefit to you. You can identify your pelvic floor by stopping the flow while passing urine. This is will help find the muscle, not to exercise it. Squeeze and lift the pelvic floor, holding for one to 10 seconds then release and relax for 10-20 seconds. Work up to 12 repetitions — although quality is more important than quantity.

Megan puts the spotlight on : Consider pain as a useful signal within the body to alert you to the fact that something is not right Feelgood

MANY people take a daily aspirin to thin the blood and help prevent heart attack and stroke.

Aspirin works as a pain reliever by dulling the nerves and therefore reducing the perception of pain — it does not rid the body of pain. It is suspected that long-term use of aspirin actually causes damage to the nerve cells. We already know it causes intestinal ulceration.

For headaches, try the herbal options of willow bark (white, red, or black), meadowsweet, wintergreen, and balm of Gilead — all of which contain an alkaloid which is converted to salicylic acid (the active ingredient in aspirin) within the body.

Combine any of the herbs with peppermint or spearmint for a pleasant tea which can be sipped throughout the day when you are experiencing headache or pain.

Q. I am on a cocktail of drugs. I now believe I have reflux disease and afraid I may need to take more medication. Is there any way I can cut down on what I am taking? I would appreciate your advice.

A. This is a difficult question to answer since I am unsure of your current condition and medications. But I can tell you it is common for reflux to appear as a side effect of being on multiple drugs so what you are experiencing may be a result of the prescriptions rather than an unrelated condition.

Reflux is a widely misunderstood condition, often treated using the very remedy which causes the acid imbalance in the first place. Individuals who suffer from reflux conditions generally have a shortage of stomach acid rather than an excess. What happens when you are low in stomach acid, is that food is retained and churned in the stomach for longer so that it can be passed through into the small intestine, which often results in some of this food and acid mixture being regurgitated into the oesophagus.

Many people find relief when they supplement with a digestive aid containing Betaine HCl and Pepsin alongside a digestive enzyme blend and probiotic supplement. Viridian’s High Potency Digestive Aid capsules combine Betaine HCl and digestive enzymes — along with peppermint and ginger. The Health Store (www.thehealthstore.ie) sells this product at F9.95 for 30 capsules.

Taking daily Aspirin reluctant to prescribe aspirin unless the risk of heart attack or stroke is greater than the risk of internal bleeding.

With any pain, it is crucial to get to the root cause — consider pain as a useful signal within the body to alert you to the fact that something is not right. If we dull this signal then we override the built-in alarm system and ignoring the problem.

The aspirin typically prescribed by doctors is only 81mg and enterically coated — this is much safer on your nervous and intestinal systems than the standard 325mg store-bought aspirin. Even so, most doctors are still

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: Last week I mentioned the use of activated charcoal as an ideal supplement for those of us concerned about amalgams in our teeth.

Unfortunately, activated charcoal is no longer widely available in powder form, however the capsules can easily be bought from most health stores.

To purchase activated charcoal powder contact the British branch of JL Bragg’s either online at www.charcoal.uk.com or by phoning 00-44-1473-748 345.

A 50g pot of the powder costs £3.86 (F4.30), or you can buy a kilo for just £11.63 (F12.95) and divide it among family and friends.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009