Boy’s Chocolate Pudding Tantrum Reveals How Uncomfortable OCD Treatment Can Be

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They say you shouldn’t judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes. But many are rushing to conclusions about one mom’s parenting tactics. Andrea Lunsford’s son Rafael has obsessive-compulsive disorder and high functioning autism.

Recently, she filmed one of her son’s episodes and demonstrated how she deals with them. While many think her reaction to his emotional response is cruel, she argues that it’s a form of treatment. According to the Daily Mail, “she first came across exposure therapy, the method of treatment she uses in the video while watching British television show ‘Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners.'” She commented, “We are choosing exposure therapy to make him face his fears and expose him to things that would cause him anxiety, so he can overcome it and realize it will not control his life if things are not perfect.”

Andrea appears to laugh and consistently pokes holes in Rafael’s logic concerning his pudding wrapper. After considerable back and forth, Rafael does something amazing.

Read More: A Boy With Autism Went To Meet Santa — What He Found Melted Our Hearts

The reaction to the video has been mixed. Some say her method creates distrust and dismisses his mental illness as something he can be talked out of.

YouTube commenter Mc Kenna wrote, “I work with kids like this. You are constantly working towards goals. Sure there are and will be bumps in their road ahead. But egging on the issues when he is showing success is just cruel.” Others say her method is successful and that exposure therapy is legitimate for treating OCD, as evidenced by the fact that Rafael does eat the pudding. Another commenter, Larissa Gaines, revealed she also has Asperger’s and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. She writes, “She is trying to show him that he doesn’t need to obsess over it, and it’s possible for him to move on from the problem (the wrapper).”

It’s important to remember that mental illness is never straightforward, and treatments that work for one person may not work for another. Here’s hoping Rafael’s doctors and his family have found a treatment that works for him.

What do you think? Cruel or logical? Let us know!
Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/ocd-treatment-controversy/

Here’s The Depressing Stuff That Goes Through Your Dog’s Mind When You Leave Home

If given the option, most of us would never leave our pets.

Alas, responsibilities are everywhere, and they often take us away from our homes for hours on end. Have you ever wondered what Fido is up to while you’re off sipping on wine or getting your groceries? Of course you have! Fortunately, animal behavior scientists are here to save the day with their knowledge of just what’s going through your pupper’s mind. Sadly, it’s kind of bleak.

Dogs don’t know that you’re coming back, so when you leave, they begin to experience heightened stress levels.

Their heart rates may increase, and their breathing might intensify. This stress can last for up to 30 minutes.

Dogs also start to recognize the signs that you’re headed out the door, so they may begin stressing out as soon as they see you get ready to go.

Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/lonely-pets/

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Exercises for Stress Reduction & Deep Relaxation – Part 2 of 4 – Harvard Relaxation Response

Using simple and effective techniques, these sessions will introduce you to the tools that can assist in eliminating sleep disorders and reducing stress and anxiety experienced at home and at work. Part 2: This session will include: An introductory daily practice to elicit the Relaxation Response using a simple Mindfulness breath & body meditation exercise for stress reduction and deep relaxation. You can fast forward to (2:30) in the film if you wish to start the practice now.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2001-2002

This year’s Global Competitiveness Report appears at a time of exceptional uncertainty. Global economic activity has slowed substantially, stock markets have shown considerable volatility, and the world’s major currencies have experienced significant fluctuations. In Europe, where the final steps toward monetary are being taken, output has declined considerably below the region’s production potential. In Japan, there are serious concerns about a prolonged recession, and in several countries throughout the rest of Asia, industrial production has shrunk markedly. Other emerging market economies have been subject to financial turmoil that reminds us of the severe crises of 1997 and 1998. The greatest uncertainty, however, concerns the United States, whose economy had essentially come to a standstill in the second quarter of 2001. Coping with the enormous challenges currently facing the global economy requires pursuing a prudent and proactive macroeconomic policy stance. More importantly, it requires strengthening the cross-border networks that promote private investment, entrepreneurship, and social progress around the world. In this endeavor, The Global Competitiveness Report remains an invaluable tool by identifying existing impediments to economic growth and thus helping in the design of policy measures to remove such obstacles as a precondition for advancing human well-being across the globe. This year’s Report appears in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States. The unprecedented tragedy that occurred – and the events these attacks have triggered – have profoundly affected the global economic outlook. In response to this extraordinary economic shock, the 2001-2002 Report includes a separate, shorter-term analysis of the world economy in the new Introduction. Based on responses from 90 senior executives whose companies are part of the World Economic Forum, this “flash survey” assesses the magnitude of the effects of September 11 over the coming months. In addition, no fewer than 17 countries have been added to the country profile analysis, reflecting the rising integration of developing countries into the global economy. It also ensures that The Global Competitiveness Report remains the most authoritative source for policymakers, the business community, and other key stakeholders. Data CD-ROM: For the first time ever, results from the World Economic Forum/Harvard University Executive Opinion Survey are available to researchers and policymakers on CD-ROM. This includes many of the same results used in the construction of the Growth Competitiveness Index and the Current Competitiveness Index.

Helping Your Anxious Teen

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The Good Food Guide

The Good Food Guide

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®)

This new edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®), used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders, is the product of more than 10 years of effort by hundreds of international experts in all aspects of mental health. Their dedication and hard work have yielded an authoritative volume that defines and classifies mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research. The criteria are concise and explicit, intended to facilitate an objective assessment of symptom presentations in a variety of clinical settings — inpatient, outpatient, partial hospital, consultation-liaison, clinical, private practice, and primary care. New features and enhancements make DSM-5® easier to use across all settings: The chapter organization reflects a lifespan approach, with disorders typically diagnosed in childhood (such as neurodevelopmental disorders) at the beginning of the manual, and those more typical of older adults (such as neurocognitive disorders) placed at the end. Also included are age-related factors specific to diagnosis. The latest findings in neuroimaging and genetics have been integrated into each disorder along with gender and cultural considerations. The revised organizational structure recognizes symptoms that span multiple diagnostic categories, providing new clinical insight in diagnosis. Specific criteria have been streamlined, consolidated, or clarified to be consistent with clinical practice (including the consolidation of autism disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder into autism spectrum disorder; the streamlined classification of bipolar and depressive disorders; the restructuring of substance use disorders for consistency and clarity; and the enhanced specificity for major and mild neurocognitive disorders). Dimensional assessments for research and validation of clinical results have been provided. Both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes are included for each disorder, and the organizational structure is consistent with the new ICD-11 in development. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is the most comprehensive, current, and critical resource for clinical practice available to today’s mental health clinicians and researchers of all orientations. The information contained in the manual is also valuable to other physicians and health professionals, including psychologists, counselors, nurses, and occupational and rehabilitation therapists, as well as social workers and forensic and legal specialists.