The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
| Posted: 10 Sep 2011 06:14 PM PDT Teenagers today are compulsive and impulsive. They live in the world that requires them to do things quickly. Ironically, when they can't solve their problems, some of them want the easy way out: suicide. SUICIDE is symptomatic of a very dysfunctional society," says suicidologist Adnan Omar. He explains that even though today's teens are "very techno-savvy", they have become rather impulsive. "They want solutions to life's problems delivered quickly, like fast food delivery!" says Adnan, who is also manager of Counselling and Psychological Services Centre, Taylor's University, in Petaling Jaya in an email interview. He says in today's society, technology thrives on speed. But the downside of technology is that it "shortens rationality and truncates emotionality". In other words, he reckons that teenagers want "super quick" solutions to life's problems. "As a result, they thrive on temporality, immediate gratification, and the now culture." But in terms of emotional intelligence, teenagers, he feels, have become impulsive. "They are not able to control their emotions properly. Hence, they explode in a destructive manner, including attempting suicide when things don't turn out. They get frustrated easily over simple things, which results in many unhealthy doings!" With Facebook and social media, he feels that human relationships have become more shallow and temporary. Then, Adnan feels that a teenager's life is further complicated by the way his parents live. It appears that there are NOT enough hours anymore in a day to work. He concedes: "Parenting becomes a biological ritual. We contract our love and care to maids, money, and the Internet. Parents are no longer idols; they have apparently been replaced by singers and actors, who are also teenagers themselves!" Teenagers, he feels, don't have strong and responsible adults and role models who can guide and teach them about life, resilience and self-awareness. Schools and families still play tug of war; each blames the other. "It's time for the society to reflect, pause and analyse the way it's breathing and living. It's time for various parties such as schools and families to seriously restructure to accommodate the real needs of teenagers so that we can begin understand their pain, agony and happiness," he emphasises. School authorities need to develop protocols, processes and procedures on how to handle suicide emergencies and cases, says Adnan. "They need to look into aspects like which school personnel should be the first responder, who should inform the parents, and who needs to handle the media and other authorities such as the police," says Adnan in response to questions on how school authorities should handle suicide prevention and whether they are equipped to tackle such situation. Schools also need to have a comprehensive programme for debriefing and counselling students and staff who are affected by suicide. "An effective follow-up programme needs to be in place because people react differently to suicide and death," he says. Asked if talks about handling emotional crisis, boy-girl relationships and suicide prevention should be held in schools, colleges and tertiary education centres to create awareness, Adnan opines: "The more informed we are about things, the better we can manage situations." He says: "Awareness programmes (talks, seminars, campaigns and conferences) are critical. These programmes need to focus on prevention, intervention and collaboration amongst various school authorities." "Some important awareness issues are: What is suicide? How is suicide different from other forms of self-destructive behaviours such as cutting oneself? What causes suicide? What are the signs that a student is suicidal? How can we help?" An important component of the awareness programme, Adnan says, is to teach the students and staff about stress and depression. "It is generally believed that depression causes suicide and depression may be the result of chronic stress. Since stress is a real challenge in our modern life, schools should, if possible, include in the curriculum the topic about stress." The discussion should include issues related to building emotional resilience and handling various emotional challenges such as academic failure and relationship break-ups. Another critical issue is the stigma of suicide. "The awareness programme also needs to focus on removing stigma of suicide or mental illness. For example, if you are suicidal, then you are crazy; if you seek counselling or psychiatric help, then you are suffering from mental illness; people who are suicidal are forever suicidal; suicide is inherited," he says. Beyond the programme, schools can also train a few school personnel and student counsellors to specifically manage suicidal cases. Handling suicide attempts Adnan says if a teenager is suicidal, intervention must be properly handled, says Adnan. "If a suicide attempt is detected at school, the student should immediately be referred to a trained counsellor. If an attempted suicide occurs at home, the student should be referred to a psychiatric facility or hospital," he advises. On handling suicidal cases, he advises to follow these immediate steps: 1. Assess suicidality. One way to do this is by asking, "On the scale 0 to 10, 0 means you are not feeling suicidal at all and 10 means you are absolutely suicidal, how do you feel now?" Talk directly about suicide. 2. Ask about the means and remove the means! 3. Do a quick history check – mental illness, depression, attempts, coping skills, etc. 4. Develop support groups. With the student, brainstorm people who can help – parents, friends, etc. 5. Consider medication, if necessary. 6. Allow free expressions of feelings; don't be judgmental. At the end of the initial session, a comprehensive plan must be in place to monitor suicidality once the student leaves the counseling office. A plan addressing the cause of suicidal thoughts or attempts must also be drafted together with the student, as well as a timely implementation of the plan. A regular follow-up must be scheduled to assess progress, or lack it. Finding closure Whilst the suicidal person can end his suffering tragically, he forgets that others will continue to suffer from his folly. Adnan says: "Sometimes, we forget that many lives are affected by one suicide. It is estimated that about six to 10 significant others are severely affected by one suicide. These loved ones need to grieve and mourn the loss of the person who committed suicide." It is believed that finding closure or "coming to terms" with a loss to suicide is the most difficult when compared to loss of life due to natural death or accidental death. Sometimes, it takes over six years for the survivors to find the closure. Adnan shares ways which may be helpful to "survivors" of suicide: 1. Know that you can survive. You may not think so, but you can. 2. Struggle with "why" it happened until you no longer need to know "why" or until you are satisfied with partial answers. 3. Know you may feel overwhelmed by the intensity of your feelings, but all your feelings are normal. 4. Anger, guilt, confusion, forgetfulness are common responses. You are not crazy, you are in mourning. 5. Be aware that you may feel appropriate anger at the person, at the world, at God, at yourself. It's okay to express it. 6. You may feel guilty for what you think you did or did not do. Guilt can turn into regret, through forgiveness. 7. Having suicidal thoughts is common. It does not mean that you will act on those thoughts. 8. Remember to take one moment or one day at a time. 9. Find a good listener with whom to share. Call someone if you need to talk. 10. Don't be afraid to cry. Tears are healing. 11. Give yourself time to heal. 12. Remember, the choice is not yours. No one is the sole influence on another's life. 13. Expect setbacks. If emotions return like a tidal wave, you may only be experiencing a remnant of grief, an unfinished piece. 14. Try to put off major decisions. 15. Give yourself permission to get professional help. 16. Be aware of the pain of your family and friends. 17. Be patient with yourself and with others who may not understand. 18. Set your own limit and learn to say no. 19. Steer clear of the people who want to tell you what and how to feel. 20. Call on your personal faith to help you through. 21. It is common to experience physical reactions to your grief, such as headaches, loss of your appetite, inability to sleep. 22. The willingness to laugh with others and at yourself is healing. 23. Wear out your questions, anger, guilt, or other feelings until you can let them go. Letting go doesn't mean forgetting. 24. Know that you will never be the same again, but you can survive and even go beyond surviving. Related Stories: |
| Posted: 10 Sep 2011 06:11 PM PDT There will always be disagreements, problems and potential conflicts between us, but if we really follow the wise and time tested guidelines of our religions and spiritual traditions, we will find peaceful ways to resolve our conflicts. TODAY is the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial jet planes and rammed them into their selected targets. Two planes hit the twin towers of the World Trade Centre (WTC) in New York and caused both to collapse, and the third crashed into the Pentagon (US Defence Department headquarters). The fourth crashed elsewhere, failing to accomplish its mission after the passengers tried to regain control of the hijacked plane. There will be many events to commemorate this terrible episode, especially at Ground Zero (ie. at the former WTC site). 9/11 was definitely a big dark blot in human history, when the dark forces of evil triumphed over goodness, at least for that moment. Since then, many debates and discussions have been conducted to try to understand what actually happened, and why it happened; and until now, there are still many controversies and unanswered questions. While the 9/11 terrorists were Muslims, what they did was utterly un-Islamic, and good Muslims all over the world condemned their dastardly acts. But why are there many such terrorist groups causing havoc all over the world? For some of these terrorist groups who are Muslims, a major reason why they resort to terrorism is prolonged anger and frustration at the continued suffering of the Palestinians (who are mostly Muslims), who are being persecuted and besieged by the Israelis, with the support of the US (and the "West"). And since the plight of the Palestinians has not changed in the last 10 years (in fact it is worse now since they are under economic blockade as well, living in squalid conditions in the largest open prison in the world), we can expect these terrorist acts to continue. While the world looks to negotiations and diplomacy to solve these problems and work for peace, there will always be those who are impatient and resort to terrorism to express their point of view; if only they realise that terrorism never brings peace. The only way to achieve peace is to think peace, love peace, and work for peace. That is why all our religions preach peace. Our religious greetings invoke peace. The meaning of Islam is the "religion of peace". So why are Muslim terrorists doing exactly opposite to what their religion preaches? It is not enough just to carry the label of being a Muslim (or that of any other religion that promotes peace and peaceful living). It is more important to understand and imbibe the peaceful message of our respective religions, and live according to that peaceful way of life. Yes, there will always be disagreements, problems, and potential conflicts between us, but if we really follow the wise and tested guidelines of our religions and spiritual traditions, we will find peaceful ways to resolve our conflicts. Be a peacemaker Mahatma Gandhi said that we must be the change we want to see happen in the world. In other words, peace begins with you! There can be no peace anywhere if there is no peace in the individuals that make up the family, the community, the nation, and humanity as a whole. While we cannot expect everyone to become peaceful, we can indeed tip the balance by encouraging more people to embrace peaceful attitudes and peaceful living. We have to become peacemakers and recruit others to join us in this noble duty to humanity, and to God. The need to promote and maintain peace will continue indefinitely, and the work of the peacemaker never ends. There are many areas that the peacemakers can serve. I have chosen to serve in the interfaith arena, seeing that inter-religious conflicts are the most recurrent, and most sensitive. I work through associations and activities that promote enduring interfaith fellowship and cooperation, prevent religiously motivated violence, and create cultures of peace, justice, love and healing for the earth and all living beings. Among the global interfaith organisations that I am associated with are URI (United Religions Initiative, www.uri.org), Religions for Peace, Council for a Parliament of World Religions, and the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations. Locally, I am involved with INSAF (Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship), MIN (Malaysian Interfaith Network) and also the newly-established national interfaith committee. After about 15 years of interfaith work, I am disappointed that very few Malaysians get involved in interfaith work internationally, and very few Muslims get involved in interfaith work locally. I would like to extend an open invitation to peace-loving Malaysians of all races and religions to join me in my interfaith peace-work. Peacework is fun and enriching While we are aware of the dangers of peace and humanitarian missions in conflict areas (I went with the URI team to Mindanao two years ago), most of the time our work is enjoyable and truly enriching. I have travelled to many countries with the Buddhist Amitabha group under Venerable Master Chin Kung; studied the basic teachings of Confucius (DiZiGui) in Anhui, China; stayed at many Catholic retreats throughout the world (even in Jordan, an Arab Muslim country); stayed with the Chogye Buddhist monks in the mountains of South Korea; danced with the Hare Krishna devotees at Mayapur, India; did my Sufi zikr daily within the pyramid at an ashram in Thirumurti Hills, Tamil Nadu, India; savoured the free food at Sikh Gurdwaras in several countries; spent time in a palatial retreat in Oxford, UK, with the Brahma Kumaris; visited many glorious houses of worship of various religions; and of course made friends with the followers of many religions and spiritual traditions from across the globe. I would like to share some of the on-going interfaith activities that I would like you to participate and join me in promoting interfaith peace and harmony. The journey of awakening This morning, I joined Reverend Bema Dechian Doche Rinponche, the Abbot of the Pure Karma Buddhist Centre, in his Journey of Awakening, Realization and Enlightenment. The Reverend Rinponche received an inspiration to create spiritual awakening, love and peace by walking 850km from Penang to Johor Bahru (passing through Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka), with stops at major towns where interfaith programmes are held, including visiting places of worship of the various religions. The journey began on May 22 and will end on December 31, 2011. About 200 followers and friend of various faiths joined him at the start in Penang, and many still do after over half the journey has been completed. Each morning, the journey begins at 4am and the group walks about 5km (about 10,000 steps). The monks and devotees would prostrate after every seven steps. The others are not required to prostrate like them. The group also collects the rubbish that they find along the journey, as part of the spiritual service. This is indeed an unusual but remarkable way to create awareness for peace. It also shows the humility required to serve God (for those of us who believe) and humanity. You should try to join the group at least once before they end their journey. Religious harmony day While we celebrate Malaysia Day on September 16, INSAF will also be commemorating the 10th anniversary of Religious Harmony Day, which we first declared on Sept 16, 2001. On that day, we had gathered religious leaders to sign a declaration affirming our commitment to peace and harmony among the followers of the different religions in this beloved country of ours. Now 10 years henceforth, we will gather again to re-affirm that pledge, and also to deliberate on "Religious Harmony – What Have We Achieved in the Last Decade". All of you are welcome to join us (event is free, followed by free vegetarian dinner, to be held at the Pure Life Society, 6th mile, Jalan Puchong, KL). INSAF (together with MIN) will be hosting the URI SEA-Pacific regional meeting in October, and we will be having a seminar on Sunday 9/10 morning (8.30am), with the theme "Interfaith Action for Peace & Harmony", with sharing from representatives from the countries in our region – on how they work for interfaith peace in their respective countries. This seminar is free (with vegetarian lunch provided!) and is open to all of you. On the evening of Sunday 9/10 (7.30pm), we will have an international concert with performances from the countries in the region, including world class dancers from Bali, and the world-famous Dya Singh World Music Group from Australia. The theme is "Emblazing the Trail Towards Oneness". The concert will be held at The Temple of Fine Arts, Brickfields. Entrance is free, but prior registration is required. For enquiries and registration to the above INSAF/URI free programmes, please call Priya or Usah at 03-77829391 or email your name and contact number to priya.insaf@gmail.com. In February, we celebrated the United Nations Interfaith Harmony Week. On September 21 every year, peace-lovers celebrate the International Day of Peace (IDP). This year, we will also celebrate a very special day – the Global Peace Day on 11th November 2011 (11.11.11). I will update you on this event soon. In the meantime, please visit www.gpday.org. I wish peace for all Malaysians. Salam! > Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic, aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. He is a qigong master and founder of SuperQigong. For further information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information. |
| Posted: 10 Sep 2011 06:11 PM PDT Oxidative stress is an important factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. WORLD Alzheimer's Day is commemorated around the globe on September 21 every year. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, degenerative, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, and was named after him. Although Alzheimer's disease was first identified more than 100 years ago, research into its symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment has only gained momentum in the last 30 years. In last year's World Alzheimer Report, Alzheimer's Disease International estimated that there were 35.6 million people living with dementia worldwide in 2010, with the numbers expected to increase to 65.7 million by 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050. Nearly two-thirds of sufferers live in low- and middle-income countries, where the largest increases in numbers are set to occur. Symptoms of Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease can affect different people in different ways, but the most common symptom pattern begins with difficulty in remembering new information. This is because disruption of brain cell function usually begins in regions involved in forming new memories. As damage spreads, individuals experience other difficulties. The following are some warning signs of Alzheimer's: ·Progressive memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information ·Behavioural, mood and personality changes ·Difficulty finding the right words and performing familiar tasks ·Misplacing things or putting them in unusual places, like milk in the bathroom ·Problems with abstract thinking, loss of initiative and poor judgment ·Getting lost in familiar surroundings, and disorientation Free radicals and Alzheimer's connection Harmful free radicals from the environment is a major cause of ill-health, including Alzheimer's disease. We are constantly bombarded by free radicals from exposure to sunlight (UV) and pollution to radiation. Stress and poor diet also contributes to oxidative stress. What is oxidative stress? It is physiological stress on the body that is caused by free radicals inadequately neutralised by antioxidants. Oxidative stress is an important factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is characterised by two key abnormalities: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid plaques are clumps of a protein known as beta-amyloid. These plaques are found in the tissue between nerve cells in the brain and in degenerating pieces of neurons. According to a researcher: "Beta-amyloid is aggregated and produces more free radicals in the presence of free radicals; beta-amyloid toxicity is eliminated by free radical scavengers." (Grundman M, 2000). Nutritional therapy Hence, it makes sense that antioxidants can help reduce the oxidative stress in the body. Below are some nutrients that can help: ·Grape seed extract has demonstrated remarkable success in blocking the formation of senile plaques. One of the most potent antioxidants available, grape seed extract possesses 20 times more free radical–fighting power than vitamin E and 50 times more than vitamin C (Shi J et al, 2003). This antioxidant activity suggests that grape seed extract should become a part of any regimen to optimise brain health. ·Alpha-lipoic acid. In one study of patients with Alzheimer's disease, those given 600mg of alpha-lipoic acid daily for 12 months had a stabilisation of cognitive function. A follow-up study, which increased the number of patients and extended the observation period to 48 months, found that the progression of the disease was "dramatically lower" among those taking alpha-lipoic acid, compared to those with no treatment. ·Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. Deficiencies of vitamin E in patients who have Alzheimer's disease are associated with increased lipid peroxidation, which appears to cause increased platelet aggregation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's (Ciabattoni G et al, 2006). Community studies have shown that high doses of vitamin E, along with vitamin C, may help prevent Alzheimer's disease in the healthy elderly (Landmark K, 2006). Combination therapy with vitamins C and E has been shown to reduce lipid peroxidation in people who have mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (Galbusera C et al, 2004). High doses of vitamin E alone, up to 2000 International Units (IU) daily, slow the mental deterioration of patients who have Alzheimer's disease (Grundman M, 2000). ·Vitamin C is well known for its antioxidant properties. Although it has not been as widely studied as vitamin E, several studies have examined their combined potential. One observational study showed that supplementation with 400 IU/day of vitamin E and 500mg/day of vitamin C reduced the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (Boothby LA et al, 2005). The synergistic effect of vitamin C and vitamin E was examined by another team of researchers who found that using vitamins E and C in combination was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, but neither supplement used alone had any protective effect (Zandi PP et al, 2004). Today, research on Alzheimer's disease focuses not only on the role of oxidative stress, but also on inflammation. Alzheimer's disease, like so many other diseases, is being redefined as an inflammatory condition in which excess pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body cause damage to normal healthy cells. In recent years, nutrients such as standardised water-soluble curcumin (turmeric) extracts and resveratrol have shown early promise as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Tips to keep Alzheimer's disease at bay ·Regular physical exercise. Research shows that exercise can help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease. According to one study, people between the ages of 20 and 60 who were less active during their leisure time nearly quadrupled their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. ·Healthy diet. Eat more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetable. Antioxidants are known to fight free radicals, which cause the oxidative stress associated with many illnesses such as Alzheimer's. If one does not have a good diet, it is best to take some antioxidant supplements as nutritional insurance. ·Mental stimulation. Doing crossword puzzles, riddles or even learning an instrument are some examples of mentally stimulating exercise. Scientists believe that constantly challenging your brain helps make it less prone to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease. ·Stress management. Stress that is chronic or severe takes a heavy toll on the brain, leading to shrinkage in a key memory area of the brain known as the hippocampus, hampering nerve cell growth, and increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. ·Active social life. Human beings are highly social creatures. We don't thrive in isolation, and neither does our brain. Studies show that the more connected we are, the better we fare on tests of memory and cognition. Staying socially active may even protect against Alzheimer's disease and dementia, so make your social life a priority. > This article is courtesy of Live-well Nutraceuticals. For more information, please consult your pharmacist, call Live-well INFOline 03-61426570 or e-mail info@live-well.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader's own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information. |
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