A gardener got his own unique five-a-day in one go after digging up a hand-shaped carrot complete with five fingers.

The bizarre ‘carrot claw’ was grown by Peter Jackson, 66, in the garden of his home in Shropshire.

But Peter thought nothing more of the wacky-shaped vegetable and merely took a picture before proceeding to cook it, much to surprise of his daughter Lindsay.

Hands up for the carrot. The five-fingered vegetable which was grown in Shropshire

Lindsay, 42, a chef from Condover, Shropshire, joked whether the hand might count as all of her ‘five a day’ in one go.

She said: ‘We couldn’t believe it, it was quite a shock to see a carrot perfectly shaped like a hand.

‘You’d think that with me being a chef and my dad a gardener, we might have come across something this strange before – but we never have.

‘My dad just seemed to make some joke about it being ‘handy’, took a picture and then I think they just ate it. He played it all down, but that’s just the way dad is.

“We’ve not had anything weird since – no arms or legs to go with it. I don’t think his garden is trying to build a carrot man. Now that would really be unusual.

‘It was just one of those one-off freak of nature occurrences – but isn’t it funny?’

Peter, who is a semi-retired gardener, has three vegetable plots in his large garden, in a leafy part of Shropshire.

He said that throughout his years of gardening, he had never seen anything quite like his ‘carrot claw’.

Other oddly-shaped veg to hit the headlines over the years include baby-shaped pears, a parsnip that looked like a witch and a potato teddy bear. Earlier this week a gardener cut open a Jalapeno pepper to see a smiley face, complete with eyebrows, looking back at him.

The Jalapeno pepper which when cut open revealed a smiling face

By Denise Foley

1. Eggs. Skip the bagel this morning. Eggs, which are full of protein, will help you feel fuller longer-a lot longer. A multicenter study of 30 overweight or obese women found that those who ate two scrambled eggs (with two slices of toast and a reduced-calorie fruit spread) consumed less for the next 36 hours than women who had a bagel breakfast of equal calories. Other research has shown that protein may also prevent spikes in blood sugar, which can lead to food cravings.

2. Beans. You’ve probably never heard of cholecystokinin, but it’s one of your best weight-loss pals. This digestive hormone is a natural appetite suppressant. So how do you get more cholecystokinin? One way, report researchers at the University of California at Davis, is by eating beans: A study of eight men found that their levels of the hormone (which may work by keeping food in your stomach longer) were twice as high after a meal containing beans than after a low-fiber meal containing rice and dry milk. There’s also some evidence that beans keep blood sugar on an even keel, so you can stave off hunger longer. Heart-health bonus: High-fiber beans can lower your cholesterol.

3. Salad. Do you tend to stuff yourself at meals? Control that calorie intake by starting with a large salad (but hold the creamy dressing). In a study of 42 women at Penn State University, those who ate a big, low-cal salad consumed 12 percent less pasta afterward-even though they were offered as much as they wanted. The secret, say researchers, is the sheer volume of a salad, which makes you feel too full to pig out. Health bonus: A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that people who ate one salad a day with dressing had higher levels of vitamins C and E, folic acid, lycopene, and carotenoids-all disease fighters-than those who didn’t add salad to their daily menu.

4. Green tea. The slimming ingredient isn’t caffeine. Antioxidants called catechins are what help speed metabolism and fat burning. In a recent Japanese study, 35 men who drank a bottle of oolong tea mixed with green tea catechins lost weight, boosted their metabolism, and had a significant drop in their body mass index. Health bonus: The participants also lowered their (bad) LDL cholesterol.

5. Pears. They’re now recognized as having more fiber, thanks to a corrected calculation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At six grams (formerly four grams) per medium-size pear, they’re great at filling you up. Apples come in second, with about three grams per medium-size fruit. Both contain pectin fiber, which decreases blood-sugar levels, helping you avoid between-meal snacking. This may explain why, in a Brazilian study that lasted 12 weeks, overweight women who ate three small pears or apples a day lost more weight than women on the same diet who ate three oat cookies daily instead of the fruit.

6. Soup. A cup of chicken soup is as appetite blunting as a piece of chicken: That was the finding of a Purdue University study with 18 women and 13 men. Why? Researchers speculate that even the simplest soup satisfies hunger because your brain perceives it as filling.

7. Lean beef. It’s what’s for dinner-or should be, if you’re trying to shed pounds. The amino acid leucine, which is abundant in proteins like meat and fish as well as in dairy products, can help you pare down while maintaining calorie-burning muscle. That’s what it did for 24 overweight middle-aged women in a study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Eating anywhere from nine to 10 ounces of beef a day on a roughly 1,700-calorie diet helped the women lose more weight, more fat, and less muscle mass than a control group consuming the same number of calories, but less protein. The beef eaters also had fewer hunger pangs.

8. Olive oil. Fight off middle-age pounds with extra virgin olive oil. A monounsaturated fat, it’ll help you burn calories. In an Australian study, 12 postmenopausal women (ages 57 to 73) were given a breakfast cereal dressed either with a mixture of cream and skim milk or half an ounce of olive oil and skim milk. The women who ate the oil-laced muesli boosted their metabolism. Don’t want to add olive oil to your oatmeal? That’s OK-it works just as well in salad dressings, as a bread dip, or for sautéing.

9. Grapefruit. It’s back! A 2006 study of 91 obese people conducted at the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic found that eating half a grapefruit before each meal or drinking a serving of the juice three times a day helped people drop more than three pounds over 12 weeks. The fruit’s phytochemicals reduce insulin levels, a process that may force your body to convert calories into energy rather than flab.

10. Cinnamon. Sprinkle it on microwave oatmeal or whole-grain toast to help cure those mid-afternoon sugar slumps. Research from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture found that a little cinnamon can help control post-meal insulin spikes, which make you feel hungry. Health bonus: One USDA study showed that just a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon a day lowered the blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

11. Vinegar. It’s a great filler-upper. In a Swedish study, researchers found that people who ate bread dipped in vinegar felt fuller than those who had their slices plain. The probable reason: Acetic acid in the vinegar may slow the passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine, so your tummy stays full longer. Vinegar can also short-circuit the swift blood-sugar rise that occurs after you eat refined carbs such as white bread, cookies, and crackers.

12. Tofu. It seems too light to be filling, but a study at Louisiana State University showed that tofu does the job. Researchers tested it against chicken as a pre-meal appetizer for 42 overweight women-and the participants who had tofu ate less food during the meal. The secret: Tofu is an appetite-quashing protein.

13. Nuts. Yes, they are fattening: A handful of peanuts is about 165 calories. But research shows that people who snack on nuts tend to be slimmer than those who don’t. A study from Purdue University found that when a group of 15 normal-weight people added about 500 calories worth of peanuts to their regular diet, they consumed less at subsequent meals. The participants also revved up their resting metabolism by 11 percent, which means they burned more calories even when relaxing. Health bonus: Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids. And researchers at Loma Linda University recently found that eating 10 to 20 whole pecans daily can reduce heart disease risks.

14. High-fiber cereal. Studies show that you can curb your appetite by eating a bowl for breakfast. But how well does it really work? Researchers at the VA Medical Center and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis tested the theory against the ultimate diet challenge: the buffet table. They gave 14 volunteers one of five cereals before sending them out to the smorgasbord. Those who’d had the highest-fiber cereal ate less than those who didn’t have as much fiber in the morning. Try General Mills Fiber One (14 grams per serving) or Kellogg’s All Bran With Extra Fiber (13 grams per serving).

15. Hot red pepper. Eating a bowl of spicy chili regularly can help you lose weight. In a Japanese study, 13 women who ate breakfast foods with red pepper (think southwestern omelet) ate less than they normally did at lunch. The magic ingredient may be capsaicin, which helps suppress appetite.

Want to learn more about the different types of flu? Surprisingly, not all types of flu are the same. Some types of flu can make you very ill while other types of flu cause milder symptoms.

What is flu?

Flu, or influenza, is an acute respiratory infection caused by a variety of flu viruses. Symptoms of flu involve muscle aches and soreness, headache, and fever.

How does a flu virus make me sick?

Flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you are possibly infecting yourself with a virus.

This makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent and thorough hand washing. Encourage family members to do the same to stay well and prevent flu.

What are the different types of flu?

There are three types of flu viruses: A, B, and C. Type A and B cause the annual influenza epidemics that have up to 20% of the population sniffling, aching, coughing, and running high fevers. Type C also causes flu; however, type C flu symptoms are much less severe.

Each year, the flu is linked to an average of 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations in the United States. The seasonal flu vaccine was created to try to avert these epidemics.

What is type A flu virus?

Type A flu or influenza A viruses are capable of infecting people as well as animals; although it is more common for people to suffer the ailments associated with this type of flu. Wild birds commonly act as the hosts for this flu virus.

Type A flu virus is constantly changing and is generally responsible for the large flu epidemics. Influenza A2 virus (and other variants of influenza) is spread by people who are already infected. The most common flu hot spots are those surfaces that an infected person has touched and rooms where he or she has been recently, especially areas where he or she has been sneezing.

What is type B flu virus?

Unlike type A flu viruses, type B flu is found only in humans. Type B flu may cause a less severe reaction than type A flu virus, but occasionally, type B flu can still be extremely harmful. Influenza type B viruses are not classified by subtype and do not cause pandemics.

How is type C flu virus different from the others?

Influenza C viruses are also found in people. They are, however, milder than either type A or B. People generally do not become very ill from the influenza type C viruses. Type C flu viruses do not cause epidemics and are not classified according to subtype.

Types, Subtypes, and Strains

There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Only influenza A viruses are further classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Influenza A subtypes and B viruses are further classified by strains.

Human Influenza Viruses and Avian Influenza A Viruses

Humans can be infected with influenza types A, B, and C viruses. Subtypes of influenza A that are currently circulating among people worldwide include H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 viruses.

Wild birds are the natural host for all known subtypes of influenza A viruses. Typically, wild birds do not become sick when they are infected with avian influenza A viruses. However, domestic poultry, such as turkeys and chickens, can become very sick and die from avian influenza, and some avian influenza A viruses also can cause serious disease and death in wild birds.

Low Pathogenic versus Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Viruses

Avian influenza A virus strains are further classified as low pathogenic (LPAI) or highly pathogenic (HPAI) on the basis of specific molecular genetic and pathogenesis criteria that require specific testing. Most avian influenza A viruses are LPAI viruses that are usually associated with mild disease in poultry. In contrast, HPAI viruses can cause severe illness and high mortality in poultry. More recently, some HPAI viruses (e.g., H5N1) have been found to cause no illness in some poultry, such as ducks. LPAI viruses have the potential to evolve into HPAI viruses and this has been documented in some poultry outbreaks. Avian influenza A viruses of the subtypes H5 and H7,including H5N1, H7N7, and H7N3 viruses, have been associated with HPAI, and human infection with these viruses have ranged from mild (H7N3, H7N7) to severe and fatal disease (H7N7, H5N1). Human illness due to infection with LPAI viruses has been documented, including very mild symptoms (e.g., conjunctivitis) to influenza-like illness. Examples of LPAI viruses that have infected humans include H7N7, H9N2, and H7N2.

In general, direct human infection with avian influenza viruses occurs very infrequently, and has been associated with direct contact (e.g., touching) infected sick or dead infected birds (domestic poultry).

How Influenza Viruses Change: Drift and Shift

Influenza viruses are dynamic and are continuously evolving. Influenza viruses can change in two different ways: antigenic drift and antigenic shift. Influenza viruses are changing by antigenic drift all the time, but antigenic shift happens only occasionally. Influenza type A viruses undergo both kinds of changes; influenza type B viruses change only by the more gradual process of antigenic drift.

Antigenic drift refers to small, gradual changes that occur through point mutations in the two genes that contain the genetic material to produce the main surface proteins, hemagglutinin, and neuraminidase. These point mutations occur unpredictably and result in minor changes to these surface proteins. Antigenic drift produces new virus strains that may not be recognized by antibodies to earlier influenza strains. This process works as follows: a person infected with a particular influenza virus strain develops antibody against that strain. As newer virus strains appear, the antibodies against the older strains might not recognize the “newer” virus, and infection with a new strain can occur. This is one of the main reasons why people can become infected with influenza viruses more than one time and why global surveillance is critical in order to monitor the evolution of human influenza virus stains for selection of which strains should be included in the annual production of influenza vaccine. In most years, one or two of the three virus strains in the influenza vaccine are updated to keep up with the changes in the circulating influenza viruses. For this reason, people who want to be immunized against influenza need to be vaccinated every year.

Antigenic shift refers to an abrupt, major change to produce a novel influenza A virus subtype in humans that was not currently circulating among people (see more information below under Influenza Type A and Its Subtypes). Antigenic shift can occur either through direct animal (poultry)-to-human transmission or through mixing of human influenza A and animal influenza A virus genes to create a new human influenza A subtype virus through a process called genetic reassortment. Antigenic shift results in a new human influenza A subtype. A global influenza pandemic (worldwide spread) may occur if three conditions are met:

• A new subtype of influenza A virus is introduced into the human population.
• The virus causes serious illness in humans.
• The virus can spread easily from person to person in a sustained manner.

Types, Subtypes, and Strains

Influenza Type A and Its Subtypes

Influenza type A viruses can infect people, birds, pigs, horses, and other animals, but wild birds are the natural hosts for these viruses. Influenza type A viruses are divided into subtypes and named on the basis of two proteins on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). For example, an “H7N2 virus” designates an influenza A subtype that has an HA 7 protein and an NA 2 protein. Similarly an “H5N1” virus has an HA 5 protein and an NA 1 protein. There are 16 known HA subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Only some influenza A subtypes (i.e., H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) are currently in general circulation among people. Other subtypes are found most commonly in other animal species. For example, H7N7 and H3N8 viruses cause illness in horses, and H3N8 also has recently been shown to cause illness in dogs.

Only influenza A viruses infect birds, and all known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect birds. However, there are substantial genetic differences between the influenza A subtypes that typically infect birds and those that infect both people and birds. Three prominent subtypes of the avian influenza A viruses that are known to infect both birds and people are:

Influenza A H5

Nine potential subtypes of H5 are known. H5 infections, such as HPAI H5N1 viruses currently circulating in Asia and Europe, have been documented among humans and sometimes cause severe illness or death.

Influenza A H7

Nine potential subtypes of H7 are known. H7 infection in humans is rare but can occur among persons who have direct contact with infected birds. Symptoms may include conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory symptoms. H7 viruses have been associated with both LPAI (e.g., H7N2, H7N7) and HPAI (e.g., H7N3, H7N7), and have caused mild to severe and fatal illness in humans.

Influenza A H9

Nine potential subtypes of H9 are known; influenza A H9 has rarely been reported to infect humans. However, this subtype has been documented only in a low pathogenic form.

Influenza Type B

Influenza B viruses are usually found only in humans. Unlike influenza A viruses, these viruses are not classified according to subtype. Influenza B viruses can cause morbidity and mortality among humans, but in general are associated with less severe epidemics than influenza A viruses. Although influenza type B viruses can cause human epidemics, they have not caused pandemics.

Influenza Type C

Influenza type C viruses cause mild illness in humans and do not cause epidemics or pandemics. These viruses are not classified according to subtype.

Strains

Influenza B viruses and subtypes of influenza A virus are further characterized into strains. There are many different strains of influenza B viruses and of influenza A subtypes. New strains of influenza viruses appear and replace older strains. This process occurs through antigenic drift. When a new strain of human influenza virus emerges, antibody protection that may have developed after infection or vaccination with an older strain may not provide protection against the new strain. Therefore, the influenza vaccine is updated on a yearly basis to keep up with the changes in influenza viruses.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian

Many people want to seem more sincere, or simply want to be able to express themselves. When it comes to happiness, “smiling with your eyes” is key, and it can be learned. Actors, public relationists, therapists, and many other people have learned to “smile with their eyes” (smile sincerely, believably, and deeply)

1. If you can, avoid smiling at things that don’t make you happy or strike you as funny. This will save a lot of trouble in the long run.
2. Smile with the mouth. Actors practice this, and so can you. A phony grin or bared teeth won’t win any favors. Develop a casual smile, and make sure you can pull it even when you are sad or bored.
3. When you smile naturally, your whole face moves. Fake smiles involve just the mouth, and people notice something wrong. The next time you are REALLY smiling, take note of the muscles in your cheeks, forehead, and temples. If you want to be able to consistently smile with all your face, you will have to identify and practice this, just as you did with the mouth alone.
4. Know that 80% of a sincere “smile with the eyes” is just getting the muscles of your face trained properly. However, there is one last step, the real “smiling with the eyes”, and it can’t be faked. When something really makes us happy, our eyes get brighter, taking on an excited shine or gleam. This is the exact opposite of “glassy eyes”. In order to be able to do this on command, you will need to train your mind with practice, just as you trained your face. You have to learn to convince yourself that what you are smiling about is really something you like and are excited about. If you can’t do this, you will have to practice quickly bringing to mind a memory or image that makes you happy. When you have to give your best smile (even if you don’t feel happy), quickly think of this happy thought and make the smile you practiced. Anyone watching will see a person smiling with their whole face.

When was the last time you did something for YOU?

Are you one of those people who has always said “yes” to everyone?

“Mom – will you make a costume for me for tomorrow?”

→“Yes.”

“Dad… can you please help me with this school project?”

→“Yes.”

“Honey, I know it’s late but would you be willing to run these errands?”

→“Yes.”

While there’s nothing wrong with being the “go to” person, I have one word of caution: Don’t say “no” to you just so you can say “yes” to others.

We can all fall into this trap. We give and give and give of ourselves. Then, we wonder why we’re so drained, depressed and disheartened. We can’t figure out why we feel so exhausted and emotionally removed from life. It’s because we’ve never said “yes” to ourselves!

We need to be good to ourselves so we can be our best for others!

I know, I know. It’s easier said than done. But it’s essential for your well-being. If there’s something you want to do – take a weekend to visit a childhood friend, fix your smile for an upcoming class reunion, join a gym for early-morning workouts – then say YES!

Believe it or not, when you start giving yourself the nod, you’ll actually be more of a help to everyone else.

• Thinking of changing the appearance of your teeth?  Check out Smiles by Dr. John R. Gordon, Kansas City.
• Join Dr. John R. Gordon on Twitter!

Received this today through email from Nuffnang.
I’ve seen advertisements of this on tv, I think this is the one with Iza Calzado. This is a really nice campaign from Nestle Yogurt. Although I’m already aware of yogurts benefits for the body, I wanted other people to know about this as well. It’s not just a sweet treat or a diet aid, but it helps in keeping your body healthy and fit.
Wow! I’m sounding like an advertisement myself hehehe.

To Pledge click here
To know more about the campaign click here

tell me something i don’t know. if you know me, you’ll know i read my horoscope on a daily basis. whats most fascinating is that it gives me a guidance of how to look into my day. lately i haven’t been feeling like myself. i guess i’ve been just trying to figure myself out for the most part. but day in and day out i feel myself questioning aspects of my life and what the future holds. what is it that i want to do. i’m not too sure. i need better reasoning than this.

feel short changed. i am not ready, believe it or not. i am as happy as i can be right now. i never knew how hard it was to express how you truly felt because everyone feels this need to hold back and not hurt others. but are you not making things worse by pushing in the wrong direction? i just dont feel that i am feeling that carefreeness that i deserve at the moment. just leave it be and hope for the best. its amazing how a time interval can change someones life completely. the efforts i’ve made the tear drops that have fallen are no longer part of my repertoire. i’ve been given every reason to be proud of myself but i know i no longer push myself the way i have before. no more risks, no more motivation. feel almost like hollow? thats okay i’ve been assured that this feeling will pass. i’m just grateful that no, it is not the end of the world. and yes, there are a world of possibilities awaiting.

i watched ‘definately, maybe’ last night and as unrealistic as it may be i think it drove a clear message. sometimes you have to experience all these obstacles to better yourself, for yourself and having someone along side you is a benefit and not a cost.

i remember those days so vividly. a chapter well closed, believe me, this whirlwind has taught me much more than i could ever put a value on. i can only thank you for allowing me to let go. no one said it would be easy, it wasn’t. i never put a finger on it because i felt big enough to take it all on my own. i felt a sigh of relief yesterday. lesson learnt, i can no longer trust anyone. just be good to yourself, be honest, hopeful, and take the steps that give you the opportuity to experience the growth that you’ve always sought. if you dont let it go, you would never know what the future holds.  not too long ago, you were my day and night. today we can just laugh it off. i never felt i could ever be ready to laugh with you. it was the comfort that i had not felt for a whiles. for once, i could say i felt okay. i felt i could be myself. no mistakes were made in the process. things have been better off. 0423′09

Just once, I’d like to be able to blame someone else. Instead, I internalize everything. I plod methodically toward self-retaliation. I’m not even sure what I’m sacrificing myself for, only that it seems fitting. Since I can’t seem to ward off attacks from myself, I shall give you examples of what not to do to yourself. Do not…

• Take laxatives if you do not need them for their intended purpose. You will be in misery for days.
• Take joy in being exposed to the flu.
• Drink too many caffeinated beverages.
• Impulsively overmedicate with Benadryl.
• Commit yourself to unnecessary stress by falling into the Avoidance Void.
• Put up with men who don’t appreciate you.
• Ignore the low gas light.
• Isolate yourself for days or weeks or months on end.
• Eat fast food.
• Avoid telling your closest friends about any of the above points until months later. If you can’t admit to something now, you shouldn’t be doing it.

Things you should do for yourself…

• Eat more vegetables.
• Give yourself a break.
• Remember you have lost and kept weight off on your own and you can do it again. Also, remember that gaining 15 pounds is not the same as gaining all your weight back.
• Buy ringtones.
• Fluff your hair.
• Mix it up and give a nice (tall) guy a chance.
• Wear perfume because it makes you feel pretty.
• Acknowledge there is a list of things you can and will do for yourself that are healthy for you.
• Paint toenails. Try bright red. (Suggestion courtesy of Mr. Paul Squires.)
• Aimlessly walking. The longer the better. (Again, via Paul.)

Another office workout exclusive from Violet, a chair workout that will give you a little extra energy for the rest of your day.

If you have trouble staying fit at work, these office exercises are a great way to keep your body moving right at your desk.

The commercial name for Botulinum toxin, Botox has become a household name. Everyone’s heard about it and most of knows know at least someone that has tried this fairly simple cosmetic procedure.

Originally used to treat involuntary muscle spasms or clinical conditions like strabismus due to its ability to block neuromuscular transmission. Also applied in cases of hyperhidrosis to control excessive underarm sweating and studies are being conducted for other problems like asthma and obesity.

However, these are not the reasons why Botox is so well known in today’s society. With but a localized injection without having to recur to surgery, it manages to erase moderate to sever lines and wrinkles such as crow’s feet and frown lines, as long as there isn’t any permanent scarring in those areas. This effect is not permanent and wears off from six weeks to six months, depending on the area and how much has been applied.

Although we’re talking about a toxin, controlled application of Botox has a very low degree of toxicity. But what about the side effects? Less careful administrations will cause bruising, there is a chance for an allergic reaction and in less fortunate incidences you might wind up with an uneven smile, lose the ability to close your eye or a drooping eyelid.

Nevertheless, it is the number one cosmetic operation performed in the United States of America, it’s relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of cosmetic surgery and is able to produce instant results giving more self-esteem to the patient and all the added comfort of cosmetic surgery during a lunch break that “lifts” the spirits. A physician has also claimed that by taking away frown lines (and therefore the ability to frown) his patients have grown happier and lost the ability to feel saddened and depressed.

Botox is widely hyped in the media, Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) on Ugly Betty is seen having it administered to her on more than one episode by her assistant Marc St. James (Michael Urie) and giving him the leftover which he happily accepts.

Too much Botox may result in the loss of facial expression and all the particularities that make a face (and the person) unique and like everything in life, you can have too much of a good thing. The truth is that Botox is out there, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to disappear anytime soon.

]]> http://101smackdowns.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/unwinding-time-management/ Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:12:16 +0000 101smackdowns http://101smackdowns.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/unwinding-time-management/

Oh that mythical hour to do *nothing* in. (Not the hour you work with your passion; the hour when you don’t work at all.) How many times have you tried to review your days and slice out an hour to meditate or have a cup of tea and just relax? How many times have you failed to carve out that hour, and then the Inner Critic chastises you for not being able to be good to yourself?

For me, my happiest, most buoyant days aren’t the ones where I got a whole hour to be unproductive. They’re the ones when I took a lot of very tiny breaks, scattered through the day, but on each break I really let go completely. Ten minutes on the subway, three minutes during one of my favorite songs in a cafe, five minutes waiting for a friend to arrive at the restaurant, two minutes in bed before sacking out.

Try it today. Instead of making an hour your goal, make five short breaks your goal instead and see how you feel at the end of the day.

1.Blinking

Blinking is an often overlooked yet simple way to keep your eyes fresh and being able to focus longer. Computer users and television watchers tend to blink less, especially when they are intently focused on something. Try it just now as a simple exercise. For the next two minutes blink every 3 – 4 seconds. After you have done this for two minutes, mentally take note of how your eyes feel, are they strained, relaxed, tired. Now try and not blink for 30 seconds at a time for two minutes. Do you feel any difference?

Whenever you blink your eyes are going into a brief period of darkness which helps to keep your eyes fresh and discharges previous information ready for new information, this helps to reduce eye strain.

Your blink rate can also help with your communication skills. Think about someone who looked at you intently and you possibly felt threatened by them. What you may have missed is the fact that they had stopped blinking. When someone stops blinking and stares at you when you are talking it’s a sign of aggression. However whenever you are talking to someone and they are blinking at a 3 -4 second interval it’s a sign of a relaxed and friendly listener. Check out people’s blink rates the next time you are talking. Check out this article for more info Dramatically improve your eye contact skills

2.Palming

This is done to relieve stress around the eyes and as a way to relax your eyes whilst taking a computer break.

Instructions for palming

1. Take a few deep breathes before you begin.

2. Make yourself comfortable whilst leaning forward on a desk or with your elbows resting on your knees. Close your eyes.

3. Place your two hands over your eyes with the cup of your palm covering your eyes, your fingers on your forehead and the heel of your hand will rest on your cheekbone. Make sure you can blink freely and you are not putting too much pressure on your eyes.

That’s it. Palming gives you the opportunity to rest your mind and your eyes for a few minutes at a time. It may not sound much of an exercise but it can make a big difference in your working day if you stop for a few minutes and do this exercise.

3.Figure of eight

This is to exercise your eye muscles and increase their flexibility. This is quite a simple exercise but a good one.

Imagine a giant figure of eight in front of you about 10 feet in front of you. Now turn the 8 on it’s side. Now trace the figure of eight with your eyes, slowly. Do it one way for a few minutes and then do it the other way for a few minutes. It may seem very alien at first but it’s worth persevering with it.

4.Near and far focussing

This is one of my favourite exercises as you can do it almost anywhere, I say almost as I couldn’t imagine doing it on the underground without getting strange looks from those around me.

Instructions for Near and far focussing.

1. Sit in a comfortable position, or stand, this will only take 2-3 minutes at a time.
2. Put your thumb about 10 inches in front of you and focus on it.
3. Now focus on something else about 10 – 20 feet in front of you.
4. On each deep breath switch between focussing on your thumb and the 10-20 feet object in front of you.

This will strengthen the muscles in your eyes over time and improve your vision overall.

5.Zooming

This is another one of my favourites as it is very easy and quick to do.

Instructions for zooming

1. Sit in a comfortable position
2. Stretch out your arm with your thumb in the hitchhike position
3. Focus on your thumb as your arm is outstretched.
4. Now bring your thumb closer to you, focussing all the time, until your thumb is about 3 inches in front of your face.
5. Now move your thumb away again until your arm is fully outstretched.
6. Do this for a few minutes at a time throughout the day.

This exercise will strengthen your focussing skills and your eye muscles in general.

1. Tidak mengambil sarapan pagi
Apabila seseorang tidak mengambil sarapan pagi, paras gula dalam darah akan menjadi rendah. Ini akan mengakibatkan kekurangan bekalan nutrisi pada otak dan menjadikannya kurang aktif.

2. Terlebih makan
Ia akan membebankan pembuluh darah otak dan mengurangkan kuasa mental otak.

3. Perokok
Asap rokok akan mengakibatkan sel-sel otak terjejas atau terbakar dan boleh menga kibatkan penyakit ‘Alzheimer’.

4. Penggunaan gula yang berlebihan
Pengambilan gula secara berlebihan akan mengganggu penyerapan protein dan nutrisi. Selain daripada itu, ia akan mengganggu perkembangan otak yang sihat.

5. Pencemaran udara
Otak adalah pengguna oksigen terbesar dalam badan manusia. Pencemaran udara boleh menyebabkan pengurangan bekalan oksigen ke otak dan keaktifan otak.

6. Terlebih tidur
Tidur adalah bagus untuk merehatkan otak tetapi masa tidur yang panjang boleh mengakibatkan sel-sel otak kita mati.

7. Menutup muka ketika tidur
Tidur sambil menutup muka akan mengakibatkan otak menerima lebih banyak karbon dioksida berbanding oksigen dan ini akan membawa kerosakan kepada otak.

8. Membiarkan otak bekerja semasa kita berada di dalam keadaan kurang sihat
Bekerja semasa anda kurang sihat boleh mengurangkan keberkesanan otak dan juga membawa kerosakan kepada sel-sel otak.

9. Kurang berimiginasi
Berfikir adalah satu cara terbaik untuk melatih otak kita. Kurangnya berimiginasi boleh menyebabkan tahap kecerdasan/keaktifan otak menurun.

10. Jarang berfikir
Jarang berfikir akan menyebabkan otak kita kurang aktif. Oleh itu, perbincangan yang membina boleh menambah keberkesanan kecerdasan otak kita.

]]> http://everybeautifulthing.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/chris-ledoux/ Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:55:48 +0000 Christa Dovel http://everybeautifulthing.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/chris-ledoux/

In Cheyenne, my cousin and I had been within thirty feet of the stage. It was awesome, and I wanted the same experience again. Except, now I was married, and this time it would be with my husband.

… I would be able to dance with him, the love of my life, instead of some drunk, who happened to be standing near by …

I asked my love to take me… read more…

When someone we know faces a serious illness, most of us find it hard to know what to do. Feeling helpless and uncertain, we say, “If you need anything just call,” but we know that’s not really enough. Here is a collection of truly useful ideas you can use to show your concern and support for people who are close to you. •

1. Don’t avoid me. Be the friend, the loved one you’ve always been.

2. Touch me. A simple squeeze of the hand tells me you still care.

3. Call and tell me you’re bringing over my favorite dish. Bring food in disposable containers so I won’t worry about returning them.

4. Watch my children while I take a little time to be alone with my loved one. My children may also need a vacation from my illness.

5. Cry with me when I cry and laugh with me when I laugh. Don’t be afraid to share these emotions with me. Pain isolates. Help me reconnect with others.

6. Take me out for a pleasure trip, but I know my limitations.

7. Call for my shopping list, and make a special delivery to my home.

8. Before you visit, call to let me know, but don’t be afraid to visit. I told you I can get lonely.

9. Help me celebrate holidays (and life) by decorating my hospital room or home, or by bringing me flowers or other natural treasures.

10. Help my family. Invite them out. Take them places. I am sick, but they may be suffering also. Offer to come and stay with me to give my loved ones a break.

11. Be creative. Bring me a book of thoughts, taped music, a poster for my wall, cookies to share with my family and friends.

12. Let’s talk about it. Maybe I need to talk about my illness. Find out by asking, “Do you feel like talking about it?”

13. Don’t always feel we have to talk. Sitting quietly together is fine. Your presence confirms that I’m still important and alive.

14. Can you take me and/or my children somewhere? I may need transportation to a treatment, to the store, or to my physician.

15. Help me feel good about myself by looking past my appearance.

16. Please include me in decision making. I’ve been robbed of so may things. Don’t deny me a chance to make decisions in my family and in my life.

17. Talk to me about the future. Tomorrow, next week, next year. Hope is so important to me.

18. Bring a positive attitude. It’s catching. Help me respect reality.

19. What’s in the news? Magazines, photos, newspapers, and verbal reports keep me from feeling the world is passing me by.

20. Could you help me with some cleaning? During my illness my family and I still face dirty clothes, dirty dishes, and a dirty house.

21. Water my flowers. 22. Just send a card to let me know you care.

23. Pray for me and share your faith with me. 24. Tell me how you’d like to help me, and when I agree, please do so.

25. Tell me about support groups so I can share with others.

Here are some Tips that may help.

1. Exercise most days, even if it’s just to take a walk.

2. No caffeine after 7:00 p.m.

3. An hour before bedtime, avoid doing any kind of work that takes alert thinking. Addressing envelopes–okay. Analyzing an article–nope.

4. Adjust your bedroom temperature to be slightly chilly.

5. Keep your bedroom dark. Studies show that even the tiny light from a digital alarm clock can disrupt a sleep cycle. We have about six devices in our room that glow bright green; it’s like sleeping in a mad scientist’s lab. The Big Man has a new pet, a Roomba (yes, he loves his robot vacuum) that gives out so much light that I have to cover it with a pillow before bed.

6. Keep the bedroom as tidy as possible. It’s not restful to fight through chaos into bed.

If sleep won’t come:

7. Breathe deeply and slowly until you can’t stand it anymore.

8. If your mind is racing (you’re planning a trip, a move; you’re worried about a medical diagnosis), write down what’s on your mind. This technique really works for me.

9. Slather yourself with body lotion. This feels good and also, if you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re hot, it cools you down.

10. If your feet are cold, put on socks.

11. Stretch your whole body.

12. Have a warm drink. Supposedly warm milk contains melatonin and trytophan and so helps induce sleep, but in fact, a glass of milk doesn’t contain enough to have any effect. But it’s still a soothing drink. My nighttime favorite: 1/3 mug of milk, add boiling water, one packet of Equal, and a dash of vanilla. A real nursery treat.

13. Yawn.

14. Stretch your toes up and down several times.

15. Tell yourself, “I have to get up now.” Imagine that you just hit the snooze alarm and in a minute, you’re going to be marching through the morning routine. Often this is an exhausting enough prospect to make me fall asleep.

16. If you still can’t sleep, re-frame: re-frame your sleeplessness as a welcome opportunity to snatch some extra time out of your day.

Learning to make healthier choices at fast food restaurants

Making healthier choices at fast food restaurants is easier if you prepare ahead by checking guides that show you the nutritional content of meal choices at your favorite restaurants. Free downloadable guides help you evaluate your options. If you have a special dietary concern, such as diabetes, heart health or weight loss, the websites of national non-profits provide useful advice. You can also choose to patronize restaurants that focus on natural, high quality food.

If you don’t prepare ahead of time, common sense guidelines help to make your meal healthier. For example, a seemingly healthy salad can be a diet minefield when smothered in high-fat dressing and fried toppings, so choose a salad with fresh veggies, grilled toppings and a lighter dressing. Portion control is also important, as many fast food restaurants serve enough food for several meals in the guise of a single serving.

The Big Burger Chains

The Big Fried Chicken Chains

The Big Taco Chains

Asian Food Choices

Italian and Pizza Restaurant Choices

Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. You may associate grief with the death of a loved one – and this type of loss does often cause the most intense grief. But any loss can cause grief, including:

The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief. However, even subtle losses can lead to grief. For example, you might experience grief after moving away from home, graduating from college, changing jobs, selling your family home, or retiring from a career you loved.

Everyone grieves differently

Grieving is a personal and highly individual experience. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and the nature of the loss. The grieving process takes time. Healing happens gradually; it can’t be forced or hurried – and there is no “normal” timetable for grieving. Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it’s important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.

The five stages of grief:

· Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.”

· Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”

· Bargaining: “Make this not happen, and in return I will ____.”

· Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”

· Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what happened.”

Grief is a roller coaster, not a series of stages

It is best not to think of grief as a series of stages. Rather, we might think of the grieving process as a roller coaster, full of ups and downs, highs and lows. Like many roller coasters, the ride tends to be rougher in the beginning, the lows may be deeper and longer. The difficult periods should become less intense and shorter as time goes by, but it takes time to work through a loss. Even years after a loss, especially at special events such as a family wedding or the birth of a child, we may still experience a strong sense of grief.

Source: Hospice Foundation of America

Common symptoms of grief

While loss affects people in different ways, many people experience the following symptoms when they’re grieving. Just remember that almost anything that you experience in the early stages of grief is normal – including feeling like you’re going crazy, feeling like you’re in a bad dream, or questioning your religious beliefs.

· Shock and disbelief – Right after a loss, it can be hard to accept what happened. You may feel numb, have trouble believing that the loss really happened, or even deny the truth. If someone you love has died, you may keep expecting them to show up, even though you know they’re gone.

· Sadness – Profound sadness is probably the most universally experienced symptom of grief. You may have feelings of emptiness, despair, yearning, or deep loneliness. You may also cry a lot or feel emotionally unstable.

· Guilt – You may regret or feel guilty about things you did or didn’t say or do. You may also feel guilty about certain feelings (e.g. feeling relieved when the person died after a long, difficult illness). After a death, you may even feel guilty for not doing something to prevent the death, even if there was nothing more you could have done.

· Anger – Even if the loss was nobody’s fault, you may feel angry and resentful. If you lost a loved one, you may be angry at yourself, God, the doctors, or even the person who died for abandoning you. You may feel the need to blame someone for the injustice that was done to you.

· Fear – A significant loss can trigger a host of worries and fears. You may feel anxious, helpless, or insecure. You may even have panic attacks. The death of a loved one can trigger fears about your own mortality, of facing life without that person, or the responsibilities you now face alone.

· Physical symptoms – We often think of grief as a strictly emotional process, but grief often involves physical problems, including fatigue, nausea, lowered immunity, weight loss or weight gain, aches and pains, and insomnia.

Coping with grief and loss tip 1: Get support

The single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of other people. Even if you aren’t comfortable talking about your feelings under normal circumstances, it’s important to express them when you’re grieving. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry. Wherever the support comes from, accept it and do not grieve alone. Connecting to others will help you heal.

Finding support after a loss

· Turn to friends and family members – Now is the time to lean on the people who care about you, even if you take pride in being strong and self-sufficient. Draw loved ones close, rather than avoiding them, and accept the assistance that’s offered. Oftentimes, people want to help but don’t know how, so tell them what you need – whether it’s a shoulder to cry on or help with funeral arrangements.

· Draw comfort from your faith – If you follow a religious tradition, embrace the comfort its mourning rituals can provide. Spiritual activities that are meaningful to you – such as praying, meditating, or going to church – can offer solace. If you’re questioning your faith in the wake of the loss, talk to a clergy member or others in your religious community.

· Join a support group – Grief can feel very lonely, even when you have loved ones around. Sharing your sorrow with others who have experienced similar losses can help. To find a bereavement support group in your area, contact local hospitals, hospices, funeral homes, and counseling centers.

· Talk to a therapist or grief counselor – If your grief feels like too much to bear, call a mental health professional with experience in grief counseling. An experienced therapist can help you work through intense emotions and overcome obstacles to your grieving.

Coping with grief and loss tip 2: Take care of yourself

When you’re grieving, it’s more important than ever to take care of yourself. The stress of a major loss can quickly deplete your energy and emotional reserves. Looking after your physical and emotional needs will help you get through this difficult time.

· Face your feelings. You can try to suppress your grief, but you can’t avoid it forever. In order to heal, you have to acknowledge the pain. Trying to avoid feelings of sadness and loss only prolongs the grieving process. Unresolved grief can also lead to complications such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and health problems.

· Express your feelings in a tangible or creative way. Write about your loss in a journal. If you’ve lost a loved one, write a letter saying the things you never got to say; make a scrapbook or photo album celebrating the person’s life; or get involved in a cause or organization that was important to him or her.

· Look after your physical health. The mind and body are connected. When you feel good physically, you’ll also feel better emotionally. Combat stress and fatigue by getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising. Don’t use alcohol or drugs to numb the pain of grief or lift your mood artificially.

· Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel, and don’t tell yourself how to feel either. Your grief is your own, and no one else can tell you when it’s time to “move on” or “get over it.” Let yourself feel whatever you feel without embarrassment or judgment. It’s okay to be angry, to yell at the heavens, to cry or not to cry. It’s also okay to laugh, to find moments of joy, and to let go when you’re ready.

· Plan ahead for grief “triggers”. Anniversaries, holidays, and milestones can reawaken memories and feelings. Be prepared for an emotional wallop, and know that it’s completely normal. If you’re sharing a holiday or lifecycle event with other relatives, talk to them ahead of time about their expectations and agree on strategies to honor the person you loved.

Many people have a stereotypical picture in their head of what someone with attention deficit disorder looks like: hyperactive, loud, a whirlwind of energy and unchecked impulses. And let’s face it: it’s probably a kid they’re picturing in their mind’s eye. However, ADD / ADHD is not just a childhood disorder. Kids don’t simply grow out of ADHD, as if it’s a phase. In fact, the symptoms of ADD / ADHD typically get worse as children grow into adulthood and face life’s increasing pressures and demands.

Adults with ADD / ADHD struggle daily with self-regulation: regulating their attention, regulating their impulses in talking and action, and regulating their emotions. If you have trouble staying focused, getting organized, starting and completing your work, managing your time and money, and remembering all the little things in your daily life, you may very well be one of these people.

Signs and symptoms of adult ADD / ADHD

According to Dr. Thomas E. Brown of the Yale University School of Medicine, “ADHD is essentially a name for developmental impairment of executive function.” Executive functions are the skills involved in planning, selective attention, motivation, and impulse control. Adults with ADHD have problems in six major areas of executive functioning:

• Activation – Problems with organization, prioritizing, and starting tasks.
• Focus – Problems with sustaining focus and resisting distraction, especially with reading.
• Effort – Problems with motivation, sustained effort, and persistence.
• Emotion – Difficulty regulating emotions and managing stress.
• Memory – Problems with short-term memory and memory retrieval.
• Action – Problems with self-control and self-regulation.

Effects of adult ADD / ADHD

Left untreated, ADD can wreak havoc in your life, disrupting everything from your career to your social life, love life, and financial stability.

Work

ADD / ADHD can be a big stumbling block on the road to career success. The symptoms of disorganization and inattention, in particular, pose problems in the workplace. If you have ADD / ADHD, you may:

• be chronically late to work,
• miss or forget deadlines and meetings,
• have a hard time organizing projects and delegating work,
• have difficulty completing projects on time,
• spend hours at work, but get very little done,
• get distracted by trivial tasks, while neglecting the most important ones, and
• have trouble paying attention in meetings or in conversations with your boss and colleagues.

Finance

The ADD / ADHD symptoms of procrastination, disorganization, and impulsivity can interfere with good money management. If you have ADD / ADHD, you may find that you:

• forget to pay bills,
• run up huge balances on your credit cards,
• cannot save money,
• are unable to follow through on long-term financial goals,
• shop impulsively,
• have difficulty keeping financial paperwork in order, and
• fail at budgeting and recordkeeping.

Eating behaviors

The impulsivity of ADD / ADHD can extend to eating, and many adults with the condition also suffer from overeating, obesity, or disordered eating.  talks about the connection between ADHD (ADD) and disordered eating:
If you have ADD / ADHD, you may:

• eat snacks throughout the day, rather than eating at planned meals,
• be unable to stick with a diet,
• have intense cravings for carbohydrates and caffeine (in coffee and chocolate),
• eat a lot of fast food and “junk food” (cookies, chips, soda, fries, ice cream),
• ignore hunger signs, waiting until you’re too hungry to plan a healthy meal and then eating whatever you can find.

Positive characteristics of adults with ADD / ADHD

The symptoms of ADD / ADHD are not all negative. People with ADD / ADHD also have many positive traits that are directly tied to their active, impulsive minds:

• Creativity – People with ADD excel at thinking outside of the box, brainstorming, and finding creative solutions to problems. Because of their flexible way of thinking about things, they tend to be more open-minded, independent, and ready to improvise.
• Enthusiasm and spontaneity – People with ADD are free spirits with lively minds—qualities that makes for good company and engrossing conversation. Their enthusiasm and spontaneous approach to life can be infectious.
• A quick mind – People with ADD have the ability to think on their feet, quickly absorb new information (as long as it’s interesting), and multitask with ease. Their rapid-fire minds thrive on stimulation. They adapt well to change and are great in a crisis.
• High energy level – People with ADD have loads of energy. When their attention is captured by something that interests them, they can have virtually unlimited stamina and drive.

The 2002 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, A Beautiful Mind, brought schizophrenia into the public eye, depicting the true story of the progression of the illness in a brilliant Nobel prize winner. As the film illustrated, schizophrenia makes It difficult for a person to distinguish between what is real and unreal, to think clearly, and to behave in socially acceptable ways. These obstacles can have a severe impact on one’s work, relationships, and day-to-day functioning. But as A Beautiful Mind also showed, with treatment and support, a person with schizophrenia can still lead a productive life.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects the way a person acts, thinks, and sees the world. People with schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality, often a significant loss of contact with reality. They may see or hear things that don’t exist, speak in strange or confusing ways, believe that others are trying to harm them, or feel like they’re being constantly watched. With such a blurred line between the real and the imaginary, schizophrenia makes it difficult—even frightening—to negotiate the activities of daily life. In response, people with schizophrenia may withdraw from the outside world or act out in confusion and fear.

Most cases of schizophrenia appear in the late teens or early adulthood. For men, the average age of onset is 25. For women, typical onset is around the age of 30. However, schizophrenia can appear for the first time in middle age or even later. In rare cases, schizophrenia can even affect young children and adolescents, although the symptoms are slightly different. In general, the earlier schizophrenia develops, the more severe it is. Schizophrenia also tends to be more severe in men than in women.

The most common early warning signs of schizophrenia include:

While these warning signs can result from a number of problems—not just schizophrenia—they are cause for concern. When out-of-the-ordinary behavior is causing problems in your life or the life of a loved one, seek medical advice. If schizophrenia or another mental problem is the cause, treatment will help.

Delusions

A delusion is a firmly-held idea that a person has despite clear and obvious evidence that it isn’t true. Delusions are extremely common in schizophrenia, occurring in more than 90% of patients. Often, these delusions involve illogical or bizarre ideas or fantasies. Common schizophrenic delusions include:

• Delusions of persecution — Belief that others, often a vague “they,” are out to get him or her. These persecutory delusions often involve bizarre ideas and plots (e.g. “Martians are trying to poison me with radioactive particles delivered through my tap water”).
• Delusions of reference — A neutral environmental event is believed to have a special and personal meaning. For example, a person with schizophrenia might believe a billboard or a person on TV is sending a message meant specifically for them.
• Delusions of grandeur — Belief that one is a famous or important figure, such as Napolean. Alternately, delusions of grandeur may involve the belief that one has unusual powers that no one else has (e.g. the ability to fly).
• Delusions of control — Belief that one’s thoughts or actions are being controlled by outside, alien forces. Common delusions of control include thought broadcasting (“My private thoughts are being transmitted to others”), thought insertion (“Someone is planting thoughts in my head”), and thought withdrawal (“The CIA is robbing me of my thoughts.”).

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are sounds or other sensations experienced as real when they exist only in the person’s mind. While hallucinations can involve any of the five senses, auditory hallucinations (e.g. hearing voices or some other sound) are most common in schizophrenia. Visual hallucinations are also relatively common. Research suggests that auditory hallucinations occur when people misinterpret their own inner self-talk as coming from an outside source.

Schizophrenic hallucinations are usually meaningful to the person experiencing them. Many times, the voices are those of someone they know. Most commonly, the voices are critical, vulgar, or abusive. Hallucinations also tend to be worse when the person is alone.

Disorganized speech

Fragmented thinking is characteristic of schizophrenia. Externally, it can be observed in the way a person speaks. People with schizophrenia tend to have trouble concentrating and maintaining a train of thought. They may respond to queries with an unrelated answer, start sentences with one topic and end somewhere completely different, speak incoherently, or say illogical things.

Common signs of disorganized speech in schizophrenia include:

• Loose associations — Rapidly shifting from topic to topic, with no connection between one thought and the next.
• Neologisms — Made-up words or phrases that only have meaning to the patient.
• Perseveration — Repetition of words and statements; saying the same thing over and over.
• Clang — Meaningless use of rhyming words (“I said the bread and read the shed and fed Ned at the head.”).

Disorganized behavior

Schizophrenia disrupts goal-directed activity, causing impairments in a person’s ability to take care of him or herself, work, and interact with others. Disorganized behavior appears as:

• A decline in overall daily functioning
• Unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses
• Behaviors that appear bizarre and have no purpose
• Lack of inhibition and impulse control.

Negative symptoms

The negative symptoms of schizophrenia refer to the absence of normal behaviors found in healthy individuals. Important negative symptoms of schizophrenia include:

• Flattened or blunted affect: Lack of emotional expression, including a flat voice, lack of eye contact, and blank or restricted facial expressions.
• Avolition: Lack of interest or enthusiasm; no ability to pursue goal-driven activities.
• Catatonia: Apparent unawareness of the environment, near total absence of motion and speech, aimless body movements and bizarre postures, lack of self-care.
• Alogia: Difficulties with speech, inability to carry a conversation, short and sometimes disconnected replies to questions, lessening of fluency.

“Positive” Symptoms of Schizophrenia

In contrast to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which refer to normal behaviors that are absent, positive symptoms refer to abnormal behaviors that are present. Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and disorganized behavior