Mental health problems: the undefined and hidden burden
The undefined burden of mental problems refers to the economic and social burden for families, communities and countries. Although obviously substantial, this burden has not been efficiently measured. This is because of the lack of quantitative data and difficulties in measuring and evaluating.
The hidden burden refers to the burden associated with stigma and violations of human rights and freedoms. Again, this burden is difficult to quantify. This is a major problem throughout the world, as many cases remain concealed and unreported............
Oct. 24, 2006 - Imagine that I have $100 and I offer you $20 of it, no strings attached. You'd take it, right? Any fool would; it's a windfall. But imagine further that you know I must give away part of my $100 or lose it all. All of a sudden my motives aren't entirely altruistic, but I'm still offering you free money. Take it or leave it, but no negotiation allowed. How would you feel? What would you do? ?????????
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Someone with a cold may just have left a little drop of virus on the light switch for you to pick up and infect yourself with, researchers found in a real-life look at how colds get passed around.
Adults with runny noses leave the virus on about 35 percent of objects they touch, such as telephones, door handles and television controls, the researchers at the University of Virginia reported on Friday.
An hour after someone leaves a virus-infected droplet on a surface, it can be picked up 60 percent of the time. And 24 hours later, 33 percent of the little virus-laden droplets got onto a finger, the researchers told a meeting of the American Society of Microbiology.
"Some adults left a few ... and some contaminated almost all of the sites tested," said Dr. Owen Hendley, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia Health System, who led the study.
Although the study was funded by the makers of a disinfectant spray, Hendley said it is far more important for people to remember to wash their hands.
"In order to get infected with the rhinovirus which causes essentially half of the colds in adults and children, you have to...
Julie b.'s story
"It Can Get Better And Better"
Ok here goes.
Im 39 years old and suffered a bout panic attacks 4 years ago, brought about by me winding myself up about swallowing chewing gum......that simple. I convinced myself it was stuck in my throat, a day later choked on a crisp and ended up in hospital having a panic attack, no one explained what they were.
all i could feel was this wave coming over me, i thought i couldnt breath, then the next one came, i was this way for months, breathing into brown bags, but did not seek advice.
then they just went.....nothing, i got busy with college and my baby and the house.
then 9 months later i felt ill and was admitted to hospital 3 times before they found out my issues........stomach gastritis and gall stones. I felt i had no one to care for my baby while i was in hospital and the more i worried the more i felt anxious. I was sat in the bath in the hospital and it started.....i was shaking and so afraid i was gonna die.... there and then and nothing could convince me otherwise, but still i didnt tell anyone.
I came home from hospital and my sister rang our mother because she was worried i was going over the edge. my mum came to look after me and my baby and fed us and generally i realised that i have never felt so loved by anyone than at this time. I was hyperventilating all the time and i mean all the time, i would not leave the house at all, i couldnt care for my child and i thought i was gonna die every second of every hour of the day. Mum stayed for 2 weeks and she forced me to go out of the house every day, just for a walk, God help me but when she left for home i just wanted to die. By this time i had finished college and had started university.
then i found the group NO Panic in England, and Tapir and there starts the change. For a month i rang No Panic phone volunteers every day, crying and distressed, they were the ones that got me back to uni.
I went to uni every day........but still convinced that every step i took was going to be my last one, walking to the bus stop on a nite i would sweat, cry, and generally i felt look to anyone passing like i was drunk.
It was the most horrible time of my life, feeling like every minute was my last one on this earth, then who would look after my baby, i was bitter with her father i didnt want him to do it. I would ring my sister and beg her to take care of my child if i died. This was at the crux of the matter, i was a single mum, afraid of leaving my baby, this thought was in my mind every minute of every day.
As im writing this i am crying as i realise just how bad things were then, what a mess i was, how out of control i really was. I was convinced i would end up on a psyche ward and not be able to care for her.
then i started listening to the volunteers at No Panic, putting into practice their advice, i also went to the Doctor to request medication, i told them i had panic disorder, they didnt tell me.
Then i had to move to get away from the area my ex lived as he was hassling me, i found a house and got busy, i researched panic the whole time and came here to visit often. I stopped my meds as they stopped the panic but gave me anxiety, i had only been taking them 3 months. I came here and read about finding other ways to cope.
Breathing techniques, turning negative thoughts around, distracition. I was still ringing No Panic on a reg. basis, they gave me advice, mindful thinking, concentrating on one thing at a time. I bought a relaxation C.D. from them for 3 pounds, and this 3 pounds saved my life, i did this C.D. every day twice a day.
the C.D takes you through clenching all the muscle groups one by one, then relaxing them, and for me this was the massive breakthrough i had been looking for for almost a year. The difference in my life was amazing, i couldnt believe that doing these exercises would change me, but they did, along with deep breathing and researching panic an anxiety until i was sick of reading about it.
Then i could come here and post about other stuff, womens things, support offering it and requesting it.
that was all almost 2 and a half years ago.
So dont get me wrong, i still have anxiety, but i cannot and will not let it rule my life again, ever. I have had to force myself to do things.
Force myself to go to the shop and run out without buying what i need, but hey i went there.
I forced myself to go to a concert with ten thousand people there, and bloody hell i loved every minute.
I forced myself to take my child to school and to swimming and had to force myslef to look people in the eye as they stopped to chat to me, Lord i hated every mintue, and sometimes the old thought that every step was my last one crept back in and i gave in sometimes an stayed home.......but practice was the key....keep doing it and doing and its not gonna kill you,
I would not drop dead in the street, and if i did, would i care, no i would be dead.
I wasnt going to pass out, if i did then someone would ring an ambulance.
I wasnt going crazy, i was to aware of going crazy to be going crazy
And most of all my baby would be looked after, after all why wouldnt she be, shes loved by my family who would defend her, she has people around her who would remind her of me.
Milestones for me were, meeting a new man, him moving him, me telling him about panic and him not running in the opposite direction.
being able to go and complete my university qualification and become a social worker, a better person because of my struggles with panic and anxiety and spreading the word that it is possible to beat.
Getting married in front of those i love with all my heart. Becoming closer to my mother was a massive development for me, realising i was worthy of her love and that she had always loved me.
And realising that i am a good person, with a good heart and that i deserve a life that is good and free from panic.
So thats me, free from panic. and i thank God for his part in my recovery.
I thank God with all my heart for my wonderful child who is brighter than any star.
And i thank God for sending my husband to me, a man who accepts me for what i am, where i have been with panic and will support me when that anxiety creeps in where i allow when i am tired.
I owe my sanity to the volunteers at No Panic and i owe the fact that i discovered i was normal to the people at TaPir, who offered support when all i wanted to do was crawl away and give up.
Jools, who is still practicing the breathing and relaxing........long may it continue.