Mental Health

· Anxiety - All of us have experienced some form anxiety in our lives; those sweating palms before the start of an examination; the pounding heart on going to the stage, are features of Anxiety. Anxiety to an extent is useful in that it focuses our attention on the job at hand but too much of it and we just mess up everything. Find out what are the factors causing Anxiety and what you can do to handle it more effectively.

· Panic Attacks - Panic Attacks can resemble anything from an Attack of Severe Anxiety to a Heart Attack. Panic Attacks can be very incapacitating, but at the same time seeking correct professional help goes a long way in treating them.

· Depression - Depression, according to the World Health Organization, is THE THIRD MOST COMMON ILLNESS IN THE WORLD. It is more than just a bad mood or feeling low. The good thing is, it can be readily treated.

· Demystifying visit to a psychiatrist - A visit to a psychiatrist brings up images of a person lying down on a couch and the doctor taking notes, or images of a person hypnotizing you and knowing all about you. Contrary to all these psychiatrists use scientifically proven techniques which are pretty effective. Find out about the various therapies and techniques used in psychiatry.

· Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (ECT) - It is a technique which is understood commonly as a shock therapy. It is very effective and harmless form of therapy which is tried and tested over time and used in many cases of mental disorders.

· Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - The Boy could not stop washing his hands.......The woman could not stop checking the lock..... The man could not stop himself from praying to God again & again...... Out of every 10 patients coming to the psychiatrist, one patient is suffering from this illness.

· Anxiety - All of us have experienced some form anxiety in our lives; those sweating palms before the start of an examination; the pounding heart on going to the stage, are features of Anxiety. Anxiety to an extent is useful in that it focuses our attention on the job at hand but too much of it and we just mess up everything. Find out what are the factors causing Anxiety and what you can do to handle it more effectively.

· Panic Attacks - Panic Attacks can resemble anything from an Attack of Severe Anxiety to a Heart Attack. Panic Attacks can be very incapacitating, but at the same time seeking correct professional help goes a long way in treating them.

· Depression - Depression, according to the World Health Organization, is THE THIRD MOST COMMON ILLNESS IN THE WORLD. It is more than just a bad mood or feeling low. The good thing is, it can be readily treated.

· Demystifying visit to a psychiatrist - A visit to a psychiatrist brings up images of a person lying down on a couch and the doctor taking notes, or images of a person hypnotizing you and knowing all about you. Contrary to all these psychiatrists use scientifically proven techniques which are pretty effective. Find out about the various therapies and techniques used in psychiatry.

· Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (ECT) - It is a technique which is understood commonly as a shock therapy. It is very effective and harmless form of therapy which is tried and tested over time and used in many cases of mental disorders.

· Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - The Boy could not stop washing his hands.......The woman could not stop checking the lock..... The man could not stop himself from praying to God again & again...... Out of every 10 patients coming to the psychiatrist, one patient is suffering from this illness.

Some Common Misconceptions about Sex

• The penis can become erect at very early stage, especially in a young man. This does not mean that he is necessarily ready the for intercourse and he may start too soon - before his partner feels ready. She may become anxious as she feels she is keeping him waiting.
  
  
• Vaginal lubrication may remain hidden especially in lying down positions. Both partners may assume she is not responding, when in fact she is. Penis gives a more obvious signal which the vagina may not.
  
  
• Arousal comes in waves in both the man and the woman. This is normal. The decline doesn't mean that something is wrong.
  
  
• Premature ejaculation (coming too soon, before the partner is ready) is normal in young men, particularly when very much aroused. Control comes with learning and practice.
  
  
• Many women may not have orgasm but are fully responsive. This doesn’t mean that they are frigid.
  
  
• Early sexual relationships may not have orgasms in women. Partners need not worry. Anxiety further inhibits it.
  
  
• The husband snoring one minute after ejaculating can produce resentment if the wife is still feeling the need for intimacy. The men have their refractory period (time during which sexual arousal is difficult) very fast. Woman need not feel upset (as if being used as a sleeping pill) - you can wake up your husband sometimes and let him know.

Sex Guide - How to Improve?

How to Improve?

Like a breath of fresh AIR improves your mood, the three key elements for improving your sexual performance are as simple and as effective as the A. I. R.

• AVOID SPECTATORING
• IMPROVE COMMUNICATION
• REMOVE MISUNDERSTANDING

Avoid spectatoring:
Remember that you are not a spectator of an act, you are the act itself, and you are the participant. You are not there to critically analyze it and constantly to measure your efficiency. You are there to ‘Let Go’ and enjoy.

Enjoy the interaction and don’t aim or worry about the performance. Enjoy caressing, touching your partner (anywhere on the body). It’s nice to touch and feel close to your partner.

Break the cycle of watching/worrying/and further reducing the response.

Improve communication
Communication is a vital part of having Good Sex. Remember "Sex is as much between the Ears, as it is, between the Legs". Good communication with your partner can make the difference between having Sex ‘for the sake of it’ and having ‘a really good time’.

Communicate verbally/non-verbally. Tell your partner where else do you want, to be touched-how much and for how long. Tell him/her when it’s pleasurable and also when it hurts. Relax pleasantly and enjoy this without worrying about the ultimate. Enjoy in different positions, sometimes-female superior positions can be an easy position.

Remove Misunderstanding
A misunderstanding between the partners can really affect the sexual relationship badly. The clearer both are about each other and Sex the better it is. A feeling that something important needs to be sorted out before going further should not be overlooked.

Guide to Better Sex

Sex, like most other functions of our body is a normal process. As other functions, like for example, the digestion, can be upset by factors like a bad mood, stress or similar such things, so can the sexual function be disturbed by a whole lot of factors. These may not necessarily involve the anatomy but instead it’s the mind, which makes the difference.

If sex is allowed to happen naturally, in a relaxed way, our bodies will respond normally without any conscious effort on our part.

There are a wide variety of problem or situations that can upset the normal sexual responsiveness, most of them, fortunately, can be helped in a positive manner by understanding on our part. Here are a few of the most common amongst them and ways to improve:

• Misunderstanding and/or lack of information about sex :
  Its indeed one of the most telling ironies that Sex, despite being one of the most commonly discussed topic in our lives and in the media, there is a surprising lack of correct information about ‘What to Expect and How to Act’.
  
  Those images of the ‘Perfect Macho Man and The Perfect Sensual Woman’ on the TV and in the Magazines make us feel that Sex instead of being a perfectly normal natural and enjoyable thing, is an ‘Act to be Performed to Perfection’. All this does it to add to the confusion and leads to unrealistic fears, expectations and fantasies.
  
  
• Bad feelings about Sex and its consequences -

1. Fear of pregnancy; Fear of pain; Fear of being caught/ heard/ or interrupted.
2. Performance Anxiety-Fear of failing to perform well.
3. Fear of losing control (during orgasm) and /or becoming vulnerable.
4. Looking unattractive during the climax.
5. Bad feelings about yourself or your body like, feeling that the body is unattractive. Feelings that I am not successful (low self-esteem).

• Problems in relationship –
  Anger/resentment against the partner should be resolved as it can decrease the performance and pleasure while having sex.
  
  
• Unsuitable circumstances –
  While a ‘Quickie’ sometimes can be fun! But normally Good Sex requires a relaxed mind and body. Too much of a hurry, tiredness or preoccupation can rob you of the pleasures of Sex.
  
  
• Performance anxiety –
  This is one of the most significant problems in the way of Good Sex. We often forget that Sex is something that comes naturally to all of us, instead, we seem to view ourselves as performers who have to complete an act to perfection.
  
  
• Spectator role –
  Quite often we start observing ourselves as an audience, instead of really participating in it. – We observe ourselves ‘doing the act’, as if on stage (now coming, now coming...., so again it doesn't,...I knew it…etc.).

Women's Health

The woman's body is wonderfully complex and delicate. However, multiple roles as the mother, daughter, wife, homemaker, wage earner can be physically and mentally quite taxing. As a woman, you might share some common health risks with men, such as heart disease, but because of your special reproductive role, you are at risk of some distinctly female disorders.

This section deals with answers to some common problems like, menstrual disorders, pregnancy, breast feeding etc. Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptives too have been included.

Women's Health

The woman's body is wonderfully complex and delicate. However, multiple roles as the mother, daughter, wife, homemaker, wage earner can be physically and mentally quite taxing. As a woman, you might share some common health risks with men, such as heart disease, but because of your special reproductive role, you are at risk of some distinctly female disorders.

This section deals with answers to some common problems like, menstrual disorders, pregnancy, breast feeding etc. Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptives too have been included.

Menstrual Disorder

Premenstrual Syndrome

DEFINITION
PMS consists of various physical and/or emotional symptoms that occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation. It is characterized by premenstrual discomfort in the lower abdomen and back, and in the breasts. All these features precede the period by a week or ten days. Fortunately, a woman obtains relief when her menstrual period begins. Another feature of PMS is a symptom-free time for several days every month, in the first half of the menstrual cycle.

Features: these include physical features like acne, backache, bloating, sore breasts, and headache. Emotional symptoms might include changes in sexual desire, difficulty concentrating, irritability.

Women may gain upto a kg. of weight or more in the latter part of the menstrual cycle due to water retention in the body. Emotional stress often contributes to the symptoms.

The only saving grace in this problem is that few women experience all these symptoms! Most have a few that recur each month.

The symptoms of certain medical conditions can resemble PMS. These conditions include allergies, depression, diabetes, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, and thyroid problems.

CAUSES
There's still some disagreement about what causes PMS, but it definitely seems to be linked to hormones. A relative lack of the hormone progesterone is suspected along with increase in a water retaining substance called anti diuretic hormone.

TREATMENT
The assessment of the emotional and work related stress is very important. Many women find that a balanced diet and healthy snacks are helpful, as are avoiding caffeine and reducing salt intake. Simple reassurance often does wonders, but often it is necessary to treat the symptoms with various drugs
Diuretics ("water pills") can reduce bloating
Analgesics like ibuprofen, aspirin ease headache or cramps
Combined oral contraceptives also called the birth control pill may be useful for some women.
Evening primrose oil (gamma linolenic acid) is also used widely these days.