How to Handle Chronic Complainers

"Life ain't easy!" And with this sentiment comes permission to complain ... and complain we do ... about everything from the weather to our weight. The issue is not that we have the right to complain and that life is not always fair, but that some of us (and I think we are all guilty of this from time-to-time) complain constantly with no apparent understanding of how our complaining is affecting those around us. Sometimes life isn't fair, and yes, sometimes we come across people who are simply unhappy in life, yet the question here is how best do we handle those situations? Let's take a look at some solutions to dealing with chronic complainers ...
It is important to understand the nature, or motivation if you will, of a chronic complainer. Some people can be identified as either pessimists or optimists; however, chronic complainers are neither. Rather, they are folks who, generally speaking, are seeking validation for their situations or their emotions.
As Guy Winch, Ph.D. puts it in his article, The Squeaky Wheel, on www.psychologytoday.com, July 15, 2011: "Optimists see a glass half full – pessimists see a glass half empty – a chronic complainer sees a glass that is slightly chipped holding water that isn't cold enough, probably because its tap water when I asked for bottled water and wait, there's a smudge on the rim too, which means the glass wasn't cleaned properly and now I'll probably end up with some kind of virus – why do these things always happen to me?!"
Dr. Winch offers three suggestions:

1. Try not to convince the chronic complainer that things are not as bad as they think, as this will only conjure up multiple other complaints
2. Validate the chronic complainer's feelings
3. Don't offer advice.

In addition to Dr. Winch's suggestions, Sherri Kruger in her www.excelle.monster.com article, "How to Handle Chronic Complainers," suggests:

1. Think before you speak. Don't complain to hear yourself complain. Rather, understand why you need to tell others about your situation and determine, before you speak, if the situation is truly unique or are you simply complaining.
2. Have a plan. Complaining can be legitimate and not necessarily for selfish reasons. However, if it is legit, how will it get resolved? Make a plan to fix the situation.
3. Change your perspective. Learn to be empathetic towards others' situations (those you may be complaining about) rather than complaining about that person or their actions.
4. Be grateful. Learn to enjoy where you are in life and not get caught up in the "I need to have more than my neighbor syndrome."

Chronic complainers can be a pain in the "you know what!" Yet, with some forethought and careful dialogue, you can probably diffuse most negative situations and, although not totally change the person, you should be able to handle any discomfort you are feeling when you are around the chronic complainer.

.... Jeffrey Johnson

The Effects of Stress on Memory in Older Adults

  Studies suggest that stress—both short-term and chronic—play a negative role
  in the memory performance of older adults. Moderate amounts of stress, such
  as driving to an unfamiliar location to take a memory test, can produce test
  results similar to those of a patient with Alzheimer’s. A recent study
  carried out by Sophia Lupien’s team at the Centre for Studies on Human Stress
  (CSHS) of the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital, in affiliation with Université de
  Montréal, demonstrates that when seniors are tested under stressful
  circumstances, the release of stress hormones (cortisol) causes a rapid
  decline in memory performance. In the study, seniors took memory tests in
  both inconvenient locations, and familiar locations. Interestingly, when
  these same exams took place in familiar locations, their memory performance
  rivaled that of young adults. 

  Long-term stress can have a negative impact on memory performance, and may
  play a role in the development of age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s. 
  During stressful periods, the adrenal glands secrete cortisol, which travels
  to the memory and learning centers of the brain (hippocampus) and to the
  amygdala (emotional gateway for memory). Exposure to high levels of
  glucocorticoids (the main class of stress hormones) throughout life can damage
  brain cells. As we age, our biological systems slow, causing cortisol levels
  to remain higher longer, and the effects of stress to last longer. Recent
  studies by Finnish researchers have found that the long-term effects of stress
  may be the biggest cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Those with both high blood
  pressure and high cortisol levels are more than three times as likely to
  develop Alzheimer’s as older adults without those symptoms.   

MEDITATION - Anit-Aging Medication

A Natural Healer

March 19, 2012

Let's hope you're reading this in the middle of the day so that you've had many good things happen to you already, and that after read this you have time to readjust to a happier mood by night time. The rather blunt fact is that every day we are getting older and from a physiological perspective, that means our bodies are deteriorating every single minute; especially if we are over the age of 30 (which many of us are). There's no stopping this process and there's no denying it . . . In the vernacular of today's world: "It is what it is!"
So why keep reading, especially with such a doomsday intro? Well, there is a light at the end of this tunnel and one that is easy to achieve at no cost to you other than a little bit of time on your part.
I'm talking about MEDITATION. Meditation originated from the Sanskrit time and means "becoming" or "being." That's right, we've all heard the endless jokes about "being one with yourself," but there really is some truth and value to that statement. Of course, our image is of some scantily glad, skinny, frizzy long-haired, man from India sitting crossed-legged and chanting mantras. Well, ok, there is some truth to that image, but for different reasons than you might suspect.
Let's explore the healing nature of meditation.
As we age, our bodies visually become older (no need to remind us all of the physical signs of aging as we see them everyday in the mirror). Yet, what we don't readily acknowledge is the unseen, internal signs of aging – "cardiac, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and brain functions are also declining as you become older. The primary reason we deteriorate as we age is due to the degeneration of the endocrine system." Examples of this can be detected through the reduction in the growth hormone HGH (very important in retaining our energy and youthful immunity; the decline of the pineal gland "which produces the sleep hormone melatonin," and the decline of DHEA, which "helps protect the body from stress." The hypothalamus, which helps to balance our system, also becomes far less effective in its work causing many of the functions of the endocrine system to function improperly. It clearly becomes a vicious circle of decline for our body's functions, or more commonly known as "the aging process."
"Meditation is the true anti-aging medicine because it activates our body's own natural anti-aging healing force. Medical meditation directly rejuvenates the hypothalamus, the pituitary, the pineal, and other endocrine glands. Medical meditation is the single most effective counter measure against stress."
Below are just a few of the benefits from meditation:

• Reduction of anxiety
• Reduction of chronic pain
• Lowered levels of cortisone
• Increase cognitive function
• Reduction of substance abuse
• Lowered blood pressure
• Improvements in post traumatic stress syndrome
• Reduction in the use of medical care and hospitalizations

Many of us are aware that our mind exists in different states of consciousness: wake state, sleep state, and dream state. Those who are true believers in the healing powers of meditation also believe there is a fourth mind state: healing state. This is a state where the anti-aging effects of meditation begin and where your life can develop a healthier and happier existence. Some of you must be saying to yourself, Jeffrey clearly has too much time on his hands, or, Jeffrey is becoming a bit of a freaky recluse . . . well, maybe, yet with time comes the availability to read and study and what better to study than becoming a happier person before we leave this world.
I think meditation is a safe and personally rewarding compliment to our western medicine. This is not the place to be going into a lengthy step-by-step rendition of the latest meditation process, but more a forum to let you know that although you can't completely stop the aging process, you can lead a healthier and happier life And believe it or not, it doesn't require a drastic lifestyle change on your part – just 15-30 minutes per day of some quiet time where you allow yourself to re-balance your system, where you can re-boot your personal/internal computer, and where life's worries gain perspective. Relax. Try it. Meditate about it.
(Source: Meditation As Anti-aging Medicine; Turn Back The Clock Naturally by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.)

.... Jeffrey Johnson

Eat Yourself Smart!

Brain Boosting Foods

 

My subscription to Eating Well is up for renewal and it crossed my mind, “Is this worth the money and do I really use it?” I went back to a few old copies to reread them and see if I did indeed truly use any of those delicious looking (and sounding) recipes. Well, fortunately for me, I did find that I have used many of the ideas from that magazine, especially those that relate to brain and heart healthy eating. As a result, today’s Weekly Message topic: Brain Boosting Foods (and for the record, if any of you think you don’t need these types of foods, think again).

We all know that eating the right foods can be good for your heart health (i.e., reduced high blood pressure, lowering of bad cholesterol, etc.), yet you may not think about food for your brain. That’s right, certain foods can actually aid in the positive functioning of our brain, or, in short, develop brain power. Many of the foods that are good for your heart are also good for your brain, yet some of the foods on the list below may come as a total surprise.

Read on and incorporate into your life style … it will do your body and your brain a lot of good. As always, if there is any question as to whether you can eat certain foods, check with your physician and consume foods of any type in moderation.

Brain Healthy foods (from a CNN Health article, 10 Foods To Help Boost Your Brain Power, by Karen Anzel, Sept. 8, 2011):

• Blackberries: These delightful little berries allow our brain cells to talk to each other by offering up antioxidants which reduce inflammation.
• Coffee: A Finnish study revealed that folks who sipped 3-5 cups of coffee per day, and who were in their 40’s and 50’s, “reduced their odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 65 percent.”
• Apples: Apples contain quercetin, “an antioxidant plant chemical that keeps your mental juices flowing by protecting your brain cells.” Quercetin fight off free radicals which can damage the outer lining of your neurons and “eventually leading to cognitive decline.”
• Chocolate: You have all probably heard that dark chocolate can help with maintaining good blood pressure, well, as little as one third of one ounce of chocolate can help with increasing blood flow to the brain, essential to a healthy brain.
• Cinnamon: Research has found that two compounds in cinnamon can counteract certain proteins (tau protein) that may have much to do with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Spinach: Dark, leafy greens are wonderful for all sorts of heart healthy reasons, yet they can also help prevent dementia through the ingestion of vitamin E and Vitamin K, both found in abundance in spinach.
• Extra virgin olive oil (as Rachael Ray would say, “EVOO!”): ADDL’s are proteins that attach to brain cells and make them unable to communicate with each other, those causing brain function to deteriorate (i.e., dementia). EVOO contains olecanthal which disables ADDL’s.
• Salmon: My favorite fish, rich in omega-3 fats which are good for your heart, but also vitamin D. Both components help to fight off cognitive disease.
• Curry: Mmmmmm. One of the main spices in curry is curcumin, found to fight brain inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s, but it also works at lowering cholesterol.
• Concord grape juice: Red wine lovers have know for years that a moderate amount of red wine consumed regularly is good for your heart, well it seems those same grapes offer your brain some needed help in the form of improved “spatial memory and verbal learning skills.”

Of course there are many more foods that we could add to this list, however, if you were to slide these few foods into your diet on a regular basis you would be improving your chances of living a healthier life – what do you have to lose?

Sleep Apnea

If someone said to you that while you’re asleep, your breathing is stopping anywhere from 5 to 25 times per minute, you might freak out, right? Well, that exact situation is plaguing millions of people in this country. It is called sleep apnea and it comes in three forms:
1. Obstructive sleep apnea
2. Central sleep apnea
3. Complex sleep apnea (a combination of the two forms above)
For simplicity sake, we will lump all three forms into the same general category called, sleep apnea; which is a breathing disorder that starts and stops during your sleep period. Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea are:
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Loud snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea
• Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
• Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which more likely indicates central sleep apnea
• Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep
In general, sleep apnea is caused by either your brain failing to transmit the proper breathing signals to your breathing muscles or, more likely, the muscles in the back of your throat relaxing which causes your airway to close as you take in a breathe, then causing you to gasp for breath.
With causations in mind, it is important to be aware of the potential risk factors for sleep apnea. They might be:
• Excessive weight
• Neck circumference greater than 17 inches
• High blood pressure
• A narrowed airway
• Being male
• Being older than 65
• Family history of sleep apnea
• Use of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers
• Smoking
• Prolonged sitting
• Heart disorders
There are certain tests that a physician may perform to evaluate your situation/condition, such as:
• Nocturnal polysomnography – electronic equipment monitors your heart, lungs, brain activity, breathing, leg and arm movements, and blood oxygen levels.
• Potable monitoring devices – a halter monitor that is worn while you sleep and performs other regular functions during the day.
Treatments for sleep apnea may include:
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP or SEE-CPAP) – you wear a mask that provides air pressure to keep your airway open during potential periods of sleep apnea.
• Adjustable airway pressure devices – devices that offer fluctuating air pressure to meet your particular needs.
• Oral appliances – devices that keep your throat open, i.e., by moving your jaw forward.
• Surgery – several various methods all designed to “remove excess tissue from your nose or throat that may be blocking upper air passages and causing sleep apnea.”
Please don’t take this condition lightly. Pay attention to yourself or your partner whenever you detect any of the following conditions:
• Snoring loud enough to disturb the sleep of others or yourself
• Shortness of breath that awakens you from sleep
• Intermittent pauses in your breathing during sleep
• Excessive daytime drowsiness, which may cause you to fall asleep while you work, watching television or even driving
If you do notice any of these symptoms in yourself or your partner, you should seriously consider consulting your physician for a sleep apnea evaluation … it could save a life – maybe your own.

Find out more information by visiting Sonesta Sleep Centers at www.sonestasleep.com . Locations in Tarpon Springs and Largo, FL.  

February is Low Vision Awareness Month

Low Vision Awareness Month

February is low vision awareness month, sponsored by Prevent Blindness America, located in Chicago, Illinois. “Low vision is a term commonly used among eye care professionals to mean partial sight, or sight that isn’t fully correctable with surgery, medications, contact lens, or glasses,” said Mark Wilkinson, O.D., Director of Vision Rehabilitation Services at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
There are a number of causes of low vision, such as:

•  “Cataracts:  causes vision to be lazy.”
•  “Macular Degeneration:  effects center vision.”
•  “Diabetic Retinopathy:  causes distorted or blurred vision.”
•  “Glaucoma:  Loss in peripheral vision and difficulty seeing at night.”
(Source: www.uihealthcare.com/kxic/2009/02/lowvision.html)
Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss affecting 1.6 million Americans over the age of fifty. The National Eye Institute estimates that by the year 2020, 17 million people will be affected by low vision.
Currently, we are most aware of the obvious treatments for low vision; glasses, contact lens, surgery, and to some degree, medications. However, other alternatives do exist and often follow tried and true treatments methods for other disabilities. For example, someone with low vision that is untreatable with the typical methods just mentioned might be sent to a rehabilitation facility to learn alternative ways to perform once familiar tasks, i.e., brushing one’s teeth, using the shower, etc.. These new methods may include the use of high tech equipment or even the enhancement of another sense, such as touch.
It is important, just as in any other area of our medical condition, that we pay very close attention to changes in the status quo. Don’t discount any minor change to your or your loved ones’ vision.
Although this change may be temporary, it could mean the beginning of some significant deterioration of vision that might be correctable before it impacts your ability to function on a daily basis.
As with many other medical illnesses, low vision is being researched all the time with many new and positive results coming regularly. For example, “there are some injections that not only stabilize vision, but enhance vision. There’s a great deal of work on genetic therapy, as well as gene-directed therapy, to help people function better. There’s a variety of new electronic magnification devices and computer software programs that can help people function better despite reduced vision.” (Source: www.uihealthcare.com/kxic/2009/02/lowvision.html)

SAFETY FOR SENIORS AT HOME!

What May Not Be An Obstacle To You May Be To Your Elder Loved One.

The next time you visit an elder loved one, take a few minutes to make sure that their home is suited to the mobility and agility limitations we can all experience as we age.

Take A Walk Through The House

* Keep all areas of the house, including hallways and stairs, well-lit.

*Remove scatter rugs, or attach a non-skid backing to them.

*Reduce the risk of falling by making sure floors are not slippery. 

*Use night lights in the bedroom, hallways, kitchen, and bathrooms.

*Keep the stove area in the kitchen free of towels, paper towels, and napkins.

*Remove all newspapers and magazines from the kitchen counter area.

*Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and teach everyone how to use it.

*Inspect electrical cords for fraying or cracking; be sure they are placed away from walking.

*Make sure electrical cords are placed away from walking paths, but not under carpet or furniture.

*Set the hot water temperature at 115 degrees or below on the water heater.

*Use slip-resistant decals or non-skid mats in the tub or shower.

*Install grab bars in the bathtub and by the toilet that are securely anchored into the wall studs.

*Check to be sure that extension cords are not overloaded  and are clear of walkways.

*Install smoke detectors on every floor of the home and test them.

*Destroy out-of-date medications and those which are no longer being used.

*Place a telephone in the bedroom and post emergency numbers by all telephones.

*Keep space heaters away from flammable materials, and be sure the room is well ventilated.

*A three-pronged plug should be used in a three hole outlet, or an adapter should be used.

*Always turn off heating pads before an older person goes to sleep.

*Have an emergency exit plan and an alternative plan in case of fire.

Talk With Your Loved Ones About Any Safety Issues
After walking through the home of your loved ones, you should discuss with them any safety issues you found in their home.  If you have questions about how to make the home of an elderly loved one safer, please contact us today. 

Visiting Angels® Can Help!
Here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, let us demonstrate that Visiting Angels is "America's Choice In Home Care!"  If you would like to set up a free no-obligation assessment for your loved one, or just want to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable Angels, just give us a call at 813-909-2550, or, 727-841-8440.  If you prefer, you can send us an email at wecare@visitingangelstampabay.com and we'll get right back to you.