Social Psychiatry Blog » Psychology

Anger Management in Online Poker

Thomas Kearns — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:11:12 +0000

One major advantage of online poker play over play in a casino is there is no need to worry about any show of emotion. There are no opponents present to react to your outbursts or read your body language. You can laugh, cry like a girl, swear or pray, and there are plenty of items at hand that you can break or attempt to damage without having to pay a fine – presuming you are playing at your own place.

The only thing that is off limits is your computer. Surely people and pets who share the living space with an online poker player have learned to give the player a wide berth. If they haven’t got that message they ought to be fair game.

The advantage however is a tricky one and may turn treacherous and dangerous for your mental health. Many believe that containing your emotions is bad for you as a person and as a player: the more you abstain from expressing frustration, the more likely that accumulated frustration is to influence your decisions and might eventually result in a tilt.

Recalling their negative feelings of “flashes of anger”, “blind rage” or even going “totally berserk” many players admit guilt. They like to point to the Japanese experience where rubber dolls are given – representing management- and employees use these to alleviate their feelings of frustration.

However, it needs to be observed that the Japanese culture is vastly different from ours, with the possibility that their psychological make up is drastically different from ours. Also of note, while the Japanese subscribe to the rubber dolls theory, and even have a very liberal view towards porn and simulated violence, the country has some of the most shocking suicide statistics in the world, especially in the marketing sector of the middle class.

In this context, the validity of taking out your frustration on immediate inanimate objects is questionable. Many experiments strongly suggest that the expression of frustration through violence in relation to inanimate matter does not alleviate stress. In fact, the result is often the reverse.

It seems not unlikely that any rational person realizes that the actual cause of frustration remains untouchable and this may only exacerbate the frustration while the mechanical pounding of a rubber bag only encourages rage, rather than lift stress. Moreover, when the person expects to feel better after the procedure instituted by his superiors but the relief does not come, the person is likely to be even more frustrated.

When this is true in a poker player, it means that while thus variously and complicatedly irritated the player is significantly distracted from the game, possibly quite more so than if he or she did their best to fume quietly. Fear disrupts purpose and excessive joy disrupts creativity. In fact, any excessive emotion (as opposed to intense intellectual concentration) is intellectually incapacitating, especially in relation to the activity which engenders them.

While clearly not alluding to the swallowing of lifetime frustrations like lack of appreciation or unrequited love, the ability to contain anger during a game should be sought, as it will prove instructive to gaining poise and discipline for the player. With practice this restraint should become easier with time. If it fails to do so, take a break. Quit the game that is proving to be the worst of your life, or even abandon playing poker for a time.

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Understanding Sleeping Problems

Dio Ravey — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:45:12 +0000

Do you feel that you’re not getting enough sleep? Do you feel that your life is greatly affected by your sleep problems? Everyone experiences occasional sleeping problems. Sleeping well is essential to your physical health and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, even minimal sleep loss can affect your mood, energy, efficiency, and ability to handle stress.

It’s not normal for a person to feel sleepy during the day, to have problems getting to sleep at night, or to wake up feeling exhausted. If you’re sleeping habits are a clear annoyance in your daily routine then you may have a sleeping disorder. So how can you tell whether your sleeping problem is just a minor one or a sign of a more serious sleep disorder or underlying medical condition? If you experience problems with your sleep, then it is likely that you will recognize many of the feelings, physical symptoms and behavior patterns described below.

* Stressed

* Worried

* You need to take something (sleeping pills, nightcap, supplements) in order to get to sleep.

* Decreasing energy

* No focus or no concentration

* Lying awake in bed at night

* Worried

* Waking up frequently during the night.

* Your sleep feels light, fragmented

* You need to take something (sleeping pills, nightcap, supplements) in order to get to sleep.

* Sleepiness and low energy during the day.

* Difficulty falling asleep at night or getting back to sleep after waking during the night.

Sleep can be an indicator of your overall health. In most cases, people with good health tend to sleep well, in contrast, repeated sleeping problems may indicate an underlying medical or mental health problem (can be minor or serious). You should get early help when you have sleep problems and disorders because in the worst case scenarios, it may lead to poor health like diabetes, high blood pressure and overweight or can trigger accidents, poor job performance, and relationship stress.

Making some simple lifestyle changes can help you get the sleep you need. Try to set up your bedroom to be dark and cool and have a relaxing ambience, that way you may sleep better. If you want to feel your best, stay healthy and perform up to your potential, sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. You may need to ask a serious help if;

If you’ve tried a variety of self-help sleep remedies but failed, you need to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist. Together, you can identify the underlying causes of your sleeping problem and find ways to improve your sleep and quality of life. You may need to ask a serious help if;

2. You sometimes fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while talking, walking, or eating.

Making some simple lifestyle changes can help you get the sleep you need. Try to set up your bedroom to be dark and cool and have a relaxing ambience, that way you may sleep better. If you want to feel your best, stay healthy and perform up to your potential, sleep is a necessity, not a luxury.

At your appointment, be prepared with information about your sleep patterns and provide the sleep doctor a data of your sleep patterns. There are lots of Psychologists that are trained in assisting you identify and overcome the root cause of your sleep problems.

PS Counselling are qualified psychologists in Hawthorn, Victoria specialising in working with adolescents and adults who have experienced early childhood trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, depression and anxiety. Find out more about Depression and Anxiety.

Finding A Balance

Emmanuel Van Der Meulen — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:32:56 +0000

It is likely that once you start self-discovery, you’ll want to run on your path at great speed. You might even neglect yourself, your health, your finances, or your daily chores in this ensuing process to make up for what you see as lost time.

This won’t do. Something will give. Rest assured there is time for everything. There is no lost time to make up. Just take an assertive pace on your newfound path while taking care of yourself – intentionally.

There might be occasion to spend time relaxing while attending to your garden. Or spending time with your partner, just loafing, not doing anything in particular. What might not seem evident is all that has changed from before you embarked on your own life’s journey, other than the reason for why you’re doing the things you’re now doing: You’re eliminating those things you don’t like doing anymore, and you’re doing new things – what you like doing. There is thus no reason why you can’t follow a balanced, calm and peaceful pace. Doing so will certainly ensure that you’re mostly full of energy and light of spirit.

Other tasks might come up. For example, a project you might be working on, related to walking your journey, might be extended, or have other unexpected further requirements. In project management, this is called scope creep. These additional tasks might create anxiety. Should this happen, remember that such anxiety doesn’t add any value to your task or project. In fact, it creates the opposite effect, because anxiety can create distraction that holds us back. By being aware of this, you’ll be able to maintain a balance, even while activities, tasks or projects result in what seem like delays and thus drag out your plans. Keep in mind that if the supposed scope creep activities are important, you might want to attend to them instead of tossing them out. This is especially true when attending to them will end up requiring extra time – likely resulting in major anxiety. We’re always better off when maintaining balance and making allowances for the extra time.

There are also activities that might go wrong, requiring backpedaling or detouring. We likely continuously live anxiously, in anticipation of things that might go wrong that’ll likely further drag out our plans. Such anticipation is unnerving, and requires a balanced approach: Otherwise, our emotions create havoc and we become counterproductive.

Emmanuel van der Meulen is a life awareness coach. He can assist you to learn more about healing the emotions. Request your free optimal life newsletter.

The Bad Dream Got Me Thinking

Christian Roy — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:04:44 +0000

The house was quiet, as I was the last one still awake. I went to the kitchen to feed the cat and fill her dish with fresh water. I started the dishwasher and climbed up the stairs to the bedrooms. I checked in on the kids, amazed by the contentment and peace on their little faces, and then entered the washroom to shower and shave. This was my nighttime ritual, same as every other day. All was ordinary and everything was in its place.

By the time I crawled into bed and kissed my wife goodnight, I was already halfway to sleep.

The next moment, I was standing on the gallows, noose around my neck, watching as my family and friends pointed, laughed and whispered to one another. The executioner had arms the size of tree trunks, and when he pulled on the lever, my full weight dropped upon the knot. My neck didn’t break however, but I couldn’t breathe. I struggled and struggled to hold on, but

I was awake. I couldn’t believe it: I was safe. Furthermore, I was already forgetting all about the nightmare. My body felt sore and hot, but other than that, it was as if nothing had happened.

I understand why dreams are the way they are: they let our brains go wild while our consciousness takes a powder. This gives rise to all manner of fantasies and weird visions. Freud gave dreams a lot of importance, and I don’t think he was wrong to do so.

Most people dream about 4 times a night. It would be awesome to remember all of them, but the fact is that our brain only retains a dream if it’s interrupted.

For all science has managed to do for us throughout our history, it hasn’t done a lot for dreams. We still don’t have a clue why we dream. All we know for sure is that we need to dream.

I often consider my own dreams – well, those I remember, of course – and what kind of impact they might have on my personality. Sometimes, I also wonder if they’re a way for our minds to escape reality, as though we weren’t built to live in a logical world.

No one knows for sure, but one thing is certain: humanity has always been fascinated by dreams, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

I am so puzzled by what we see and feel during the night that I’ve decided to start collecting people’s nightmares. Click here to find out more about my List of Nightmares, or follow this link to find out how to make a submission to my Nightmare List.

Low Self – Esteem: The Different Responses of Boys and Girls

Dio Ravey — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:20:25 +0000

Balanced self-esteem is a lot like a child’s shield to defend against the challenges of the world. Children who know their particular talents, their weak spots and have the ability to feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting pressures. They tend to enjoy life and are usually sensible and are optimistic.

Self-esteem is just like self-worth (how well someone values themselves). It can also be explained as feeling capable and at the same time feeling loved. A child who is very happy with their achievements yet won’t feel loved might gradually experience low self-esteem. Moreover, a child who is loved yet is hesitant with their own capabilities may develop low self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem comes whenever a good sense of balance is maintained.

On the other hand, children with low self-esteem may experience problems or challenges that may cause anxiety and depression.

The difference of boys and girls on low self – esteem:

* Boys who think poorly of themselves have a tough time acquiring answers to their problems. They tend to accept self-critical thoughts such as “I’m no good” or “I can’t do anything right, they become passive and depressed. When they are confronted with a new challenge, their instant reply can be “I can’t”.

* Girls with low self-esteem might battle with their body image. Typically, girls do care about how other people see them like their skin tone and their make-up (they wear make – up at an early age to deal with pretty girls in school). They worry about how they look because they want to be accepted, fit in and avoid being made fun of.

In contrast, boys with low self – esteem respond to new challenges with “I can’t”, girls might try new things aggressively. Many teenage girls want to get pregnant simply because they have low self-confidence, and feel that they will be more appreciated. A number of girls engage in sexual conduct to avoid all of the other drama in their lives.

However, the results of having low self – esteem for both boys and girls are the same. Children with low self-esteem may not want to try new things and may speak negatively about themselves: “I’m stupid,” “I’ll never learn how to do this,” or “What’s the point? Nobody cares about me anyway.” They may experience a low tolerance to stress and easily disappoint themselves.

Children with low self – esteem view temporary difficulties as long lasting, intolerable conditions, and a sense of pessimism dominates. Affection from parents may also assist the kid’s self-esteem.

Parents, guardians and caregivers may promote balanced self-esteem by showing encouragement as well as enjoyment in many areas. Avoid focusing on one specific area; for instance, success on spelling test which can lead to kids feeling that they are only as valuable as their own score. This means that parents should look at the areas that are least focused on and show their appreciation in that area especially when kids put more effort in it. If parents have difficulty dealing with their children’s low self – esteem it is recommended to seek professional help.

PS Counselling are qualified psychologists in Hawthorn, Victoria specialising in working with children who are experiencing childhood trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder, depression and anxiety. Find out more about recognizing anxiety in children

Can be Conscious Dreaming True?

Paul West — Sun, 20 May 2012 15:28:42 +0000

Conscious dreaming is real. Generally, the thought of having self-awareness in dreams has already been reported over various cultures in the past. Rene Descartes, a French thinker discovered that his conscious dreams used to be so bright and concluded that someone’s waking sensory faculties are unreliable and can’t be trusted.

In the meantime, higher self awareness and control over dream continues to be utilized by Tibetan Buddhist monks in their particular way to illuminate for at a minimum of a thousand years. The aware dreaming concept is largely well-accepted in both Western and Eastern cultures, thus corroborating the worldwide nature of this issue which isn’t influenced by any sort of unexplainable understanding or religious principles.

The lucid state has been documented in several varieties both technically and scientifically. The first time seemed to be when Keith Hearne, an UK parapsychologist, registered a group of pre-specified indicators of eye ball activity right from Alan Worsley, his assistant, in a conscious dream state under laboratory scenarios. Essentially during his conscious dream, Worsley looked in different ways, for instance, right, right, right, right, left, making his eyes to mimic the action in real life. By doing this, he managed to connect in real time through the world of dreams and to the conscious world.

In 1983, Dr Stephen LaBerge from Leland Stanford Junior University ended up being famous as he released his adaptation of Hearne’s study and today, he is the leading researcher in lucid dreams.

A short time ago, an investigation made in Frankfurt, Germany in ’09 at the Neurological Research laboratory proved a substantial increase in the activity of the mind during lucid dreams and 40 Hz wavelengths range had been recorded using an Electroencephalography equipment in lucid dreamers in conscious REM. This really is far more higher compared to the regular dream condition (4-8 Hz, or Theta range) and maybe more alert than normal (12-38 Hertz, or Beta range). Heightened activity was observed inside the frontolateral as well as frontal regions of the brain and these areas are the language thought area and also other higher mind roles connected with self consciousness.

From the above studies, it may be determined that lucid dreaming offers the possibility to recall waking commands and willfully act when a person is conscious in the dream state. Conscious dreaming also produces a brain rate that’s very vibrant and not connected with normal waking awareness or normal dreaming.

In case you liked this content, you may enjoy Conscious Dream website and other articles about How to Have a Lucid Dream.

Psychic Reading: What Lies In The Future For You?

Xander Davenport — Sun, 20 May 2012 15:09:03 +0000

The information gained through different strategies linked with clairvoyance and then the resulting statements made to reveal that information is often known as psychic reading. There are numerous forms of psychic reading. Most of these tricks are used from early ages. Although there's no scientific or logical evidence associated with psychic reading that might be given in favor of the psychic reading, yet there are so very many folks who believe strongly in psychic reading and all of the results associated with the procedure.

The main reason behind the popularity of psychic reading is the fact that folks are always interested and keen to discover what is waiting in their future. Psychic reading with the help of tarot cards, clairvoyant, clairaudient, body mind spirit and other similar systems is always interesting for people.

Many folks wish to hear from those family or mates who are dead. Others need to know about missing things or missing folk.

The individual that performs this sort of reading is commonly known as psychic reader. There are phony as well as genuine psychic readers present in this world who are serving folk with several ways. This practice is specified in supernatural activities. There are different types of techniques used to explain the far-sighted events. Psychic readers use their abilities of spotting a person with a bit of help from their aura or other physical marks. Card reading is another very popular sort of psychic reading.

In this practice different cards are placed and the person that is interested in knowing about anything of future or of past can choose a card. Psychic readers are also believed to be involved in other supernatural activities like talking to spirits of those who are dead. The communication between the spirit and the psychic reader is then deliberately transferred and interpreted to the relative of the dead person.

To find a psychic reader in your area, visit this Australian online business directory

Know Your Future: Psychics & Tarot Readers

Xander Davenport — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:49:39 +0000

Ever wondered what’s in store for your future? The mystery of the unknown is occasionally too much for some individuals and waiting for tomorrow to unfold can leave folk feeling worried and concerned. Why wait for the future when you can know now by allowing a psychic reader to tell it to you?

Psychic readers have been informing willing people of their future for centuries. Many of us go to a psychic for guidance and direction when we are at a crossroads. Others will use psychics to help them make major decisions in their life. Most clairvoyants have an ability to see things outside the range of natural vision – that's the reason why people also seek them out to get in touch with loved ones who have passed. Many people find it comforting to gain contact with a deceased loved one, to understand they’re still around them.

There is a difference between the clairvoyant and the clairaudient. A clairaudient uses audio powers to hear into the future or hear voices. Differing kinds of psychics will use differing types of objects to assist them, such as crystals, tarot cards, or their customers’ palms.

Spiritual artists aren’t magicians; they are people who are in contact with their body, mind and spirit. Some believe that everyone has this concealed ability to see their own futures by sitting and focusing, to hear through the mind. However not all of us are really capable of harnessing this power because we are distracted and disconnected from the spiritual world.

For many individuals, counselling and information given to them by a psychic helps them make choices that they might otherwise battle with. A psychic can direct you and lead you toward important milestones, help you get in touch with those that have passed on, and give you a deeper understanding of your future.

To find local psychics check your Australian online business directory.

Doctor Recommended ADHD Tips for Parents To Support Their Children

Tim Belthastoni — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:19:57 +0000

Watching a child with ADHD endure the challenges the disorder causes can be heart breaking. Parenting is difficult enough with children without this disorder. The degree of success an ADHD child sees is due in large part on the contribution of the parents.

Learning about the disorder and its available treatments is the most important thing parents can do. Remember that your ADHD child is challenged in the area of higher order functions. This means functions like controlling impulses, accomplishing a task, organizing, and planning ahead. The following tips are things you can do to help your child cope with ADHD.

Finding time to do outside activities can be very difficult for parents of ADHD children. But this is especially important for parents of ADHD children. We are talking about taking care of yourself in as many ways as possible. Healthy habits such as exercising and eating healthy will help you withstand the added stress of raising an ADHD child. Sometimes it’s simply about following through on decisions that you’ve made. Your doctor will confirm that these activities are even more important for parents with ADHD children.

Believing that your child can improve will be a big help to them and to yourself, as well. You need to know that your child can learn to cope with ADHD which will help them succeed in school, social relationships, and life. This means you will have to trust and have faith in the doctors, your child, and yourself. It’s important that you trust that your child can and will accomplish everything that they are supposed to is life. Have the faith and trust that your child is able to overcome this challenge that most children do not have. As your child learns to overcome this challenge, they will be stronger and more capable.

When you make time to take care of yourself, you will find it easier to help your ADHD child. And that’s the bottom line. ADHD causes a unique set of challenges for the child and the parents but with a little effort, you can all learn to live well.

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Learn How To Prevail over Phobias

Mary Gross — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:22:28 +0000

Overcoming fears may not appear to be simple. However, the result is definitely worth any trouble and hassle. When fear makes its way into your life, it can become a large part of your daily existence. Below are a few tips for combating different varieties of fear that could impact your wellbeing.

Many children are unable to sleep well during the night because they’re frightened of a darkened bedroom. Invest some time inside the room along with the boy or girl each night. Show them there is no big difference with the light on or off. Remind a child that your sight get accustomed to reduced light levels and it is never completely dark. Inform them that you have faced similar fears.

In case you fear people or crowds of people, it can be from low self confidence. Take a course in public communicating and rehearse in front of your mirror. This helps you to deal with your fear and get used to being around people.

Perhaps you live in constant fear and anxiety of being late. This may cause you to waste a lot of time worrying and being too early to your meetings. Write down the time that it requires to drive to your scheduled appointment and after that give yourself merely ten minutes additional time.

If you’re scared of water and it prevents you from learning to swim, you’re not alone. It will require some inner strength, but the truth is must confront this phobia to overcome it. Sign up for a quality swimming course and stay with it. You can do it, if you learn to believe in your trainer.

You may be bothered with claustrophobia and want to rid your life of this problem. Go into a small room in your home and close the entranceway. Make certain some one else is around and remain in as long as you comfortably can. Each day, add a minute to your time, and you’ll progressively adjust to tight spaces.

You may become scared when you are at a great height or on a ledge. This may due to acrophobia or an unreasonable fear of heights. To conquer this, you have to elevate yourself, literally. Go to top floors or rooftop areas that have a barrier around them , and spend a lot of time there. At some point it will get quite a bit easier.

Lots of people stay in constant fear that their partner will leave them. To Eliminate this problem you need to be happy wih who you are with or without the other individual. This may take counseling and time but the compensate is a much more healthy and balanced loving relationship.

Many people are not able to enjoy life given that they believe that there is certainly someone constantly watching. Consequently they choose to keep in the home and isolate themselves. If this is you, question yourself what will it take to really feel secure and then seek specialized help.

Eliminating fears might be unpleasant in the beginning. However, you can do it, you’ll want to seek out professional guidance and read as much material as possible.

Try out your expertise take The Fears Test as well as realize how to get over your fears.