Specific Phobia Do You Suffer From Specific Phobia?
by Bertil Hjert

Most people are not aware that they are having a phobia. However, it is very important to know whether you are having it. Try to determine the following:

a) Are you afraid to fly?

b) Are you unable to stand needles?

c) Do you tend to cancel your appointments with the doctor?

If the answers to the above mentioned questions is in a yes may have a specific phobia.

What is it? The term may sound bizarre to you but it is not. This is an anxiety disorder. It is a type of fear. However, it is quite different from the usual fear that we tend to face on a daily basis or we normally have. These are intense fears.

An individual having specific phobia can suffer from intense or excessive fear of a certain object or situation. The object or the situation may not be very difficult or dangerous. The person still reacts to it.

It starts during childhood or during the adolescence stage of a person. These are very common among men.

In order to know whether a fear you have is an actual phobia, you must understand different diagnostic criteria.

1) Here are some diagnostic criteria:

a) The fear is intense and may start even with the imagination of the object or situation that is feared.

b) The anxiety starts as soon as the person sees the feared object or situation. The anxiety may also take shape of an attack.

c) Adults with this disorder are aware that their fear to a specific object or situation is intense.

d) The person usually tries to avoid the situation an object that is feared.

e) The fear and avoiding certain objects or situation tends to interfere with daily activities. The person tends to spend most of his time worrying about the phobia.

2) Here are some different types of the condition:

a) Animal type

The person worries about a particular animal and can not stand the right or imagination of this animal.

b) Natural environment type

Here, the individual tends to worry about a specific environmental object such as water, heights or storms.

c) Blood, injection or injury type

As the name suggest, the person fears blood and needles.

d) Situational type

The patient feels anxiety when facing or thinking about a situation such as airplanes, enclosed places, elevators etc.

3) Symptoms

A person with this phobia shows the following symptoms

a) Intense feeling of terror when face to face with feared object.

b) A panic attack such as shortness of breath, sweating, numbness, and dizziness.

c) The person tends to avoid the feared object to such an extent that it starts to interfere the daily activities.

d) The person faces obsessive worry related to an upcoming in counter with the feared object or situation.

Visit a health care practitioner as soon as you observe any of the above mentioned symptoms.

Knowing The Best Brands Of Skin Care Products

Choosing the best brands of skin care products today is like finding the smallest needle in a stack of hay(which are also full of other needles, by the way!) Needless to say, there are a lot of brands of skin care products in the market today which mostly caters to the population of female consumers, to the metro-sexual males or even to straight men who are just physically conscious about their outward appearance. The very first thing to do is to consult your dermatologist for the best brands skin care products that would suit the type of skin that you have. Whether you have very sensitive skin, very dry skin, normal to dry skin, dry skin, oily to normal skin, very oily skin or you are prone to acne, your skin doctor should be the one to know which of the brands of skin care products would go well with the nature of skin that you have. Yet there are times when your dermatologist would recommend you those expensive brands of skin care products which are already popular and competing in the market. They do this because: o They are familiar with the brand of skin care product itself, used it for some time and which actually worked for themselves. o They were sponsored by the products itself through medical representation. o They were just playing safe by advising you certain expensive products which sometimes doesnt even work or just work after long periods of using it. Be careful about this, you are the one who really knows and decides for whats good for your skin. Remember that you only went to your dermatologist to get his/her advice. Your boss skin. Just don’t get super incredulous and always skeptical about your dermatologist’s advice because sometimes those brands which hurt your wallets or add to your credit card accounts are even the ones which really work for you. Besides, your dermatologist has already been advising them to others and has been recommending that same brand skin care products to her clients. That is why there are best brands skin care products which have been labeled with dermatologically-tested products or This product has been recommended by most dermatologists. So if you are already looking for the best brand of skin care products for you then your safest way to treating and nurturing your skin is to go for a dermatologist and take his/her advice, you could buy the brand of skin care product which has been recommended for you and test whether its good and observe if it really works for you. Another advice for those people who already has been using a certain brand skin care products, don’t be easily tempted by those new brands of skin care products which come out in the market. If your skin is already familiar to what you have been using then you don’t need to immediately change from one brand to another. It might either cause great damage or good to your skin.

Sciatica Stretches That Work

Sciatica stretches are an amazing natural cure to back pain. A lot of people are struggling to get through the day with this problem. They goto the doctor and they don’t do anything. They just want you to continuously go out and buy a new bottle of pain pills. Yeah, it numbs the pain, but is it really a solution this problem or a way of covering it up.Back pain is probably one of the hardest things to treat and doctors never seem to give long lasting solutions. It seems to be just “take these pills” and it’s numbs the pain. Here are some of the methods used that don’t really stop back pain and force you to fork out money over and over again.Acupuncture: This is a temporary solution that I think is really a placebo effect, but if it gives you temporary relief and that’s what you want, do it. This is where you lie down and they stick needles in your skin in various places. This is to change your bodies “energy flow”. It isn’t based on science, but Eastern philosophy.Pain Killers: These do work and they work effectively, but it’s just covering up the pain. It’s like spilling something on the floor and covering it up with newspapers. It doesn’t really address the reason it is happening and permanently stopping it. You just get sucked out of more cash month after month.Chiropractors: They’re miracle workers, but they don’t really offer any permanent solution. The fact is they crack and snap your body into odd positions and the back pain goes away for a little bit. They’re expensive and you’ll always need to go back.There is actually a better way of doing this. Just simple sciatica stretches that you can do from home is perfect enough for you to eliminate this back pain. I have one you can try right now. Just lie on the floor, pull your knees up to your chest and hug them. This stretches out the lower back, taking away the tension on the nerves causing pain. There are other stretches designed for specific pains that you should try out.

The Real Cost of Lasik

Lasik surgery is a quick and quite painless procedure; the operation on both eyes takes less than thirty minutes. Numbing drops are placed in the eye, so there are no needles to worry about. for your comfort. Most patients report having improved vision almost immediately after the surgery. The only concern most people have is the cost of lasik, which is not normally covered by insurance.Why?The reason that most insurers (private and public) will not usually cover the Cost of Lasik is because it is considered elective surgery. Lasik is essentially a convenience procedure; it won’t address serious vision problems such as cataracts or macular degeneration (such surgery for those problems is usually covered in whole or part). Lasik allows many (not all) individuals to discontinue the use of corrective lenses by making adjustments to their corneas, which may have become distorted over time.This said, there are some major employers, such as Microsoft, who offer “subsidized” health plans, part of which may be “converted” for this purpose; in addition, if you are a member of the U.S. Armed Services, you may qualify for coverage in full or part.How Much?Nationwide, the Cost of Lasik can vary from $300 per eye to over $4000; in the Denver, Colorado metro area, costs range are a bit narrower, ranging from $500 to $1500 per eye. Factors that affect the cost of lasik include:- Skill and experience of the surgeons- Technology and tools (more recent methods are generally more expensive)- Location of the facilities (clinics in downtown Denver have higher overhead costs than those in outlying areas)- Condition of the patient- Levels of pre-operative testing and care (including prescriptions)- Need for and number of post-operative follow-up proceduresOn one hand, it pays to do some comparative shopping; on the other hand, “cheap” lasik is usually not a bargain. In fact, there are lasik practices that specialize in nothing more than undoing the mistakes of unqualified practitioners. What Are My Options?If you cannot pay for the entire Cost of Lasik out of pocket, do not despair; many highly-qualified lasik providers along the Front Range offer generous financing that can be tailored to every budget. This incidentally is another area in which it is in your best interest to pay extra for the services of a more highly skilled and experienced surgeon; when such costs are spread out over the course of several months, the difference between low-cost “bargain” services and those of a top-flight surgeon are miniscule.

Weight Loss with Auricular Therapy

Auricular therapy is based on western and Chinese theories relating to the ear - that various points on the surface of ear (auricle) have connection with the central nervous system and corresponds to different anatomical parts of the body. By identifying these nerve endings in the external ear and stimulating them by massage and cauterization, it is possible to produce therapeutic effects on those parts of the body which are prone to diseases. This technique is now utilized to produce results in weight loss treatments also.Auricular medicine originated in China and has since then been developed in Europe to attain its present state. The treatment consists of analyzing the external ear and treating problems associated with different parts of the body. After years of careful observation, Chinese medical professionals have charted more than 200 sites on the ear associated with various diseases.The technique applied in achieving weight loss with auricular therapy is that it is possible to apply treatment to the brain thereby demanding the body to reduce its intake of food, which results in diminished craving. It is this unique bio-energetic and biomechanical treatment approach with auricular therapy, which plays a key role in effective weight loss.The treatment is similar to acupuncture, which applies pressure to specific points in the patient’s body leave in, but the difference is that here in auricular therapy, no needles are used. Instead mild electrical stimulation is applied at multiple acupuncture points. For the treatment to be fully effective, the patient should observe a controlled calorie diet along with increased physical activity. Having its roots in the acupuncture system of treatment and research, auricular therapy is the ‘westernization’ of the Chinese treatment of acupuncture. The benefit of auricular therapy in treating weight loss is that the treatment has no side-effects and most patients experience instant weight loss with one or two treatments.

Cosmetic Acupuncture: A Beauty Secret

Given the notoriety of the dangers associated with cosmetic surgery, it is not surprising that ladies are seeking alternatives. Cosmetic surgery involves anesthesia, lasts for many hours, and leaves one with swelling, bruising, and redness. Recovery time is at least a couple of weeks.

A newer and much safer way to reach desirable cosmetic results has come about. Cosmetic acupuncture does not enlist the side effects that would have to endure if they were to go under the knife. While one may be getting an instant facelift, the results do become pleasantly noticeable after a period of time. It absolutely beats having someone cut your skin open and perform gruesome tasks that might leave you with scars for weeks!

The person doing the procedure will put small needles into the skin near each wrinkle or frown line. These needles encourage energy in the facial tissue, sending blood to the surface, and relaxing the muscles. Then each muscle tightens, decreasing the sag of the skin on the face. The insertion of the needles also encourages each cell to build collagen fibers to lift wrinkles and eliminate fine lines. The International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture recently published evidence that 9 out of 10 people who underwent acupuncture to the face experienced softer facial lines, better skin tone, smaller circles under their eyes and an overall facial rejuvenation.

Prices and number of treatments vary from one practitioner to the next. When searching for a practitioner, be wary to choose someone with a license who has studied with a qualified teacher, and is part of the American cosmetic acupuncture association.

Patients undergoing acupuncture as treatment for skin conditions will be pleasantly surprised to find that acupuncture has an uplifting effect on their well-being as a whole. Acupuncture has been used for a long list of complaints, including stress, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Many individuals question the effectiveness of facial acupuncture, but it’s easy to see that when one’s overall health improves so should the appearance of one’s skin.

As skeptics will point out, the average facelift is far from permanent, lasting only 3 - 5 years. No matter how many procedures someone has, in order to delay the aging process, a few years down the road from surgery, new aging effects will become apparent.

3 Easy Steps to Control your Fear of the Dentis

According to recent studies conducted by Peter Milgrom, director of the Dental Fears Research Clinic at the University of Washington in Seattle, between 5 to 8% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of their fear, and an even higher percentage (around 20%) experience enough anxiety that they will only go to the dentist when it is extremely necessary. These numbers may increase in different countries but the fact of the matter is that there are several causes that may trigger deep fear when someone is told to consult with a dentist. For the most part this type of phobia can be traced back to a patient’s childhood when a dentist might have forgotten to apply anesthesia during a treatment and accidentally hit a nerve dead on, in other cases patients have learned to fear certain items such as a dental drill and needles which are used during certain procedures.Regardless of the cause of your fears it is important to realize that you are not alone and that you can’t overcome your fears, let’s take a look at five easy steps you can take in order to control your phobia.– Getting Help from Friends and Family MembersIf you have a moderate fear of the dentist, getting in touch with a friend or a family member who is not afraid of dental procedures can help you immensely to overcome your fears in fact, many dentist will recommend and encourage for you to bring a family member or friend during a dental consultation, this way you will feel more relaxed and at ease.– Getting Professional HelpIf you simply can’t bring yourself to think about going to the dentist regardless of the level of pain that you’re enduring it would be a great help to get in touch with a psychologist before you consider going to the dentist, this way you can get a gradual and direct therapeutic exposure to certain times that make trigger your fears. Most people would not even think about consulting with a psychologist to help them overcome their fear to the dentist but if your phobia escalates to such a level this may prove to be an extremely useful measure.– Have an Open ConversationBefore you ever come into contact with the dentist chair it would be a great help for you to have an open and honest conversation with your dentist regarding your fears and pain threshold, you may also discuss about the different types of sedatives that are available to help you feel comfortable during a dental procedure. Most dentists have received special training which helps them deal with nervous patients and they will apply certain techniques to help you feel more in control during such situations.

Seven secrets of sedation dentistry

Would you like to know a secret about dental care? This is one that most people wouldn’t know. It’s easy. It doesn’t need to be painful at the dentist.Think it’s too good to be true? Well then read on.Visits to the dental clinic can be a good experience, even with whatever treatment needs to be done. Many Americans, close to 30%, are scared of going to the dentist. People avoid all costs of dental care, even when discomfort is present. It no longer needs to be that way. Modern dentistry offers safe, effective, and comfortable treatments, with no use of needles, to nervous patients. That treatment is known as oral sedation dentistry.It may have been called sedation dentistry, a relaxing kind of dentistry and even a kind of sleep dentistry (though many people consider this later term to be inaccurate as it may refer to general anesthesia).Is this type of treatment warrented for everyone? Absolutely not. But if you are in the Miami area, Dr Rene Piedra is qualified to determine whether this is right for you. Many patients do not actually need this type of treatment if they can be assured in a comfortable environment, that their fears are groundless, and that there will be absolutely no pain whatsoever.Many of the fears including being scared of the dentist develop during childhood, which affects a great number of people. People can stay away from any help or care, which will then make their dental health deteriorate. When the pain and discomfort is no longer bearable they finally seek treatments, but by that time additional additional work is often needed. That means extra time in the dental chair, additional procedures, extra expenses, which only increases trepidation. It is a gross cycle that must be overcome.Being scared of dentistry is a hidden phobia, one that no one talks about. Like lots of people, you may be scared to admit your fears and even more to confront them. Usually there are times when not even your loved ones notice your apprehension. Worse yet, you may never know that oral sedation dentistry was an option.Sedation Dentistry is available all over the US %26 Canada. To find a qualified Sedation Dentist in or around the Miami Area, or if you have any questions about the relative merits of sedation dentistry, you may call the office of Dr Rene Piedra at (786) 347-5726 anytime free of charge. Dr Piedra will give you a second opinion if one is needed, and tell you frankly whether this is a good option or not in your particular case.Sedation dentistry is a fast growing and accepted practice, but remember that it is absolutely not required in all cases. What is required, is that people feel comfortable getting the dental care they need and experience pain free dental work and get the care they need on a regular basis.

Acupuncture Present and Past

Chinese medicine is thousands of years old. The earliest recorded use of acupuncture is from the reign of the Yellow Emperor, and is supposed to be from about 2600 BC. The ancient Chinese noticed that certain areas of the skin became more sensitive when a person had a certain health problem. Over time, the Chinese started recording the location of the sensitive areas for a particular symptom or set of symptoms. These areas were associated with the internal organs whose malfunction caused that particular symptom. When outlines of the human body were drawn, these sensitive points were connected in ways to explain the functioning of the human body. The functioning of the body includes the various major organs of the body, and also the entire functional system, including the energy for the organ.Looking at a text on acupuncture, there will be a number of spots, which relate to the sensitive areas described above. There will also be lines, or “meridians”, which connect the various organs and indicate how the energy of the organs flow from one to another. The concept of energy (the “Qi”) is fundamental to the application of acupuncture. According to the Chinese, we are given a certain amount of Qi at birth, and this is dissipated by daily living, and restored by ingesting food and air. In the foundation of acupuncture, the imbalance of this energy at various points in the body is the cause of illness. The absence of this energy at some point is death. The Qi circulates through the body in a cycle, moving from meridian to meridian and organ to organ. This energy is constantly moving, dissipating, and being restored.The use of the needles in acupuncture is to affect the energy level, and so the functioning, of an organ by stimulating or reducing its action. Some organs respond more directly and quickly than others, such as the liver. Acupuncture can be used for pain control, for stress relief, and for a multitude of other physical symptoms and diseases.China was where the technique of acupuncture and its medical foundations began. Japan also has an extensive history of acupuncture as an accepted and effective treatment for their people. Japanese acupuncture has the same foundations as Chinese acupuncture, but several interesting differences in technique. Acupuncture traveled to Europe in the seventeenth century, being brought back by Jesuit missionaries who had lived in Beijing. Acupuncture did not receive wide acceptance at that point, though there were pockets of practitioners in several places in the West. Acupuncture got significant attention here only when M. Morant from France published many writings on acupuncture in the 1940s. The detail and volume of his writings caught the attention of western physicians, who started considering it for pain control.Currently, acupuncture is widely accepted by western physicians in several categories, including pain control and stress relief. Indeed, for some operations no anesthesia is needed at all, just the services of an acupuncturist. This is a distinct advantage, in that the normal operation of the patient’s organs is not altered by an artificial anesthetic. This work in the west has caused new interest and study in the land where acupuncture originated, in China. They have discovered many old, previously unknown texts, and are working on extending the applications. It is an exciting time for the field of acupuncture.

The Real Cost of Lasik

Lasik surgery is a quick and quite painless procedure; the operation on both eyes takes less than thirty minutes. Numbing drops are placed in the eye, so there are no needles to worry about. for your comfort. Most patients report having improved vision almost immediately after the surgery. The only concern most people have is the cost of lasik, which is not normally covered by insurance.Why?The reason that most insurers (private and public) will not usually cover the Cost of Lasik is because it is considered elective surgery. Lasik is essentially a convenience procedure; it won’t address serious vision problems such as cataracts or macular degeneration (such surgery for those problems is usually covered in whole or part). Lasik allows many (not all) individuals to discontinue the use of corrective lenses by making adjustments to their corneas, which may have become distorted over time.This said, there are some major employers, such as Microsoft, who offer “subsidized” health plans, part of which may be “converted” for this purpose; in addition, if you are a member of the U.S. Armed Services, you may qualify for coverage in full or part.How Much?Nationwide, the Cost of Lasik can vary from $300 per eye to over $4000; in the Denver, Colorado metro area, costs range are a bit narrower, ranging from $500 to $1500 per eye. Factors that affect the cost of lasik include:- Skill and experience of the surgeons- Technology and tools (more recent methods are generally more expensive)- Location of the facilities (clinics in downtown Denver have higher overhead costs than those in outlying areas)- Condition of the patient- Levels of pre-operative testing and care (including prescriptions)- Need for and number of post-operative follow-up proceduresOn one hand, it pays to do some comparative shopping; on the other hand, “cheap” lasik is usually not a bargain. In fact, there are lasik practices that specialize in nothing more than undoing the mistakes of unqualified practitioners. What Are My Options?If you cannot pay for the entire Cost of Lasik out of pocket, do not despair; many highly-qualified lasik providers along the Front Range offer generous financing that can be tailored to every budget. This incidentally is another area in which it is in your best interest to pay extra for the services of a more highly skilled and experienced surgeon; when such costs are spread out over the course of several months, the difference between low-cost “bargain” services and those of a top-flight surgeon are miniscule.