Stress

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you. - John De Paola

Megan, a 13-year-old who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder, corresponded with Josh for more than a month before he abruptly ended their friendship, telling her he had heard she was cruel. The next day Megan committed suicide. A Fox news report

News anchor suicide, Australian reporter jumps to Death. A Cjreport.

Stress has become a household name in American homes. This is being discussed at length by all. (That includes me too) Our simple existence involves stress. None escapes; the young and the old; the employer and the employee. Those who are obese have stress as well as those who are very lean. Let me recollect Uncle Sam represented as a very lean figure standing with a stick; the lean figure, the hat, colors and posture - American to the core.

Every action involves certain amount of stress. Expectations generate stress. The more you act and the more you expect, the greater is the stress you feel. Stress should first be understood as an inbuilt thing in every action. If we want to understand stress, its nature and intensity are matters to be considered in relation to the particular individual who experiences it and reacts to it.

Researchers have classified stress into normal and harming; the stress that gets resolved in expected successful execution of action is considered normal and the stress that creates fear or leads to abnormal behavior in an individual as harming. Crossing a road may increase the heart beat but this will come down once it is completed successfully. From examinations , loss, shame, anger, excitement, harm to person, pain, fear, morbid fear, disease, death of a near relative to even winning a lottery may increase one’s heart beat and possibly result in harming stress leading to abnormal behavior.

The resultant actions to events that create stress show the intensity of stress experienced by any individual. The harmful stress reactions express themselves in emotions such as flying into a rage, uncontrollable weeping or in distancing oneself from others; becoming sick, fever or insomnia are some others from among the innumerable expressions of stress. Unresolved stress in extremely emotional people may end up in suicide. The news items are samples of extreme reactions to unmanaged or unresolved stress.

One who completes a work to his and others satisfaction gets complete relief from any stress experienced before and during the work. Any failure in an undertaking and others finding fault make one feel greater stress. So for stress and the normal or abnormal reactions that result, the individual is not solely responsible but the people who communicate with him also become responsible in varying degrees.

(To be continued)

There is more to life than increasing its speed. - Mohandas K. Gandhi

Quotes from quotegarden

Fox Cjreport

Pictures: the American

The loaded donkey

Stress due to pet cat health

Indian Billionaire Talks

The talk of Forbes with Azim Premji of Wipro looks like a crisp and short lesson on management and economy. He attributed his success to early entry into the new industry, ‘We caught the wave at the right time.’ The Indian success in this field, according to him was because of its ability to produce large number of good engineers (kudos to our educational system). Compared to the US figures, it is nearly 8 times more according to the available figures with him.

The weak dollar was the result of the lack of savings-habit among the Americans. He was also critical of the health care in the States. Hard work was behind the success of the company ‘Wipro’ and he condemned commuting to work as waste of time and energy and he elected to stay just five minutes from work. His comment on the spending culture created artificially by the American big businesses only reminded me of another blog which appeared here a month back. A reading of 'buy and save' would be of interest.

Read 'Buy and Save'

What Forbes has published

Leg Pain

The Americans never walk. In winter too cold and in summer too hot.—J.B.

Leg pain is a normal occurrence and on many occasions little care is needed and one gets relief without any medication; standing for long, sitting with legs cramped or hanging down, walking and doing exercises are a few. The last one may be a cause particularly in the days when you start doing the exercises and would disappear as you make exercising a habit.

A hurt, a sprain, a turned ankle or simple hair crack to the bone are other causes which require immediate care and if needed medication and other hospital care. The most common pain that people suffer from seems to be the sciatic nerve pain which is due mainly to the vertebral disc problem and even severe and long lasting pain normally goes away, if one takes medicine under proper guidance from a doctor.

Loss of essential minerals like potassium, calcium may also cause the pain. Arthritis is another cause for the pains and any red swelling in the region of the knees may indicate rheumatism. These can be controlled effectively by taking proper care and medicines. Varicose veins also cause pain.

Excruciating pains have clear causes. The simple pain that comes without any explainable cause is much more dangerous. This may indicate serious internal disorders but seem to be not so serious in its occurrence; the pain in the legs of smokers. If one has used tobacco for years, this may occur. This pain is felt even when one is at rest and may be not very painful but felt. One should stop smoking to help oneself and get oneself checked for serious heart problems and make sure that one is not suffering from any bad heart conditions. This may also indicate some damage to the nerves as in persons suffering from diabetes.

Severe pain may be felt because of the clot formation in large veins in the legs. This may turn to be dangerous, if not fatal, if left undiagnosed for the causes. The legs may go numb without any explicit cause and for some this may occur frequently and stay numb for long and make it impossible for them to do the normal functions easily. Initially this may show as pain after a short walk or standing even for a short while and go away with rest. Such leg pains which come and go but can not be associated with any immediate cause should be attended to immediately, particularly in smokers and people who have heart problems in the family.

I would like to share what I have read in a forum. A person who had bypass was having excruciating pain in his leg from where the doctors removed the vein during surgery. The leg has no open wounds and the person was reported to be healthy for all other purposes but felt this pain which occurred off and on. No treatment seemed to cure him and he went to this forum where homeopathic treatment and medicines are discussed. One of the participants had given the exact medicines for this type of pain. A lot of persuasion is needed to make people take homeopathic remedies. One, who readily smokes and drinks, hesitates to take homeopathic remedies. It is not known whether the person tried those remedies or not and with what result. Sharing one’s experiences may at times reveal unusual remedies for diseases and help many.

A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time - pills or stairs. - Joan Welsh

Sciatica foot care forum clipping

Picture

quotegarden

Recession

‘The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money.’—Unknown.

Merriam Webster defines recession as a period of reduced economic activity and is extended by others as decline in GDP for two or more quarters.

National Bureau of Economic Research defines recession as "a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real gross domestic product, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales."

For the individual the pay check and the size of it are indicative of recession or no recession. With many companies laying off employees and shutting down shop, the employment opportunities should have declined to a great extent and any one in this situation would not be surprised if he gets the pink slip.

The common man sees only the effect of fall in the indices like GDP, wholesale-retail sales etc. as an extra out-go from his kitty and decline in the size of his pocket book. It is an approved fact that the US news has reported the loss of many jobs; the government has brought in various measures to stimulate the economy and help the people survive. A report yesterday records that the economy may not get back on its rails of near 3% growth for another year or two. This outlook is a certain approval that the country’s economy is going into a recession, official or not.

The common man realizes the impact through the rise in oil prices, food prices, high interest rates, loss of job and the loss of his mortgaged house. His mutual fund investments show negative growth and funds disappear fast from his account. The stock market losses reported everyday is indicative of reduced value and returns to the common man on his dear investment, the real insurance for his future welfare or his retired life.

The report that some 65K jobs have disappeared in a single month from the face of the nation creates panic. The news that the price of rice has gone up and people line up to buy and the stores announce quotas are certainly unnerving. The cost of health insurance is already high and the news that the equity on the house which represented life’s dream and savings has disappeared should bring depression of spirits and impending feeling of doom. The oil price in the international market has doubled in a very short time resulting in gas crossing the $4 mark. The houses with the ‘for sale’ indicators remaining unsold for months on end on one’s route to work are eye-sore pieces indicative of recession, creating a flutter deep down in the stomach of other house owners. Money is a fast spreading disease for which money is the cure.

The solace lies in sitting before the TV with coke and chips and watch CNN telecasting news on presidential elections.

‘Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.’— Benjamin Franklin


Housing Woes Sweet Home Woes

Market watch

Quotes from 'quotegarden'

Go Green - Under the Green Wood Tree

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. -Martin Luther

Pipal tree is found all over India and other Asian counties. It is considered a sacred tree among Asians, particularly by those who follow Hinduism and Buddhism. This is also widely known as the bodhi tree, the tree under which Buddha got enlightenment. This tree is classified into the ficus group and the botanical name itself contains religion added to it- ficus religiosa. Today it stands as a symbol of peace of mind and calm and serenity—all what Man needs today. In countries where Buddhism has spread, like Thailand, this tree is used in many paintings and decorative articles and is famous as the ‘enlightened tree.’

The pipal stands some 70 or 80 feet, grows very big and lives long. It grows quickly and grows into a strong tree and its roots can break even rocks. Some trees in Asia are said to be thousands of years old. It is the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ for the East. If Buddhism has made it the enlightened tree, Hinduism considers this sacred in many ways. In India it is venerated.

The tree grows so big that with the presence of one great one a whole region gets purified air. Traditional medicine uses all parts of the tree in various combinations as cure to various diseases. It is said to have the healing power. It is said that sitting under this tree itself is cure for many diseases. There seems to be no insect capable of harming it; only human beings cause great harm to such big trees. Now research is going on in using an aqueous solution along with neem in pesticides and insecticides to make useful crops and plants resistant to insects 'for life' without losing any of their original properties.

The Indian traditional medicine uses all parts of this tree as medicine from disorders of blood, problems in the alimentary canal, lumbago, problems of women, to the well known demands like using this as aphrodisiac. The fruits are considered to have purgative properties and the barks are believed to check uncontrollable vomiting sensation. Some use the twigs in treating snake bites.

It is common to find a Bo or pipal tree on the banks of every pond as well as river in southern India and also a statue of the venerable God ‘Pillaiar’ underneath. It is believed that praying to him will show them the way to successfully complete any venture. This goes well with the belief of calling this to be the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ in these parts of the world. Many Indians start their day’s work after praying to him. The tree is believed to cure sterility among women; so its popularity among women.

I personally feel the elders on realizing the healing properties of this tree have made it a habit to have a statue of a god underneath to stop people from cutting down the pipal. Now one can find a host of god-statues underneath every pipal tree.

Trees are the first living antiques.
See Pics
The Tree Of Health

Gardening

Oil as Medicine

I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do the operation on someone else, not you. - Bill Walton

Oils have been considered to give relief from pain in muscles and cure nerve problems. In all countries we can see people using oils traditionally after having experienced their medicinal and curative properties. Most of these oils have been found to relieve pain at joints.

Gingili oil or Sesame oil is called in South India the ‘Oil of Goodness’ as it is said to be do only good and create no problem. It is used in cooking and for taking ‘oil bath.’ Oil bath is being slowly faced out by the modern medical practitioners as doing no good to the body. But those who take oil bath report that it takes care of the skin and help retain the smooth and shiny soft skin, the muscles are messaged and relaxed and the nerves are rejuvenated.

The bath results in reduction of heat and all related problems are cleared. It is said to cool the body well and anyone who is not accustomed to it is advised to use only a very small quantity on the vertex and not to message the oil deep into the body and take bath immediately, shampooing out to remove this oil from the hair and scalp. The messaging and soaking time may be increased only after one gets accustomed to it. In Southern parts of India there used to be masseurs at rich house holds to give oil massage to the men folk every Saturday. Even today one may find masseurs at the foot of waterfalls, who offer the visitors oil massage before they bathe in the falls. Special herbal oils are still available in most of the shops which claim to cure sprains easily and many use these and never go to a hospital for treatment or meet a practicing doctor, for such ailments.

Neem oil is said to stop hair falling when regularly used and also cure all scalp problems like, dandruff. Castor oil has good medicinal value. Traditionally this is used in India to remove stomach pain by applying it on the stomach and slightly massaging the region. It is also used internally to clear problems connected to alimentary canal and babies after they start taking solid food are administered a dose a month to relieve any digestive problems. Coconut and mustard oils are used in not just cooking media but also in medicines.


Many other oils have their own renowned oils having special medicinal effects. Olive oil is good as a skin toner and people use this to remove scars on skin and to get back the skin color after problems like burn injury. It is also said to control LDL and raise HDL level thus helping the heart.

Tea tree oil is considered to cure many problems and is used as medicine by the aborigines of Australia. Eucalyptus oil is used as a pain reliever, for getting relief from pain in limb joints apart from clearing chest congestion when suffering from cold. It is also used to get relief from head ache.

Thus there are many natural, herbal and green ways which one can use to stay away from problems that arise due to our irregular diet and habits. The various oils play a great role in keeping one healthy.

One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine. - Sir William Osler

Sciatica; neem; allergy; autism; water; swollen fingers; Alzheimer

quote from quote garden and quotationpage.