I apologize if I'm about to give you more information than you really wanted to know about how this topic came up today!  I woke up yesterday morning with the worst headache I think I've ever had.  The pain was concentrated only on the right side of my head, which was different than any other headache I'd ever experienced before.  I got up and was overwhelmed with nausea and ended up getting sick.  I took a couple of Ibuprofin after that and decided to head to work, still in excrutiating pain.  The sunlight seemed to make the pain worse and I had to turn my car radio way down because noise was an issue as well.  I got to work and had to feed the feral cats that live on the property and got sick again as soon as I went inside. After about an hour, I ran into a co-worker who took one look at me and said "You need to go home".   I did, and pretty much slept all day.  When I woke up, the headache was finally gone.

I wasn't aware of it then, but after talking to several migraine sufferers and doing some of my own research on the web, that's exactly what I had yesterday.  I'd never had one before (and hope to never have one again), but I do have some ideas what triggered it.  For one, it was the day before my period started and the sudden drop in estrogen is sometimes a trigger (women suffer migraines more frequently than men) and another factor was probably the couple of glasses red wine I drank the night before (due to the tannins, another trigger.  For a complete list of possible causes and triggers for migraines, click here). 

Luckily, I found a list of alternative and complementary treatments on the Mayo Clinic website that may help:

Accupunture:  It's not routinely recommended by medical professionals for treatment of migraines, but clinical trials have shown that it may indeed be helpful for headaches.

Biofeedback: This technique, which monitors and helps you control responses in your body, has proven to be extremely helpful in treating migraines.  It's also safe to use in combination with migraine medications.

Massage:  While massages value on treating headaches hasn't been determined, it is an effective tool for reducing stress, as we know, and stress is yet another trigger.

Herbal, mineral and/or vitamin supplements:  Butterbur and Feverfew, both herbal supplements, may prevent migraines altogether and at the very least reduce their severity (as always, check with your doctor and do not take if you are pregnant).  Vitamin B2, Coenzyme Q10 and Magnesium sulfate supplements may also help prevent the trigger of migraines (again, discuss with your doctor).

Hopefully you'll never suffer from these, but here's some ammo to add to your arsenal if you ever do!  Until next time...

Today I'm going to continue the series highlighting some of the therapies used in complementary and alternative medicine by introducing you to music therapy.  According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is the "clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program".  In other words, music therapists first evaluate a patient to assess physical health, emotional well being, social functioning, cognitive and/or communiction skills and then prescribe therapy using music to address that patients needs while participating in interdisciplinary treatment planning, evaluation and follow up. 

The types of treatment prescribed by a music therapist may include listening to music, writing and/or performing music, music evaluation and learning through music.  It's used to aid in the treatment in a number of conditions, including alzheimers, depression and other mental issues, developmental issues, physical problems, substance abuse and brain injuries.   I even read in an article in Prevention magazine many months ago that they are using music therapy to help COPD and emphysema patients develop lung capacity by having them play a recorder or similar instrument.

We all know from personal experience that music has an impact on our lives in many ways, from soothing us when we are feeling blue to helping us celebrate, exercise or otherwise enjoy the positive things in life. Music therapists understand the profound impact music can have on our overall well being and incorporate it into helping their patients achieve healing and balance.   The URL I linked to above links to the American Music Therapy website's frequently asked questions sections, which goes into the history of music therapy as well as providing more detailed information on how the therapies are applied, where music therapists work and a whole host of other information, if you are interested.  The following excellent video also shows how music therapy is used.  Enjoy!

A couple of weeks ago, the world lost a great actor, Charlton Heston.  Although the cause of death hasn't been officially announced, Mr. Heston did suffer from Alzheimer's disease.  Below is Charlton and his wife, Lydia, being interviewed by Peter Jennings in 2002, just after Charleton announced to the public that he had the disease (more following the video):


Alzheimer's is a progressive and fatal brain disease that was discovered by (and named after) German physician Alois Alzheimer who first made note of the condition in 1905. The disease destroys brain cells and is the leading form of dementia, with over 5 million people suffering from the disease.  No one reason can be cited for causing the disease, but there are certain risk factors to be aware of:

• Age-persons over the age of 65 are at the greatest risk and once a person reaches 85, the risk of contracting Alzheimer's jumps to 50%
• Family History- Persons having a close blood relative that has Alzheimer's, such as a child, sibling or parent, are at greater risk for contracting it
• Genetics- Genes play a role in determining whether someone will contract the disease and scientists have identified a gene called apolipoprotein E-e4 (APOE-e4) which contributes and they believe there are many others that have not yet been discovered.

Alzheimer's has no cure, but it is one disease where alternative and complementary treatments are being experimented with.  The herb Ginko Biloba is showing great promise so far and is being studied for use in treating dementia and Alzeimer's by the University of Pittsburgh as well as several other facilities.  Huperzine A, an extract from moss that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries is also showing great promise.  Small studies show that it may be as effective as some of the medications currently being used to treat the disease.  Furthermore, Omega 3 Fatty Acids may play a role in preventing the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's and further studies are merited.  To read about these treatments and others that have been examined, take a look here.  Until next time, stay healthy!

In case you haven't noticed, there is a reoccurring "theme" that is prevalent in the complementary/alternative medicine field: the need for the energy in the body to be balanced before healing can occur.  Polarity therapy is definitely not the exception to that rule!  In fact, energy balance is the sole purpose of this type of therapy.  The Polarity Therapy model states that good health occurs when:

1.  Energy Systems function in their natural state and
2.  Energy flows smoothly without significant blockage or fixation.

The therapy was founded by Dr. Randolf Stone who studied energy in relation to the healing arts over the course of his 60 year career.  He found that many things affect the bodies energy field (either positively or negatively) including diet, exercise, sound, relationships, life experiences and environmental factors, to name a few.  Therefore, Polarity Therapy is a comprehensive system that incorporates energy based body work, diet, exercise and self-awareness in order to release blockages in the bodies energy field and restore the body to it's natural healthy state.

In a typical Polarity Therapy Session, the practitioner uses several techniques to assess the current state of that person's energy field, including observation, interviewing and palpation.  The practitioner then uses "Energy Touch"  which typically involves soft touching and rocking as well as some point specific energy work.  A typical session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes.

The video below shows an example of a Polarity Therapy session and the site I've linked to above is the official Polarity Therapy website with a wealth of additional information.  Until next time, enjoy!

Hello everyone!  Happy Monday!  A couple of weeks ago, I posted a blog outlining various complementary medicinal practices that can aid in the battle with cancer.  One of the things on that list was Tai Chi (or Tai Chi Chuan).  Tai Chi is actually a martial art (yes, like karate or tai kwan do) that has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine.  The practice helps keep the Qi (life force) in balance. Tai Chi was originally developed not only for self defence (hard to believe when watch it in some of it's forms, but it was indeed) but to also promote and sense of calm and well being.  There are many forms of Tai Chi, but essentially each type combines a number of movements (and the number of movements there are varies depending on the style that is being practiced) that flow seamlessly and meditatively from one to the next.    The focus is on mind, breath and movement.

The article I've linked to gets much more in depth into the history and the various types of tai chi (as well as it's many health benefits, the BIG one being, of course, reduced stress) if you are interested.  I've also included a video to introduce you to the subject.  If after you've done some more reading and watched the video and you decide you would like to take up the practice, there are a number of great DVD's available for beginners (and advanced practioners as well).  Some of my favorites are the one's put out by David Carradine of Kung Fu (the t.v. show) fame.  I've linked to one of them on Amazon.com here.  There may be classes offered in your community as well.  It's a practice that's appropriate for a person of any age and at any fitness level (but always check with a physician before beginning a new exercise program).  Enjoy the video and I'll be back in the next day or two!

You are over the pain of diagnosis, and have accepted the fact that your child is autistic. A treatment plan has been set up that you are satisfied with, so, what's next? You need to learn how to live with your little one at home, and keep your sanity. Today I will give you some helpful hints for your mental health and that of your family.

You will have to change your expectations because one of the biggest challenges to overcome is that your child will probably never be on par with his/her peers as far as development and appropriate behavior goes. Nor will he/she become the lawyer that you had hoped, but there are attainable goals, they are just not the ones you had dreamed of. With this in mind, begin with small steps as far as expectations. Be patient because with your help, your child can reach his/her unique potential.

It is important to monitor sensory input since many autistic little ones become agitated by over stimulation. Learn to interpret body language so that you know when your child is becoming overwhelmed. For example, if he/she starts screaming, rocking, holding their ears, etc., a tranquil retreat will help. You can accomplish this very easily by setting up a safety zone or creating a private space for your child where he/she can relax, and feel secure. You may also want to set up  boundaries that your child will comprehend. You can use visual clues like colorful tape to mark the areas that are off limits. If your little one is prone to tantrums you will have to child proof your home so that there are no accidents.

Channel unusual actions into socially acceptable behavior. If your child engages in spinning, climbing on furniture, rocking to and fro, etc., try to turn this around into something that is acceptable, like climbing on a jungle gym, or spinning on a tire swing. Don't take him/her to the grocery store if you know that it will cause discomfort and inappropriate responses.

When you want your child to do something, make sure that you give simple, step by step directions verbally, visually and by offering physical support, as needed. Since autistic children have difficulty understanding facial expressions, body language and voice tone, you need to be very concrete and explicit when offering feedback and directions.

Always reward good behavior with some type of positive reinforcement. Try to "catch your child doing something good". Be aware of his/her strengths and build on them so that you can tap into ways to help them succeed. Allow plenty of time for practice. Give praise when their behavior is appropriate, or when they have learned a new skill, be very specific about what you are complimenting. Find out what they would like for a reward and give it to them when deserved. Pay attention to the positive rather than the negative whenever you can.

Remember that consistency is the key to success while helping your child to learn. Talk to the therapist and try to mimic the techniques that are being used in therapy. Set up a schedule that you will be able to stick to since autistic children thrive in a highly structured environment. Set up a routine with regular times for eating, therapy, school, and bedtime. Avoid schedule changes whenever you can so that your little one feels safe and secure.  If a change in routine is unavoidable, prepare in advance for it.

Since you know your child best, help siblings by teaching them about autism. Once they understand how to relate to each other, life at home will be much easier. Make sure that the family interacts with your autistic little one in such a way as to get a positive response from him/her. By acting in this manner, your autistic child will learn how to relate to others in an acceptable way. Getting along and acting appropriately in the home setting helps build socialization skills for the outside world.

Spend time having fun with your child. There has to be life after therapy and school. You know the old saying,"all work and no play makes Roger a dull person". Think of ways to play together. Most importantly, enjoy your child's company.

Lastly, you have to stop worrying about what others will think or say. They may see autistic behavior as weird, odd, or unruly. It really doesn't matter what they think, you know that you are doing the best that you can. "Normal" behavior is relative anyways.

There is a saying that pain eases with time, so it goes with autism, the early years are the most difficult, as your little one gets older, things will improve. So keep the faith and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Remember to be patient and stay optimistic, things are not hopeless. Your child  has a lifetime to learn and grow. You can help to make it happen.

Much of this discussion is reflected in the book You: Staying Young by Dr. Mehemet C. Oz, who is often featured on the Oprah show.

• Facilitated Communication is a technique used to help a child express feelings by having them to type their inner thoughts on a computer. Studies have shown that the messages typed describe the thoughts of the support provider. Recently there was a news blurb on television about a young autistic girl who could only communicate by typing on her computer. Amazing, isn't it.
• Holding Therapy is a technique in which a child is hugged by his/her parent for long periods of time, even if there is resistance. Proponents of this method believe that it helps to develop a bond between child and parent. Others say that it helps stimulate the brain by allowing the child sense his/her body boundaries. As of yet, there is no scientific evidence to support this.
• Auditory Integration Therapy is a technique in which a child listens to different sounds with the aim of improving language comprehension. Those who advocate this method believe that it helps those with autism receive more balanced sensory information from their surroundings. After scientific testing, this method has proven to be as effective as listening to music. Some parents have stated that they have seen behavior and language gains from this program.
• Dolman/Delcato Method is a program where children are made to crawl and move as they did through every stage of their early development. This is done so that they can learn some of their missed skills. Unfortunately, their is no scientific evidence to support this.

• A food plan that has been successful with some families consists of a gluten-free, casein-free diet. To eliminate these products however, is difficult because gluten (which is a casein-like substance) is found in cereal plants like wheat, oat, rye, and barley and casein is the major protein in milk.
• If you, as a parent would like to place your child on a special diet please consult with your pediatrician, and a nutritionist, before embarking on a program of your own.

• Herbal Mindsoothe Jr. available in capsules for adults or drops for children. This has been proven clinically to help balance serotinin levels and it works in a similar way as the Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors or SSRI's that are made synthetically.
• Pure Calm is an herbal formula which has been specially formulated to calm and soothe children and adults. This remedy comes in a liquid form so you disperse it with a medicine dropper for both children and adults. It may be taken for quick relief of sudden symptoms and is safe to use with most prescription drugs and herbal medicines. Unlike synthetic tranquilizing drugs which can become addictive as individuals build up a tolerance resulting in the need for higher dosages, Pure calm will not cause an addiction.
• Focus ADHD Formula helps to treat those who are hyperactive and can't concentrate. This natural remedy comes in a tincture that you can take with juice or water.
• Bright Spark is for severe cases of ADHD as well as anger management and defiance issues and can be used by itself or in combination with the Focus formula.
• Tantrum Tamer is an effective remedy for children who have extreme temper tantrums, sometimes with no provocation, or for those who become frustrated because they are unable to communicate their needs,etc. This particular formula helps to eliminate and/or reduce these symptoms. Tantrum Tamer has a pleasant taste and most children will take it willingly.

• http://www.autismspot.com/
• http://www.thetole.com/Autism.html
• http://www.theolympian.com/113/story/321945.html
• http://autism-programs.com/
• http://www.patientcenters.com/autism/news/holistic.html
• http://www.feelgoodcounseling.com/autism.htm

• Developmental pediatrician who treats health issues of children with delays and handicaps in development.
• Child psychiatrist is an MD who may aid in the initial diagnosis, provide help with behavioral issues, emotional adjustment and socialization. He/she may also prescribe medication if need be.
• Clinical psychologist is a specialist who understands the effects of developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders. He/she might give your child psychological and assessment tests which are invaluable aids for treatment. In addition to this, a behavior modification program, as well as a program to teach social skills may be set up by your therapist.
• Educator or Educational Consultant to help set up an effective learning program.
• Occupational therapist who will focus on self-help skills such as teaching your child to dress him/herself, to eat properly, etc. Your little one may also need help with fine motor skills, movement coordination, and sensory integration which can be done in an occupational therapy setting.
• Physical therapist who can help your child to develop muscle strength by improving the use of bones, muscles, joints and nerves as well as motor skills and coordination.
• Speech/language therapist will help improve speech and language skills allowing your child to communicate more effectively.
• Social worker who will provide support as well as understanding, and/or become a case manager to help arrange treatment plans and other services needed.

1. Will the treatment result in harm to my child?
2. How will failure of the treatment affect my child and family?
3. Has the treatment been validated scientifically?
4. Are there specified assessment procedures?
5. How will the treatment be integrated into my child's current program?

1. How successful has the program been for other children?
2. How many children have gone on to placement in a regular school and how have they performed?
3. Do staff members have training and experience in working with children and adolescents with autism?
4. How are activities planned and organized?
5. Are there predictable daily schedules and routines?
6. How much individual attention will my child receive?How is progress measured? Will my child's behavior be closely observed and recorded?
7. Will my child be given tasks and rewards that are personally motivating?
8. Is the environment designed to minimize distractions?
9. Will the program prepare me to continue the therapy at home?
10. What is the cost, time commitment, and location of the program?

A listing of schools for autistic children

Let's take a look at the normal stages a baby goes through.

• Shortly after birth, a  healthy newborn will gaze into your eyes.
• By 5-6 months, your offspring will smile and respond to you by gurgling, cooing and looking into your eyes.
• Babies usually respond to their name by a few months of age.
• After the first year, your baby will be attracted to an object or event that you are looking at. This is known as joint attention. In addition to this, they will shift their gaze from people to toys, or look towards something that you are pointing at. They will also point to things by themselves and show their toys to you.
• A typical baby  of 8-10 months, will mimic you by copying face movements such as sticking out their tongue, or by imitating sounds that you make,etc.
• Babies show emotional responses to others, they may cry if they hear another child crying.
• By age two, little ones pretend to do the same things that you are doing. For instance, they may pretend to change a doll's diapers, or fix their hair,etc.

Here are some of the first signs that indicate something is wrong.  

• There is an absence of eye contact with you.
• Your infant is two months old and doesn't respond to their name when you say it.
• Your baby constantly focuses on an inanimate object in the room, like a ceiling fan.
• You make a loud sound, and your infant doesn't respond by the time he/she is two months old.
• You play with your baby and he/she doesn't respond nor is there a response to their name between 2-4 months.
• Your tyke doesn't react to you with smiles and sounds by 8-9 months.
• Your child doesn't point to objects, gesture or take your hand to locate a toy by 12-16 months.
• Your little one does not say single words by 16 months or two word phrases by 24 months.
• You have noticed a loss of language or social skills at any age.

1. CARS rating scale (Childhood Autism Rating Scale), that was developed by Eric Schipler in the 1970s. In essence it is a 15 point scale that is used by your doctor or mental health therapist to look at your baby's "relationship to people, body use, reaction to change, listening response, and verbal communication." This assessment not only identifies autism in children but it separates them from developmentally handicapped children who do not have this disorder.An effective way to describe behaviors in question would be to make a video of your child.
2. Another screening technique is the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT). This is employed to screen for autism at 18 months of age. Developed in the early 1990s by Simon Baron-Cohen, this assessment consists of a short two part questionnaire; one section for parents and the other for the doctor to fill out.
3. An Autism Screening Questionnaire may also be used which is a forty item scale that has been successfully used with children four years old or older. It evaluates communication skills and social functioning.
4. Last, I would like to mention a screening test that is in development by Wendy Stone at Vanderbilt College for two year olds. It employs one to one observations of behavioral characteristics seen in children.  Three skill areas have been identified as key factors in autism, they are play, motor imitation and joint attention or looking at the same object as their mom or dad.

Stay tuned for my next blog which will tell you about treatment options for autism.


Hair analysis study to diagnose autism.
Autism, Hair Analysis and Mercury

Stay tuned for my next blog which will deal with ways to diagnose autism.

With the subject of autism on the news lately, I have decided to take a short break from mental health issues and let you in on some information that I have found from my research about this troublesome condition. Since there are so many things about autism that I would like to relate, I am going to break my blog up into smaller segments.  I will include the following: history, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment which will be in two parts. Part one will deal with how to work with an assessment team made up of doctors, mental health practitioners, educators, etc. The second part will focus on various methods of treatment. My last blog in this series will talk about how families deal with autism.  Please read on.


By 1943, Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins University, observed 11 children who had withdrawn from contact with humans as early as age one. He felt that these little ones exhibited "an extreme autistic aloneness."  He and Dr. Hans Asperger believed that these infants were born with the syndrome. Thus, more evidence showing that autism did not come from the way parents cared for their baby.


Next up are some of the symptoms that an autistic child may exhibit.

Problems with social interactions

• Your child makes little or no eye contact with other people.
• Your child has problems developing a relationship with others.
• Your little one is not interested in sharing experiences that they have had.
• Your child does not respond to his/her caregiver, siblings, relatives, etc.

There are impairments in communication

• Your child may exhibit impairments in communication and speech.
• Your child has problems expressing himself/herself with speech or gestures.
• Your child has a hard time putting words in sentences, but may repeat what he/she hears, this is called echolalia.
• Your child usually does not begin or continue a conversation.
• Your child does not know how to play pretend, or make-believe.
• Your child may experience extreme sensitivity or lack of sensitivity to sounds and noises.

Repetitive behavior

• Your child may only be interested in playing with a few objects, or participating in a few activities and responding by doing the same things over and over again. He/ she is unable to vary their responses.
• Your child may continuously engage in repetitive routines and become very agitated with changes in their routine.
• Your child may show repetitive movements like rocking back and forth, or waving a hand in front of his/her face.

In addition to these behavioral manifestations.  An autistic child may also exhibit mental health issues such as mood swings, attention deficit disorders, severe tantrums, tics or jerky movements of body parts. It is important to understand that each child is unique, therefore, when diagnosing autism it is crucial to pay attention to their particular symptoms in order to best meet their needs.

Stay tuned for my next blog about the causes of autism.

Reference

If you are worried or frustrated and ready to pull out your hair, while thinking to yourself, "I thought potty training was over," relax, take a deep breath and read on. 

There are many ways to treat secondary bed-wetting.   What is important here, is for you to understand that there may be some emotional issues involved so it would be a good idea for you to speak with a mental health therapist or counselor. He/she will  want to know any pertinent information about your child's history from birth to the present, so that there can be an accurate assessment of the situation. Make sure that you find a psychologist that you are comfortable with.

• Display a chart in a place that is easily accessible to your child, perhaps on the refrigerator.
• Put dates along the top, or anywhere you like and on mornings when he/she is dry add a star, or sticker so that everyone can see it.
•  It is very crucial that all family members, including siblings, give praise by complimenting, hugging, or anything else that you feel is acceptable.
• Many little ones respond well to a point system. Each morning that they are dry they receive a point, after they have accumulated a certain amount, they can be cashed in for some type of treat that appeals to them.
• An older child can keep a record or diary of his/her own, rather than using a chart.

• Limit the amount of fluids consumed after dinner.
• When your child is almost finished urinating have him/her stop the water from coming to a count of 10. This teaches them bladder control.
• Have your tyke lie on the bed and picture getting up in the middle of the night to urinate if their bladder is full.
• Set up a nightly wake up schedule to urinate.
• Use Wet Stop which is an alarm system that is triggered when a few drops of water are registered on a pad, waking up your child so they can use the bathroom.
• Hypnotherapy has also been used for children aged 5 and older, but it is only successful if the child is motivated to stop this behavior. The therapist gives a post-hypnotic suggestion, telling the child to wake up and go to the bathroom when they feel the urge.

Next up, I would like to discuss some alternative medicine techniques such as homeopathic remedies, herbal teas, and other natural healing methods. These options relieve some of the underlying emotional factors causing enuresis.

• Put 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tbsp of St. John's Wort
• Let sit for 10 minutes and strain.
• Give your little one 1 cup a day (not before bedtime), for 3-4 weeks.

Flower Essences can be a very effective remedy.

• Cherry-plum can help a child who is wetting the bed due to stress.
• Combine 4 drops in a glass of water.
• Have your child drink this mixture 4 times a day.

• Give your child 20 drops of  Sweet Sumac tincture 2-3 times a day.
• This product may be purchased at health food stores, some pharmacies, or online.

• Causticum for children who wet the bed as soon as they fall asleep.
• Belladonna for restless sleepers who are bed-wetters.
• Equisetum for adults and children who wet the bed during the night.

• Desmopressin Acetate a promising new drug treatment according to my reference.
• Imipramine HCL is the most prescribed drug for enuresis in children ages 8-12.
• Janimine, Tofranil SK-Pramine for ages 8-12

I will briefly talk about physical causes of bed-wetting.

• Genetic factors, if one parent had enuresis, there is a 45% chance that the child will be a bed-wetter, if both parents suffered from this condition there is a 75% chance of the child inheriting this problem. This happens because there is not enough of an anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) produced during sleep.
• Bladder size may be a cause of bed-wetting.  If the child's bladder is unusually small, he/she may have a problem holding his water and may have to urinate more frequently.
• Obstructive Uropathy or an abnormality in the structure of the ureter may cause your child to wet his/her pants during the day or night. Consequently, the bladder is unable to hold a normal amount of water and makes the child less able to control his/her urine.
• Urinary Tract Infection or UTI if your child is complaining of burning or pain while going to the bathroom.
• Tonsillar Obstruction if your child breathes through the mouth or snores and is groggy and grumpy in the morning.
• Diabetes may be another physical cause of bed-wetting.

After your pediatrician has ruled out the above conditions, you may want to look at some psychological factors, and possibly take him/her to a mental health therapist or counselor for help.

Usually psychological problems are the cause of secondary enuresis.  Please continue reading. 

• Stress is an important factor to consider especially if your child has been dry for a long period of time and suddenly begins soiling the bed at night.  Has he/she experienced something traumatic like the death of a loved one, even a pet. Is there a new baby in the house? Have you moved to a new neighborhood so that your child has to go to a new school.  How well is he/she doing at school, has the teacher noticed any changes? Are you having marital problems, or have you been recently divorced?
• Toilet training is a very emotional time, if parents are too harsh, or too lax in their training, a child may revert to bed-wetting. As a parent, do you expect too much of your child, if so he/she may soil themselves. If you were too permissive in your training, perhaps beginning toilet training when your child was older, he/she may have poor impulse control.
• Impulse Inhibition can cause bed-wetting. Is your child able to control his anger? How does he/she act when angry? By not allowing a tyke to express anger often causes daytime incontinence, but may be a factor in bed-wetting. It is not mentally healthy to suppress feelings of anger, grief, rage, etc for adults, let alone children.
• Secondary Gain There are times when a child wants to get back at a parent (usually the mother) and will wet themselves without even being aware that they are doing it. Ask yourself these questions: What does the child get out of this behavior?  How do you as a parent react to this? How do siblings react? Is the child embarrassed wetting the bed? If your little one is not concerned about this problem, he may deriving some satisfaction from it and it will be more difficult to treat. But with patience, kindness and understanding this condition is curable.

I think that this is enough for now.  Come back for my next blog which will deal with various types of treatment  for bed-wetting in children, from counseling to alternative remedies.


Pediatrics for Parents, May, 1989, v10, n5, p6(2), Pediatrics for
Parents 1989,
Patient Care, Jan 15, 1985, v19, p75(7), Patient Care Communications
Inc. 1985,
Patient Care, Nov 30, 1984, v18, p54(15), Patient Care
Communications Inc. 1984,

There is a way to conquer Anorexia please continue reading