Being Old

By Diane Forrest

Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose in the driveway,

I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage,

I notice mail on the porch table that

I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table,

Put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table,

And notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back

On the table and take out the garbage first...

But then I think,

Since I'm going to be near the mailbox

When I take out the garbage anyway,

I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table,

And see that there is only one check left

My extra checks are in

my desk in the study,

So I go inside the house to my desk where

I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks,

But first I need to push the Pepsi aside

So that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The Pepsi is getting warm,

And I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the

kitchen with the Pepsi,

A vase of flowers on the counter

Catches my eye--they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and

Discover my reading glasses that

I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk,

But first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back

down on the counter ,

Fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV,

I'll be looking for the remote,

But I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table,

So I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs,

But first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in

the flowers,

But quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back on the table,

Get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to

Remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

The car isn't washed,

The bills aren't paid,

There is a warm can of

Pepsi sitting on the counter,

The flowers don't have enough water,

There is still only 1 check in my checkbook,

I can't find the remote,

I can't find my glasses,

And I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,

I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day,

And I'm really tired.

As you age you find yourself being the punch line to many jokes, many are true. However to me you can benefit from the aging process.  I have a friend who is in his 70's.  He is constantly reminding me that he is old.  While he may have advanced years, he is not Old.  He thinks young, stays active, is always learning something new, and he takes excellent care of himself and follows his doctor's orders most of the time.

As  you get older you may find yourself having a few aches or pains, some gray hair, and those phone books start using smaller print, but if you think young, and keep learning and doing, then age is just a state of mind.

AAADD Know the Symptoms

By Terry Orr

Another Fun Email to Share

A.A.A.D.D.- KNOW THE SYMPTOMS!

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder.

Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder (AAADD).

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.

As I turn on the hose in the driveway,

I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage,

I notice mail on the porch table that

I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table,

Put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table,

And notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back

On the table and take out the garbage first...

But then I think,

Since I'm going to be near the mailbox

When I take out the garbage anyway,

I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my check book off the table,

And see that there is only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study,

So I go inside the house to my desk where

I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks,

But first I need to push the Pepsi aside

So that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The Pepsi is getting warm,

And I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi,

A vase of flowers on the counter

Catches my eye--they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and

Discover my reading glasses that

I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk,

But first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter,

Fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.

Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV,

I'll be looking for the remote,

But I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table,

So I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs,

But first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers,

But quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back on the table,

Get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to

Remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

The car isn't washed,

The bills aren't paid,

There is a warm can of

Pepsi sitting on the counter,

The flowers don't have enough water,

There is still only 1 check in my check book,

I can't find the remote,

I can't find my glasses,

And I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,

I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day,

And I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem,

And I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail....

Do me a favor.

Forward this message to everyone you know,

Because I don't remember who I've sent it to.

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!

P.S.I don't remember who sent it to me, so if it was you, I'm sorry

Understanding Self-Harm/Injury Awareness Month

By Nurse Diane

What do Singer, Fiona Apple; Comedian, Russell Brand; Actress, Drew Barrymore; Actor, Johnny Depp; Actor, Colin Farrell; Actress, Megan Fox; Actress, Angelina Jolie; Singer, Demi Lovato and Princess Diana have in common? 

Before finding emotional health, they struggled with self-injury.

Self injury can take many forms from cutting, picking, burning, bruising, puncturing, embedding, scratching or hitting one's self, just to name a few and does not involve a conscious intent to commit suicide.   Generally, it is a deliberate, private act that is habitual in occurrence, not attention-seeking behavior, nor meant to be manipulative. Self-injurers are often secretive about their behaviors, rarely letting others know, and often cover up their wounds with clothing, bandages, or jewelry.

A psychologist and practicing psychoanalyst, Dr. Deborah Serani specializes in treating trauma and depression. In her website: she offers this information: http://drdeborahserani.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-1st-is-international-self-injury.html

Those Who Self-Injure Are Often Trying To:

* Distract themselves from emotional pain

* End feelings of numbness

* Offset feelings of low self-esteem

* Control helplessness or powerlessness

* Calm overwhelming or unmanageable feelings

* Maintaining control in chaotic situations

* Self-punish, self-shame or self-hate

* Express negative thoughts or feelings that cannot be put into words

* Self-nurture or self-care

According to recoverymonth.gov, Most children and teens who deliberately injure themselves are discharged from emergency rooms without an evaluation of their mental health, a new study shows. The findings are worrisome since risk for suicide is greatest right after an episode of deliberate self-harm, according to researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The researchers also found the majority of these kids do not receive any follow-up care with a mental health professional up to one month after their ER visit.

If you notice any changes in someone's behavior or dress, or see any signs of scarring, click on this site for ways to offer help and support.  http://sioutreach.org/

Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day

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Nurse Diane

Earlier this week we talked about Mental Illness Awareness week, included in that article was a mention of Bipolar Disorder.  2.3 million people suffer from Bipolar Disorder.  This is a condition that usually begins in the mid 40's through the 50's or it can start earlier, but it requires lifelong treatment.  A person with this illness goes through periods of mania then depression.  Episodes like extreme shopping to deep depression are characteristics.

A recent episode of Bipolar was notice with the public displays of Charlie Sheen.  He was partying and doing drugs and acting abnormal for a while, then sunk into a depression stage, and nobody heard from him.  The same bizarre behavior was also noticed in Brittany Spears.  If Bipolar is left untreated, the risk of suicide is great.  In fact, 25 to 50% of those suffering attempt suicide.

You don't have to be in the public eye to suffer from this disorder.  You may know someone who shares these same symptoms.  The purpose of Bipolar Awareness Day is to:

• Learn more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and mental illness and understand its impact on society;
• Participate in a free mental health screening held in many local communities; and
• Reach out people with bipolar disorder to seek treatment.

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This day was created in 1990 by Abbott Laboratories to increase awareness of bipolar disorder, promote early detection and accurate diagnosis, reduce stigma, and minimize the devastating impact on those who suffer from bipolar illness.

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Below is a quiz from psychcentral.com for you to take to see if you know anyone with these symptoms, or if you have them yourself.  If you do, please seek help and encourage those you may know to seek help as well.

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/bipolarquiz.htm

National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness

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By Nurse Diane

I recently saw an old rerun of a Law and Order Special Victims Unit on the TV the other day.  The case involved a woman who was pregnant, and she was an alcoholic.  She was seeking a divorce from her husband; however her husband, concerned for the life of his unborn child, filed a protective order against the mother to prevent her from consuming alcohol and risk damaging the baby.  The police officer, who was also a friend of the mother even, took the woman to the house of a child who suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome.   This didn’t have an impact on the mother and she was eventually locked up in prison, for her own wellbeing and the wellbeing of her baby.

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I don't watch any of those reality television shows, however there are a few of them that concern me.  One is 16 and Pregnant, the other is Jersey Shore, where one of the main characters, Snooki, is pregnant.  These shows influence the populations of young girls who idolize these shows. Being pregnant carries alot of responsibility, and if you are portrayed on a reality show, there is even more responsibility to display proper care for your life and that of your unborn child.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a disorder that has no cure. There are many signs and symptoms including:

• Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the phylum)
• Small head size
• Shorter-than-average height
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Hyperactive behavior
• Difficulty paying attention
• Poor memory
• Difficulty in school (especially with math)
• Learning disabilities
• Speech and language delays
• Intellectual disability or low IQ
• Poor reasoning and judgment skills
• Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
• Vision or hearing problems
• Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones

While there may not be a cure, it is 100% preventable.  The only way to prevent this disorder is to refrain from drinking alcohol while pregnant.  Each year there are 40,000 babies born with Fetal Alcohol disorders.  You can help by letting expectant mothers know about the harm they are causing their babies when they drink.

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For more, information click on this site. http://fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/