You can start by looking into Obsessions and what they mean and how they affect people. Read more about what Pure “O” means, how everyone has Violent and/or Sexual thoughts to a certain degree and so on…

Then look at how Compulsions work. Read more about why rituals are repeated, which actions might be repeated and so on…

Now that you understand those 2 elements of OCD, you can look at how they interact or counteract each other by looking at the OCD- Cycle.

Someone with OCD will often feel as if their obsession or ritual is different than those of others with OCD. However this isn’t the case at all.

There are so many different types of OCD- Symptoms that although slight differences may occur, there most likely will be 1 you will be able to relate to. Hopefully this knowledge will lead to you feeling less alone.

OCD- Aspects got their own page, since although they are OCD- symptoms, they are also amongst the less known 1’s. Most people have heard of people with OCD who wash, count or check, but there are a few aspects of OCD such as Hoarding and Hit- and- Run that could benefit from being given just that little extra attention.

SOME OCD FACTS & FIGURES.

What was once thought to be a rare mental disease is now known to be a more common 1. Approximately 2.3% of the population between ages 18- 54 suffers from OCD, which out ranks mental disorders such as: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or panic disorder.

In the U.S., approximately 3.3 million people have OCD, of which you have 0.3 to 1% of pediatric population and 2% of adult population.

So about 1 out of 200 adults have OCD and twice as many have had OCD at 1 point or another in their life.

There is no discrimination as to who has OCD, since it is found in all ethnic groups and both men and women are equally struck by the disorder, although in children OCD seems to be prevalent in boys.

Nearly 1/3 to 1/2 of all sufferers will find that their OCD has it’s roots in childhood, some will even show signs in their pre-school years. Cases of OCD have been reported in children as young as 1.5, needless to say it’s hard to make the diagnosis at such a young age (Lack of development of speech being 1 reason.). Around the age of 6 the linguistic abilities of the child make it easier to find out the existence of OCD, this co- relates with the age where most children show their first real signs of OCD.

In most cases however, symptoms will start to show while being a teenager or in early adulthood.

The age of onset is typically reported as 6 - 15 for males and 20 - 29 for females and is usually by the age of 40. Although many people suffer from OCD, many are also still hiding their symptoms and surveys estimate that less than 10 % of those suffering are currently in treatment.

The presence of any aggression or oppositional defiant disorder has been said to indicate a poorer prognosis.

Typically OCD and it’s symptoms will worsen due to Stress, Illnesses and Fatigue.

Treating a child with OCD is very important and all delay will only cause the child more harm and more chance of it missing out on certain aspects of her/his development and life. Same goes for adults, the earlier professional help is sought the greater chances are that some real progress will be made. OCD is a disorder that can be difficult to treat, but you can get your life back if you find the right help and are open to what is being suggested to you.

The longer 1 waits to act upon it and look for help, the more the system finds a place in the person’s life and the harder it will be to fight it.

OCD will evolve throughout a person’s life. Some will experience moments where their OCD almost disappears or becomes milder. For these people the anticipation of knowing it will or might come back is very distressing. Others will see how the OCD takes over more and more of their lives and will eventually take over completely making it impossible for them to function normally in life/society, this of course if left untreated or when no serious effort is made to fight back. So treatment is crucial.

There have been successes that involve surgery, but this treatment is however left to those who previously were not responsive to other types of treatment that are known to work very well for people suffering from OCD.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS& MISCONCEPTIONS.

There are 2 distinctive parts to OCD: the Obsessions and the Compulsions which is explained clearly by the name Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. But it seems the clarity often stops there. While the medical world is finding out the why’s and how’s of OCD, there are also still many Misunderstandings. Even in this day and age of greater awareness concerning Mental Health problems, many people still aren’t properly informed about the many mental disorders that exist and this leaves much room for assumptions and speculations. Both those who have OCD and those who are dealing with someone who has OCD may believe in such misunderstandings.

Misunderstandings concerning Possible Cause.

One of the first misunderstandings research has been able to take care of is the 1 where people assume that a neglecting or unbalanced upbringing was possibly at the basis of OCD behavior. With the use of PET- scans (Positron Emission Tomography) experts were able to find clear evidence that the brain of someone with OCD does function differently than that of a person without OCD.

With these finding a great deal of shame and guilt has been taken off the shoulders of the parents who felt they were directly to blame for their child’s suffering. This is not to say that certain events in a person’s upbringing/life may not have contributed to the onset of the OCD, just that OCD is now considered to be triggered by a biochemical disbalance in the brain.

Read more about the Possible Causes of OCD or on how the brain or Serotonin work.

General Misunderstandings Within Society.

By far one of the most painful misunderstandings for a person with OCD are the ones they encounter in their direct surrounding and society in general.

Who should be held responsible for informing the world about OCD? Partly the medical world and the media who should actively be trying to bring the facts to the public and partly the general public itself. But the public’s fear of the unknown, their intolerance and lack of understanding, which still exist when it comes to mental disorders, make OCD yet another one surrounded by its share of misunderstandings.

This is why talking about the disorder is so helpful since it will actively and constructively add to the acceptance of a common yet misunderstood disorder.

However as someone who might have OCD you aren’t free of part of the responsibility either. Stop feeling ashamed for having a disorder that isn’t a weakness, but as true and real as having a Heart condition.

If you can’t show acceptance and understanding to yourself, how can you expect others to do so? Start with yourself and lead by example.

Thinking That Having OCD Is a Character Flaw or an Excuse.

Some people might assume OCD is simply being used as an excuse for not having to do certain things, that character flaws such as laziness or weakness are what are really causing this behavior, but this is yet another misunderstanding. Just look into all the things the individual with OCD isn’t able to do that would possible provide them with possible.

Besides, it is always easier to motivate yourself to do things you like doing. Having to deal with the counting (or the not counting) will seem more worthwhile with things that give a greater sense of satisfaction or pleasure. Motivation is the key, accusing and personal critisicsm aren’t.

OCD may look like laziness or just another excuse but it is a true and debilitating disorder.

Thinking That Having OCD Equals Being Crazy.

Another misunderstanding occurs when people assume, including those with OCD, that having OCD equals someone who is crazy. So, is a person who has OCD crazy? Of course not! Someone with OCD has besides possibly strange looking rituals and disturbing obsessions also the capacity to see them as such. Maybe it is this conflict between the constant “urge” of OCD and common sense that makes people with OCD feel as if they are going crazy. The ability to see your own beliefs and actions as being unreasonable is extremely confusing but also a good sign to know you aren’t crazy.

Unless we are talking about OCD with poor insight, people will at some point recognize that their obsessions are from their own mind and not excessive worries about real- life problems and that their rituals are also excessive and unreasonable. So the answer to “Is a person suffering from OCD crazy?” is very simple: NO.

Mistaking the Obsessions With Someone Who Is Obsessed.

A man once asked a woman with OCD whether she would start focusing on him and become obsessed by him. Of course not! Although the word Obsession is for some linked to characters portrayed by “Robert De Niro” in the movie “Cape Fear” or “Glenn Close” in “Fatal Attraction”, this has nothing to do with someone who suffers from OCD.

People with OCD don’t have their rituals and obsessions result in the harm of others. Actually, people with OCD are said to be “perfect citizens”. Which brings us to another misunderstanding but this time 1 which works in “favor” of the person having OCD. Of course this is just a generalization since having OCD doesn’t take away from the fact people with OCD are all still humans and therefore will have their obvious fair share of flaws.

But it does seem that most people with OCD have a greater sense of righteousness.

Maybe it’s more the fact of being afraid of doing something wrong which is making them act in the most “acceptable” way. I won’t start a debate on what can be considered right or wrong, if only for the fact that this is a monologue and the debate might become really 1- sided.)

The conclusion is that it’s important to see this disorder in a larger context and more importantly only form an opinion after having at least read about it in a serious way.

About The Author

Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!

http://freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3 THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!

With Much Love,

Arthur Buchanan

President/CEO

Out of Darkness & Into the Light

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Huron Ohio, 44839

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There have been many studies and reports about how our society as a whole has grown heavier and chubbier. The stomach, in particular, has become a trouble spot for many people. This is due in part to the fact that many of us have desk jobs where we rarely use our stomach and abdomen muscles. For others, this is where the excess fat, brought on by the fast food and extra beers, settles in our bodies. Whatever the reason for our big bellies, there has been a host of abdominal exercise equipment and gadgets to help do away with stomach flab. Some of these techniques and equipment work better than others. This article will help you sort through the hype.

Before beginning a discussion of abdominal exercises and equipment, it is important to point out that even the best ab machine will not help you loose fat in your stomach area. Abdominal exercise equipment can tone and shape your muscles, but the only way to loose the fat is to consume more calories than you take in. Exercise will help you do this, but it is a total body process, not targeted to certain areas.

It is also important to note, that for many people, a flat stomach is not in their genetics, even if they are in good physical shape. Some stomachs have a small curve, and all the crunches in the world won’t change that. However, the exercises and equipment discussed below will help tone, strengthen and define your abdominal muscles.

Abdominal Exercises & Equipment

There are many different types of ab exercisers and equipment. One of the most effective of these, the Roman Chair, is not strictly an ab machine. It is a common piece of equipment found at the gym but it can be used to perform a very effective ab exercise. The Roman Chair is a somewhat taller machine with two stationary, parallel arms and a straight, padded back. There is nothing to sit on.

When working on abs, the best way to use this piece of equipment is to place your forearms flat on each armrest, with your back firmly against the padding. You should have the Roman Chair set high enough that your legs dangle straight down when you are in position. Then slowly bring your knees toward your chest as far as you can go and hold for a few seconds before extending them to the beginning position. This exercise was number two in a San Diego State University survey that ranked the top abdominal exercises and equipment.

According to the survey, the best ab exercise is the Bicycle maneuver. Many of you are probably familiar with this fun exercise. We’ve been doing it since we were kids in gym class, and it turns out, the bicycle is one of the most effective exercises for working those abdominal muscles. To do the exercise correctly, lie on a mat and press your lower back flat. Put your hands beside your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles and bend your knees toward your chest until they are at about a 45-degree angle. Bring your right elbow in contact with your left knee. Then alternate with the opposite knee and elbow and repeat. You should feel it in your sides and abs.

Leg Crunches are similar to the Bicycle, but with crunches, your torso does most of the movement. Lie on the mat again with your lower back pressed flat. Place your hands at your sides or by your head, whichever is more comfortable. Be sure not to put any pressure on your arms or you will take away from the effectiveness of the exercise.

Lift your legs straight up above your head and bend your knees slightly. Squeeze your abdominal muscles and then lift your torso up off the mat toward your knees. Return to the original position with your back flat on the mat. Relax your abdominal muscles and then repeat. Remember to breathe during the exercise.

Crunches can also be done on an exercise ball and many feel it is more effective than standard crunches. You sit on the ball and place your feet on the floor about a foot apart. Roll back carefully on the ball until you are lying with your back fully extended on the ball. Tighten your abdominal muscles and raise your trunk off the ball to about a 30-degree angle. Return to the extended position and repeat.

Exercise balls are one of the most versatile and effective pieces of fitness equipment relative to their cost. Another low cost equipment alternative is a stretch band. These are just what they sound like, a stretchy band made of lycra, nylon or sometimes rubber. Sometimes called resistance bands, they allow you to work one muscle group while the resistance of the band stabilizes the opposing muscles. It is good for stretching and strengthening muscles and is often used with beginners and those who have experienced an injury.

If you are looking for something a bit more high-tech, there are several pieces of equipment made especially to work the abs. There are the Ab Crunch Machine and the Back and Ab Machine. Both of these pieces of abdominal exercise equipment have been designed to support the lower back and the neck. They also come with adjustable resistance settings.

The Ab Slider, Ab Wheel, and Ab Trainer are other examples of equipment designed to target abdominal muscles. As with most types of fitness equipment, their effectiveness often is dependant upon correct usage and, in some cases, combining them with other abdominal exercises. It is important to fully research the equipment and read instructions before using.

The quest for six-pack abs and flat stomachs has intensified over the past few years. In response, the fitness industry has resurrected some old, faithful exercises, developed new and improved versions, and even created equipment specifically to target abdominal muscles. Combine these top abdominal exercises with an overall exercise routine and a healthy diet, and chances are you will loose the flab and have a stronger, more shapely mid section in a matter of months.

About the Author:

C.J. Gustafson is a successful freelance fitness writer for Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com, your complete guide to the best home fitness equipment. Find out where to shop for the best recumbent exercise bikes, ab machines and weight training equipment for your home gym.

Copyright 2005 Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if the author’s byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

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Unfortunately, it’s just not true that you can eat a certain food and it will help you to lose weight. There are foods such as nuts, tea, milk and medium chain triaclyglycerols and diaclyglycerols (dietary fats) that they are researching at the moment that could be considered functional foods for weight maintenance and prevention of obesity but at the moment no conclusive evidence exists1.

That’s not to say that eating indiscriminately is alright either. The message about fat burning food, that I want to get across is much different to eat this and you’ll lose weight. I want to define for you my view of what fat burning food actually is. There is so much speculation that to the average joe blo that wants to lose weight, it’s hard to choose the fact from the fiction.

So here is my definition of what fat burning food actually is, this definition is based on my reading of the current applicable research:

Fat burning food is food that have high water content, high fiber content and high micro-nutrient content, but losing weight will also be dependent on how much the food itself has been processed, the glycemic load of the food, the portion size and how satisfying the food itself is. To add to this, lowering your total energy intake (how much calories you take in) may be dependent on how much variety you have in your diet within the food groups themselves. Sounds complicated doesn’t it - well thankfully, when put into practice, it’s not really. You can find a simple diagram here that explains it more simply.

Now, many people (such as the low carb supporters) are going to disagree with this definition - that’s fine. I don’t want to get into that right now - that’s another article in itself.

So what makes me think that food high in water, fiber and micro-nutrients make it fat burning ? Well a paper written by McCrory et. al in 2000 examined recent research in this area and found that energy densities of food had at least a direct and indirect affect on total energy intake.2. Foods that have a high amount of water usually have low energy densities and contain a low amount of energy per unit of food.

So implementing these fat burning food dietary guidelines into your diet can go a long way to reducing your total energy intake and giving you a bigger chance to maintain an energy deficit (consuming less calories than you are expending).

So HOW do you implement these dietary guidelines into your diet? Follow these five simple steps:

1. Don’t try and implement all the guidelines at once. First replace high energy dense foods (french fries) with low energy dense foods (apple). Once your body seems O.K. with that change, then go onto the next. Look at how much food you’re actually eating - if your portions are way to large - then start reducing them in small amounts until your body is satisfied with the correct portioning. In many cases when you implement one of these guidelines, you will be inadvertently covering another.

2. Don’t be lazy - make your own fat burning food. If you are a big fan of ready to made meals and snacks, its time to start making your own. Many pre-prepared meals are high in salt, and many pre-prepared snacks are either high in fat or high in sugar. So make your own, then you’ll only have yourself to blame if there is something unhealthy in it.

3. For healthy eating, choose at least 3-5 vegetables and 2 fruits you love and eat them every single day. If you get sick of them, add variety and choose new ones.

4. Eat wholegrain cereal based foods. Many of these foods have a low glycemic index, which will help keep your blood glucose level stable.

5. Limit saturated fats and replace these with unsaturated fats. Many foods that are high in saturated fats, taste good and may satisfy at first, but also have high energy densities, that is they have a high amount of calories per unit of food. So watch your fat intake, it should be no more than 30% of your total energy intake.

So, I know that it all seems a bit over the top, but implement them slowly, and surely. With diligence and patience, weight loss will not seem so much of a battle. When you combine these fat burning food techniques with exercise (the other side of the weight loss battle), success will be attainable for most people.3

References:

1. Marie-Pierre St-Onge Dietary fats, teas, dairy, and nuts: potential functional foods for weight control? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81 No. 1, 7 - 15 January 2005.

2. McCrory MA, Fuss PJ, Saltzman E, Roberts SB. Dietary Determinants of Energy Intake and Weight Regulation in Healthy Adults J Nutr 2000;130;276S-279S.

3. Note: Discuss any changes to your diet and weight loss techniques with your doctor or dietician. This article is for educational purposes only, and should not replace an individual consultation with a weight loss professional such as your doctor or dietician.

Copyright @ 2005 Jenny Mathers All Rights Reserved.

Authors Bio: Read the full list of fat burning food healthy eating tips at Savvy Fat Burning Food

Webmasters If you use this content, a live link to http://www.savvy-fat-burning-food.com is compulsory. I do check for those who use our articles without links to Savvy Fat Burning Foods, so be honest - otherwise you will be in violation of copyright law and terms of use of this article. For more information, click here.

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I thought not, but these are the things we are most likely to see on T.V. The new reality show craze is even causing society to take a passive and some times condoning look at sin, while making big bucks in the process.

Proverbs 12:14 - There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Let’s take a quick look at what sin really is. It is disobedience to any of the ten commandments of God, it is evil or conspiring thoughts, and it is an offense against someone else. Sin is what separates us from God. This is something sinners and people who condone sin never truly understand.

Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

God is more likely to listen to the people who obey His commandments and keep his word than to people who make excuses to sin, or condone others who sin. He is also more likely to hear the complaints of the poor and the oppressed than to the rich and famous.

Revelation 3:17 - Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

People who make a lot of money and become famous in life tend to want or expect to be praised for their accomplishments and soon get caught up in self worth with the rest of society. They don’t seem to comprehend the fact that God is the owner and supplier of everything each and everyone of us has or gets. Instead of glorifying and acknowledging God most people tend to want to pat themselves on the back when receiving the praises of others.

Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

In the particular verse above mammon means a personification of wealth and avarice as an evil spirit, which means there is a certain obsession you can have with money that will make it your God.

What’s more when we get money and fame it becomes easy for us to distract ourselves from the really important things like serving God and helping the needy. Instead, we tend to indulge ourselves in sexual pleasures or expensive purchases, and even more than usual because it seems like the quick and easy way to get our minds off of our troubles whenever they arise.

Every one of us can see that some of the most rich and famous people in the world are also the most confused workers of iniquity. We can also tell that these are the people that most of us and our kids may tend to idolize because we think they “got it made” by being so rich and famous. Particularly, entertainers like actors, rappers, singers and sports stars who we always see on T.V.

But in reality they are lost souls covering their troubles with indulgences. It’s not wise to want to be like them and we shouldn’t condone our kids wanting to be like them either.

I’m not saying its a bad thing to be rich I’m just saying that money should be the furthest thing from our minds if we really call ourselves wanting to be happy.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The point is simply this, if you go out of your way to serve and please God (especially threw hard times) He will bless you exceedingly and abundantly above and beyond all that you could ever ask for or even think about.

And this is not limited to just money, but also love, health and success just to name a few.

David Hopkins is a “Christian Article Writer” who specializes in helping people remember to glorify God in everything that they do, so they don’t miss out on any of His wonderful blessings.

Visit Daily Word Of God Group to read additional articles and to sign-up for a free newsletter to learn everything you need to know about why you should be putting God #1 in your life.

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