Anxiety Disorders Are Real

Anxiety Disorders Are Real

We’ve all felt anxious at one point or another; it’s a perfectly normal response to stress.  Feeling fear and anxiety actually helps us to cope and accurately respond to stressful situations.  However, people with anxiety disorders feel stress even if there is no trigger there to set it off.  This can cause problems with their mental health, personal relationships, jobs, and physical health.

Not all anxiety disorders are the same; there are actually several different classes.  Plus, just because someone has one disorder doesn’t mean they can’t have another, or at least have some overlapping symptoms.   Here’s a basic overview of the broad types of anxiety disorders.  

Generalized anxiety disorder - While its normal for people to worry occasionally about things when there are lots of stressors, people with generalized anxiety disorder tend to never stop worrying.  They may be worried about finances even if they’re not tight, or constantly expecting bad things to happen even when they don’t.  This constant stress can also lead to physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, trembling, twitching, hot flashes, sweating, and difficulty swallowing.  

Panic disorder - Unlike generalized anxiety disorder, people with panic disorder don’t have anxiety all the time.  Anxiety attacks hit suddenly and without warning or cause.  A anxiety or panic attack is characterized by tight, pounding chest, terror, difficulty breathings, dizziness, shaking, nausea, numbness is extremities, chills or hot flashes, and a fear of losing control.

Social anxiety disorder - This is also known as social phobia and is an extreme fear of social interaction.  People with this disorder are constantly worried about people judging them or about being embarrassed in front of people.  For some people, the disorder is so severe they don’t participate in normal socializing activities and some are even mute in certain situations.  

Post traumatic stress disorder - This diagnosis has become much more prevalent in the past few years.  Often, people become ridden with anxiety after a traumatic event and constantly worry about similar situations happening again.  For more severe cases, the person can be left unable to live their normal life again.  While stressful events trigger the symptoms, not everyone in a similar situation will develop PTSD. 

Obsessive compulsive disorder - This is an anxiety disorder that includes persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions).  Someone may obsess over germs and then compulsively clean and sanitize.  Compulsive behavior often includes rituals that must be done before a person can go on with their daily lives and activities.  

The problem with some anxiety disorders is that many people don’t even realize they have them.  If they’ve had the problem their whole life, it’s something they simply see as a normal part of life.  Others will likely just see them as overprotective or simply a worry wart and just write it off.  While it may just seem like an inconvenience, it can build into a real problem.  

The good news is that these disorders are treatable.  There are many new medications and therapies that can help you live a normal, healthy life.  

Raw Milk and Pregnancy

Here are the reasons why pregnant women should not ingest raw milk.

Raw milk that is not “clean” or does not go through the pasteurization process contains harmful bacteria such as listeria, salmonella, and E. coli. It is estimated that pregnant women are more likely to develop listeriosis than healthier adults. This can be extremely harmful not only to the pregnant woman but the fetus as well.

For example, there is a domino effect which can cause a myriad of problems. According to doctors, there are hormonal changes in a pregnant woman which can affect the course of treatment. While medication may cure the illness, it may affect the unborn fetus. How? It can cause miscarriages, illness, and even death. Even if the newborn survives, the immune system in an infant is not fully developed and their illness can become even more pronounced which would require appropriate medications to treat the newborn. This is the domino effect.

While it is true that raw milk that is clean and acquired from a farmer whose practices are beyond repute can be utilized, there is always the possibility that the bacteria can cause severe illness in a pregnant woman, which in turn can affect the fetus. Although it is also true that the “good” bacterium in raw milk plays an important role in preventing diseases among children, it can have an opposite effect in women who are pregnant.

In addition, any foods that are made from raw milk, such as cheeses, can also be harmful to pregnant women. Some of the symptoms associated with drinking or eating foods derived from raw milk can include vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and body aches.

There are a number of online blogs wherein women state they have been drinking raw milk during and after pregnancy. Some even swear by its benefits. They have not developed any illness from it and their babies are born healthy. In fact, some women state that raw milk is part of their family’s diet.

While the controversy surrounding the question of drinking raw milk during pregnancy will no doubt continue, since the data suggests that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing illness, one has to conclude that pregnant women should not drink raw milk.

Ugotinfo Timely Tips: Sleep Walking Tips

Sleep Walking Tips

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Sleepwalking is often parodied on television and in the movies, but when it happens in our own homes it can be rather scary. Estimates vary, but some say that as many as 17% of children and 10% of adults sleepwalk. So if it is happening to you or someone you love, you're certainly not alone.

Someone who gets up in the middle of the night and walks around in a dazed manner is probably sleepwalking. But that's not all that happens. Some sleepwalkers don't walk at all, but they sit up in bed and talk. Others get up and eat, feed pets, or go for a stroll outside.

In and of itself, sleepwalking is not a dangerous condition. It usually requires no treatment unless it is happening regularly. The most important concern is keeping the sleepwalker safe. Here are some of the do's and don'ts of dealing with a sleepwalker.

Do's

* Keep the windows and doors shut and locked. If you find that the sleepwalker is trying to open them, consider putting child locks on them. Even if you have an adult sleepwalker, he will probably be incapable of figuring them out while asleep.

* Put up safety gates. This is especially important at staircases. You could also block off a small area so that the sleepwalker can't go outside of it. But if the sleepwalker is a child, it's a good idea to provide access to the bathroom and your bedroom.

* Let the sleepwalker sleep on the ground floor if possible. This will make it even less likely that he will fall down the stairs or go out a high window.

* Get rid of clutter on the floor. Sleepwalkers are prone to tripping and falling, so it is important to eliminate items that present a danger as much as possible.

* Keep sharp, breakable, and otherwise dangerous items in a safe place. Lock them up in a cabinet, or put them far out of reach.

Don'ts

* Never let a sleepwalker sleep on the top bunk. He could attempt to step out of bed and fall to the floor, possibly resulting in severe injuries.

* Don't wake someone who is sleepwalking. This could frighten him terribly. Instead, talk to him in a soothing voice and lead him back to bed.

* Don't let the sleepwalker drink a lot of liquids in the evening. In some cases, a full bladder can be a contributing factor in sleepwalking episodes. Caffeine should also be avoided in the evening, because it can cause sleep disturbances, which may exacerbate the problem.

Sleepwalking isn't cause for alarm as long as the sleepwalker doesn't harm himself or others. If he does, or if sleepwalking occurs more than a couple of times a month, it might be time to get a doctor involved. But in most cases, simply maintaining a safe environment is preferable to medical treatment.

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Is There A Driving Difference Between Men And Women?

Men have historically made joking degrading remarks about women drivers.
For years there has been an ongoing debate: who are the better drivers, men or women? While everyone has their own opinions and experiences, statistics show that men are significantly more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident. But why is this, and does is really mean that women are better at driving?

There are several factors that affect this difference in accident and death rates between the two sexes:

More miles. One of the biggest factors in men having more accidents is simple - they drive more. More miles means men are more likely to have an accident, no matter how well they drive. In fact, the number of women that die in motor vehicle accidents has been steadily rising as more women obtain licenses and drive more miles. However, more men than women still die in accidents even if you account for total miles driven.

Reckless behavior. Men, especially younger men, are more likely to participate in reckless driving behavior, such as speeding and driving while intoxicated. This greatly increases the chances of an accident, especially a fatal one. This is usually attributed to the fact that young men feel that they are invincible, and that the statistics just don’t apply to them.

Seat belts. Women are more likely than men to wear their seatbelt. Even if they had the same number of accidents, this would still mean that more men die in accidents, given seat belts have been proven to save lives.

It’s not just the number of accidents that are different between men and women; they also have different types of accidents. Women are generally involved in minor accidents that take place in traffic, particularly at intersections. Men are more likely to be involved in one-car accidents that are not in traffic.

The explanation for this is that while women may make silly mistakes, like missing a red light, men are more likely to crash because they are speeding, driving recklessly, or driving under the influence. This type of accident is more likely to be fatal. While the number or total accidents is becoming more equal for men and women, there are still more male fatalities.

For older people, there are fewer differences between men and women drivers, but this doesn’t apply for younger men and women. While young women exhibit driving behavior similar to older people, young men participate in more reckless behavior. That is why insurance rates for adult males and females are often the same, while insurance rates for males under twenty-five are much higher than rates for females of the same age.

While gender can be a good indicator of driving habits, the person matters more. There are many teen boys who are perfectly safe drivers, and many older women who have frequent accidents and display very risky driving behavior.

Time Saving Tips for Moms

Time is a precious commodity and those who learn to use theirs wisely will always be ahead of the game. First the bad news, the one thing you can’t do is add more hours to your day. No matter what, it’s just not going to happen. The good news, you can do certain things to make every precious minute count and in turn leave you with more free time.

Plan ahead – Don’t go anywhere without a list. Especially if you have the kids with you, you’re more likely to forget something without a list. So, don’t go on your errand run or shopping trip without a list. Also try to go shopping in the evenings when there are less people in the store. Why waste an hour fighting the crowds when you can be done in 30 minutes. Better yet, do your shopping online.

Meal Plan – Plan meals for the upcoming week and write your shopping list according to the meals. Make sure you stick the meal plan on the fridge so you can know what foods need to be thawed daily, etc. This will save you a lot of time and money.

Buy in Bulk – If you have the space plan ahead and buy things in bulk. You’ll save money and precious time by not having to go to the supermarket so often.

Pay Your Bills Electronically – If you can do this then you should. You will save a lot of time by not having to write out and mail checks. If you really can’t or choose not to do this, then set up a work station and keep your checkbook, stamp, envelopes, pens close at hand. You can also have a calendar with all your important dates and appointments written on there. Go a step further and have an inbox for mail and papers that need to be files. You’ll never waste time looking for these things again.

Don’t Let The Housework Pile Up – There’s nothing worst than spending your weekends cleaning. If you do a little bit each day you won’t ever need to spend a whole day cleaning. For example, do a load of laundry daily rather than letting it all pile up for Saturday, same thing with the vacuuming and other tasks. Once the weekend comes around the house should be fairly organized. You may just have to give the bathroom and kitchen a good clean, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy your family.

Organize Your Life – Spend a little time organizing your house, the time spent doing this will save you a lot of time and hassle in return. Have a set place for everything. For example, have a place near the front door where you can hang your keys and purse. Don’t forget items like umbrellas, hats, gloves and scarves for those rainy or cold days. Set up storage for the kids toys or all magazines and books.

Dad and Baby Bonding Time – An Important Ritual

A lot of first-time dads feel a little awkward when it comes to spending time with their new baby. Often times, dad seems to get pushed a little to the side while mom and baby take center stage. It’s hard for a dad to know what to do in this situation and sometimes it may seem he’s not too interested in the new baby but may just be experiencing a case of anxiety or not know what to do.




You can help build up your partner’s confidence by slowly allowing him to do more things for the baby or simply let dad and baby spend quality uninterrupted time together. And unless your baby is in harm try not to interfere when your husband does something a little differently than you may. This will chip at his confidence as a new father.

Here are a few activities Daddy and Baby can share together:

Bath Time – Let your husband bathe the baby. This is a great time for dad and baby to bond and will give you some much needed rest too.

Feeding – If you’re nursing this will be a little difficult especially if you don’t want baby to have a bottle. If you don’t mind you can always try extracting one bottle a day and letting dad do the evening feed or as soon as baby is ready for solids let dad get involved then. If you’re bottle feeding take turns during the night time feeds.

Diaper Changing – You probably won’t mind if your partner helps with this one. It’s also a great way for dad to gain confidence in caring and looking after baby.

Sofa Time – Have you noticed dads love to lounge on their sofas with their kids. Give your husband some time to watch the game or listen to music while laying with baby on the sofa. This can make for great bonding time and will give you some free time for a quick nap or bath.


Going for Walks – Some new moms may feel a little nervous when their husbands go out alone with baby, but you should trust that your partner will care for your child just as well as you would. Taking baby for a walk will give him added confidence in his parenting skills. He’ll be out on his own and ultimately responsible for all of baby’s needs.

Just about anytime when your husband and baby can get some free time together will help build and establish the very important dad and baby bond. Try to encourage your partner and praise his parenting skills. Newborns don’t come with instruction manuals and it’s normal to make little mistakes here and there, so don’t let your partner become discouraged if he does make a mistake.

Above all, be happy that your husband and baby are spending quality time together. This will also give you a well deserved break.