Most Memorable TV Moms and Daughters

Quick-Meal Tips

 A Mom's Day Off:  for Dads and Kids

Don't cook? Don't worry! You can still whip up a mom-worthy meal

If you're a mom who normally cooks for your family, there is one thing I'm pretty sure you DON'T want to do on Mother's Day -- and that's cook! (If you're married to such a mom, take heed.)

Even if mom's loved ones aren't exactly seasoned chefs, they can give her the day off from cooking by using products found in any supermarket. This isn't so much "cooking" as "assembling" the meal.

Still, we're not talking about junk food. All of the dishes described below can be part of a healthy diet and we've emphasized trimming extra calories and fat grams and adding higher-fiber, higher-nutrient foods wherever possible.

So, Mom, print this article out and leave it where Dad and the kids can find it. Hint shamelessly. Then, prepare to be pampered!

Baby Steps To Surviving the Winter Holidays

Depression Meds --They shouldn't zonk you or make you feel numb

If an antidepressant is working well, you feel the way you want to feel, but couldn't.  The goal of an antidepressant is to make your own brain chemistry work closer to normal, by using your own neurotransmitters more effectively.

Many people dislike taking medication, and especially people who are depressed think of themselves as failures if they take medication for a mood disorder. But this feeling is often part of the disease.

Two common questions most people ask, "Are anti-depressants addicting?" and "Are they dangerous?"

Anti-depressants are not addicting (and hence are not a street drug). Most are slow acting, needing to be taken every day, and become effective in about 3 weeks. Many people have heard horror stories about Prozac, most of which are more rumor than truth. There are extremely few people who get symptoms such as reported in the media with Prozac, such as increased anger and agitation.

 The medical profession is also learning better which type of anti-depressants are best suited for which type of depression. As with any medication, there can be some side-effects. Most side effects are annoying, such as stomach distress or dry mouth. A few are serious, so your physician will want to monitor you carefully. And don’t give up, since if one anti-depressant does not work, there are several others to try that work differently. The good news is that there are many more choices of medication, with fewer risks and side effects than ever before.

Anti-depressants help you by changing the way the brain chemistry works. Being depressed is somewhat like having a car battery that will not keep a charge. The body’s electrical system is not working properly, and is sluggish. Anti-depressants improve the way that neurotransmitters work in the brain. Neurotransmitters are responsible for an adequate functioning of our brain chemistry and a sense of well-being. Antidepressants help "raise the thermostat" on moods, so the point at which moods fluctuate is raised to a more comfortable level.

How Can I Handle My Grief During the Holidays?

It's easy to feel isolated during the holiday season when you've lost a loved one. Everyone else seems so happy when you feel so sad.

"It's a tough situation for people" says Dale G. Larson, professor of counseling psychology at Santa Clara University in California. "The key is to acknowledge that you have changed and that the holidays aren't going to be the same. It's important to know that from the outset."

David Kessler, a Los Angeles-based expert on grief and loss who maintains a Web site called grief.com and has collaborated with the late Elisabeth Kubler-Ross on books about death and dying, explains that "Grief is the internal feelings we have, while mourning is an external process. One of the ways we help work through our grief is to externalize it."

The Holidays Are About More Than Just Feasting

 

How to Simplify the Holidays With a Holiday Planner

 

 

 

The holiday season brings forth great memories of holiday seasons past. Each year we want to recreate those holiday memories, and make our holiday season a memorable one. In the process, we can sometimes get overwhelmed and lose focus of the true purpose of the holiday season. In order to keep focus of the holiday season and avoid feeling overwhelmed, consider making a checklist to keep track of your dreams and goals for this holiday season. This checklist will help you to keep your holiday focus without losing yours.

An alternative approach to mental health care is one that emphasizes the interrelationship between mind, body, and spirit. Although some alternative approaches have a long history, many remain controversial. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health was created in 1992 to help evaluate alternative methods of treatment and to integrate those that are effective into mainstream health care practice. It is crucial, however, to consult with your health care providers about the approaches you are using to achieve mental wellness.

Self-help

Many people with mental illnesses find that self-help groups are an invaluable resource for recovery and for empowerment. Self-help generally refers to groups or meetings that:

• Involve people who have similar needs
• Are facilitated by a consumer, survivor, or other layperson;
• Assist people to deal with a "life-disrupting" event, such as a death, abuse, serious accident, addiction, or diagnosis of a physical, emotional, or mental disability, for oneself or a relative;
• Are operated on an informal, free-of-charge, and nonprofit basis;
• Provide support and education; and
• Are voluntary, anonymous, and confidential.