Your Child’s Perception of Danger: Information Overload Is Its Own Threat

Danger has threatened our lives since the dawn of time. Nature has given all creatures mechanisms to ward off and fight danger and keep safe. The key is to have an accurate perception of a threat and an appropriate response to it. However, in today’s hyper-connected, “always on” environment, some of our mechanisms can backfire – for us and our children.

All of us face two types of threats: external and internal. External threats originate in the outside environment. We face such threats each day simply by getting out of bed. The possibilities of a deadly tornado or terrorist attack like the Boston bombings are examples of external threats. So, too, are threats of layoffs in an economic downturn and the chance that a drunk driver will run over an innocent pedestrian. Internal threats originate inside the body or the mind, taking the form of physical diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease or psychological problems such as insecurity, addictions and phobias.

The media focus heavily on external threats. In the days when the newspaper was the only media source in the household, it was customary for adults to read the newspaper first and then pass along any relevant information to their children. I remember making paper planes and boats with hand-me-down newspapers when I was growing up. I rarely looked at the newspaper for its media value. One might argue that the presence of danger was the same then as it is now, with the only difference being that as a child I was protected by my parents from the unnecessary knowledge of it.

However, with 24-hour news channels on television, and the digital explosion represented by the Internet, instant messaging, Twitter and Facebook, the world can appear to be a small and frightening place – especially to children. Children in today’s world are bombarded with information about danger, whether close to them or far away. Their awareness of the existence of various external threats has multiplied exponentially from the time I was a child. This phenomenon has resulted in a sense that there is more danger in the world than actually exists.

Information viewed or read repeatedly is like a two-headed dragon. It can be a source of anxiety for children and also make them emotionally numb and interfere with their capacity to grasp and sense whether they are really in danger or not. Both of these outcomes are very real dangers themselves. Are our internal threats now worse than our external ones?

So what’s a parent to do? Given this tricky landscape, it is up to us as parents to help our children navigate this potentially treacherous path: teach them to properly recognize the true dangers that exist without burdening them with undue fear and anxiety.

Here are some practical tips:

·         Filter  the news based on your children’s ages:

o   Children up to the age of ten should not watch the news alone and any viewing should be limited. Parents should either avoid potentially distressing news entirely if a child is unlikely to hear about it otherwise or discuss important events in age-appropriate language.

o   Tweens and younger teens can watch appropriate news topics, with parents monitoring television and internet usage when possible.

·         The repeated viewing of graphic news can cause psychological trauma. Parents should decipher the threats received from these information sources and put them in proper perspective so that children understand them.

·         Choose your words carefully and try not to distort the truth.

·         Children should understand that just because something bad happened to others far away, they are not in any imminent danger.

·         Tell your children they can talk to you openly if something they hear bothers them. It’s important that they feel free to discuss their concerns and feelings with you.

·         Provide children with age-appropriate skills to navigate actual threats or emergencies they may encounter. These skills will vary by age and location but provide three important benefits: they help kids focus on actual threats (rather than imaginary or unlikely ones), give them the means to respond appropriately should these dangers arise, and provide them with a sense of agency in a potentially scary world.

As parents, we must all do our best to make our children feel secure. It’s a tough challenge in an increasingly information-laden world, but it can be done honestly and directly.  With guidance, over time your children will develop the capacity to better differentiate between real threats and those that are imagined or exaggerated.

Preetham Grandhi MD

Danger has threatened our lives since the dawn of time. Nature has given all creatures mechanisms to ward off and fight danger and keep safe. The key is to have an accurate perception of a threat and an appropriate response to it. However, in today’s hyper-connected, “always on” environment, some of our mechanisms can backfire – for us and our children.
All of us face two types of threats: external and internal. External threats originate in the outside environment. We face such threats each day simply by getting out of bed. The possibilities of a deadly tornado or terrorist attack like the Boston bombings are examples of external threats. So, too, are threats of layoffs in an economic downturn and the chance that a drunk driver will run over an innocent pedestrian. Internal threats originate inside the body or the mind, taking the form of physical diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease or psychological problems such as insecurity, addictions and phobias. 
The media focus heavily on external threats. In the days when the newspaper was the only media source in the household, it was customary for adults to read the newspaper first and then pass along any relevant information to their children. I remember making paper planes and boats with hand-me-down newspapers when I was growing up. I rarely looked at the newspaper for its media value. One might argue that the presence of danger was the same then as it is now, with the only difference being that as a child I was protected by my parents from the unnecessary knowledge of it. 
However, with 24-hour news channels on television, and the digital explosion represented by the Internet, instant messaging, Twitter and Facebook, the world can appear to be a small and frightening place – especially to children. Children in today’s world are bombarded with information about danger, whether close to them or far away. Their awareness of the existence of various external threats has multiplied exponentially from the time I was a child. This phenomenon has resulted in a sense that there is more danger in the world than actually exists.
Information viewed or read repeatedly is like a two-headed dragon. It can be a source of anxiety for children and also make them emotionally numb and interfere with their capacity to grasp and sense whether they are really in danger or not. Both of these outcomes are very real dangers themselves. Are our internal threats now worse than our external ones? 
So what’s a parent to do? Given this tricky landscape, it is up to us as parents to help our children navigate this potentially treacherous path: teach them to properly recognize the true dangers that exist without burdening them with undue fear and anxiety. 
Here are some practical tips:

• Filter  the news based on your children’s ages:
  • Children up to the age of ten should not watch the news alone and any viewing should be limited. Parents should either avoid potentially distressing news entirely if a child is unlikely to hear about it otherwise or discuss important events in age-appropriate language.
  • Tweens and younger teens can watch appropriate news topics, with parents monitoring television and internet usage when possible.
  • The repeated viewing of graphic news can cause psychological trauma. Parents should decipher the threats received from these information sources and put them in proper perspective so that children understand them. 

• Choose your words carefully and try not to distort the truth. 

• Children should understand that just because something bad happened to others far away, they are not in any imminent danger. 

• Tell your children they can talk to you openly if something they hear bothers them. It’s important that they feel free to discuss their concerns and feelings with you. 

• Provide children with age-appropriate skills to navigate actual threats or emergencies they may encounter. These skills will vary by age and location but provide three important benefits: they help kids focus on actual threats (rather than imaginary or unlikely ones), give them the means to respond appropriately should these dangers arise, and provide them with a sense of agency in a potentially scary world.

As parents, we must all do our best to make our children feel secure. It’s a tough challenge in an increasingly information-laden world, but it can be done honestly and directly.  With guidance, over time your children will develop the capacity to better differentiate between real threats and those that are imagined or exaggerated.
- See more at: http://blogs.einstein.yu.edu/your-childs-perception-of-danger-information-overload-is-its-own-threat/#sthash.c0Xn2QNQ.dpuf

Detox your mind - not your brain. How to take charge of your Oxycontin Addiction.

 

> Twelve million Americans are addicted to prescription drugs.

>Every day, 40 Americans die from prescription painkillers.

>Overdoses of opioid prescription drugs now kill more people in the U.S. than do overdoses from heroin and cocaine combined.

>Over 750,000 people are treated for pain reliever abuse.

 A 43 year old male sought my help in terminating his Oxycontin Addiction. He was taking 6-8 tablets, illicitly purchased, a day for 2 years and lost his grip on life.  Before his Oxycontin Addiction, he was a successful self-employed businessman and family man who never engaged in unhealthy habits or addictive behaviors. A couple of years ago he had an ankle fracture and his doctor prescribed Oxycontin for the pain. He took it for months and was hooked. He was never weaned off the medication nor could he discontinue himself.  

Unfortunately, many prescribing doctors either neglect or disregard the potent addictive nature of Oxycontin and other opioid narcotic analgesics and their long-term effects. As an anesthesiologist and pain specialist, I believe opioids should be prescribed for about one to two weeks, and if necessary followed by less potent non-addictive analgesics or NSAID’s such as ibuprofen. I flat out tell my patients that if they take opioids for more than two weeks - be prepared to be addicted.    

Oxycontin Addiction is an opioid addiction. And like all addictions it is a problem of the mind not the brain. Thus, the mind not the body is locked into the addiction.

Detoxing the brain with chemical agents such as methadone only solves the physical withdrawals which are short-lived. However, these chemical agents do not erase the euphoric effects of Oxycontin Addiction which is registered in the mind and that leads to cravings and urges. These cravings and urges keep the Oxycontin addict hooked. Detoxing the mind from this memory is crucial to break the relationship between Oxycontin and the addict.

I told my patient that to detox his mind he will have to accept the responsibility of his addiction and the willingness to sacrifice the pleasure or the thrill to secure a bright future and good health. Only this step can neutralize his cravings. Detoxing the mind is the turning point in his struggle to clean up his act and to permanently disengage from the addiction. Based on this philosophy, I gave him two turning point treatments to overcome his cravings for the drug which helped set him free from his addiction.

By

Balasa Prasad M.D.

Give the gift of Peace of Mind: With 3 simple questions

The holiday season is here, a time of giving, helping, sharing and getting together with family and friends. Yet, why are so many people stressed out during this time of year. Perhaps we are feeling overwhelmed with holiday preparations, the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy or the impending fiscal cliff. If any of your loved ones are stressed you can give them the priceless gift of Peace of Mind. Dr. Balasa Prasad & Dr. Preetham Grandhi say this can be done by addressing the following three questions. 

1. Why are you stressed out?

Stress is a by-product of a conflict between your emotions and the actual circumstances that you face. The stronger the conflict, the deeper the stress levels.

2. What can you do about it?

There are only two options to resolve the above mentioned conflict and neutralize stress. First, you change the situation or circumstances to your liking. However, this is easier said than done. If this is not possible, the second option is to adjust your outlook and attitude to work with the circumstances you are facing. There is no third option. Most people prefer the first option but it can be difficult to implement. The second option is relatively easy to implement but may not be to your liking.

3. How do you go about it?

Emotions resist change. Therefore you must switch your emotions with your instincts – the forgotten knight in shining armor, which operates in your best interest. Once you switch your emotional driven mindset to an instinctually driven mindset, you will be able to analyze any predicament and devise a realistic implementable solution. If all else fails your instincts will help your emotions to make the necessary adjustments to deal with the situation or circumstances. Thereby you will enjoy peace of mind.

By Balasa Prasad M.D& Preetham Grandhi M.D