Thursday, November 29, 2007
2 Weeks Left!
How did it get to be the end of November with only two weeks remaining of this fieldwork? The old cliche definitely applies, "Time flies while you're having fun." I really have had a good time working in pediatrics. The children make me laugh and smile everyday, as well as the staff. No one takes themselves too seriously and why would we- we get to play all day!?! But of course you can't have all play and no work. We spend time writing daily notes, evaluations, and goals. This past week I spent hours researching spatial awareness for a presentation. Did you know that spatial reasoning occurs in the right superior temporal area of the brain? Well, you know.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
treating the whole person... body and mind
Chris is an 8 year old boy, diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 4. He's been medicated since the day of his diagnosis. Serious psychiatric meds on a developing brain, I'm no doctor... but this sounds a little dangerous. I'm not the only one with doubts; there's quite a bit of controversy surrounding the use of this label and treatment with preadolescent children. Experts now agree that bipolar can occur in children, but disagree about the defining symptoms and at what age they can appear.
The danger became evident last December as a young girl from Hull, MA died from an apparent overdose of Clonidine, a blood pressure med used to sedate hyperactive children. She was also taking Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, and Depakote, an anti-seizure med that helps regulate mood. Chris has been on all the same medications, but over the last year his parents have been exploring other options. Homeopathy has been successful in reducing the dosages required to control Chris's symptoms; they're progressively moving him off his meds.
Hypnotherapy has proved helpful in the past. Since the time he could make his needs known, Chris would only wear camouflage. When he was five someone recommended that he see a hypnotherapist. His mom laughed at the idea, but was willing to try anything... and it worked. During the session he began talking about his past life, being a solider in a war and dying in the battle. His mother couldn't believe it, but when it was done he no longer needed to wear camouflage.
So maybe there's more to treating people than diagnosing and medicating them. Modern medicine has brought many advances, but it's certainly not the end all be all. And with 36% of the US adult population using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), again, I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
About an hour ago I experienced a form of CAM for myself. CranioSacral Therapy (CST)is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using her hands, an OT here at my FW, released the "energy cyst" in my abdomen. I felt a deep pulsing there and then waves of heat rushing from my core down my legs. Weird, yes. Do I love it, yes. That's why in December I'll be attending a 4 day workshop on CranioSacral Therapy. More on all this then!
The danger became evident last December as a young girl from Hull, MA died from an apparent overdose of Clonidine, a blood pressure med used to sedate hyperactive children. She was also taking Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, and Depakote, an anti-seizure med that helps regulate mood. Chris has been on all the same medications, but over the last year his parents have been exploring other options. Homeopathy has been successful in reducing the dosages required to control Chris's symptoms; they're progressively moving him off his meds.
Hypnotherapy has proved helpful in the past. Since the time he could make his needs known, Chris would only wear camouflage. When he was five someone recommended that he see a hypnotherapist. His mom laughed at the idea, but was willing to try anything... and it worked. During the session he began talking about his past life, being a solider in a war and dying in the battle. His mother couldn't believe it, but when it was done he no longer needed to wear camouflage.
So maybe there's more to treating people than diagnosing and medicating them. Modern medicine has brought many advances, but it's certainly not the end all be all. And with 36% of the US adult population using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), again, I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
About an hour ago I experienced a form of CAM for myself. CranioSacral Therapy (CST)is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using her hands, an OT here at my FW, released the "energy cyst" in my abdomen. I felt a deep pulsing there and then waves of heat rushing from my core down my legs. Weird, yes. Do I love it, yes. That's why in December I'll be attending a 4 day workshop on CranioSacral Therapy. More on all this then!
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