Queenie Reason: April 2017

Red Flags for Parents

My job has taken me across Jamaica and facilitates my meeting different parents from different walks of life. I actually interact with children as well as their parents. It is sometimes disheartening to know that parents are not aware that some behaviours that their children display are not normal and they need to get the necessary help for them.

As a parent I do know the desire to have the perfect child and as such refuse to accept certain behaviours that do not appear normal. I have had the experience where the other parent is blamed for the child’s actions.

Here I will list some behaviours that should raise the question if it is normal or abnormal behaviour and requires attention:

If your child tells you that he/she is hearing voices and no-one is visibly around, this is a red flag for help.
If your child is constantly defiant, does not respect authority, deliberately annoys others,
Is your child constantly inattentive, you have to constantly refocus him/her, is constantly fidgety, jumping, climbing, does not stay still or talks out of turn; it is a cause for concern.
If your child is performing at least two levels below his/her age or grade, it’s a cause for concern
If your child is cruel to animals and deliberately kills one, it’s a cause for concern.

These are just a few of the common concerns that I have observed.

On another point though, if your child was generally quiet and then becomes aggressive or used to be extroverted and suddenly becomes quiet, it will be a cause for concern. There is need to investigate the sudden change in behaviour.

It is better to be safe than sorry. It is easier to inform your doctor about your observations and get answers than to ignore until it is too late. I have seen the tears of denial or disappointment, I know that it’s hard to think that there is something wrong with your child but I implore you parents to be aware of your child’s behaviour/actions. If you have a feeling about something then don’t let it go. Ask the right persons, preferably your doctor if there are actions that seem more than the norm.

I know that prayer works but also bear in mind that God gave doctors their gift, so trust them and work with them. If it means getting a second opinion, then by all means do so but bear in mind if you still get the same feedback then get out of denial and seek to close the gap by getting the necessary intervention for your child.

In closing, I also suggest, being aware of your child’s personality, the good and the indifferent. Also take note if they are close to you and you find yourself having to repeat yourself to them. No, they are not stubborn, it might be their hearing for starters. Also, if they sit close to the television or squints the eyes to read or hold their book close to their face to read, that is also cause for concern.

This is not cause for alarm but moreso being aware of situations that can cause concern.

Over to you.

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Easter is here, a time of reflection for me. Looking back I remember as a child going to Good Friday service from nine in the morning to midday. After service it was bun and cheese as no stove was lit until after three o clock. There were some churches that had service at twelve noon until three o'clock in the afternoon.

As I grew older and left the United Church for the Baptist Church Easter was a little different. There was baptism on Good Friday and we sang hymns like The Old Rugged Cross. I love that hymn. We also read the last seven words of Jesus. This was a ritual every year, then on Easter Sunday we sang a hymn with the words, “Up from the Grave He Arose,”. I loved that hymn too.

Lately, we don’t sing these hymns anymore and look at the aspect of the crucifixion from different perspectives. Although I miss those hymns, I like the current direction of the service as it helps me to broaden my perspective on the crucifixion of Christ.

As an adult, I still have bun and cheese on Good Friday and cook after three o’ clock. I also have fish and bammy for dinner.

Looking back I remember hearing stories from friends or on the radio on different rituals that people perform on Good Friday. It is claimed that there is a particular tree that when cut, actually bleeds. I have never seen it, so I don’t know, but I think it’s sap. There is also stories of placing an egg white in water before the sun was up and later when checked, their future would be predicted based on the shape of the egg. A friend of mine told me that his brother had seen an airplane. It turns out that his brother eventually migrated.

There are other rituals that I have heard about but won’t mention, as said, I have never witnessed any of these practices.

One thing I can say though i that there was a time when church was so full on Good Friday that if one was not early, you would not get a seat. Things have changed, some people don’t consider it that important anymore so nowadays, only actual members turn up at church.

I still love Easter as it is a time of reflection for me to reflect on the purpose for which Christ came and I celebrate that.

And yes! I still have bun and cheese.

My Books on Life, Health and Love:

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Is there a cure for autism? I am not sure. I know of a few persons on the spectrum but I do not know what their diet is like or if they have a particular diet. I have seen articles that there are natural cures for autism. I am not sure if it works but it is worth a try. What do you think?

Below is an article from Dr. Axe that I will share.

Top Foods For Autism

Additive-free, unprocessed foods – Food additives may be problematic for ADHD, it is best to eat unprocessed whole foods prepared at home.

Bone broth – Bone broth (made from scratch) provides important amino acids and minerals that can help heal leaky gut and improve mineral deficiencies.

Poultry – Tryptophan, an amino acid, helps produce serotonin a calming neurotransmitter.

Foods high in probiotics – Try to add fermented foods such as kefir, amasai, sauerkraut or kimchi. These fermented foods contain probiotics essential in helping repair a leaky gut.

Fish – A diet high in omega-3s is critical for brain health, try to eat wild-caught fish at least 2x per week.

Autism Foods to Avoid

Gluten – Some report worsening symptoms after eating gluten which may indicate sensitivity. Avoid all foods made with wheat such as bread, pasta, and wheat cereal.

Cows Dairy – The protein in cows dairy, called A1 casein, can trigger a similar reaction as gluten and therefore should be avoided. For calcium, increase green leafy vegetables or try goat’s milk kefir.

Sugar – Sugar can cause fluctuation in blood sugar leading to behavioral problems. Avoid any forms of concentrated sugar including candy, desserts, soda, or fruit juices.

Food coloring and dyes – Children with autism can be sensitive to a variety of food dyes and colorings, therefore all processed foods should be avoided.

Soy – Soy is a common food allergy and contains phytic acid which can irritate the intestines causing leaky gut.

Top 5 Autism Natural Remedies

#1 Fish Oil (1,000mg daily)

The EPA/DHA in fish oil is critical for brain function and is anti-inflammatory. Supplementation has been shown to reduce symptoms of autism and improve learning.

#2 Digestive enzymes (1-2 capsules with each meal)

Since children with autism tend to have digestive problems and may also have leaky gut, digestive enzymes can help with absorption of vitamins and minerals.

#3 Vitamin D3 (2000-5000 IU)

Vitamin D deficiency is common with autism and is required for healthy brain function.

#4 Probiotic (50 billion units daily)

Autism may be connected to digestive issues, therefore taking a good quality probiotic daily will help maintain intestinal health.

#5 L-carnitine (250-500 mg daily)

This amino acid has been shown to improve the symptoms of autism.

Autism Natural Treatment

Other natural treatments that help with autism include chelation detox, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and supplementation with zinc, liposomal glutathione and l-glutamine.

Essential Oils For Autism

Vetiver essential oil has proven to balance brain waves, lavender oil can calm the body and frankincense oil supports neurological development all of which may support natural autism treatments.

Let’s hope that it works or at least improve the life of those diagnosed with ASD.

Reference:

https://draxe.com/autism-natural-treatment/

My Books on Life, Health and Love:

amazon.com/-/e/B005XOMBFA

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April is the month during which autism is recognized annually. Many parents do not know or recognize if their child may be on the spectrum. How does one know really and what is autism?

Parents may observe some slightly behaviours from the norm which they cannot explain or are not even sure if something is wrong with their child. Let us look at an overview of autism.

What is Autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.

The term “spectrum” reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism.

Individuals with autism do not necessarily look obviously different from others, but may be impaired in their speech, behavior, learning, and the way they perceive the world around them.

According to the U.S. CDC (July 2016), the prevalence of the autism spectrum disorder is about 1 in 68 children, is about 4.5 times more common among boys, and occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

Symptoms appear before age 3 years, though children may be diagnosed after the age of three years in many cases. Almost all parents notice symptoms within the first two years of their child's life.

You should suspect Autism if:

Your child does not respond to their name by 12 months of age.
Your child does not point at objects to show interest (like an airplane by 14 months).
Your child does not play "pretend" games by 18 months.
Your child avoids eye contact and wants to be alone.
Your child has trouble understanding other people's feelings.
Your child has delayed speech and language skills
Your child repeats words or phrases over and over (Echolalia).
Your child gets upset by minor changes.
Your child has obsessive interests.
Your child flaps their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles.
Your child has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel.

What treatments are available for people with autism?

There is no known cure for autism. In some cases, medications and dietary restrictions may help control symptoms. Intervention should begin when the child is young. Early intervention and preschool programs are very important. An evaluation by an SLP should be completed to determine social skill, communication, language, and behavior needs. An appropriate treatment plan that meets the needs of the child and family can then be established. Treatment may include any combination of traditional speech and language approaches, augmentative and alternative communication, and behavioral interventions. It is also important to have the child's hearing evaluated to rule out hearing loss.

It is good to be aware and informed. Parents should take note of their children’s behaviour and if there are any concerns then make an appointment with your paediatrician to be informed.

References:

http://www.autismtelemed.org/about-the-autism-test.html?gclid=CL3orJHp-dICFRUHhgodsqYL7w

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Autism/

My Books on Life, Health and Love:

amazon.com/-/e/B005XOMBFA

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Charlene sang in 1994, “I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me.” What does that really mean? How does one get to ‘me’? It starts by introspection and self-examination. To know oneself, who you are and what makes you tick.

So, who are you really? Do you define yourself by your past, present, or future accomplishments; by your profession or your income; by your spiritual beliefs or your physical attributes? What makes you, you?

Discerning one's-self is more than about material or physical achievements. It goes beyond the surface and spans more the core of the inner being. Self discernment takes you to a place outside of yourself and looking at yourself from an external perspective. No, it’s not an out of body experience. It is about soul searching. Why do you act or react the way you do?

In discerning self, you get to know your personality more, what makes you do the things you do. It will take going back to your childhood to look at your experiences that have shaped who you are today, dissecting your behaviours, the good, the bad and the indifferent layer by layer.

Some of your discovery may not be as you would want. Some may be pleasant or unpleasant, which is not a bad thing as no-one is perfect and that is the purpose of self inspection as the idea should be to get to know you more intimately with the view of changing the not so good ways about yourself.

Here are six steps in getting to know self:

1. Be quiet.

You cannot and will not be able to know yourself until you take the time to be still. It isn’t until you get alone, evaluate yourself and are completely truthful with yourself that you will actually be able to see every facet of your life—the good and the bad. Be quiet and discover your true self.

2. Realize who you truly are, not who you want to be.

I know you already have a set idea of who you desperately want to be, but it might not be who you were designed to be; this is why knowing who you really are is so important. When you know who you are, you will finally see where you and your specific gifts fit into the bigger picture. There are many points along your journey to help you discover yourself,

3. Find what you are good at (and not good at).

This might be the most difficult step in the process of finding who you are, but it’s a necessary one. Sure, it takes trial and error to find what you’re good at, and no, I don’t want you to give up before you’ve had more than enough attempts, but knowing when to quit is a gift that everyone needs to learn.

Quit when you’ve put in ample time and your efforts aren’t giving back in return. What is ample time? Only you can decide that. But when you quit correctly, it isn’t giving up, it’s making room for something better. When your actions do nothing but drain you—rather than produce more passion and increase your drive to do more—that’s a good sign it is time to focus elsewhere. Your strengths will show you who you are.

4. Find what you are passionate about.

Following passion of any kind is a good thing, and you need to pay attention when it comes because it indicates an area of life that you need to pay more attention to. If we’re talking about following your passion in work, it’s a good thing. And if we’re talking about having more passion for life, it’s a good thing. Focus more on passion; understand yourself in better ways, and you’ll make a bigger impact. Passion produces effort and continuous effort produces results.

5. Ask for feedback.

If you don’t know yourself, hearing what others have to say about you is a helpful practice. Ask them two simple questions: “What strengths do you think I need to develop further?” and “What weaknesses do you think I need to work on?” Of course, their opinion isn’t going to be perfect, but their feedback will probably indicate a few areas you should at least take a second look at. This step is especially important for those who are stuck in finding themselves. Sometimes those closest to us can see something we might not be able to see in ourselves.

6. Assess your relationships.

A large aspect of knowing yourself can be found in your relationships. When you realize you’ll never truly know anyone else until you discover yourself, the importance of knowing yourself becomes even more apparent. Almost as much as you need to know yourself, other people also need to know who you are. People need you—the real you.

Use your reflections to fight your biggest fears, because when you understand who you are meant to be, your purpose will finally become bigger than your fears. When you realize who you are, you will spend less time spinning your wheels. Focusing on your strengths gives you the needed traction to begin making a bigger and better difference in the world.

Once you begin to work toward your authentic self, you can begin to live as only you can live, and be the person you are meant to be. Then, what others think about you won't bother you. When you discover your true self, no one else can tell you who you are. Now go take action and find your true self, starting today.

When you know yourself, you will find more peace, and you will find success quicker than ever before.

References:

http://www.success.com/article/6-steps-to-discover-your-true-self

My Books on Life, Health and Love:

amazon.com/-/e/B005XOMBFA

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Queenie Reason

Top Foods For Autism

Autism Foods to Avoid

Top 5 Autism Natural Remedies

Autism Natural Treatment

Essential Oils For Autism

You should suspect Autism if:

What treatments are available for people with autism?

1. Be quiet.

2. Realize who you truly are, not who you want to be.

4. Find what you are passionate about.

5. Ask for feedback.

6. Assess your relationships.

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Queenie Reason

Top Foods For Autism

Autism Foods to Avoid

Top 5 Autism Natural Remedies

Autism Natural Treatment

Essential Oils For Autism

You should suspect Autism if:

What treatments are available for people with autism?

1. Be quiet.

2. Realize who you truly are, not who you want to be.

4. Find what you are passionate about.

5. Ask for feedback.

6. Assess your relationships.

About me

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