Kaiser Permanente thrive » emotional-health

Manage stress? Yes, you can!

admin11kcesarz — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:34:13 +0000

Stress is a fact of life. It stimulates the fight-or-flight response, which can be good if you need to work hard for a limited amount of time or react quickly to potential dangers.

But being stressed out too often or for long periods of time can negatively affect your health. Although you may not be able to eliminate stress completely, you can find ways to keep it under control.

Dial down stress with these proven techniques.

Moody teen or something more serious?

admin11kcesarz — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:24:15 +0000

Depression is only for adults, right? Wrong. Teens, even young children, can suffer from depression and need treatment to improve. In fact, as many as 3 in 100 young children and 9 in 100 teens have serious depression, according to Michael J. Sexton, MD.

Do you suspect your child, or a child you may know, is suffering from depression? It's critical to know more about depression and to learn how to recognize the signs.

A child may be depressed if he or she shows any of the following signs:

• is grumpy, sad, or bored most of the time
• does not take pleasure in things he or she used to enjoy
• loses or gains weight
• sleeps too much or too little
• feels hopeless, worthless, or guilty
• has trouble concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
• thinks about death or suicide a lot

Kids need love and support to learn just about everything in life. Most parents already have a pretty good idea how to teach their kids how to dress, do chores around the house, or throw a curveball. But it's equally important to teach them how to handle their emotions. The benefits are obvious, and most likely you'll grow closer to them.

If you are worried about a child who may be depressed, learn more about the symptoms in children and what you can do to help.

Music to get you motivated

admin10kavesian — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:27:55 +0000

We understand that it sometimes takes some motivation to thrive — you need a little something to encourage you to take those steps to a healthier lifestyle. So, here’s some music to move you. We have more than a dozen free tracks that have been featured in Kaiser Permanente’s thrive campaign. Sweet Harmony, Sunny Dub, Days of Greatness — whatever your taste in music, you’ll find something here that’s right for you. And that’s good because research shows that music stimulates your body’s chemistry, not only making you feel better but giving you more energy and helping you stay healthy and better able to fight infection. Plus, it’s guaranteed to get your feet moving and your heart beating. Listen to this music right now.

Think positive – it’s good for you

admin10kavesian — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:39:37 +0000

Good health often starts with positive thinking. Our medical experts provide techniques to help you improve your outlook and adopt a more optimistic attitude about life. You’ll learn what makes an optimist, how to talk to yourself positively, and how an optimistic outlook can produce favorable results in your health and life.