How Long to Nap?

Napping isn't just for children. Understand the pros and cons of napping and the best way to take a nap.

If you're sleep deprived or just looking for a way to relax, you might be thinking about taking a nap. Napping at the wrong time of day or for too long can backfire, though. Understand how to get the most out of a nap.

What are the benefits of napping?

Napping offers various benefits for healthy adults, including:

• Relaxation
• Reduced fatigue
• Increased alertness
• Improved mood
• Improved performance, including quicker reaction time, better memory, less confusion, and fewer accidents and mistakes

What are the drawbacks to napping?

Napping isn't for everyone. Some people have trouble sleeping in places other than their own beds, while others simply can't sleep during the day. Napping can also have negative effects, such as:

• Sleep inertia. You might feel groggy and disoriented after waking up from a nap.
• Nighttime sleep problems. Short naps generally don't affect nighttime sleep quality for most people. However, if you experience insomnia or poor sleep quality at night, napping might worsen these problems. Long naps might interfere with nighttime sleep.

Source:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/napping/art-20048319?pg=2

Types of Mental Health Care Practitioners in Malaysia

Types of Mental Health Care Practitioners in Malaysia

Psychiatry, psychology, hypnotherapy, counseling and coaching are overlapping professions. Practitioners -- psychiatrists, counselors, hypnotherapists, psychologists and coaches -- are mental health care professionals. Their area of expertise is the mind -- and the way it affects behavior and well-being. They often work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental illness. And they are committed to helping people stay mentally well. But there are differences between psychiatry, psychology, hypnotherapy, coaching and counseling. And people sometimes find those differences confusing, especially when they are looking for help. The largest difference between the types of professionals is usually what they focus or specialize in, licensure requirements and their educational background.

The key to choosing which one of these professionals is right for you is to determine what kinds of things are important to you and finding a professional that seems to fit with your needs and personality. Feel free to email me ([email protected]) for more info.





1)Hypnotherapist
Professional governing body in Malaysia: The Association of Hypnotherapy Practitioners, Malaysia (AHPM)-AHPM is a member of The Federation of Complementary and Natural Medical Associations, Malaysia (FCNMAM). FCNMAM is a body recognized by the Department of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Ministry of Health (MOH), Malaysia. 
Expertise: practice hypnotherapy and may practice psychotherapy but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs

2)Counselor
Professional governing body in Malaysia: Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia-The Counselors’ Act 1998 sets the minimum competence level for the credentialing of a professional counselor in Malaysia. Only a person who is licensed to practice counseling under this Act is allowed to represent himself or herself as a counselor in the country.
Expertise: practice counseling and psychotherapy but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs





3)Clinical Psychologist
professional governing body in Malaysia: Allied Health Malaysia-The Allied Health Professions Bill 2015 was tabled for the first reading by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam at the Dewan Rakyat. The Bill seeks to set up the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council to register persons practising in the allied health industry which include clinical psychologist.
Expertise: practice psychotherapy but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs

4) Psychiatrist 
Professional governing body in Malaysia: Malaysian Medical Council-Psychiatrist need to apply for a Malaysian Medical License at the Malaysian Medical Council.
Expertise: able to diagnose and prescribe drugs, may practice psychotherapy, use electroconvulsive therapy, and admit people to the hospital.






5) Coach
professional governing body in Malaysia: None
Expertise: practice life, business, wellness or corporate coaching but cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs

6) Neurotherapist
Professional governing body in Malaysia: None
Expertise: practice neurotherapy/EEG biofeedback/neurofeedback technique. It is a safe, non-invasive, alternative treatment option that relies on EEG biofeedback machine to monitor and visualize brain activity, and is used to help a variety of psychological and medical problems. But cannot do physical examinations, cannot prescribe drugs.


What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy -- uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. 
The person's attention is so focused while in this state that anything going on around the person is temporarily blocked out or ignored. In this naturally occurring state, 
a person may focus his or her attention -- with the help of a trained therapist -- on specific thoughts or tasks. 
Hypnotherapy can be used in two ways, as suggestion therapy or for patient analysis.

1)Suggestion therapy: The hypnotic state makes the person better able to respond to suggestions. 
Therefore, hypnotherapy can help some people change certain behaviors, such as stopping smoking or nail biting. 
It can also help people change perceptions and sensations, and is particularly useful in treating pain.
2)Analysis: This approach uses the relaxed state to explore a possible psychological root cause of a disorder or symptom, 
such as a traumatic past event that a person has hidden in his or her unconscious memory. 
Once the trauma is revealed, it can be addressed in psychotherapy.
The hypnotic state allows a person to be more open to discussion and suggestion. 
It can improve the success of other treatments for many conditions, including:
-Phobias, fears, and anxiety
-Sleep disorders
-Depression
-Stress
-Post-trauma anxiety
-Grief and loss
Hypnotherapy also might be used to help with pain control and to overcome habits, such as smoking or overeating. 
It also might be helpful for people whose symptoms are severe or who need crisis management. 


What is Counseling?
Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Counselors work with clients on strategies to overcome obstacles and personal challenges that they are facing. Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health. How long does counseling take? Ideally, counseling is terminated when the problem that you pursued counseling for becomes more manageable or is resolved. '


What is psychotherapy?
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as talk therapy, works on the assumption that the cure for a person's suffering lies within that person and that this cure can be facilitated through a trusting, supportive relationship with a psychotherapist. By creating an empathetic and accepting atmosphere, the therapist often is able to help the person identify the source of the problems and consider alternatives for dealing with them. The emotional awareness and insight that the person gains through psychotherapy often results in a change in attitude and behavior that allows the person to live a fuller and more satisfying life.

Psychotherapy is appropriate in a wide range of conditions. Even people who do not have a mental health disorder may find psychotherapy helpful in coping with such problems as employment difficulties, bereavement, or chronic illness in the family. Group psychotherapy, couples therapy, and family therapy are also widely used.

Most mental health practitioners practice one of six types of psychotherapy: supportive psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy.


What is coaching?
International Coach Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today's uncertain and complex environment. To determine whether you or your company could benefit from coaching, start by summarizing what you would expect to accomplish in coaching. When an individual or business has a fairly clear idea of the desired outcome, a coaching partnership can be a useful tool for developing a strategy for how to achieve that outcome with greater ease. Since coaching is a partnership, ask yourself whether collaboration, other viewpoints, and new perspectives are valued. Also, ask yourself whether you or your business is ready to devote the time and the energy to making real changes. If the answer is yes, then coaching may be a beneficial way to grow and develop.


What is EEG biofeedback/neurofeedback/neurotherapy?
EEG biofeedback is a painless and drug-free way of helping an injured brain or impaired brain function return to a healthy state. It helps the brain to do a better job of regulating itself and the body. It is biofeedback for the brain and the body. EEG biofeedback is a method used to train brain activity in order to normalize Brain function. 
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a measure of brain waves. Like other computers, the brain gives off tiny impulses that appear as electrical waves. The raw EEG can be separated into waves that vibrate at different rates or frequencies; beta (fastest) to alpha, theta, and delta (slowest). Brainwaves should be faster at front, slower at back; faster at left and slower at right. A “backwards brain” (slow at front and left, fast at back and right) tends to be poor in focus and attention, depressed or anxious. Brainwave slowing suggests brain injury and impairs normal brain function.






Source:
http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental_health_disorders/overview_of_mental_health_care/treatment_of_mental_illness.html
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-hypnotherapy
http://www.counseling.org/aca-community/learn-about-counseling/what-is-counseling/overview
http://psychcentral.com/
http://www.webmd.com/
https://www.psychology.org.au/publications/inpsych/coaching/
http://coachfederation.org/need/landing.cfm?ItemNumber=978

World Autism Awareness Day 世界自闭症觉醒日 2015

"World Autism Awareness Day is about more than generating understanding; it is a call to action. I urge all concerned to take part in fostering progress by supporting education programmes, employment opportunities and other measures that help realize our shared vision of a more inclusive world."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the World Autism Awareness Day 2014

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and it has a tremendous impact on children, their families, communities and societies.

Throughout its history, the United Nations family has promoted the rights and well-being of the disabled, including children with developmental disabilities. In 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force, reaffirming the fundamental principle of universal human rights for all.

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day (A/RES/62/139) to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead full and meaningful lives.

今日四月二日是世界自閉症覺醒日，你“藍”了嗎？
　聯合國基于全球自閉症的數據一直上升，為此于2008年開始將每年4月2日訂為世界自閉症覺醒日，藍色則是自閉症的代表顏色，為此，在這一天，育有自閉兒的家長都會特別穿上藍色的衣服，或是別上藍色的緞帶，提醒大家關注此症。
　許多人對自閉症是既熟悉又陌生，由于數據越來越高，這症已成為了極為普遍的病症，一個家庭即使沒有這樣的孩子，也會聽聞親友的孩子有這樣的問題。
　美國的數據顯示，50名孩童有1人是自閉症；中國已確定超過160萬人患有自閉症。大馬沒有正式的統計數字，但在小學的啟智班，自閉兒是所有學習障礙類別中，比率最高的。
　這些孩子一般有學習障礙，另外也伴隨許多奇奇怪怪的動作、言語，又過動、天真、不懂禮節、不會掩飾，也因為語言障礙，表達能力差，難交到朋友，也難以讓人理解，盡管學習成績還好，卻依然難以被學生及師長接受。
　這類孩子的挑戰最大的，其實是社會對他們的接受度低。許多家長最擔心的就是孩子離開學校后的謀生問題。不少家長費盡心思，努力訓練孩子掌握最基本的技能，然而這些孩子依然面對許多挑戰，他們就如外星來的孩子，怎樣也無法融入地球的生活；他們長不大的心靈，也永遠搞不懂複雜的人際關係及種種利害關閉，也因為如此，許多父母都很擔心自己比孩子先一步離開這個世界，因為孩子的下場可能非常可憐。
　然而，這類群人已越來越多，他們也有權融入社會，過著自己想要的生活。為此，社會對這些孩子越瞭解、越包容，並在適時的情況下給予幫助，這不但幫助到這些孩子，也能減少這些孩子對社會帶來的負擔。
　如果你願意更瞭解這些孩子，請在這一天穿上藍色衣服，上網或通過書籍查詢有關自閉症的訊息，並在他們有需要的時候，請別只是斥責他，而是試著瞭解他、幫助他。

How newmindcentre.com can help you?

Neurotherapy is essentially a way of teaching a child how to self-regulate their own brainwaves. Reports from caregivers of people with autism suggest people have witnessed improvements in a variety of areas including speech and irritability. A few scientific reports have highlighted that a demonstrated increase in social interaction may be seen in child with autism following neurotherapy treatment. One study suggested that parents who noticed an improvement continued to see the benefits for at least a year after neurotherapy. In November 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics approved biofeedback and neurotherapy as a Level 1 or “best support” treatment option for children suffering from ADHD. Interestingly, we know that many children with autism may also have these symptoms similar with ADHD. It has been suggested that 1 in 3 children with autism may also have ADHD.  

FYI, I am a certified neurotherapist too. Contact me for more information.