She’s holding three Grammies — three! more than most of us will ever actually see in person for God’s sake and the caption emphasizes what she’s wearing, as compared to a fellow celebrity wearing the same dress.  She’s at a location that reaches sub-zero temperatures and is known the world over for it’s skiing facilities and the text next to the photos focuses on the boots she is wearing.  In four different instances, in four different pairs of boots.

She is Mariah Carey and she appears undaunted in all of the photos.  In fact, she appears happy, friendly and accessible as a person, regardless of how the shots will turn out to be poking fun at her weight, her sweater riding up to show skin, her breasts or her skin tones.  Mariah Carey is savvy and well aware that these photos and their accompanying text are used to sell photos, boots, diet pills and issues of the magazines in which she is featured.  Mariah Carey is a seasoned performer of over 15 years, is a producer, has been on the number one singles charts 24 times, and has won over 175 awards for her contributions to the music world.

And Mariah Carey is loved the world over, for her music, her voice, her performances, her charitable participation. Most importantly, she has been a positive influence on young women who love her music in particular and her persona in general.  A drama major idolizes Carey, the drama major, a student at a small community college in Northern California, has a history of cutting and of bulimia.  As the drama student delves deeper into the professional life and personal image of Mariah Carey, she learns to accept her own God given curves.  As she listens to the positive and esteeming messages of the skilled singer, she comes to love herself enough to stop cutting, save in rare relapses.

So while Mariah may not know of specific instances wherein she has changed someone’s life or saved it, she may be smiling in every “candid” photo of her, knowing the photos are to provide conversational material for boot fixated freaks.  She may be smiling because she knows it is only when the photographs stop appearing that one needs to be concerned.  Or she may be smiling because she knows that one transcends the necessity of publicity, no matter how small minded or seemingly insignificant.

Consumers are in debt more then ever today in America. The average credit card debt is rising and many people and families are finding it difficult to find a way to manage their debt and find a way to get out of debt.  Debt programs have one purpose which is to help people successfully manage their debt. There are many different types of debt programs available depending on the unique needs of each individual.

Some debt programs focus on developing a budget and learning to live within that budget. For many people who struggle living from paycheck to paycheck, the basics of both budgets and budgeting is not only what is needed but is also the primary step in any financial goal.  For those people already in debt, one debt program to consider is credit counseling. There are many community agencies that offer free debt counseling. For many people, this is a good step to learn what options are available to manage their debt and which debt program or debt programs would be best.

Debt consolidation is one type of debt program many consumers choose to use. In some situations, debt consolidation programs are a useful tool. If you have several current loans you are making payments on, debt consolidation is an option to consider. It can make it easier to manage your debt because you will have only one loan instead of several. You will only need to make one payment each month. Also, your monthly debt payments may even decrease if you consolidate since this debt program stretches your payments out over a longer period of time. This means that you’ll pay out less each month which has the added benefit of giving you some cash flow every month.

In severe situations the consumer may look at the possibility of debt negotiation. This is a debt program in which creditors are contacted about reducing the actual debt owed. Some credit counselors may speak with the consumers’ lenders and arbitrate for a pay off less than the full amount. It should be expected that this debt program will affect the consumer’s credit history and credit ranking.

Once debt is under control, perhaps the wisest debt program for the consumer is to engage in planning for the future. Financial planners are available to help consumers invest and plan for a secure financial future.  Consumers have many debt programs available to them manage their finances and plan for the future. Before entering into any financial agreement or debt program, it would be wise to seek counsel from financial planners or credit counselors as to which debt program is right for you.

Is Bowflex exercise equipment all that its cracked up to be?  They run a string of commercials that seem to play non-stop on half the channels on TV, and by the way they market it, regular use of Bowflex equipment will keep you healthy and looking young forever.  If you’re in the market for exercise or strength training equipment, you’re probably wondering what Bowflex exercise equipment is all about and if it’s even half as good as it sounds on their ads.

I’m not an exercise expert, but I am definitely a fan of keeping in shape.  As a long time sufferer of both high cholesterol and high blood pressure, my doctor continuously reminds me how important it is for me to get a regular and even vigorous work out.  Doctors and health professionals agree that a combination of aerobic and anaerobic (strength training) exercises works better in improving cholesterol, blood pressure, and boosting metabolism than either one by itself.  Aerobic exercise is simple.  Put on some decent shoes, stretch for a few minutes and go for a run.  But strength training is more complicated.

For a long time I relied on free weights, push-ups, and sit-ups for anaerobic exercise.  I also tried working out using a gym.  The problem with free weights and the equipment you find in a gym is that you can seriously hurt yourself if you’re not using it right.  After a year or so of working out this way I started getting frequent neck pain and headaches, and after asking my doctor about it, determined that I’d been lifting incorrectly.  The best thing about Bowflex exercise equipment in my opinion is that it offers less opportunity for you to damage yourself.  You can of course get the same effect by using the services of a fitness trainer to make sure you lift right.  This is what I’ve been doing lately.

The costs add up with a trainer and gym membership, and you don’t need either with a set of Bowflex exercise equipment.  So you have to weigh the pros and cons.  How often do you lift weights and how important is strength training to you?  If you’re spending money on a trainer and a gym, it may be worth looking into getting a set of Bowflex exercise equipment.  Easy to use, low impact, and safe, you can’t really go wrong with it.  Also, Bowflex exercise equipment is very space efficient compared to similar weight lifting products.

Many times, our lives do not go as we planned. There are unexpected occurrences that can devastate an individual’s personal finances. Credit cards are especially challenging because of the high interest rates attached to the convenient purchasing tools. Bad credit card debt can be a source of stress for anyone who has it because it can be overwhelming even for the most trustworthy person.

It is crucial to keep the line of communication open with your creditors. This can make the difference between having slow credit and having bad credit card debt. Many creditors are willing to work with you if you take the time to explain your situation and if you make an effort to come to a new payment arrangement with them.

In many instances, an individual who is having a great deal of trouble making his monthly payments can actually save money by communicating this to his creditors. I had a balance of eight-hundred dollars on one of my credit cards. I had trouble making payments because I was in a car accident and I had other bills that were high priority. After paying those bills, I had little left over.

I contacted my creditor before this got out of hand. This prevented me from accumulating bad credit card debt. I was able to come to a payment arrangement that actually put the bulk of my money on the principal rather than on the interest. With this new payment schedule, I had the entire balance paid off in a fraction of the time.

Making reasonable payment arrangements with your creditors is one benefit of keeping the lines of communication open. Another is possibly paying off the bill entirely. Some companies make a pay off offer to anyone who is at risk of accumulating bad credit card debt. This option is usually only offered if the debtor contacts the credit company with an inquiry.

I paid off a retail store’s bill for three hundred dollars below the balance by making an inquiry. Using money from my income tax refund, I paid off the debt in one payment in an amount we could both accept. This kept me from getting bad credit card debt while keeping my line of credit open with the store.

I learned my lesson about credit cards a little late. I accumulated too much debt and found myself in a tight situation. I kept myself from getting bad credit card debt by contacting my creditors and making the appropriate arrangements. It took a little willpower, especially when it came to using my long awaited income tax return to pay off debts, but bad credit card debt is a serious issue that can be avoided with a few phone calls.

When it comes to filing for bankruptcy most people believe that it will take an entire seven years before they can receive credit again.  In some cases this is true, but in the majority of cases there are things you can do that ensure that you can start building after bankruptcy credit right away.  The first thing you should do when you need after bankruptcy credit is to check your credit report.  Your credit report is used by any prospective lenders to gauge your credit worthiness.  Any small mistakes on this report can damage your chances to receive after bankruptcy credit.

Credit reports are available from several agencies online for a fee.  You provide some detailed and personal information regarding yourself and your credit report will be delivered immediately after you have paid the fee.  Once you have the report you’ll need to be certain that you check each entry for accuracy. If there is anything incomplete or inaccurate you should contact the company that reported this information.  This could be a financial institution, a credit card company or a department store.  Speak to a representative in the credit department and explain the problem.  Once they agree to fix it get their word that they will be correcting it on your credit report as well.  Order another credit report within a few weeks to ensure this has occurred.

If you need after bankruptcy credit, but you are not comfortable with contacting companies who have reported inaccurate information yourself, than you can hire someone to do it for you.  There are several credit repair agencies who work with people wanting to secure after bankruptcy credit.  They will not only look over your credit report and work with you to correct any mistakes they will also assist you with getting credit.

One way to receive after bankruptcy credit is to apply for a secured credit card.  A secured credit card is offered to people who have had credit difficulties in the past.  It works very well for people who need after bankruptcy credit.  The process is fairly simple.  You apply for the credit card, which will be a major credit card and you give the credit card company a deposit.  This deposit will reflect your spending limit on the card.  The credit card company sees this as a safe way to offer after bankruptcy credit because the funds placed on the card are covered in the event you fail to make payments.  This type of arrangement is also beneficial in that it helps you rebuild after bankruptcy credit.  If you make the payments in full on time you’ll soon have a good reference on your credit report.

The first thing I think of when I hear the phrase borderline personality disorder treatment is how after my friend had been finally diagnosed with BPD or bi-polar disorder, she had to take a daily handful of pills.  This was to me excessive, especially compared to my one pill a day for a similar but different disorder.  Similar in that it manifested in the mental realms and different because it was less about anger than it was about order.

First a disclaimer. While I am a mental disorder veteran, having a mother, brother, best friend and several boyfriends and husbands who have struggled with everything from depression to schizophrenia, and while I have ADD, I am not a medical expert or professional or even paraprofessional.  Therefore any discussion of borderline personality disorder treatment here is based on research and is not, as they will tell you, to be taken as “advice”.

Next, a loose definition of BPD is in order. Bi-polar Personality Disorder attaches itself with symptoms of emotional imbalance or inappropriateness.  The BPD person typical has an all or nothing approach to the world and way of receiving the world.  I think in terms of extremes with no leveling off, while a clinical expert would say, for example, that a person with Bi-polar Disorder experiences emotions that “overwhelm cognitive functioning”.  The BPD person can have intense mood swings. I always think of manic-depressives, like my Mom, though psychotherapists will distinguish the two disorders, claiming they are not the same.  Keep in mind that I may be overlapping Bi-polarism with Borderline Personality here. The BPD person is often one who is angry, controlling and in your face one week, then meek, even obsequious the next.  Anyway, I digress to the nuances or suggestions of a few kinds of possible borderline personality disorder treatment.

One strongly suggested if not requisite borderline personality disorder treatment is psychotherapy with a very hard, almost inhumanly detached professional.  Medications are the second most common, most important variable in the borderline personality disorder treatment plan.  Again, depending upon who is administering treatment, what degrees or characteristics of the disorder show, and depending upon the theories and practices in existence, chemical borderline personality disorder treatment can include anti-psychotics, neuroleptics, and anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medicines.

Just as my ADD requires and just as addictions and other problems need, a combination of borderline personality disorder treatment plans are best.  Therapy, in combination with medications or alternative treatment procedures, works on the many levels.  A combination needs to, on the biological, physical.  Self-protection, especially for suicidal BPDs, is taught not bought.  On the mental, whereby medication and life skills practice and changes are also necessary in most cases, evidently.

Alcohol and drug treatment facilities are located across the nation, and depending on the needs of the individual, many treatment options are available. Outpatient and acute inpatient alcohol and drug treatment facilities offer individual and group therapies with licensed psychologists and registered nurses, as well as perform psychiatric evaluations and provide medical treatment if required. Each person seeking rehabilitation is an individual with a unique set of circumstances that has contributed to his or her present state of being. Recovery offers these people an opportunity to heal, and to share their experiences with others who are also seeking alcohol and drug treatment, in a neutral, safe, supportive environment. Many alcohol and drug treatment programs use some type of step program to guide the patient through the recovery process. This type of program, including the 12-step programs used by Alcoholics Anonymous has proven to be effective in helping those seeking alcohol and drug treatment to be successful.

The type of alcohol and drug treatment program chosen really has to do with the individual and the present circumstances that have led up to the intervention. Some people seek treatment on their own from an outpatient clinic or acute care facility. Many employers sponsored health insurance plans will cover alcohol and drug treatment up to a certain amount and employers are usually very supportive of an employee seeking help. In some cases employers may even mandate it. Sick leave and vacation time, as well as a family leave of absence can be taken to cover the amount of time off required by the recovering employee if available. Of course, there are some who are not so lucky to have such a support system in place or find themselves in an alcohol and drug treatment program against their will, because of some type of related indiscretion. Many times these individuals only go through treatment because they may be facing more serious consequences if they don’t get help.

Alcohol and drug treatment centers vary greatly in the types of treatments they use, as well as the accommodations, cost, etc. There are many fine psychiatric and alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers around the world that provide excellent care and emotional support throughout the recovery process and afterward. Interview a perspective facility ahead of time, request literature and information, and have a plan of action in place. By making a commitment, the possibility is greater that sobriety will be maintained. Entering into an alcohol and drug treatment program is just the first step.  Learning to love yourself and moving forward is the next.

We live is a world filled with stress and deadlines.  It seems that the more we evolve with technology and ways to produce things more quickly, the more stress increases.  This is an enigma.  You would think that worries and workloads would decrease with our consistent advancement.  Anxiety and depression seem worse now than they ever were.  I guess it’s possible that in the past, people simply didn’t mention it.  Well they certainly make an issue of it these days.  In fact, if you’ve ever spent an afternoon in front of the TV, I’m sure you’ve witnessed some sort of ad for a medicine, which helps alleviate anxiety and depression.

More and more humans are admitting to their problems in this modern world of solutions.  Whether it be sleep related or fear of public places, scientists are always coming up with new ways to fix it.  Anxiety and depression are certainly at the top of this long list.  When I ponder the notion of depression, I think of someone who has recently lost a loved one or someone who is handicapped is such a way that prevents them from living a normal life.  Well this is definitely a misconception.  Many people are weighed down by the burden of anxiety and depression for other reasons.  Some of which are not even known.  You may wonder if it concerns the food we eat.  For some reason or another, people seem to have problems with staying content.

A topic that concerns me, is teenagers.  Anxiety and depression seems to be striking them more than anyone these days.  Granted, being a teen is rough in some aspects and incredibly easy in others.  While some teens may argue that it’s horrible, I was a teen myself not long ago.  We all know what it’s like, but I can never recall being depressed.  This makes me wonder what has changed in the last ten years.  Depression should not be a part of childhood.  In fact, anxiety and depression should be much less prevalent than it is altogether.

If you punch in the word, depression, on the Internet, you will come up with an abundance of drugs and programs, which offer relief.  While we clearly live in a society that focuses on the negative more that the positive, it’s a good thing we have treatments for anxiety and depression.  If these have afflicted you in some way, you can always find a solution at your fingertips with the Internet.

Star Wars: Fact of fiction? Your answer depends on your perspective. From a purely logical point of view, Star Wars is totally fictional. It is a futuristic sci-fi excursion into a universe of fantasty and illusion. However, from an emotional and even spiritual viewpoint, Star wars are all too real.  The original 1977 movie introduced us to The Force: “…an energy field that surrounds us, penetrates us and binds the galaxy together” explains the old Obi Wan Kenobi to the young Luke Sky Walker. George Lucas drew some of his inspiration for The Force and its meaning from the work of Joseph Campbell and his book The Power of Myth.

For both the Eastern sage and the modern metaphysician, The Force is a perfect example of the realness embedded in Star Wars. It is not God, otherwise George Lucas would have used that word. Instead, Lucas chose a more universally accepted phrase, one that could potentially be embraced by all religious followers.  The technology in the Star Wars Universe is superfluous to the power of The Force. Lucas makes this point abundantly clear.  If you strip away the technology, you are left with a story spiritual story. It is a hero’s quest. It is the quest of Annakin Skywalker doing battle with himself. Searching for the light inside the dark.

This is a battle we all go through and so from this perception Star Wars is not to be seen as fiction. Star Wars is about a universal battle in awareness.  To the degree that you are unaware of this battle in yourself, is likely the degree you will see Star Wars as unreal, pure fiction.

Do you believe in The Force? Even if you do not understand it, or call it by another name, is there a part of you that “uses the Force?” If there is not, then you will view all of Star Wars as fiction, the storyline plus the inner lives of the characters.  If you do believe in the Force, even in some mysterious or cosmic way, you will be able to understand it’s truthfulness.  Star Wars is about “us” not “them.” It is about every man woman and child and their destiny to rise up against darkness and find their true nature and understand their relationship to The Force.

So next time you watch a Star Wars movie, forget the Hollywood aspects of it, forget that it is just for fun, and see if you can put your attention on yourself. Be Annakin. Be Luke. Be Yoda. You will be surprised how real these movies become.  I believe it is there realness not their fantasy qualities that made them strike a chord with the world back in 1977. What is your point of view? Star wars: Fact or fiction?

People who work in the mental health fields are quick to point out how common it is to have a mental illness and how treatable most of them tend to be. However, just because your mental health may not be up to par at all times doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a mental illness that needs to be treated. In fact, poor mental health can mean that you are going through a stage of depression or confusion. Maybe something tragic happened in your life recently or you are undergoing any changes that are affecting how you see life. Being depressed temporarily doesn’t mean that you need medication and therapy.

Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disability in this country. When someone’s mental health isn’t stable on a regular basis it can and will affect their abilities to function normally in all aspects of life. It can affect their work behaviors and productivity, and marriages and friendships among individuals as well. Employers cannot and do not want to have employees who are not productive working in their companies. The only choice then for someone with ongoing mental health concerns is to seek disability. Having mental health issues doesn’t mean that an individual cannot function. Some illnesses are easily regulated with medication and treatment. Other mental illnesses are much more serious and need more intense therapy and medications. When a person has difficulty understanding the difference between right and wrong, their mental health is in need of major assistance.

I’ve heard so many family members of an individual who committed suicide saying how shocked they were that so-and-so ended their own life. They thought that they were as happy as can be. However, that isn’t the case at all. People don’t end their life when their mental health is stable and healthy. Most likely, the individual tried to drop hints or reach out for some support or help and it went unnoticed. It is easy, in the hustle of everyday life, to overlook someone else’s comments and sufferings that may have given a slight hint as to their internal thoughts and fears. Though life is very hectic at times and more people are lacking the desire to become involved with another person’s life, it might make a huge difference. Feeling depressed, nervous or obsessive doesn’t have to be a normal occurrence for people. You’re not expected to walk around constantly smiling and being happy. Everyone is entitled to a bad day and their mood swings. If it becomes a frequently occurring event, chances are, something should be done. Your mental health is too precious and valuable to let it slip into the shadows.