Teen depression: Prevention begins with parental support

Teen depression can harm your child's relationships and academics, as well as increase the risk of substance abuse. Understand what you can do to help prevent teen depression.

Teen depression is a serious health problem that can cause long-lasting physical and emotional problems. Not all teen depression can be prevented, but there's good news. By promoting your child's physical and mental health, you can help him or her handle stressful situations that might trigger teen depression.

What causes teen depression?

There's no single cause of teen depression. Genetics and environment may play a role. In addition, some teens are more prone to depression than are others — including children of depressed parents and children who have anxiety or behavior problems. Teen girls may be more vulnerable to depression than teen boys because girls are more likely to derive self-esteem from relationships. Some teens' relationships can be especially challenging due to early physical development that can make them look different and change the way peers treat them. Sometimes teen depression is triggered by a health problem, stress or the loss of an important person in the teen's life.

How does teen depression affect a teen?

Teens dealing with depression are more likely to experience teen pregnancy, abuse drugs and alcohol, and perform poorly at school and at work than are other teens. Teen depression is linked to an increased risk of suicide and suicide attempts, as well as a recurrence of depression in adulthood.

You may be able to help prevent teen depression by promoting your child's physical and mental health. Research has shown the following steps can make a difference, including:

·         Praising your child's skills. A 2008 study showed that children who struggled academically in core subjects in first grade were more likely to display negative self-perceptions and symptoms of depression in sixth grade. Meet with teachers to find out how your child is doing in school. If your child is having trouble in school, be sure to praise his or her other strengths — whether in music, athletics, relationships or other areas.

·         Promoting participation in organized activities. Research shows that playing team sports or taking part in other organized activities can help prevent teen depression by boosting a child's self-esteem and increasing his or her social support network. Encourage your child to get involved in extracurricular activities.

·         Encouraging physical activity. A small number of studies show that physical activity — regardless of the level of intensity — may slightly reduce teen depression and anxiety. While further studies are needed, there's no doubt that physical activity can improve your child's overall health. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adolescents get one hour or more of physical activity a day.

·         Providing parental support. In a 2008 study, researchers suggested that the link between low family income and childhood depression might be explained by exposure to stressful events such as divorce or separation or low levels of parental support. Higher levels of parental support seemed to offer protection from depressive symptoms. Remind your child that you care by listening, showing interest in his or her problems, and respecting his or her feelings.

·         Talking to your child. One of the early warning signs of teen depression is a sense of isolation. Set aside time each day to talk to your child. This step can be crucial in preventing further isolation, withdrawal and progressive depression.

What if my child is at risk of teen depression?

If you're concerned that your child will develop teen depression, consider taking extra preventive steps. Recent research has shown some protective benefits for children of depressed parents who participated in depression prevention programs involving cognitive behavioral therapy — a type of psychotherapy — or efforts aimed at enhancing their resiliency. Further study of depression prevention programs is needed, however. Consult a mental health professional about the options and what might work best for your child.

Hormone therapy: Is it right for you?

Until 2002, hormone therapy was routinely used to treat menopausal symptoms and protect long-term health. Then a large clinical trial unearthed its health risks. What does this mean to you?

Hormone replacement therapy — medications containing female hormones to replace the ones the body no longer makes after menopause — used to be a standard treatment for women with hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Hormone therapy (as it's now called) was also thought to have the long-term benefits of preventing heart disease and osteoporosis.

Attitudes about hormone therapy changed abruptly in 2002, when a large clinical trial found that the treatment actually posed more health risks than benefits for postmenopausal women. As the number of health hazards attributed to hormone therapy grew, doctors became less likely to prescribe it. And most women on hormone therapy discontinued its use, often without talking to their doctors.

What are the benefits of hormone therapy?

Women who choose standard hormone therapy during natural (nonsurgical) menopause typically take estrogen and progestin, a man-made version of progesterone. It can also ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse.

Long-term hormone therapy for the prevention of postmenopausal conditions is no longer routinely recommended. But women who take estrogen for short-term relief of menopausal symptoms may gain some protection against the following conditions:

·         Osteoporosis. Studies show that hormone therapy can prevent the bone loss that occurs after menopause, which decreases the risk of osteoporosis-related hip fractures.

·         Colorectal cancer. Studies show that hormone therapy can decrease the risk of colorectal cancer.

·         Heart disease. Some data suggest that estrogen can decrease risk of heart disease when taken early in your postmenopausal years. A randomized, controlled clinical trial — the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) — exploring estrogen use and heart disease in younger postmenopausal women is under way, but it won't be completed for several years.

For women who undergo menopause naturally, estrogen is typically prescribed along with progestin, a man-made version of progesterone. This is because estrogen without progestin can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Women who undergo menopause as the result of a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone.

What are the risks of hormone therapy?

In the largest clinical trial to date, the combination estrogen-progestin (Prempro) increased the risk of certain serious conditions.

According to the study, over one year, 10,000 women taking estrogen plus progestin might experience:

·         Seven more cases of heart disease than women taking a placebo

·         Eight more cases of breast cancer than women taking a placebo

·         Eight more cases of stroke than women taking a placebo

·         Eighteen more cases of blood clots than women taking a placebo

·         An increase in abnormal mammograms, particularly false positives

The study found no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease among women taking estrogen without progestin. Over one year, however, 10,000 women taking estrogen alone might experience:

·         Twelve more cases of stroke than women taking a placebo

·         Six more cases of blood clots in the legs than women taking a placebo

·         An increase in mammography abnormalities

The effect of hormone therapy on mammograms is important, because it suggests that women on hormone therapy may need more frequent mammograms and additional testing.

Who should consider hormone therapy?

Despite the health risks, estrogen is still the gold standard for treating menopausal symptoms. The absolute risk to an individual woman taking hormone therapy is quite low — possibly low enough to be acceptable to you, depending on your symptoms.

The benefits of short-term hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you:

·         Experience moderate to severe hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms

·         Have lost bone mass and either aren't able to tolerate other treatments or aren't benefitting from other treatments

·         Stopped having periods before age 40 (premature menopause) or lost normal function of your ovaries before age 40 (premature ovarian failure)

Women who experience premature menopause or premature ovarian failure have a different set of health risks compared with women who reach menopause near the average age of about 50, including:

·         A lower risk of breast cancer

·         A higher risk of osteoporosis

·         A higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD)

In addition, hormone therapy appears to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and CHD when started soon after menopause in young women. For women who reach menopause prematurely, the protective benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks.

Talk with your doctor about your personal risks.

Who should avoid hormone therapy?

Women with breast cancer, heart disease or a history of blood clots should probably not take hormone therapy for relief of menopause symptoms. Women who aren’t bothered by menopause symptoms should not take hormone therapy for prevention of memory loss or strokes. Instead, talk to your doctor about other medications you can take or lifestyle changes you can make for long-term protection from these conditions.

If you take hormone replacement therapy, how can you protect yourself from the added risks?

Talk to your doctor about these strategies:

·         Time it right. The risk of hormone therapy causing heart disease is not significantly raised in women under age 60. In fact, some studies suggest that estrogen may protect the heart when taken early in your menopausal years.

·         Minimize the amount of medication you take. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time needed to treat symptoms. If you have lasting, debilitating menopausal symptoms, your doctor may recommend longer term treatment, but will follow up regularly to ensure that the benefits of hormone therapy continue to outweigh the risks.

·         Find the best delivery method for you. You can take estrogen in the form of a pill, patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring that you place in your vagina. If you experience only isolated vaginal symptoms, estrogen in a vaginal cream, tablet or ring is usually a better choice than a pill or a skin patch. That's because estrogen applied directly to your vagina is more effective at a lower dose than is estrogen given in pill or skin patch form.

If you haven't had a hysterectomy and are using oral or skin patch hormone therapy, you will also need progestin, which is available in a pill, combination pill, vaginal gel, intrauterine device or combination skin patch. Your doctor can help you find the delivery method that offers the most benefits and convenience with the least risks and cost.

What can you do if you can't take hormone therapy?

Women shouldn't have to struggle through menopause. You may be able to manage your menopausal symptoms by making healthy lifestyle choices. In fact, your doctor may recommend that you change your exercise or eating habits before you try medication. If lifestyle changes aren't providing enough relief from bothersome symptoms, there are many medications besides hormone therapy to relieve discomfort.

The bottom line: Hormone therapy isn't all good or all bad

Clearly, hormone replacement therapy hasn't lived up to its billing as a panacea for age-related disease. But the news isn't all doom and gloom either.

The best way to determine if hormone replacement therapy is a good treatment option for you is to talk to your doctor about your individual symptoms and health risks. Be sure to keep the conversation going throughout your menopausal years. As researchers learn more about hormone therapy and other menopausal treatments, recommendations may change. Review your current treatments with your doctor on a regular basis to make sure they're still your best option.

Start early to encourage healthy eating

Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D. - Rejuvenate

Working with mothers-to-be and new moms, I field many questions about what foods are best to eat and which are best avoided.

My common response is, "Eat what you like." If you like spicy foods and can tolerate them while pregnant, eat them. Recipe calls for 2 cloves of garlic, but you usually add 4? Go for it.

Lots of nursing mothers wonder about broccoli, cauliflower and those other gassy veggies. Again, if you tolerate them and your baby tolerates them, keep eating them. If you think a food is making your baby fussy and gassy, don't eliminate it right away. To be sure it was that food, try it again, in a smaller amount.

My advice isn't just for moms. It's also good advice for their kids. In utero and while receiving mother's milk, a baby is also experiencing all those wonderful, unique flavors. Studies have shown that babies who are exposed to a variety of flavors are more likely to except these flavors later in life. To put it quite simply, if you want to have children who like a variety of foods, expose them early on. And keep exposing them to nutritious foods as toddlers and adolescents.

We all want to raise a healthier generation of kids — and if we lessen childhood obesity then we lessen the risk of chronic disease. Exposing kids to the flavors of vegetables, fruits and spices early is the first step to getting them to accept and eat more of these foods. This is a big win for parents and kids alike.

Think multitasking saves you time? Think again

Dr.Edward T. Creagan, M.D. - Rejuvenate

A short while ago, I was invited to speak before a professional audience. As happens on occasion, one or two colleagues came up to the stage and asked if they could have my presentation on a USB flash drive. Of course I agreed. The procedure to do this is somewhat complicated and requires some focus on my part.

As I was trying to accommodate this request, another colleague came up to me and asked some very complicated questions. When my computer nearly melted down, I realized that I couldn't simultaneously complete the task and respond to questions. I then had to spend precious time dealing with the technical tsunami I'd created for myself.

Let me give you another example of why staying focused is so vital. A week or so ago, my wife and I had blocked out several hours on our calendars to pack and prepare for a trip. Despite that, we both accepted a number of other commitments for this time. We became distracted. We lost focus and energy and, as a result, we failed to follow some basic rules of travel, such as making sure we had our passports, confirming flight times, and so on. As you can imagine, our trip was punctuated by a number of misadventures.

These experiences served to remind me of the importance of protecting my time so that I can focus on the task at hand. Some lessons take repeating, I guess. Can anyone relate?

Effective

Meningitis - What I must know

Mayo Clinic  - Rejuvenate

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord, usually due to the spread of an infection. The swelling associated with meningitis often triggers the "hallmark" signs and symptoms of this condition, including headache, fever and a stiff neck in anyone over the age of 2.  

Most cases of meningitis are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial and fungal infections also can lead to meningitis. Depending on the cause of the infection, meningitis can resolve on its own in a couple of weeks — or it can be a life-threatening emergency.

If you suspect that you or someone in your family has meningitis, seek medical care right away. Early treatment can prevent serious complications.

Symptoms

It's easy to mistake the early signs and symptoms of meningitis for the flu (influenza). Meningitis signs and symptoms may develop over several hours or over one or two days and, in anyone over the age of 2, typically include:

·         High fever

·         Severe headache that isn't easily confused with other types of headache

·         Stiff neck

·         Vomiting or nausea with headache

·         Confusion or difficulty concentrating — in the very young, this may appear as inability to maintain eye contact

·         Seizures

·         Sleepiness or difficulty waking up

·         Sensitivity to light

·         Lack of interest in drinking and eating

·         Skin rash in some cases, such as in viral or meningococcal meningitis

Signs in newborns
Newborns and infants may not have the classic signs and symptoms of headache and stiff neck. Instead, signs of meningitis in this age group may include:

·         High fever

·         Constant crying

·         Excessive sleepiness or irritability

·         Inactivity or sluggishness

·         Poor feeding

·         A bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby's head (fontanel)

·         Stiffness in a baby's body and neck

·         Seizures

Infants with meningitis may be difficult to comfort, and may even cry harder when picked up.

When to see a doctor
Seek medical care right away if you or someone in your family has signs or symptoms of meningitis, such as:

·         Fever

·         Severe, unrelenting headache

·         Confusion

·         Vomiting

·         Stiff neck

There's no way to know what kind of meningitis you or your child has without seeing your doctor and undergoing spinal fluid testing.

·         Viral meningitis may improve without treatment in a few days.

·         Bacterial meningitis is serious, can come on very quickly and requires prompt antibiotic treatment to improve the chances of a recovery without serious complications. Delaying treatment for bacterial meningitis increases the risk of permanent brain damage or death. In addition, bacterial meningitis can prove fatal in a matter of days.

Also talk to your doctor if a family member or someone you work with has meningitis. You may need to take medications to prevent getting sick.

Causes

Meningitis usually results from a viral infection, but the cause may also be a bacterial infection. Less commonly, a fungal infection may cause meningitis. Because bacterial infections are the most serious and can be life-threatening, identifying the source of the infection is an important part of developing a treatment plan.

Bacterial meningitis
Acute bacterial meningitis usually occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and migrate to the brain and spinal cord. But it can also occur when bacteria directly invade the meninges, as a result of an ear or sinus infection or a skull fracture.

A number of strains of bacteria can cause acute bacterial meningitis. The most common include:

·         Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). This bacterium is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in infants, young children and adults in the United States. It more commonly causes pneumonia or ear or sinus infections.

·         Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). This bacterium is another leading cause of bacterial meningitis. Meningococcal meningitis commonly occurs when bacteria from an upper respiratory infection enter your bloodstream. This infection is highly contagious. It affects mainly teenagers and young adults, and may cause local epidemics in college dormitories, boarding schools and military bases.

·         Haemophilus influenzae (haemophilus). Before the 1990s, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacterium was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. But new Hib vaccines — available as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule in the United States — have greatly reduced the number of cases of this type of meningitis. When it occurs, it tends to follow an upper respiratory infection, ear infection (otitis media) or sinusitis.

·         Listeria monocytogenes (listeria). These bacteria can be found almost anywhere — in soil, in dust and in foods that have become contaminated. Contaminated foods have included soft cheeses, hot dogs and luncheon meats. Many wild and domestic animals also carry the bacteria. Fortunately, most healthy people exposed to listeria don't become ill, although pregnant women, newborns and older adults tend to be more susceptible. Listeria can cross the placental barrier, and infections in late pregnancy may cause a baby to be stillborn or die shortly after birth. People with weakened immune systems, due to disease or medication effect, are most vulnerable.

Viral meningitis
Each year, viruses cause a greater number of cases of meningitis than do bacteria. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears on its own within two weeks. A group of viruses known as enteroviruses are responsible for about 30 percent of viral meningitis cases in the United States. As many viral meningitis episodes never have a specific virus identified as the cause.

The most common signs and symptoms of enteroviral infections are rash, sore throat, diarrhea, joint aches and headache. These viruses tend to circulate in late summer and early fall. Viruses such as herpes simplex virus, La Crosse virus, West Nile virus and others also can cause viral meningitis.

Chronic meningitis
Chronic forms of meningitis occur when slow-growing organisms invade the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain. Although acute meningitis strikes suddenly, chronic meningitis develops over two weeks or more. Nevertheless, the signs and symptoms of chronic meningitis — headaches, fever, vomiting and mental cloudiness — are similar to those of acute meningitis. This type of meningitis is rare.

Fungal meningitis
Fungal meningitis is relatively uncommon and causes chronic meningitis. Occasionally it can mimic acute bacterial meningitis. Cryptococcal meningitis is a common fungal form of the disease that affects people with immune deficiencies, such as AIDS. It's life-threatening if not treated with an antifungal medication.

Other meningitis causes
Meningitis can also result from noninfectious causes, such as drug allergies, some types of cancer and inflammatory diseases such as lupus.

Risk factors

Not completing the childhood vaccine schedule increases your risk of meningitis. So do a few other risk factors:

·         Age. Most cases of viral meningitis occur in children younger than age 5. In the past, bacterial meningitis also usually affected young children. But since the mid-1980s, as a result of the protection offered by current childhood vaccines, the median age at which bacterial meningitis is diagnosed has shifted from 15 months to 25 years.

·         Living in a community setting. College students living in dormitories, personnel on military bases, and children in boarding schools and child care facilities are at increased risk of meningococcal meningitis, probably because the bacterium is spread by the respiratory route and tends to spread quickly wherever large groups of susceptible teenagers or young adults congregate.

·         Pregnancy. If you're pregnant, you're at increased of contracting listeriosis — an infection caused by listeria bacteria, which may also cause meningitis. If you have listeriosis, your unborn baby is at risk, too.

·         Working with animals. People who work with domestic animals, including dairy farmers and ranchers, have a higher risk of contracting listeria, which can lead to meningitis.

·         Compromised immune system. Factors that may compromise your immune system — including AIDS, diabetes and use of immunosuppressant drugs — also make you more susceptible to meningitis. Removal of your spleen, an important part of your immune system, also may increase your risk.

Complications

The complications of meningitis can be severe. The longer you or your child has the disease without treatment, the greater the risk of seizures and permanent neurological damage, including:

·         Hearing loss

·         Blindness

·         Memory difficulty

·         Loss of speech

·         Learning disabilities

·         Behavior problems

·         Brain damage

·         Paralysis

Other complications may include:

·         Kidney failure

·         Adrenal gland failure

·         Shock

·         Death

Tests and diagnosis

Your family doctor or pediatrician can diagnose meningitis based on a medical history, a physical exam and certain diagnostic tests. During the exam, your doctor may check for signs of infection around the head, ears, throat and the skin along the spine. You or your child may undergo the following diagnostic tests:

·         Blood cultures. Blood drawn from a vein is sent to a laboratory and placed in a special dish to see if it grows microorganisms, particularly bacteria. A sample may also be placed on a slide to which stains are added (Gram's stain), then examined under a microscope for bacteria.

·         Imaging. X-rays and computerized tomography (CT) scans of the head, chest or sinuses may reveal swelling or inflammation. These tests can also help your doctor look for infection in other areas of the body that may be associated with meningitis.

·         Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). The definitive diagnosis of meningitis is often made by analyzing a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is collected during a procedure known as a spinal tap. In people with meningitis, the CSF fluid often shows a low sugar (glucose) level along with an increased white blood cell count and increased protein. CSF analysis may also help your doctor identify the exact bacterium that's causing the illness. It can take up to a week to get these test results, If your doctor suspects meningitis, he or she may order a DNA-based test known as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to check for the presence of viral causes of meningitis. This may provide results about your meningitis in as little as four hours and help to determine proper treatment.

If you have chronic meningitis caused by cancer or an inflammatory illness, you may need additional tests.

Treatments and drugs

The treatment depends on the type of meningitis you or your child has.

Bacterial meningitis
Acute bacterial meningitis requires prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics and, more recently, cortisonelike medications, to ensure recovery and reduce the risk of complications. The antibiotic or combination of antibiotics that your doctor may choose depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection. Your doctor may recommend a broad-spectrum antibiotic until he or she can determine the exact cause of the meningitis.

If you or your child has bacterial meningitis, your doctor may also recommend treatments for:

·         Brain swelling

·         Shock

·         Convulsions

·         Dehydration

Infected sinuses or mastoids — the bones behind the outer ear that connect to the middle ear — may need to be drained. Infected fluid that has accumulated between the skull and the membranes that surround the brain also may need to be drained surgically.

Viral meningitis
Antibiotics can't cure viral meningitis, and most cases improve on their own in a week or two without therapy. Treatment of mild cases of viral meningitis usually includes:

·         Bed rest

·         Plenty of fluids

·         Over-the-counter pain medications to help reduce fever and relieve body aches

If the cause of your meningitis is a herpes virus, there's an antiviral medication available.

Other types of meningitis
If the cause of your meningitis is unclear, your doctor may start antiviral and antibiotic treatment while a cause is being determined.

Fungal meningitis treatments are associated with harmful side effects, so treatment is often deferred until a laboratory can confirm the cause is fungal.

Non-infectious meningitis due to allergic reaction or autoimmune disease may be treated with cortisonelike medications. In some cases, no treatment may be required, because the condition can resolve on its own. Cancer related meningitis requires therapy for the individual cancer.

Prevention

Meningitis typically results from contagious infections. Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette. You're also at increased risk if you live or work with someone who has the disease.

These steps can help prevent meningitis:

·         Wash your hands. Careful hand washing is important to avoiding exposure to infectious agents. Teach your children to wash their hands often, especially before they eat and after using the toilet, spending time in a crowded public place or petting animals. Show them how to wash their hands vigorously, covering both the front and back of each hand with soap and rinsing thoroughly under running water.

·         Stay healthy. Maintain your immune system by getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

·         Cover your mouth. When you need to cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and nose.

·         If you're pregnant, take care with food. Reduce your risk of listeriosis if you're pregnant by cooking meat thoroughly and avoiding cheeses made from unpasteurized milk.

Immunizations
Some forms of bacterial meningitis are preventable with the following vaccinations:

·         Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. Children in the United States routinely receive this vaccine as part of the recommended schedule of vaccines, starting at about 2 months of age. The vaccine is also recommended for some adults, including those who have sickle cell disease or AIDS and those who don't have a spleen.

·         Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). This vaccine is also part of the regular immunization schedule for children younger than 2 years in the United States. In addition, it's recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 5 who are at high risk of pneumococcal disease, including children who have chronic heart or lung disease or cancer.

·         Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV). Older children and adults who need protection from pneumococcal bacteria may receive this vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the PPSV vaccine for all adults older than 65, for younger adults and children who have weak immune systems or chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes or sickle cell anemia, and for those who don't have a spleen.

·         Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that a single dose of MCV4 be given to children ages 11 to 12 or to any children ages 11 to 18 who haven't yet been vaccinated. However, this vaccine can be given to younger children who are at high risk of bacterial meningitis or who have been exposed to someone with the disease. It's approved for use in children as young as 9 months old. It's also used to vaccinate healthy people who have been exposed in outbreaks but have not been previously vaccinated.

HAPPY ONAM

Rejuvenate greets you a HAPPY ONAM

Dog is no longer man's best friend!

Times of India,  Melissa D'costa

With the advent of tablet PCs and digital newspapers, you don't even need your faithful dog to fetch your morning paper for you anymore.
According to the findings of a new UK study, around 67 per cent of the people polled believed that their PC or other gadget had replaced the dog as their faithful companion. Sheena Thomas, a working professional who is married to a software technician, claims the findings of the study mirror what's happening in her life, "My husband and I cannot have kids. Our pet dog Ginger became a replacement for that void in our lives. However, my husband's addiction to the internet changed that. He started neglecting us; he had no time to attend to our dog's needs or mine." So, is this the end of the road for man's original best friend?
"It definitely looks that way," says clinical psychologist Seema Hingorrany, adding, "Human beings have become slaves to technology and gadgets. Smart phones, laptops, XBoxes and Playstations are just some of the many gadgets that have become an integral part of their lives. Addiction to gadgets is on the rise; so much so that people feel incomplete or lost without them."

Dr Kurien S Thomas, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, counsellor and wellness therapist adds, "I think more than the PC or laptop, it's cellphones that have become man's new best friends. People feel handicapped without their cellphone. I remember dealing with a patient who had come to me for counselling but forgot his cellphone at home. He was so restless during my interaction with him. He only settled down once he got his cellphone back. One of the main reasons for this kind of dependence on gadgets is that we can carry them with us 24/7, while there are restrictions on where we can take our pets. These are not applicable to our gadgets. Besides they are low maintenance and keep us occupied and entertained."
Even though it looks like the ever-faithful dog is taking a backseat, they still have a role to play in our lives and no gadget or gizmo can replace them believes Dr Hitesh Swali. The vet comes down heavily on the study, slamming it saying, "This poll ignores the fact that you simply can't compare an inanimate object to a pet. A computer and a dog can never be compared because you cannot receive love or affection from a gadget. You can't replace a pet with a gizmo. While I don't deny that some people are so pre-occupied with gadgets that they don't have time for a pet, that does not mean that people will stop keeping one or that they have been replaced by a gadget simply because they are two different entities that serve very different needs."

To forgive is to heal

If forgiveness is divine, as Alexander Pope once wrote it was, then it is an aspect of the religious that we are called on to imitate, as much for our own good as for that of others. 

When we are wounded by someone's thoughtlessness, rejection or deliberate cruelty, we have two options before us: We can try to get even or pretend that we haven't been hurt. The other option is to forgive.

Newspaper Agony Aunt Abigail Van Buren of "Dear Abby" fame once asked women readers if any of them had forgiven an unfaithful husband and had since had a happy marriage. The response was overwhelming. One woman wrote: "What a grand and glorious thing it is to rise above the pain." Others admitted that it wasn't easy to forgive, but they consistently recommended "the rewards of forgiveness, the futility of harbouring a grudge" had made them do the unthinkable, that is, to forgive. 

The most popular misconception about forgiveness is that when we forgive, we forget. Most of the time, we don't forget. The woman who forgives her husband's philandering is not asked to forget his weakness, but rather not to let the negative behaviour direct their lives and stand in the way of building emotional bridges.

Try forgiving a friend who betrays your confidence, or a co-worker who lies about you. When the real effort of forgiveness takes place, it's not easy at all; instinct urges us to pay back in kind. There is usually a pause between the anguish and the time when trust and love can take root again. Forgiveness is part of a process that begins with suffering and ends, as its final and long-range goal, with the event of reconciliation. It works only when we become aware of the depths and causes of the anger burning in us so that we can forgive wholeheartedly and ensure an enduring peace. A particularly helpful exercise in the process of forgiveness is to try to understand the one who is wounding us as a person, and not just as the cause of our pain.

Forgiveness should come from within, and not be a mere show of magnanimity; it should help the forgiver in all future dealings with the person who is forgiven.

A declaration of forgiveness may appear as naive, weak, utopian - sometimes even outrageous. Indeed, those were the sentiments of many members of theDexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama, USA. The parishioners had endured harassments, threats, beatings and even house bombings. They gathered in 1955 at Dexter for guidance from their pastor, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. His message was simple: When Jesus said, "Love your enemy, he meant every word of it. We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity."

We cannot escape from this prison of birth and death until we have cleared our karmic account; Jesus said we should ask forgiveness of those we have wronged, while we are still living in this world.

Forgiveness depends on the situation and the people involved. In the end, all forgivers do the same thing: they restore self-worth to the offender, they cancel a debt; they experience such peace that they lose the urge to retaliate, and live as freer persons, unshackled by the weight of the suffering.