August 14, 2009
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OvercomeBullying.org Newsletter #007
Bullies are a Disgrace and a Menace
Hi,
Bullying is despicable behavior that is not engaged in by people with any kind of integrity or decency. That is why it is particularly shocking when we hear of those who engage in this type of behavior in places that we expect better of. For example, the teaching and health care fields are notorious for bullying. But what about when bullying happens at your church? I suppose it should come as no surprise that bullying is everywhere. So to is another form of bullying, domestic violence...
One of the members of our support group brought up an issue related to domestic violence that is heartbreaking, especially for animal lovers. As if abusing loved ones wasn't bad enough some domestic violence offenders threaten, abuse and even kill the family pets as a tool of manipulation and revenge. As a result animal rescue shelters are now beginning to offer temporary help for those fleeing domestic violence by providing foster homes to protect their pets as well.
Have you read my new e-book "What Every Target of Workplace Bullying Needs to Know"? If so please send me your opinion of it so I can make improvements. If you liked it send me your glowing testimonial. ;-) By the way, if you haven't downloaded it yet it is fr'ee to subscribers. Here's the link to the PDF file.
With your help we'll keep growing and improving OvercomeBullying.org and continue to make a difference.
All the Best,
Anton Hout
Founder, OvercomeBullying.org
Please forward this newsletter to anyone you feel would also benefit from this information. Thank you for your help in spreading the word.
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In This Issue:
- OvercomeBullying.org Virtual Meeting Space in Second Life
- Pets Threatened in Domestic Violence Situations
- Bullying in the Church
- Different Methods of Anxiety Treatment
- Thought for Today
OvercomeBullying.org Virtual Meeting Space in Second Life
Are you in Second Life? You can drop by and visit me in Azalea (18, 187, 79).
My Second Life name is Zed Goodliffe, and I hope to see you there...
I've set up a location in Second Life where we can meet and chat in real time. (SL now supports voice communication if you have a microphone!) We can meet on the deck beside the SBI-Classroom.com building. (That's one of my other websites.) If there's enough interest (and we can deal with time zone differences) maybe we can have a virtual support group.
If you haven't heard of Second Life, it's a 3D Virtual World where the imagination is the limit. When you sign up for a free account you create your own avatar and explore SL. You can build a home, build a business or just socialize and have fun. SL is whatever you want to make of it.
I hope to see you there... If you already have the Second Life software on your computer you can enter the following special URL into your regular browser and it will take you to a page that lets you teleport right to our location. Heres the "SLurl":
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Azalea/18/187/79/
>> You Can Also Find This Information on Our Contact Page Here
Pets Threatened in Domestic Violence Situations
Are You a Victim of Domestic Violence and are You Also Afraid for the Safety of Your Pets?
If you are the victim of domestic violence and you have concerns for the safety of your pets — help is available. Those who harm or threaten to harm animals are demontrating their willingness to resort to violence. Even if you have not yet been assaulted if someone is threatening to or has harmed your pets you are in danger.
It is a difficult decision to leave while knowing your pets may be harmed in retaliation. However, there may be a program in your area that can help. For example the Calgary Humane Society offers a program to help you leave an abusive situation while also providing for the needs of your pets and protect them too.
The Humane Society's Pet Safekeeping Program "provides short-term housing at no charge for animals belonging to individuals in crisis due to family violence or abuse. The Pet Safekeeping Program offers safety planning and support to victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable individuals - providing a safe alternative to remaining in a situation that is dangerous to both themselves and their pets."
Of course it's good if you have family and freinds who can help but if you don't have that option contact your crisis shelter or social worker and ask if they can refer you to the Human Society's Pet Safekeeping Program.
If that program is not available in your area you may direct them to the Calgary Humane Society to learn about the program and consider starting one there.
>> For more information visit www.calgaryhumane.ca
Bullying in the Church: What I Know About Church Bullying
Margaret W. Jones, Ph.D., author of the book "Not of My Making" discusses a form of bullying that seems at odds with its venue. Just like bullying that takes place in the caring professions like healthcare and bullying in volunteer organizations it is surprising and disconcerting that bullying happens in churches. However, as we have learned the pious are often anything but paragons of virtue and they twist their sanctimonious beliefs into the worst kind of justification to savage everyone around them.
Margaret shares with us some of her thoughts on bullying in the church and introduces us to her new book "Not of My Making".
Different Methods of Anxiety Treatment
There are many different types of anxiety disorders, each of which requires a specific anxiety treatment. Some of the different types that commonly affect a large number of people include:
• panic disorder
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder
• social anxiety
• phobias of different items, situations, and locations
There is no one anxiety treatment that works for all of these types, which is why a medical doctor has to assess the patient to determine the type of anxiety he/she is suffering from. While the symptoms of anxiety may be the same, this does not mean that the same treatment will be effective for different individuals. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and it is possible that no treatment is needed.
It is quite common for people to become worried or anxious about a specific situation. They do know what they are worried about and recognize the symptoms of anxiety for what they are. In this way, they are able to deal with their feelings and symptoms without needing any anxiety treatment from a professional. It is when the anxiety develops into something more serious that has an effect on the patient’s quality of life that a person has to seek treatment.
The doctor or psychiatrist discusses the symptoms with the patient and may even interview the family of the patient to get further information. It is essential to try to identify the root cause of the anxiety in order to determine the most effective method of treatment. Patients who experience episodes of panic disorder are not typically able to pinpoint anything in particular that triggers these episodes that strike without warning.
Choosing the method of anxiety treatment for such a patient is usually done with a consultation between the doctor and the patient. In some cases, medication is used as a short term treatment and the patient is reassessed at regular intervals. Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medications for this type of anxiety. Patients with obsessive compulsive disorder have an uncontrollable need to repeat an action over and over.
They also have disturbing thoughts, which are called obsessions. Medication is often prescribed to help the patient feel better about different situations and to help control the thoughts. However, the most effective anxiety treatment for this disorder has been cognitive behavior therapy in which the patient is exposed to the source of the obsession and learns how to respond in a healthy manner. This treatment helps to retrain the brain to respond in a different manner so that the person no longer feels compelled to repeat certain actions.
Anxiety treatment for generalized anxiety disorder involves teaching the patients techniques of self-help in which they can recognize the symptoms of panic and anxiety and calm themselves, thus reducing the symptoms. The treatment can consist of practicing daily relaxation techniques, making changes to one’s lifestyle and practicing meditation. There are also three types of medication prescribed for this type of anxiety, which include anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants.
Psychological counseling is used as anxiety treatment for those suffering from social anxiety. At times, depending on how debilitating the disorder is in a patient, antidepressants may be prescribed to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Phobias are usually treated with exposure therapy in which the patient is exposed to the source of the fear with increasing frequency until the patient is able to cope when presented with the object, situation, or location.
One of the best tools I have found to help reduce stress and anxiety are the biofeedback system and interactive computer games developed by Wild Divine.
I have used them myself and can attest to their effectiveness. While the interactive world you experience in their series of games is absolutely beautiful with lush gardens, pavillions and palaces you are also instructed by many guides throughout the games that teach you how to control your breathing, mind and body to effectively acheive deeper states of relaxation. These tools are not only available while using the biofeedback hardware and software. You can use the lessons learned anywhere and help you reduce stress, protect your health and deal with the bullying by allowing you to recognize how your emotional responses trigger stress in your body.
You can then use the exercises you've learned in the game to interrupt the stress cycle and regain your sense of calm and sanity. I highly recommend you give Wild Divine and Healing Rhythms a try. It is well worth it. Some have resisted getting the system because the initial purchase includes the biofeedback hardware and finger sensors and they feel it is too expensive. However, compared to the cost of not dealing with stress and the real damage that is being done to your health as well as the real possibility of losing your job, your career and even your home (as happened in my case) a system that helps you deal with that and even avoid a worst-case-scenario is downright cheap!
I wish I had found Wild Divine and learned how to deal with the stress of bullying and it might have given me the edge I needed.
Thought for Today
"If everyone is in agreement to condemn someone accused,
release him, for he must be innocent.".
~ Talmudic Principle