Understanding and Dealing with Difficult Problems and Events?No Pain, No Gain
Understanding and Dealing with Difficult Problems and Events?No Pain, No Gain
Have you ever questioned why you went through a difficult situation in your life? Most of us consider that such events are bad luck. However, I would like to offer an alternative approach to understanding obstacles.
To keep your physical body in shape, what have you found most beneficial? Do you work out with weights? The resistance of the weight causes your muscles to build, making you more fit, does it not? In addition, have you discovered the process to be hard and painful? The catchphrase, “No pain, no gain” is an exercise motto that describes the process of working out and experiencing muscle aches repeatedly in order to gain muscle.
Could you apply the same analogy for maintaining your spiritual being? I will use my life as an example. I endured a great deal during my life, including a childhood rape, inappropriate sexual contact from an alcoholic father, growing up in a dysfunctional family, being stalked and pursued by others and dealing with numerous debilitating illnesses. To tell you the truth, it was not, by any means fun. In fact, it was downright painful. However, even though I went through a lot of suffering, I did survive and eventually, grew. In weight-lifting terms, without my pain, there was no gain.
Many people, looking at my life from the outside, have stated to me that they think the events in my life were so horrific that they could not believe that I could write about my experiences. However, despite other’s concern, I have indeed written about my experiences and the healing from them. Why would I do this? It is because I have grown to a deeper appreciation of those trials. Had it not been for those challenges, I would not have the opportunity to learn that a person could not only survive such adversity, but can also be happy despite such events. In addition, because of those tribulations, my spiritual being has been enhanced, as I have come to rely on the spirit more fully, in the form of heightened intuition.
Since I am happy, I feel it is appropriate to share my story with others in similar situations. Had my life been different, with no adversity, I would not be able to reveal to others my healing from such hardships. Without the trying times I went through, I would not be where I am at today. Therefore, the ‘No pain, no gain’ philosophy applies to my spiritual well-being, as difficulties in my life were necessary for my spiritual ascension. More importantly, by communicating my story, I have been allowed a chance to help others with their own spiritual climb.
Copyright Statement:
This article was written by Cindy L. Herb and may be reproduced on any related website provided the text is not changed in any form and this copyright statement is displayed unedited in its entirety at the foot of the article and you use the exact same HTML code to ensure a clickable link back to the author’s site. Further articles are also available. Contact the author for more information. Copyright 2009 Cindy L. Herb, http://www.cherbchronicles.com. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Cindy L. Herb, author of Awakening the Spirit: The Open Wide Like a Floozy Chronicles, specializes in Mind, Body, and Spirit healing, and Physical/Sexual Abuse Recovery. As an inspirational speaker, Cindy L. Herb offers others an alternative approach to healing from any trauma through a simple, proven process. To download your FREE report, Some Helpful Steps to Healing, please visit the author’s website at http://www.cherbchronicles.com. You can also follow cherbchronicles on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cherbchronicles. In addition, you can request Cindy L. Herb as a friend on Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube.
Understanding the Causes of Hair Loss
Understanding the Causes of Hair Loss
Causes of hair loss in brief
Statistically, it has been found that every two out of three men and one out of five women suffer from hair loss. There are various reasons which contribute to the hair loss in men. Hair loss in men is typically caused by the effects of the male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on scalp hair follicles. It is commonly believed that the hair loss in men occurs from the maternal side of the family. It is because the factors on the x-chromosome strongly influence the hair loss. However, the fact behind the hair loss is that the condition can be inherited from either parent. Improper diet, use of certain medications and some illnesses are also found to cause hair loss problem in men. The most common cause of hair loss in men is androgenetic alopecia or androgenetic hair loss. Androgenetic hair loss is caused by three interdependent factors:
* Hormones
* Genes
* Aging
Let us see in detail how these factors influence hair loss in men.
Hormones
Hormones are the biochemical substances that are produced in various glands throughout our body. These glands secrete their products directly into the bloodstream which are then spread to the different parts of our body. They are usually present in minute amount but are very much effective for the proper growth of our body organs.
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Testosterone is a major male sex hormone, which are produced by the testicles. These hormones are responsible for bringing various changes in our body such as sperm production, change in voice, development of sex drive, growth of axillary and pubic hair and change in the basic body shape. These hormones are the major cause of acne and beard growth. These hormones are also associated with the emergence of baldness in males. The presence of androgen, testosterone and its related hormone DHT cause some follicles to regress and die. DHT is found to decrease the length of the growing cycle of hair and increase the resting phase. As a result, the person frequently sheds his hair and becomes the victim of hair loss. It is interesting to know that scalp hair growth does not depend on androgen level but the hair loss does.
Genes
There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in every person, one set of chromosome from each parent. Out of these, genes that are located on the X or Y-chromosomes are called as sex-linked genes and the rest as autosomal. It is believed that autosomal genes govern the common baldness. Hence, it is said that the genes for baldness can be inherited equally from the either parents. Although it has been found that some genes are responsible for certain types of hair loss in men, but the exact genes for male pattern baldness remain unexplained.
Age
Along with the genes and hormonal factors, aging also contribute to the hair loss in men. As the person grow old, his body come across various changes that cause hair loss either directly or indirectly. Hair loss in men varies on person to person depending on their genetic composition and levels of testosterone in bloodstream. With the passing age, a person’s total hair volume keeps on decreasing.
If the exact causes behind the hair loss are determined in the early stages, treatments can prove beneficial to counteract the problem.
Get tips, recipes and products on Hair care at Healthizen.com.
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Understanding The Norwood Scale Of Hair Loss Treatment For Men !
Understanding The Norwood Scale Of Hair Loss Treatment For Men !
As with almost all problems in life, the sooner you can confront hair loss the better off you will be. Here is some good news: even hair follicles which are not producing noticeable hair can still be saved if they have not actually died.
It is a problem which requires a strategic solution. What is the best first step of any great plan? Determine where you are starting from and what you assets are.
Since men’s hairstyles are typically shorter and leave less room for “camouflage”, you may have already been seeing each fallen hair as a ticking time bomb. You may have been staying up late and spending every spare moment researching male hair loss treatment options.
Before you get started down the wrong path, there is something you should know. Different treatment techniques will have different results depending on how advanced your hair loss is.
This is why it is important to learn evaluate your hair against the Norwood Scale of Hair Loss.
The Norwood Scale
The scale itself is not very complicated. It is how you interpret the results that matters. The Norwood Scale is universally accepted as the standard for evaluating the progress of male and female pattern baldness.
There are essentially 7 progressive stages in the Norwood Scale. Because some men first start losing their hair on their crown and others on their temple, each stage has two versions accordingly. Nevertheless, it should not be difficult to determine where your hair is at.
Stage 1- Most men never realize they have hair loss at this stage. They may not have noticed any excess shedding. More importantly, there is probably no noticeable thinning anywhere on your head unless you have been closely examining it for years.
Stage 2 - The hair loss is becoming evident, though probably only to you. This may have been when you first started researching hair loss treatment for men. While the hair is still retaining its overall shape, either the crown or the temples is noticeably thinner.
Stage 3 - At this point, the hair line may have clearly moved away from its original position, leaving only baby-fine hairs behind. You may also begin to notice some thinning on the back of your head at this point.
Stage 4 - The thinning hair on top of your head and the thinning on the back of your head are moving toward one another. The hair between the two areas is becoming increasingly bare.
Stage 5 - The area between the two spots has clearly merged into one balding zone. However, there are still normal hairs sparsely found in this area.
Stage 6 - There are only baby-fine hairs on top of your head and moving down to an area level with the top of your ears. Essentially, this is the hair’s last chance at survival.
Stage 7 - The hair on most of your head has finally died. There are no more baby-fine hairs. The follicles have shrunken and disappeared completely, leaving only slick, shiny, smooth skin.
Translating The Norwood Scale
That was pretty simple, right? You should be able to give your hair loss an accurate number. Now, here is what that number means. Unless you are a number 7, your hair is still alive. It can still be saved, so it is time to explore how your number affects hair loss treatment for men.
First, a hair loss 101. Hair loss is a symptom of bigger health issues. Treat those issues, you stop the hair fall. Pills only treat the symptoms.
For some men hair loss treatment drugs have some benefits, but because the greater problem is not addressed they really only keep the problem at bay. Eventually, it will catch up to you and the hair loss will accelerate.
Anyone from stages 1 to 6 will have the best results using a natural, holistic approach to solve the deeper health problems which led to hair loss.
Some people at stage 5 or 6 may benefit taking extra pro-hair supplements and cleansing herbs to jumpstart the holistic healing process and prevent further hair loss.
Someone at stage 7 typically has only hair transplant available to them as an option. However, there are important things to know about this therapy.
First, there are only a handful of surgeons in this world who have a high success record for this surgery.
Secondly, it often takes many repeated treatments. Third, and most importantly, if you have not addressed the underlying health problem the transplanted follicle will eventually die as well.
Naturally, the lower your Norwood number is the more treatment options you have open to you. The lower the number the more quickly you will see results. The lower the number the more your hair will return to its original healthy, full state because the less hair has completely died.
However, no matter what your number, have real hope. You can save your living hair as long as you take action now.
No matter what your Norwood number, there is no reason to delay. So, before you advance to a higher number get a copy of The Hair Loss Black Book. With great but easily understood detail, the book will lay out a game plan to correct the problems causing your hair loss, reverse the shedding, and actually re-grow hair.
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