Juvenile-HD

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JHD Handbook-Chapter 1
JHD Info-Stanford Univ.
Physician's Guide To HD
Caring for People with HD
Physical & Occupational Therapy In HD
Understanding Behaviour in HD-Dr. Jane Paulsen
Understanding Behavioral-Dr. Edmond Chiu
Advanced Stages Caregivers Handbook
First Shift-Certified Nursing Assistants
Activities of Daily Living-HD
Unified HD Rating Scale (UHDRS) Motor Section
Westphal Variant
SECTION 1 - AT RISK
Age & Probability Chart
At Risk For HD-What Next?
At-Risk Checklist
Best Interest of Child?
Crystal Ball?
Food For Thought
Parent Hasn't Tested?
Q&A On Risk of Inheriting JHD
Testing Children
SECTION 2 - GENETIC TESTING
Genetic Disorders & Birth Defects
Genetic Testing for HD
Genetic Counseling-In General
Psychological Impact
Intro: Genetics/Genetic Testing
Prenatal & Preimplanation
Prenatal Testing-In General
o Genetic Testing Resources
o Personal Stories
SECTION 3 - JHD
Coping With The Early Years
Age of HD Appearance
Age of Onset-Historical
Family-HD Underestimated
Children of Parents With HD
Child~Parent Ill
Clinical Description JHD
HD - What Kids Are Saying
HD & Me
JHD-Duration of Illness
JHD-Clinical and Research
JHD Symptoms
Parenting With HD
Patients/Families Coping
Talking With Children About HD
5 Stages of HD
JHD Resources
SECTION 4 - SYMPTOM RECOGNITION
Parent Resources
8 Fears of A Chronic Illness
Anxiety/Apathy/Irritability~HD
Anxiety, Fears & Phobias
Apathy-Physician's Guide
Ataxia
Attention-Perceptual/Unawareness Physician's Guide
Bed/Pressure Sores
Bed/Pressure Ulcer Guideline
Behavior Management
Bi-Polar Disorders
Botulinum toxin therapy
Bradykinesia
Caring Tips
Child Abuse-Reconizing Signs
Chorea-Physician's Guide
Chorea
Cognitive/Decision Making/Impulsivity
Cognitive-Short Tips
Contractures~Joints Locking
Dehydration-Physician's Guide
Dehydration
Delirium
Denial of HD
Depression~Physician's Guide
Depression-Understanding It
Depression-How To Help
Depression - Treatment Resistant Patient
Depression-Other Resources
-Read If Your Child Is On Antidepressant
Disgust - Impaired Recognition in HD
Dissociative disorders
Driving - Physician's Guide
Dyslexia
Dyslexia Resources
Dystonia
Dystonia/Rigidity & Spasticity Physician's Guide
Dystonia-Predominant Adult-Onset HD
Epileptic Seizures and Epilepsy
Epilepsy-Seizures~PG
-Seizures ~Special Populations
Falling~Safety
Falling - Subdural Hematoma Risk
Fevers - Unexplained
Fevers, sweating & menstural cycles in HD
GERD (Stomach)
HD Principle Treatments
Hallucinations/Psychosis~PGHD
Hand muscle reflexes in HD
Hypothalamus - A Personal Theory
Insomia ~Physician's Guide
Irritability~Temper Outburst Physician's Guide
Learning Disability
Mania/OCD~Physician's Guide
Mood Disorder Rate In HD
Myoclonus (Movements)
Nails-What To Look For
Night Terrors
Obsessive Compulsive OCD
Panic Disorder
Personality disorders
Pneumonia
Pneumonia-Advanced Stages
Pneumonia - Aspirated (Inhaled)
Prosody - Social Impairment
Sexuality~Physician's Guide
Skins Sensitivity
Sleep Disorders
Smoking-Physician's Guide
Spasticity
Stress
Tremors
Why Certain Symptoms Occur
Symptom & Treatment Resources
SECTION 5 - COMMUNICATION
Communication Resources
Communication Problems
Communication Strategies For HD~Jeff Searle
SECTION 6 - EATING/SWALLOWING/NUITRITION
Hints For Weight Loss in HD
HD & Diet~HSA Fact Sheet 7
Nutrients: Some Possible Deficiency Symptoms
Nutrition and HD~Anna Gaba (Recipes)
Nutrition Information In HD~Naomi Lundeen
Speech & Swallowing~Lynn Rhodes
Swallowing & Nutrition Physician's Guide To HD
Swallowing & Nuitrition Resources
Swallowing Warning Signs
5 Swallowing Problems
Taste changes in HD
Weight Gain
Resources-Drinks/Shakes
-Feeding Tubes~Advanced Stages of HD
-Feeding Tube~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tubes: One More Word ~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tubes & Baby Foods
-Feeding Tube~Dental Care
-Feeding Tube Instructions~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tube Resources
SECTION 7 - THERAPIES
Finding a Therapist - Behavoir
What Is A Physiotherapist?
Physical Therapy In HD
Speech-Language Therapy
Therapy Descriptions
Therapy Resources- Easter Seal
Therapy Resources
SECTION 8 - MEDICATIONS
HD Treatments
Medications-Movement Disorders
Medication/Emergency Info Forms
Cutting Prescriptions
Drugs-Look 'Em Up
-Adolescents Under 25
-Antidepressant Adverse Effects
-Anti-psychotic
-Anxiety-Antidepressant
A-Z Mental Health Drugs
-Creatine
-EPA~Fish Oil
-Haldol/Haloperidol - Clinical Sheet
-Haldol~Clinician Description
-Haldol & HD
-Haldol/HD Patient Experiences
-Haldol~ Patient Handout
-Mood Stabilizers: ASK 3 Questions
-Neuroleptic Malignant Synd WARNING
-Olanzipine-Risperidone/blood tests
-Celexa/Luvox/Paxil/Prozac/Zoloft
-Psychiatric Drugs & Children
Sertraline ~Zoloft
-Spasticity Meds/Treatments
-SSRI Medications
-Tardive Dyskinesia WARNING
-Weight Gain Medications
-Sites/Help the Medicine Go Down
-Vitamin & Mineral Deficiencies
SECTION 9 - SURGERIES
Surgery-Movement Disorders
o Surgery Resources
SECTION 10 - PROCEDURES
Clinic Visits-How To Prepare
CT Scans, MRI's etc.
Swallowing Tests
Tests Commonly Used
o Procedures Resources
SECTION 11- ALCOHOL/DRUGS
Alcohol-Parent's Guide
Alcohol-Talking To Your Child
Drugs-What To Do?
Drugs-Talking To Your Child
Disciplining-Ages 0-13 & Up
SECTION 12- SUICIDE
Straight Talk On Suicide
Teen Suicide-You Need To Know
o Suicide Resources
SECTION 13 - DIVORCE
Divorce & Child Stress
Tips For Divorcing Parents
SECTION 14 - DISABILITY ISSUES
Guides To Disability Issues
Caring-Child & Medical Technology
Caring for a Seriously Ill Child
Child Long Term Illness
Disability-Special Education Plan
IFSP Early Intervention Process
Disability Resources
Financial Planning
Wishes Can Come True-Children's Wish Foundations
Special Needs Resources
Special Needs Camp - About
Special Needs Camp - Finding One
SECTION 15 - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Child Assistive Technology
Adaptive Equipment Resources
Products
SECTION 16 - EMOTIONAL ISSUES
Signs of Unhealthy Self-Esteem
Emotional Behavior Links
o Emotional Support Resources
SECTION 17 - GRIEF
Helping Child Deal With Death
o Grief Addtional Resources
SECTION 18 - ADD/ADHD
ADD & Teens
Conduct Disorders
FAQS & Related Info
Understanding AD/HD
What Is AD/HD?
Research Articles
Resources
SECTION 19 - HD SUPPORT GROUPS
HD Support Groups
National Youth Association
SECTION 20 - HD LINKS
HD Links
Related Resources
Tips For Friends
SECTION 21 - BENEFITS/INSURNACE
HD Disability
Benefits Check UP - See What You Can Get
Medical Insurance Bureau's Facts On You!
Medicare-Medicaid
Medicare Rights-Home Health & Hospice
Medicare Rights Center Resources
No Insurance? Try This!
Prescription Drug Cards Part I
Prescription Drug Cards Part II
Social Security-Children With Disabilities
SECTION 22 - ARTICLES/JHD
JHD and ADD
SECTION 23 - CAREGIVING
Articles-Resources
Caregiver Self-Assessment
Caregiver's Handbook
"First Shift With A Person With HD"
Getting Respite Care/Help At Home
Helpful Forms-Info
Home Emergency Preparations
Symptom Management
Ten Tips
Useful Tools
SECTION 24 - BIO
Our Personal Experience
Coping At The End
Kelly E. Miller
Song & Verse
Letter From My Heart
GUESTBOOK
Straight Talk On Suicide

INDEX Page

Important Resources:
 
Suicide Prevention Resources
Call: (212) 459-2611
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention   http://www.afsp.org
This group is dedicated to advancing the knowledge of suicide and the ability to prevent it.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry  http://www.aacap.org
The AACAP Web site offers up-to-date information on child and adolescent development and issues.
Infoline  http://www.infoline.org
Infoline is a phone-based information, referral, and crisis intervention service.
SA\VE - Suicide Awareness\Voices of Education http://www.save.org
SA\VE offers information on suicide prevention. Call (800) SUICIDE
"I didn't know," says Jessica as she wipes her nose with a tissue and huddles closer to her friends outside of the school. "He did seem really sad lately - and I mean, he said some weird things about finding the gun in his dad's house, but no one thought too much about it." Her friend Megan agrees. "Yeah, he was talking about his parents' divorce and things like that, but who doesn't?"

Although being a teenager can mean having some great moments, it can also mean having moments like Jessica's. Teenage suicide is becoming more common every year in the United States. In fact, only car accidents and homicides (murders) kill more people between the ages of 15 and 24, making suicide the third leading cause of death in teens.

As with anything else, it's important to know about suicide in order to prevent it, even if reading about it can be upsetting. Keep reading to learn about what puts a teenager at risk for suicide, the warning signs of someone who may be planning to commit suicide, and how to get help for yourself or a friend. You'll also learn what to do if you find yourself in Jessica's shoes and need to cope with the suicide of a friend or classmate.

Changing Times
Even though some adults in your life might not agree, being a teenager is not easy. You're stuck between being a kid and an adult - sometimes feeling like one or the other, depending on the day. You have new things to deal with socially and academically and new types of pressures. For even the happiest teenager, these years can cause anxiety and confusion.

And for teenagers who have additional problems to deal with, life can feel even more frustrating and difficult. Some teenagers have been physically or sexually abused, or have witnessed one parent abusing another at home. Many teenagers have parents who divorce, and others may have a parent with a drug or alcohol addiction. Some teenagers also suffer from depression, which can make their teen years that much more difficult. Failing at school can contribute to upset, angry, and depressed feelings for some teenagers.

Your teen years are also a time when sexual thoughts start to enter the picture, and this can be a source of anxiety or depression for teenagers who have homosexual feelings. Although these feelings can be completely normal for some teens, they may worry about what their families, friends, or classmates will say or think. Some teenagers begin drinking alcohol or taking drugs during these years, which can also make life more difficult.

Teenagers who have these kinds of problems aren't necessarily going to commit suicide, however. Many teenagers have supportive people around and positive ways to deal with their problems. Some can get help from their friends, family, teachers, psychologists, their places of worship, or other adults; some find an outlet for their feelings by doing something they love, like playing a sport or taking part in other activities. When a teenager has a good support system around, the risk of suicide drops quite a bit. But it's those teenagers who don't feel that they have anywhere to turn for help. They may think their lives aren't worthwhile. If a teenager feels unhappy and helpless and has no one to reach out to, it puts him or her at an increased risk for suicide.

Warning Signs: What to Look For
Teen consoling What Jessica and Megan said about their friend was telling: he had seemed sad and had been talking about his parents' divorce and finding his father's gun. And although they heard him say these things, they didn't really listen. This situation isn't that uncommon for teenagers - you're never expected to play the role of a doctor and listen to every little thing. But it's important to know the warning signs of someone who is thinking about suicide because knowing can save your life or the life of someone else.

Teenagers are most likely to think about committing suicide when there is some kind of trigger - some event or thing that causes something else to happen. Common triggers are a parent's divorce, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or the death of a friend or relative, for example. The warning signs to look for in yourself or a friend include:

  • withdrawal from friends or family and no desire to go out
  • inability to concentrate or think clearly
  • change in eating or sleeping habits
  • major changes in appearance (if a normally neat person looks very sloppy, for example)
  • talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty
  • talk about suicide
  • talk about death
  • talk about "going away"
  • self-destructive behavior (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving too fast, for example)
  • no desire to take part in favorite things or activities
  • the giving away of favorite possessions (like if someone offered you his or her favorite piece of jewelry, for example)
  • suddenly very happy and cheerful moods after being depressed or sad for a long time (this may mean that a person has decided to attempt suicide and may feel like there's a "solution" to be happy about)

Pay close attention if a person talks about suicide. It's a myth that people who commit suicide don't talk about it beforehand - they often do talk about it and are likely to try it.

Getting Help
If you have been contemplating suicide, don't wait it out, hoping that your mood might improve. When a person has been feeling down for so long, it's hard for him to understand that suicide isn't the answer - it's a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Talk to anyone you know as soon as you can: a friend, a coach, a relative, a school counselor, a priest or rabbi, a teacher, or even a neighbor. Call your local emergency number, or check in the front pages of your phone book for the number of a suicide crisis line. These toll-free lines are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by trained professionals who can help you without ever knowing your name or seeing your face. All calls are confidential - nothing is written down and no one you know will ever find out that you've called.

If you have a friend or classmate who you think is considering suicide, don't wait it out to see if he will feel better. Even if your friend or classmate swears you to secrecy, you must get help as soon as possible - your friend's life could depend on it. Often, a person who is thinking about attempting suicide isn't able to see that suicide is never the answer to his problems.

Although it is never your job to single-handedly prevent your friend from attempting suicide, you can help by first reassuring your friend, then going to a trusted adult as soon as possible. This can be a parent, grandparent or other relative, a coach, a priest or rabbi, a teacher, a school counselor, a neighbor, or a doctor or nurse. If necessary, you can call your local emergency number or the toll-free number of a suicide crisis line. However you go about finding assistance for your friend, you must involve an adult - even if you think you can handle your friend on your own, this may not be the case.

After Suicide
Sometimes even if you get help and adults intervene, a friend or classmate may attempt or commit suicide. When this happens, you may have many different emotions. Some teenagers say they feel guilty - especially the ones who felt they could have interpreted their friend's actions and words better. Others say they feel angry with the person who committed or attempted suicide for doing something so selfish. Still others say they feel nothing at all - they are too filled with grief. When someone attempts suicide, the people around him may feel afraid or uncomfortable about talking with him about it. Try to resist this urge; this is a time when a person absolutely needs to feel connected to others.

When someone commits suicide, the people around him may become very depressed and even think about suicide themselves. It's important to know that you should never blame yourself for someone's death - you could question yourself forever, which will only make you unhappy and won't bring your friend back. It's also good to know that any emotion you feel is appropriate; there is no right or wrong way to feel. Many schools will address the problem of a student's suicide head-on and call in special counselors to talk with students and help them deal with their feelings. If you are having difficulty dealing with a friend or classmate's suicide, it's best to make use of these resources or talk to a trusted adult. Feeling grief after a friend commits suicide is normal; it's when it begins to interfere with your everyday life that you may need to speak with someone about your feelings.

Reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD and David Sheslow, PhD
Date reviewed: March 1999

Source:  KidsHealth www.KidsHealth.com is a project of The Nemours Foundation which is dedicated to improving the health and spirit of children. Today, as part of its continuing mission, the Foundation supports the operation of a number of renowned children's health facilities throughout the nation, including the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Nemours Children's Clinics throughout Florida. Visit The Nemours Foundation to find out more about them and its health facilities for children http://www.nemours.org/no/