Universal Articles

joi, 19 august 2010

Quitting Smoking :Nicotine Relapse Prevention And Recovery

According to a Statistics Canada report entitled A step Forward, a step back: Smoking cessation & relapse by Margot Shields " Relapsing was strongly associated with the length of time an individual had quit. Approximately 1 in 5 men and women who had quit smoking for two years or less had started again. By contrast, approximately 5% of former daily smokers who had quit for three to five years had started smoking, and among those who had quit for more than five years, the figure was 1%". Conclusion, the longer you stay quit the less chance you have of starting again. Understanding relapse prevention and recovery may help you to avoid relapsing or it may help you to recover quickly.
Instantaneous Relapse
Instantaneous relapse occurs when you start smoking because something unexpected occurs. The unexpected situation can occur while on vacation, in the midst of having a great time, or it can be during a new and unusual stressful situation. An example of this is where you are out with friends having a great time, maybe alcohol is involved and out of nowhere someone offers you a cigarette and you take one. Or you come home from work and find your pet is very ill and needs immediate attention. You remember you kept a pack in the cupboard and light one up.
Planned Relapse
You finally did it; you stopped smoking, got through the craving, withdrawal and habit stages and have been smoke free for some time. But lately and for no apparent reason you have been thinking about cigarettes. Then one day you decide to buy a pack, you know they aren't good for you, but you buy them anyway. In the back of your mind you have convinced yourself that by now you can control it or maybe you convinced yourself a few won't hurt or maybe you will be able to ration them and have a few at a time. You bought the cigarettes and now you are playing a mental tug or war game. Part of you say's don't do it; the other part says a few can't hurt. Finally you lose the tug of war and give in; you have the first one and all bets are off.
Latent Relapse Potential
Latent relapse potential is something you need to be aware of because it can sneak up on you when you are least expecting it. You just found out you are pregnant and you instantly quit smoking and can't believe how easy it was or you stopped smoking before you took a long vacation and you feel great about beating smoking. When something as exciting as a pregnancy occurs you can be so excited you stop instantly but the day after the baby is born some women find themselves right back at it wondering what hit them. The same goes for a long vacation or a hospital stay. While on vacation or in the hospital you didn't miss smoking. You are away from your normal routine and have been smoke free all along, you return home only to find everything was just as you left it. Knowing that latent relapse potential exists will help you to develop your reentry strategy after giving birth or returning from a vacation or a hospital stay.
Relapse Recovery
Relapse recovery is all about stopping again quickly. The sooner you stop again after that first smoke the higher the probability you will return to being smoke free. When you decide to have one you are at a fork in the road and you have a very important and timely choice to make. One fork is where you continue to smoke. The other fork is where you stop right then and don't have another one. If you happen to have one don't panic, don't give in and don't fall into the trap of thinking you can control your intake of cigarettes. Get right back onto that horse don't light up another cigarette and never look back, the sooner you stop again the more likely you will succeed again.
People who convince themselves that they will quit again some time in the future may find they are still smoking a decade later.
Relapse Prevention
When it comes to quitting smoking and relapse prevention an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To protect yourself against relapse:
Expect the Unexpected
Mentally preparing yourself for unexpected or unusual events and situations can prevent you from relapsing. Weddings, family and school reunions, buck and does are events that don't occur everyday and are events that increase vulnerability. If you are planning to attend one of these events just think ahead or back to what normally happens. At some point smokers will go out for a smoke and you need to have your personal plan in place before you get there. If someone invites you out for a smoke, simply reply, "No thanks I don't feel like one".
You can't control it
The tongue in cheek definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. When it comes to thinking you can have one or that you can manage and control your cigarette consumption, you are deluding yourself. If you are smoking again after quitting you know this to be the case. Some people relapse because they start off with just one cigarette, thinking they can control it, but usually don't stop there. Statistically the odds are against you controlling your smoking to one or two a day.
Get rid of cigarettes.
Your personal relapse prevention strategy should include getting rid of any remaining cigarettes and smoking paraphernalia in your own way. Some plan their quitting by getting rid of ashtrays, detailing their car or work vehicle and smoking the last one the day they stop. Some wrap their cigarettes in shipping tape so they can't get at them. Some bury them in the back yard. Do what feels right for you, but make sure you have a plan to say good-bye once and for all to your cigarettes, cigars or pipe tobacco and smoking paraphernalia.
Manage chronic stress
Sudden and unexpected stress can catch you off guard, while chronic stress can make the job of quitting smoking tougher. Chronic stress occurs where you have something, somebody or a job that is constantly causing you to feel uptight and maybe out of control. When it comes to chronic stress you have two choices, eliminate the cause or learn to cope and manage your stress.
Eliminating the cause is the preferred solution but is not always possible. Chronic stress can cause you to secrete cortisol a stress hormone. Normally a good thing, when cortisol is present over a sustained period of time it can be damaging to your health, compromise your immune system and can lead to serious disease. If you can't change the cause of the stress in your life you will need to find news ways to mange or reduce the effects of chronic stress to your body and mind.
Managing stress involves finding healthy outlets that allow you to temporarily get some relief. For some people this means going to a gym and working out the frustrations with weights and cardio exercise. Some people find yoga, or mediation will give them relief while other people turn to a new hobby or learning to play an instrument. Whatever you choose make sure you enjoy it.
If you wish to further your knowledge on managing stress several books on the subject entitled "The Relaxation Response" by Herbert Benson M.D. and "Natural Highs" by Hyla Cass M.D. may help you to understand and adopt new ways to feel good without cigarettes.

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ost Common Problems With Automobile Electrical System

An integrated part of any vehicle, the automobile electrical system has definitely made driving a lot more easier over the decades. Frequent innovations in electrical system has helped us in a comfortable and easy drive. But friends, no coin comes with a single side. If there are advantages, there are problems or hassles that accompany them.
Very often, you face problems while starting up your car and notice other problems with the electrical system. Are you aware of the problems that actually affect your electrical system. Some of the hassles that you face with your vehicle's electrical system are:

Common Automobile Electrical System Problems Are : Car's Battery Is Dead - This is the most common problem. Your car's battery might be dead, thus inviting troubles for your vehicle.

No Power Stored in the Battery – This is possible that your car's battery does not have ample power so that it can spin the engine.
Alternator is Not Working – At times, a damaged alternator might be the cause for the hassle. Such an alternator will not charge the battery.

Problem with Starter or Solenoid – These bad auto parts will affect the functioning of a braking system.

Battery Cables Might Be The Problem – A loose cable might be the root of the problem.

Electrical Fuses – If there are any damaged electrical fuse or loose wire, it might affect the smooth functioning of electrical system.

Cracks In Alternator Belt – Tension as well as crack in the alternator belt causes trouble.

Ignition System Has Problems – Thats common in breakdown of a vehicle. Any auto part of automobile ignition system like ignition switch, magento, coil wire, etc might have caused the problem.
Loose Spark Plugs – These electrical devices have loosened or are not properly implanted into internal combustion engine.

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luni, 16 august 2010

How to Tell if a Guy Likes you - Five Signs He's Interested

How can you tell if a guy likes you or is interested? You noticed him when you were standing and talking with a friend. You think he noticed you, but maybe it was your imagination or just wishful thinking. He looked at you at about the same time you saw him. Your eyes met for just a few seconds, and then you looked away. When you looked back up, he was talking with some other people. Was he watching you as you mingled? Or were you making that up? How can you tell if a guy likes you? Why are guys so hard to read?

Here are five signs that he is interested in you too. If any of the following happens, he is probably trying to get close enough to ask you out:

1. He tells someone

Is he interested? He likes you if he tells a mutual friend that he wants to know more about you, or he asks other people who you are and where you're from. He is trying to act like he's "just asking" but his questions indicate more than a casual interest. And when he tells someone that he finds you attractive, he probably knows that it will get back to you. He's hoping it does.

2. The look

He gives you a look that betrays his calm exterior. Even though he is across the room, "that look" he has says it all. It is sweeping, from your head to your toes, and then his eyes linger on yours. You think you notice the beginning of a tentative smile.

3. The conversation

Does he like you? When he manages to get close enough to you, to ask you questions, he is interested. He appears to be listening and responds to what you say. He's moving in to the ultimate question, which is: "Are you seeing anyone." He would only ask this question if he wanted to date you, and he hopes the answer is "No." Never ever wear a ring in public. When a guy is across the room, he cannot tell which finger it is on and he may assume incorrectly that you are taken. If he doesn't ask you the question of whether or not you are attached, he may ask someone whom you both know.

4. He appears unexpectedly

He likes you a lot if he shows up out of nowhere. He can only do that if he has been asking people about your schedule, or he has been paying attention to where you are going and at what time. His face may turn red when he sees you. A sudden, "Oh, hi," is his way of saying, "I don't want to seem obvious, but I am interested in you." If you feel the same way, do not act shy. Stop and talk to him.

5. EVERYONE likes you

Is he interested? When you are well liked and a happy person, why wouldn't he like you? Of course he does. If you don't have a great life, however, now is your time to start working on one. Take a look at your career possibilities, body image, future, plans, and resources. You may be naturally talented at something, but it won't matter unless you work on your strengths. Misused or unused talents fade away. School and training do not.

These are the five signs that he is interested and he is on the verge of asking you out. Make it easy for him and be friendly. This is where relationships begin.

Do you want to know more secrets about how to attract men? Do you know how to dress, what to say, what to do, and the body language to use when you go out? Do you know the 5 steps to take to meet any guy anywhere? Read on to discover all the secrets to having all the dates you want in How To Attract Men: Secrets Every Woman Should Know

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Causes of Frequent Urination in Men

Many men experience an increase in the frequency at which they have to urinate as they get older. This is exceedingly common among older men. However, if you are a man that is "always having to go", don't just dismiss it as aging. There are many causes of frequent urination and the symptom needs to be checked out by a physician.

Frequent urination defined

Always having to go or feeling the need to urinate more often than is usual is called frequent urination. This differs from urgent urination which is an urgent, compelling need to urinate. This can be accompanied with bladder discomfort.

If the need to urinate occurs at night, it is termed nocturia. Normally, a person can sleep for between 6 and 8 hours without the need to urinate.

Common causes

When experienced simultaneously, a frequent, urgent need to go to the bathroom is a classic symptom of an infection in the urinary tract. Typically, the infection will cause an inflammation of the bladder which, in turn, reduces the bladder's capacity to hold urine. In this case, even a small amount of urine can be uncomfortable.

These symptoms can also be caused by:

• Diabetes.

• A condition called interstitial cystitis, which is a chronic, constant inflammation of the bladder. This is more common in women than men, but bears checking out.

• Diuretics as well as other medicines.

• Therapeutic radiation.

• Dysfunction of the bladder.

• Cancer of the bladder.

All of these are known to cause frequent urination, but there is one extremely common cause that is overlooked by many men. That is an enlarged prostate and affects more men than you probably know.

The prostate gland is a walnut sized gland that secretes seminal fluid (the fluid that carries the sperm cells). The gland itself surrounds the urethra, which carries urine out through the penis. As the prostate grows larger, it may exert pressure on the urethra and cause problems with frequent urination.

Causes of enlarged prostate

The prostate wraps around the urethra between the rectum and the pubic bone. Early in the development of an enlarged prostate, the muscle of the bladder contracts more powerfully than usual and pressurizes urine through the urethra. The bladder muscle responds by gaining thickness and sensitivity. This causes the need to urinate often.

The larger the prostate grows, the tighter is squeezed. The bladder then cannot compensate for the problem and empties entirely.

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate

Actually, an enlarged prostate is accompanied by no symptoms at all. There a re a few things to watch for, like:

• A weak stream of urine or a stop/start during urination.
• Finding it difficult to start urinating.
• Dribbling of urine after urination.
• Feeling like you are not done.
• Leakage of urine (incontinence).
• Frequent urination or an urgent need to go, especially during the night time.

If you have experienced any of the above, go to a doctor and get checked out immediately. An enlarged prostate only gets worse over time if it is overlooked. It could also lead to other more serious conditions.

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7 Steps on How to Save a Relationship

Jim works long hours and Lisbet doesn't feel he is there for her. Lisbet spends all of her time meeting the children's needs and Jim feels that she doesn't have time for his needs? Can this relationship be saved? Should it be saved? Here's how to save a relationship.

First, you must decide whether the relationship is worth saving. While almost every relationship can be saved with hard work, both parties must decide that they want to make it work. Because if a partner has opted out and doesn't want to opt back in, there is little that can be done.

Many people stay in a relationship because it is convenient or remain in a marriage because of the children. But that is not enough. How to save a relationship starts with a commitment by both parties that the relationship is worth saving.

Next, you must pinpoint the problem or problems in a relationship. One of the biggest problems in how to save a relationship is that people believe the symptoms of the problem are the problem itself.

For instance, many people think an affair is a problem that causes break ups. In truth, the affair is a symptom of a deeper problem. For instance, a lack of true intimacy can lead to a straying spouse. While most people look at the affair as the problem, the underlying cause of the affair was the lack of intimacy in the primary relationship. If you do not deal with the lack of intimacy, you might be able to keep another affair from starting through the use of guilt, but another problem (for instance pornography) could pop up because you haven't dealt with the core issue.

When you start to deal with core issues rather than symptoms, you can save the relationship.

Once you have identified the core problems, you can begin to share your thoughts. This means both verbalizing your own feelings and listening to your partner's concerns. Hold your partner's had when you are talking about your problems as a signal that you want to reconnect even when your emotions are swirling. When your partner talks about things that hurt you remember that he or she is not doing it because he or she wants to hurt you. Rather it is because they want to improve the relationship.

Once you have detailed the problems in your relationship, create an action plan to solve them. Then, take concrete steps on your action plan. If you don't spend time together like you used to, plan a date night every week. Take turns coming up with creative ways to spend an evening together each Wednesday. If not communicating is the problem, commit to spending 20 minutes before going to bed just talking to one another. And, then do it.

Finally, you should realize that saving a relationship is an ongoing process. You are going to take two steps forward only to take one step back. There is going to be both laughter and tears going forward. Be quick to apologize and slow to blame.

Is your relationship worth saving? If so, I've described in this article how to save a relationship.

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How to Talk Dirty to Men

Dirty talk is a type of pillow talk. You use vivid words to augment sexual enjoyment before and during the lovemaking.

Talking dirty to men can be anything from giving him insults, vivid images using slang words, to whispering curse expressions to your guy's ear.

If you feel timid about it, don't be; only the two of you who will be aware of it.

The more you'll let go, the better you will be. Your couple's life should be hot and wild. It's a form of "sense of adventure" that you are giving to your guy.

You might say that you are a "good girl" and you don't do those things. Well here is my take on this; if you have preferences in bed, and your spouse is giving enough to fulfill them, maybe I can do my part.

Some guys find it makes them hornier. You can harvest the rewards from this lover's game. It makes you feel sexier because you are seeing your man enjoy himself due to your influence. You are providing your guy more excitement.

Lovemaking is at its best when you let go; abandon yourself to the other person is a joyful experience.
Some women use this not only in the bedroom, but in their husband's e-mail or work's voice mail.

Your guy gets excited to get home and gives you a nice "reward".

What is the top thing to say when talking dirty to men?

1. Tell him what you're wearing under your clothing.
2. Put on sexy lingerie and give him a tiny peek when he first sees you. It'll drive him mad to want to see more of your outfit all night...until you allow him to see more.
3. Leave him a voice message when he is away
4. at a gathering
5. at your parent's house when you go by him
6. right before parting for work
7. Email him some sassy notes
8. Fax it to him
9. Throw hot little texts on his cell phone while is at a sports game with his buddies

It will heat up if you are talking dirty to men at unusual places like:

1. Your parent's house
2. at the food store
3. at church?...ok...ok...after church

When is the most excellent timing for this during lovemaking?

From the mid to the end.

You start by telling a physical move that he has made to you and that you had enjoyed. Don't worry about feeling embarrassed; he will be more paying attention in the images that you are creating in his imagination.

Are you concerned that you won't be excellent at this?

Guys are not hard to light up. It doesn't take a great deal for them to get turned on.

If you feel uncomfortable, get some help with a glass or two of wine... Just to break the ice. But please! Don't develop a drinking problem!

Having trouble "getting it up"? Talking dirty to men might be able to help.

Use this once in a while; they can get too enthusiastic to this. in addition, some men can be a bit turned off or uncomfortable with you unexpectedly starting to talk dirty to them.

You can propose to him to do the alike and it will balance the dynamics.

You can get swear words at the Urban dictionary. It is a slang dictionary. You'll be able to get different variations of a slang word.

For instance, let's find a variation of breast; there is boobie, nipples, boobs, funbags, just to show a few. Use it to your imagination. Have fun!

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Starcraft 2 Mastery Guide Reviewed

The game is brand new and but it's already beginning to look like the very closely saturated market of guides that have turned World of Warcraft into a secondary market. I usually marvel who is writing these guides, however not quite as a lot as I'm wondering what kind of content material they will possibly provide that people would pay so much money to learn them.

Starcraft 2 Mastery Guide is the newest within the long line of guides for Blizzard's Starcraft sequel to hit the market and it promises to do things a bit otherwise, providing a giant collection of latest strategies and upgrades to the fundamental outlook on how to play your race of alternative - whether or not it's Protoss, Zerg, or Terran.

What It Affords

The first thing you'll discover with Starcraft 2 Mastery is that it focuses heavily on laying the groundwork for each strategy. You don't just get information on tips on how to rush your opponents. You might be told why the frenzy works, when it doesn't work, and how one can modify when it fails. That's a huge collection of added data that may help tremendously if you're just studying how one can play.

The Learning Curve Can Be Steep

The largest downside you'll find with a recreation like Starcraft 2 is that the hardcore gamers have already been at it for greater than a decade. They've been taking part in Starcraft since 1998 and that mean they've a HUGE head begin on the newbies. Even lower brackets might be brutal for gamers that don't know the difference between Colossi and Drones.

So, having an excellent guide in hand can be a large boon for the new player who needs a quick charge of data and ways when first playing one of the hottest new games of the year. If you happen to're that participant, take a look at what SC 2 Mastery has to offer now.

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