On the Verge of Insanity: Stress and Anxiety as the Common Factors

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Sep 17, 2009 "Contribute content like this. Start Here."

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Where do you draw the fine line between sanity and insanity? For those versed in the knowledge of modern psychology and psychiatry, they know and will be able to identify the thousands of forms insanity can take up on a person. Some of the forms of insanity are quite easy to distinguish and are only temporary such as depression. There are other forms that require longer time and effort for a person to work through to be able to be cured such as social anxiety. Recent studies show that there might be a common trigger aspect that brings about insanity to a person. The important question here is, what is that trigger aspect that eventually compromises the stability of an individual's mental function?

Thorough research and experiments conclude that stress and anxiety are two of the major causes of insanity. Severe amount or constant existence of stress and anxiety in a person's life can cause that person to go to his or her breaking point leading to insanity. This does not normally happen overnight. Most people have a certain level of resistance to such pressure of stress and anxiety that allows them to keep their sanity intact. Nevertheless, constant pressure and sudden severe level of stress and anxiety can cause the resistance to break, resulting in emotional imbalance and insanity attack. Not all people tend to go insane when faced with stress and anxiety, though some may just consider it a bad day while others may even have the opposite effect of insanity. It all depends in the characteristic and background of a person.

Aside from stress and anxiety, intense emotion can also lead to insanity. An individual's emotional state is said to be closely knit to mental health. It is common knowledge and based on observation as well that people will do a lot of things they would not normally do just because of intense emotion. Heavy emotional trauma can even affect a person's mentality permanently that is why some people seek help in therapy. It is important to note that emotions only augment the effects of stress and anxiety and is not considered a factor in itself.A combination of stress and anxiety and other emotional factors results to trauma. Trauma is another trigger point driving people on the verge of insanity. This can lead to permanent disturbance on a person's mental health. Among other causes of insanity, the psyche plays a larger role in trauma. This explain why certain traumatic events experienced later on in life do not have the same effect as similar events encountered during the childhood phase.

In conclusion, the line between sanity and insanity cannot be generalized and is often based upon each individual. Just remember: One Person's Sanity is Another Person's Insanity.Lisa Ekanger Your Hometown Realtor!

Creating your own garden from the very beginning can be an exciting project

Hello,

A New Garden

Creating your own garden from the very beginning can be an exciting project. However, if you think that you will have the last say as to what happens nature may disagree with you. To maintain your sanity you will need to work in harmony with nature. Planning and preparation will make all the difference in the success of your garden. It’s easy to dig up some soil and throw some plants in the ground. It is another thing altogether to create a healthy, vibrant garden.

What to Grow?
First you need to consider the location of your garden and the kinds of plants that can grow under the existing conditions. There are three main factors that influence what can grow in a given location; sunlight, soil composition and soil moisture. While you can somewhat manipulate soil composition and moisture, you certainly can not influence the sunlight. You will need to have a good idea of the amount of sunlight that will reach the garden. Don’t forget to take into account those areas of the garden that are partially or fully shaded, such as spots on the north side of a building or under a large tree. You will need the appropriate plants in the appropriate areas.

Soil
You will need to determine the composition of the soil in your garden. An ideal garden soil is made up of 40% sand, 40% silt and 20% clay. There are several easy ways to determine the make up of your soil. One to try is to put a couple cups of your soil in a large jar that is half filled with water. Stir up the solution until all of the soil is in suspension. Let it settle over night and the next day you should see three layers of soil; sand, then silt then clay at the top. You can then tell the rough percentage of each type.

Improving soil conditions
Adding organic matter is the best way to improve the composition of your soil. If the soil is sandy or silty add a combination of topsoil and peat moss (always moisten peat moss before adding it to your soil.) If there is too much clay, add the peat moss with some sand. You can also try using compost in replacement of peat moss, and be sure to never add sand directly to your soil. Sand should only be added in combination with organic matter.

Moisture
Of course soil moisture is dependent on the climate of your area, but there can still be variations in your yard. If you are at the bottom of a hill, for example, your garden may stay wet for long periods. It’s best (and easiest) to use plants that like a lot of water. On the other hand, if the area is very dry, it may be tougher than you think to compensate by frequent watering. Choosing plants that are happy in dry climates will make your life much simpler.

The bottom line is that although you can compensate somewhat for your existing garden conditions, it can be a lot more rewarding to work with the natural conditions. Planting the appropriate plants for the given environment will save you time, money and pain.

Sincerely,

Lisa;-)

Lisa Ekanger Your Hometown Realtor!

The Truth About Home Appraisals

The Truth About Appraisals
Knowing the Guidelines Solves the Mystery

The appraisal process often baffles consumers. They may feel that their home is worth a higher dollar amount, and so the appraised value doesn't always make sense to them. It is important to know that the appraiser is completely independent from lenders, buyers, sellers, and real estate agents, and that the guidelines to which they adhere are dictated by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and Fannie Mae. In most states, the mortgage lenders must also disclose the purpose of the appraisal, as each transaction carries its own set of rules.

In essence, these important guidelines help appraisers put a fair market value on homes based on comparable sales in the same area, and the home must be bracketed in size and value.

For example, there is no set dollar figure associated with a great view, pool, spa, bathroom upgrades, etc. If a homeowner installs a custom pool that cost them $30,000, but the local marketplace supports the value of a pool at $15,000, then that item will be bracketed as [$15,000] on the appraisal.

Upgrades can usually be expressed at a higher percentage of their value in newer homes because the only way to obtain those upgrades was to put more money into the cost of building the home. On the other hand, the upgrading or remodeling of an older home is rarely reflected in full in the final appraisal. This is because typically 25-40% of the project involves demolition and the fixing of issues that aren't uncovered until the project has already begun, such as plumbing or wiring that may need updating.

Ultimately, the value of the upgrades must be supported by comparable examples within the same marketplace. These comparisons must be drawn from current market activity within the last six months. This is a safeguard to prevent appraisers from attaching too high a value to the home in question, and opening up the appraisal for review. This guideline further states that appraisers can only base their opinion on the value of home sales that have actually closed.

As a loan professional, I make a point to follow the appropriate guidelines at all times, including the guidelines in the Home Valuation Code of Conduct, which among other things prohibits a lender from having any contact with or influence on how the appraiser values a home. Staying up-to-date on the rules of my industry promotes a good relationship with the lender, and helps to create easier and much smoother closings for my borrowers.

Lisa Ekanger Your Hometown Realtor!