As long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms. That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down. Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer. There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution. It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.

Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online. Pearls Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials. Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated. Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre. A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.

As long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms. That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down. Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer. There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution. It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.

Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online. Pearls Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials. Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated. Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre. A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.

If you have Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you're not alone. The disorder is found in 2-3% of the population, and the chances are good that a family member may have been among this group.

According to freshwater pearl ring Christine Lochner, research coordinator at the MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, research has shown that approximately 35% of OCD sufferers have a close family member who also suffers from the disorder.

Research into the genetic influences is a rapidly advancing area of research and several candidate genes for OCD have already been proposed (e.g. catechol-O-methyl transferase).

"Despite strong evidence for genetic susceptibility, no single or specific gene has been unambiguously identified for anxiety disorders such as OCD, panic or social anxiety disorder. Many researchers believe that this is due, in part, to cultured pearl jewelry the critical role that the environment plays in modulating genetic susceptibility in mental disorders,� says Lochner.

"Genetic characterisation of affected individuals may render insight into molecular and biochemical subcategories of the disorder that clinicians may not be able to discern, offering great promise for advancing diagnosis and treatment of the mental disorders.�

Research project
The Genetics of Anxiety Disorders Research Project at the MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress disorders, aims to identify factors contributing to the development of anxiety disorders in the South African population. This research focuses mainly on OCD and related disorders (i.e. Tourette syndrome, trichotillomania and body dysmorphic disorder), panic and social anxiety disorder. The investigations focus primarily on the interplay between pearl jewelry environmental (e.g. childhood trauma, brain injuries, streptococcal infections, etc) and genetic factors.

The evaluations include a detailed structured interview by trained researchers, as well as various measurements of symptom severity and symptom impact on quality of life. Associated disorders and behavioural patterns are measured with established and newly developed scales, and include computer based cognitive testing.

Furthermore, DNA is isolated from each individual blood and tested for variants of specific genes involved in brain metabolism.

In addition, the pedigrees of Afrikaner OCD sufferers have been actively researched for the past two years in order to ascertain shared ancestry between apparently unrelated sufferers. This will help to wholesale pearl jewelry detect even those genes that play only a minor role in the disease, by analysing the gene variants of affected individuals in family-based subsets. These candidate genes can then be tested in other ethnic groups as susceptibility factors for the development of OCD.

How to participate
If you are interested in taking part in the research, contact the Mental Health Information Centre at at (021) 938 9229.

Excessive worry is not only a feature of generalised anxiety disorder. The worries of generalised anxiety disorder need to be distinguished from the ruminations of depression and the obsessions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

The disorder that most closely overlaps with GAD is in fact depression; many people with GAD also have depressed mood, and many people with freshwater pearl depression also have significant worries. The obsessions of OCD tend to be relatively senseless in comparison to the more understandable worries of GAD.

Second, a number of different general medical disorders may present with symptoms of anxiety; it is important not to misdiagnose GAD in these cases. Certain foods (e.g. caffeine), medications (e.g. stimulants), and substances (e.g. alcohol) may also contribute to increased anxiety.

Finally, GAD should be differentiated from normal anxiety. The distinction between normal anxiety and a clinical disorder such as turquoise necklace GAD rests on the extent of distress and dysfunction associated with symptoms. The worries of GAD are of course more pronounced, more pervasive, and more likely associated with physical symptoms than are ordinary worries.

Information supplied by the Mental Health Information Centre (Toll free number: 0800 600 411)

"4:30 am. The bedside alarm breaks the stillness of the night. Phillip lunges to shut it off before it wakes his girlfriend. He slides out of bed and gazes at her motionless form. Thankfully, she seems to have slept through it. Maybe they won’t fight this morning. Things are bad enough, he thinks, as he shuffles off to the bathroom, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

The stares at the mirror. He carefully thinks out every step of the elaborate ritual he has devised for shaving. He lays out his razor and the shaving cream, puts them back, and then lays them out again. With painstaking diligence he turns the razor so it is exactly parallel to wholesale pearl jewelry the sink. Finally he turns on the water and silently counts, hoping to make it to 100 before the water gets hot."

It takes Phillip two hours to get ready in the morning, longer if anything, such as a fight with his girlfriend, interrupts the ritual. On his way to work it often takes him twice the usual time to get there as he has to cover the route again to be sure he didn’t run anyone over.

Being cautious, careful and orderly are positive traits, but in Obsessive-Compulsive disorder at some point they become maladaptive.

What is OCD?
OCD is characterised by recurrent obsessions and compulsions that occupy a significant amount of time and that cause significant distress. Obsessions are defined as unwelcome and distressing ideas, thoughts, images, or impulses that repeatedly enter the person’s mind against his/her will. Compulsions, on the other hand, are actions the patient feels driven to single pearl necklace perform despite the recognition that they may be senseless or excessive.

There are various causes of OCD. The disorder tends to run in families and probably has a genetic basis.

Obsessions and compulsions are among the oldest recognised symptoms. Once ascribed to possession by the devil, many victims of the Inquisition and the Salem witch-hunts were likely suffering from OCD. OCD was once thought to be very rare because so few people sought treatment, confining their rituals to their homes, due to shame. However, recent surveys have found that up to 2 to 3% of the population is suffering from this disorder. OCD is the fourth most common psychological disorder (behind alcohol and drug dependence, depression and phobias) affecting about 7 to blister pearl10 million people.

Nowadays a lot more is known about the disorder. Recent studies have identified OCD as a malfunction in the neural pathways that link the frontal lobes with the basal ganglia in the brain. The frontal lobes have been described as the seat of deliberation and judgement, and the basal ganglia serve as a relay station in the planning and execution of movements. In people with OCD the caudate nucleus does not seem to be performing its usual function and this neural circuit is hyperactive. As a result, obsessional thinking persists until a compulsive ritual stops it.

Where to go for help
If you feel you or someone you know may be suffering from OCD, contact the Depression and Anxiety Support Group, Monday to Friday, between 8am and 7pm, and on Saturdays, between 8am and 5pm, on (011) 783-1474/6. Trained counsellors are standing by. Referrals to akoya pearl necklace appropriate mental health professionals are also available.

* Taken from OCD: Too much of a Good Thing

Information supplied by the Depression and Anxiety Support Group

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) has the following criteria for panic attacks:
A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four(or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within freshwater pearl earrings 10 minutes.

• Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
• Feeling of choking
• pearl jewelry wholesale
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
• Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Fear of dying
• Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
• Chills or hot flushes

Do these symptoms sound familiar? If so, you should consult a health professional to wholesale pearl jewelry establish whether you might be experiencing panic attacks.

Do you have an intense fear for animals, heights, blood, injections, planes? Would you rather climb ten flights than to get into a lift? If so, you may be suffering from a phobia.

All people have fears or situations they would rather avoid. It is part of everyday life. Some people are frightened by job interviews. Others are uncomfortable to wholesale pearl jewelry be home alone at night. Most people manage to control their fears and go about their normal activities.

But for some people, anxieties and fears are overwhelming and persistent. Normal coping mechanisms don't work, and the need to avoid the objects or situations that cause anxiety can be so intense that they drastically interfere with daily life. Sometimes people may make important career or personal decisions to avoid a phobic situation. Others may refuse to go to the doctor for fear of having blood drawn.

Phobias aren’t just extreme fear, they are irrational fear. Adults with phobias realise their fears are irrational, but often facing, or even thinking about facing, the feared object or situation brings on pearl earrings a panic attack or severe anxiety.

Phobias often begin in childhood or adolescence, but many adults find that their lives are impaired by phobic symptoms. Many phobias are more common in women, but some (e.g. fear of blood) are more common in men.

What causes phobias?
Scientists are learning more about the particular brain regions that are involved in phobic fears. Phobias are thought to be caused by a combination of biological factors and life events, much in the way other disorders (such as diabetes or heart disease) are influenced by a person's genes and lifestyle.

Categories of phobias
Phobias are divided into three broad categories: specific phobia (which used to wholesale pearl jewelry be called simple or single phobia), social phobia/social anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia depending on what triggers the fear and how the individual reacts to the dreaded object or situation.

Specific phobia:
A specific phobia is the intense, irrational fear of specific objects or situations that cause terror. Specific phobias can be classified into subtypes, namely Animal Type, Natural Environment Type (eg storms, heights or water), Blood-Injection-Injury Type (eg seeing blood or an injury), Situational Type (eg public transportation or enclosed places) or Other Type (if fear is cued by other stimuli).

Agoraphobia:
Agoraphobia, which often accompanies panic disorder, is a fear of being in any situation that might provoke a panic attack, or from which escape might be difficult if one occurred.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is an intense fear of becoming humiliated in social situations; in other words, of embarrassing yourself in front of others. If you suffer from social anxiety disorder, you tend to think other people are very competent in public and that you are not. Small mistakes you make may appear much more serious to cultured pearl jewlery you than they really are. Blushing may seem painfully embarrassing, and you feel as though all eyes are focused on you.

Social anxiety disorder should not be confused with shyness. Shy people can be very uneasy around others, but they don't experience extreme anxiety in anticipating a social situation, and they don't necessarily avoid circumstances that make them feel self-conscious. In contrast, people with social anxiety disorder aren't necessarily shy. They can be completely at ease with people most of the time, but particular situations such as making a speech can give them intense anxiety.

Treatment
If the object of fear is easy to avoid, people with phobias may not feel the need to seek treatment. When phobias interfere with a person's life, treatment can help. Successful treatment usually involves Cognitive Behavioural techniques such as desensitisation or exposure therapy, in which patients are gradually exposed to freshwater pearl earrings what frightens them until the fear begins to fade. Three-quarters of patients benefit significantly from this type of treatment. Relaxation and breathing exercises also help reduce anxiety symptoms.

Sometimes certain medications may be prescribed to help reduce anxiety symptoms before someone faces a phobic situation.

For more information contact the Mental Health Information Centre at (021) 938 9229.

(Ilse Pauw, Health24)