The amount of information you should give them depends on their age and how grown up they are. Being honest is one thing but giving them all information at once may be too much. Try spreading it out a bit to ease shock of inevitable outcome.

Questions can be answered on a 'need to know basis' initially but as more hospital vists are undertaken and patient is unwell at times then more detail needs to be offered. Getting same question over and over again from young children can be difficult at times but it should be realised that this is a normal part of their development.

John Grinder, co-creator of NLP talks about link between respiration, physiology, internal state and high performance. He calls this ‘the chain of excellence’. I recently read a book by Osho, wonderfully non-PC mystic and guru. In book, Osho instructed reader to pay attention to their breathing rate when they were sad, and notice timing of in-breath and out-breath. He explained that next time they were happy, they could re-induce sad state by merely repeating breathing pattern. Fortunately, he added, it works other way round too!

Follow some or all of these exercises;

Firstly; When you are experiencing a powerful, positive state, allow yourself to become aware of your breathing rate. Pay particular attention to timing and rhythm of your in-breath and out-breath.

Secondly; Next time you are in a neutral or negative state, start breathing at rate and rhythm from exercise one, and within a minute or so, positive state should begin to return.

Many gurus advise people to do breathing exercises regularly. I know Tony Robbins does in his marvellous book “Unlimited Power” he advises that you start each day with a breathing exercise of inhaling slowly and deeply, then holding it for twice as long as inhalation and exhaling in twice pace. It really is invigorating and a great way to get motivated at start of day, especially if you are looking to do some things with your day that require motivation.