Mental health is one of the last frontiers in medicine because we can’t measure the problem. To many of the problems are considered “in your head” that it’s only now being recognized as an honest illness. I am a sufferer of depression and panic attacks. It takes everything I have everyday just to get up and be somewhat productive. Although everything appears to be well with my life, in reality it’s a day to day existence with little thought of actually getting better. What I hope for is just getting through the day. It’s in this spirit that I offer the following suggestions. Remember that I’m not a medical doctor and everyone should seek treatment if only to validate that you’re not crazy! Panic attacks come on at any time of the day or night. If you’re ever been so scared and out of control, then you’ve probably had a taste of what a panic attack feels like to the typical sufferer. Ever feel as if you were in immanent danger and had to flee? That’s kind of what a panic attack feels like. It comes on strong, scares the heck out of you, and it’s gone Here are a few ideas on how to cope… Once you’ve finally visited doctor and have been diagnosed with panic attacks you will be offered a course of treatment. In order to make sure the treatment has the best chance of succeeding, YOU need to take control of your life! 1. Participate in Your Treatment Do not sit back and wait for relief to come by itself! You must remain active and aware of your mind and body’s reactions to treatment. Be ready and willing to ask any and every question and to address every concern you have with your health care provider. Open lines of communication will increase the chance of control and success. 2. Be Patient While many patients respond within weeks or sometimes even days to treatments for panic attacks, no one responds the same. Furthermore, no known treatments for panic work instantly. Be prepared to spend at least a full two months following your initial course of treatment before you start judging its effectiveness. If you still haven’t experienced the improvement you were seeking, you can always work with your provider to adjust your treatment plan then. 3. Be Alert To Side Effects If part of your treatment involves medication, you will likely need to be aware and provide a lot of feedback to the doctor until the dose and type of medicine is determined. Make certain your doctor explains to you the side effects you might have to expect. Usually they get easier to tolerate with time but it’s critical that you know what to expect. Your doctor may begin lowering your dosage, or trying alternatives if the side effects are pronounced or cannot be tolerated. 4. Join A Panic Disorder Support Group If misery loves companionship, then a great source of support, relief and information for those who suffer from panic attacks can be found in the support group. Now I’m NOT a big fan of support groups in that they tend to validate problems instead of focusing on fixing or living with them. I do recognize however that some people find great solace and support in these groups and for those people, please attend and enjoy. Most attendees will be talking about their experiences, their treatments and coping tips. Just keeping these tips in mind and putting them to use during your treatment may help make you feel much better and increase your chances of treatment being effective.
Tag-Archive for ◊ mental health ◊
For many years, psychologists have debated on just how big a factor mental health is in the criminal mind. After all, some of the world’s master criminals aren’t clinically insane and have little in terms of mental disorders. Certainly, there is an abundance of mental health problems in criminals whose crimes are subjected to sensationalism by the media, but there are others. There are criminals out there that are not insane and can easily pass even the most scrutinizing examinations without even the slightest indication of any known or documented mental health disorder. Also, insanity does not automatically make one a criminal and sanity does not automatically make one an innocent bystander. So, with that in mind, what exactly is the relationship between psychology and crime? The first concern in unraveling this link is whether or not there is such a thing as a “born criminal.” Is there a combination of genetics and hereditary mental health problems that automatically labels a person as a criminal for life? The number of people who believe in this is starting to decrease rapidly, particularly in the light of recent arguments. Even in families with a long history of mental illness, criminal behavior is not a common trait of the offspring. Hereditary mental health disorders may manifest, but they do not automatically become triggers for criminal behavior. In the cases where they do, it is found that the environment they grew up in also played a large role in the transition. However, like any other aspect or facet of the complex human psyche, it would be a mistake to assume environment alone plays a major role. There is no arguing that the nature of one’s environment and influences growing up play a role in this argument. However, there is still debate over whether it is a larger factor than psychology. There is an old study into a New York family known as the Jukes (a false name) that chronicles observations into what drove such a large extended family to criminal behavior. The study systematically removed family members that were not exposed to the primary branch of the family. Certain other factors were also used to remove even more members. Finally, when the core of the family had been determined, the study was conducted and returned interesting results. Of the remaining 709 members, a startling 180 of them had grown up as criminals in some way, shape, or form. Further study into the details show that the 180 were in constant contact with family members who were known criminals, though not necessarily close blood relations. There is little arguing against the adage that criminals are made, not born. However, the debate still rages as to how exactly criminals are made. Studies have been conducted to prove a relationship between genetics and crime, but there is no substantial proof that a “criminal gene” exists. A connection between mental illness and criminal behavior has also been suggested, but the fact that not everyone who’s crazy is a criminal makes the hypothesis suspect. For the time being, the debate will continue, with no clear answer in sight. Ultimately, all of the aforementioned factors could play an integral role in turning a person into a criminal.
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Some people just can’t get themselves to sleep even if they want to. Teen-agers are not exempted from getting sleep problems not only because they are usually overloaded with school projects which take most of their sleeping time. Even with all the hustle and bustle that comes with school, teenagers’ normally have enough adrenalin to last them till the wee hours of the morning. Still, frequent sleep deprivation can cause problems even for the most healthy and vibrant youngster. Young people who experience sleep deficit have difficulty concentrating, studying, and working effectively. Long-term sleep deprivation can actually lead to emotional problems like depression. According to recent studies, teenagers need 8Ѕ to more than 9 hours of sleep every night. However, during the stage of adolescence, the body’s internal biological clock, also known as circadian rhythm, is reset. The changes in the circadian rhythm makes them fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the morning. Experts attribute this change in the circadian rhythm to the fact that the brain hormone called melatonin is produced later at night in teens. Melatonin is released earlier in the night among kids and adults. Also, the delay in the sleep–wake cycle can worsen and possibly affect a person’s daily performance at school or at work. This is called the delayed sleep phase syndrome. Aside from changes in their body clocks, young people may also lose sleep due to insomnia, or the inability to fall asleep or staying asleep, which is commonly caused by stress. But there are other factors which may cause insomnia. These include physical discomfort such as stuffy nose due to colds or headaches; emotional problems like family issues or relationship troubles; and uncomfortable sleeping conditions, such as lying in a room that is too hot, cold, or noisy. Trying to sleep in a cramped bed or using pillows that are too soft or too firm also contributes to sleep deprivation. Insomnia is also one of the most common problems associated with sleep deprivation. This sleeping problem lasts for a long period of time without relief. Chronic insomnia can be caused by a number of different problems, including medical conditions, mental health problems, medication side effects, or substance abuse. In extreme cases, chronic insomnia may lead to psychophysiologic insomnia — a condition where a person’s mind and body are severely affected by sleep deprivation. Sufferers of chronic insomnia are advised to seek help the help of physicians, therapists, or counselors for their condition. A nightmare is a common experience among teens which can disrupt sleep patterns. Certain medications can trigger nightmares. Drugs and alcohol can also cause sleep altering patterns. However, stress and anxiety can also trigger nightmares. If nightmares interfere with sleep, it’s time to talk to medical health professionals. Other conditions that can affect sleep in young people include Periodic Limb Disorder, Restless Legs Syndrome, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Reflux, Narcolepsy, and Sleepwalking. When there’s a feeling of fatigue even after getting enough rest, a consultation with your doctor is advised. Excessive fatigue can be due to a number of health reasons, not just a sleep disorder. Doctors can do a physical examination and may review a person’s medical history when they suspect the presence of other conditions that interfere with sleep. Some sleep disorders can be treated with over-the-counter sleeping pills while others can be addressed through special therapy meant to reset a person’s body clock. Teens are encouraged to make lifestyle changes that promote good sleeping habits such as avoiding playing video games or watching TV before sleeping, as well as drinking too much coffee at nighttime.
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People who are schizophrenic are stereotyped as being easy to identify fit the basic stereotype of someone with compromised mental health. They hear things that aren’t there. They have difficulty distinguishing what is real and what isn’t, to the point that even perceived sensory stimuli may not be real. Emotional responses are typically viewed as being askew, such as laughing when crying is more appropriate. True, these are all signs of someone having schizophrenia, but there is so much more to the disease than this. Not every schizophrenic is a stark-raving lunatic, even though a good amount of them actually are. The mental health damage that schizophrenia can bring can often be more subtle than that. According to research, among the more subtle signs of developing schizophrenia (and possibly psychosis, as well) would be interpreting background noise as coded messages. These can include anything from the white noise that you get on a television to that odd buzzing noise that some radios make while scanning for an appropriate channel. Conspiracy theorists, by and large, have been adding interpretations to that sort of stuff for many years now. While some of them are undoubtedly schizophrenic, not all of them have fractured mental health. Still, recent research point to these “interpretations” as being a sign of someone developing schizophrenia. Supposedly, the tendency to extract information from meaningless data is a stepping stone to the mind developing an internal “reality” of unreality. This is not the only sign of poor mental health, of course, but studies show that it can be a good indicator. It should be noted that the research did take into account just how much information could actually be extracted from background noise. The test was conducted and arranged such that the test subjects were guaranteed to pick up certain selected words. Once checked decades later, the ones that picked up more information than what was designed to be picked up had all developed some form of schizophrenia. The trouble with schizophrenics is that it can be very easy for the signs to be turned inwards and stay only within the patient’s own mind. Hearing voices in one’s head, both a symptom and side effect of schizophrenia and psychosis, can easily be kept from other people. In fact, there are experts who believe that most patients are quite adept at keeping this symptom to themselves for years. More often than not, the stigma of being branded as insane because of this alone is enough to keep someone from openly admitting to the problem. As such, they develop an innate talent for hiding this information from others, if only to keep the chances of being forced to seek treatment minimal. Yes, the stereotypical image of a schizophrenic may well be a very accurate portrayal of the problem. However, that does not mean everyone who is schizophrenic is going to show the signs in an outward manner. In fact, most of the signs can easily be turned inwards and there is a surprisingly high number of patients who are talented at hiding the problem from others.
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Something in modern society is pushing more and more people to experience clinical depression. The statistics differ, but a rough estimate of 20% is considered accurate for the population of the US. The time period for the depression is generally not very long, but that does not mean it is not a danger. The number of people who have experienced clinical depression has never been this high before. The fact that depression brings about a number of dangerous side effects, such as insomnia, only makes the numbers that much more worrying. There are studies focused on finding the cause of the increasing number of clinically depressed people, but are comparatively less studies focused on finding ways to alleviate the problem. Perhaps the lack of studies dedicated to treating depression stems from the fact that there are already anti-depressants on the market that are effective. At least, they’re effective according to the statistics. As for the common side effects, there are sleeping pills that can help with insomnia. There are also drugs that can be used to treat most of the physical side effects associated with depression. However, these drugs tend to be difficult to obtain over-the-counter, which puts things into an interesting situation. Most people tend not to recognize by themselves that they are experiencing depression, which means that while they might treat the side effects, they’re ignoring the heart of the matter. In addition, not all of the side effects of depression are treatable by medications, such as the changes in body temperature. Another problem is that the side effects have a tendency to form a vicious cycle that makes prolonged depression worsen. For example, one of the common causes of depression comes in the form of anxiety disorders, typically social anxiety. It has been documented that social anxiety can worsen with the onset of depression, sometimes resulting in total social withdrawal for short intervals. In another tangent, insomnia – another common side effects – can also worsen a person’s depressed state. As the lack of sleep starts to interfere with the patient’s already shaky ability to perform socially and professionally, the already-fragile self-confidence starts to fracture even more. This can cause the person’s already shaky state of mental health to be damaged to the breaking point, possibly resulting in a total nervous breakdown. However, some people have also made the mistake of connecting insomnia directly to depression. While being depressed can have physical effects on the body that can trigger insomnia, it is by no means the absolute cause. According to most studies on the matter, insomnia is a physical condition, one that is more likely to be affected by factors such as a person’s diet than an anxiety disorder. However, the popular perception that insomnia is linked to depression can sometimes cause a person to develop the latter. There are several factors that have to be considered, such as whether or not the insomnia has caused a dip in the person’s social standing, but the connection is a possibility. A common effect of both depression and insomnia is the unusual body temperature that both conditions cause. In a normal human body, the body temperature rises and falls depending on a number of factors. Physical activity, environmental factors, and even intense mental activity can cause changes in the body temperature of a normal person. However, depression and insomnia patients both exhibit signs that their body temperatures remain flat regardless of internal or external factors. This only furthers the connection that people make between the two conditions, which can sometimes make one problem lead to another.
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Having a family member that is suffering a mental health disorder can be taxing at times. Depending on the severity of the disorder, many families have been broken up because of this. Some of them can be blamed on the lack of love or patience a family member can bestow. Some just cannot handle the pressure and others just cannot take the shame. But if the people around a person with a mental health disorder feels awkward, then what about what the actual person with the disorder feels? Many or most of these people are too afraid or ashamed to share their disorder with other people because they fear being ridiculed or judged. Even as seeing a psychiatrist or taking mental health disorder medicines are commonplace nowadays, many people still distrust a person with a mental health problem; they feel that they are too unstable and unpredictable. Fearing what they do not know, this ignorance causes more depression and damage to a person with a mental health disorder. Getting Over the Fear What mental health disorder patients want is for them to be considered as normal people. Only that they need more compassion, understanding and kindness. Treat a mental health disorder afflicted person the same way as you would anyone, this would make him or her feel more normal. As they feel more accepted and happy, they increase the chance of becoming normal. Also, be prepared; learn about the disorder that has afflicted your family or friend. Know the symptoms so you can be prepared as well. For the patient, learn and try to accept your condition, do not be afraid of what people will say, open up your condition to them. If they can’t take it then they’re not worth it. Remember that there are many people with mental health disorder; some are not just as obvious. Hold your head up high and live with dignity.