Many individuals struggle with attaining and maintaining their ideal weight. Many people spend enormous amounts of money on gym memberships, personal trainers, and dietitians but achieve very minimal or unsatisfactory results. More than just a problem of metabolism and food intake, recent studies show that stress and anxiety might be among the top reasons why people have a hard time losing weight. The human body actually responds to stressful situations by initiating a burst of energy; and by increasing metabolic rates and blood flow. The body also produces a substance called Cortisol, a natural steroid-like hormone that is also called the “stress hormone.” It is known as the“stress hormone” because large amounts of this substance are released whenever a person feels stressed out. It is an important hormone in the human body because it is used by the body for proper glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, immune system function, and inflammatory response. However, high levels of cortisol may do more harm than good. When people becomes stressed, the adrenal glands produce more cortisol that release sugar in the blood which leads to additional weight gain. People who secrete higher levels of cortisol as a reaction to stress tend to eat more food that is high in carbohydrates, fats, salt, and sugar. This includes sweets and other processed foods that are less healthy and may lead to weight gain. Many people tend to eat more food to suppress emotional stress and depression. They use snacks and food indulgence as escape routes to deal with pain or pressure that they experience. People who partake in these activities are termed as “emotional eaters.” The addictive qualities of food is probably the reason why people eat when they are stressed. For example, chocolate promotes the release of substantial amounts of opiates that improves mood and satisfaction. One of the big reasons why there are more people who gaining unwanted weight or obese is because many are too stressed and too busy to prepare healthy meals at home. Because of this, they opt to eat food from the nearest fast food. Fast food meals contain many empty calories that are responsible for unwanted weight gain. To keep stress levels under control, the body’s relaxation response should be activated during stressful situations. The following methods have been proven to be very beneficial in relaxing the mind and the body: · Keeping a journal or diary · Self-hypnosis · Exercise · Yoga · Listening to music · Sex therapy · Tai chi · Meditation · Sex Losing weight is not just about lifting weights and cutting down on fats and carbohydrates. Of course, exercise alone cannot guarantee that those extra pounds will be shed. But certainly, mental health is critical in any completing a weight loss program. Changing one’s eating habits, engaging in physical activities, and having a positive mindset all play a complimentary role in losing weight. Maintaining a stress-free lifestyle and the practice of stress management techniques may lead to healthier, happier lives.
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Being independent is something every young adult looks forward to. It is a time when they become free to do the things they’ve always wanted to do. Leaving home may have a certain emotional tug but the desire to become independent elicits a certain high that outweighs whatever feelings they have about staying home. However, as soon as they move out of their homes is the realization that independence involves not just freedom but many new responsiblities. Alongside those responsibilities are problems that would probably cause stress and anxiety. Such a period of transition may have a cruel twist to their emotional and psychological well-being and could even result in mental illness, specifically personality and depressive disorders. The first appearance of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other major depressive disorders tend occur in the late teens and early 20s. According to research, people are predisposed to acquire these medical conditions upon birth or during childhood. However, symptoms are may not surface until they hit a particular phase of development and/or certain stressors. Usually, men tend to develop schizophrenia between the ages of 18 and 25 while it appears in women about five years later. Bipolar disorder usually begins in early adulthood, although children and adolescents may also develop it. An increase in the incidence of major depressive disorder occurs after the age when puberty is reached. There are many cases when stressors precipitate the onset of mental illness in people who are predisposed to these conditions. Some of these stressors include death in the family, the loss of a job, or even positive events such as getting married or getting a promotion. The stress of going to college, getting independent from home and being responsible for oneself may become a trigger to anxiety disorder that leads to mental illness. Alcoho’ and drugs could also trigger a bout of mental illness. Young people with psychiatric illnesses try to cope with their symptoms by using substances like alcohol, marijuana and cocaine which make them feel better when they experience a sense of being “high” and intoxicated which only complicates the problem. They are less likely to take medication properly and their symptoms are harder to control. They are at greater risk of exhibiting violent behavior and might need to be hospitalized more often Schizophrenia may be recognized when a person loses his ability to function. An adolescent who used to be doing very well in school and socially may show signs of regression. A marked changed in social or family functioning or their ability to get good grades or do well at work should be a concern. Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations happens when certain pathways in their brains are being activated when they shouldn’t be. Another symptoms of schizophrenia is paranoia or being suspicious of others. They exhibit inability to express themselves verbally, when they used to have no trouble organizing their thoughts. Other early problems may include sleep disorders such as insomia, depressed mood or anxiety. A bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder. It is a brain disorder that causes unexpected changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. These are not the same as the normal ups and downs every person usually experience. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe which may result in ruined relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. However, bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. Other symptoms include a decreased need for sleep, and an increased energy level. They also have an increase in risky behavior, such as excessive shopping or gambling, or being sexually promiscuous. A depressive episode involves a change in one’s mood to sadness or irritability that lasts for at least two weeks and includes changes in sleep and appetite, and low energy. It’s important for parents to keep in touch with their teens when they are away in boarding schools. Always keep the communication open. Always give them reassurance, affirmation and comfort in times of difficulties. Always encouraged these young adolescents to seek medical support when they are becoming extremely depressed, experiencing severe anxiety attack, or when they feel like they are hearing voices. Adolescents or young adults who have already been diagnosed with a mental illness should make sure that they are in regular contact with a mental health provider. Hospitalization may be necessary for those who experience their first episodes for proper diagnosis, treatment and safety.
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With the drop in temperature comes a certain dawning, the formation of a certain mood. Most people tend to associate the Holidays with drops in temperature and colder weather, but this is the general comfortable cold and not the frigid chill of deep winter. It is also during these days that normally sane and stable people can end up going into a bit of a panic, with all the last-minute shopping and the “I can’t think of a gift” relatives. For the most part, all this stress and borderline insanity is pretty much worth it once the dust settles. The Holidays, with all the reunions and homecomings that come with them, can be a source of some truly unexpected amounts of stress and anxiety, usually from the same general sources. Students coming home from their first year in college tend to cause quite a bit of pressure and stress on the parents who are going to receive them. There’s quite a bit of getting used to, for one thing. Teenagers coming home from college for the first time have also been away from home for the first time. Having gotten used to living without parental interference, they can often cause a lot of tension when they behave like the independents they perceive themselves to be while the parents would rather still have them under their control. Parents making themselves seem unable to really accept that their child is not the same person that left their home the year before can often end up fighting short bouts of depression, though anger is also a common response. However, defiance of parental authority is not the only aspect of a family relationship that can get stretched during the season. Stress and anxiety also come into play in the preceding days, particularly the period where preparations and gift shopping enter the “critical zone.” There are expectations to be fulfilled and images to maintain, which some Eastern peoples might associate with the concept of “face.” The drive to make sure each and every little detail fits a certain image or projects a certain image that the decorator wants it to can become a major source of stress in some communities. This can be compounded further if the decorator is intent on making things perfect for visiting family members, such as kids who have been off to college or close friends who have been working overseas. All this pressure and over-extending stress is clearly a negative thing. The effects generally pass once the Holidays are over, but certain situations can take time to really sink into the average person. The Holidays are the times when people come home after a prolonged absence and hope to find everything untouched and unchanged from when they left. Yet, they come to realize that they’re not the same people as when they left and little things they missed, like the way their room was decorated or where their favorite little trinket from childhood was placed, have changed. The adjustments can take time because both parties don’t inform each other of these changes, which may seem insignificant to one side, but can have impact on the emotional health of the other.
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Whoever said “war is hell” never really considered the ramifications of peacetime. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a known problem, one that has affected countless individuals coming back from the harrows and horrors of war. There is a certain sense of overwhelming joy and euphoria associated with the soldier finally coming home after any period of time spent in a combat zone. This is particularly true if they served on the front lines, in the theaters of war that saw the most action, during their active duty. However, even this happiness and joy can eventually crumble and give way to the stress and depression that can sometimes come with the prospect of having to readjust to civilian life. This was observed after the Second World War and the Vietnam War, when veterans returned with more than just physical scars. The psychological trauma of having to survive while one’s fellows were shot down one by one over the course of a campaign can leave even the strongest personalities heavily scarred. The lessons learned from those wars have given way to psychological and psychiatric aid programs in the armed forces, specifically designed to help ease the transition for traumatized combat veterans. However, this system may not be effective or adequate, as recent discoveries among the Iraq war veterans are showing. Several Iraq veterans are starting to become stressed out and depressed now, though they are not the ones that one would expect to have such problems. The first few months after being shipped back home, there is the aforementioned joy and euphoria. However, the adjustment back to civilian life – even after being put through extensive therapy – does not come easily. According to a recently conducted study, most of the people experiencing this are not enlisted men and women. Rather, it is the ones that are part of the Army Reserves or the National Guard that are having the problems. The problems appear months after their return home, which often puts them out of the scope of the army’s mandatory counseling program to help relieve PTSD. Some experts believe that new studies will have to be conducted to fully understand why this is happening. While modern psychology understands the problems caused by PTSD after life in a battlefield, there has not yet been a study conducted into the possible delayed effects of it. It is possible that current programs used my the armed forces are not alleviating the problem and are merely delaying the onset. Currently, the Pentagon is starting to take the problem seriously and has some ideas in place. The first is a program that is designed to help potential combatants prepare for what they might face prior to actually being sent there. This has been referred to as “basic training for the mind.” Another program being put into full implementation is one that helps families of returning soldiers cope with the changes to their loved one. The program also teaches both the veterans and their families to spot the signs that the soldier may need psychological help. However, no word was given on whether or not the medical arrangements that citizen-soldiers are given would be extended beyond the current tenures of six months of health insurance and two years of VA benefits.
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A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow, so says Charlotte Bronte. Studies have linked sleep problems with a multitude of psychiatric conditions. Some medical professionals would say a lot of mental problems are caused by lack of sleep, and some would say that it’s the other way around, that psychiatric problems cause difficulty sleeping. But how is sleep related to your mental health? Sleep Sleep is the natural state of rest observed not only by human beings but also by other species of the animal kingdom. Regular sleep is vital for one’s health and survival. This is characterized by a loss of consciousness, reduced voluntary body movement, decreased reaction to external stimuli, an increase rate of anabolism (cell synthesis), and a decreased rate of catabolism (cell breakdown). Sleep consists of five stages. The first four stages are called non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep. The last stage is the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Stage one is the transition from wake to sleep. Stage two is an intermediate level of sleep. Stages three and four are referred to as deep or slow wave sleep, with stage four as the deepest stage of sleep. The fifth stage of sleep, the REM stage, is the stage in sleep where we dream. All of these stages involve brain movement. Sleeping problems There are two sleeping difficulties most noted to be related to psychiatric illnesses: Insomnia. In this sleeping problem, a patient has trouble falling or remaining asleep. Insomniacs usually don’t feel refreshed after a night’s rest. This is classified into acute (short-term) or chronic (the condition lasts for over a month). Hypersomnia. When a patient has this condition, he feels extremely sleepy throughout the day. Patients with hypersomnia usually sleep long during the night and still take repeated naps throughout the day. Even though patients sleep long, they are still not refreshed. Mental illnesses related to sleep problems Here are some psychiatric conditions that are commonly related to having sleeping disorders. Adjustment disorders. This is a condition wherein a person overreacts to any form of stress in their life. Patients with this disorder often complain of having insomnia. Bipolar disorder. In this mental condition, a patient experiences periods of highs (mania) and lows (depression) alternately. Patients with this conditions are most often hypersomniacs. Generalized anxiety disorder. A patient displays frequent patterns of worrying about things. Patients find it difficult to sleep because of the worries that go around their minds. Panic disorder. A patient experiences an extreme fear and anxiety over something unexplainable. Patients often wake up in the middle of the night and have difficulty going back to sleep. How are sleeping problems and mental illnesses related? People with sleeping disorders may manifest symptoms of the mental illness or that of the sleeping disorder itself. However some noted signs are: Increased anxiety at bedtime. An inclination to staying in bed more often. Fatigue or complete lack of energy. Difficulty concentrating. A tendency to fall asleep when in low-stimulation situations. Feeling disoriented when aroused. Decreased appetite. Irritability. Memory impairment. Recent studies have shown that brain activity associated with mental illnesses have been observed in healthy people who’ve been sleep deprived for a night. An increase in activity in the amygdala, the brain’s emotion center, was seen in patients who’ve been asked to miss a night’s rest. The same study noted that sleep deprivation affected the way the prefrontal cortex, which damps down the amygdala, reacts. The same disruption of prefrontal cortex function has been noted in patients with certain psychiatric disorders. In conclusion, sleep is not just a function that we need to engage in to rest our body. Our mind’s health depends on it too. Our busy lifestyles may tell you that sleep is for the weak. But think of how much weaker a lack of sleep may make you.
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What is Botox? Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. In this way, Botox is related to botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning. Botulinum toxin A is one of the neurotoxins (a neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nervous tissue) produced by Clostridium botulinum. The most serious symptom of botulism is paralysis, which in some cases has proven to be fatal. The botulinum toxins (there are seven — types are A through G) attach themselves to nerve endings. Once this happens, acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, cannot be released. A series of proteins are essential for the release of acetylcholine. Certain botulinum toxins attack these proteins. Basically, the botulinum toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. Say, for example, it attacks the muscles in your chest — this could have a profound impact on your breathing. When people die from botulism, this is often the cause — the respiratory muscles are paralyzed so it’s impossible to breathe. Why Botox? At this point, you may be wondering why anyone would want to have a botulinum toxin injected into his or her body. The answer is simple: If an area of the body can’t move, it can’t wrinkle. Botox injections are the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the industry, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). In 2001, more than 1.6 million people received injections, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year. More popular than breast enhancement surgery and a potential blockbuster, Botox is regarded by some as the ultimate fountain of youth. A little history Botox was first approved in 1989 to treat two eye muscle disorders–uncontrollable blinking (blepharospasm) and misaligned eyes (strabismus). In 2000, the toxin was approved to treat a neurological movement disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions, known as cervical dystonia. As an unusual side effect of the eye disorder treatment, doctors observed that Botox softened the vertical frown (glabellar) lines between the eyebrows that tend to make people look tired, angry or displeased. But until this improvement was actually demonstrated in clinical studies, Allergan Inc., of Irvine, Calif., was prohibited from making this claim for the product. By April 2002, the FDA was satisfied by its review of studies indicating that Botox reduced the severity of frown lines for up to 120 days. The agency then granted approval to use the drug for this condition. How is Botox applied? Botox is injected with a very tiny needle. After Botox injection, the muscles will relax and the skin will smooth out over about 5 days. The effect usually lasts about six months, and can be repeated when needed. There are very few side effects to this procedure. While allergy to any medicine is possible, it is rare with Botox. While a small amount of brow or lid droop is possible, it is unusual and can usually be avoided by not treating the area just above the outer portion of the brow. If it does happen, it goes away by itself. Originally used for treating nervous twitch of the eyelid muscles, it was discovered that the crow’s feet, frown lines and forehead creases can be flattened dramatically. Neck Bands can sometimes be helped also. Who Can Provide Botox Cosmetic Treatments? Any authorized healthcare professional can administer BOTOX® Cosmetic, but dermatologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors), or physicians specializing in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced. Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic “mini-treatments” today. This procedure can be done on a lunch break and requires no anesthesia or recovery. Choosing a Doctor You want to find a doctor with experience—someone familiar with injecting Botox Cosmetic. To make the selection process easier, consider choosing a doctor from the Botox Cosmetic Physicians’ Network. Members of the Network have medical practices that focus on facial aesthetics, as well as detailed knowledge of facial anatomy and experience injecting Botox Cosmetic. Their practices also offer other facial aesthetic treatments. At the end of this article there is a link to finding a qualified Botox doctor in Spain. Step-by-Step Here’s what you might expect at the doctor’s office from the moment you arrive until your procedure is done. (Please note that although this experience is typical, the routine at your doctor’s office may be different.) • Your doctor will determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The location, size, and use of the muscles that create a furrowed brow vary markedly among individuals. • Your doctor will administer several tiny injections of Botox Cosmetic directly into the muscles that cause those moderate to severe frown lines between the brows. • No anesthesia is required, although your doctor may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Most patients compare the sensation to a pin prick. You may resume normal activity immediately. You may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows within days. Improvement may continue for as long as a month, and could last up to 4 months.