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Category: Therapy

Dealing With Different Types of Depression

By admin on August 22, 2010 | 0 Comments

Depression comes in different forms. The psychologist’s handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV TR) considers depression a type of ‘mood disorder,’ insofar that one suffering from a bout of depression is having their mood ‘affected,’ to a certain extent. If one is not routinely fatigued, unexcited, uninspired, and finding him or herself disinterested in things they normally do, then depression is the affectation.

When people usually think or talk about depression, they are thinking of what psychologists and psychiatrists call ‘Major Depressive Disorder,’ or MDD. Other names for it are Unipolar Depression or Clinical Depression, and people suffering from it are the ones at highest risk for suicide. They may turn to different substances or behaviors to self-medicate their depression, and some of these habits can be just as dangerous.

Other forms of depression are Bipolar Disorder, which is characterized by very low emotional states (like MDD), and spontaneous moments of hyperactivity (impulse shopping, for example). There is also Melancholic Depression, which may put an individual in a certain emotional state like that of someone grieving, and Catatonic Depression, when a person may cease to function normally, and perhaps become mute as a way of coping, or self-abuse.

Some depression is a result of chemical imbalance, in which case different types of medication can be used to reactivate those dormant chemicals. In other cases, however, depression truly can be more metaphysical, and can be best treated through conversation, understanding, and holistic treatment, like exercise and study.

Depression is never easy, but even for the worst cases, there is help.

Whether or not you’ve ever been clinically diagnosed with depression, chances are that you or someone you know has suffered from it. Either way, almost everyone has been affected by depression to some degree. Some people use different forms of treatment and medication for the condition, whereas others will simple ‘grin and bear it’ until it passes. Ultimately, the best way to approach and treat depression is by addressing it holistically; that is, by admitting that everything psychological is equally as biological.
Depression comes in different forms. The psychologist’s handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV TR) considers depression a type of ‘mood disorder,’ insofar that one suffering from a bout of depression is having their mood ‘affected,’ to a certain extent. If one is not routinely fatigued, unexcited, uninspired, and finding him or herself disinterested in things they normally do, then depression is the affectation.
When people usually think or talk about depression, they are thinking of what psychologists and psychiatrists call ‘Major Depressive Disorder,’ or MDD. Other names for it are Unipolar Depression or Clinical Depression, and people suffering from it are the ones at highest risk for suicide. They may turn to different substances or behaviors to self-medicate their depression, and some of these habits can be just as dangerous.
Other forms of depression are Bipolar Disorder, which is characterized by very low emotional states (like MDD), and spontaneous moments of hyperactivity (impulse shopping, for example). There is also Melancholic Depression, which may put an individual in a certain emotional state like that of someone grieving, and Catatonic Depression, when a person may cease to function normally, and perhaps become mute as a way of coping, or self-abuse.
Some depression is a result of chemical imbalance, in which case different types of medication can be used to reactivate those dormant chemicals. In other cases, however, depression truly can be more metaphysical, and can be best treated through conversation, understanding, and holistic treatment, like exercise and study.
Depression is never easy, but even for the worst cases, there is help.

Health Management, Mental Health Care, Therapy

Prescriptions Drugs for Mental Illnesses Offer Treatment, Not a Cure

By admin on August 20, 2010 | 0 Comments

: Image by incurable_hippie via Flickr

Seeking the assistance of a health medicine practitioner is commonly how mental health issues are addressed. However, there is a current debate gaining momentum nationwide as to if this is truly the best remedy. While mental health issues are a topic of discussion more than ever before—and no longer viewed as taboo, shameful, or indicative of weakness, there is a tendency in the psychiatric field to treat all disorders with a ‘fix all’ prescription drug, or a ‘drug cocktail’ that combines many different medications that work together to seemingly cure the patient. But what is commonly overlooked in a prescription-driven field of medicine is that while an illness can be treated and a patient can function at normal capacity, the root cause of the illness is not being treated, nor cured.

Open to argument is whether there are alternative methods of treatment such as holistic medicine, natural remedies, spirituality-based methods, and compassionate and self-empowerment techniques by a mentor or licensed professional that can alleviate symptoms of a mental illness while at the same time discovering the origin of it—to ultimately obtain healing.

One key point to be made in favor of choosing alternative methods of treatment is the mind-altering effect prescription drugs have on an individual, and the extensive physical side effects the drugs induce. While there are inherent chemical imbalances in some people that need to be treated with modern medicine, other people who suffer from common disorders (like depression) could benefit from more natural and therapy based treatment program.

No matter who you are or what disorder you suffer from, it is important to research all approaches to treatment, making an educated decision on what is right for you and modifying it as you go; the goal being not just to treat, but to cure.

Health Management, Mental Health Care, Therapy

The Different Types of Antidepressants

By admin on August 19, 2010 | 0 Comments

While there is no one singular ‘treatment’ for depression, antidepressant medication is one way that an individual can fight depression. Because the true sources of depression are yet unknown, treating them biologically is only one of the ways a person suffering can go about changing his or her mood. As the psychologists say, everything biological is equally as psychological. For different people, this means different things, but people suffering from depression shouldn’t rely solely on medications to treat their disorders. Therapy, conversation, exercise, sociability, and creativity are other ways a person can work out their sadness and melancholy.

But sometimes, when the psychological treatments aren’t enough, medications can be used to rebalance the chemicals that have gone askew in the body. Different antidepressants exist for different types of depression, so if and when you’re seeking a prescription, make sure you know the exact workings of your condition, because merely painting over a crack in the wall doesn’t make the crack disappear.

Types of antidepressants include Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), and a few others. Though the names of these drugs may seem a mouthful, they are exact descriptions of what chemicals these drugs help balance. For example, studies show that one of the chemical effects/causes of depression has to do with a lack of serotonin in the brain, which is used by neurons as a type of transmission fluid. Presynaptic neurons are responsible for moderating the ‘uptake’ of serotonin, and if your chemicals are out of balance, you need some intervening chemical (or medication) to block the ability of your presynaptic neurons to restrict serotonin. Drugs like Prozac and Zoloft are examples of drugs that do this.

Oddly enough, however, some of the side-effects of antidepressants can actually show up as symptoms of the depression they’re attempting to treat, so medication should never be a first option. Sometimes, however, medication is necessary.

Health Management, Mental Health Care, Therapy

Physical Exercise Can Help Improve Your Mental Health

By admin on August 18, 2010 | 0 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

It’s no debate that physical exercise is good for the body. You burn fat, you burn calories, you boost your metabolism, you slow your heart rate, you reduce your chance for developing illnesses later on in life, you supply more oxygen to your body, and best of all – you feel good when it’s over. However, the part of the body that benefits most from exercise is the brain itself.

Studies show that aerobic activity (any kind of workout that helps you maintain an accelerated heart-rate for at least fifteen minutes) can help reduce anxiety and depression. You won’t often get the results immediately after a workout, but after a four-or-five week regimen of aerobic exercise and healthy eating, you will see a drastic reduction in the effects of anxiety and depression on your life. Your body and your mind will benefit.

A recent study at Duke University put these ideas up to the test. They selected a group of people with depression to follow a four-week aerobic training schedule (30 minutes, three times a week.) Another group of people with depression were merely given medications to treat their condition. At the end of the study, 60% of the first group claimed to have overcome their depression without medication. 60% of the people who were on medications reported the same results, but obviously lacked the other physical benefits you gain from aerobic exercise.

Physical exercise helps your body produce some of the chemicals your brain needs in order to function at its fullest. Without those chemicals, you will quickly thereafter sink back in to depression and anxiety. And probably the best thing of all – working out is free. You don’t have to go to the doctor and you don’t have to buy expensive prescriptions. Ride your bike for a half hour, three or four times a week. Go for a jog. Do some push-ups and pull-ups. Strengthen your body and your mind.

Excercise, Mental Health Care, Therapy

An Introduction to CAM Therapy

By admin on August 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

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Described as a "complementary medicine," CAM works with conventional treatment techniques to restore the body and mind and maintain overall health. An examples of a treatment it works with is acupuncture, which stimulates certain parts of the body in order to lessen energy blockages and restore natural flows. Most Americans use CAM to complement treatment regiments designed by mental health professionals, such as pychatrist or therapists. However, there is a growing number of people that are using CAM as a form of alternative medicine. In other words, in place of formal treatment methods.

Although it is hard to specifically group the different types of CAM–because there are so many that cross into different categories, it can be loosely narrowed to four broad types: natural products, mind-body medicine, and body-based, manipulative practices. Natural products include botanical (or herbal) medicines, minerals and vitamins. Mind-body medicine involves using the mind to actively control physical functioning and promote balance within the body. And body-based, manipulative practices entails exercise methods that combine the body and the mind, such as yoga and meditation.

If you are interested in utilizing CAM therapies there a few things to keep in mind. First off, carefully select a CAM practioner who is qualified and has a good reputation. Next, be aware that botanical medicines and dietary supplements can potentially interact with other medications or have their own side effects, so it wise to throughly read the product label and do reseach about it on your own. Finally, tell all of your doctors about any CAM treatment you are thinking about doing or are currently undergoing.

CAM Therapy, known as a complementary and alternative medicine, is being used by nearly 40% of adult Americans to achieve health and mental well-being. CAM includes a diverse range of practices, as well as products, that are not traditionally used in conventional or Western medicine.
Described as a "complementary medicine," CAM works with conventional treatment techniques to restore the body and mind and maintain overall health. An examples of a treatment it works with is acupuncture, which stimulates certain parts of the body in order to lessen energy blockages and restore natural flows. Most Americans use CAM to complement treatment regiments designed by mental health professionals, such as pychatrist or therapists. However, there is a growing number of people that are using CAM as a form of alternative medicine. In other words, in place of formal treatment methods.
Although it is hard to specifically group the different types of CAM–because there are so many that cross into different categories, it can be loosely narrowed to four broad types: natural products, mind-body medicine, and body-based, manipulative practices. Natural products include botanical (or herbal) medicines, minerals and vitamins. Mind-body medicine involves using the mind to actively control physical functioning and promote balance within the body. And body-based, manipulative practices entails exercise methods that combine the body and the mind, such as yoga and meditation.
If you are interested in utilizing CAM therapies there a few things to keep in mind. First off, carefully select a CAM practioner who is qualified and has a good reputation. Next, be aware that botanical medicines and dietary supplements can potentially interact with other medications or have their own side effects, so it wise to throughly read the product label and do reseach about it on your own. Finally, tell all of your doctors about any CAM treatment you are thinking about doing or are currently undergoing.

Health Management, Knowledge Service, Therapy

Help and Hope Go Hand in Hand

By admin on August 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

For those who suffer from mental disorders and are victim to a mind of turmoil, torment, and confusion, the thought of release and recovery can be bleak. Whether you are living in secret with your illness, or have divulged it to family and friends, sometimes getting through a day is an enormous challenge that leaves you desperate for a way out.

One of the most common mental ailments is depression. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, an estimated 58 million people in the United States are afflicted with depression. Although it is commonly said, it cannot be overstated that if you suffer from depression, you are not alone. Many people feel as you do, and like you, they desire help, yet feel hopeless that it will come.

Today we are in the midst of a rapidly growing movement in medicine that errs towards therapy based on compassionate counseling and natural, herbal-orientated treatments, and away from the use of mind-altering, prescription drugs. This surge of creative and personalized methods to treat mental illness offers a comprehensive approach that surpasses the simple administration and monitoring of drugs that have, unfortunately, been used as a ‘cure-all,’ but that do not adequately an illness.

With such innovative treatment available, mental health and healing is available, and it combines help with hope. Organizations, associations, individuals and professionals are available nationwide to give kindhearted, insightful and effective treatment that combines the best of social science with spiritual principles, and merges the groundwork of psychiatry with the framework of holistic medicine.

So no matter how dire your situation, or how long you the weight of mental illness has bore down upon you, there are two things to always remember: there is hope, and there is help. And the two go hand in hand.

Health Management, Knowledge Service, Therapy

Chemical Imbalances: Normal or Cause for Treatment?

By admin on August 13, 2010 | 0 Comments

It has been theorized by several researchers that nearly 50% of people have chemical imbalance in their brain, thereby suggesting that it can be considered normal to have such imbalances.

If this is true, it would indicate that many of the people who are being treated for mental illnesses with drugs such as Xanax, Prozac, and Valium actually may not need them. In the current medical society, many physicians are quick to give prescriptions to those who are experiencing anxiety or depression, without fully assessing the patient or sending them to a psychiatrist for a therapy program that can work with—and perhaps even eliminate, prescription drugs.

What we can take from this research is that it is imperative to get an accurate, clinical diagnosis from several different medical professionals for symptoms of medical distress. Mind-altering drugs of a chemical nature may not always be the answer to ail our condition, and if such imbalances are normal, it is even possible that in time the brain will balance itself. This is not to say that mental disturbances should be ignored and not treated; only that a correct diagnosis is given and various types of treatment options explored.

Many people may benefit from just having a therapist, counselor, or someone in the religious or spiritual discipline talk to them about their feelings. It is quite common to experience anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed, and often times just a few simple tactics or strategies that you can use daily help to relieve them.

It is important to keep in mind that while prescription drugs treat the symptoms of an illness, they do not change your behavior or deal with the root cause of it. Therefore, having a mental health treatment program that helps you manage your stress, change certain behaviors, and explore issues that reside within you negatively, can be a much more feasible option to feeling balanced and happy.

Knowledge Service, Learning Disability, Mental Health Care, Therapy

Different Types of Therapy

By admin on August 10, 2010 | 0 Comments

: Image by elycefeliz via Flickr

Three main types of therapy are psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavior, and group therapy. The first, psychoanalytic, was pioneered by Sigmund Freud and is one of the most popular forms, comprised of patients talking to a therapist about their lives and/or problems, wherein the therapist searches for events and issues residing within the unconscious. This type of therapy is what most people think of when therapy is brought to mind, with images conjured of sitting on a couch and having a psychoanalyst ask careful, insightful questions, where after behavior modifications are suggested to the patient.

Somewhat similar to this is cognitive behavior therapy, except for that it concentrates on specific problems a person is facing and deals with negative thought patterns, or misconstrued perceptions, as a way to manage a mental disorder. This type of therapy is especially effective for people who have learned behaviors or phobias that are harming them, such as someone suffering from claustrophobia or anxiety caused by a certain situation. By working with them to face their fears and change specific behaviors, many patients of cognitive therapy are able to become mentally healthy.

Lastly, group therapy is a method that is designed to help people who feel isolated or alienated from society. By providing a group setting, patients are allowed to interact with those who feel the same way, gaining a degree of confidence and comfortableness with their peers. Group therapy also provides a forum for a patient to gain validation and emotion support for their illness or trauma, where they feel safe and unthreatened. Group therapy has also proved to be effective for many different types of mental disorders, and can be used with psychoanalyst and cognitive behavior therapy to increase the chance of success.

While all forms of therapy vary in style and conduct, they share the common goal of helping people achieve mental well being by way of a nonjudgmental, tolerant and compassionate environment.

Mental Health Care, Nursing Mental Patient, Therapy

A Few Simple Ways to Stay Mentally Healthy

By admin on August 8, 2010 | 0 Comments

With stresses and struggles popping up nonstop in our daily lives, it can be hard not to suffer from mental fatigue and an imbalanced sense of self. However, we don’t always need to seek the assistance of prescription drugs or therapists to get us back on track mentally. There are a few simple things we can do to keep our mental health in check, without having to spend money or devote an enormous amount of effort:

1. Fill your life with things you love, meaning people, activities and things. When you cultivate a life of passion, it makes you feel good tenfold.

2. Make relaxing part of your agenda everyday. In the chaos of our lives it is easy not to take time for ourselves, but it is imperative that we do so. Even if it is only ten minutes, a period of relaxation will cause you to be more productive and positive minded.

3. Talk about how you feel. When you hold things inside you feel anxious and resentful, often acting out aggressively or ignoring your feelings so they fester. Talking about how you feel allows you to be more self-aware and helps to develop more honest, functional relationships with others.

4. Engage in physical activity. You don’t have to run a marathon or spend hours at the gym, a daily walk, gardening, or yoga helps you to feel more mentally balanced by releasing good-feeling endorphins and keeps your body agile and healthy.

5. Be generous. Ancient wisdom dictates that a key to a happy life is to live simply and do for others. Even if it is a small gesture of kindness, doing something for others connects us with humanity and manifests joy.

6. Love and accept who you are. Sure, we are always going to have insecurities and things we wish we could change about ourselves, but it is wonderfully liberating to drop all pretenses and own who we are—unashamed and proud. Doing so, you find that you are more present not just in your own life, but in the live of others, making everything you do much more enjoyable.vvv

Health Management, Mental Health Care, Nursing Mental Patient, Therapy

Educating Yourself about Mental Illness

By admin on August 6, 2010 | 0 Comments

: Image by Victius via Flickr

It is normal to feel hesitant and experience feelings of trepidation or embarrassment when inquiring about mental illness, whether the subject has arose out of concern for your own mental health or that of a friend or loved one. However, mental illness is a common ailment today that is openly discussed and treated; it should not be viewed as taboo, and it should be kept in mind that there is plently of information readily available, and mental health doctors and facilities willing to provide education and assistance.

A good starting point is to educate your self about the types of mental illnesses. Below is a basic overview of the varying types and a short description detailing each:

* Mood disruptions: problems with general feelings or disposition, such as depression or bipolar disorder. This can also include anxiety disorders.
* Schizophrenia: a troubled perception of one’s environment and self.
* Personality disorders: issues with self-perception that entail a negatively skewed body image; includes such eating disorders as bulimia and anorexia.

It is also wise to explore the causes of mental illness, as they are wide-ranging and offer keen insight into the illness itself. Generally, the wellsprings of mental disorders fall into five categories: heredity, biology, character traits and/or behavior patterns, economic and social status, and past or current life events.

No matter the cause, it is important to address a mental disorder as soon as it arises, obtaining an accurate diagnoses and proceeding with either traditional or alternative treatment methods. While suicide is not categorized as a mental disorder, it is often the result and was the 11th leading cause of death among U.S. citizens in 2006. With so much information available today, educating your self about mental health is not only easy, it is necessary. It may save the life of yourself or someone close to you.

Knowledge Service, Mental Health Care, Nursing Mental Patient, Therapy

NO Psychs

Information About Psychiatry And Mental Health

Category: Therapy

Dealing With Different Types of Depression

Prescriptions Drugs for Mental Illnesses Offer Treatment, Not a Cure

The Different Types of Antidepressants

Physical Exercise Can Help Improve Your Mental Health

An Introduction to CAM Therapy

Help and Hope Go Hand in Hand

Chemical Imbalances: Normal or Cause for Treatment?

Different Types of Therapy

A Few Simple Ways to Stay Mentally Healthy

Educating Yourself about Mental Illness

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