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Archive for January, 2011

 

August 4, 2010

By Therese J. Borchard

Divorce is the second most stressful life event, preceded only by the death of a spouse. And what is stress is capable of? Expediting a severe bout of depression and anxiety to your limbic system (the brain’s emotional center) if you’re not careful. Acute and chronic stress, especially, undermine both emotional and physical health. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior suggests that divorced or widowed people have 20 percent more chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer than married people.

Another study in Psychological Science claimed that a person’s happiness level drops as she approaches divorce, although there is rebounding over time if the person works at it. That what these 12 tips are: suggestions for preventing the devastating depression that often accompanies divorce, and techniques that you can use to keep your happiness level steady or maybe even higher!

1. Lose yourself in a book (or an afghan).

I think the one thing that kept my mom sane the years after she and my dad split were the 75 afghans she knitted for me, my sisters, and anyone who got married during between 1982 to 1985. The mundane, repetitive gesture, she told me later, kept her brain on the loop that she was making with her big plastic needles, away from all the sadness in her heart. Swimming is the same type of activity for me. I count each lap, so if I start to ruminate too much, I lose track. For an OCD gal who needs to burn calories, it’s a tragedy when that happens. A friend of mine who divorced last year said that losing herself in a juicy novel was a helpful diversion. Or I guess you could also watch reality TV, although I’d hate for you to sink that low.

2. Change your routine.

The year after my dad left, a counselor recommended to my mom that she go back to work. So she took a part-time job as a hostess at a nice restaurant downtown, working lunch hour. The job forced her to smile, meet new people, and be part of a fresh environment–all of which helped her to get out of her head for several hours of the day and gave her hope that there was new life out there, that just because her marriage had ended, didn’t mean her life was over.

3. Plan, plan, and plan some more.

In her book “Solace: Finding Your Way Through Grief and Learning to Live Again,” psychotherapist Roberta Temes suggests a few activities that are therapeutic during bereavement (and divorce is a kind of bereavement). One of them is planning. That is, planning everything. I know this works because I did it during the really low months of my severe depression. I planned when I would eat my bagel, when I would shower, and when I would relieve my bladder. I planned when I’d write my distorted thoughts into a journal, and when I would try to count my blessings. All the planning cut down on my ruminations. You think I’m crazy? Temes writes:

Use a calendar to make your plans. Plan when you will go somewhere new. Plan when you will buy yourself a new outfit. Plan to learn to knit and decide when you’ll go to the yarn store. Plan to go fishing and call a buddy who likes to fish. Or, learn how to frame a favorite photo and plan when you will venture to a craft shop or to an art supply store. Plan to repair something in your house and plan to go to Home Depot or to Lowe’s or to your local hardware store. Planning activities for your future will help you reach that future.

Click here to continue.

Source:  http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/2010/08/12-depression-busters-for-divo-1.html



 

August 5, 2010

By Therese J. Borchard

Nearly one-third of people caring for terminally ill loved ones suffer from depression according to research from Yale University. About one in four family caregivers meet the clinical criteria of anxiety. And a recent study found that 41 percent of former caregivers of a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia experienced mild to severe depression up to three years after their spouse had died.

Caregivers are so vulnerable to depression because they often sacrifice their own needs while tending to their loved one and because of the constant stress involved. Here, then, are 12 tips to help protect you from anxiety and depression and to guide you toward good mental health as you care for a relative.

1. Acknowledge it.

If you haven’t already, say this out loud: “This sucks.” Call a spade a spade. Granted, you don’t want to ruminate on negative thoughts for too long. But suppressing your emotions–forcing that positive cap on each and every thought–can actually do more harm than good. For example, a recent study in the journal “Psychological Science” reported that people with low self-esteem who told themselves positive statements (“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, Gosh darn it, people like me!”) actually ended up grumpier and with less self-esteem than before they started. What does this mean? Sometimes the best thing that we can do for our mental health is to be honest. And if you’re a caretaker, that means acknowledging that your situation, well, simply sucks.

2. Educate yourself.

Relieve some of your stress by reading up on your loved one’s condition. I say that because if you’re like me, you’re probably scared. You don’t know what’s coming down the pike. You detest surprises, and ever since your loved one fell ill, your life has been full of these shockers.

There’s no way of eliminating all the surprises, of course, but if you understand the illness(es) of the person you’re nursing, then you can better predict his behavior, and can prepare yourself for what may happen in a month or in a year. You might also consider attending a caregiver training program. A recent study showed significant improvement in the quality of life of caregivers who received training. Finally, two books I recommend are “The Caregiver Handbook: Powerful Tools for Caregiving” and “Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal.”

Read More:  http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/2010/08/12-depression-busters-for-care-1.html



 

August 5, 2010

By Therese J. Borchard

Nearly one-third of people caring for terminally ill loved ones suffer from depression according to research from Yale University. About one in four family caregivers meet the clinical criteria of anxiety. And a recent study found that 41 percent of former caregivers of a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia experienced mild to severe depression up to three years after their spouse had died.

Caregivers are so vulnerable to depression because they often sacrifice their own needs while tending to their loved one and because of the constant stress involved. Here, then, are 12 tips to help protect you from anxiety and depression and to guide you toward good mental health as you care for a relative.

1. Acknowledge it.

If you haven’t already, say this out loud: “This sucks.” Call a spade a spade. Granted, you don’t want to ruminate on negative thoughts for too long. But suppressing your emotions–forcing that positive cap on each and every thought–can actually do more harm than good. For example, a recent study in the journal “Psychological Science” reported that people with low self-esteem who told themselves positive statements (“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, Gosh darn it, people like me!”) actually ended up grumpier and with less self-esteem than before they started. What does this mean? Sometimes the best thing that we can do for our mental health is to be honest. And if you’re a caretaker, that means acknowledging that your situation, well, simply sucks.

2. Educate yourself.

Relieve some of your stress by reading up on your loved one’s condition. I say that because if you’re like me, you’re probably scared. You don’t know what’s coming down the pike. You detest surprises, and ever since your loved one fell ill, your life has been full of these shockers.

There’s no way of eliminating all the surprises, of course, but if you understand the illness(es) of the person you’re nursing, then you can better predict his behavior, and can prepare yourself for what may happen in a month or in a year. You might also consider attending a caregiver training program. A recent study showed significant improvement in the quality of life of caregivers who received training. Finally, two books I recommend are “The Caregiver Handbook: Powerful Tools for Caregiving” and “Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal.”

Read More:  http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/2010/08/12-depression-busters-for-care-1.html



 

By Chato B. Stewart

I am AFRAID of… balloons!!! Notice the eyes in this picture of me blowing up balloons for my pre-wedding party (Engagement Party).  My future wife did not even know my fear then and there was no way I was going to tell her!!  So, I grabbed the dam balloons and did what I had to DO!

I have no fear of heights (Hypsiphobia). I have no fear of  snakes (Ophidiophobia). I don’t even have Necrophobia, a fear of death. NOPE! My fear and phobia is balloons! 

I get anxious around them and avoid them whenever possible. Laugh if you must, but it is true!! This type of anxiety is classified as an “uncommon phobia” called Globophobia. Actually, it’s a rather common fear.

My anxiety over the dreaded balloons has been under control; I’m glad the sweating and panic attacks are gone.  I can, however, trace my “issue” back to one night in my life.  I was interviewed once by a fellow blogger and asked,

What is your strangest fear?

Read in Full:  http://blogs.psychcentral.com/humor/2010/08/name-that-phobia-fear-of-balloons-globophobia/



 

By Chato B. Stewart

I am AFRAID of… balloons!!! Notice the eyes in this picture of me blowing up balloons for my pre-wedding party (Engagement Party).  My future wife did not even know my fear then and there was no way I was going to tell her!!  So, I grabbed the dam balloons and did what I had to DO!

I have no fear of heights (Hypsiphobia). I have no fear of  snakes (Ophidiophobia). I don’t even have Necrophobia, a fear of death. NOPE! My fear and phobia is balloons! 

I get anxious around them and avoid them whenever possible. Laugh if you must, but it is true!! This type of anxiety is classified as an “uncommon phobia” called Globophobia. Actually, it’s a rather common fear.

My anxiety over the dreaded balloons has been under control; I’m glad the sweating and panic attacks are gone.  I can, however, trace my “issue” back to one night in my life.  I was interviewed once by a fellow blogger and asked,

What is your strangest fear?

Read in Full:  http://blogs.psychcentral.com/humor/2010/08/name-that-phobia-fear-of-balloons-globophobia/



 

Posted on Thu, Aug. 05, 2010 08:00 PM



 

Posted on Thu, Aug. 05, 2010 08:00 PM



 Self Belief?

Article Date: 06 Aug 2010 – 0:00 PDT

Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task – and the consequences of winning or losing – directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

A paper about the research – led by Richard A. Andersen, the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience at Caltech – appears in the August issue of PLoS Biology.

Research in Andersen’s laboratory includes work to understand the neural mechanisms of action planning and decision-making. The lab is working toward the development of implanted neural prosthetic devices that would serve as an interface between severely paralyzed individuals’ brain signals and artificial limbs – allowing their planned actions to control the limbs’ movements.

In particular, Andersen’s group focuses on a high-level area of the brain called the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), where sensory stimuli are transformed into movement plans.

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/196948.php



 Self Belief?

Article Date: 06 Aug 2010 – 0:00 PDT

Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task – and the consequences of winning or losing – directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

A paper about the research – led by Richard A. Andersen, the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience at Caltech – appears in the August issue of PLoS Biology.

Research in Andersen’s laboratory includes work to understand the neural mechanisms of action planning and decision-making. The lab is working toward the development of implanted neural prosthetic devices that would serve as an interface between severely paralyzed individuals’ brain signals and artificial limbs – allowing their planned actions to control the limbs’ movements.

In particular, Andersen’s group focuses on a high-level area of the brain called the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), where sensory stimuli are transformed into movement plans.

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/196948.php



 

By Candida Fink MD 

May asks…

I’m wondering if any research has established a link between patients with Bipolar Disorder I or II and nervous system disorders? I’ve suffered from different types of neuralgias for years, as well as IBS and migraines. One of my doctors said she often sees these or similar co-morbidities, but she’s not sure why.

Chronic pain combined with a mood disorder does not make for a very pleasant life. I recently read somewhere that people with chronic pain tend to carry a lot of stress and tension, both physically and psychologically, much like BP sufferers do.

If that’s true, then I’m surprised that all of the “good behaviors” I’ve adopted as a BP patient haven’t done anything to calm the pain from my central neural windup – a firestorm of pain that is self-perpetuating. The recommendations are almost identical in terms of what to avoid, what one should do, and the types of mindfulness and relaxation techniques that are standard lifestyle changes following a diagnosis of bipolar or chronic pain.

I do not dare ever mention my bipolar condition outside of my home, so it’s not like I can ask a fellow pain sufferer if he or she has experienced mental illness along with his or her nervous system dysfunction. I’d love to know if anyone is studying this central nervous system cross-talk of BP and neuralgia.

Dr. Fink answers…

Bipolar disorder is, at its most basic, a neurological condition – an illness/disruption of the function of neurons, so it wouldn’t be surprising at all to find overlap with other neurologic disorders. We have little data on rates of co-morbid neurological disorder with bipolar disorder, but we do know that pain, migraines, and IBS are much more common in people with depression.

We’re beginning to learn that many psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders, are actually associated with inflammation in the brain and body caused by the body’s response to physical or emotional stress, such as infection or even sleep deprivation. When the immune system responds to infection, for example, such as a flu virus, tissues become inflamed and actually cause many (or even most) of the symptoms associated with the infection.

Read in Full:  http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2010/08/bipolar-disorder-neurologica/