Mental Health 101: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Everyone hopes to not experience anything traumatic in their life but as we know no one is immune to bad things happening to them.  Some people may through or witness some very horrific things and it may stay with them...in some cases to the point that it's debilitating to their everyday life. 

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the brain's normal reaction to abnormal events.  Symptoms to PTSD can appear days, months, or even years after a traumatic event.  Diagnostic criteria for PTSD include a history of exposure to a traumatic event meeting two criteria and symptoms from each of three symptom clusters: intrusive recollections, avoidant/numbing symptoms, and hyper-arousal symptoms. A fifth criterion concerns duration of symptoms and a sixth assesses functioning. The person's response to the traumatic event involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. In children, it may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior.

A person with PTSD recollects the traumatic event through recollections, flashbacks, dreams, and/or internal and external triggers.  They may also avoid the trauma by memory lapses, blackouts, avoiding things, places, and people associated with the trauma, detaching themselves from loved ones, or have a shortened sense of future.  A person with PTSD are easily aroused, meaning that they easily startled, irritable, or have difficulty sleeping and/or concentrating.  Symptoms like I just stated have to be present for a least one month for a possible PTSD diagnosis. 

If you or someone you know are experiencing these symptoms, please seek help immediately.  If you are someone is in crisis call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room!!  There are medications and therapy available to treat PTSD.  There are also a lot of support groups.  As always, here are some links to help you.

http://www.abct.org/Members/?m=FindTherapist&fa=FT_Form&nolm=1
http://locator.apa.org/
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php
http://store.samhsa.gov/mhlocator

For Veterans
http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/ptsd_flsh.asp
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/get_help_with_va.asp
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans/
Call 1-800-273-8255 and press "1"

Support Groups
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-ptsd&lgnF=y
http://www.adaa.org/finding-help/getting-support/support-groups

Take care,
-Kimmy

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (Revised 4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Mental Health 101: Bipolar Disorder

How many times have you heard the phrase "Oh he/she is Bipolar!"?  Many times I bet.  Bipolar is often used to describe someone who is moody however Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental health disorder that can be very dehabilitating. What's the difference between someone who is moody and someone with Bipolar Disorder you ask? Well, I'll explain some.

People with Bipolar Disorder have periods of mania, depression or a combination of both (mixed episodes). 

The DSM-IV-TR (the book mental health professionals use to diagnose mental health disorders) defines mania as a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least one week and consisting of three or more of the following:

• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
• Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feeling rested after only 3 hours of sleep).
• More talkative than usual or feeling pressure to keep talking.
• Racing thoughts or thoughts that seem to jump from topic to topic.
• Distractibility (e.g., attention is easily drawn to unimportant details).
• Increased goal-directed activity (either socially, at school or work, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation.
• Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for negative consequences (e.g., going on buying sprees, foolish business investments, promiscuous sex).

The DSM-IV-TR defines a depressive episode as a distinct period lasting at least 2 weeks of symptoms including: Insomnia or hypersomnia. As I said before, a mixed episode is a combination of both manic and depressive symptoms.

The DSM-IV-TR identifies two types of Bipolar Disorder (didn't know that huh?):

Bipolar I: Manic or mixed episodes are present.
Bipolar II:  Hypomanic (which means symptoms of mania are present but not enough to call a manic episode) and depressive episodes are present.

As you can see, someone who is bipolar clearly not just someone in a bad mood or has temperament changes.  If you or someone you know have symptoms of Bipolar Disorder seek help from your doctor or a mental health professional so they can tell you for sure  since symptoms of Bipolar Disorder are similar to symptoms of other mental health disorders. 

There are support groups out there for people with Bipolar Disorder out there...here are some links.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=support_findsupportlanding
http://www.mdjunction.com/bipolar-in-the-family- this is a support site for family members of people with Bipolar Disorder.

Since you have an idea of what Bipolar Disorder is, use caution when calling someone Bipolar.

Take care,
-Kimmy

•  Depressed mood.
•  Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or
• almost all activities.
• Signiifcant (>5% body weight) weight loss or gain,
• or increase or decrease in appetite.

Psychomotor agitation or retardation.

Fatigue or loss of energy.

Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.

Diminished concentration or indecisiveness.

Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Mental Health 101: Substance Abuse

Many people who use drugs never think that they will develop a drug problem because they just want to try it or they are using for fun.  However, the signs of a problem are always there. One may not notice because they are caught up in getting high and what they perceive as good things happening. They may be making new "friends" or beginning to get more attention from the opposite sex.  They like their personality when they're high because they're more outgoing or personable under the influence and they're not like that sober.

While these "good" things are going on, other things are brewing as well:  a substance abuse problem.  One might get caught up having a good time but I'm sure there are some not so good things going on as well. 

• The drug use may be interfering with work, school, or home (i.e., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; or neglect of children or household).
• The drug use may put you in situations that are dangerous (i.e., driving while drunk or high or having unprotected sex while drunk or high)
• Legal issues may arise (such as arrests for DUI/DWI, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, etc. because you were drunk or high at the time).
• Even though your friends and family are calling you out on your drug use and how it's becoming a problem, you still use them.

If any of these things...or all of them...happened to you quite a few times over the past year, you may need to slow down because you might have a substance abuse problem.  Depending on how bad your situation is, you may be able to stop using the drugs on your own or you may need to seek some help by means of a professional or outpatient facility.  If it's really bad you may need to seek residential treatment. 

A drug problem is something you can't deal with on your own so get the support of your friends, family, and employer...yes, the job will have your back too.  You won't lose your job if you let them know you have a problem and you are seeking treatment through their Employee Assistance Program.  I've provided some websites to help if you or someone you know has a drug problem.

http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ - A Federal substance abuse directory.

http://www.smartrecovery.org/ - An online substance abuse recovery group.

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ - Support group for family and friends of substance abusers/addicts.

http://www.aa.org/ - Alcoholics Anonymous

It's a good idea to work on drug problems before they become drug addictions however a person will not change until they are good and ready.

With that said...

Take care,

-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Anxiety

What makes you anxious?

Upcoming events, things you're looking forward (or not) to, people, situations...all kinds of things make people anxious.  Anxiety is the body's way of dealing with stress.

What if EVERYTHING makes you anxious?  What if it's so bad you cannot work, go to school, or be around friends and family?  What if one specific thing gives you very bad anxiety?  Then you may have an anxiety disorder.

There are many disorders that fall into the anxiety disorder spectrum.  Panic disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and phobias.  Diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorder depend on what kind of symptoms you have and have severe they are.  Symptoms of anxiety disorders include nervousness, tension, shortness of breath, feelings of depersonalization, worry, agitation, insomnia, inability to concentrate, rapid hearbeat, and dizziness.  I will go into more detail of each anxiety disorder in future posts. 

Treatment for anxiety disorders are medications such as SSRIs and in more severe cases Benzos and mood stabilizers.  Psychotherapy is another treatment for anxiety.  For severe cases, a combination of medication and therapy works best.

If you feel you have anxiety issues, see your private doctor and have them refer you to a therapist to help cope with the symptoms and the cause behind your anxiety.  I've listed some websites as well.

www.dailystrength.org/c/Anxiety/support-group
http://anxiety.supportgroups.com
www.adaa.org/supportgroups

Anxiety is something everyone experiences at one point or another however it does not have to be dehabilitating.  If you are struggling, seek help!

Take care,
-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Insomnia

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep?

Everyone has had some sleep trouble in some point in their lives for many reasons:  stress, excitement, anxiety...the list goes on and on...

There are three kinds of insomnia: initial, middle, and terminal. Initial insomnia is having difficulty falling asleep. Middle insomnia is constantly waking up throughout the night. Terminal insommia is waking up early and not able to fall asleep again.

There are many things you can do on your own to alleviate insomnia.

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
• Avoid naps.
• Use your bed for sleep only.
• Relax or unwind for an hour before going to bed.
• Try not to go to bed hungry.
• Exercise helps alleviate insomnia.
• Take a warm bath before bed.
• Make a "to-do" list of what you need to do the next day to reduce stress.
• Adjust the room temperature, lighting, and noise before going to bed.

If you cannot fall asleep, get out of the bed and go elsewhere in your home until you feel sleepy again.

In some cases, medications such as Lunesta can help with insomnia for a short period of time. A professional can assist in sleep problems as well.

To learn more about insomnia, check out these sites.

insomnia.supportgroups.com
http://www.insomnialand.com/

Take care,
-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Do you know the difference between a child with ADHD and a child that's just acting out?

Do you think they are one in the same?

Well I'm here to tell you that they are not.  A child may act out for a variety of reasons...which will have to wait until another post.  I'm focusing on ADHD.

What is ADHD?  Well, it is a mental health disorder in which a person is unable to focus, hyperactive, or a combination of both, and it negatively affects their quality of life. Remember, a mental illness is not a mental illness until symptoms affect a person's functioning (work, school, relationships, etc.). A person with ADHD may appear all over the place, possibly on purpose, however that is not the case.

ADHD is the most common childhood disorder and 70% of children with ADHD will have symptoms into adulthood.  ADHD runs in families oftentimes and can be present with other disorders.  ADHD affects parts of the brain such as the frontal lobe and frontial striatal, which acts as the brain's screen. The DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for ADHD is either six or more symptoms of inactivity or six or more symptoms of hyperactivity and either have to be present for at least six months and to the point that it is detrimental to the person.

Inattention symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Not paying attention to details or making careless mistakes
• Difficulty maintaining attention on tasks on activities
• Doesn't seem to be paying attention when someone is talking to them directly.
• Does not follow instructions or fails to complete schoolwork or work duties

Hyperactivity/Impulsivity symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Fidgeting with hands or feet.
• Often getting up from their seat.
• Has trouble enjoying leisure activities quietly.
• Often "on the go".
• Talks excessively.
• Has trouble waiting their turn.

Treatment for ADHD are psychological treatment such as social skills training, time management, and coping skills training. Medications, mostly stimulants, can also be used to treat ADHD.  As with most mental health disorders a combination of both psychotherapy and medication works best with ADHD.  

If you or someone you know have symptoms of ADHD or if you're not sure, you can do some more research then reach out to your local psychologist or psychiatrist to get screened.  Here are some resources to help you online.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/complete-index.shtml

http://www.adhd.com/index.html

Hope you learned a basic understanding of ADHD :)

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Take care,

-Kimmy

Mental Health 101: Depression

Have you ever been down in the dumps?

Everyone has had times when they felt sad.  Luckily they bounce back.  People say they're depressed all the time.  However depression is a serious mental health disorder if untreated for a long period of time. 

In addition to feeling depressed, people with depression have problems sleeping, lose or gain a lot of weight in a short period of time, are agitated or irritable, have no energy, and/or feel worthless.  If more severe cases they think about ending their own life.  Some attempt to end their life because they do not think things will get better for them. 

Although it is normal to feel sad sometimes, depression is not normal; there is a chemical imbalance in your brain that needs to be corrected.  If you or someone you know may have depression, see a doctor or therapist immediately to be sure!  Your doctor or therapist can help you with medicine or counseling depending on how bad your depression is.  If you don't know where to begin, here are some resources to get you started.  Doing something is a matter of life or death.

http://www.hopeline.com/
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
http://www.apa.org/
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/
www.dailystrength.org/c/Depression

Take care,
-Kimmy