Cyclothymic Disorder

Cyclothymia or cyclothymic disorder, is a chronic mood disorder that results in short periods of mild emotional and behavioral "highs" alternating with short periods of mild to moderate depression. People with cyclothymia also experience intermittent periods of emotional and behavioral stability.

Cyclothymia is a less severe form of bipolar disorder, the latter of which results in extreme swings between manic or hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes. Although people with cyclothymia may develop bipolar disorder, the less severe condition isn't simply the onset or an early alert of the more severe condition.

The estimated prevalence of cyclothymia is between 0.4 percent and 1 percent of the general population in the United States. It usually begins during adolescence or early adulthood.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cyclothymia/DS00729

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

The birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression.

Many new moms experience the baby blues — a mild, short-lived depression — for a few days or weeks after childbirth. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, about 10 percent of new moms experience postpartum depression — a more severe form of depression that can develop within the first six months after giving birth. For women with postpartum depression, feelings such as sadness, anxiety and restlessness can be so strong that they interfere with daily tasks. Rarely, a more extreme form of depression known as postpartum psychosis can develop.

Experiencing depression after childbirth isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply part of giving birth. If you're depressed, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms — and enjoy your baby.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postpartum-depression/DS00546

UNDERSTANDING TEEN SUICIDE

What causes someone to go from thinking about suicide to attempting it?

Dr. David Shaffer, the director of child and adolescent psychology at Columbia University and a leading expert on suicidal behavior, says that the causes may be complex, but the patterns are usually straightforward. In recognizing the early warning signs, it may be possible for family and friends to help prevent suicides. Dr. Shaffer explains the risks and what you can do.

At what age do people begin to have suicidal thoughts?

We don't have a lot of information about the frequency in pre-high school kids, but I think that suicidal thoughts probably begin just before puberty or around puberty. But you do get very young kids saying that they wished they were dead or that they are going to kill themselves and things of that kind. But it's very, very rare for young kids to act on those thoughts.

What prompts this type of suicidal thinking?
Suicidal thinking, obviously, is a very mixed bag. There are kids who just say it for effect. There are kids who say it when they're feeling low. There are kids who say it when they really mean it, and so on. And because it's so common, it's not necessarily very indicative of what goes on underneath.

Do these thoughts often lead to suicide attempts?
Suicide attempts are very common, and in depressed kids, who are the kind of kids who end up in treatment, you're getting about 40 to 50 percent who will have thought about suicide and about 30 percent will have made a suicide attempt.

What causes a teenager to go from thinking about suicide to attempting it?
The events themselves are of two kinds. They're not very special, and they're events which are experienced by tens of thousands of kids every day and hardly ever result in suicide. Usually, it's getting into trouble and being found out: maybe they are found cutting classes, cheating or stealing something from another kid. The death will usually take place very shortly after the discovery, before the person knows what the consequences are going to be. And during that period of uncertainty, there's probably a great deal of fear and anxiety and that seems to be what drives the suicide. They just want to get away from that very bad feeling. Other triggers are probably common teenage experiences, including breakups with a boyfriend or girlfriend or some kind of public humiliation like a losing fight or being insulted in front of others.

Who is most at risk for committing suicide?

First of all, kids are more likely to commit suicide as they grow older. So, the teenagers who are most likely to commit suicide are 18 and 19 year-olds. They account for half of all teen suicides. Secondly, most suicides occur among boys. It's about five times more common in boys than girls. Thirdly, family history may be important. Suicide is about twice as common if there's a history of suicide on one side of the family. The kind of person who's at greatest risk is a kid who is very impulsive, loses their temper quickly, is prone to very extreme emotions and who may also have some depression or substance abuse. There are two emotions that seem to underlie suicide: one is the inability to control your emotions, feelings and acts, and the other is hopelessness.

Parents and friends should be on the lookout for what warning signs?
The most important things to look for are really the features of depression. Some of the classic things that you're taught are warnings such as writing a will and giving your possessions away. These are very, very infrequent, and they hardly ever occur before a suicide. But the classical features would be a change in which the kid becomes less sociable with their friends, preferring to stay at home and more self-critical. A kid may be really passionate about a particular kind of sport or something else and then they just stop doing it. Sometimes the kids will say that the work they've done is lousy or that people don't like them or that they're ugly. Sometimes the kids just get very irritable and snappy and, if their parents question them, they'll snap back.

Can teenagers grow out of this suicidal behavior?
Suicide attempts are much more common in adolescents and then they decline. Once you get into adult ages, the meaning of a suicide attempt is quite different.

How can parents and friends help prevent a potential suicide?
I think that you prevent it by increasing awareness of depression. Most adolescents don't know what depression is; they just feel that they're bad people. They don't think they're depressed, and most of their parents think that the kids are just being teenagers, so it's very, very under-identified. The thing that you can do to help is to routinely try to educate kids about the warning signs.

http://sciencedaily.healthology.com/mental-health/article1006.htm

Radical Medicine, Radical Treatment

Treatment for mental illness took a turn in the mid 1940’s with ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), insulin shock therapy and the use of frontal lobotomy. In modern times, insulin shock therapy and lobotomies were viewed as being almost as barbaric as the Bedlam "treatments". The effect of a lobotomy on an overly excitable patient often allowed them to be discharged to their homes, which was seen by administrators (and often guardians) as a preferable solution than institutionalization. Lobotomies were performed in great numbers from the 1930s to the 1950s.

A new Mental Disorders and Treatment Ordinance were introduced in 1935. The term ‘lunatic’ was changed to ‘person of unsound mind’. Doctors were given the power to admit patients and voluntary treatment was allowed.

Restraining devices used in hospitals in the 1800's and early 1900's included the padded helmet which was attached to the patient's head to keep him from banging it against sharp or hard objects, the hand mitten which looked like a boxing glove and prevented patients from gouging and scratching, the straight jacket which restrained the patient's arms, and cold wet packs which were used by wrapping the patient in ice cold, wet sheets. In addition, patients having seizures were given hydrotherapy, in which they were restrained in bath tubs, covered up to their necks with canvas and bathed with warm water. Electroshock, insulin shock and lobotomies were used only in rare uncontrollable cases.

STIGMA - and the workplace

STIGMA ~~ meaning a mark indicating abnormality or a mark of disgrace. Those who are stigmatized because of mental illness, or anything else, are victims of discrimination—and the stigmatization only intensifies their suffering by causing feelings of rejection and isolation. People suffering from a mental illness or who are close to someone who have the illness, said they believed other people’s perceptions of them would entirely change the relationship if they found out.

Considering so many people have such difficulty opening up to people close to them, it's no wonder that there are real fears about being stigmatized in the workplace. The cost of mental illness in the workplace is enormous: 30 to 40 per cent of disability claims are for mental illness, and the losses amount to about $33 billion a year, not including treatment and health care—plus the unknowable costs in lost productivity by those people who suffer in silence.

Employees should think carefully about how much and to whom they are planning to disclose information. If an employee is performing a job well despite a mental illness, then there would be no obligations to disclose his/her condition. In fact, the benefits and risks of disclosing should be carefully weighed before any action is taken.

Sharing information with co-workers is a matter of personal choice. Trust is the issue, and although there is always talk among co-workers, be wise when or if you choose to disclose. This could be detrimental to your future with your company. Really ask yourself – am I going to be farther along by disclosing or just remain silent. Will it hurt or harm? And is it worth it?

Written by: Me

STIGMA - And Mental Illness

What is stigma?

When someone appears to be different than us, we may view him or her in a negative stereotyped manner. People who have identities that society values negatively are said to be stigmatized. Stigma is a reality for people with a mental illness, and they report that how others judge them is one of their greatest barriers to a complete and satisfying life. Society feels uncomfortable about mental illness. It is not seen like other illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Due to inaccuracies and misunderstandings, people have been led to believe that an individual with a mental illness has a weak character or is inevitably dangerous. Mental illness can be called the invisible illness. Often, the only way to know whether someone has been diagnosed with a mental illness is if they tell you. The majority of the public is unaware of how many mentally ill people they know and encounter every day.

One in five people will experience a mental illness at some point in his or her lifetime and mental illness affects people of all ages, in all kinds of jobs and at all educational levels.

Why does stigma surround mental illness?

We all have an idea of what someone with a mental illness is like, but most of our views and interpretations have been distorted through strongly held social beliefs. The media, as a reflection of society, has done much to sustain a distorted view of mental illness. Television or movie characters who are aggressive, dangerous and unpredictable can have their behavior attributed to a mental illness. Mental illness also has not received the sensitive media coverage that other illnesses have been given. We are surrounded by stereotypes, popular movies talk about killers who are "psychos" and news coverage of mental illness only when it related to violence. We also often hear the causal use of terms like "lunatic" or "crazy," along with jokes about the mentally ill. These representations and the use of discriminatory language distort the public’s view and reinforce inaccuracies about mental illness.

What are the effects of stigma?

If you became physically ill, you would go to a doctor. Once you got better you would expect to get on with life as usual. Life, however, does not always fit back into place for people diagnosed with a mental illness. Everyone has the right to fully participate in his or her community, but individuals struggling to overcome a mental illness can find themselves facing a constant series of rejections and exclusions.

Due to stigma, the typical reaction encountered by someone with a mental illness (and his or her family members) is fear and rejection. Some have been denied adequate housing, loans, health insurance and jobs due to their history of mental illness. Due to the stigma associated with the illness, many people have found that they lose their self-esteem and have difficulty making friends. The stigma attached to mental illness is so pervasive that people who suspect that they might be mentally ill are unwilling to seek help for fear of what others may think. Spouses may be reluctant to define their partners as mentally ill, while families may delay seeking help for their child because of their fears and shame.

How do we erase stigma?

We can battle stigma when we have facts. We all have times when we feel depressed, get unreasonably angry or over-excited. We even have periods when we think that everything and everybody is out to get us and that we can’t cope. For someone with a mental illness these feelings become enveloping and overwhelming. There is no particular way to develop a mental illness. For some people, it occurs due to genetic factors in their family. Other causes may relate to environment stressors such as experiences or severe child abuse, war, torture, poverty, loss, isolation, neglect or abandonment. Mental illnesses can also occur in combination with substance abuse.

Any questions can be directed to your Mental Health Association.

Information source for this article: http://mentalhealthworks.ca/ Mental Health Works.

OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

What is it?

Imagine being so worried about cleanliness that simply popping out to the shop means having to wash your hands again and again before leaving your house. And immediately after you leave, having to go back to wash them again because you touched the door handle and may have picked up some microscopic germ.

Or only being able to settle down in the evening once every item in your kitchen was lined up in its correct position (and that includes every knife, fork and spoon in the cutlery drawer, every packet in every cupboard, and even every biscuit in every tin).

Life would rapidly grind to a standstill, and that is exactly what happens for many people with OCD.

Obsessions and compulsions:

An obsession usually develops in the form of thoughts or impulses that occur over and over again. These obsessions may be about almost anything, although common ones revolve around dirt, germs, being ill, and harming someone you love.

The obsessions are generally traumatic for the person who feels out of control and may be associated with other symptoms such as fear, panic, disgust, and doubt.

Compulsions are small acts or rituals that a person performs over and over again in a desperate bid to make the obsessions go away. They may have to be performed in an certain way, to set rules, and can drive the person crazy, but they have little choice but to do it. Common compulsions include:

~grooming rituals
~cleaning
~tidying
~checking switches and locks
~counting and arranging
~collecting objects
~repeating the same action over and over until it feels just right

Information handling
OCD can start at any age, although usually before mid-life - in as many as 1 in 3 cases it starts in childhood. The exact cause is not fully understood, but there is a genetic or inherited tendency. Biological changes seem to occur in the brain, particularly in the way information is handled - in other words, OCD is not just made up or "all in the mind".

Research suggests that in OCD, communication between the front part of the brain and deeper structures is faulty. Serotonin is the major chemical messenger involved in this area, and insufficient levels are thought to play an important part in OCD.

Occasionally, there may be clues to a physical cause. One unusual example is when the problem begins suddenly in childhood, after a bad throat infection (with the streptococcus bacteria). An autoimmune mechanism may be to blame, and it is worth trying a course of antibiotics as these may help.

Psychological treatments

In recent years, great claims have been made for a treatment called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which includes learning about the condition and learning to adapt behaviour to cope with obsessive feelings. The therapy can help prevent other problems associated with OCD such as depression, or more simply, unemployment.

Other psychological techniques may be incorporated in this treatment. Those who complete a course of CBT (usually about a dozen sessions) can expect a 60 to 80 per cent reduction in symptoms.

In the US, a 12-step programme adapted from that used successfully with alcoholics, has helped some people with OCD. More information can be found at: www.emotionsanonymous.org
Drugs that increase the brain concentration of serotonin may also help improve symptoms. These are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and include well-known treatments such as Prozac (fluoxetine).

Talking to others can help people with OCD share their burden. The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation has a lively chat room, among many other good resources: www.ocfoundation.org

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in December 2005.
Webite source: bbc.co.uk health

Notation: I, too, suffer from OCD in the form of checking. It has become a huge problem within my daily life, as I check, which has just been checked, and check again… For me, medications were unsuccessful.

PSYCHOTHERAPY - The route to go?

Psychotherapy can be defined as a means of treating psychological or emotional problems such as neurosis or personality disorder through verbal and nonverbal communication. It is the treatment of psychological distress through talking with a specially trained therapist and learning new ways to cope rather than merely using medication to alleviate the distress. It is done with the immediate goal of aiding the person in increasing self-knowledge and awareness of relationships with others.

Psychotherapy is carried out to assist people in becoming more conscious of their unconscious thoughts, feelings, and motives.

Psychotherapy's longer-term goal is making it possible for people to exchange destructive patterns of behavior for healthier, more successful ones.

The generally accepted aims of psychotherapy are:
~Increased insight or improved understanding of one's own mental state. This can range from simply knowing one's strengths and weaknesses to understanding that symptoms are signs of a mental illness and to deep awareness and acceptance of inner feelings.
~The resolution of disabling conflicts, or working to create a peaceful and positive settlement of emotional struggles that stop a person from living a reasonably happy and productive life.
~Increasing acceptance of self by developing a more realistic and positive appraisal of the person's strengths and abilities.
~Development of improved and more efficient and successful means of dealing with problems so that the patient can find solutions or means of coping with them.
~An overall strengthening of ego structure, or sense of self, so that normal, healthy means of coping with life situations can be called upon and used as needed.

Though there are no definitive studies proving that all five of these goals are consistently realized, psychotherapy in one form or other is a component of nearly all of both in-patient and community based psychiatric treatment programs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As mentioned previously, my experience with psychotherapy proved detrimental to my entire well-being. It caused a multitude of misery for numerous years, chopping my life in half, and virtually destroying both sides. For me, entering therapy was the biggest mistake of my life. Dredging up past hurts proved fruitless and pointless.

But, that is my opinion. Psychotherapy has done wonders for others. My aim is not to dissuade, but as a caution, investigate before you begin.

MENTAL ILLNESS: Just The Facts, Ma'am...

Mental Illness: Myths & Facts


Mental illness: is it an intellectual disability or brain damage?

NO. It is an illness just like any other: heart disease, diabetes, asthma.

Is it incurable and lifelong?

NO. With effective, on-going treatment, an individual may lead an everyday life

Are people born with a mental illness?

The causes are unclear. A predisposition to some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, can run in families. Many other factors can contribute to the onset of a mental illness in people with a predisposition such as stress, bereavement, relationship breakdown, child abuse, unemployment, social isolation and times of accidents and life-threatening illness. Studies show one in five Americans will develop a mental illness during their lifetime. And, using the expression ‘nervous breakdown’ is far preferable to being identified ‘mentally ill’.

Are people with a mental illness dangerous?

NO. In fact, this false perception underlies some of the most damaging stereotypes. People with a mental illness are seldom dangerous. Even people with the most severe mental illness are rarely dangerous when receiving appropriate treatment.

Should people with a mental illness be isolated from the community?

NO. Most people with a mental illness recover quickly and do not need hospital care, or have only brief admissions. Treatment discoveries of recent decades have removed the need for isolation and confinement as was common in the past. A small number of people with a mental illness - one in a thousand - need hospital care, sometimes against their will. It is important to recognise that this is not the situation for the vast majority of those who might have an episode of illness.

The attitudes of family, friends and the community towards people with a mental illness play a critical part in determining their quality of life.

One of the biggest hurdles for people trying to get well is confronting the attitudes that their family, friends, employers and neighbours hold towards them because of their illness.

Sadly, this often means that people with a mental illness face isolation and discrimination just for having an illness

What Exactly Is A 'NERVOUS BREAKDOWN?"

Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:

The term "nervous breakdown" is used by the public to characterize a wide range of mental illnesses. Nervous breakdown is not a medical term and doesn't indicate a specific mental illness. Generally, the term describes a person who is severely and persistently emotionally distraught and unable to function at his or her normal level.
Often, when people refer to having a nervous breakdown, they're describing severe depression.

Signs and symptoms of severe depression include:
~~Agitation or restlessness
~~Difficulty or inability to stop crying
~~Sleeping difficulties
~~Dramatic appetite changes
~~Indecision

The causes of mental illness usually aren't clear. But these factors may play a role:
~~Stress
~~Drug and alcohol use
~~Coexisting medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders and certain vitamin deficiencies
~~Genetics

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nervous-breakdown/AN00476

Depression and Children

Know the Facts:
~~ As many as one in every 33 children may have depression.
~~ Once a young person has experienced a major depression, he or she is at risk of developing another depression within the next 5 years.
~~ Children under stress, who experience loss, or who have attention, learning or conduct disorders are at a higher risk for depression.
~~ The rate of depression among adolescents is closer to that of depression in adults, and may be as high as one in eight.
~~ Two-thirds of children with mental health problems do not get the help they need.

Learn to Recognize the Symptoms of Depression:

Symptoms of child and adolescent depression vary in severity and duration and may be different from those in adults. Young people with depression may have a hard time coping with everyday activities and responsibilities, difficulty in getting along with others and/or suffer from low self-esteem. Child and adolescent psychiatrists advise parents and other important adults in a young person's life to be aware of signs such as:

~Missed school or poor school performance
~Changes in eating and sleeping habits
~Withdrawal from friends and activities once enjoyed
~Persistent sadness and hopelessness
~Problems with authority
~Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness

What Can Parents/Adults Do?

If parents/adults in a young person's life suspect a problem with depression, they should:
~Be aware of the behaviors that concern them and note how long the behaviors have been going on, how often and how severe they seem.

~See a mental health professional or the child's doctor for evaluation and diagnosis.
~Get accurate information from libraries, hotlines and other sources.
~Ask questions about treatments and services.
~ Talk to other families in their community.
~Find family network organizations

Help is Available.

Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for children with depression. Children who exhibit symptoms of depression should be referred to and further evaluated by a child and adolescent psychiatrist, who can diagnose and treat depression in children and teenagers. The diagnostic evaluation may include psychological testing, laboratory tests and consultation with other medical specialists. The comprehensive treatment plan may include medical psychotherapy, ongoing evaluations and monitoring, and in some cases, psychiatric medication. Optimally, this plan is developed with the family and, whenever possible, the child or adolescent is involved in the decisions.

Source: http://www.canadianparents.ca/

DEPRESSION: Signs and symptoms

These are just some of the signs and symptoms of DEPRESSION, but each person is different.

~Persistent sad feelings or a mood, low, gloomy for no explanation.

~ Crying spells.A lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed, such as socializing with family and friends.

~ Thoughts of suicide or preoccupation with death.

~ Difficulty with sleep. Sleep behavior altering from difficulty falling asleep, restless, broken sleep, or over sleeping.

~ Trouble concentrating and making decisions.

~ A change in appetite -- either eating more or eating less.

~ Feelings of worthlessness and guilt.

~ Feeling intensely agitated or irritable with restlessness.

~ Frequent or constant tiredness or feeling run down with very little activity.

Several of these symptoms, for two weeks or more, should be brought to the attention of your doctor or health care professional for an assessment.

Symptoms in children, teens and the elderly vary slightly. For example, children and teens often seem irritable, perhaps refusing to go to school. Although depression may be a debilitating illness, many medications are now available for effective treatment.

PAIN & DEPRESSION: Are They Linked?

Can depression cause physical pain or discomfort?

Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:

Yes. Doctors who treat chronic pain and depression have known for many years how closely these two conditions are linked. Some research shows that pain and depression share common pathways in the emotional (limbic) region of the brain — which may, in part, explain their association.

Depression may increase your response to pain, or at least increase the suffering associated with pain. Conversely, chronic pain is stressful and depressing in itself. Sometimes the two create a vicious cycle. In addition, both chronic pain and depression are influenced by genetic and environmental factors as well.

Certain antidepressants may relieve pain in some people by reducing their pain perception, and improving their sleep and overall quality of life. A discussion with your doctor can help you sort out whether this option might be right for you.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pain-and-depression/AN01449

CHRONIC STRESS: Can It Cause Depression?

Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:

The cause of depression is not entirely clear. However, genetic and environmental factors play a role. Some people may be more vulnerable to stress because of their personality characteristics or temperament. Persistent or chronic stress has the potential to put vulnerable individuals at a substantially increased risk of depression, anxiety and many other emotional difficulties. Scientists have noted that changes in brain function — in the areas of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland — may play a key role in stress-induced emotional problems.

Maintaining good mental health requires getting enough sleep, eating sensibly, exercising appropriately, avoiding the harmful use of substances such as alcohol and effectively managing stress. If you have persistent stress, consult a doctor or therapist to discuss effective ways to minimize stress and its negative impact on your physical and emotional health.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/AN01286

ANXIETY: When Is It A Problem?

What is the difference between normal worrying and an anxiety disorder?

Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps you cope with tense situations. It also helps you focus on the task at hand and motivates you. Almost everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. Typically, anxiety goes away when the triggering event is over.

However, anxiety is a problem when it becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, such as riding an elevator or leaving your house. People with anxiety disorder experience excessive fear and worry that are out of proportion to the situation. These feelings are more intense and last longer than normal feelings of anxiety.

If you find it difficult to control your worry or stress or if anxiety interferes with your daily activities, consult your doctor or a mental health professional. If you are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, effective treatment is available.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anxiety-disorder/AN01139