Category Archives: Psychology and Mental Illness

Massage to Reduce Stress for Women

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There’s has always been inequity between men and women in the business world. During the past several decades, women have made significant strides in putting cracks in the glass ceiling but few would argue that it’s not still firmly in place. Unfortunately, while there are still major differences in salaries, hiring practices and promotions, there is one area where women are catching up with their male counterparts. Stress and the threat it poses to health is something that women now have to find a way to counteract or face the same consequences as men.

That women almost always outlive men has been a basic fact of life. Most experts attribute a lot of the cause for that to stress-related conditions. As women have moved into traditionally male occupations, they have been subjected to the same stressors. Massage has been proven to be an effective means of releasing the build up of stress and tension and more and more women are seeking the benefits that it provides.

While any number of massage techniques offer significant stress reduction, massage has not proven as effective for women as for men because of how uncomfortable it can be for many women to lie face down on massage tables. Traditional tables have been designed with a padded but firm surface to enable the massage therapist to be able to apply the amount of pressure required to work the areas of the body where muscles and connective tissue have become tight or knotted. Lying in this position coupled with the pressure of the massage can cause moderate to extreme discomfort for many women and often prevents them from returning for future treatments.

The exciting news is that there has been a revolutionary breakthrough in massage table technology. Designed by a woman personally acquainted with how uncomfortable a massage can be for women with larger breasts, this new table is called the ABC Massage Table. ABC means adjustable breast comfort. The table has an area that can be lowered by the practitioner with a powerful foot pump and release valve.

The ABC system not only provides the means for anyone to comfortably experience the many benefits of massage, it also affords superior support. As more massage centers become equipped with the ABC Massage Table and other similar innovations, at least in the area of stress reduction, women now have the same opportunities as men.

New Antidepressants for the Treatment of Depression

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Depression is a major mental and emotional illness that is caused from either biological or emotional responses. This single condition has affected millions of people every day, which is directing medical experts to come up with new antidepressants for treating depression. New medicines are continually being introduced to the marketplace.  In 2002, there were an 8.5% of United States civilians who were noninstitutionaized and who had purchased at least one antidepressant drug. Some of the new classes of drugs included Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, tricyclic, Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors, Tetra cyclic, and Novel.

According to online sources, aside from two other medications, antidepressants are the third most prescribed medication in the United States. Common antidepressants given to patients include also Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro, which does not seem to offer much benefit except to those with mild depression.

Exceptions however include the group of people who suffer severe depression will often find some benefits in taking antidepressants. People who express suicidal thoughts or even those who are incapacitated may find some relief from taking the drugs. Just this past couple of years, medical doctors have written more than 160 million prescriptions for ministering to depression. Most people did not benefit from some of the older prescriptions, which has caused the emerging of new medications to treat depression.

A whole new crop of depression medications are coming out soon to treat depression. Yet, it remains to be seen how well these new meds will workand how free they will be from the common side effects of antidepressants. Some people are suggesting that the new remedies will still put patients at risk of side effects, e.g. agitation, reduced libido, insomnia, weight gain, etc. Such side effects can lead to some other health problems.

Yet, doctors are suggesting that adding more new drugs that raise the brain levels of serotonin can offer greater benefits to those suffering depression because it is the most effective treatment available. The new remedies are said to be more effective because depression is associated with the brain levels serotonin increasing.

Natural Remedies For Bipolar Depression

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Bipolar depression, formerly known as manic depression, is a psychiatric condition characterized by alternate experiences of depression symptoms and the symptoms of mania. Depression, of source, is clinically significant sadness and lethargy, while mania is just the opposite. Someone experiencing a manic episode will feel so full of energy and motivation that they may be hard to understand–they fly from one idea to the next and often act impulsively.

The standard bipolar depression treatment is mood-stabilizing medication such as lithium or seroquel. These medicines can be extremely helpful for many bipolar disorder patients, but they can also bring with them a whole host of unwanted side effects. Additionally, it is often difficult to get these patients to continue taking their meds consistently. This is a normal part of the illness, because the patient will usually gladly take their medication during a depressive phase, but then will start to feel “better” as the next manic phase sets in. The impulsivity of the hypmanic or hypermanic state of mind causes them to stop taking their medication, thereby inducing a full-blown manic episode.

There are some natural treatments for bipolar depression, however, that can be used alone or in conjunction with medication to help end this cycle of depression and mania. Chief among these treatments is psychotherapy. A well-trained and experienced therapist can help manic depression patients to make changes to their own internal processing systems that will help them to change their brain chemistry naturally.

Not all therapists believe this is possible, and the research has shown that positive expectancy plays a major role in therapeutic success. This is why it is important to see a therapist who believes they can treat your condition successfully, and who is convincing to you in explaining that they will be able to do so. If both the therapist and the client believe that the treatment for bipolar depression will be successful, it will be much more likely to be so.

Are ADHD Drugs Ineffective?

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A 2010 Australian study found that in the long run, ADHD drugs are not effective and in fact can actually harm academic performance. This long-term study casts serious skepticism on the positive aspects associated with applying stimulant medicine to remedy Attention Deficit and hyperactive children.

Researchers at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Australia found that children prescribed stimulant drugs to treat their hyperactivity and attentional issues were found to be 10 times more likely to be identified as performing below age-level when compared to ADHD children who never used stimulant medication.

Researchers also found that prescription ADHD medicines do not enhance social or emotional well-being, as was previously believed. When studying 14-year-old ADHD children, researchers observed no significant disparities in depression, self-perception, and social-functioning based on medication-use. Analysts actually noted a small increase in depression in those treated with stimulant ADHD medications but it was not a statistically significant increase. They also noted a slight decrease in self-esteem in those treated with ADHD medications.

This study included 131 children from the ages of 5 to 14. The results of this study surprised researchers. A number of studies suggest that prescription medication treatment helps behavior and performance in the classroom. To discover that, in the long run, the outcomes were not significantly different was unexpected.

Parents are often reluctant to give your children drugs to treat attentional difficulties. Stimulant ADHD drugs are amphetamine-based and have been shown to increase the risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems in a small percent of people using these drugs. Additionally, side effects like insomnia, weight changes and stomach issues are common.

However, parents often fear that their child will suffer if not treated with pharmaceutical stimulants. By showing that children will fare equally well with or without stimulant medications, this study should ease parents’ minds if they choose to use natural, non-drug methods.

Panic Attacks: How to Manage Your Condition

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Panic attacks are intense and sudden burst of anxiety which are often joined by symptoms such as chest pains, pupil dilation, difficulty breathing and in some cases, even blackouts. It is highly beneficial for you to learn how to control panic attacks, so you could get your life back since such attacks can leave a tremendous impact in both your professional and personal life.

Then again, how do you effectively control these attacks, when it can be very difficult to think straight whenever you are experiencing one? Well, the best way for you to control such attacks is for you to be more aware of the things which triggers them and also by becoming aware of the signs that an attack is about to take place. For instance, if you are one of the many who is experiencing panic attacks, try to reflect and think of the things that you felt before you had one. Although it has been said that such occurrence might happen unexpectedly and without warning, for sure there are some indications such as uneasiness or discomfort that you felt before the attack. It is imperative that you take heed of the warning signs very seriously if you want to take control your condition.

It is also highly recommended that you visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis. You can never take away the possibility that your attacks are brought about by an underlying medical issue. If in case it is not caused by any medical problem, your doctor can also refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist for further analysis. There are also several medications which can help you in terms of curing panic attacks. Most often, anti-anxiety pills or drugs are prescribed to the person suffering from panic attacks. SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are also used to help patients cope with such attacks. However, these drugs should be utilized with extreme caution because long term usage of these drugs most often leads to drug dependency and addiction to such medications.

Is there Really a Panic Attack Cure?

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Although there are many books and videos out there on finding the right way of dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, not every method or technique  works the same for every person. In fact, sometimes it seems like nothing works! In many cases, exploring a combination of ideas and using them to create your own method of dealing with panic and anxiety can be the best road to recovery, or at least management.

So how can you develop your own panic attack cure? To start with, don’t completely disregard alternative sources as they can present information that could be valuable to you. Although the methods mentioned might not work for you, you might still be able to take some nuggets of information from them and try them out to see if they fit your needs.

For example, focusing on the breath while counting to  “10″ might not do it for you. However, taking a deep breath, closing your eyes, and thinking of a cool breeze on a wide mountain scape might really help.

Another way to look at it is that while meditation might not be the thing for you, you could still use the concept to your advantage.  Just close your eyes, practice deep and relaxed breathing, and think pleasant thoughts for 5-10 minutes.  This could be more beneficial to you than chanting, focusing on a mantra, or listening to new age music.

One piece of advice that is often given in anxiety and panic management methods is to focus not only on eliminating triggers of anxiety, but trying to control how you react to them. For instance, you might not have any influence over how many people are at Target or at the mall.  But, you can attempt to manage your reaction while you are in the middle of those large crowds of people.

In some circumstances just the realization that you do have a level of control, no matter how small, can help you overcome some forms of anxiety and panic.  Many times it is the feeling of loss of control and the “what if?” questions that arise in our minds that drive our fears.

Although some of the books, CD’s, websites, and other sources of information you come across might seem irrelevant to you and your current situation, don’t ignore them…at least not completely.  On the rare occasion, useful information can be gained that will be key to building your own plan of attack.

Keep Pain in a Bottle

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Pain comes in many forms it can be physical, emotional, guilt, hurt, etc.. What kind are you in? Pain is a reminder that something or something we did is wrong. In that way it’s a good thing, but in another way it can be destructive to the point of destroying you.

There is pain in being lonely, it’s this empty, hopeless feeling that creates its own unique pain. Depression, anxiety, fear are all byproducts of this feeling. You will wonder, when will this ever end?

The First Step

Don’t be afraid to let it out, pain is designed to create emotions. Emotions are a way to release the pressure of the pain you have.

Don’t ever feel embarrassed to release your emotions. I can tell from experience this can go on for years, it just depends on how much pain you have. This is OK, I’ll tell you in a minute what wants you to think differently.

This is the beginning to moving pain from you and putting it in a bottle. A lot of people say “just get rid of pain” this means you never want to see it again, I look at it a bit different.

Put it in a bottle and keep it around, you might say this sounds crazy, it might be but let me explain.

Pain has another purpose besides alerting us that somethings wrong, it’s a reminder. A reminder of what we did, of who we hurt. A reminder of actions we allowed to occur that may have hurt us or loved ones.

Oh yes, take a look at that pain in the bottle every so often because we have a tendency to repeat ourselves when things get comfortable again. Oh, we can also repeat the actions that created pain all over again, were human.

What’s at the core of all of this? It’s a thing called SIN.

If you think this only applies to religious folk your wrong. Sin is alive and well, it doesn’t discriminate who it will destroy and inflict pain to.

I always keep a little sin in a bottle so I am reminded of the things I allowed sin to do.

Keep a little bottle around the house just in case of emergencies, it’s healthy.

Do You Have A Fear Of Driving Phobia?

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Driving comes as second nature to some people. They feel like they can just get in the car and drive anywhere they want to without worrying about panic attacks, anxiety or even a destination! Unfortunately not everyone is like that. There is a small population out there who don’t want to drive. This isn’t because they are lazy and it isn’t because they don’t want to. It’s because they can’t. It’s because every time they get into a car, they freeze. Do you get this? Well you may be suffering from a fear of driving phobia.

This fear is no laughing matter. People think that it doesn’t exist and that people who say they have a fear of driving are really just being lazy. Well this isn’t true and that sort of attitude can actually make a fear worse. If you are confronted by this sort of fear or you have a loved one who has this then try not to make fun of it as it can actually be quite hurtful. Instead, help them find a way to overcome their fear and make their lives more bearable. There are many kinds of treatment available, you just have to decide which is best for you. If you find a driving phobia treatment that you want to give a go, then make sure that you have someone there to help you and support you first. Overcoming your fear is made twice as easy when you have someone there to help you.

A driving phobia doesn’t have to be a lifelong problem and the quicker you decide which treatment you are going to use to help overcome your fear then the quicker you can get your life back on track and start enjoying yourself again. Good luck in overcoming your fear and getting back in the driving seat.

Get Treatment to Overcome Depression

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Major depression is a serious issue that effects roughly forty percent of the adult population at some part or another of their lives.  For many it becomes an ongoing chronic issue that creates a whole host of other physical and major life problems.  Unfortunately over fifty percent of these adults suffering will never reach out and get any type of help overcoming depression.  Without treatment, it is likely that depression will drag out for years to come.

Antidepressants are probably the single most prevalent treatment of choice by most consumers in America.  While it may seem that a pill is the easy answer, unfortunately it cannot fix the underlying problems that may have caused depression in the first place.   The most recent research on depression treatments has shown that antidepressant therapy can be an effective adjunct treatment and are most effective when combined with psychotherapy or counseling.

Unfortunately, many people still are afraid to see a counselor for whatever reason.  Although the stigma is lessening, it is clear from the statistics showing how many people never receive treatment for clinically significant depression that the stigma has not gone away.  This is true despite the fact that counseling alone is effective in treating most cases of depression.  Considering the impact that this disease can have on a person’s life, committing oneself to treatment that is beneficial will only help in the long run.

While the process of diagnosing depression may not be the most pleasant, surely it is better than continuing to suffer day after day with no end in sight.  If you know someone who you think may suffer from depression, it may help them greatly by increasing their willingness to go to counseling if you let them know that you think it’s alright.  Once they do make the choice, support their decision with ongoing encouragement.  After all, if your loved one was suffering from a physical illness most people wouldn’t hesitate to support someone’s efforts to visit a doctor.  Treating depression should be no different.

Development of Depression Explained

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The human body and brain work in very complex ways and  science still does not exactly know how depression works and how it can be successfully treated in every circumstance. Some anti depressive medication will work for around 60% of people experiencing primary depression but we still do not know why it will work for one patient and not for another. Depression is not just something that will happen to you when a bad thing occurs to you, there is a complex sum of factors that will decide if someone will become depressive.

There are different theories about how a depression develops in a person and the most prominent one is the threshold theory. It basically states that in theory everybody could develop a depression but the sensitivity differs from person to person. This sensitivity is often inherited genetically from their parents/family. You could picture this by drawing a line from 0 to 100 where zero means that you are not likely to develop a depression soon while 100 means that you are on the edge of a depression episode. Some people will start at zero while others will already start on 50 or 60 or every other number.

You will go up in sensitivity when you are going through very difficult phases like death from a loved one, teased at high school, rape, etc. With every life event that you pass there will be an increased possibility on a depression. This theory is called the life event theory.

You have to understand that this is a very basic method to explain how it could work and that we still do not know exactly how someone will develop a primary depression or manic depressive disorder. However, research does state that one person will develop a depression much faster than someone else and although some of it can be explained by these two theories, they can not fully understand why some people will develop a depression and why others don’t.