“Avoiding jobs that require you to give a lot of presentations is no big deal — everyone does it, right? And skipping dinners with groups of friends because you get nervous eating around other people is normal isn’t it?  Actually, avoiding parties, friends, meetings, and other social situations because you get too anxious about them is a big deal. It's a coping mechanism for an anxiety disorder called social anxiety disorder.”

You might suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder.  Social Anxiety Disorder affects around “15 million adults in the United States, and its symptoms can be more subtle than you might think.”   Many people with this disorder learn how to cope with the social discomfort because there are aspects of the social interaction that they enjoy, but there are other people that cannot handle the anxiety.

“People with social anxiety disorder feel an overwhelming level of anxiety as well as self-consciousness in certain or even all social settings; they are often convinced that all eyes are on them, watching and waiting for them to make a mistake. Their anxiety about an upcoming event can start weeks in advance. Like certain other forms of anxiety disorder, physical symptoms can show up as well. In addition to sweating, they may experience nausea, difficulty talking, and blushing.”

The cause of anxiety is unknown, but doctors believe genetics or being extremely protected throughout childhood and adolescence can cause it.  Using a combination of therapy and medication can help you manage your social anxiety.

“Social anxiety disorder is common, but just because you find yourself a little shy or nervous sometimes doesn't mean that you have the condition. However, if you start avoiding certain situations, and find that your anxiety is really affecting how you live and function, contact us now and you can learn to manage your social anxiety disorder and regain control over your life.” 
 

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Do you ever drink and feel depressed or feel depressed and so you want to drink?  Studies have shown a link between depression and drinking.  Doctors have now identified the link of substance abuse and depression and have defined it as a dual diagnosis.  “According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people who have suffered recent episodes of major depression have higher rates of alcoholism and drug addiction compared with the rest of the population.  More than 21 percent of adults who experienced a depressive episode within the previous year engaged in substance abuse, compared with 8 percent of those not dealing with depression.”  (http://bit.ly/tI37t)

People with depression often try to self-medicate using drugs or alcohol.  Alcohol is a depressant, which is the biggest problem when depressed people try to self-medicate because alcohol will only intensify their depression.  On the other hand, people with depression will often turn to drugs trying to elevate their depressed mood by taking a substance.  When alcohol and substance abuse gets out of control, mental disorders can develop.

There are multiple sources that can trigger depression and drinking.  Having Brain Developmental issues, Genetic factors, and Environmental factors like stress and trauma can be strong precursors of developing substance abuse and depression.  To have the best results of treatment you must treat both the addiction and the depression.  Self-medicating will only hurt you.  If you notice that you have been turning to alcohol or drugs to treat your depressed mood it is time to get help.  Contact us now and we can help you find the right kind of treatment. 
 

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Do you ever wonder if there is a little more to your mood swings?  Do you notice you either experience high highs or low lows in your life and nothing really feels normal?  If left untreated, Bipolar Disorder can destroy and take over your life.  Take these self-test questionnaires for Bipolar Disorder.  On the first questionnaire, continue the questionnaire only if you answer “yes” to the first three questions.  

Question 1: Have you had episodes of clinical depression - involving a period of at least 2 weeks where you were significantly depressed and unable to work or only able to work with difficulty - and had at least 4 of the following:

    * Loss of interest and pleasure in most things
    * Appetite or weight change
    * Sleep disturbance
    * Physical slowing or agitation
    * Fatigue or low energy
    * Feeling hopeless and helpless
    * Poor concentration
    * Suicidal thoughts

If yes, proceed.

Question 2: Do you have times when your mood 'cycles', that is, do you experience 'ups' as well as depressive episodes?

If yes, proceed.

Question 3: During the 'ups' do you feel more 'wired' and 'hyper' than you would experience during times of normal happiness?

If yes, proceed and click on the link below to answer the checklist.
Free bipolar online test from the Black Dog Institute.

To take the next Bipolar Questionnaire click here: MDQ - Bipolar Test.

If you have taken one or both of the tests and think you might have Bipolar Disorder than contact us now.  You don’t have to deal with this illness alone.  We are here to help you.  Thank you for reading our blog.  Please feel free to comment below. 

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Do you ever have days that you feel on top of the world and everything is absolutely perfect and than you have days that you don’t even want to get out of bed because you feel so down and depressed?  Everyone has days that are good and bad, but you’ve noticed that when you feel on top of the world you go on rampant shopping sprees or go days without needing sleep and than on the other hand you notice you have days where you feel life is hopeless and you don’t know how you can keep on going.

Bipolar Disorder is a very complex illness.  There are many symptoms that can be present during a bipolar manic and depressed episode.  During a manic episode you may feel “excessive happiness, excitement, irritability, restlessness, increased energy, less need for sleep, racing thoughts, high sex drive, and a tendency to make grand and unattainable plans.  During a depressed episode you may feel sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of energy, uncontrollable crying, change in appetite causing weight loss or gain, increased need for sleep, difficulty making decisions, and thoughts of death or suicide.” (http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-symptoms-types)

Know one entirely knows what causes Bipolar Disorder, but evidence suggests the cause may be from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Something you need to know if you have bipolar disorder is it’s completely out of your control, but it’s something that can be treated.

“While medication is the foundation of bipolar disorder treatment, therapy and self-help strategies also play important roles. You can help control your symptoms by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, eating right, monitoring your moods, keeping stress to a minimum, and surrounding yourself with supportive people.” (http://helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm)

“It’s best to work with an experienced psychiatrist. Bipolar disorder is a complex condition. Diagnosis can be tricky and treatment is often difficult. For safety reasons, medication should be closely monitored. A psychiatrist who is skilled in bipolar disorder treatment can help you navigate these twists and turns.” (http://helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm)

Do you think you or someone close to you might have Bipolar Disorder?  Check out the next blog where it will feature 2 self-test questionnaires for Bipolar Disorder that you can take in the privacy of your own home.  Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment below! 

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Did you know more than 100,000 Americans die every year from alcoholism and drug addiction?  The statistic is sad but true.  Quitting an addiction isn’t as easy as some may think.  People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol “have a real disease that’s caused by a combination of factors, including genetics, environmental influences, and behavior.”  If you understand what causes alcoholism and drug addiction than you know what you need to do to reduce your chances of developing one of these severe disorders.

There are many risk factors to watch out for with alcoholism and drug addiction.  Research has shown if someone in your family suffers from an addiction, you will be more likely to become an addict.  The earlier a person starts using alcohol and drugs the more likely they will have a problem with addiction when they are older.  The amount of drugs and alcohol your friends consume can be a strong influence on how much you consume.  Many people use drugs and alcohol when they are overwhelmed and stressed out with life.  People with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder are more likely to use alcohol and drugs to self medicate. “Drugs that are smoked or injected into a vein are more likely to cause addiction because they produce a quick, powerful effect — they reach the brain sooner than drugs that are taken by mouth. This rapid "high" also fades faster, causing the person to need more and more of the substance to regain the pleasurable feeling.”

“People who have a parent or sibling with an addiction are two to four times more likely to become substance-dependent compared to somebody who does not have a relative with an addiction problem, says Marc Galanter, MD, director of the division of alcoholism and drug abuse at New York University Langone Medical Center and professor of psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine, both in New York City.”

Just because your parents have an addiction does not mean that you will have an addiction.  Some people are more vulnerable to an addiction than others and the more risk factors that you have the more likely you will struggle with having an addiction too.

If addiction runs in your family, than the best thing to do is to avoid drugs and alcohol completely.  Millions of people are addicted to drugs and alcohol. If you are worried that you may have a problem with alcohol and drugs, there are places to go for help.  Contact us now.  We specialize in treating people with addiction and we would love to help you. 

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A recent study found new information that scientists believe might be the cause behind morphine addiction.  “Scientists are adding additional brush strokes to the revolutionary new image now emerging for star-shaped cells called astrocytes in the brain and spinal cord. Their report, which suggests a key role for astrocytes in morphine's ability to relieve pain and cause addiction, appears online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, a monthly publication.”

Scientists added morphine to a group of astrocytes, where the cells were grown under controlled conditions for several days.  The study found the cells exposed to morphine increased nine proteins that have shown to play a strong role in supporting normal function of nerve cells.

After studying the function of the proteins in more detail they found a potential link of drug addiction.  Do you have an addiction to morphine and need help to quit.  Contact us now.  You don’t have to do this alone.  We are here to help you find a healthy, drug-free life.   

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Are you ready to quit your addiction and get help?  When it comes to getting treatment, there are many different methods that are available for you.  Treatment can range from one-on-one counseling sessions to 12-step programs to inpatient addiction services.  Addiction treatment is not a one size fits all approach.  One of the most important things about getting treatment is finding the one that works best for you.  So you’re ready to quit, ready to start treatment, but you feel completely lost on your treatment options?  Don’t worry!  Keep reading…

Addiction Treatment: The Greatest Motivator Is the Desire to Quit  

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Do lonely people really attract other lonely people? A new study found an unhealthy cycle that lonely people attract other lonely people and influence other people to feel lonely. "Loneliness can spread from person to person to person -- up to three degrees of separation," said James H. Fowler, co-author of the study published in the December issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego.

The study found that lonely people tend to isolate themselves into small groups, which increases depressive feelings of being alone.  Most lonely people tend to either be friendless or cycle through friendships every few years, and may lose up to 8% of their friends over a four-year period of time.  The researchers observed that women were more prone to “catch” loneliness than men. So maybe loneliness can be contagious?

People tend to hang out with people that they can relate with and share life commonalities. Mark R. Leary, professor and director of the social psychology program at Duke University, whose work zeroes in on the need for social acceptance, called the study impressive in its sample, analysis and conclusion. He added that the contagion of loneliness could be, to some degree, a situation of people mimicking the styles of those around them. 

So what can be done to help these lonely people not feel alone?  Leary suggested that those who interact with lonely people recognize that their tendency to pull inward emotionally and be less outgoing is a trait of loneliness, not of something else. "It reflects loneliness and a need for connection, rather than indifference, dislike or rejection. People can reach out to their lonely loved one rather than withdraw themselves," he said.

Fowler agreed. "For the mental health provider, this means treating not just the patient, but potentially also the patient's friends," he said. "For the employer, this means emphasizing activities that help their employees to connect to one another socially. For the family member, this means you should tend to your own networks, too, while you help your kin feel more connected."

If you know family or friends who seem lonely then reach out to them and make them feel loved.  If loneliness is contagious than surely love, happiness, and being positive can be contagious too. When you start feeling lonely, what do you do to enlighten your mood and feel happy?  Do you notice that you start to feel lonely when you hang out with other people are lonely?  How do you deal with this contagious situation?

If you feel lonely all of the time then there might be something else going on and you don't have to continue to feel this way.  Please feel free to contact us because we are here to help you.
 

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In the fall and winter seasons, do you feel like you get the “winter blues”? Do you notice you gain weight and feel down, miserable, and tired?  You might have seasonal affective disorder (SAD).  It can affect everyone.  It’s estimated that a half-million people in the United States may have seasonal depression.  Women in their twenties are most susceptible to seasonal affective disorder.  It can also affect men, children, and teens.  Seasonal affective disorder is more prominent in people who have at least one relative with a psychiatric disorder, typically major depressive disorder or alcohol abuse.

SAD symptoms emerge during the darker winter months, then disappear as days grow longer and brighter come spring, says Ken Duckworth, MD, medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and an assistant professor at Harvard University Medical School.

Thankfully SAD is treatable and there are multiple methods of treatment.  Light Therapy has been shown to be help.  You can buy them without a prescription and they typically cost around $400 and are not covered by insurance.  The most effective time to use Light Therapy is in the morning for it least 30 minutes.  You can also seek Professional Help.  Talk to your doctor about your seasonal sadness.  Your doctor can prescribe antidepressants to help you feel better during these down months.

If you notice that this depression occurs during the fall and winter months, than you might want to plan a vacation to go somewhere warm and sunny every year during this time.  If you can’t travel than you can self meditate.  Go to yoga class a couple of times a week to help elevate your mood.

You might even be tempted to self-medicate during the holiday festivities.  “Alcohol use tends to go up in the winter as people attend more parties.”  Duckworth says.  However, he says, “If you’re using alcohol or drugs to change the depressed way you feel this time of year, it’s probably compounding your problems as opposed to helping them.

Do you ever feel down during the fall and winter seasons?  What has helped you overcome this seasonal sadness?   

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“The American Cancer Society says about 70 percent of smokers want to quit and about 40 percent make an attempt to stop smoking each year.  However, only 4-7 percent actually accomplish this goal without assistance.  So you might be thinking to yourself, why is it so hard to quit smoking?”  

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