Go Figure!

Search Engine Terms:
In the last week, these are some terms people have used to find my blog:
~ Jackpot recliner chair
~ Shrinks banging patients
~ Schizoid jobs
Makes you wonder how they found me!

COMPARING PSYCHIATRISTS

Wow, I have had my share of pdocs throughout my mental illness 10 year treadmill journey, beginning in 1994.  I won’t list them all, simply the ones who stand out.
My very first pdoc in 1994 was Dr. C.  I’m convinced this man was 80, and coughed his brains out every moment of our visits.  I [...]

Signs/Symptoms of Passive-Aggressive Behavior

What are the signs and symptoms of passive-aggressive behavior?
Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:
Passive-aggressive behavior is a pattern of expressing your negative feelings in an indirect and often obstructive way — instead of openly addressing them.
People who are passive-aggressive appear to comply with the requests of others. They may even seem enthusiastic about them. [...]

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 [...]

Comforting Comment of the Day - NOT!

I work in Customer Service and a customer wanted his address changed.  There was a language barrier, so I had to keep repeating the name of the street letters and city just to get it right.  Out of the blue he blurts out “are you mentally deficient?” (guess I was taking too long).
At that point, [...]

CHRONIC STRESS: Can It Cause Depression?

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

Insomnia and Depression are Linked

Research has shown that insomnia is actually a risk factor for depression.
Studies indicate that people with insomnia who got help for their sleep problems had a lower incidence of major depression a year later than those who had left their insomnia untreated. One of the aspects of depression is feeling powerless over your life. Feeling [...]

Mental Illness Linked to Domestic Violence

DAVIS, Calif., Aug. 16, 2007 (UPI) — An analysis of a survey to explore mental health problems in Asian-Americans found domestic violence more likely if a family lacked closeness.
University of California at Davis psychology Professor Nolan Zane and graduate student Manveen Dhindsa found that other factors also stood out as significant risks for marital violence including [...]

PAIN & DEPRESSION: Are They Linked?

Can depression cause physical pain or discomfort?
Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:
Answer:
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 [...]

Physical Abuse, Childhood Neglect Can Equal Depression

January 1, 2007, NEWARK, NJ ~~ Children who suffer physical abuse or neglect are more likely to develop a major depressive disorder (MDD) in young adulthood, new research has found.
Researchers from the Department of Psychiatry, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, and the Bureau of Evaluation and [...]

Premenstrual Depression

Gene May Help Spur Premenstrual Depression
Finding could explain why some women are more vulnerable to the condition
MONDAY, July 23 (HealthDay News) — Scientists have discovered a gene variant linked to an increased risk of severe premenstrual depression.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a psychiatric condition that affects about 8 percent of women in their childbearing [...]

Handcuffed To My House

Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it?  But a few years ago, that’s the way things were.
My life was filled with such overpowering blackness; the black, muddy life of depression.  The massive hands took hold of me and wouldn’t set me free.
Days upon days were spent living in my house, rarely venturing further than the end of the [...]

Antidepressants & Alcohol: Why can’t they be taken together?

    Why is it bad to mix alcohol and antidepressants? What happens? If I take antidepressants, does this mean I can never have an alcoholic drink?
Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:
If you are taking antidepressants, you should talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol. The drug you are taking and your current emotional and [...]

5000 Hits! - WOW!

  Thanks for all of your support, this blog has reached 5,000 hits in a relatively short time.  I will continue to provide up-to-date news articles, other articles relating to mental illness and stigma, including my own true-life experience articles.  Enjoy and please always continue to provide comments.
~~~ Deb

Passive-Aggressive: A Must Read

This excellent article appeared in Psychology Today Magazine (Mar/Apr 2006) addressing the subject of passive-aggression.
“The Stealth Saboteur”
He is master of the “non-answer” and the “innocent” mistake. How to deter even the most roundabout attack.
By:  Carlin Flora
In the satiric movie Office Space, smarmy boss Bill Lumbergh is desperate to be liked by his underlings. He [...]

Review Backs Antidepressant Effects of Omega-3s

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The results of a major review of published research that examined the relationship between depression and level of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet suggest that omega-3 fatty acids have antidepressant effects.
However, the researchers point out that the quality of the studies means it’s still [...]

Antidepressants Aid Hospitalized Heart Patients

By David Douglas
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have hospitalized with a heart attack or severe angina — known by the umbrella term “acute coronary syndrome” — appear to be less likely to have certain heart-related events subsequently if they’re taking a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin [...]

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., and colleagues answer.
Answer:
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 [...]

Postpartum Depression

Introduction
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 [...]

SSRI’s Help Reduce Risk of Suicide

source:  http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
 
Mental Health America
8/2/07 (Reuters) - SSRIs Help Reduce Risk of Suicide, Study Indicates:
Adults with depression who are being treated with SSRI antidepressant medications seem to have a significantly lower risk of dying as a result of suicide than do either adults treated with non-SSRI antidepressants and adults who receive no antidepressant treatment, a study [...]

Pregnancy and Bipolar Disorder

Managing Pregnancy and Bipolar Disorder
Women with chronic medical illnesses, including bipolar disorder, often desire to have children but are concerned about the impact of a pregnancy on their illness and about the potential effects of the medications that they take on their child. In a recent issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers summarized [...]

Anorexia May Be More Common Than Thought

 
By Robert Preidt
Thursday, August 2, 2007
THURSDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) — Anorexia nervosa is more common than previously thought, according to a study of more than 3,000 Finnish women born between 1975 and 1979.
The study, by Finnish and American researchers, also found that, in many cases, anorexia symptoms come and go.
The researchers found that [...]

Bullying Tied to Mental Health Problems Later

Monday, August 6, 2007
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Boys who bully or are victims of bullies may have a higher risk of mental health disorders as young men, a study published Monday suggests.

The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics, are based on a group of 2,540 boys Finnish boys. At age [...]

STIGMA - Feels Like a Knife In The Gut

I was meeting a group of co-workers for dinner last week, and forever the early bird, joined a few others in the lobby of the restaurant to wait for some others to arrive.   Two of my supervisors were already in conversation….
Supervisor 1: (her sisters suffers from depression) she stated “yes, she keeps going on and [...]

Brown Bagging It (part 4) - Keeping the Job - Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches

In Part 1, 2, 3 – I spoke about Mental Illness in the Workplace, Seeking Employment, the Job Hunt, The Interview, Looking for a Job, now the final part to Brown Bagging It - part 4.
 
I was sort of in a quandary and very nervous; do I seek further employment or take some time off.  It [...]