New Studies Explore Connection Between High Stress Jobs And GI Disorders
ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2009) — In two new studies, presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 74th Annual Scientific meeting in San Diego, researchers explored the connection between high stress, high exposure occupations and long-term gastrointestinal disorders.
The studies, performed by the United States Navy [...]
Archive for October, 2009
31 Oct
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
I was in a dilemma a few years back. My husband’s company was having their annual picnic and he felt obligated to go. I, of course resisted initially, and then thought I was being self-centered since I had backed out of several of his company functions previously. These functions were of course met with forever [...]
30 Oct
Depersonalization Disorder: A Feeling of Being ‘Outside’ Your Body
What causes depersonalization disorder? How is it treated?
Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:
Depersonalization — a feeling of unreality or of being “outside” your body — can be a syndrome or a symptom of another mental disorder. It’s often associated with anxiety and stress.
When you feel anxious or stressed out, you may breathe [...]
30 Oct
CUPPING THERAPY: Can It Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain?
Mayo Clinic rheumatologist April Chang-Miller, MD answers:
Answer
There’s no conclusive evidence that cupping therapy relieves fibromyalgia pain. But anecdotal evidence suggests a benefit.
Cupping therapy is typically practiced by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. The theory behind cupping is that it moves or stimulates your body’s natural energy — also called qi.
Basically, cupping involves heating the air inside [...]
29 Oct
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 [...]
29 Oct
Migraine With Aura Can Double Stroke Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) — Women who get migraine headaches with aura should stop smoking and using birth control pills because they may increase their risk of stroke, researchers say.
For people who suffer migraine headaches with aura — visual disturbances before or during the migraine — the risk for ischemic stroke is doubled, they [...]
28 Oct
Popping Nite Meds In The Morning
I stupidly took my nighttime dose of Seroquel and Zyprexa intended for that evening, with my other morning pills. OOH! Not a wise thing; rather a scary thing. I can testify to that.
I have taken medications (psychiatric) meant for evening, in the morning on two occasions now; one I caught in time, called in [...]
27 Oct
Phone Counseling for Depression Rings With Promise
TUESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) — An intensive telephone counseling program for people with depression offers substantial benefits at moderate cost, U.S. researchers say.
They studied 600 people who were randomly assigned to one of three types of care for their depression. One group received telephone care management, which included five outreach calls for monitoring, support, [...]
27 Oct
Depression Often Goes Untreated in Working Moms
TUESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) — More than 65 percent of U.S. mothers with depression don’t receive adequate treatment, a new study has found.
Black, Hispanic and other minority mothers are least likely to receive adequate treatment. Mothers with health insurance are three times more likely to receive adequate treatment than those without insurance, wrote the [...]
24 Oct
Increase In Long-term Antidepressant Drug Use, UK Study Reveals
ScienceDaily (Oct. 23, 2009) — A dramatic rise in antidepressant prescriptions issued by GPs has been caused by a year on year increase in the number of people taking antidepressant drugs on a long-term basis, according to researchers from the University of Southampton.
In a paper, published in the printed edition of British Medical Journal (BMJ), [...]
24 Oct
SWEET AUDREY
I met Audrey in 1998, as an inpatient during one of my countless hospital stays. Both of us were living and breathing pitch black depression. We grew very close, seated in the lounge daily, forever sipping diet Coke. Both of us were struggling though, both feeling as if we were being swallowed up by quicksand. Everyday [...]
24 Oct
Comments
To everyone who has left a comment lately, for some reason I am unable to reply to them. As soon as this is worked out I will go back and re-read your comments with a reply. Sorry about all of this.
Thanks, Debbie
22 Oct
Regulating Emotion After Experiencing A Sexual Assault
ScienceDaily (Oct. 22, 2009) — After exposure to extreme life stresses, what distinguishes the individuals who do and do not develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? A new study, published in the October 1st issue of Biological Psychiatry , suggests that it has something to do with the way that we control the activity of the prefrontal [...]
21 Oct
BIPOLAR – Hey, Is this a lifelong illness?
Bipolar Disorder: Forms of Bipolar Disorder
There are several types of bipolar disorder; all involve episodes of depression and mania to a degree.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness
Episodes of mania and depression eventually can occur again, if you don’t get treatment. A small percentage of people will continue to have symptoms, even after getting treatment.
Bipolar [...]
18 Oct
Post-Traumatic Stress May Raise Death Risks
SATURDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) — Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder face an increased risk for dying after surgery, even if the surgery is performed years after they have completed their service, according to a U.S. study.
Researchers analyzed data on 1,792 male veterans who had major non-cardiac, non-emergency surgeries between 1998 and 2008. Of that [...]
18 Oct
Cocaine use doubles in Mexico in six years
MEXICO CITY (AFP) – October 16, 2009 – Cocaine use doubled in Mexico in the six years to 2008, the health minister said Friday, arguing that tougher border controls on smuggling has pushed more of the drug into the domestic market.
Mexico is a major hub for drug trafficking from South America to the United States [...]
18 Oct
Incarceration
I wrote this article awhile back and thought I’d re-post. It’s recollecting my last “psych” hospital (institution) admission (as opposed to the many admissions I had in a medical hospital psychiatric floor). They differ greatly. My last admission was about six years ago. As I recall, one visit………
Bolted down. Incarcerated.
Eyes open slowly and encircle a dingy room. Everything [...]
17 Oct
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 [...]
16 Oct
Antidepressant; Suicidal Thoughts in Men
Popular Antidepressant Associated With A Dramatic Increase In Suicidal Thoughts Amongst Men, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2009) — Nortriptyline has been found to cause a ten-fold increase in suicidal thoughts in men when compared to its competitor escitalopram. These findings are published in the open access journal BMC Medicine.
The research was carried out by Dr. [...]
15 Oct
Offer Of Hope For Treatment Resistant Depression
New Brain Stimulation Treatment May Offer Hope For Those With Treatment Resistant Depression
ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2009) — A new neurosurgical procedure may prove helpful for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Bilateral epidural prefrontal cortical stimulation (EpCS) was found generally safe and provided significant improvement of depressive symptoms in a small group of patients, according to lead [...]
14 Oct
Battered Women’s Ills Go Beyond Bruises
Victims of abuse may get headaches, chest pain, infections and other health woes, study finds
MONDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) — Women abused by their romantic partners are more likely to suffer from a long list of medical maladies than other women, a new study shows.
The diseases, many of which aren’t traditionally connected with violence, include [...]
12 Oct
Are obese people less likely to commit suicide?
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – October 9, 2009 – Obesity may lead to numerous health problems, but it may actually be linked to fewer successful suicides, according to a new study.
Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal, at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, looked at rates of suicide and obesity in U.S. states in 2004 and [...]
12 Oct
What Is The Relationship Between Vitamin B-12 And Depression?
Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D., answers:
Doctors have long known of the relationship between low levels of vitamin B-12 and depression. Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins, such as folate, play a role in the production of certain neurotransmitters, which are important in regulating mood and other brain functions.
However, it is less clear whether vitamin [...]
11 Oct
THE JOURNAL – Thoughts on Paper
My first diary dates back to 1972. I was in high school and not enjoying life a great deal. The majority of my entries were depressing and distressing, and this seemed my only avenue to express feelings. I have been somewhat devoted to my journaling throughout the years, and cherish them written throughout my darkest, [...]
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