Anger: How much anger is enough?

As humans we experience a lot of different emotions.  Most of them are necessary for survival, but some overwhelm us and affect our daily lives.  For example, have you ever seen someone sitting in traffic, angry and cursing up a storm? Or seen someone get mad over the smallest mistake?  Those are common signs of anger issues.  Some people are good at expressing their anger, while some aren't. 

The American Psychological Association breaks down a lot of information about anger, including the normal ways to express it.  They state that there are different ways to express this anger, and when or if they fail, then help is needed. 

The three ways to express anger properly are, to first be aggressive about it, second suppressing it and third to control and calm internal responses.  If the proper ways to express anger don’t work then there are always alternatives and help provided. 

The biggest problem our society faces, is that no one likes to admit that they have an issue.  We tend to see the consequences of the denial every day.  The shootings and current violence in Ferguson is a perfect example.  If we analyze it we’ll realize that violence emerges from anger that hasn't been expressed properly.  Not only that anger affects each individual, but it also affects the relationships with people that we care about. 

Now that we understand that improperly expressed anger can result in negative consequences, it would be wise for someone with anger issues to consider counseling.  The American Psychological Association states that, a psychologist or other licensed mental health professional can work with individuals to help develop a range of techniques for changing your thinking and your behavior.

Source: http://www.apa.org/topics/anger/control.aspx?item=5

Treatments for Heroin Addiction

 

By: Jillian Curry

 

 

With the recent death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman due to a heroin overdose, one may wonder how his death could have been avoided.  Heroin is an opiate drug that is highly addictive.  Treatment for heroin addiction is most successful when it is sought early.

The most successful treatment for heroin addiction involves a combination of therapy and medication.  The most common therapeutic techniques include cognitive-behavioral therapy and contingency management therapy.  Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves changing the thought processes that occur before a behavior in order to prevent the problem behavior from occurring, while contingency management therapy involves a reward and punishment approach for good and bad behaviors.

Effective medications for heroin addiction include Methodone and Suboxone.  Methodone is primarily used as a painkiller, but is also very effective in reducing the withdrawal symptoms of heroin.  This medication lasts 24-36 hours and does not have effect on daily activities.  Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, which work together to reverse the effects of narcotic drugs, like heroin.

Either of these medications, in combination with therapy, provide great hope to those suffering from heroin addiction.  When sought early, treatment could mean the difference between life and death.


Sources:

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/heroin/f/herion_faq09.htm
http://www.drugs.com/misspellings/methodone.html
http://www.drugs.com/suboxone.html

 

Obsessive-Compulsive

By: Riddhi Patel 

"I couldn't touch any doors or counter tops in public areas. I knew it didn't make any sense, but I was terrified of getting germs that could kill me. I almost couldn't go out in public, I was so afraid. If I thought I touched anything, I would have to wash myself for hours. Sometimes I washed so much that my skin would get red and raw and I would start to bleed."

One of the most commonly misused words in today's society would have to be the word obsessed. Phrases such as, "I am so obsessed with your shoes!" and "My current obsession is Greek yogurt" completely distort the actual meaning of the word. More often than not, this word is thrown into conversations when someone describes something they simply like. However, it has a much deeper meaning than that. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it means "to have a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling."

When a person is obsessed with an idea or feeling it can indicate the presence of a mental illness known as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). If you have OCD, you have repeated, upsetting thoughts. You may do the same thing over and over again to make the thoughts go away. You feel like you are not in control of either your thoughts or your actions. The disturbing thoughts and images are called "obsessions" and the actions you repeatedly take to relieve your anxiety are called "compulsions".

"At first I was too embarrassed to get help, but a friend told me to call the doctor. I'm so glad I did."

Talking to psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist helps many people with OCD. A type of psychotherapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy is particularly useful for treating OCD. It teaches different ways of thinking and reacting to certain situations that help you feel less anxious. A psychiatrist or a nurse practitioner could also prescribe medication that help you get rid of these symptoms.

"I took medicine my doctor gave me. I also worked very hard in therapy with a psychologist. I learned to cope with my fear of germs and to stop washing so much."

Substance Dependence vs Substance Abuse

By: Samantha Santo

Is there really a difference between substance dependence and substance abuse?  It might seem like there isn't, but there actually is.

Substance dependence is when a person relies on a certain drug to make them feel a certain way, to essentially feel "normal".  You can tell a person is dependent on a substance if he or she develops a tolerance, meaning it takes a great amount of a substance to feel normal.  A person is considered to be dependent when it is hard to manage drug use and he or she spends a great deal of time trying to obtain the drug.

Substance abuse is when a person misuses a substance.  The person typically consumes an excessive amount of the drug.  When a person abuses a substance, he or she tends to put himself or others in dangerous situations.  A person abusing a substance is also inclined to neglect certain obligations, such as work, school and even relationships.

Substance dependence and substance abuse may be different, but both can have detrimental effects on a person as well as on his or her loved ones. 

Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms and Treatment

 

 

By: Jillian Curry

 

 

Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a psychological disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function.  Thought to be caused by genetic factors in unique combination with environmental, as well as other personal factors, bipolar disorder affects more than 2 million American adults every year.

The defining symptoms of bipolar disorder are its mood swings.  These refer to feeling overly energetic (manic) at a given time, and then sad and hopeless (depressed) at another given time.

Signs and symptoms of a manic episode include: increased energy and activity, restlessness, excessively “high” euphoric mood, extreme irritability, racing thoughts, talking fast, jumping from one idea to another, distractibility, sleeplessness, poor judgment, spending sprees, unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers, increased sex drive, abuse of drugs, provocative, intrusive, and aggressive behaviors, and denial that anything is wrong.  A manic episode is diagnosed when elevated mood occurs with at least 3 of these symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 1 week.

 

Signs and symptoms of a depressive episode include: sad mood, feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, decreased energy, difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, restlessness, irritability, change in sleep, change in appetite, and unintended weight loss or gain.  A depressive episode may also include chronic pain that is not caused by physical illness or injury, and thoughts of suicide.  A depressive episode is diagnosed when 5 or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks.

 

Despite these symptoms, most people with bipolar disorder can be relieved of their symptoms with the proper treatment.  Treatments for bipolar disorder include mood stabilizing medications and various other newer psychiatric medications.  Along with psychotherapy, these medications can alleviate the often troublesome bipolar symptoms.

 

 

Source:  National Institute of Mental Health





Can Religion Protect Us From Depression?

By: Riddhi Patel 

Nowadays, depression is commonly associated with having the “blues” or feeling “down in the dumps”. Although this association is not too far-fetched, depression is much more serious than that - it is a medical illness that involves the brain. A person can be diagnosed with depression when the feeling of unhappiness negatively starts to impact their daily life for at least 2 weeks. Anyone can have depression regardless of how old they are or where they are from. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 6.7% of the U.S population is diagnosed with this illness.  

Furthermore, studies have associated depression with thinning of the brain cortex. What if there was something out there associated with the thickening of the brain cortex and could possibly protect against depression?

A recent study conducted by Lisa Miller, professor and director of Clinical Psychology and director of Spirituality Mind Body at Teachers College, Columbia, included 103 adults at either high or low risk of depression. After being asked how much they valued religion or spirituality, the participants got MRI’s done and the results indicated that those who placed high importance on religion had a thicker cortex than those who placed low importance on religion. The findings suggest that there is a negative correlation between religious people and depression. In other words, religious people seem to be less susceptible to depression. 


Sources:

Lisa Miller, Ravi Bansal, Priya Wickramaratne, Xuejun Hao, Craig E. Tenke, Myrna M. Weissman, Bradley S. Peterson. Neuroanatomical Correlates of Religiosity and Spirituality. JAMA Psychiatry, 2013; 1 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.3067
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression/

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. 

Foundation For an Adolescent's Trust

By: Samantha Santo

During the teenage years, it is often hard to establish and maintain a trusting relationship with your adolescent.  It is not uncommon for an adolescent to stray, but it is important for you to let him or her know you will always be there.  If your adolescent knows you are always available to listen, he or she is more likely to feel comfortable talking to you.

Another important element for the foundation of trust is understanding your adolescent.  Adolescents are going through a period of change which can be difficult.  If he or she knows their parents understand this, they will be more inclined to communicate with you.