Demi Moore in Rehab for Anorexia

Star Demi Moore was recently admitted to Utah's Cirque Lodge Rehab Center to be treated for anorexia and addiction to prescription pills. Moore reportedly weighs under 100 pounds and doctors are not only watching her closely to control that her weight does not plummet, but also to ensure that she does not see her own weight. This is a common practice used at Cirque Lodge for patients dealing with eating disorders. 

Anorexia is a serious emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by starving oneself. It takes a toll on the human body and  leads to many other symptoms, both psychological and biological, including: depression, social withdrawal, fatigue, food obsession, heart and gastrointestinal complications, kidney function, flaky skin, brittle nails, and tooth loss. It is most prevalent in adolescent females, but can develop in someone of any age or gender. The disorder may be biologically based or may develop from environmental and social factors, such as a sense of lack of control, bullying, or a desire for attention. If you or someone you know has these symptoms or is suffering from an eating disorder, call a counselor as soon as possible and get help. It could make a huge difference.

Are Violent Toys and Games Affecting Children's Behavior?

Do you have a child who is a frequent gamer? Do you buy them violent video games, and do you notice any differences in their behavior? If this is the case, there are some things that you should be aware of before buying your child a violent-based toy, such as a gun, for their next birthday or for the holidays. According to Web MD Magazine, writer Lisa Zamosky stated within her article, "About 60% to 80% of boys play with aggressive toys at home, including guns." Most parents don't think its a good idea to buy children violent toys; yet, their child may still display aggressive behavior. That being said, there is always the debate that exists, expressing the idea of whether or not aggressive behavior is innate or learned. For those who believe that aggression is learned, perhaps children are exposed to it through different sources of media, as well as watching other people display their own aggression. There is no scientific evidence that there is a link between aggressive behavior and violent toys, even though most people think that there is one. Whether or not you believe that violent toys are good or bad, its better to not introduce them to your children just in case.

http://www.momlogic.com/2010/03/its_your_fault_your_kid_is_vio.php

Holiday Time: Why are we feeling so sad during the “most wonderful time of the year”

Christmas, Chanukah and New Year’s fall out during the darkest time of the year, when we get up in the dark and come home in the dark. This is one contributing factor to our “SADness” during this time (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Additionally, during the holiday season, stress becomes a factor as we worry over presents, parties and meals we have to prepare for our family and friends and how we’re meant to physically and financially manage this all.

All this stress can lead to excessive drinking, over eating, trouble sleeping and headaches which all can contribute to more of the seasonal depression we feel.

What can we do to relieve ourselves of this depression?

-more light! Studies have found that being exposed to light (especially florescent) can decrease the effects of S.A.D

- more realistic expectations! Ask, what can I feasibly accomplish with the time and money at my disposal

-treat yourself!  Find an inexpensive way to enjoy yourself, help a friend or enjoy the company of a loved one in an un-stressful environment

-talk to someone! A friend might be able to help, but if your still feeling blue, don’t hesitate to find a support group or counseling

http://www.medicinenet.com/holiday_depression_and_stress/article.htm

Decrease in jobs related to depression?

If you or someone you know has lost their job, you may notice that they aren't the same person as they used to be when employed. In other words, perhaps they were once happy and active individuals, but after losing their job, they've become lethargic and might have developed a sense of helplessness.  According to the Department of Labor, in April 2010, the unemployment rate was 9.9 percent; leaving approximately 15.3 million people without jobs. This amount is extremely high, and increased throughout the year of 2011.

As the year 2012 is approaching us, we can only hope for the employment rate to increase. In the meantime, there are many ways to cope with depression in regards to job loss. First, if you lose your job, there is no point in sitting around at home feeling sorry for yourself. Instead, try searching for another job, or perhaps volunteer for different programs all over your area. There are plenty of opportunities to keep yourself busy, and getting involved is a great start. Secondly, it is imperative to a person's well being to not blame themselves for losing their job; but rather, the current state of our economy is at fault. For those of you who might have recently lost a job, try to feel better about yourself by incorporating 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine, or perhaps getting together with a group of friends will raise your spirit. Also, if you or someone you know is experiencing depression, it is highly recommended to see either a psychiatrist or a psychologist to help cope with those issues.

To conclude, don't allow the depression that comes along with losing a job get underneath your skin. Allowing yourself to become depressed will make it harder to find a job and will overall bring down your self-esteem. Staying positive is the best option; and being involved and active is an extremely positive way of dealing with a job loss.

Written by: Talia Auslin

You Would Not Enjoy Living in the "Olden Days"

As we continue to move toward an age where nothing is done manually and information is ready and available, for some, reading about other centuries makes those eras seem appealing.  But why? Was the past in someway better than the society we live in today?

Simply put, the answer is no, at least according to evolutionary psychologist, Loretta Breuning.  She puts forth the idea that for many of these people, thinking about the past may trigger neurochemicals that make them feel good.  However, in reality, because our technology was less developed, life was much more problematic.  There was less sanitation and medicine, meaning that getting a fatal illness was a more likely possibility.  In addition, most societies had fewer laws regarding the wellbeing of people.  Whether in the factory and more susceptible to unsafe conditions or at home where domestic abuse was less controlled, society left room for a lack of physical security.  And all of this does not even cover the notion that minimum wage was essentially nothing in the not too distant past.  In a world that is safer, healthier, and more tolerant of different life styles, what could people possibly miss about the life in the “olden days”?

The answer is that we focus on what we lack and take for granted what we have.  When we lack something that we are interested in, the brain sets off a sort of “alarm” that gives us the sense that our survival is threatened.  Present things that we lack are fresh in the mind and setting off our brain while former lacks become historical abstractions.  In addition, pain gets the attention of the brain immediately.  In the past, hunger, injury, disease and violence were all more common in people’s lives.  Now, there is less of this pain leaving more room to experience social pain and allow for social snubs to hold more value in the mind.


http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/greaseless/201107/the-good-old-days-were-awful 

An Explanation of Why Emotion Causes Stronger Memories

Picture a moment of your life that really scared you.  Did you picture it more vividly than you would a less fear-inducing memory? It is common knowledge in the psychological world that events in our lives that scared us or brought out another strong emotional response tend to be remembered more clearly.  Scientists have been searching for explanations of this phenomenon on a biological level for quite some time.  Research from the University of California in Berkeley provides a new way of understanding why this happens.

The high level of activation in the amygdala, the part of the brain centered on the fear and emotional response, actually will cause activity occur in a separate area of the brain called the hippocampus.  The hippocampus is a relay area for memory and the home of many immature stem cells.  If the emotional reaction to a situation is strong enough, the amygdala will cause the hippocampus to use a unique population of stem cells and create new memory-related neurons.  The implication is that these new neurons may be an important cause for the vivid encoding of memory.

In disorders revolving around emotional memories, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or, in some cases, depression and other forms of anxiety, there may be faulty regulation of the functionality of these young cells.  Perhaps by knowing this, developments in the psychiatric world can be made in an attempt to correct this problem. 


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110614131958.htm

Fight Panic, Anxiety with Intense Exercise

Challenging workouts may provide relief for people dealing with panic or anxiety. Scientists recently studied people with high anxiety sensitivity reacted less to panic-inducing stressors after high levels of exercise.

Psychologist Dr. Jasper Smits, lead author of the research, has this to say: “We’re not suggesting, ‘Exercise instead of pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy.’ Exercise is a useful alternative, particularly for those without access to traditional treatments. Primary care physicians already prescribe exercise for general health, so exercise may have the advantage of helping reach more people in need of treatment for depression and anxiety.”

Participants inhaled a mixture of air enriched with carbon dioxide, which usually induces panic-like symptoms. The results showed that individuals who regularly exercised showed less anxiety reactivity to the carbon dioxide stressor.

Exercise has already been linked to benefit people with stress and depression, would provide a more accessible way for people to improve mood and deal with anxiety.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/07/13/intense-exercise-helps-combat-panic-anxiety/27693.html