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 Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:45 am
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:28 am
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Obsessive-Compulsive Information
A pamphlet from my college's mental-health wellness day earlier this month:
"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Causes, Complications, and Cures in Young People"
www.anxietybc.com
(Copyright goes to the Children's Mood and Anxiety Disorders Clinic and the Women's Health Centre of British Columbia.)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can occur in people of all ages, and often starts in childhood. It is a problem that tends to come and go over time. Often it starts gradually but sometimes it starts suddenly or quickly becomes severe.
The symptoms of OCD are obsessions (upsetting thoughts that keep coming back), or compulsions (habit patterns such as checking or washing over and over) which happen so often that they interfere with daily life.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is treatable. But first it has to be recognized. In children, it may look like unreasonable anxiety, temper tantrums, stubborn habits, lack of co-operation or other behavioral problems. In teenagers, it may lead to avoiding school or friends, and fighting with parents. People with OCD are very stressed and can be irritable, angry and withdrawn. Parents may be frustrated and confused by the behaviors.
People are often very embarrassed about the kids of obsessive thoughts they have because they don't make sense of seem "crazy" to them. They try to cover up their compulsive habits, because they know they don't make sense either. They end up feeling very alone and afraid.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a medical problem that gets better, usually with a combination of medicine and practicing some ways of changing the obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Who Can Help?
Start with your family doctor. Check the local Mental Health Center for other resources. You may be referred to a psychologit pr psychiatrist for further assessment or treatment. With help, young people and their families can free themselves from the trap of OCD.
Facts About OCD
How common is OCD?
About 2 or 3 out of every 100 people have OCD in their lifetime. Most of them keep it a secret, and most do not get treatment because they either don't think help is available, or they are too embarrassed.
What are the symptoms?
Obsessions and/or compulsions that are severe enough to interfere with school or work, family relationships, or take up a lot of time (more than an hour a day).
Common Obsessions
These thoughts occur repeatedly in spite of the child's efforts not to think them:
- Fear of germs.
- Violent thoughts.
- Frightening or rude mental pictures.
- Fear of doing something wrong in fuure.
- Fear of already having done something wrong.
- Constant self-doubting.
- Need for things to be even or symmetrical.
Common Compulsions:
- Checking things like locks.
- Counting things.
- Washing hands.
- Doing work over to get it "perfect".
- Making things "even".
- Asking questions (ie - getting reassurance).
- Need to confess things.
- Collecting or hoarding things.
- Touching things.
Effects of these symptoms:
Children or teens may be constantly upset or easily irritated because they are so busy worrying about their obsessive thoughts that they can't handle thinking about or doing anything else. They may not want to go anywhere, may not be hungry and may stay in their room a lot of the time, trying to sort out their thoughts. Children may ask for constant reassurance from parents because they are worried about illness or germs.
Washing hands, counting or checking things may take several hours a day. Sometimes children will insist that other members of the family do these things, too. For example, no one may be allowed to touch the child's plates, door or clothes because of the risk of spreading germs.
How does this affect families?
Usually the whole family gets mixed up in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Parents may start to do the checking for the child to try to save time. Everyone has to go to the right door, or wait until the child has flicked the light switch ten times when leaving the room. People tiptoe around this child to prevent their outbursts of rage and frustration when compulsions are not done "enough" or "just right".
What causes OCD?
OCD is one of the best-researched childhood disorders, but it is still not fully explained. We do know this much:
Although OCD runs in families, what causes OCD is not known. There is likely a genetic component that makes one vulnerable to OCD, but it often must be combined with events that occur in the child's life for the OCD to be fully expressed. Like many other problems, it is the combination of the genetics and the environment.
How is OCD Treated?
1) Behavioral Treatment for Compulsions.
One of the most effective psychological treatments is exposure plus response prevention (ERP). Very basically, ERP involves exposure to the feared situation and then preventing the compulsive behavior.
For children, this can be very challenging. They often have trouble understanding why they need to co-operate with stopping the compulsive behavior. They become angry, upset, and desperate, and may even threaten to run away or hurt themselves or other people. Professionals trained in cognitive behavioral approaches (CBT) try to work with children to help them understand that the OCD is like a monster that is running their lives, and they have to fight back. If we can help them to team up with their parents to fight the OCD, everybody feels successful, and the OCD is brought under control. Sometimes children need to be brought into the hospital to do this, because it is so hard for the parents to do at home.
2) Medications.
There are a half a dozen medicines that work for OCD. The oldest and most effective is clomipramine (Anafranil). However, newer medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), citapratolam (Celexa) and sertraline (Zoloft) have the advantage of fewer nuisance side effects. Sometimes adding another medicine such as lithium, clonazepam (Klonapin), or pimozide (Orap) will boost the effect of the main drug.
Medicines work gradually over a period of weeks, and often things continue to get better over a few months. The drug is continued for at least 6 months, and then can be cut down slowly to make sure that symptoms don't flare up. Some people can come off the medicine, but many people need to take it for much longer.
The medicines work well, but may not completely take away the compulsive habits. The medicine may also need to be continued for a long time, as the symptoms tend to come back. Never discontinue these medications abruptly and always consult a physician prior to decreasing them.
3) Rebuilding Confidence.
Having OCD leads to problems with school, friends, and family. Kids can feel pretty badly about themselves and their lives with OCD is running the show. As they get better, they need extra help at school, and sometimes "coaching" to get back into their usual interests and activities.
What are the complications of OCD?
- Not going to school.
- Not sleeping well due to worries.
- Becoming discouraged or depressed.
- Becoming socially isolated.
- Alcohol and drug use in teens.
- Family problems.
Related problems:
These things are found more commonly in people with OCD, or in other members of their families:
- Other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorders.
- Clinical depression.
- Eating disorders.
- Tic disorder and Tourettes.
Does OCD get better?
It does, but it takes some teamwork. The child, family, doctors and counsellors need to work together to beat this.
What to do?
Start with yoru family doctor or local Mental Health Center for more information or to have the problem assessed. They may also suggest some books to read which can help you understand panic disorders better.
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Another pamphlet from the same mental-health wellness day:
"Your Mental Health Matters: A Guide to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"
(Copyright goes to GlaxoSmithKline.)
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
How often has this happened to you? You've just left your house on your way out, when you think to yourself "Did I lock the door?" You worry all the way home, only to discover you were worryin about nothing. Now imagine that even though you know the door is locked, you have to keep locking and unlocking the door... just to make sure. For some people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), everyday is just like the one described, filled with anxiety and worrying over seemingly little things.
OCD is a two-part medical illness. The first part involves worrying excessively about something (an obsession) which in turn often causes a great deal of anxiety or stress to the person. The second part of OCD involves the intense need to do something to help get rid of the anxiety caused by the depression; this is called a compulsion, or compulsive behavior.
Obsessions are described as unwanted, disturbing ideas or impulses that occur spontaneously and often don't make sense to the person or to the people around them. Common examples of obsessions are: persistent fears of contamination by dirt of germs, thoughts of being responsible for harm to one's self or others, or the fear of forgetting to do something.
Compulsions are the behaviors (rituals or routines) that people with OCD are compelled to do, to help control the anxiety associated with their obsession. For example, a ritual for someone who has a fear of contamination may involve washing their hands repeatedly, to the point that their skin is raw and sore. Other people have rituals that involve checking and rechecking, such as checking to see that the door is locked. Some people have an extreme need to make sure that things have been done absolutely correctly.
People with OCD often recognize and understand that their behavior is unusual and unreasonable, but by performing their compulsive behavior, they gain temporary relief from their anxiety.
The truth about OCD:
- OCD is a mental illness.
- 1 in 40 people have OCD.
- OCD affects men and women equally.
- OCD tends to last for years if left untreated.
- OCD usually first occurs in a person's teens or early adult years.
What causes OCD?
Although the exact cause of OCD is unknown, currect research suggests that OCD may be related to a shortage of a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that transmits signals between brain cells. Shortages in the level of serotonin may lead to problems with how we process information. Medications which alter the concentration of serotonin in the brain have been shown to help OCD. Genetic factors may also play a role in determining why some people get OCD while others do not.
It is important to realize that OCD is a mental illness and that it will not go away by itself without proper medical treatment.
How can I tell if I have OCD?
The following questions can help determine if you are suffering from OCD. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself and you find them to be interfereing with your daily activities, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Only your doctor can make a diagnosis of OCD.
- Do thoughts that make no sense come into your mind, thoughts that you cannot control?
Yes/No.
- Do you believe these thoughts are coming from own your mind, rather than an outside source?
Yes/No.
- Do you wash your hands more frequently than do other people?
Yes/No.
- Do you have to check things repeatedly?
Yes/No.
- Are there any other behaviors that you cannot resist and/or are doing more often than you think you should?
Yes/No.
- Do you have to have things done "just so" or in a certain order?
Yes/No.
- Does thinking these thoughts or performing these repititious behaviors bother you a lot?
Yes/No.
- Do the thoughts and/or behaviors interfere with your daily functioning?
Yes/No.
I think I have OCD. What do I do now?
In recent years, a number of treatments have been developed that can dramatically change the life of a person with OCD. Although OCD is completely curable in only a small number of people, there are effective therapies that can provide substantial relief from the symptoms of OCD and improve that person's quality of life. If you think you have OCD, it is important to see your doctor immediately.
Your doctor will give you a thorough physical examination to rule out the possibility of any other diseases, such as Tourette's Disorder or other dtic disorders. You can also expect to be asked about any symptoms of depression or anxiety, as well as any medication or drugs that you may currently be taking.
It is important to tell your doctor about any and all other medications or drugs you may be using because they may react with the treatment your doctor decides to put you on.
A word about suicide
The anxiety and stress of OCD can be so severe that some people think about hurting themselves or committing suicide. These thoughts can be very dangerous, especially if you are going through an episode of depression. If you have had these thoughts or are having them now, see your doctor immediately. Help is available.
It is important to realize that thinking about suicide is not shameful; it is part of the illness. Share all of these thoughts with your doctor. He/she can help you though this period and give you medications that will ease the pain and make you feel better, or he/she may recommend psychological therapy to help you discuss your situation.
Is it possible to have other illnesses as well as OCD?
People with OCD often have other illnesses as well. The most common illnesses found with OCD include: depression, anxiety disorders (such as Panic Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder), substance abuse, eating disorders, and Tourette's syndrome.
OCD is often more difficult to diagnose when it is associated with other illnesses. It is important to tell your doctor about all your symptoms, no matter how small they may seem to you. There are treatments that can treat both OCD and its associated depressive symptoms. Alcohol and drug abuse can also be managed with medications, counselling, and through the support of self-help groups.
A word about depression
We all get "depressed" from time to time. Most often these feelings are short-lived and our moods improve when things change. We get back to being our "old selves".
Yet for many people, the symptoms of depression are more severe and last much longer. Depression is very different from "feeling down" or "having the blues". If left untreated for long periods, depression can s eriously affect sleep patterns, appetite, energy levels and physical well-being. Negative thoughts, a sense of hopelessness, and always feeling sad are symptoms of people suffering from depression.
The many daily rituals some OCD patients must go through make it almost impossible for them to hold jobs or maintain relationships with other. Partly as a result of the stress of dealing with their rituals and fears, most people with OCD will become depressed at some point in time.
Some things to look for if you think you may be suffering from depression:
- Changes in your mood: you are bothered by small things, feel tired all the time, or take less pleasure in things you once enjoyed.
- Changes in your physical well-being: increase or decrease in appetite or weight, trouble sleeping or waking up, low energy levels, lack of motivation, headaches, or general aches and pains.
- Changes in your thought patterns: netative thoughts, trouble concentrating or pay attention, feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, guilt or pessimism.
The important thing to understand is that there is help. Talk to your doctor about all your symptoms.
A word about Panic Disorder
Up to 4 people in every 100 will experience episodes of intense, over-whelming fear that reaches a peak within 10 minutes and comes on suddenly and unexpectedly. During these attacks, it is not unusual to feel that you are having a heart attack, are being suffocated, or are going crazy. During these periods, people often say they have heart palpitations, a rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath or choking. There may also be sweating, nausea and diarrhea, trembling and shaking during these attacks. As well, the person may describe a sense of things being unreal, or that they feel detached from themselves. These symptoms together are known as a panic attack. When a person has repeated and unexpected panic attacks, they are diagnosed as having Panic Disorder. After a person has experienced even one or two attacks, there can be great anxiety and worry about when the next attack will occur. Some people with Panic Disorder end up developing agoraphobia, which is the fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult or in which help may not be available. This is because after a panic attack, the person learns to fear having another attack in the same place, or in a location where it would be difficult to get help. If agoraphobia becomes severe enough, the person may become housebound and unable perform normal daily activities.
Panic Disorder is often misunderstood. People with the disorder may spend months of years trying to find an explanation for what they feel are mysterious physical symptoms. Others won't seek treatment because they are embarrassed, think their condition is just due to stress, or they are afraid of what the doctor will diagnose.
It is not unusual for someone with Panic Disorder to develop OCD. People with Panic Disorder often obsess about their fear of having another panic attack. To combat their obsession, they compulsively avoid situations and things that they believe trigger their panic attacks.
A word about Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
It is almost impossible to go through a single day without seeing or talking to another person. But for the thousands of Canadians suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder, the thought of having to interact with others is frightening. Those suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder are afraid they may do or say something "stupid" in front of others. They often avoid, eating, drinking, or writing in public because of the fear that they will embarrass themselves. Social Anxiety Disorder patients often go out of their way to avoid many different social situations. They often experience a great deal of anxiety prior to a known upcoming social or public event, which often leads to irrational thoughts about losing control, which in turn causes them to fear the situation even more.
Because of their obsessions and compulsions, many people with OCD are afriad to interact with other people. People with OCD often think that other people just don't understand their obsessions and compulsions.
A word about drug and alcohol abuse
Some people with OCD will turn to street drugs as a way of coping with their illness. It is important to understand that many of these substances can cause more anxiety, often making the situation worse, and drugs and alcohol often reduce the effectiveness of different treatments.
The long-term effects of drug or alcohol abuse can be very damaging to your physical health and well-being, which can seriuosly disrupt relationships with family and friends. When talking to your doctor, be honest about any drug or alcohol use. Drugs and alcohol can seriously affect the treatment your doctor will prescribe for you and can lead to dangerous side-effects.
There are treatments that can help you with drug and alcohol abuse. Talk to your doctor about which treatments are best for you.
What kinds of treatment can help me?
There are two main forms of treatments for OCD: medication and psychological therapy. Once your doctor is clear about all your symptoms, he or she will discuss and determine the best treatment for you. It is important that your doctor knows about all your symptoms and how about you feel on a day-to-day basis.
The information in this booklet can help you to identify symptoms related to OCD, but only a doctor can determine which treatment is right for you.
Medications
There are a number of antidepressants, knows as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) that are currently available, which have been shown to be effective treatments for OCD. With SSRI's, improvement can begin as soon as 3 - 4 weeks after starting treatment, although it generally takes 10 - 12 weeks to get the most from the medication. SOme SSRI's are capable of treating the symptoms of other disorders that are commonly associated with OCD. These medications are usually combined with psychotherapy to achieve a more complete and long-lasting result.
As with all medications, it is important to understand side-effects associated with different medications. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are experiencing any side-effects, as he/she can often help reduce or eliminate the different side-effects you may be experiencing. Keep taking the medicine your doctor has given you even if you start to feel better. Never stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor first. If your doctor decides to stop your therapy, he/she will explain the best way to do that. Stopping your medication too soon can sometimes cause your symptoms to return. It is always important to maintain an open line of communication between you and your doctor.
It is important to tell your doctor if you are currently using and drugs or alcohol, as they can interact with different medications, and can in some cases make you very sick.
Psychological therapy
Your doctor may recommend psychological therapy to achieve a more complete and long-lasting result. Traditional psychotherapy does not work as well as a specific treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. However, a form of psychotherapy known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown to help many OCD patients. These therapies can be used on their own, or in combination with medications.
Exposure and responsive-prevention therapy: Typical Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involves "Exposure and Response-Prevention". This type of therapy involves patient voluntarily exposing themselves to objects or situations related to their obsessions. The therapist then helps them to overcome the urge to perform their rituals. These behavioral techniques are combined with cognitive therapy to help reduce the catastrophic thinking that often presents with OCD.
Family support: The whole family is affected by a loved one's OCD, and the family can help in the sufferer's treatment too. The family can often actively participate in the patient's psychological therapy if asked by the therapist. It is helpful for the members of the family to learn all they can about OCD to assist the patient in minimizing his or her ritualistic behaviors. And the family can help ensure the patient adheres to the drug and behavioral therapies prescribed by the doctor.
The usual length of therapy for people with OCD is 6 - 12 months. In order to gain the most out of your treatment, it is important to continue taking your medications everyday, and to keep your scheduled therapy appointments.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:29 am
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Anxiety Information
The following was taken from a medical pamphlet at the local mental-health wellness day at my college at the beginning of this month.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety means feeling worried and nervous. It is a normal human reaction to stressful situations or even new situations. Anxiety is both psychological and physical.
Psychological symptoms include worried thoughts, being unable to concentrate, being irritable, thinking the worst, and feeling afraid.
Physical symptoms of anxiety include racing heart, fast breathing, stomach aches or "butterflies", headache, muscle tension, and constantly feeling tired and "on edge".
Isn't Anxiety Normal?
Anxiety is a normal built-in human reaction to signal that you need to be ready for action, or that there is some danger. Anxiety is a signal that often helps us to pay attention, to be careful, or to recognize that there is a problem that needs to be solved. Anxiety plays a role in the development of the conscience as children are growing up; they learn that disobeying rules makes them anxious, which doesn't feel good.
It is normal to become anxious when big changes are happening: a new school, a move, changes in the family (new baby, new marriage, etc), or when upsetting thigns happen - loss of a friend, when parents are fighting, etc. Children also tend to worry about certain things at different ages. Preschoolers worry about the dark or being separated from their parents. Older children worry about whether they will be accepted by friends or on a team, or about tests. Teens worry about friends, their future, their health, and so on.
When is Anxiety a Problem?
Anxiety is a problem if it occurs too much of the time, or is interfering with daily life.
Anxiety in Young People
Children can have all the anxiety disorders that adults suffer. At least 5 per 100 children will have a significant anxiety problem such as Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Even more will have Social Phobia, or other phobias or fears.
The challenge with childhood anxiety is that it is often not recognized. While some children may be obviously upset and worried, others will have different reactions, becoming angry, uncooperative, and even aggressive.
Common symptoms of anxiety in children:
- Worries
-Tearfullness
- Clinging
- Avoidance or Withdrawal
- Seperation fears
- Sleep problems
- Physical complaints
- Constant fatigue
Other symptoms of anxiety in children:
- Anger, tantrums
- Irritability
- Oppositional aattitude
- Inflexibility
- Aggression
- Inattentiveness
- Fidgety or hyperactive
- Refusal to go to school
- Excessive resistance due to work
What Causes Anxiety?
- Inborn, inherited tendency
- Shy or cautious temperament
- Unpredicatble lifestyle
- Stressful experiences
- Learning from anxious parents
- Habit patterns of avoidance
Anxiety is Contagious in Families:
The tendency to anxiety is inhereited, and made worse by stressful experiences.
Anxious children affect the rest of the family. Often the anxious child is demanding, difficult to please, won't go to sleep in his/her own bed at night, and disrupts daily routines with refusal to cooperate or emotional outbursts. Parents may disagree about handling this, and feel unsure about whether to be more firm, or to give in. The end result is frustrated, tired parents who feel they are "walking on eggshells" around the anxious child. Often the parents are already anxious people. Anxiety is contagious within families, and it seems that everyone ends up its prisoner.
Anxiety and Perfectionism:
Many anxious children are "perfectionistic". They want to do things perfectly right away - or else they may refuse to do them at all. Sometimes perfectionistic children are quite paralyzed by this. They don't feel they can start anything because they won't do it well enough anyway. They finally start, and a little thing goes wrong, and they have a catastrophic reaction. Generally, they end up putting everything off or "procrastinating". Homework piles up, chores are not done, the room is a mess, and they certainly don't look like most people's idea of a perfectionist. They may refuse to try new things. They won't ride a bike, won't go to the new preschool, and often won't do written schoolwork. This is even worse if they have a minor problem with coordination, so their work doesn't look neat.
Helping Anxious Children
In most cases, the tendency to be anxious stays with a person throughout their life. We need to help anxious children develop coping skills to manage their anxiety, starting with parents helping them. Older children can often do this themselves!
1) Assessment: Have a child's general health checked by the doctor. Untreated allergies, anemia, ear infections, or other problems make it harder for anxious children to cope. The doctor can also check whether panic attacks or obsessive compulsive disorder, which need very specific treatment, are present. For some kinds of anxiety, medicine may be suggested, but in most cases treatment includes learning new coping skills.
2) Look after the basics: No one copes well when they are tired or hungry. Anxious children often forget to eat, don't feel hungry, and don't get enough sleep. Establish bedtime routine (see below), and offer frequent, nutritious snacks. Anxious children rarely eat a large full meal. They are better to "graze" as long as the snacks cover the basic food groups in a day.
3) Establish routines: Routines reduce anxiety. But anxiety tends to disrupt routines. So you need to work hard to build regular patterns so life is more predictable. Have the child help plan the routine. Making an attractive schedule for the fridge gives a sense of control and order. This is not the kind of child who deals well with a disorganized, "spontaneous" family style. Help the child adjust by gradually introducing them and preparing them in advance.
4) Bedtime routines are especially important. Start at least an hour before the planned bedtime, build in a story, a chat time, some warm milk or a snack. A warm bath ahead of time may help. The rituals helps the child gradually relax. It is important that the parents not get into the habit of sleeping with the child or having them fall asleep in the parents' bed, as this becomes a habit which is hard to break. Settle them with some quiet music or a story tape, and check in briefly at planned intervals (5 min. for a young child, 10 - 15 for an older) so they don't need to worry about where people are. A good routine can take several weeks to establish, but everyone will feel better once it's in place.
5) Plan time for homework and projects: This needs to be a regular part of the schedule, as anxious children tend to procrastinate. Because anxious children become overwhelmed, breaking the job up into small chunks, setting a specific time to work, and rewarding yourself for each bit done are tools they need to learn. Often the hardest part is getting started, so knowing that the TV program is on afterwards or having computer time to look forward to can help to start.
6) Firm, consistent parenting: Anxious children feel calmer when life is predictable, when they know what is expected of them, and what the consequences will be. Setting limits is a challenge for parents, however, when the child becomes so upset. With practice, everyone can feel more secure, and children are relieved to have adults in charge.
7) Tools to relax: Teach the child a way of relaxing by mental imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, described in the booklets "Taming the Worry Dragon".
8 ) Tools to cope with worrying.Some simple ways of "locking up" worries in an imaginary box, or setting a scheduled "worry time" are some tools to control the amount of energy worry takes up. Other ideas are to mentally "pull the plug" on the worry, "take out the worry disk so it's not using up all the RAM", "caging the worry dragon", or whatever image suits a child's interests. Fortunately, most anxious children have a talent for "creative worrying", which can be harnessed for creative problem-solving instead.
9) Taking risks: Anxious children need to try some experiments like making phone calls, talking to a new friend, and encouraging themselves through positive "self-talk" instead of imagining the worst. Parents can model these tools by using them too.
10) Physical exercise: This is helpful not only in relieving stress, but also in triggering a physical "relaxation response". Anxious children often feel "tired all the time" because they are always exhausting themselves with worry, so they don't feel like exercising. But exercise will improve energy and reduce worry. To to find something fun to do together rather than making this a chore.
Does Anxiety Go Away?
Anxiety can get better or be better controlled, but this tendency always stays with people. If it is not managed, other problems like depression can occur. That's why it is so important to develop tools to master it. The good news is that anxious children can become very skilled and confident at managing their anxiety, and this is an achievement which helps them cope with future life challenges with extra skill.
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Panic Disorder Information
This information is taken from a pamphlet from my college's mental health well-being day earlier this month (October).
Our bodies have an alarm system, just like houses and cars. The alarm goes off to tell us that there is danger and we had better get ready for action. It probably worked very well in situations where we were confronting wild animals on a daily basis. In our modern world, we shouldn't need to use this system very often, except in real physical danger. Sometimes this alarm system goes off anyways, just like a "false alarm" in your house or car.
Panic Disorder is like having an overactive alarm system. Panic attacks seem to occur for no good reason. The problem is, just like a loud alarm system, the attack itself is very frightening.
Treatment for panic disorder focuses on resetting the alarm system to be less sensitive, and teaching people to overcome the fears that the attacks create.
Panic Disorder is Puzzling to Families
When panic occurs in young people, they often can't explain to anyone what is happened and may become very upset, angry, withdrawn, or refuse to go to school without being able to say why. Adults may become frustrated because they can't understand why the child is behaving so differently.
Panic Attacks are Not Just Junk In Your Head
In many cases, panic symptoms are so dramatic and physical that children or teens are investigated for all kinds of medical problems with their heart or stomach, or are even thought to be having seizures, until someone figures out that the real cause of these symptoms is a panic attack.
What Are Panic Attacks?
A panic attack is a sudden, terrifying feeling of fear and physical anxiety symptoms.
Physical symptoms that might occur:
- Racing heart or fast breathing
- Choking feeling
- Dizziness, sweating
- Chills or flushing
- Upset stomach
- Changed vision or hearing
- Tingling in hands or feet
Thoughts and feelings that might occur:
- Terrified feeling
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of fainting or dying
The whole experience can last for 5 - 20 minutes, but may leave an anxious feeling behind even after it is gone. The most common result of having panic attacks is that people avoid the situation in which the attack occured. This can lead to phobia.
What is the Difference Between Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder?
Panic attacks are quite common, with a third of people having an attack at least once in a lifetime, usually in a stressful situation or when they are overtired or have had too much caffeine.
Panic Disorder is much less common, occuring in about 2 per 100 people. In panic disorder, recurrent panic attacks occur frequently for no apparent reason, or they caue such anxiety that people can't go on with their usual activities. They may feel afraid to leave the house, be fearful of being alone, withdraw from school or other activities, or lie awake at night worrying.
What Causes Panic Attacks?
The tendency to have panic attacks runs in families.
Factors that can trigger panic attacks:
- Lack of sleep and not eating regularly
- Caffeine in soft drinks, coffee or tea
- Alcohol and marijuana
- Overwhelming stress
- Certain situations or phobias
- Certain times, such as the onset of adolescence
- Medical problems, such as an overactive thyroid
- Some medications, especially for asthma
Although stress may play a role by upsetting sleep or increasing the sensitivity of "panic alarm", panic attacks occur even when people are not particularly nervous or stressed.
How Serious is Panic Disorder?
Panic Disorder is not physically serious (although it can feel very dangerous for your body to have these reactions), but it is serious in the sense that it greatly interferes with daily life. Here are some of the complications of Panic Disorder:
- Agoraphobia (fear of going out alone)
- Reluctance to go to school
- Seperation anxiety (fear of being away from parents)
- Sleep problems
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol use in teens
- Unnecessary investigations of physical abuse
How Does Panic Disorder Relate to Other Anxiety Problems?
Social Phobia is the fear of speaking in front of a group of people, and sometimes meeting new people. This may be associated with panic attacks in these situations.
Specific Phobia are fears of things like elevators, heights, dogs, or flying. Sometimes the phobias were triggered by having a panic attack.
Seperation Anxiety Disorder occurs in younger children and is a fear of being seperated from parents. We now think that this is often triggered by having a panic attack that leads the child to the fear of being alone.
People suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may have some panic attacks. Young people with clinical depression may also develop panic symptoms.
How is Panic Disorder Treated?
Treatment usually involves a combination of medicines, behavioral changes, and psychological counselling of some kind. Here are the goals of this treatment approach:
1) Reduce anxiety intensity and frequency.
This can require medication, but in mild attacks people can learn to stop them by relaxing or doing something like taking a drink of water, or splashing water on their face. This seems to cut off the alarm.
Psychological Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety in children in 75 - 80% of cases. When the family is involved in treatment, more impressive gains can be seen. CBT is offered by specially trained professionals using a standardized model of therapy. Active components of treatment include challenging the frightened thoughts of physical harm or embarrassment and getting used to the physical sensations of anxiety by either purposely bringing them up (ie - spinning to induce dizzyness) or naturally (ie - exercising to increase heart rate), and finally, entering previously avoided situations.
Medication Treatment:
- "Minor tranquilizers" [alprazolan (Xanax) and Klonazapam (Klonopin)]
These sedative medicines seem to tone down the alarm system. They act quickly, within a few days, and may even be used while a longer acting medicine is being started. ZThe main side effects are being sleepy, and not being able to concentrate. There is some risk of addiction with these medicines, so they should be used carefully with a doctor's monitoring.
- "Antidepressants" [parocetine (Paxil) and citapratolam (Celexa)]
These medicines seem to re-set the alarm system so that it doesn't go off as easily, but they are not generally sedatives and are definitely not addictive. Some have side effects such as dry mouth and weight gain, and the dose does need to be monitored at higher levels because they may effect heart electrical activity if the dose is too high. The newer antidepressants have fewer side effects, but may be more expensive, and may still cause an upset stomach. Any of these antidepressant medicines can temporarily worsen the attacks in the first week, so that the dose is raised slowly and often sedatives are used to prevent this.
2) Overcome the anxiety and avoidance.
Stopping the panic attacks is in fact often easier than cleaning up the behavioral problems that result. These include temper tantrums and separation anxiety in younger children, refusal to go to school, phobias, worrying, and general loss of confidence. These difficulties often take months to sort out, while the attacks may be shut down in a few weeks. Here are some things that can help:
Basics:
- Get enough sleep and eat regularly
- Establish a regular routine
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol and drugs
- Parents must set consistent, confident limit-setting with fair consequences, and rewards for success
Face the Fears:
"Practice" going into a feared situation, starting with a short period of time (15 - 20 minutes) and working up. Having a trusted person along at first can help. It is important to stay there if a panic attack does occur, as running will worsen the avoidance problem in the future.
Re-build Confidence:
Develop assertiveness and social skills by joining activities, practicing calling friends, becoming more physically active, and taking some risks.
Change "Self Talk"
When people have panic attacks, they tend to develop "worst case scenario", thinking about every day stresses. Practice more encouraging ways of talking to yourself.
Control the Worries
Learn to control worries such as "locking them up in a 'worry box'", writing them down, or talking them over with someone.
Choose a Healthy Environment
This includes hanging around with people who make you feel more confident, not people who put you down. Making these changes can be a lot of work, but it pays off.
Does Panic Disorder Go Away?
usually it does. Sometimes it goes away on its own, but generally it takes some professional help. It may come back again at another time, even ten or twenty years later. But what you learn in dealing with it this time can help you tackle it quickly if it ever does come back.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:31 am
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:32 am
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Schizophrenia Information
Taken from: http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/PatientResAllCateg/Schizophrenia?OpenDocument
~
Taken from: http://www.schizophrenia.com/
Official website for schizophrenia.
~
Taken from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000928.htm
Definition
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder. It is a disease that makes it difficult for a person to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses to others, and to behave normally in social situations.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Schizophrenia is a complex and puzzling illness. Even the experts in the field are not exactly sure what causes it. Some doctors think that the brain may not be able to process information correctly.
Genetic factors appear to play a role, as people who have family members with schizophrenia may be more likely to get the disease themselves. Some researchers believe that events in a person's environment may trigger schizophrenia. For example, problems during intrauterine development (infection) and birth may increase the risk for developing schizophrenia later in life.
Psychological and social factors may also play some role in its development. However, the level of social and familial support appears to influence the course of illness and may be protective against relapse.
There are 5 recognized types of schizophrenia: catatonic, paranoid, disorganized, undifferentiated, and residual. Features of schizophrenia include its typical onset before the age of 45, continuous presence of symptoms for 6 months or more, and deterioration from a prior level of social and occupational functioning.
People with schizophrenia may show a variety of symptoms. Usually the illness develops slowly over months or even years. At first, the symptoms may not be noticed. For example, people may feel tense, may have trouble sleeping, or have trouble concentrating. They become isolated and withdrawn, and they do not make or keep friends. As the illness progresses, psychotic symptoms develop:
- Delusions - false beliefs or thoughts with no basis in reality
- Hallucinations - hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there
- Disordered thinking - thoughts "jump" between completely unrelated topics (the person may talk nonsense)
- Catatonic behavior - bizarre motor behavior marked by a decrease in reactivity to the environment, or hyperactivity that is unrelated to stimulus
- Flat affect - an appearance or mood that shows no emotion
No single characteristic is present in all types of schizophrenia. The risk factors include a family history of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is thought to affect about 1% of the population worldwide.
Schizophrenia appears to occur in equal rates among men and women, but women have a later onset. For this reason, males tend to account for more than half of patients in services with high proportions of young adults. Although the onset of schizophrenia is typically in young adulthood, cases of the disorder with a late onset (over 45 years) are known.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia begins after the age of 5 and, in most cases, after relatively normal development. Childhood schizophrenia is rare and can be difficult to differentiate from other pervasive developmental disorders of childhood, such as autism.
Symptoms
Catatonic type:
- Motor disturbances
- Stupor
- Negativism
- Rigidity
- Agitation
- Inability to take care of personal needs
- Decreased sensitivity to painful stimulus
Paranoid type:
- Delusional thoughts of persecution or of a grandiose nature
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Violence
- Argumentativeness
Disorganized type:
- Incoherence (not understandable)
- Regressive behavior
- Flat affect
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Inappropriate laughter
- Repetitive mannerisms
- Social withdrawal
Undifferentiated type:
- Patient may have symptoms of more than one subtype of schizophrenia.
Residual type:
- Prominent symptoms of the illness have abated, but some features - such as hallucinations and flat affect - may remain.
Signs and tests
Because other diseases can also cause symptoms of psychosis, psychiatrists should make the final diagnosis. The diagnosis is made based on a thorough psychiatric interview of the person and family members. As yet, there are no defining medical tests for schizophrenia. The following factors may suggest a schizophrenia diagnosis, but do not confirm it:
- Developmental background
- Genetic and family history
- Changes from level of functioning prior to illness
- Course of illness and duration of symptoms
- Response to pharmacological therapy
CT scans of the head and other imaging techniques may identify some changes associated with schizophrenia in the research literature and may rule out other neurophysiological disorders.
Treatment
During an acute episode of schizophrenia, hospitalization is often required to promote safety, and to provide for the person's basic needs such as food, rest, and hygiene.
Antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications work by changing the balances of chemicals in the brain and are used to control the symptoms of the illness. These medications are effective, but are also associated with side effects that may discourage a patient from taking them regularly. However, many of these side effects can be addressed, and should not prevent people from seeking treatment for this serious condition.
Common side effects from traditional antipsychotics may include sedation and weight gain. Other side effects are known as extrapyramidal symptoms (muscle contractions, problems of movement and gait, and feelings of restlessness or "jitters").
Long-term risks include a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia, which involves involuntary movements. Newer agents known as atypical antipsychotics, appear to have a somewhat safer regarding side effects. They also appear to help people who have not benefited from the older traditional medications. Ongoing treatment with medications is usually necessary to prevent a return of symptoms.
Supportive and problem-focused forms of psychotherapy may be helpful for many individuals. Behavioral techniques, such as social skills training, can be used in a therapeutic setting, or in the patient's natural environment to promote social and occupational functioning.
Family interventions that combine support and education about schizophrenia (psychoeducation) appear to help families cope and reduce relapse. Patients who lack family and social support may be helped by intensive case management programs that emphasize active outreach and linkage to a range of community support services.
Expectations (prognosis)
There are many different potential outcomes of schizophrenia. Most people with schizophrenia find that their symptoms improve with medication, and some achieve substantial control of the symptoms over time. However, others experience functional disability and are at risk for repeated acute episodes, particularly during the early stages of the illness.
Supported housing, vocational rehabilitation, and other community support programs may be essential to their community tenure. People with the most severe forms of this disorder may remain too disabled to live independently, requiring group homes or other long-term, structured living environments.
Complications
Noncompliance with medication will frequently lead to a relapse of symptoms.
Physical illness occurs at high rates among people with schizophrenia due to psychiatric treatment itself (side effects from medication) and living conditions associated with chronic disability. These may go undetected because of poor access to medical care and because of difficulties communicating with health care providers.
Persons with schizophrenia have a high risk of developing a coexisting substance abuse problem, and use of alcohol or other drugs increases the risk of relapse.
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if:
- Voices are telling you to hurt yourself
- You are unable to care for yourself
- You are feeling hopeless and overwhelmed
- You feel like you cannot leave the house
- You are seeing things that aren't really there
Prevention
The best way to prevent relapses is to continue to take the prescribed medication. Because side effects are one of the most important reasons why people with schizophrenia stop taking their medication, it is very important to find the medication that controls symptoms without causing side effects. Always talk to your doctor about any adjustments in your medications, or your wish to discontinue them.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:36 am
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Information
This information was taken from a medical handout at my college's mental-health wellness day event.
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder"
Human beings are incredibly resilient. However, some situations are so shocking and shattering that they can effect our bodies, minds and perceptions severely for a long time afterwards. When a traumatic event continues to influence our behavior and have a negative impact on our lives for a long time after it occurs, this can be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder, notes the CMHA [Canadian Mental Health Association].
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is one of several conditions known collectively as anxiety disorders. It is the most common type of mental disorder, affecting 12% of the population in any given year. We all feel anxious in certain situations, and anxiety can helpful in motivating us and in improving our ability to deal with a crisis situation. For some people, however, anxiety can become so persistent and relentless that it interferes with their day-to-day functioning.
As its name suggests, post-traumatic stress disorder affects people who have gone though a traumatic event in their lives, such as a disastrous eathquake, war, rape, a car or plane accident, or physical violence. Sometimes seeing another person harmed or killed, or learning that a close friend or family member is in serious danger can cause the disorder. Richard, an ambulance emergency worker in BC, developed PTSD from the highly stressful work that he does. It was triggered when he was called to respond to a sudden death, which turned out to be a fireman that he knew.
Types of Trauma
- Natural Diaster: hurricane, earthquake.
- Crime: rape or physical assault, burglary, mugging or hold-up.
- War: military combat, war crimes, torture, being in a constant state of alert.
- Major accident: workplace, automobile, airplane.
- Witnessing any of the above.
Despite the seeming rarity of some of these events, PTSD will affect aproximately 1 in 12 people at some point in their lives. Twice as many women as men develop the disorder, although the reasons for this are unclear.
A person who has PTSD is constantly reminded of their responses of horror, fear and helplessness to the traumatic event. These states continue to manifest themselves in the person in several ways.
For instance, the person may re-experience the event through recurrent nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive memories. This is the most characteristic symptom of PTSD, and often its the most distressing. The anniversry of the triggering event, or situations which remind a person of it, can also cause extreme discomfort and anxiety. Increased arousal and anxiety in general is another common feature, where a person may become hypervigilant, sleeping less, and being constantly on the alert. Some people with PTSD have difficulty concentrating and finishing tasks, and can also become more aggressive.
Perhaps to protect a person from the emotional and physical intensity of some of the above symptoms, avoidance and emotional numbing are also characteristic of the disorder. The person may feel guilty, avoid talking or thinking about the trauma, withdraw from family and friends, and lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed. They may also begin to have difficulty feeling emotions, especially those associated with intimacy. In rare cases, a person may enter dissociative states, or a detached feeling of watching yourself go through something from the outside, particularly when they know they are re-living the episode.
PTSD can develop in both children and adults. While the symtpoms usually begin about 3 months after the traumatic event, on occasion they may surface years later. Moreover, it is common for depression, drug or alcohol dependence, or another anxiety disorder to co-occur with PTSD.
As more information on PTSD has come to light in the past few years, prevention strategies have begun to be implemented. For example, when a major traumatic event like a school shooting occurs, survivors are often given counselling afterwards so they can deal with the event.
For those who do develop symptoms beyond just an initital acute stress response, there are treatments that exist to help people recover from the impact of traumatic stress.
Group-based or one-on-one cognitive behavioral strategies are particularly successful because they address specific fears, thoughts and emotions lingering from the trauma. With time, treatments like these can help a person some to grips with the trauma, find closure, and move beyond the event towards healing. Eventually, most people are able to reach a point where they feel comfortable in their own skin again, and are able to remember without reliving.
Warning Signs of PTSD
While it is fairly commong for some people to have an acute stress response to a traumatic event, only a small but significant proportion of people will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. However, individuals who feel they are unable to regain control of their lives, or who experience the following symptoms for more than a month should consider seeking professional help.
Symptoms to watch out for include:
- Recurring thoughts or nightmares about the event
- Changes in sleep patterns or appetite
- Anxiety and fear, especially when exposed to events or situations reminiscent of the trauma
- Feeling "on edge", being easily startled, or becoming overly alert
- Spontaneous crying, feelings of despair and hopelessness, or other symptoms of depression
- Memory problems, including difficulty in remembering aspects of the trauma
- Feeling scattered and being unable to focus on work or daily activities
- Difficulty making decisions
- Irritability or agitation
- Anger or resentment
- Guilt
- Emotional numbness or withdrawal
- Sudden overprotectiveness and fear for the safety of loved ones
- Avoidance of activities, places or even people that remind you of the event
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:39 am
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Disassociation Disorder Information
Taken from: http://www.cmhawrb.on.ca/disassociation.htm
What Is Disassociative Identity Disorder?
Disassociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe dissociative disorder that involves a disturbance in both the memory and identity of an individual. The individual uses defense mechanisms involving splitting, idealization, devaluation, denial and/or taking on the personality of another in order to cope with trauma experienced in childhood.
- 9 times more women than men receive therapy for DID
- 97% of the individuals with Disassociative Identity Disorder have been physically and/or sexually abused
- An individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder develops an average of 8 – 13 personalities.
There are three factors which determine if a person has Disassociative Identity Disorder:
1) Two or more personalities exist within the individual – each is dominant at certain times.
2) The dominant personality determines the individual’s behaviour.
3) Each individual personality is complex and integrated with its own unique behaviour patterns and social relationships.
What Causes Disassociative Identity Disorder?
Multiple personalities are formed through dissociation. Dissociation occurs when an individual splits with their primary personality (also known as the "host" personality) and develops a secondary personality in their subconscious. The dissociative splitting of the self into two or more personalities usually occurs in childhood due to extreme physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse. In most cases the existence of Disassociative Identity Disorder represents an attempt by the child to deal with overwhelmingly negative events in their life. The ongoing abuse experienced by the child somehow increases their capacity to detach themselves, compartmentalizing life’s trauma into autonomous units rather than a blended whole. When a particularly abusive experience becomes unbearable the highly hypnotizable child simply exercises their capacity for self-hypnosis, to go to sleep, as it were, and allow another person to emerge who can handle the situation better. In many ways the altered personality of abused children resemble the imaginary friends that "normal" children describe—externalized versions of cartoon figures, superheroes or animals; however, what begins as a protective fantasy is kept within until the individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder becomes that character.
What Are The Symptoms?
Most people with Disassociative Identity Disorder start to show signs in their 20’s and 30’s.
It is not uncommon for an individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder to experience many of the following characteristic symptoms:
- Auditory or visual hallucinations
- Sense that one’s body is being transformed or changed
- Feeling like one is in a daze—going into a trance
- Feelings of confusion and/or disorientation
- Feeling one’s thoughts are out of control
- Vocalizing words one did not think or utter
- Difficulty understanding others
- Depression
- Multiple suicide attempts
- Severe anxiety attacks and/or numerous phobias
- An inability to maintain stable relationships
- Physically damaging acts such as cutting oneself
Due to the various debilitating symptoms, the "host" personality gets to a point where they feel they need to get some kind of help.
Approaches to Recovery
Despite the complexity and severity of Disassociative Identity Disorder, identifying and diagnosing it is the most difficult obstacle to recovery. It is common for people seeking treatment for their confusion and amnesia to be treated for secondary symptoms like depression and anxiety before a proper diagnosis is made. However, once the individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder is teamed with a specialist who employs special therapeutic techniques, about 80% of the people with Disassociative Identity Disorder recover.
The goal of the therapy usually consists of placing the individual into a self-induced hypnotic trance and reliving, in the character of each of the personalities, the significant traumatic events in his or her life. The therapist guides this process and eventually helps the individual integrate all their memories into a gradually developing central consciousness. The individual does not lose the other personalities, rather they become part of the whole person. Once the individual begins to remember and deal with their history, they no longer need the alternate personality. The process of therapy for adults is long and difficult, often taking 3 - 5 years.
Source: Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division
~
Taken from: http://www.mentalhealthconsumer.net/disorders/dissociativedisorders.html
Just as the heading above is disconnected from itself and difficult to understand, Dissociative Disorders are the result of a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions or perceptions which makes it very difficult for persons experiencing them to understand what they are thinking and feeling and to lead "normal" lives.
Everyone dissociates at times, usually with little noticeable affect on their life, such as when performing routine tasks or experiencing routine events while their thoughts wander elsewhere. Have you ever driven home from work and then realized that you were so preoccupied with other thoughts that you cannot remember much of the trip? That is a form of dissociation as are hypnosis and "daydreaming". Allowing for the possibility of accidents occurring during such times, these periods of dissociation do not usually have a detrimental effect on our lives. In fact, sometimes dissociation can keep us from being bored to death as we sit through tedious meetings or classes, or perform very routine tasks. So, like with many other things in life, a little can be a good thing.
However, at the other end of the disassociation continuum, we have often disabling extreme and complicated chronic dissociation such as with dissociative amnesia (an inability to recall important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, which is too extensive to be explained by normal forgetfulness), dissociative fugue (involves one or more episodes of sudden, unexpected and purposeful travel from home during which the person cannot remember some or all of his past life and either has lost some memory of who he is or has formed a new identity), dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder) (a condition in which two or more identities or personalities alternatively control a person's behaviour and in which there are episodes of amnesia) and depersonalization disorder ( characterized by persistent or recurring feelings of being detached from one's own body or mental processes). Dissociative disorders are usually the result of overwhelming stress. The stress may be caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event or situation - such as experiencing overwhelming physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or witnessing murders, rapes, traumatic deaths, etc.
Typically, the person with dissociative disorder has, when faced with a single or series of overwhelming traumatic situation from which he cannot physically escape, has resorted to mentally removing himself from the situation. This ability to "escape" is typically used by children as a defense against extreme physical or emotional pain, or even anticipation of that pain - they pretend it didn't happen, thus it "doesn't hurt" and they are able to cope with the abuse. Many people think of dissociative disorder as a highly creative survival technique which allows the abused child/person to endure abuse while at the same time appearing to function normally.
Unfortunately, while the afflicted person may "appear" to function normally, dissociative disorders can lead to self-destructive behaviours; to prejudice, suspiciousness and excessive or compulsive worrying about perceived dangers; to fantasies that take the place of involvement with the outside world and other people; to irresponsible, reckless or foolish acts; and to viewing the world, people, and relationships as black-and-white and behaving in an all-or-nothing manner which in turn leads to feelings of uncertainty and helplessness in life and its relationships.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:41 am
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Helpful Resources
Note: The medical pamphlets I've used in this sticky are Canadian, and so most of these links will be Canadian. If you live outside of Canada, you can try using these links, seeing your family doctor, or looking it up online.
~
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- There are many different patient programs designed to help you understand OCD. Talk to your doctor about which ones are right for you.
- Canadian Mental Health Association: Offices located across Canada, so consult your local telephone directory.
Online information:
- Overall Online Resources for the Spectrum of Depression and Anxiety Disorders: www.feelingblue.com
- Depression Information Resource & Education Centre (DIRECT) operated by McMaster University, Department of Psychiatry: www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/direct
- Canadian Mental Health Association: www.cmha-bc.org
- CANMAT Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments: www.canmat.org
- Directory of Anxiety Treatment Resources in Canada: www.macanxiety.com
- National Institute of Mental Health: www.nimh-nih.gov
- Ontario Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Network: www.oocdn.org
- The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation: www.ocfoundation.org
- OCD Patient and Family Handout: www.psychguides.com/oche.html
- Association des medecins psychiatres du Quebec: www.ampq.org
- Association/Troubles Anxieux du Quebec (ATAQ): www.ataq.org
- Association Quebecoise de soutien aux personnes souffrant de troubles anxieux depression ou bipolaires: www.revivre.org
~
Anxiety Disorder
- For further information about anxiety disorders, contact a community organization like the Canadian Mental Health Association to find out about support and resources available in your community.
The Canadian Mental Health Association is a national voluntary association that exists to promote the mental health of all people. CHMA believes that everyone should have a choice so that, when they need to, they can reach out to family, friends, and formal services.
- http://panicdisorder.about.com/
- http://www.algy.com/anxiety/
- http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.cfm#anx10
~
Panic Disorder
- Start with your family doctor or local Mental Health Center for more informatino or to have the problem assessed. They may also suggest some books to read which can help you understand your panic disorder better. Other strategies are described in the booklet "Taming the Worry Dragons" - a manual for young people and their families.
- http://www.healingwell.com/library/anxiety/info2.asp
- http://www.anxman.org/
- http://hcpc.uth.tmc.edu/links_panic_disorder.htm
~
Bi-Polar and Rapid Cycle Bi-Polar
National Institute of Mental Health
Public Inquiries, Room 7C-02
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
- National Directory of Psychologists
PO Box 6278
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
- American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5500
- National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association
730 Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 642-0049; (312) 642-7243 FAX; 1-800-826-3632
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
200 North Glebe Road, Suite 1015
Arlington, VA 22203-3754
(703) 524-7600; (703) 524-9094 FAX; 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
- National Foundation for Depressive Illness
P.O. Box 2257
New York, NY 10116
(212) 268-4260; (212) 268-4434 FAX; 1-800-248-4344
- National Mental Health Association
1021 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2971
(703) 684-7722; (703) 684-5968 FAX; 1-800-969-NMHA (6642)
~
Schizophrenia
- http://council.nami.org/programs.html
- http://www.mental-health-today.com/sphra/resources.htm
- http://www.webcom.com/thrive/schizo/resource.html
- http://www.geodon.com/Additional.asp
- http://schizophrenia.upmc.com/Resources.htm
~
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- http://www.ptsdalliance.org/home2.html
- http://www.headinjury.com/faqptsd.htm
- http://www.ptsdinfo.org/
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:07 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:26 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 7:27 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 12:29 am
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 6:29 am
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Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:45 pm
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Reply
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