Month: March 2018

Kleptomania A Mental Disorder

Posted on by blogger

The brain is one of the most wonderful yet complicated organs in the human body. It has areas and that is still unknown and has a lot of mysteries. One of these mysteries is the mental disorder that urges the person to steal. Such problem is said to be serious since it can have great effect to the patient’s family and to the patient himself.

Kleptomania is a kind of disorder is characterized primarily by a strong desire to steal something. Usually, kleptomaniacs steal things that they never really want or they really never needed and is of small cost. The said urge can oftentimes lead to increase of anxiety while stealing or gives triumphant feeling while stealing. After the deed, the person with the said disorder also has a feeling of regret, guilt and fear to be arrested. Usually, the urge takes place without any warning. Kleptomaniacs, people with such disorder, take something without any motive and they simply had the strong desire to steal it. The urge oftentimes comes back causing the disorder to go around in circles.

Causes of kleptomania still remains unknown. However, some studies hunches that the said disorder is caused by a chemical in the brain which controls emotions and moods, called serotonin. Serotonin is also suspected to be responsible for addictive behaviors like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Kleptomania treatment is considered to be the most difficult part for such disorder. More often, kleptomaniacs do not seek medical help because of fear and feeling of embarrassment. It is highly encouraged that family and friends will give their help and support to the patient so that he can recover from the disorder. There is no exact treatment for kleptomania, thus, resulting to the patient undergoing several treatment process first before finding out the best treatment that suits him. Some prescriptions can be administered to the patient. These drugs include antidepressants, mood stabilizers and drugs that block the specific area of the brain that causes pleasure from addictive behavior to reduce the patient’s urge to steal.

Studies also show that cognitive behavioral therapy helps greatly for a kleptomaniac to manage its symptoms. During the therapy, the patient is taught and is informed about his disorder and is also told about the negative behavior and its possible negative effects. They are also taught how to create and develop positive thoughts leading to positive acts.

Kleptomaniac cannot recover from his condition alone. Understanding and help from family and friends, as said, is really needed. They can be if great help by helping the patient know about his condition and encouraging him to follow his treatment plan. Family and friends can also help by helping the patient avoid situations that can trigger the stealing urge and teaching him some stress management techniques to help overcome the urge.

Psychiatrists Use Naturalistic Treatments For Depression And Stress Related Mental Health Issues

Posted on by blogger

Although statistics say that clinical depression affects about five percent of the American population, that number is most likely greatly underestimated. The truth is, thousands of people suffer from depression and stress related mental disorders but are either incorrectly diagnosed or never ask for help or treatment. For those who do, however, there is good news in the form of short-term cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and naturalistic depression treatments.

Among the latter are herbal medicines, homeopathy, yoga, aromatherapy, acupuncture and similar non-traditional, non-pharmaceutical treatments. Several well-recognized reports have shown that specific herbs act in much the same way as chemical medicines, balancing both neurotransmitters and hormones, with excellent results but without the occasionally debilitating side effects or withdrawal symptoms associated with prescription anti-depressants.

The leaves and flowers of St. John’s Wort, a plant found in both Europe and North America, have been used to cure depression for thousands of years both here and abroad. Another widely used plant is the West African Griffonia Simplicifolia, the seeds of which are used to make 5-HTP or 5-Hydroxytryptophan. This natural treatment helps stimulate the production of tryptophan, the amino acid that makes you feel so content and sleepy after a turkey dinner and which leads to the production of serotonin, the body’s own cure for depression.

SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) and folic acid have also been discovered to be effective in treating mild to moderate depression, particularly when combined with CBT, as practiced by the many New York City psychiatrists who specialize in this form of therapy. While herbal additives are being used by more of the population every single day, most people are not informed enough to effectively self-prescribe, so it is generally unwise to take any of the aforementioned herbs with or instead of prescribed pharmaceutical depression meds, nor without prior consultation with a therapist.

However, regular exercise, yoga and meditation have been found to be of great help for physical and mental well being, and are being prescribed, not just by your general practitioner, but also by some psychiatrists to treat depression and stress.

For individuals who are either already being treated for a stress related mental condition or who are in the process of seeking depression treatment, inquiring into the pros and cons of a naturalistic treatment program is a wise idea. By all means, get active physically if you are able to do so. However, it is important to remember that this is rarely an “either-or” situation. Self-medication, by means of either natural or homeopathic remedies, should not replace regular treatment by a trained, certified medical professional. If regular pharmaceutical medications are prescribed, asking about naturalistic remedies instead of pharmaceuticals may turn out to be the best step you can take toward recovery.

Possible Causes Of Mental Disorders And The Need Of Mental Health Support

Posted on by blogger

Mental illness is quite common these days. Some of the symptoms can be cured with the help of traditional medication while others require community help and support aside from the medication. Regardless of the severity of mental illness, importance of community support cannot be undermined.

It is a good thing that people have made studies and because of this and the fast developments in the field of psychological research, people have learned that people suffering from mental illness should be cured and not be treated with contempt. This paved the way for the expansion of the field of mental health. Because of the growing concern of individuals regarding people with mental disorders, more and more people continued to be interested in the field. This further helped experts and current students to understand the field of psychology and psychiatry a lot better.

Today, the causes of certain psychological conditions are still not concretely defined but there are already various forms of treatment for specific disorders. There are already studies being made that could explain the reasons for the development of certain conditions such as anxiety disorders. It is largely possible that this mental illness is hereditary because of the positive relation in its occurrence in families. Studies have shown that those who belong in families with previous cases of anxiety disorders are more likely to develop this kind of psychological condition if faced with a traumatic encounter.

It is a fact that some people are stronger mentally and could handle stressful situations better. Those people are lucky for their chances of experiencing periods of anxiety are low. For those on the other side of the rope, however, they are more likely to have anxiety attacks once they encounter shocking and traumatic situations such as abuse and accidents. These unfortunate events can lead to development of anxiety disorders and especially so if psychological disorders already run in the family.

Maturity also plays an important role in mental disorders. Those who are younger or those who have delays in their moral development are more prone to have psychological disorders because their mental health is still not that strong. Children who suffer from abuse from adults should be paid closer attention to because if they do not recover from the shock of the abuse immediately, the damage could become permanent. Since this could lead to a serious disorder, it is absolutely necessary for those children to undergo counseling from professionals. Psychotherapy is done by trained psychologists and psychiatrists and is common in mental health support facilities. Some of these sessions are done individually but there are also some who do it in groups. Sometimes, doing psychotherapy in groups can also help because the victims can interact with people who faced the same situations as they did.

Using Mental Imagery To Stop A Panic Attack

Posted on by blogger

Panic attacks are not at all uncommon in today’s high tension world. Panic seems to come out of nowhere and then take control of the panic attack sufferer’s life. When sessions of panic are occurring they are the only thing that matters to the sufferer. He or she feels it is necessary to struggle just to hang on. Mercifully at some point the panic goes away, at least for a while.

The most important thing to know about panic or any sort of anxiety attack is that it is the struggle you put up that makes it powerful. Having the ability to go with the flow will lessen the severity of panic and can actually put an end to it altogether.

Tightening Up

Once a panic attack is perceived to be approaching, the panic sufferer tightens up in an attempt to brace him/herself for the brutal session about to take place. If this tightening up and bracing could be eliminated, the panic could be as well. This is true because without tightening up, nervous symptoms cannot be overwhelming like they can be to a tightened up, fully braced person.

Here is an analogy that is a very powerful tool in overcoming panic. Picture a cork in the bottom of an empty bathtub. If you come along with a fork in hand and try to stab it as you would a piece of food on a plate, you will easily succeed and you will be able to pick up this cork the same as you pick up your next mouthful during dinner.

However, what if the bathtub is full of water? In this situation there is no way you would be able to stab and pick up this cork. The reason for this is the cork in the water is totally un-braced. With no water in the tub the cork is braced against the bottom.

Learning Not To Fight

As a panic attack approaches, you are like a cork in a tub. The fork is an all out panic attack. The water represents whether or not you are bracing yourself and getting ready to put up a fight against the anxiety. Essentially, you make the choice if the tub is empty or full of water.

Realistically, all you can do is realize fighting off panic is what actually makes it come on. Learning how to give in to panic is tough at first. Still, by using the visualization of the cork in the bathtub full of water with the fork being unable to stab it gives you the proper visualization you need to learn not to brace yourself from perceived oncoming panic. In doing so, you will be taking away panic’s most powerful weapon; your fear.

How To Stop The Runaway Train Of Mental Illness By Betty Byrd

Posted on by blogger

One in six adults and nearly one in ten children in the United States suffer from bipolar disorder. Yet, there remains a stigma associated with being bipolar and being related to someone who is. Never mind that Edgar Allen Poe was bipolar or that President Theodore Roosevelt was too. Or that people with bipolar disorder can lead extraordinary and meaningful lives. Look at Winston Churchill, Virginia Wolf, and Rosemary Clooney. No matter how talented or famous someone is, if they’re in a situation dictated by mental illness, it can at times feel like a runaway train. Jim Carey and Robert Downey, Jr. know what it’s like, so do Robin Williams, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Ben Stiller.
Dealing with a mentally ill family member is anything but a cakewalk. I should know. My mother, a Christian Science fanatic, refused to take medication to manage her sickness. During my formative years, I lived through extremes; from minute to minute I didn’t know what she might do. My childhood was spent being tossed around like a ping-pong ball. At sixteen, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist reluctantly told me to leave home and never look back because I was living in an incurable situation. Sadly, I hit the road, riddled with pot holes, lacking any parental advice. During those formative years I didn’t have a choice, but now, in 2011, things are beginning to change.

I went on to become an actress and later a novelist. I took it to heart when I read that Ernest Hemingway said, “A writer’s style should be direct and personal” For me, it’s therapeutic to write about the disease that robbed me of my mother and stole any chance I may have had to enjoy a normal childhood. I use larger-than-life characters on a backdrop of big oil and big tracts of land to show life on high octane, which, in my experience, is what it’s like to live with the ups and downs of mental illness.

One of my main characters, Olivia Harrison has a history of undisclosed schizophrenia. My novel, Utopia, Texas, shows the terrifying ramifications on a family whose young daughter’s problem goes untreated. Some call the book, which is a stand-alone sequel to my first novel, Trinity’s Daughter, a riveting tale. The character of Maggie Harrison is fashioned after me. Olivia is my mother. Olivia’s mother, Brya, is actually the novel’s protagonist. I use my books as a tool to educate others about what it’s like to live with mental illness, and if not treated it can be devastating to all involved.

As a member of the International Bipolar Foundation, I’m on a mission to try to help erase the stigma associated with this dreaded disease which often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. What’s missing in the equation is proper education, but through advancement of research, medication and support services life can begin to stay on track. Having been one of those children affected, I’m committed to encouraging family members to openly discuss mental illness so that healing can begin.

Currently, I’m working with organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States. Through public education, I hope the shame associated with mental illness will be erased. For many, the stigma can be as great a challenge as the disease itself. For people with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, their life is like trying to navigate an unstoppable train-one that’s prone to skipping tracks and changing depots on a quick whim. There is no stopping this locomotive, but it can be slowed down in hopes of reaching a more positive destination.