Mental Health

According to the American Psychiatric Association our personalities are the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors we have that are what make us different from others. Personalities are shaped over time by a variety of factors from both environment and experiences. Also according to the APA, a personality disorder occurs when a person’s thoughts, behaviors and interactions with others deviates from cultural norms and causes distress or problems with functioning, and lasts over time. There are many types of personality disorders and doctors have organized them into different groups, or cluster, to help with diagnosis and identification. The good news is that most personality disorders can be treated.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) that helps clients replace old, unproductive and negative thought patterns into newer, more productive ones. Much of CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts either hinder or support us living in the present moment and our success in the future – if we’re constantly feeding our minds with self-doubt and negative talk, we will likely carry this negativity into our present moments. Many studies have shown that CBT is greatly effective in helping treat a variety of conditions, including: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, depression, and more. If you’ve recently started CBT with your therapist, that’s great! You will likely gain invaluable skills that you can put directly towards your mental health, which will trickle into many other areas of your life in the most beautiful of ways. CBT is more hands-on, which means you may have some “homework” or take-home exercises to complete. Since CBT focuses on changing your thinking patterns, it will be quite an adjustment. Here are 3 challenges you can expect to work through while embracing this transformative, therapeutic technique:

With mobile apps and gaming becoming the center of focus for many adolescents and teenagers today, it’s become challenging for parents to monitor their child’s usage on technology. “They’re just kids – they’ll grow out of it”, is likely a common thought process many parents go through and, while it may seem this way, the reality is that your child’s physical health is directly connected to their mental health – both of which are very important to their long-term health and happiness in life. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS), only 1 in 3 children are physically active each day – and more than 80% of adolescents do not do enough aerobic activity to meet the physical activity requirements for their age bracket. As a parent, one of the best things you can do is encourage outside activity with your children, preferably by engaging in sports and recreational activities with them. According to Dr. Nandini Mani, Hospitalist and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School, exercise has been shown to boost mood in adults, and could potentially help abate symptoms of depression experienced by teens. Ultimately, there are many great reasons why exercise should be implemented in your teen’s daily routine, as outlined by U.S. News:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. American fashion designer Kate Spade’s death by suicide shocked the world and sparked a major discussion on seeking help, providing support, and recognizing the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal ideation. Her husband, Andy Spade, told CNN News that she was seeking help for anxiety and depression; he was completely shocked by this news, as he stated that he spoke with her the night before and she sounded happy. Kate Spade’s death was another traumatic incident that proves depression and suicidal ideation can affect anyone – no matter your race, origin, class, success, education, and more. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), nearly 45,000 lives were lost in 2016 alone; suicide has been listed as one of the top leading causes of death in the United States, making this a huge cause for concern. People Magazine claims that David Spade, Kate Spade’s brother-in-law, has recently decided to honor her by donating $100,000 to help those struggling with mental illness. He stated, “More people suffer from mental health issues than we realize but no one should ever feel ashamed to reach out for support.” If you have a mental illness and it’s drastically affected your ability to live your life, seek help immediately. Treatment is available, and may include medication as well as therapy to give you the tools you need to better manage your symptoms. If you are a loved one of someone with a mental illness, recognize the warning sides of suicidal ideation:

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been shown to affect nearly 4 million people in the United States alone; estimates show that 75% of individuals diagnosed with BPD are women, making women a key population of interest when it comes to this particular mental illness. People with BPD often experience varying mood swings, unstable self-image, feelings of worthlessness or insecurity, impaired social relationships, and more. Typically beginning during adolescence or early adulthood, symptoms of BPD can cause significant challenges in daily life. Recent research has been aimed at discovering more closely the emergency of BPD, and the latest findings reveal an unexpected area for women: the menstrual cycle. A 2018 study published in the journal Psychological Medicine and conducted by researchers from Chicago involved the analysis of 15 healthy, unmedicated females diagnosed with BPD over a period of 35 days; researchers recorded their symptoms to see if any patterns were revealed. What the researchers found was that symptoms of BPD were heightened the week before and during a female’s menstrual cycle – which can have significant effects on suicidal ideation. Assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago Tory Eisenlohr-Moul stated, “…People with borderline personality disorder are at a high risk of suicide, so anything that can help patients and clinicians reliably predict changes in their symptoms is very useful.” Researchers hypothesize that women with BPD are more sensitive to hormonal changes, which could provide reasoning as to why a woman with BPD would experience more severe symptoms leading up to a during her menstrual cycle. However, this new finding could provide a lot of support to healthcare teams seeking to reach out to adolescents, young adults, and women with BPD for preventative measures. Eisenlohr-Moul also stated, “When [estrogen and progesterone] drop so precipitously around menses, it’s not surprising that some women with trouble regulating mood and emotions have an even harder time.” If you’ve been diagnosed with BPD, treatment is available, and recovery is possible. Speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today to learn more about treatment options.

Previous research has shown that when mental illness is involved in romantic relationships, one partner may need to take on an additional role of support while the other attempts to manage their symptoms. Mental illness affects around 450 million people all over the world (that’s 1 in 4 people), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) – making it extremely common for couples to experience mental illness by either one partner or both. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) highlights the benefit of open communication in a relationship – if you feel safe and comfortable, telling your significant other about your disorder can help both of you work together to move forward. Talk to them when you’re ready. Ultimately, it’s important that you work together for compassion, love, respect, and support. Couple’s therapy provides a safe, structured environment with which to talk about issues that may be difficult to discuss or understand. If you and your partner are open to couple’s therapy, there are many benefits you could each get from this experience:

Dual diagnosis, also known as comorbidity (or co-occurring disorder), is experienced by approximately 7.9 million people each year, according to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. If you have a dual diagnosis, it’s important that you seek out a reputable treatment center that specializes in this – if not, your recovery could be comprised, as programs that do not specialize in this may only treat one disorder or another, which could potentially exacerbate your symptoms. Dual diagnoses can involve a variety of symptoms which can make it difficult to actively participate in life activities relating to school, work, family life, social events, and more. Bipolar disorder and ADHD in particular present unique challenges to daily functioning, making it imperative that you seek help from a reputable treatment center. Bipolar disorder (BPD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both often misdiagnosed or go untreated; bipolar disorder often involves symptoms of mania and/or depression, and ADHD symptoms of aggression, excitability, hyperactivity, impulsivity, absent-mindedness, and more. A 2015 review published in Current Psychiatry Reports emphasizes BPD and ADHD can present mood fluctuations, irritability, and uneven academic performances in young children, with adults experiencing much of these issues as well. Treatment for both disorders often involves several components:

Whether you’re seeking recovery for a mental illness or an addiction, your condition may not always be as straight-forward as it seems. For instance, many people have been diagnosed with a mental illness and, while they understand the “label” of their experiences (for example: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.), they may not fully comprehend what their mental illness entails, how it affects their daily life, how their past experiences have contributed to their condition, and what steps they need to take moving forward to better manage their symptoms. Psychoeducation is a combination of psychotherapy and education - an intervention used to provide specific information related to the concern of the client. Reputable treatment centers utilize psychoeducation to inform individuals, families, and groups. Family members have been shown to greatly benefit from psychoeducation interventions; the American Psychological Association (APA) states that family members can help reduce patient relapse rates by adhering to what their loved one needs most – these families often do not know what their loved one truly needs until they obtain more information from a psychoeducation intervention. A research review published in the journal Evidence-Based Adjunctive Treatments highlights 4 main components of psychoeducation:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that approximately 1 person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, with 78% of suicides occurring in low and middle-income countries around the world. The United States has seen an increase of 30% in suicides from 1999 to 2010, and it’s considering the leading cause of death in the U.S. Suicide is an incredibly important topic to discuss because of not only its effects on millions of people around the world, but because of the tools, resources, and support that can be used to prevent it as well. Life gets busy, but that shouldn’t mean that we close our eyes, ears, and heart to those around us. Suicide doesn’t always emerge from the form of depression; sometimes it’s in the wink of an eye, behind a person’s smile, or amidst someone walking. It easily disguises itself to those who fail to truly see and listen – but that doesn’t mean that we can’t become more open to the subtle signs:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year, nearly 1 million people die by suicide, which is equal to 1 in every 100,000 people. While many people don’t realize it, media does play a key role in the way suicide is perceived, discussed, and thought about. For example, shows like “13 Reasons Why” received a lot of backlash from the mental health community because the storyline of the show seemed to almost “glamorize” suicide – no preventative measures were provided until viewers spoke up. There are many ways in which media doesn’t take the right stance on suicide prevention:

Note: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your life matters. Death by suicide has been rising dramatically all over the United States; according to the National Public Radio (NPR), approximately 45,000 lives were taken in 2016 by suicide. More celebrities and high-profile individuals are losing their lives, including fashion designer Kate Spade, chef, author, and host Anthony Bourdain, Alan O’Neill, Verne Troyer from Austin Powers, and more solely in 2018, as stated by U.S. Magazine. Suicide is devastating and effects everyone – friends, family, coworkers, and more, as the entire world suffers with each life that is lost. By recognizing the signs that someone may need help, you could save a life. Recognizing that someone may be having suicidal thoughts can be difficult because you may really have to pay attention to subtle cues. If you notice that your loved one is doing any of the following, these could be warning signs that they need immediate help:

When it comes to recovery, self-compassion can be challenging sometimes. Perhaps you’ve gotten into this never-ending reel of doubt, fear, and negativity; thoughts such as “I don’t think I can do this” may plague your mind as you try to determine whether or not recovery is truly for you. No matter what you’re thinking, the good news is that you’re here. You’ve arrived. Recovery is meant for you, and you have everything you need to move forward with it. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have been led to this path. There are many techniques and approaches that can be used in recovery, including medicine and therapy. These are the two most popular options – but holistic therapy activities such as music therapy or psychodrama don’t get discussed as often. Psychodrama gives people an opportunity to work through past or future issues and gain new perspectives from others’ experiences as well. As explained by the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP), psychodrama involves 3 stages: 1) the warm up, in which a theme is identified and characters are established, 2) the action, in which the problem is acted out in a dramatic way and the protagonist identifies ways of resolving the problem, and 3) the sharing, in which group members are allowed to explain their personal connection with the drama and the protagonist’s strategies. A 2017 study published in the journal Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process, and Outcome sought to explore how psychodrama could assist those with mental illness. Twenty-two females and eight males participated in the study, engaging in 40 psychodrama sessions total, with 1 session per week. Results from the study indicated a significant improvement in symptoms that participants were experiencing; what type of activities in psychodrama could promote self-compassion? A 2015 piece published in The Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy addresses 4 activities in psychodrama that enhance this: