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Whether you consider yourself the next Adele or you prefer to belt out tunes in the shower, music therapy is a wonderful way to relieve some stress. Previous studies have shown that music therapy – such as lyrical analysis, instrumental playing, music writing, and more – can reduce anxiety, improve healing, improve self-expression and communication, reduce depression, and much more. Symptoms of a mental illness can be very distressing at times, affecting nearly aspect of life. By partaking in music therapy, you’re widening the horizons to learn more about yourself and boost your creativity while also working through difficult emotions that may be hard to face on the surface. A doctoral study completed in 2016 sought to explore the role of group singing in recovery; adults aged 18 to 72 years old participated in a 10-week community group singing program, with the researcher then assessing individual outcomes before, during, and after the program. Results from the study showed that participants found group singing to be beneficial to their recovery in a number of ways:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may include symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, confusion, irritability, and more. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a form of therapy in which a client is guided through various eye movements to help them reprocess traumatic memories in a way that allows the person to move past the event. EMDR has been used widely for symptoms of PTSD, but there are other conditions that it may treat as well. EMDR helps people focus on strengthening their positive beliefs that they wish to adopt rather than focusing heavily on thoughts or memories that are hurting them and preventing them from moving forward with their lives. A 2015 study published in the journal of Brain Behavior sought to explore EMDR’s success with the treatment of depression; a group of 16 patients diagnosed with depression were recruited for the study. Compared to another group of 16 individuals who served as a comparison group, 68% of individuals with depression no longer met the criteria for depression by the end of the study. A follow up period of longer than 1 year was conducted, and many participants still showed less signs of depression and relapses than their counterparts. It seems that EMDR can assist with more than just depression, however. Another study published in 2016 in the journal Psychological Medicine explored how EMDR could help treat psychosis, depression, and social functioning in those with varying levels of schizophrenia. One hundred and fifty-five participants in treatment for psychosis with either schizophrenic disorder or schizoaffective disorder were randomly placed in sessions of 8-week long EMDR treatment or a waiting list to serve as a comparison group. The researchers found that of the participants who completed EMDR sessions, significant reductions were experienced in paranoid thoughts and depression directly after treatment and even 6-months later. Hallucinations and social functioning did not improve nor worsen, however. Much research is still being conducted to find out all of the ways that EMDR can assist clients, but as you can see, it can treat more than just PTSD. If you believe you may be a suitable candidate for treatment and EMDR therapy, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center today. It’s never too late to seek the help you need.

Celebrities have been more open now than ever regarding their struggles with mental illness and addiction. Their stories have inspired and motivated people all over the United States to seek help for their problems; country star Brantley Gilbert is one of them. The 33-year-old who sings “One Hell of an Amen” and “Country Must Be Countrywide” has had back-to-back platinum albums. While the singer has been sober for 7 years now, he reflects on his time back when life was rougher – when he had a completely different frame of mind and when he handled his problems differently. According to People Magazine, Brantley’s road to addiction began soon after graduating from high school, where he was the son of a Baptist preacher. He began drinking a lot of hard liquor and took opiates to relieve some of the pain he experienced from playing football – which soon led to him relying on the medication for relaxation. Once Brantley signed a record deal, he was reaching for bottles and pills any moment he could – he described to People that once he had the chance to pursue music full time, “every day was a party”. It wasn’t until 2011 that Brantley Gilbert had to be hospitalized for pancreatitis; doctors told him that if he didn’t stop drinking, he was not going to make it to his next birthday. In December of 2011, Brantley stopped abusing substances. He called his manager and explained his fears – that he wasn’t going to be able to afford the house that he was having built, that he wasn’t going to be able to perform and shows, and more. Shortly afterwards, country music star Keith Urban showed up and gave Brantley a pep talk. Brantley credits Keith Urban for giving him the motivation that he needed to jumpstart his recovery. Since living rehab, Brantley hasn’t dabbled with any of the substances he used to. He has a beautiful family and is focusing on his music, the love of his life, and raising their child. No matter who you are, challenges will always occur – after all, that’s a major part of life. Recovery is possible, however. If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center so that you can begin your journey to recovery today.

Whether you’re in recovery for a substance use disorder (SUD) or a mental illness, maintaining an intimate relationship while focusing on yourself can be challenging. Your significant other may be supportive of your recovery or they may not understand it – either of which can have a major impact on your perceptions of recovery and the perceived self-efficacy you have towards achieving your recovery goals. Even in recovery, you can ensure the health of your relationship by engaging in couple’s therapy. In doing this, you and your partner can speak with a therapist about your goals, worries, concerns, barriers, hopes, dreams and more; all these things can impact your recovery (and your family’s stability), and you want to be sure that your family has an action plan for moving forward.

Recovery, whether from mental illness or addiction, is challenging. You’re letting go of everything you thought you knew about your life and embracing the change that is necessary to become a better version of yourself. There are many factors that can add benefit to one’s recovery: social support, engagement in treatment, utilization of tools learned in therapy, and more. Positive empathy, also known as the ability to share, celebrate, and enjoy others’ positive emotions, is a phenomenon that has been shown to bolster individual well-being. By engaging in positive empathy, you not only strengthen your relationships with others, but you feel more positive and hopeful for yourself.

As one of the most popular psychiatric, sedative-hypnotic prescription drugs in the United States, Valium, also generically known as diazepam, has been used for the treatment of anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, and more. A member of the drug classified benzodiazepine family, Valium works to “numb” the central nervous system. It has become used recreationally to give users a euphoric, calm “high” feeling. However, the drug itself can be very addictive and has been known to produce very painful withdrawal effects. The following are some of the most common side effects associated with this drug for short-term use:

Depression can be debilitating at times; feelings of hopelessness, extreme fatigue, and lack of motivation can negatively affect everyday life. If you’ve been struggling with depression, you may find it difficult to even get out of bed every morning. In turn, you may believe that staying inside, missing out on events you used to enjoy, and withdrawing to yourself is what’s best for you. Despite your beliefs, the opposite is true – when it comes to depression, you really need to surround yourself with people who love and support you as well as engage in activities to get you involved in life. One of the best ways to do this is through exercise. A 2014 piece published in the interdisciplinary journal “Disability and Rehabilitation” emphasized that exercise can provide several benefits, including:

According to USA Today, singer Mariah Carey recently disclosed to the public that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a disorder which causes shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out daily functions. The disorder typically consists of symptoms stemming from mania or depression; mania is characterized as having feelings of being “on top of the world” and having a lot of energy without the need for much sleep, while depressive episodes involve much fatigue and feelings of hopelessness. While celebrities have become more open about their mental health, Mariah Carey is one that hopes to pave a path for more openness and understanding. In 2001, it was told by People Magazine that Mariah Carey first received her diagnosis in 2001 after being hospitalized for having a physical and mental breakdown. The superstar stated that she didn’t want to believe it at first, and that she had a hard couple of years leading up to the diagnosis. She explained, “Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me. It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore.” Mariah Carey explained that she has been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, which means that she often experiences depressive phases as well as hypomania, which is less severe than manic episodes but may still involve irritability, restlessness, and hyperactivity. She expressed that her medication is helping her find balance, but that her periods of mania before she was diagnosed were considered by her to be a sleeping disorder. She stated, “…It wasn’t normal insomnia and I wasn’t lying awake counting sheep. I was working and working and working…Eventually I would just hit a wall.” Carey’s ex-husband, Nick Cannon, has expressed his pride in how far she has come as she continues to find strength despite her struggles. He explained that Mariah has found dignity and grace even amongst paparazzi and being a focal point to the public eye. It’s clear to see that celebrities experience mental illness, too – what other celebrities have been diagnosed with BPD? Demi Lovato, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Carrie Fisher are just a few who have also sought recovery after being diagnosed.

According to a study supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 30%-40% of men and 27%-34% of women who have perpetrated violence against their partners were drinking at the time of the event. The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to intimate partner violence (IPV) as, “any behavior in an intimate relationship that causes physical, psychological, or sexual harm to those in that relationship.” Physical aggression may involve slapping, hitting, kicking, and beating. Psychological harm may involve intimidation, humiliation, isolation, and more, and sexual harm includes forced sexual intercourse or other controlling behaviors. When alcohol is involved to intimate partner violence, the risks of physical, mental, and emotional issues become even more elevated. Excessive alcohol consumption serves as a major contributor to IPV, as alcohol directly affects cognitive and physical functioning, reduces self-control, and makes individuals less capable of settling disputes with others in a safe and reasonable way. There are many indirect consequences of alcoholism as well, including: financial hardships, marital problems, job performance issues, family concerns, health issues and more. Children who witness alcoholism and IPV are prone to experience more depression, anxiety, aggression, and higher risk of substance abuse problems later than children who do not. There are a variety of factors that can influence alcohol-IPV situations:

One of the most challenging aspects of mental disorders is the official diagnosis; a healthcare professional can easily mistake one disorder for another and for a variety of reasons. As emphasized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), bipolar disorder (BPD) is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed mental health conditions. An estimated 2-6% of the population has BPD, but there are many reasons why it gets misdiagnosed:

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) involves an over-inflated sense of self, a lack of empathy for other people, and a general sense of self-importance. There are two branches that have been accepted with NPD: grandiose and vulnerable. Grandiose NPD is the most commonly known type and involves having a very high sense of self-esteem with a demand for respect and adoration. Many people with NPD are viewed as being “cold”, with a barrier placed around them from others. One less known type of NPD, vulnerable NPD, is a little less known but is still as important. Vulnerable NPD often goes undiscussed because it is the more “quiet” of the two; people with this disorder are unlike their grandiose counterparts as they may come off as shyer or more reserved. Individuals with vulnerable NPD are often highly sensitive to others’ criticisms and emotional reactions but may be burdened by persistent feelings of loneliness. If you have vulnerable NPD, you may tend to act disinterested, bored, condescending, or judgmental around others to get them to engage with you without you having to speak with them directly. While you may have an inflated sense of self-importance, this high self-esteem can easily come crashing down in moments where you experience the loss of a job, a poor performance evaluation at work, etc. Social media is often a big platform for those with this type of disorder, as they display their lives through tools such as Facebook or Instagram. Those with vulnerable NPD often behave as though they’re underappreciated or underrated, despite their achievements and recognitions. In addition, passive aggressiveness is common in those with vulnerable NPD, as they may ignore a person as a form of punishment for not doing what they wanted that person to do. If you’ve been diagnosed with vulnerable NPD, you may blame others’ shortcomings, justify your actions even if others view them as disconcerting, and distance yourself from others based on the belief that they are not good enough. Treatment for vulnerable NPD is available, and may include medication and psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy”. If you relate to the above symptoms, speak with a licensed professional today to potentially obtain a diagnosis.

Mental illness is a serious topic that, while more open for discussion now, is still negatively perceived by many due to perpetuated stigmas. With stigma comes a sense of distance, a sense of separation – labels of “the other” emerge and it becomes easy to feel hatred, disgust, or hostility towards those with mental illness because terrifyingly, people no longer feel connected as a human race. Storytelling has been shown to be a direct link to connection, as the expression of stories are something that everyone can connect with. The emotions underlying stories – sadness, happiness, sense of loss, hopelessness, joy, and more – serve as a thread that binds through each human being. If you’re considering sharing your own story of mental illness with others, there are many benefits to doing this: