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It is common knowledge that war, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and getting robbed would all suffice as traumatic incidents. Childhood trauma can leave people feeling debilitated for years to come – some even their entire lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects over 14 million adults in the United States, according to Mental Health America. The National Center for PTSD defines PTSD as a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Those who have PTSD often experience nightmares, flashbacks, hyperactivity, intrusive thoughts, and negative emotions/feelings. Can something as simple as watching a violent show on television trigger someone to have PTSD? The answer is technically, no. Cultivation theory posits that those who watch television often and in substantial amounts tend to adopt the perceptions of what they see on TV. For example, if a person spends many hours a day watching scary movies, they may eventually come to believe that the world is a scary place and may therefore fear leaving their home. The person may show similar symptoms of PTSD, but are not directly experiencing it. The scary content that they viewed on TV may cause them intense emotions which could continue manifesting into a phobia or anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, exposure to media, television, movies, or pictures cannot cause PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD are:

Just as someone from a physical addiction may relapse and return to their addiction because of a trigger, someone with a mental illness can relapse. Relapse is defined as the recurrence of any disease that has gone into remission or recovery. In the above narrative, this person suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and has worked diligently through their obsessive thoughts and compulsions. One day they felt triggered - whether by a person, place, situation, or their own thoughts – and retreated to old habits of behavior, by asking their partner for reassurance. When someone suffers from a mental illness, relapse often involves acting on those unwanted thoughts or feelings in a way that perpetuates the illness. For example, a person who suffers from severe anxiety may partake in recovery activities that help them recognize when they are feeling anxious and may provide them with tools to work through their anxiety. A relapse for this person would mean that one day, their anxiety gets to them and the person loses all sense of control that they had learned so far in their recovery. Some warning signs that someone is experiencing a relapse are: major mood changes, losing their sense of humor, becoming very tense or agitated, difficulty concentrating, retreating from social situations, neglecting personal care, dressing unusually, sleeping excessively or not at all, eating too much or hardly at all, becoming very suspicious or hostile, increased sensitivity to light or noise, and more. This list of signs is non-exhaustive, and may vary depending on the mental illness. If someone feels they may experience a relapse soon or are already suffering from a relapse, they should speak with a health care professional immediately. Working with a doctor and support team can help you get back on track and move past the incident. Family and friends should be receptive, loving and supportive and should research the mental illness to learn more ways of which they can help.   Residential treatment programs give you the time you need to focus on healing. Avalon Malibu is one of California’s only certified primary mental health treatment facility providing trusted programs with trusted results. For a confidential assessment and more information, call us today: 888-958-7511

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health issue that arises after someone has experienced a traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD often include nightmares, flashbacks, emotional numbness, hyperarousal such as difficulty sleeping, feeling jumpy, and more. War veterans often experience PTSD, and many are deeply affected by it for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, many people take their own lives because PTSD can be so debilitating. It affects every aspect of their lives – from their work, to family life, and often trouble connecting with their significant other. In the past, there have been several drug forms created to aid in the effects of PTSD, but many involved patients taking several forms of medication along with psychotherapy, and even the combined therapy didn’t aid in full recovery of the symptoms. Researchers have been exploring more advanced treatment options for PTSD, and many of them hold much hope in aiding the negative symptoms of PTSD, or even eliminating them altogether. Here are a few recent developments regarding treatment for PTSD:

“Instead, it’s transformative. The trauma becomes a dividing line in survivor’s lives. They are different after the event. Sometimes that change is negative – the post-traumatic stress symptoms that have received so much attention. But the change doesn’t end there. Trauma survivors are often pushed by a brush with their own mortality, by the depth of their hardship or even the suffering of others, to find more meaningful and fulfilling ways of understanding who they are and how they want to live. They struggle, but they also change for the better.” Jim Rendon, author of an online book titled The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth, provides a hopeful and encouraging aspect of post-trauma life. His book is focused on how post-traumatic growth propels us into self-improvement and success rather than destruction. While he addresses the pain and suffering caused by trauma, he aims to promote a more positive perspective for survivors to hold; one that can uplift and inspire. Lorna Collier, writer for The American Psychological Association, stated last year that resiliency and post-traumatic growth (PTG) are two separate entities. Resiliency is a person’s natural tendency or personal attribute to bounce back from challenging events. PTG, on the other hand, refers to someone who has difficulty bouncing back and experiencing a traumatic event that shakes their core psychologically and then ultimately finds a sense of personal growth. This process takes time, energy, and struggle – but it is possible and it’s worth it. The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun in 1996, seeks positive responses in five principal areas:

Most people have a common fear – fear of clowns, spiders, snakes, darkness, etc. These fears are quite normal; even if someone fears a spider, they will still take a walk through the woods on a lovely day. A phobia is much different from a typical, rational fear, because it’s severe to the point of affecting daily life. Many people who have a phobia will go out of their way to ensure they do not come into contact with their fear. According to Chris Iliades, MD and writer for Everyday Health, these are the most common phobias:

In a study conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, between the years 2002-2012, approximately 18 million Americans practiced meditation. Mindfulness and meditation are common practices used to ground us and gain perspective on our lives. When we practice mindfulness, we practice being aware of our present moment. Through meditation, we learn to develop a more heightened sense of sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound, leading us to appreciate each moment. We tune in to others and feel more compassion - ultimately for ourselves, others, and then the world. These forms of practice bring into light a very important term, “present-awareness”. Present-awareness is the notion of being fully alive and aware at any given moment, because at that moment, that is all that we have. Staying present helps us to appreciate our experiences and explore our senses more in-depth. Here are some ways in which you can practice present-awareness:

“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”

Paula had her first panic attack 5 months ago. She was at school preparing for a health science presentation and suddenly felt a wave of fear come over her. The entire room started spinning and she felt like vomiting. Paula felt dizzy, breathless, hot, and felt like she was going crazy. She called her partner to help relax her, but the event shook her pretty bad. Paula had another intense panic attack about 2 weeks later, and she feels like they have been getting worse each time. She is afraid of having another panic attack, so she has been refraining from any of the extracurricular activities that she used to participate in. Paula is also scared to speak to her boss at work because she is afraid of having another panic attack. A person who suffers from surprising panic attacks and is afraid of having them is considered as having a panic disorder.  According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, approximately 2-3% of Americans suffer from a panic disorder, and it most often occurs in women. Panic disorders are a form of anxiety disorder and can significantly impact daily life – from neglecting work responsibilities, to several doctor visits, to avoiding situations where the person may fear they will have a panic attack. Panic disorder may occur with depression, anxiety disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, or substance abuse. This can be very challenging for someone, especially if they have not been diagnosed yet. When someone has a panic attack, their heart pounds, they feel like they can’t breathe, and the person may even feel like they are dying or going crazy. Panic attacks are so intense because they are often unexpected and leave the person feeling debilitated. A person has a panic disorder if they experience frequent panic attacks for no apparent reason, if they worry a lot about having another panic attack, and if they are behaving differently because of the panic attacks – such as missing out on fun activities. Many people are afraid of seeking help for their panic attacks because they are afraid of stigma or being told that nothing is wrong. However, there are so many tools to help someone who suffers from this. Psychotherapy is a fantastic way to learn relaxation and imagery techniques. Discussing your irrational fears with your therapist could help you learn more about yourself and what you can do to possibly prevent panic attacks. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is another excellent tool used to treat panic disorders. This method will help you restructure your thinking to more positive, realistic thought scripts. If you suffer from a panic disorder, know that help is available to you. Speak with a doctor today to learn more about your options.

We all find ourselves afraid of something – heights, snakes, planes, etc. But many of us experience a deeper side of fear – phobias. A phobia is defined as an irrational fear, an anxiety disorder in which the individual has relentless dread of a situation, living creature, place, or thing. Individuals who have a phobia go to great lengths to avoid the very thing they are most afraid of, which often detracts from enjoying everyday life experiences. A recent study believes they have found a way to cure phobias. A study in A Journal of Psychiatric Neuroscience and Therapeutics examined three groups of people who suffer from arachnophobia, a fear of spiders, with 45 subjects total. One group was shown a tarantula in a glass jar for two minutes, and then given a beta-blocker call propranolol that is typically used by patients for performance anxiety. Another group was shown the same thing but was given a placebo, and the third group was given propranolol by itself without being shown the spider, just to make sure that the drug itself could not decrease the effects of their phobia. Soeter and Kindt examined all three groups the same day, three months later, and then a year later after the initial experiment happened. They found that the groups that received the placebo and only the drug by itself did not see any decrease in their feelings of anxiety. However, the group that was shown the spider and took the medication saw significant differences. Many could hold the tarantula that same day, and their fear of spiders did not return even a year later when the researchers check on them. The reason this could work is because norepinephrine, a chemical and neurotransmitter within the brain that enhances our learning, is blocked when a person consumes the propranolol. In blocking this, memory is disrupted in the brain, a process known as reconsolidation. A person with a phobia has an emotional association to it, and the anxiety they experience reactivates their fear and causes them to panic. Taking the propranolol helps them to create new associations with the phobia, thus reducing their anxiety about it altogether. Research is still being conducted on this medication and to see if it continues to show positive effects on individuals with phobias. If you experience a phobia, speak with your doctor to learn more about ways of reducing your anxiety so that you can continue to a happier, healthier way of living.

Whether we like it or not, change is inevitable. From the time we are born, we are constantly changing, growing, learning. When we are younger, these changes don’t seem so scary because we are excited to try new things; we are ready to become adults and venture out into the world. But suddenly as we get older, we feel that we have grown all that we can. We try to hold onto who we are and what we have; we try to remain in our comfort zone because change could mean that we might fail, that things could go wrong, and that unknowing feeling is just too much for us. As scary as we let change seem to be, it’s imperative that we learn to accept it -even better if we can learn to love it. Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert further confirms this truth by stating, “We all know we will change. But we think fundamentally the people we’ve become…. will remain relatively stable in the future. And in that, we’re wrong.” To deny change is to try and deny the inevitable, which will make things even harder for us because we are resisting the very thing that will happen anyways. Ada Calhoun discusses this regarding marriage, as she explained earlier this year for the New York Times that she has essentially had 3 marriages with her husband, what she claims to be their “partying 20s, child-centric 30s and home-owning 40s”. Contributor Chrissy Scivicque explains change in the workplace as constant, because businesses are ever-growing and mergers, acquisitions, etc. are always taking place. Change is in everything – even in recovery. Alcohol Rehab notes that those entering recovery must be willing to accept the unknown – to gain courage and change their old habits into healthier, more positive ones. When we take the leap towards bettering ourselves, change must happen. There are many plausible reasons why change is good:

With several popular fast-food options today like McDonald's, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King and more, obtaining quick, relatively inexpensive food is more attainable now than ever. While many find the convenience of these restaurants alluding, fast food isn’t always the best (and healthiest) option. One Green Planet, a website aimed at growing a compassionate and eco-conscious generation, breaks down several components of fast food that are both unhealthy and factor into addiction:

“Addiction begins with the hope that something “out there” can instantly fill up the emptiness inside.” According to a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014), approximately 43.8 million people ages 18 and older experience some form of mental illness. Of those, approximately 7.9 million people suffer from a mental disorder and a substance abuse disorder, also known as a co-occurring disorder. According to the Foundations Recovery Network, an organization that assists individuals with several addictions and mental illness, the following are the most common co-occurring disorders: