New Research into Anxiety Disorders

Nearly one in five Americans have been diagnosed with some form of anxiety disorder. These range from panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder to social phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants can curb symptoms that interfere with day-to-day life. And these drugs are big business. In 2013, Americans filled 48 million prescriptions for the benzodiazepine drug alprazolam (Xanax). Patients also picked up 27 million prescriptions for sertraline (Zoloft), an antidepressant drug that also helps some people with anxiety.

Yet, while many people do find relief in these drugs, they don’t work for everyone. Benzodiazepines can interfere with normal thinking and induce drowsiness. They also can be highly addictive, so doctors are reluctant to prescribe them for people with a history of substance abuse. Zoloft and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) also don’t work for everyone. They can cause nausea, jitters, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and loss of libido.
However, researchers are teasing out another option for reducing anxiety. When stress kicks in, so would this experimental drug.
“By targeting specific enzymes,” said neuroscientist J. Megan Gray, “we can minimize side effects.”
Researchers from Calgary to Southern California are investigating the inner struggle between one brain chemical that keeps stress in check and another that is part of the body’s fight or flight response. Many of these investigators talked about their latest findings during the November 2014 Society for Neuroscience conference in Washington, D.C.
The brains of humans and some animals naturally synthesize endocannabinoids, molecules that help regulate functions including appetite, mood and response to stress. An ample supply of endocannabinoids keeps anxiety under control, and this is the function that Gray and her colleagues at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary want to boost.
When something stressful happens — a deadline approaches or travel plans go awry — the fight or flight response floods the brain with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). It degrades endocannabinoids and turns anxiety on. That’s like releasing the parking brake when a car is parked on a hill. The new drug would boost the level of endocannabinoids in the brain, creating a buffer against CRH’s action.
Endocannabinoids and the active compounds in marijuana both bind to the same brain receptors, which is why some people self-medicate by smoking marijuana.
“Often, if you go to a medical marijuana place and tell them you have anxiety, they’ll give you marijuana,” said James Lim, a neuroscientist at the University of California-Irvine. The problem is that cannabis also contains many other chemicals, including harmful tars, that complicate the reaction. If researchers can design an endocannabinoid-boosting compound that is simpler, said Gray, “we can better understand what people are exposing themselves to.”
Previously, researchers assumed that the stress “parking brake” system acted the same in everyone. But new research during the November conference points to a different model — that some people’s brains synthesize more endocannabinoids than others, and that people with higher levels can handle more stress.
Researchers have long known that some people can take more metaphorical heat than others. “Some kids can undergo a lot of traumatic events in early life and turn out just fine,” said University of Michigan researcher Pam Maras. “Some undergo relatively minor things and turn out to have severe anxiety and depression.”
Numerous researcher teams are using rat models to try to understand how stress responses can be manipulated, and they reported their findings at the conference.
In separate experiments, Gray and Lim tinkered with endocannabinoid levels in rats. Both found that rats with higher levels acted less anxious after being exposed to stress. Lim made part of a maze scary by tainting it with the scent of a fox’s feces. Rats with more stress-braking power would explore the tainted regions of the maze. More timid rats avoided it for as long as seven days after the scent was laid down.
Two other research groups, working independently in Ohio and Colorado, manipulated CRH levels in different ways but arrived at complementary results.
At Kent State University, neuroscientist Lee Gilman blocked CRH receptors in mice, shutting out the stress-inducing peptide and enabling them to approach other, unfamiliar mice.
At the University of Colorado-Boulder, Christopher Lowery is interested in how the brain responds to repeated social defeat. For example, what happens when a child is repeatedly bullied? He mimicked this by putting a male rat into the home cage of another male rat, where the newcomer would be forced to surrender to the more dominant native. In his study, rats that faced social defeat over and over produced more CRH each time, and were more quickly immobilized by fear during later encounters.
However, as Lim and Gilman both observed, some animals can put the brake on anxiety longer than others. Clinicians know this is true for humans; what the laboratory scientists are probing is when and how those differences manifest in the brain.
Michigan researcher Pam Maras sees evidence that these differences begin early in development. Her more nervous rats began displaying excessive anxiety as early as 11 days after birth, which corresponds to the fifth week of life for an infant. Animals that did not manifest anxiety at that point grew up to be more resilient to stress, though Maras can’t say why.
“We don’t have an answer for that right now,” said Maras. “It’s exciting sometimes when you don’t have an answer, because that means that there’s more to do.”
Some people are probably born more vulnerable to anxiety disorders than others. And although they might benefit greatly from a medication that puts a brake on runaway anxiety, scientists have a lot to learn before such a drug will be ready for clinical use.

Source:  http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/01/15/new-research-into-anxiety-disorders/

11 Facts About the Mental Health of Our Troops

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1. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (aka PTSD, an anxiety disorder that follows experiencing a traumatic event) are the most common mental health problems faced by returning troops.
2. The most common symptoms of PTSD include: difficulty concentrating, lack of interest/apathy, feelings of detachment, loss of appetite, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, and sleep disturbances (lack of sleep, oversleeping.
3. Post-traumatic stress disorder is diagnosed after several weeks of continued symptoms.
4. In about 11 to 20% of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom) have been diagnosed with PTSD. Create a support board so your friends can show leave messages of encouragement for troops suffering from PTSD and other illnesses. Sign up for Support Board.
5. 30% of soldiers develop mental problems within 3 to 4 months of being home.

6. 55% of women and 38% of men report being victim to sexual harassment while serving in the military
7. Because there are more men than women in the military, more than half of all veterans experiencing military sexual trauma (MST) are men.
8. An estimated 20% of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans turn to heavy drinking or drugs once they return to the US.
9. Between 10 and 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Possible consequences of this internal injury include anger, suicidal thoughts, and changes in personality.
10. In 2010, an average of 22 veterans committed suicide every day. The group with the highest number of suicides was men ages 50 to 59.
11. Some groups of people, including African-Americans and Hispanics, may be more likely than whites to develop PTSD.

Source:https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-mental-health-our-troops 

When a Family Member is Deployed

Maintaining a family routine and tending to your needs and those of your children can be very difficult when a family member has been deployed for military service. Children and adults may experience strong separation anxiety and fear about the well-being of a family member. It's important to come up with a plan for coping with separation and the strong emotions that may accompany a deployment.

Preparing for deployment
Families who know when a loved one is scheduled to be deployed should begin preparations right away. This process can include talking to children and extended family members about the deployment as well as adjusting routines and reviewing financial and legal details.

If you are preparing for the deployment of a family member you need to:

• Review child and elder care arrangements . If you need help covering your child or elder care needs, contact your employee assistance program (EAP), or other services that may be available to you through your employer, for support and resources. If you have a system in place, review it to make sure that the absence of a family member will not be a problem.

• Update and check legal and financial documents and details . This should include reviewing all health care procedures, updating wills and medical directives, and ensuring that family members have access to accounts and documents such as power of attorney agreements.

• Make sure all emergency contact numbers are posted in the home . Post information about how to reach family members when they are deployed and numbers for contacting appropriate military officials for information and updates.

• Discuss household finances and routines . If one person typically takes care of duties like car repairs, paying bills, or grocery shopping, make sure that the other feels comfortable assuming these new responsibilities.

Families should also prepare emotionally for a deployment and the stress it may cause by:

• Agreeing on a plan for communicating . Talk about whether you'll communicate by telephone, e-mail, or letters, and how often or at what times you'll communicate.

• Making a plan for being alone . Family members who are at home while a loved one is serving in the military may be able to deal with anxiety and fear if they make plans to take classes, pick up new hobbies, or spend time doing things they wouldn't normally do.

• Looking into support groups . Many branches of the service offer support in the form of social groups, counseling, or advice. Look into what's available for your family.

• Spending special time together . Take the time to be alone with your spouse or partner before they leave. It's also important for children to have individual time with a parent or loved one before deployment occurs.

Staying in touch when a family member has been deployed
It's vital to have a communication plan and stick to it. If someone is expecting letters or phone calls that never come, fear and anxiety could set in. Regular communication is extremely important because it can raise morale and help families cope with separation. Here are some ways to make communication even better:

• Be creative . Document a regular day in photos and send them to a loved one with captions. Create care packages with baked goods, silly toys or souvenirs, newspaper articles, children's school or artwork and video or cassette tapes of family members.

• Write frequent, short letters. Encourage children and friends to send postcards or brief notes. Constant communication from home can be very uplifting for those who are far away serving in the military.

• Don't avoid answering questions or write about rumors or gossip . Avoiding questions or passing along misinformation that may cause worry or fear. Try to keep communications full of news about friends, family, local events, and expressions of love.

Helping children cope with the deployment of a loved one
Children may find it very difficult to prepare for, and then adjust to the absence of a loved one who is called to duty. Some children may not understand why a parent or loved one has to leave, while others may be afraid for their safety. Some children may even be angry with a parent for leaving. It's important to keep talking to your child and monitoring how he is handling a separation. Many children may also benefit from consistent routines throughout the separation. When talking to a child about the deployment of a loved one you can:

• Help children understand they have not done anything wrong . Young children may think a parent is leaving because of something they've done. Try to explain that serving in the military is the loved one's job, just as going to the factory every day is what other parents may do for work.

• Talk about where their loved one will be and what they will be doing . Post a map where your child can see it. Talking about a loved one's daily routines may help children cope with separation.

• Be as honest and give as much information as possible . Children may have many questions about the military, and why their loved one has to leave. It's important to give them as much information as possible in words that they will understand.

• Make sure they don't feel like they have been abandoned . Telling a child that a loved one is "on assignment" or "at work" may help children understand why a loved one has left home.

• Limit television coverage related to your loved one's duty . Watching repeated media coverage of conflicts or wars that a family member is involved in could be emotionally draining. If your child is interested in watching television coverage try to do it together so you can answer questions and offer reassurance.

Ways children can communicate with loved ones
It's important for children to feel like they are keeping in touch with loved ones instead of hearing news or greetings second hand. Encourage your child to send artwork or write letters, and make sure that the family member who has been deployed sends e-mail or letters addressed and mailed directly to your child. This may help a child understand that her loved one is thinking about her. Here are some other ways to help children cope with the deployment of a family member:

• Have a parent or loved one read books or tell stories into a tape recorder that your child can listen to when they are gone . Some children may feel comforted by hearing the voice of a loved one reading or talking to them.

• Encourage even young children to add their notes to the end of your letters or write their own. Providing children with a stack of pre-addressed and stamped envelopes and paper may stimulate spontaneous letter writing.

• Keep track of the time for which a loved one will be gone . It may be helpful for children to keep track of their loved one's absence with a calendar or other visual aid. Be sure to tell children exactly when their loved one will be returning.

• Create a special photo album or scrapbook for children . Consider taking photos of your child and his family member doing ordinary activities and then gathering them in a small album. Children can take out their album whenever they feel lonely.

Coping with stress and anxiety when a loved one has been deployed
There are several stages of emotion you may go through when a loved one has been deployed. When they first are informed about a deployment, many people begin anticipating the extended absence of a loved one, which may cause feelings of confusion, anger, resentment, or depression.
If you experience any of these emotions you can:

• talk to your loved one about your feelings

• work to create opportunities for lasting memories during the separation

• involve your entire family in preparing for the deployment

When the time of departure draws near, some people may begin to feel detached or withdrawn. Feelings of hopelessness, impatience, and decreased emotional or physical intimacy are common reactions to an impending deployment. When a loved one leaves, family members may go through a difficult adjustment period. An increased sense of independence and freedom may be countered by periods of sadness and loneliness. If you have trouble adjusting to the absence of a spouse or loved one you can:

• Cultivate new skills or hobbies . Take a class or start a project you've always wanted to do. It's important to continue personal growth when a loved one has been deployed. Open yourself to new experiences and friendships

• Keep a journal . Many people find that writing down their thoughts and feelings is comforting when they are separated from a loved one.

• Offer empathy and support to others . Remember that you aren't alone. Find a support group or plan events with other families who are experiencing the same thing.

• Seek support from your faith community. Many people find comfort and solace from their faith communities during difficult times.

• Do something special for yourself and your family. Rent a movie or cook a meal that your loved one wouldn't necessarily enjoy. Plan fun outings with children during free time.

• Seek professional counseling . If you feel like you can't cope with the absence of a loved one, contact your health care provider or employee assistance program (EAP) to find a counselor.

• Ignore rumors . Many people have trouble dealing with limited information about the whereabouts and activities of a loved one during deployment. It may be difficult to ignore rumors or gossip, but it's important to rely on official sources of information when a family member has been deployed.

Preparing for a homecoming
Though it's a joyous time, many families may find themselves facing another adjustment period when a loved one returns from a deployment. As with preparations for departures, the entire family should be involved in preparations for returns. When a loved one returns from active duty some people may have resurfacing feelings of resentment, impatience, or increased anxiety. There will also be an adjustment period while family members begin renegotiating relationships and responsibilities. Here are some ways to adjust to a loved one's return:

• Communicate openly about your expectations and feelings.

• If the returning family member is a parent, brief him about household routines. If parents are up to date with information about things like what time children go to bed or what their new favorite television show is it will be easier to slip back into a parental role.

• Spend time getting to know each other again. Make a special effort to be together as a family or as a couple to re-establish relationships.

• Watch for signs of post-traumatic stress or difficulties returning to everyday activities. Some people may need professional counseling after serving in the military. If you need help finding a counselor, contact your health care provider or employee assistance program (EAP). If you do not know how to contact your EAP, ask your human resources department (HR).

Adjusting to changed family circumstances when a family member has been deployed can be very difficult. It's important to stay strong for your family and for yourself. Try to:

• talk about your feelings with a trusted friend, family member, or member of the clergy

• maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits

continue communicating with your loved one on a regular basis.

Source: http://www.military.com/spouse/military-deployment/dealing-with-deployment/preparing-for-family-member-deployment.html

Antidepressants

How antidepressants work

It's thought that antidepressants work by increasing levels of a group of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, can improve mood and emotion, although this process isn't fully understood.
Increasing levels of neurotransmitters can also disrupt pain signals sent by nerves, which may explain why some antidepressants can help relieve long-term pain.
While antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression, they don't always address its causes. This is why they're usually used in combination with therapy to treat more severe depression or other mental health conditions caused by emotional distress.

How effective are antidepressants?

Most people benefit from taking antidepressants to some degree, but research suggests antidepressants may not be as effective as previously thought in cases of mild depression.
However, they're the most effective treatment in relieving symptoms quickly, particularly in cases of severe depression.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists estimates that 50-65% of people treated with an antidepressant for depression will see an improvement, compared to 25-30% of those taking inactive "dummy" pills (placebo). This means that most people do benefit from antidepressants, even if it's sometimes a result of the placebo effect.

Doses and duration of treatment

Antidepressants are usually taken in tablet form. When they're prescribed, you'll start on the lowest possible dose thought necessary to improve your symptoms.
Antidepressants usually need to be taken for around seven days (without missing a dose) before the benefit is felt. It's important not to stop taking them if you get some mild side effects early on, as these effects usually wear off quickly.
If you take an antidepressant for four weeks without feeling any benefit, speak to your GP or mental health specialist. They may recommend increasing your dose or trying an alternative medication.
A course of treatment usually lasts for six months, although a two-year course may be recommended for people with a previous history of depression. Some people with recurrent depression may be advised to take them indefinitely.

Side effects

Different antidepressants can have a range of different side effects. Always check the information leaflet that comes with your medication to see what the possible side effects are.
In general, the most common side effects of antidepressants are usually mild. Side effects should improve within a few days or weeks of treatment, as the body gets used to the medication.

Different types of antidepressants

There are different types of antidepressants. Some of the most widely used types are discussed below.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs are the most widely prescribed type of antidepressants. They're usually preferred over other antidepressants, as they cause fewer side effects. An overdose is also less likely to be serious.
Fluoxetine is probably the best known SSRI (sold under the brand name Prozac). Other SSRIs include citalopram (Cipramil), paroxetine (Seroxat) and sertraline (Lustral).

Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

SNRIs are similar to SSRIs. They were designed to be a more effective antidepressant than SSRIs. However, the evidence that SNRIs are more effective in treating depression is uncertain. It seems that some people respond better to SSRIs, while others respond better to SNRIs.
Examples of SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta and Yentreve) and venlafaxine (Efexor).

Noradrenaline and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NASSAs)

NASSAs may be effective for some people who are unable to take SSRIs. The side effects of NASSAs are similar to those of SSRIs, but they're thought to cause fewer sexual problems. However, they may also cause more drowsiness at first.
The main NASSA prescribed in the UK is mirtazapine (Zispin).

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

TCAs are an older type of antidepressant. They're no longer usually recommended as a first-line treatment for depression because they can be more dangerous if an overdose is taken. They also cause more unpleasant side effects than SSRIs and SNRIs.
Exceptions are sometimes made for people with severe depression that fail to respond to other treatments. TCAs may also be recommended for other mental health conditions, such as OCD and bipolar disorder.
Examples of TCAs include amitriptyline (Tryptizol), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), lofepramine (Gamanil) and nortriptyline (Allegron).
Some types of TCAs, such as amitriptyline, can also be used to treat chronic nerve pain.

Alternatives to antidepressants

Alternative treatments for depression include talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Increasingly, people with moderate to severe depression are treated using a combination of antidepressants and CBT. Antidepressants work quickly in reducing symptoms, whereas CBT takes time to deal with causes of depression and ways of overcoming it.
Regular exercise has also been shown to be useful for those with mild depression.

Yellow Card Scheme

The Yellow Card Scheme allows you to report suspected side effects from any type of medicine you're taking. It's run by a medicines safety watchdog called the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). See the Yellow Card Scheme website for more information.

Source:http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Antidepressant-drugs/Pages/Introduction.aspx 

Mental health

Mental health problems cost employers in the UK £30 billion a year through lost production, recruitment and absence - so why aren't we doing more about it?
The answer is straightforward. Despite the fact that it is very common - one in four of us will suffer mental health problems during our lives - we find it very difficult to talk about.
It often seems too personal, too deep and too complex. You might feel very happy to tell a colleague about a physical injury you've sustained, but when it comes to your mental health, where do you start?
If you can't talk about it, it may prove equally difficult to listen.
Not listening could prove very costly - to the individual and to your business. The Centre for Mental Health charity estimate that employers should be able to cut the cost of mental health - in lost production and replacing staff - by about a third by improving their management of mental health at work.

• Tackle the stigma around mental health - Mental health rarely conforms to stereotypes. For example, you can be diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, but have a very positive state of mental health
• Focus on the practical things you can do to help - Some of the factors that influence an individual's mental health, like childhood experiences or family relationships, are out of your control. But you can help by monitoring workloads, employee involvement, the physical environment and the nature of relationships at work
• Develop solutions by listening - Sometimes all you need to do is help employees to help themselves. An employee may already have coping strategies or medical advice that they can follow, but showing empathy always helps

Questions and answers

What is mental health?

Mental health is the mental and emotional state in which we feel able to cope with the normal stresses of everyday life.
If we are feeling good about ourselves we often work productively, interact well with colleagues and make a valuable contribution to our team or workplace.
Positive mental health is rarely an absolute state. One may feel in good mental health generally but also suffer stress or anxiety from time to time.
Mental ill-health can range from feeling 'a bit down' to common disorders such as anxiety and depression and, in limited cases, to severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Why is understanding and addressing mental health important?

A Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development study has highlighted the impact on business of poor mental health in employees. The study found that:

• 37% of sufferers are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues
• 57% find it harder to juggle multiple tasks
• 80% find it difficult to concentrate
• 62% take longer to do tasks
• 50% are potentially less patient with customers/clients.

The study also found that, for the first time, stress is now the major cause of long-term absence in manual and non-manual workers.

What can a manager do to promote positive mental health at work?

A manager can:

• Spot the signs. This may initially mean taking a note of what you see as you walk around or in team meetings and then choosing the right moment to intervene
• Engage with the problem. There are some good practical steps you can take to help with coping strategies, and some legal requirements you need to bear in mind. For example, your duty to make reasonable workplace adjustments to the working environment in certain circumstances
• Keep a watching brief. This does not necessarily mean passively observing, although in some circumstances this may be the best option. Promote awareness of mental health issues and create a culture where employees feel they can talk to you about mental health issues. Keeping communication channels open is critical.

Is mental ill health a disability?

Some forms of mental ill health may be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if they have "a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities."
The Act makes it unlawful for an employer to treat a disabled person less favourably for a reason relating to their disability, without a justifiable reason. Some forms of mental illness - such as dementia, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia - are classed as a disability and need to be covered in an employer's equality policies.
Source: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1900

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

When you have both a substance abuse problem and a mental health issue such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety, it is called a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis. Dealing with substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug addiction is never easy, and it’s even more difficult when you’re also struggling with mental health problems, but there are treatments that can help. With proper treatment, support, and self-help strategies, you can overcome a dual diagnosis and reclaim your life.

Understanding the link between substance abuse and mental health

In a dual diagnosis, both the mental health issue and the drug or alcohol addiction have their own unique symptoms that may get in the way of your ability to function, handle life’s difficulties, and relate to others. To make the situation more complicated, the co-occurring disorders also affect each other and interact. When a mental health problem goes untreated, the substance abuse problem usually gets worse as well. And when alcohol or drug abuse increases, mental health problems usually increase too.

What comes first: Substance abuse or the mental health problem?

Addiction is common in people with mental health problems. But although substance abuse and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety are closely linked, one does not directly cause the other.

• Alcohol or drugs are often used to self-medicate the symptoms of depression or anxiety. Unfortunately, substance abuse causes side effects and in the long run worsens the very symptoms they initially numbed or relieved.
• Alcohol and drug abuse can increase underlying risk for mental disorders. Mental disorders are caused by a complex interplay of genetics, the environment, and other outside factors. If you are at risk for a mental disorder, drug or alcohol abuse may push you over the edge.
• Alcohol and drug abuse can make symptoms of a mental health problem worse. Substance abuse may sharply increase symptoms of mental illness or trigger new symptoms. Alcohol and drug abuse also interact with medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, and mood stabilizers, making them less effective.

Addiction is common in people with mental health problems

According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association:

• Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse.
• 37 percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
• Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Recognizing co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis

It can be difficult to diagnose a substance abuse problem and a co-occurring mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. It takes time to tease out what might be a mental disorder and what might be a drug or alcohol problem.
Complicating the issue is denial. Denial is common in substance abuse. It’s hard to admit how dependent you are on alcohol or drugs or how much they affect your life. Denial frequently occurs in mental disorders as well. The symptoms of depression or anxiety can be frightening, so you may ignore them and hope they go away. Or you may be ashamed or afraid of being viewed as weak if you admit the problem.

Admitting you have a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders

Just remember: substance abuse problems and mental health issues don’t get better when they’re ignored. In fact, they are likely to get much worse. You don’t have to feel this way. Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards conquering your demons and enjoying life again.

• Consider family history. If people in your family have grappled with either a mental disorder such as depression or alcohol abuse or drug addiction, you have a higher risk of developing these problems yourself.
• Consider your sensitivity to alcohol or drugs. Are you highly sensitive to the effects of alcohol or drugs? Have you noticed a relationship between your substance use and your mental health? For example, do you get depressed when you drink?
• Look at symptoms when you’re sober. While some depression or anxiety is normal after you’ve stopped drinking or doing drugs, if the symptoms persist after you’ve achieved sobriety, you may be dealing with a mental health problem.
• Review your treatment history. Have you been treated before for either your addiction or your mental health problem? Did the substance abuse treatment fail because of complications from your mental health issue or vice versa?

Signs and symptoms of substance abuse

If you’re wondering whether you have a substance abuse problem, the following questions may help. The more “yes” answers, the more likely your drinking or drug use is a problem.

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
• Have you tried to cut back, but couldn’t?
• Do you ever lie about how much or how often you drink or use drugs?
• Have your friends or family members expressed concern about your alcohol or drug use?
• Do you ever felt bad, guilty, or ashamed about your drinking or drug use?
• On more than one occasion, have you done or said something while drunk or high that you later regretted?
• Have you ever blacked out from drinking or drug use?
• Has your alcohol or drug use caused problems in your relationships?
• Has you alcohol or drug use gotten you into trouble at work or with the law?

Signs and symptoms of common co-occurring disorders

The mental health problems that most commonly co-occur with substance abuse are depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder.

Common signs and symptoms of depression

• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Inability to experience pleasure
• Appetite or weight changes
• Sleep changes
• Loss of energy
• Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Concentration problems
• Anger, physical pain, and reckless behavior (especially in men)

Common signs and symptoms of mania in bipolar disorder

• Feelings of euphoria or extreme irritability
• Unrealistic, grandiose beliefs
• Decreased need for sleep
• Increased energy
• Rapid speech and racing thoughts
• Impaired judgment and impulsivity
• Hyperactivity
• Anger or rage

Common signs and symptoms of anxiety

• Excessive tension and worry
• Feeling restless or jumpy
• Irritability or feeling “on edge”
• Racing heart or shortness of breath
• Nausea, trembling, or dizziness
• Muscle tension, headaches
• Trouble concentrating
• Insomnia

Treatment for substance abuse and mental health problems

The best treatment for co-occurring disorders is an integrated approach, where both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder are treated simultaneously.

Recovery depends on treating both the addiction and the mental health problem

Whether your mental health or substance abuse problem came first, recovery depends on treating both disorders.

• There is hope. Recovering from co-occurring disorders takes time, commitment, and courage. It may take months or even years but people with substance abuse and mental health problems can and do get better.
• Combined treatment is best. Your best chance of recovery is through integrated treatment for both the substance abuse problem and the mental health problem. This means getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team.
• Relapses are part of the recovery process. Don’t get too discouraged if you relapse. Slips and setbacks happen, but, with hard work, most people can recover from their relapses and move on with recovery.
• Peer support can help. You may benefit from joining a self-help support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. They give you a chance to lean on others who know what you’re going through and learn from their experiences.

How to find the right program for co-occurring disorders

As with a substance abuse program, make sure that the program is appropriately licensed and accredited, the treatment methods are backed by research, and there is an aftercare program to prevent relapse. Additionally, you should make sure that the program has experience with your particular mental health issue. Some programs, for example, may have experience treating depression or anxiety, but not schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
There are a variety of approaches that treatment programs may take, but there are some basics of effective treatment that you should look for:

• Treatment addresses both the substance abuse problem and your mental health problem.
• You share in the decision-making process and are actively involved in setting goals and developing strategies for change.
• Treatment includes basic education about your disorder and related problems.
• You are taught healthy coping skills and strategies to minimize substance abuse, cope with upset, and strengthen your relationships.

Treatment for dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders

• Helping you think about the role that alcohol and other drugs play in your life. This should be done confidentially, without any negative consequences. People feel free to discuss these issues when the discussion is confidential, nonjudgmental, and not tied to legal consequences.
• Offering you a chance to learn more about alcohol and drugs, to learn about how they interact with mental illnesses and with medications, and to discuss your own use of alcohol and drugs.
• Helping you become involved with supported employment and other services that may help your process of recovery.
• Helping you identify and develop your own recovery goals. If you decide that your use of alcohol or drugs may be a problem, a counselor trained in integrated dual diagnosis treatment can help you identify and develop your own recovery goals. This process includes learning about steps toward recovery from both illnesses.
• Providing special counseling specifically designed for people with dual diagnosis. This can be done individually, with a group of peers, with your family, or with a combination of these.

Source: SAMHSA

Treatment programs for veterans with co-occurring disorders

Veterans deal with additional challenges when it comes to co-occurring disorders. The pressures of deployment or combat can exacerbate underlying mental disorders, and substance abuse is a common way of coping with unpleasant feelings or memories. Often, these problems take a while to show up after a vet returns home, and may be initially mistaken for readjustment. Untreated co-occurring disorders can lead to major problems at home and work and in your daily life, so it’s important to seek help.
Veterans often benefit from treatment and support from specialized programs that address the unique stresses veterans face.

Group support for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders

As with other addictions, groups are very helpful, not only in maintaining sobriety, but also as a safe place to get support and discuss challenges. Sometimes treatment programs for co-occurring disorders provide groups that continue to meet on an aftercare basis. Your doctor or treatment provider may also be able to refer you to a group for people with co-occurring disorders.
While it’s often best to join a group that addresses both substance abuse and your mental health disorder, twelve-step groups for substance abuse can also be helpful—plus they’re more common, so you’re likely to find one in your area. These free programs, facilitated by peers, use group support and a set of guided principles—the twelve steps — to obtain and maintain sobriety.
Just make sure your group is accepting of the idea of co-occurring disorders and psychiatric medication. Some people in these groups, although well meaning, may mistake taking psychiatric medication as another form of addiction. You want a place to feel safe, not pressured.

Self-help for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders

Getting sober is only the beginning. Your continued recovery depends on continuing mental health treatment, learning healthier coping strategies, and making better decisions when dealing with life’s challenges.

Recovery tip 1: Recognize and manage overwhelming stress and emotions

• Learn how to manage stress. Stress is inevitable, so it’s important to have healthy coping skills so you can deal with stress without turning to alcohol or drugs. Stress management skills go a long way towards preventing relapse and keeping your symptoms at bay.
• Know your triggers and have an action plan. If you’re coping with a mental disorder as well, it’s especially important to know signs that your illness is flaring up. Common causes include stressful events, big life changes, or unhealthy sleeping or eating. At these times, having a plan in place is essential to preventing drug relapse. Who will you talk to? What do you need to do?

Recovery tip 2: Stay connected

• Get therapy or stay involved in a support group. Your chances of staying sober improve if you are participating in a social support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous or if you are getting therapy.
• Follow doctor’s orders. Once you are sober and you feel better, you might think you no longer need medication or treatment. But arbitrarily stopping medication or treatment is a common reason for relapse in people with co-occurring disorders. Always talk with your doctor before making any changes to your medication or treatment routine.

Recovery tip 3: Make healthy lifestyle changes

• Practice relaxation techniques. When practiced regularly, relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing can reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase feelings of relaxation and emotional well-being.
• Adopt healthy eating habits. Start the day right with breakfast, and continue with frequent small meals throughout the day. Going too long without eating leads to low blood sugar, which can make you feel more stressed or anxious.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise is a natural way to bust stress, relieve anxiety, and improve your mood and outlook. To achieve the maximum benefit, aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on most days.
• Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and depression, so try to get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep a night.

Helping a loved one with a substance abuse and mental health problem

Helping a loved one with both a substance abuse and a mental health problem can be a roller coaster. Resistance to treatment is common and the road to recovery can be long.
The best way to help someone is to accept what you can and cannot do. You cannot force someone to remain sober, nor can you make someone take their medication or keep appointments. What you can do is make positive choices for yourself, encourage your loved one to get help, and offer your support while making sure you don’t lose yourself in the process.

• Seek support. Dealing with a loved one's dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse can be painful and isolating. Make sure you're getting the emotional support you need to cope. Talk to someone you trust about what you're going through. It can also help to get your own therapy or join a support group.
• Set boundaries. Be realistic about the amount of care you're able to provide without feeling overwhelmed and resentful. Set limits on disruptive behaviors, and stick to them. Letting the co-occurring disorders take over your life isn't healthy for you or your loved one.
• Educate yourself. Learn all you can about your loved one’s mental health problem, as well as substance abuse treatment and recovery. The more you understand what your loved one is going through, the better able you’ll be to support recovery.
• Be patient. Recovering from a dual diagnosis doesn’t happen overnight. Recovery is an ongoing process that can take months or years, and relapse is common. Ongoing support for both you and your loved one is crucial as you work toward recovery.

Source: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4592506238738253894#editor/target=post;postID=2798203633748840306

A Revolutionary Definition of Addiction

WHAT IS ADDICTION? — A New Definition of Addiction

Most people associate the word addiction with alcohol or drugs, but that association severely and inappropriately limits the extent of addiction in our society. A new definition of addiction is needed, one which will give us a better grasp of the nature of addiction and will enable us to approach its treatment in a far more productive way.
Addiction is the compulsive use of any substance, person, feeling, or behavior with a relative disregard of the potentially negative social, psychological, and physical consequences.
This definition of addiction creates a much broader — and more accurate — picture of addiction, which we will demonstrate in much greater detail throughout the remainder of this article. Before we can meaningfully continue our discussion of addiction, however, we must first consider its causes in a new way.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DRUG ADDICTION AND OTHER TYPES OF ADDICTION?

Despite all the research done on this subject, there is no consensus on the cause of addiction. Some theories have been proposed, however:

• Genetic: We are born with a genetic predisposition to addiction.
• Bio-chemical: There is a chemical imbalance in the nervous system that makes us more susceptible to addiction.
• Mental illness: Addicts have a kind of mental illness.

Regardless of the specific cause espoused, most experts regard addiction as a disease, and many believe it’s inherited. They believe that people inherit the tendency to addiction, even if they never actually become addicted to a specific substance.

A New and Powerful Explanation for Addiction

Dr. Baer has now worked intimately with thousands of addicts, and he proposes a cause for addiction that is radically different from those generally discussed. This proposal explains the overall data of addiction better than other theories do, and this proposed cause has allowed the development of a treatment plan that has proven to be very effective with thousands of addicts.

Addiction is not a disease.  Addiction is a response to pain.

“After extensive interviews with thousands of addicts,” says Dr. Baer, “less than one percent of them fail to respond enthusiastically to this definition of addiction and the clarification of the causes of drug addiction, whereas most of them have had serious problems with the usual definitions and explanations.”
In order to understand the cause of drug addiction, we must first understand what is required for human beings to be happy, a subject sorely neglected in mental health research and literature. We tend to usually focus our attention to an inappropriate degree on illness and on the treatment of disease. We all understand that physical health requires more than simply the elimination of disease. In order to be physically healthy, we must also attend to positive qualities and behaviors — nutrition, exercise, shelter, and so on. In a similar way, mental health requires that we attend to the acquisition and maintenance of positive required elements, not just the elimination of negative factors, or disease.
The most important requirement for our emotional health and happiness is to feel loved. Our souls require feeling loved in just as real a way as our bodies require air and food. We need to feel cared for and to feel connected to other human beings. There’s a reason that such a huge portion of our novels and movies take love as a theme. Love is a basic human need.

Real Love

But not just any kind of love will do. The only kind of love that can fill us up and make us whole emotionally is Real Love.
Real Love is caring about the happiness of another person without any thought for what we might get for ourselves.
It’s also Real Love when other people care about our happiness unconditionally. With Real Love, people are not disappointed or angry when we make our foolish mistakes, when we don’t do what they want, or even when we inconvenience them personally.
When I use the word happiness, I do not mean the brief and superficial pleasure that comes from money, sex, power, and the conditional approval we earn from others when we behave as they want. Nor do I mean the temporary feeling of satisfaction we experience in the absence of immediate conflict or disaster. Real happiness is not the feeling we get from being entertained or making people do what we want. It’s a profound and lasting sense of peace and fulfillment that deeply satisfies and enlarges the soul. It doesn’t go away when circumstances are difficult. It survives and even grows during hardship and struggle. True happiness is our entire reason to live, and it can only be obtained as we find Real Love and share it with others. With Real Love, nothing else matters; without it, nothing else is enough.

Conditional Love

Sadly, few of us have sufficiently received or given Real Love. From the time we were small children, we observed that when we didn’t fight with our sisters, didn’t make too much noise in the car, got good grades, and were otherwise obedient and cooperative, our parents and others smiled at us, patted our heads, and spoke kindly. With their words and behavior, they told us what good boys and girls we were, and we felt loved.
But what happened when we did fight with our sisters, made too much noise, got bad grades, and dragged mud across the clean living room carpet? Did people smile at us then or speak gentle, loving words? No — they frowned, sighed with disappointment, and often spoke in harsh tones. Just as the positive behaviors of other people communicated to us that we were loved, we could interpret the withdrawal of those behaviors only as an indication that we were not being loved. Although it was unintentional, our parents and others taught us this terrible message: “When you’re good, I love you, but when you’re not, I don’t — or certainly I love you a great deal less.”
This conditional love can give us brief moments of satisfaction, but we’re still left with a huge hole in our souls, because only Real Love can make us genuinely happy. When someone is genuinely concerned about our happiness, we feel connected to that person. We feel included in his or her life, and in that instant we are no longer alone. Each moment of unconditional acceptance creates a living thread to the person who accepts us, and these threads weave a powerful bond that fills us with a genuine and lasting happiness. Nothing but Real Love can do that. In addition, when we know that even one person loves us unconditionally, we feel a connection to everyone else. We feel included in the family of all mankind, of which that one person is a part.
Without sufficient Real Love, we can only feel empty and alone, which is our greatest fear and source of pain.

ADDICTION: WHAT WE DO IN THE ABSENCE OF REAL LOVE

In the last section we discussed a new definition of addiction and learned that without sufficient Real Love in our lives, the pain and emptiness are intolerable. In order to eliminate or reduce these feelings, we’re willing to do almost anything. This desire to eliminate pain is the key to understanding the causes of addiction. When we find something that temporarily reduces the emptiness and pain of not having enough of that one element essential to our emotional health (Real Love), we pursue that temporary source of relief — that substance, person, feeling, or behavior — with great zeal, even desperation, and when that desperation leads us to regularly disregard the potentially negative social, psychological, and physical consequences of our pursuit, we have satisfied the definition of addiction.
Everything we use as a substitute for Real Love — to temporarily make us feel better in the absence of what we really need — becomes a form of Imitation Love, and all those substitutes fall into one or more of four categories: praise, power, pleasure, and safety.

Praise

In the absence of Real Love, we very much enjoy the acceptance and praise of others, and we’re generally willing to do a great deal to earn it. But therein lies the problem. We have to earn praise. We have to do what other people want us to do, so the approval they subsequently give us cannot feel as though it were given unconditionally. In short, the instant we do anything to get other people to like us in any way, we can’t feel genuinely loved.
In addition to praise being an ineffective substitute for Real Love, its effects are also annoyingly temporary. We’ve all had the experience of working hard to purchase a moment of acceptance, only to discover that the effects wear off with astonishing speed. Then we have to earn it again, and again, and again. In fact, the more we rely on praise, the faster the effects wear off.
We also have to work harder and harder for the same amount of praise. When you were four years old, for example, you could simply tie your shoes correctly and be rewarded with “Wow, you are so clever.” But you have to do a lot more than that to hear those same words now, don’t you? This continual earning of praise is exhausting.
We have also learned that greater quantities of praise are required to give us the same feelings of satisfaction. Where once the slightest nod of approval may have been fulfilling, eventually we require greater displays of acceptance, then applause, then printed notices in the newspaper. Ask most professional performers about their growing and often insatiable need for praise. Eventually, no amount of praise yields satisfaction.
It shouldn’t be difficult to see that the pattern we’ve described here for praise is exactly the same as for any addictive drug. Let’s make that comparison here. Any narcotics addict, for example, knows that when using his drug

• the initial effects are exciting.
• there is a sense of relief or excitement, but the feeling is never one of genuine fulfillment or peace or joy.
• the effects wear off, and with time they wear off more quickly.
• greater and greater quantities are required to achieve the same effect.
• he doesn’t care much about the social, physical, and emotional consequences of his drug use.

The addictions to praise and drugs share another important characteristic. While people are addicted to either “substance,” the intoxication and other effects are so distracting that the users cannot feel the effects of Real Love. They can’t feel loved, and that effect alone is deadly.
With the possible exception of the physical withdrawal seen in drug addiction, there is little to no difference between the addiction to drugs and the addiction to praise. It should also be emphasized — originally stated in the new definition of addiction — that the addictions to all other forms of Imitation Love follow the same patterns as those for drugs and praise, as described above. All addictions — to praise, power, pleasure, and safety — are essentially the same. They have the same characteristics, and in the end, they’re all capable of destroying our lives, because they destroy our ability to benefit from the Real Love that is essential to our emotional well-being.
In order for people to smile at us, compliment us, and want to spend time with us — all signs that they accept or “love” us — we’ve learned that we usually have to be talented, beautiful, wealthy, witty, cooperative, grateful, successful, or otherwise worthy of acceptance. That kind of acceptance is conditional, because all the signs of it — the smiles and kind words, for example — disappear when we make mistakes, inconvenience people, and fail to live up to the expectations of others.
Because the absence of Real Love is painful, however, we’re willing to do a lot to earn the approval that temporarily makes us feel good, even if it’s conditional. We make ourselves look good physically, for example, with exercise, clothing, makeup, starvation, and plastic surgery, all in the hope that someone will say, “You’re looking good.” We work hard to succeed at school and in our jobs in order to be complimented for our intelligence, creativity, and diligence.

Power

Although it’s mostly unintentional, any time we successfully manipulate or control someone, we’re enjoying a sensation of power over that person. We use money, authority, sex, flattery, and personal persuasion to influence, control, and even hurt people. When we control someone, we actually feel more connected to him or her in a brief, shallow way. It’s not Real Love, but when we control the people around us, we feel less powerless; we feel less of the emptiness and helplessness that are always associated with a lack of Real Love.

Pleasure

When we don’t feel unconditionally loved, we often use pleasure — food, sex, drugs, shopping, gambling, driving fast, and many forms of entertainment and excitement — to feel better temporarily. Certainly there’s nothing inherently wrong with pleasure, but when we compulsively seek it, we’re using it to fill a deep emptiness, and that pursuit easily becomes an addiction.

Safety

Without sufficient Real Love, we’re already experiencing an insufferable pain, and we’ll go to great lengths to keep ourselves safe from anything that might prolong or worsen our pain. To minimize painful disapproval, we stay away from unfamiliar situations, tasks, and relationships, and then we confuse that feeling of relative safety with real happiness. People who are chronically shy, for example, are addicted to safety. Alcohol and drugs are common avenues to diminish pain, yet another way to achieve safety.

The Broad Face of Addiction

We can become addicted to anything that diminishes the pain of not feeling loved, and that includes a broad range of “substances, people, feelings, and behaviors.” We can become addicted to

• alcohol, which gives us an obvious sensation of pleasure. More importantly, alcohol is a depressant that dulls the pain in our lives, most prominently the pain of not feeling loved. Dr. Baer relates that virtually every alcoholic he has known has resonated with the suggestion that relief of pain (safety) is the primary reason for his or her drinking. Many people also get a sensation of power from alcohol, because when intoxicated they feel a measure of freedom from their fears.
• drugs (same pleasure, power, and safety as from alcohol).
• sex (pleasure, praise, power).
• porn (pleasure, safety).
• food (pleasure).
• gambling (pleasure, praise, power).
• approval (praise, power, safety).
• the “love” compulsively derived from a single person (praise, power, pleasure, safety). Falling in love usually exemplifies this.
• controlling others (power, praise, safety).
• anger (power, safety).
• lying (safety).
• shopping (praise, power).
• running from relationships (safety).
• money (praise, power, pleasure, safety).

And this is an incomplete list. When we understand addiction in light of the insights above, the incidence of addiction in our society rises to well over 90%. 

HOW CAN I OVERCOME DRUG ADDICTION AND OTHER TYPES OF ADDICTION?

When we understand that addiction is a pathologic pursuit of anything that will reduce the pain in our lives, usually the pain of not feeling loved, the treatment of drug addiction becomes apparent.
As people learn to find Real Love — the single ingredient most important for happiness — their wounds begin to heal. They begin to find wholeness and genuine health. As the pain in their lives diminishes — and it uniformly does in the presence of Real Love — they simply lose the need to fill their emptiness with Imitation Love, which includes all the objects of addiction. People most effectively let go of their addictions not by willpower but because they have no need for them anymore.
This is far more than a theory. Thousands of people have now experienced the healing power of Real Love in their lives and have then experienced the freedom of being released from the chains of their addictions.

WHAT ABOUT ADDICTION RELAPSE?

The average rate of addicts going back to their addiction AFTER in-patient or out-patient treatment is 90-95%. Not very encouraging, is it?
Why do so many addicts go back to their addictions after experiencing a period of sobriety, where they learn a sense of freedom from the chains of their addiction? Both addicts and their families are sorely puzzled by this repetitive and seemingly insane behavior.
The explanation is easy: As we said earlier, addiction is a response to pain. Addicts use their addictive substance or behavior as a way of diminishing the pain of not feeling unconditionally loved, not feeling worthwhile, and not having a sense of peace and joy in their lives. If addiction treatment simply removes the addict from his addiction, treatment succeeds only in eliminating the addict’s ability to reduce his pain. The addiction is temporarily gone, but the pain remains, and THAT is a huge problem. The addict is sober but miserable.
If an addict is sober but in pain, he HAS to do something about the pain. We can’t tolerate untreated pain. So the addict either returns to his former addiction, or he finds a new one—switching from porn to alcohol, for example. The point of addiction treatment is NOT to become drug-free or porn-free. The goal of treatment is to give the addict the love he’s always been missing, so the old wounds can heal, and the pain can disappear. The goal is to treat the CAUSE of the wounds, not the SYMPTOMS.
When addicts feel unconditionally loved, the incidence of relapse is VERY low, and if there is a relapse, there is no shame, no sense of “starting all over from the bottom.” We simply love the addict again, and remind him of the love available. Then the desire to engage in addictive behaviors just disappears.

Source:  http://reallove.com/about-addiction/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwxLC9BRDb1dP8o7Op68IBEiQAwWggQCG-P3uoHnkfYc_fcD040nDiDOcJnzFix81G6Iey64YaAgrp8P8HAQ#addiction1

Marijuana: Effects of Weed on Brain and Body

Marijuana is a combination of shredded leaves, stems and flower buds of the Cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana can be smoked, eaten, vaporized, brewed and even taken topically, but most people smoke it.
The intoxicating chemical in marijuana is tetrahydracannabinol, or THC. According to research from the Potency Monitoring Project, the average THC content of marijuana has soared from less than 1 percent in 1972, to 3 to 4 percent in the 1990s, to nearly 13 percent today. The increased potency makes it difficult to determine the short- and long-term effects of marijuana

How cannabis is consumed

In a 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 17.4 million people in the United States said they had used marijuana in the past month. According to the survey, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. About 4 in 10 Americans have used marijuana at least once in their lives, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Marijuana is usually smoked, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The cannabis (called "pot," "weed," "grass," etc.) is typically spread on rolling papers and formed into a cigarette, often referred to as a joint, or a cigar-like blunt. Smoking releases the THC, which is absorbed into the blood stream through the lungs. Glass pipes, bubblers and bongs are other ways to smoke marijuana.
Marijuana can also be ingested in food, often a choice of those who are using medical marijuana. Aside from the popular “pot brownie,” edible marijuana can be added to a number of foods, including candy, ice cream and butter. Some states that have legalized marijuana have issued rules for packaging and labeling "marijuana edibles."
Cannabis can be taken in liquid form, by brewing it as a tea. It can also be added to other beverages, including soda, milk and alcohol. Hashish is a resin made of the concentrated plant material. Other forms include capsules, oral sprays and topical oils.
A relatively new method of inhaling marijuana is vaporization, a "smokeless" delivery system using devices such as e-cigarettes. By heating the cannabis at lower temperatures, the plant's oils or extracts are released. Several studies suggest that "vaping" is better for health than smoking pot. Vaporized marijuana contains little other than cannabinoids, according to a 2004 study in the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics. Users inhaled fewer toxic compounds and carbon monoxide when vaping compared with smoking marijuana, according to a 2007 study in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

How marijuana affects the mind

Marijuana reaches the same pleasure centers in the brain that are targeted by heroin, cocaine and alcohol.
Depending on the quantity, quality and method of consumption, marijuana can produce a feeling of euphoria — or high — by stimulating brain cells to release the chemical dopamine. When smoked or otherwise inhaled, the feeling of euphoria is almost immediate. When ingested in food, it takes much longer, even hours, for the drug to signal the brain to release the dopamine, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Other changes in mood can occur, with relaxation frequently being reported. Some users experience heightened sensory perception, with colors appearing more vivid and noises being louder. For some, marijuana can cause an altered perception of time and increased appetite, known as the “munchies.”
The impact can vary by person, how often they have used the drug, the strength of the drug and how often it has been since they have gotten high, among other factors.
Other effects, according to the NIH, include:

• Feelings of panic, anxiety and fear (paranoia)
• Hallucinations
• Increased heart rate
• Trouble concentrating
• Decreased ability to perform tasks that require coordination
• Decreased interest in completing tasks

When coming down from the high, users may feel depressed or extremely tired. While marijuana use produces a mellow experience (users are sometimes referred to as “stoners”) for some, it can heighten agitation, anxiety, insomnia and irritability, according to the NIH.

Marijuana and teens

When marijuana use begins in the teen years, it can have a significant impact on brain development, including decreased brain activity, fewer neural fibers in certain areas and a smaller than average hippocampus, which controls learning and memory functions.
According to a Northwestern Medicine study of teen marijuana users, memory-related structures in the brain appeared to shrink, a possible signs of a decrease in neurons.
These abnormalities remained two years after the teen stopped using marijuana, indicating that the drug has long-term effects and look similar to brains of schizophrenics.
Those who started using marijuana after 21 generally do not experience the same type of brain abnormalities as those who started using the drug earlier.
Long-term users report that they sometimes have trouble thinking clearly, organizing their thoughts, multitasking and remembering things. Sustained marijuana use can also slow reaction times in some individuals.

How marijuana affects the body

Marijuana smoke can cause many of the same respiratory problems experienced by tobacco smokers, such as increased daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses such as bronchitis, and a greater instance of lung infections, according to NIDA.
While it had been thought that there was a connection between marijuana smoking and increased risk of lung cancer, even those who are heavy marijuana users do not appear to be at greater risk for lung cancer, according to a 2013 study by Dr. Donald Tashkin, UCLA professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Marijuana can also raise heart rate by 20 percent to 100 percent shortly after smoking and the effect can last up to three hours, according to NIDA.
While it is widely thought that marijuana is not addictive, about 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana. Long-term marijuana users who try to quit experience cravings, irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite and anxiety — some of the same physical symptoms of those trying to quit other types of drugs or alcohol.
Several studies indicate that heavy marijuana use can lower the ability to fight infection and have an adverse impact on the immune system. Marijuana also can reduce sperm production in men and disrupts a woman’s menstrual cycle, according to NIDA.

Recent marijuana studies 

A 2016 study found a link between certain genetic markers and symptoms of marijuana addiction, suggesting that some people may have a genetic predisposition to marijuana addiction. That same study showed some overlap between the genetic risk factors for marijuana dependence and the genetic risk factors for depression, suggesting a possible reason why these two conditions often occur together, the researchers said.
This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to offer medical advice. 

Source: http://www.livescience.com/24558-marijuana-effects.html

Anxiety and Depression with Parkinson's Disease

When facing a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, it is understandable to feel anxious or depressed. But mood disorders such as anxiety and depression are real clinical symptoms of Parkinson’s, just as rigidity and tremor. In fact, at least half of all Parkinson’s patients may suffer from clinical depression at some point during the course of their disease, according to some estimates.

The good news: Over the past decade, researchers have placed increasing focus on investigating these aspects of the disease, and today we have a better understanding of how to treat mood disorders in Parkinson’s and increase quality of life.
On this page you’ll find up-to-date information from clinicians and researchers, as well as quotes from our Guide for the Newly Diagnosed, authored by Parkinson’s patients themselves as a resource for those just beginning their journey with Parkinson’s disease. We’ve also included various multimedia interviews with Dr. Irene Hegeman Richard, MD, of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and our Scientific Advisory Board, who has done extensive research into depression and Parkinson’s disease.

• How can I get help for depression or anxiety?
• What does the research tell us?

 How Can I Get Help for Depression or Anxiety?
“While depression and anxiety can be normal reactions to being diagnosed with a serious disease, clinical depression is real. These symptoms, if left untreated, are damaging at best and deadly at worst. Make sure you discuss depression and anxiety with your doctor. It is important to remember that clinical depression and anxiety are underdiagnosed in people with Parkinson’s and that they are symptoms of your disease, not character flaws.”
 
Depression can be seriously detrimental, and, for people with Parkinson’s, it can affect long-term outcomes for the worse by hindering critical elements of an overall treatment regimen such as staying socially connected, exercising to manage motor symptoms, or being proactive about seeking care.
Be on the lookout for a lack of enjoyment in activities and situations that once brought you joy. Also pay attention to observations made by family and friends because you or your physician may not always recognize the signs of depression and anxiety. In fact, your physician may not even ask you about these conditions if you don’t mention changes in mood or outlook.
Depression and anxiety can be treated with medications, lifestyle changes and therapy or counseling from a qualified practitioner. Support groups may also be source of help.

What Does the Research Tell Us?

“Even within the past decade, quality of life for Parkinson's patients has greatly improved. The prospects for the next five to 10 years are even better.” 

Researchers believe that depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s disease may be due to the underlying changes in brain chemistry and circuitry that are caused by the disease itself.  In fact, depression in Parkinson’s patients can start before motor symptoms even arise. The Michael J. Fox Foundation actively pursues research that can shed light on the connection between depression and Parkinson’s, and lead to treatment breakthroughs for everyone living with the disease.

The same pathways that create dopamine in the brain — which are impacted in Parkinson’s disease — also create the hormonal neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin regulates mood, appetite and sleep. If dopamine is like the motor oil to keep the body’s systems controlling movement running smoothly, then serotonin is like the motor oil for a person’s mood. Researchers hypothesize that the effect of Parkinson’s on this system is responsible for the clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety. The Foundation is supporting research to clarify this relationship.
In April 2012, the Study of Antidepressants in Parkinson's Disease (SAD-PD), the first major clinical study testing common antidepressants in people with Parkinson’s, found that some of these drugs can ease depression in Parkinson’s patients without aggravating motor symptoms.* Needless to say, work closely with your physician before adding any drug to your Parkinson’s treatment regimen.
“A Parkinson’s diagnosis, although life-altering, is not a death sentence. Symptoms will change over time, as will your attitude; no one should expect, nor should you expect from yourself, that this will be easy to deal with. But people with Parkinson’s and others alike should all value and make the most of every day. In a best-case scenario, a Parkinson’s diagnosis can become a real wake-up call: a chance to re-examine your priorities, and focus not on what you cannot do, but instead, on what you can.”
*A specific note on drug interactions: It is critical that patients with Parkinson’s disease educate themselves and work closely with their physicians and medical team to understand potential drug interactions between antidepressants and Parkinson’s treatments. The results of combining incompatible drugs can be serious.  

Source: https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?emotions-depression&navid=emotions-depression&smcid=ag-a30U0000000OWEc&s_src=Adwords&s_subsrc=adwords_depression&gclid=CJ-rm-Cbr84CFfIV0wod_KMC8w

Most of us see Irish society as hostile to mental health problems

SOME 65% OF us believe that being treated for a mental health problem is seen as a sign of failure in Irish society.
That’s the discouraging finding of a survey published by St Patrick’s Mental Health Services today, to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
Worryingly, more than half of those surveyed (53%) said they have worked with someone with a mental health difficulty, and yet one in five said they wouldn’t trust someone who had previously had a mental health problem.
Paul Gilligan, CEO of St Patricks, said the results of the survey were “very disappointing”, and indicated that despite recent progress in Ireland, stigma around mental health and depression still persists.

People that proactively seek and receive help are taking a courageous step on the road to recovery.

Irish society should encourage and support this.

While there are many mental health public awareness campaigns being run throughout Ireland, there is a need to tackle these misunderstandings and stigmatising attitudes, and this is best achieved through a concerted schools-based education campaign.

Some of the other findings of survey, conducted online by 506 adults aged 18-70:

• More women than men (28 vs 20%) report having been treated for a mental health issue
• More from the lowest income group in Ireland (household income under €20,000) report seeking mental health treatment (37%), as opposed to 22% from all other income groups.
• 58% say Irish people would not treat someone with a mental health problem the same as anyone else
• 54% say Irish people would willingly accept as a close friend someone with a mental health problem, and yet -
• 63% say they themselves have a close friend who has been treated for a mental health difficulty.
• 44% said a family member had previously been treated for a mental health difficulty
• 15% said they would not or might not want to live next door to someone with previous mental health problems
• 19% said they would or might be opposed to people with a previous mental health issue being allowed to take public office
• 32% said they would not or might not marry someone with previous mental health problems, even if they seemed to have fully recovered
• Exactly half said they would not or might not trust someone with previous mental health problems to be a babysitter

Source:  http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-society-stigma-mental-health-1664519-Sep2014/

Ten soldiers suing over malaria drug

At least 10 Irish soldiers who served in Chad and the Central African Republic are taking legal action over claims they developed serious side-effects as a consequence of taking the anti-malaria drug Lariam including depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies and paranoia.

The Department of Defence has set aside more than €6m this year to deal with compensation claims from serving and former members of the Defence Forces in relation to Lariam and other accidents and mishaps, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In the Dail, Defence Minister Alan Shatter confirmed that legal proceedings had begun in four claims against the Army over the use of the controversial drug. However, the Sunday Independent has learned that at least another six cases are in the pipeline.
Some of the soldiers in the process of initiating claims and who have reported suicidal thoughts are currently receiving counselling while others are being treated with anti-depressant medication, according to solicitor Killian Carty who is representing a number of the soldiers.

He told the Sunday Independent: "This is not an army deafness scenario or anything like it but there are a small number of soldiers who are affected. All were working in the malaria zone and all were given the anti-malarial drug Lariam. Most had done a number of tours overseas. As far as we can ascertain, they were not given an option about which anti-malarial drug they would take before embarking on a foreign tour of duty.
"They will say that they developed psychological problems after taking the drug. None had a previous history of problems and there was then a sudden onset of severe difficulties. Their behaviour changed. Some suffered night terrors and started displaying behaviour outside the norm. Some subsequently had the medication changed while they were still on active duty. Others did not," he added.

Lariam is authorised for use by the Irish Medicines Board. The Department of Defence said earlier this year that while some risks associated with its use were highlighted in drug safety bulletins in 1996 and 2003, the Irish Medicines Board remained of the view that the benefit-risk profile for the product remained acceptable.
The department says it takes a number of safeguards to protect soldiers, such as screening all personnel who received the drug for medical suitability. Members of the Defence Forces who have certain conditions, such as depression, anxiety and neuro-degenerative disorders, are not allowed to travel on duty overseas.

Source:  http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ten-soldiers-suing-over-malaria-drug-26860374.html

Forgiveness and Anxiety, Panic and Depression

Anxiety, panic and depression can be very debilitating. They drain our energy and make it more difficult to get on with life and do the things we need to. When severe, anxiety and depression can seriously cripple a person’s ability to lead a meaningful life.
Yet, it does not have to be this way. Forgiveness can help us be free of anxiety and depression and reduce the tendency to panic. At the very least Forgiveness can make it much easier for us to manage these issues.
How Forgiveness Helps
When we look at the causes of anxiety and depression our thinking processes are often part of the problem. Anxiety becomes habitual when we spend too much time having worrying and frightening thoughts. Our body then gets into very alert and vigilant state. This means our our body is being flooded with the types of hormones, which makes it even more likely that we will think anxious thoughts. By putting our nervous system on “alert” we tell our nervous system to look for those things which might go wrong (or are going wrong) and to not look for things that are going right. Our perspective becomes one-sided, and distorted towards the negative, without us even realising it.
Likewise thoughts of doom and gloom, such as feeling stuck in a situation with no way out or no hope for a better future can also become habitual. Such thoughts cause our body to be flooded with the types of hormones which make us feel sluggish, lacking in energy or enthusiasm and even more likely to have despairing and unhappy thoughts.
By giving us a way to change or interrupt our habitual thought patterns Forgiveness allows us to make radical positive changes. It helps us to cope with the things which we find worrying or fearful and it also helps us find hope and new possibilities in situations where we feel stuck. Yet Forgiveness can take us further than this – much further.
Practising Forgiveness
Forgiveness can produce deep and powerful changes in our attitudes, beliefs and in our thinking habits. It can set us free from the past so that we can not only face the future, we can go forward to create a better future. Forgiveness helps us break through the thought patterns which create fear, anxiety, depression and panic.
Practising Forgiveness helps flood our system with positive, life enhancing feelings. These positive feelings and the associated hormones make it easier to see and enjoy the good things in life. This in turn makes it easier to become even more forgiving. Forgiveness also makes it easier to feel like reaching out to other people – and reaching out to others is known to be one of the best ways to reduce stress and anxiety, and to help people move out of isolation and depression.
Handling Life Without Anxiety, Depression and Panic
What often feeds a sense of anxiety is a feeling of being overwhelmed and not able to handle life. What this boils down to is really a feeling of not being able to handle other people. It is usually the things which other people “might” do or say which make us anxious.
Likewise depression often comes from how we respond to other people’s behaviour. Perhaps someone has been rude to us, or said something unkind, or someone we depend on does not seem to like us or approve of us.  If we do not know how to manage our feelings about such events then these can build up till we feel hopeless and depression sets in.
Therefore, both anxiety and depression are often triggered by how well we cope with the demands, expectations and hopes of other people. However, there is more to it than that. The key to it is not so much what those people say to us when we don’t do what they want or expect; they key to it is really what we say to ourselves about it.
Forgiveness Protects Us from Other People’s Behaviour
What we need is something which can sit between us and other people, or situations, which cause us to feel anxious or depressed. This is what Forgiveness does. Forgiveness helps to protect us from the affect of other people’s behaviour.
We might feel anxious because we do not know how to handle someone behaviour towards us. We might feel worried that they will say something harsh or rude to us. However, as we learn Forgiveness we see that we have a way to handle them. We can forgive them and – just as important – we can forgive ourselves. Through Forgiveness we have a way of handling or coping with any situation.
We might feel depressed because we do not see a way out of a very difficult situation. As we learn to forgive we find that we do have a way out. By looking to how we can forgive the people around us and forgive ourselves for getting into that situation, our whole perspective begin to change. New possibilities, which we were blind to before, become really obvious and accessible as we learn to forgive.
Forgiveness Helps us Be Free of Fear
By learning how to forgive, we begin to discover that we have an inner freedom which we perhaps didn’t even know was there. It is that inner freedom which enables us to find happiness even in difficult situations. It is like we rise above circumstances and find an inner strength and new abilities to handle situations and to handle other people and their behaviour.
Through Forgiveness we start to lose a lot of our fear of other people and our fear of life. We begin to become kinder to ourselves and kinder to those around us. Does this cause them to behave differently towards us? Very often it does, but we have the inner strength and inner freedom that we do not need to rely on that. Our inner freedom liberates us from being a victim of circumstances and enables us to shape the ways in which we are affected by the people and events in our life.

Source:  http://globalforgivenessinitiative.com/articles/forgiveness-anxiety-panic-depression/?gclid=CjwKEAjw5vu8BRC8rIGNrqbPuSESJADG8RV0SbiGoLPpz9JPyCe7RsrEP3Wn_0w_SxlfOFDFg0jmaRoCU8rw_wcB