The Right Plans to Help Your Child Succeed In School With a Mental Health Condition

Written by Rachel Firster on September 28, 2022. Posted in Mental Health Maintenance, Step-By-Step Guides.

As a parent, you know that your child is capable of great things. But what if he or she has a mental health condition? That doesn’t mean that your child won’t be able to succeed in school, but it does mean that you need to partner with teachers, administrators, and other parents to help create the best possible learning environment for your child. The following tips will help:

Create a Support Network That Includes Your Child

Involve your child in the process. Parents often feel they should be the ones to help their children—and you are an important part of that support! Involving your child in solutions and plans can help them feel like they’re involved and have a voice, which will give them more incentive to stick with it.

Encourage involvement from other adults who are important in your child’s life. They don’t have to be mental health professionals or specialists. Perhaps there’s a teacher, coach, or mentor who is especially supportive of your child—invite them into the conversation as well!

Develop an Action Plan to Help Your Child at School

You should also develop an action plan to help your child at school. This plan will include ways you can help your child with their mental health condition in the classroom and how you can support the teachers and other staff who are working with them.

You should make sure that each of your children’s teachers is aware of the action plan that has been developed for them, as well as how they can best work with you to give your child the best experience possible. It is important to keep communication open between yourself and the school so that both parties are clear on what needs to happen when problems arise or if something doesn’t seem right with your child’s education.

Get on the Same Page as Your Child’s Teachers

One of the best ways to make sure your child is getting the education they deserve is to communicate with their teachers. This can be done in a few different ways:

Make sure you and your child’s teachers are on the same page by communicating in writing or over email regularly. Also, try to set up regular meetings with your child’s teachers so you can speak in person from time to time.

Talk about any issues or struggles that might have an impact on your child’s learning. For example, if your child has an anxiety disorder and feels uncomfortable speaking up in class, it might be best to communicate this when you meet with the teacher at conferences.

To ensure a successful learning environment for your child, also beware of any bullying that they could be experiencing, whether this is on school grounds or through social media. Children with mental health conditions can be more seriously impacted by bullies, and this may also inhibit them from performing well in school. Be sure to stay in touch with your child’s teachers about bullying and communicate with them if you notice signs of bullying outside of school or online.

Help Your Child Succeed in School

One thing you can do for your child is teaching them how to get organized and stay on top of their work. This helps them feel more confident about school, which will lead to better grades and fewer problems. You could also encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities that make them feel good about themselves because these kinds of activities help shield them against depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions that might be affecting your child from doing well at school or home life.

Another way you can help your child with homework is by helping them understand what they’re learning and why it matters so they’re more likely to retain information when studying for exams later down the road (and as we all know, retaining knowledge will make test-taking go much smoother).

One way you could do this would be by asking questions like “Why was it important for us all together as a class? Why did our teacher want us to learn this?” It may seem like overkill at first but trust me: once they start getting comfortable answering these types of questions confidently then everything else becomes easier!

Adapting for Success in the Classroom

A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. With that being said, it is important that children suffering from a mental health condition are cared for properly. Although mental health conditions are very serious illnesses, there are treatment options and lifestyle changes that can be made to allow for a better life.

As a parent, there are various ways to ensure that your child succeeds in school with a mental health condition, including the following:

Creating a support network that make your child feel safe and valued
Developing an action plan that is geared toward your child’s success
Communicating with your child’s teachers, coaches, and administrators
Helping your child to stay organized and on top of their schoolwork

Although you may worry sometimes, it is important to keep in mind that your child has the ability to succeed in school despite their mental health condition. With the right adaptations, techniques, and support, you can ensure your child’s success in the classroom.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

file cabinet containing files titled mental health, psychiatry, disorders, bipolar, depression, and anxiety

Myths About Mental Illness

Written by Rachel Firster on September 14, 2022. Posted in Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health Maintenance.

Mental illness is not a single condition, rather it is a broad term used to describe a variety of mental health conditions that affect people’s mood, thinking, behavior, and emotions. A mental illness diagnosis is essentially an indication of poor mental health. Mental illnesses include, but are not limited to:

Depression
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Schizophrenia
Psychosis
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Depression and anxiety (as well as other mental illnesses) are serious medical conditions that affect millions of people every year. One of the challenges that survivors and their allies tend to face today is misrepresentation, as well as misinformation and myths associated with mental illness. Knowing the truth about mental illness will help you understand what it really is and how best to support friends or family members who are struggling with their mental health.

Myth 1: People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.

Popular media portrayals of people suffering from mental illness have included ideas that these individuals are both violent and unpredictable. These mental health myths have led to fear and discrimination against people with various mental illnesses. The truth is, most people living with mental health conditions are not violent or dangerous at all. Although certain conditions can induce anger, those suffering from a mental illness are not any more likely to be violent than anybody else.

Myth 2: Mental illness is just laziness or weakness of character.

One of the most common misconceptions about mental illness is that people suffering from these conditions are just lazy or weak minded. Though, mental illnesses are not flaws in one’s character – they are illnesses and should be treated as such. Living with a mental illness does not mean that you cannot function, however, it may require some more effort and adaptiveness to live an independent and healthy lifestyle. It’s important to remember that no one chooses to become ill any more than they choose the color of their skin, so it is inappropriate to judge someone based on their mental health.

Myth 3: People with mental illness can totally control their emotions and choose to feel the way they do.

This is a dangerous myth about mental illness that leads many people to blame themselves or others for their symptoms. By placing blame on those living with a mental health condition, we end up stigmatizing the condition itself and alienating those who are living with it. This, in turn, causes many individuals to hesitate when it’s time to seek help. The fact is that mental illnesses like depression are often caused by an imbalance of chemicals in your brain, and these chemicals are out of your control. With that being said, people suffering from a mental illness have little to no control over their thoughts, feelings, or emotions.

Myth 4: Mental illness means serious dysfunction and disability.

While it’s true that some people with mental illnesses have difficulty functioning in day-to-day life, most individuals living with mental illnesses are capable of living very normal lives. In fact, if properly managed and treated, many people living with mental illnesses can become asymptomatic. While it’s true that some people who experience mental health problems have symptoms that are mild and manageable; others may deal with severe and disabling conditions.

Myth 5: If a person really wanted to, he or she could get better on their own.

One of the many myths associated with mental illness is that the condition will simply get better or go away over time. Though, mental health conditions are just as serious physical health conditions and should be treated properly by a professional. Mental health is a serious issue. It’s not something to be taken lightly and it’s not something that can be “fixed” simply by wishing it away. There are many different types of therapy available to those suffering from mental illness, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and even Ketamine Therapy. These therapies help patients understand their symptoms better and teach them how to cope with their condition more effectively to prevent relapse or worsening symptoms. Medication is another common tool used in treating mental illness; however, it may take some time to find the medication that works best for you and your mental health condition.

By dispelling some of the stigma and misconceptions about mental illness, those living with mental health conditions are more likely to reach out for the support they need and the resources they deserve to live a healthy and happy lifestyle. There’s no shame in seeking help for your mental health; it’s not something you can just “get over” by trying harder or ignoring it. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you’ll start feeling better—and that’s what matters most!

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

The Different Types of OCD and How To Treat Them

Written by Rachel Firster on August 24, 2022. Posted in Anxiety, Mental Health Maintenance.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that affects as many as one in 40 adults and one in 100 children. Someone who suffers from this illness might have regular thoughts or fears that interfere with their daily life.

While obsessive-compulsive disorder can be difficult to diagnose, it’s important to recognize the different types of obsessions and compulsions so you can get proper treatment if needed.

Obsessions: Obsessions are recurrent, unwanted ideas, images or impulses that cause anxiety or distress; these thoughts are unwarranted and not connected to any life event or situation (for example, concerns about contamination).
Compulsions: Compulsions refer to repetitive behaviors performed in response to an obsession; these behaviors bring temporary relief from discomfort caused by obsessions but they don’t actually reduce stress levels (for example, cleaning rituals).

It’s often a misunderstood condition, and many people don’t recognize the extent to which it can impact lives. But there are ways to get help alleviate symptoms of OCD with professional treatment and therapy. Here’s what you should know about the types of obsessive-compulsive disorder:

Checking

Checking is one of the many types of compulsions in OCD and can take many forms. Examples of checking include checking the locks on doors or windows; making sure that an appliance or light is turned off; checking to be sure you did not leave something burning on the stove; repeatedly washing your hands until they feel “just right.” Checking can help relieve anxiety or doubt by providing reassurance that something has been done properly or thoroughly.

Contamination / Mental Contamination

The fear of getting sick from germs is one of the different types of OCD obsessions, especially in children. It’s easy to understand why this phobia would be so prevalent: it’s hard to avoid getting sick when you’re exposed to sanitation-resistant bacteria and viruses all the time. The feeling of internal or mental dirtiness is called mental contamination. This type of OCD is usually characterized by the internal feeling of filth or dirtiness without experiencing any physical contamination and often leads to obsessive thoughts about harming oneself or others.

Intolerance of Uncertainty

People with intolerance of uncertainty often have difficulty making decisions and tend to avoid them, which can lead to problems in planning and organizing. They may also worry about the future, the past, or even the present. For example, someone who is overwhelmed with doubt about whether they should flip a coin will be unable to make any decision as a result. This can prevent someone suffering with OCD from doing things that seem simple to the average person, such as daily rituals like getting out of bed in the morning or brushing your teeth.

Hoarding

Hoarding is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that involves the accumulation of items, often of little value. Hoarding can result in unsafe living conditions and may be a symptom of other mental health issues. A person who hoards may also be reluctant to throw away possessions because they feel it will make them miss important memories or experiences associated with those items. In reality, this just means that your home is too full for you to live comfortably and safely as well as maintain good relationships with others close to you.

Violent or Disturbing Thoughts

Some people suffering with OCD may have thoughts about harming themselves or others, while others may be concerned about committing a crime. Thoughts like these are considered very common in the general population and do not mean someone has any desire to act on them. In fact, most people suffering from types of OCD find these kinds of thoughts both intrusive and disturbing, and have no desire to actually act them out.

Counting Rituals

Counting rituals are one of the more common types of OCD. People with counting rituals may have to count things repeatedly, or they may have to count things in multiples of 3 or 4. Some people with counting rituals may have to count things in multiples of 5 or 6.

Repeating What Is Said or Done

Repetitive behaviors are a common symptom of OCD. You might constantly check the stove to make sure it’s turned off, or you might wash your hands until they are red and raw. These repetitive behaviors can be as simple as touching something or counting things repeatedly—or they can be more complex. These compulsions usually start out as small rituals that go largely unnoticed, but over time they become so ingrained in your daily life that you feel like you have no control over them at all. You may not even realize how much time you spend on these types of compulsions until someone points it out to you.

Hiding and Organizing

Many people with OCD have a compulsion to hide, organize or collect things in an effort to prevent harm from coming to them or others. For example, someone with this form of OCD might hoard food because they believe that if they don’t store it properly then food poisoning will result. People may also have repetitive thoughts about symmetry and order, such as an obsession with arranging items on desks or tables perfectly straight.

If you have OCD, you’ll usually try to avoid situations that trigger your symptoms. For example, if you have a fear of germs and contamination, you might avoid touching doorknobs at work or school because you feel that it might make your hands dirty. If this happens often enough, your avoidant behavior can become a problem in itself—in other words, it can become part of your OCD symptoms.

Although trying not to think about something is hard work and may seem impossible at first glance, there are some things that can help:

Try distracting yourself with other activities like listening to music or watching TV when an intrusive thought comes up. This might be easier said than done but give it a shot!
Talk to a mental health professional and explore possible treatment options available to you.

If you have intrusive thoughts or are experiencing different types of obsessions and compulsions, it’s important to talk with a doctor about them. With proper treatment, you can learn how to manage your symptoms and get on with your life.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Treating Depression with Mushrooms: What You Need to Know

Written by W. Nate Upshaw M.D. on November 19, 2021. Posted in Depression, Mental Health Maintenance.

Although people have used psilocybin mushrooms ceremonially and recreationally for centuries, they’ve garnered new attention from researchers and mental health professionals as a possible treatment for depression and other psychological disorders.

It was the recent success of ketamine, a hallucinogenic anesthetic, as a safe, effective treatment for depression that prompted new studies into using mushrooms to treat depression. These new studies were permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the purpose of testing the usefulness of the chemical compound psilocybin in the treatment of depression.

What Are “Mushrooms?”

Psilocybin mushrooms refers to several species of mushrooms that contain a chemical called psilocybin. It’s psilocybin that gives mushrooms both hallucinogenic effects and therapeutic benefits for treating depression. People also report feelings of increased calmness, even tranquility, when under the influence of mushrooms.

In an exploratory study published in April 2021, psilocybin was found to be four times more effective than common antidepressants, as well as working about four times more rapidly.

Another study showed mushrooms to be as effective in relieving depression as escitalopram (Lexapro), a popular antidepressant. Patients made a far more rapid improvement from depression than they did with escitalopram. Furthermore, 6 weeks later, those treated with psilocybin reported increased feelings of well-being and better emotional control.

Other research conducted by the prestigious Johns-Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research showed similar effects.

How Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Work?

Our brains are reliant on complex arrangements of nerve cells that signal each other using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Other brain cells called astrocytes produce hormones that affect blood flow in the brain, which in turn regulates activity levels. These two systems work together to make sure our thinking, behaving, and feeling are all in agreement—except when they’re not working well.

Psilocybin found in mushrooms briefly interrupts the brain’s activities causing a kind of “reset,” which results in better nerve signaling and communication, more normal levels of neurotransmitters, and improved blood flow to underactive areas of the brain.

Pros and Cons of Treating Depression with Mushrooms

As with all interventions in health, there are benefits and drawbacks to treating depression with psilocybin. As formal, standardized research has been observed for less than 10 years, a comprehensive pros-and-cons profile hasn’t been developed yet. Here’s where things stand now:

Pros:

Rapid response of a few hours to a week. In contrast, oral antidepressants may take up to 4 weeks to show results, especially in people with treatment-resistant depression.
Resets the brain’s natural chemical balances, restoring neurotransmitter levels.
Psilocybin provides long-lasting relief. Two doses of psilocybin gave study participants a month of relief from their symptoms of depression. In some patients, only a single dose was needed to give four weeks of relief.
Psilocybin is not addictive.
Psilocybin is safe when administered in a controlled clinical setting.
Psilocybin derived from mushrooms can relieve anxiety, even chronic anxiety that typically accompanies depression.

Cons:

There is limited access to psilocybin. In the United States, these types of mushrooms are a Schedule I drug and thus illegal, except when they’re used in FDA-approved research.
Psilocybin doesn’t produce long-lasting side effects. However, hallucinations are the most common side-effect. Although they can be very pleasant, they may also be frightening or distressing. They fade within hours of administration, but they can be confusing.

The Clinical Experience

Being treated for depression with psilocybin is drastically different from recreational use. In a mental health clinic, a person receives a purified, refined form of psilocybin. It’s administered in a controlled environment under the care of medical professionals to ensure that the treatment will be safe and effective.

Treatment for Depression

Since 2008, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been used as a rapid, painless, and non-invasive treatment for depression. In TMS, a powerful and precise magnetic field is applied to an area of the brain that regulates mood. Many people experience no side effects and receive lasting relief from depression through TMS.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Works Cited

Carhart-Harris, PhD , D. R. L., Bolstridge, MD, M., Rucker, MD, J., Day, MD, C. M. J., Erritzoe, MD, D., & Kaelen, BSc, M. (2016, May 16). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(16)30065-7/fulltext#articleInformation

Carhart-Harris, R.L., Bolstridge, M., Day, C.M.J. et al. Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology 235, 399–408 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x

Davis, A. K. (2021, May 1). Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on major depressive disorder. JAMA Psychiatry. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2772630?resultClick=1.

Gander, K. (2018, August 23). FDA approves magic Mushrooms depression drug trial. Newsweek. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.newsweek.com/fda-approves-psychedelic-magic-mushrooms-ingredient-psilocybin-depression-1086759.

George, M., Wassermann, E., Williams, W., Callahan, A., Ketter, T., & Basser, P. (1995, October 2). Daily repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves mood in depression. Retrieved from https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00001756-199510020-00008

Hatfield, R. C. (2019, December 12). Effects of Psilocybin Mushrooms: Hallucinogenic Shrooms. Retrieved from https://drugabuse.com/psilocybin-mushrooms/effects-use/

MacVicar, B. A., & Newman, E. A. (2015). Astrocyte regulation of blood flow in the brain. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, 7(5), a020388. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a020388

O’Hare, R. (2017, October 13). Magic mushrooms may ‘reset’ the brains of depressed Patients: IMPERIAL News: Imperial College London. Imperial News. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/182410/magic-mushrooms-reset-brains-depressed-patients/.

Nichols, D.E. Psilocybin: from ancient magic to modern medicine. J Antibiot 73, 679–686 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-020-0311-8

Ross, S., Bossis, A., Guss, J., Agin-Liebes, G., Malone, T., Cohen, B., Mennenga, S. E., Belser, A., Kalliontzi, K., Babb, J., Su, Z., Corby, P., & Schmidt, B. L. (2016). Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 30(12), 1165–1180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675512

Serafini, G., Howland, R. H., Rovedi, F., Girardi, P., & Amore, M. (2014). The role of ketamine in treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review. Current neuropharmacology, 12(5), 444–461. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X12666140619204251

Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S. L., Andersson, G., Beekman, A. T., & III, C. F. R. (2014, July 1). Adding Psychotherapy to Antidepressant Medication in Depression and Anxiety Disorders: a Meta-Analysis. Retrieved from https://focus.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.focus.12.3.347

van Amsterdam, J., Opperhuizen, A., & van den Brink, W. (2011, April). Harm potential of magic mushroom use: a review. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21256914

upset man at work laying his head down on his laptop

Quitting Your Job for Mental Health Reasons

Written by W. Nate Upshaw M.D. on November 12, 2021. Posted in Mental Health Maintenance, Work Life Balance.

About 20 percent of American adults live with a diagnosable mental illness, which can make a stressful work environment even harder to cope with. The dividing line between psychological problems causing issues at work and the work environment itself leading to diminished mental health is a thin, sometimes non-existent, barrier.

Consider that Americans spend a quarter of their time every year at work and when things are bad at work, things can get bad in all areas of a person’s life. Our jobs have a huge impact on our psychological well-being and given that we’re engaged in work-related activities so much of the time, it’s not surprising that most of us have thought about quitting a high-stress job for mental health reasons.

Our psychological state can make work problems worse, but it’s also the case that hard times at our work can cause anxiety and aggravate depression. Because our mental health and happiness at the workplace are intertwined so deeply, it’s important to investigate whether our depression or anxiety is arising solely from the workplace, or if perhaps we’re experiencing mental health issues that are independent of our jobs.

For over 80 percent of employees, stress coming from the workplace is significant and leads to impairments in their quality of life, which ultimately impacts their quality of work. For many, a job is their most significant psychological stressor, which impacts other aspects of their lives leading to tension and unhappiness in all other areas. It’s no wonder that for many, quitting may become a reasonable way to improve their mental health.

Here’s a look at some good reasons to quit your job for mental health reasons.

How to Know When It’s Time to Leave

These are some of the more extreme and cut-and-dried situations in which quitting one’s job is an easier decision.

Your mental health is suffering. If you’ve been diagnosed with a psychological disorder such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder and your symptoms are worsening, it’s crucial to get therapeutic help as soon as possible. Increased stress and impaired sleep are well-known to aggravate psychiatric disorders, and can prompt manic episodes in bipolar disorder.
You’re ruminating daily. Rumination involves replaying negative events over and over, essentially dwelling on the worst parts of your day. Rumination might seem like a helpful practice, but it’s not real self-reflection. Rumination always begins to feed on the negativity of bad situations and feeds depression and anxiety.
You despise the idea of going to work. If you loathe the very idea of your workplace, it might be time to make a change.
Your work environment is toxic. Some workplaces have a few toxic employees who sour the whole work experience, but other times, work environments are abusive and exploitative. If you’re in one of those situations or suffering harassment of any sort, staying in your job may be neither desirable nor possible.
You have no time for anything but work. Even at home, you’re thinking about work, even though you get no happiness or satisfaction from it.
Work makes unreasonable or uncompensated demands on your time. Is it always your turn to be on call? Are you salaried and rarely, if ever, allowed to recoup your time? A work-home imbalance is one of the most typical reasons people leave a job for their mental health.

Dealing With Work Stress and Keeping Your Job

If you’ve already been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or any other mental health condition, before you give your two-weeks’ notice, check with your company’s HR department to see if an Employee Assistance Program is available to you. An EAP assists employees with getting the help they need by working with a therapist or other mental healthcare specialist.

Even if you don’t have a diagnosed mental health issue, you can still use your company’s EAP to get help from a professional. If you’re stressed, feeling depressed, or experiencing anxiety but want to stay at your job, psychotherapy can help. Talk therapy can help you learn new ways to cope with stressful situations and manage them more effectively while getting more satisfaction out of life.

How TMS Therapy Can Treat Your Mental Health Needs

Another effective, clinic-based treatment is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Since 2008, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been approved by the FDA as a non-invasive treatment for depression, certain anxiety disorders such as OCD, and other mental health conditions. It’s covered by most insurers and doesn’t require hospitalization or any kind of invasive procedure. If you receive employee insurance benefits from your employer, you may already qualify for TMS treatment.

TMS uses a powerful and precise magnetic field to gently stimulate areas of the brain that regulate mood. It’s a medication-free approach to treatment for depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other psychological disorders. There are no systemic side-effects to TMS.

For patients who are not covered by insurance, we offer cash pay protocols and have the ability to offer financing.

NeuroSpa TMS recently rolled out a personalized VIP program, providing full, comprehensive care for patients who are undergoing treatment. These patients have access to elements other TMS Therapy facilities may not provide. Our offerings include: traditional TMS Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Nutritional Counseling, Blood Work, Sleep Evaluation, Functional MRI Targeting and Ketamine Treatment.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Works Cited

Depression statistics. (2019, July 12). Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/depression/statistics/

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, February 16). Bipolar disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 6, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/

Mental health by the numbers. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/mhstats

Milenkovic, M. (2019, September 23). Journal of Workplace Stress. Retrieved October 6, 2021, from https://www.stress.org/42-worrying-workplace-stress-statistics.

Wang JL, Lesage A, Schmitz N, et al. The relationship between work stress and mental disorders in men and women: findings from a population-based study. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2008; 62:42-47

Who Can I Talk to About My Mental Health

Written by W. Nate Upshaw M.D. on October 12, 2021. Posted in Mental Health Maintenance, Step-By-Step Guides, Uncategorized.

Depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety are common mental health disorders around the world and in the U.S. About 51 million US adults will experience a mental illness in any given year, while 13 million Americans suffer from a severe mental illness. These disorders wreak havoc on our emotions, our thoughts, and our behaviors. Having a psychological disorder can be lonely and isolating, and the thought of reaching out to another person may be terrifying. After all, mental illness still carries some stigma with it, even though so many live with it.

When troubled, our instinct is to turn to someone we know well, someone who has positive regard for us. That’s not always possible, and even in situations where you can turn to a friend or loved one, chances are they’ll be able to offer emotional support, but not professional assistance that can reduce your problems in the long term.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reach out to those closest to you if you can. Having a strong support system is one of the most important parts of recovery from psychological disorders.

However, psychological disorders can be professionally treated so effectively that a person’s symptoms become much less harmful and far less intrusive. This requires the services of a professional.

Choosing Someone to Talk to About Your Mental Health

Talking about your mental health is the first step in getting the help you need. When choosing someone to talk to, you can pick someone you know, a mental healthcare professional, or both. Additionally, there are resources on the internet that can provide assistance, as well as helping you get in touch with people who can help.

Tips for Talking to a Loved One about Your Mental Health

When you choose someone in your life to talk to concerning your mental health, consider these hints.

- Select an appropriate time. Choose a time when you and your trusted person will have enough quiet time to discuss the issues.
- Plan what you want to say. If necessary, write notes you can look at when you have the conversation.
- Think about what your needs are. Do you want to be validated and reassured, or do you need something more involved?
- You may not get the reaction you need, so be prepared to choose another person. People often don’t know what to say and jump right into trying to solve your problems. Others might lack any useful context in which to respond. The important thing is that you reach out and let someone know what’s going on with you.

If you don’t get what you need from the conversation, pick someone else and try again.

Talking to a Mental Healthcare Professional

A mental healthcare professional can offer a high level of confidentiality and expertise. But who counts as a mental health professional? Typically, counselors and psychotherapists spring to mind, as do psychologists and psychiatrists. Some social workers and psychiatric nurses are also licensed to provide mental health therapy.

Psychotherapists usually have at least a master’s degree and are licensed in counseling, psychotherapy, or other psychiatric services. Psychologists must have at least a doctoral degree, and a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner will have a medical degree.

All mental healthcare providers will be licensed to do so.

They can help you:

Learn coping skills to help deal with anxiety, depression, and stress more effectively.
Better understand what causes, maintains, and worsens your symptoms.
Reduce, manage, or eliminate your symptoms.
Learn to communicate better with other people, establish healthy boundaries, and get your needs met.

Finding Mental Health Help Today

There are many resources on the internet, but here are some of the most reliable.

Medicare offers lists of participating professionals on its website.
Your local Medicaid office will be able to provide you with a list of Medicaid-approved providers in your area.
Your family doctor can give you a referral to a counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
Your insurance company or ACA Exchange can provide a list of affordable or pro bono mental healthcare providers in your area
Eligible veterans can get care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Your county or parish health community mental health center provides low to no-cost treatment and services on a sliding scale based on income.
For issues relating to substance abuse or alcoholism and mental health, check out the affordable mental health services found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you’re employed, your company may have an employee assistance program (EAP). These programs usually provide resources for getting help. Sometimes initial visits to a therapist are covered through the EAP with no cost to the employee.

Online Mental Health Resources

MentalHealth.gov is a government-based resource for all mental illnesses, including online and in-person resources. It’s free to access.
Daily Strength is a peer-based online forum and support group for anxiety.
Turn2Me provides free online support groups for depression, anxiety, and stress. Turn2Me is free and allows you to set up an appointment with a mental health professional.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) The National Association of Mental Illness is a resource hub for support and assistance with psychological disorders. They provide access to national and local resources for those needing help with mental health issues.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, July 20). People Seeking Help: Free and Confidential Resources. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 2, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/tools-resources/individuals/index.htm.

Depression statistics. (2019, July 12). Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/depression/statistics/

Mental health by the numbers. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/mhstats

Understanding Psychotherapy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2020, from https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/understanding-psychotherapy

It’s Time to Stop Joking About Mental Health

Written by W. Nate Upshaw M.D. on October 7, 2021. Posted in Mental Health Maintenance.

Mental health has always been fertile ground for cruel humor, but while mental health memes may be all over the internet, mental health is nothing to joke about and neither are mental disorders. They can be devastating, blighting lives and ruining futures. They’re also far from rare. Psychological disorders are common in the US, affecting over 55 million adults and nearly 8 million adolescents and children under 17.

Yet less than half of all people with a diagnosable mental health issue get the help they need. In part, this is due to the stigma that still remains about mental illness. Although that stigma has lessened over the last few decades, it’s still potent enough to deter people from getting the help they need.

This stigma is in part sustained by the use of mental illness as fodder for jokes, which perpetuates prejudice against people who have these issues. Mental health is also trivialized by daily slang and poor use of language that associates minor conditions with mental illness.

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness is a condition that impairs the way people behave, think, and experience emotions. It is a medical disorder that develops from irregularities in the way nerves in the brain communicate with each other. There are many types of mental illness, but the most common broad categories include anxiety disorders, depression and its related disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Language Affects How We Think About Mental Health

The way we use language does more than allow us to communicate. Language shapes the way we think and thus has a controlling effect on behavior. When we use slangy, joking speech to discuss something that’s serious, we run the risk of demeaning the subject or minimizing the very real problems it causes. The harm is made far worse when people who aren’t affected by mental health conditions use humor to demean those who must struggle with such disorders daily.

Making jokes about mental health doesn’t make people feel more comfortable about it. It doesn’t open the door for earnest conversation and communication about the problems people have. Joking about mental health leads to making people feel worse and more alone.

Even when no cruelty is intended, humor is profoundly subjective and can easily be taken the wrong way, especially when it’s on a topic people have no control over.

The following are typical ways people joke about mental health or diminish its impact.

Using Mental Health Terms for Casual References

Mental health terms, such as the names of pathologies and illnesses, get much too overused in our day to day lives. When people say things like “I’m so OCD,” which is a common throwaway phrase to describe a preference for neatness, they equate the real disorder with a mere behavioral habit. Unless a person has overwhelming anxiety that can’t be controlled except by carrying out ritualized and harmful behavior, they’re not burdened with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. OCD is a devastating mental health condition that can’t be controlled without professional mental health assistance.

Other examples include using mental health diagnoses as insults for people we don’t like or disagree with, such as “That politician is psychotic,” or “My boss is a schizo.”

Using these kinds of careless phrases demeans people with real mental health problems and trivializes the disorder by comparing it to a behavioral quirk.

Labeling Someone Based on Their Mental Health Condition

When we refer to someone as “a bipolar,” or “a schizophrenic,” we place the illness first and the individual second. The whole person is dehumanized and becomes nothing more than their illness. A mental illness is only one part of a person, and it’s not the largest aspect. A better way to speak is to put the person first by saying “an individual with schizophrenia,” or “a person with bipolar disorder.”

Engaging in Stereotypes About Mental Health

People with psychological conditions are portrayed in the media as wild-eyed eccentrics who are scary, dangerous, even violent. Disorders like schizophrenia and Dissociative-Personality Disorder are greatly distorted for the sake of drama on TV and in movies, while the reality is actually very different.

If you’ve struggled with mental health and are looking for a brighter mood, consider treatment at NeuroSpa TMS. Since 2008, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been approved by the FDA as a non-invasive treatment for depression, certain anxiety disorders such as OCD, and other mental health conditions.

NeuroSpa also offers TMS PlusTM Therapy, which includes traditional TMS Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Nutritional Counseling, Blood Work, Sleep Evaluation and Functional MRI Targeting.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Work Cited

Corrigan, P. W., & Watson, A. C. (2002). Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 1(1), 16–20.

Depression statistics. (2019, July 12). Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/depression/statistics/

Mental health by the numbers. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/mhstats

Whitney DG, Peterson MD. US National and State-Level Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders and Disparities of Mental Health Care Use in Children. JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(4):389–391. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5399

Rose, D., Thornicroft, G., Pinfold, V., & Kassam, A. (2007). 250 labels used to stigmatise people with mental illness. BMC health services research, 7, 97. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-7-97

girl with psychosis seeing double of herself

Are You Experiencing Psychosis?

Written by W. Nate Upshaw M.D. on July 30, 2021. Posted in Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health Maintenance.

Psychosis is a psychological condition in which a person loses touch with reality. Psychosis isn’t an illness of its own; rather, it’s a syndrome made of symptoms of an underlying disorder. The symptoms of psychosis and the conditions causing it both require treatment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEnEohiBqO0

Psychosis isn’t uncommon. About 3 percent of all Americans will experience at least one psychotic episode in their lifetimes. An episode of psychosis can be caused by a medical disorder, mental illness, drug abuse, or toxic chemicals. Psychosis can be acute, a single event, or can be chronic, coming and going for years. Psychosis is always a serious condition that disrupts a person’s ability to live a satisfying life.

Identifying Psychosis

These are some of the most common early warning signs that psychosis is developing.

You’re sure you’re being spied on or followed.
You think there might be a conspiracy to harm you.
Your thoughts seem disjointed and it’s harder to form a clear thought.
Your daily, familiar environment feels threatening or strange.
You’ve felt like your thoughts were not your own, or that your thoughts were being controlled.
You’ve been going off-topic and rambling to an unusual degree when trying to speak with others.
You hear distant hissing, clapping, or whispering that’s not due to your environment or a disorder like tinnitus.
You’re hearing voices or seeing things you can’t be sure are real.
You question whether or not you’re real.
You feel unusually mistrustful of people you normally feel comfortable with.

Some of the early warning signs of psychosis are the same as those of other psychological disorders. People experiencing psychosis for the first time usually know something’s wrong, but many won’t seek help for fear of being stigmatized or judged.

Early Psychosis

First-episode psychosis, also called early psychosis, is a person’s first episode of feeling disconnected, or losing touch with reality. Some of the early warning signs of psychosis include:

Withdrawal from family and friends
An unusual drop in grades or work performance

Marked decline in personal hygiene
Withdrawal from others, unusual self-isolating behavior
Seeing or hearing things that aren’t real (hallucinations)

Strong belief in bizarre things that are untrue (a belief the individual is being watched or spied on is common)
Increased paranoia, fear that others mean to harm them
Strong, inappropriate emotions or having no feelings at all

The hallmark symptoms of psychosis are hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations involve hearing, feeling, or seeing things that aren’t present. These hallucinations are usually negative; that is, they seem harmful, hurtful, or dangerous.

Auditory hallucinations often involve hearing voices. These “voices” may denigrate or insult the person, or even give the person instructions to carry out actions.
Visual hallucinations may look extremely detailed and fully formed or might only look like colored dots or spheres.

Delusions are powerfully held beliefs or ideas that are patently false and irrational. A person suffering from a delusion will insist that it is true even when presented with overwhelming evidence that it is not. Common delusions in psychosis are:

Paranoid or persecutory. A person believes others are planning to harm them, plotting against them, or conspiring against them. Delusions of betrayal by a loved one are also common.
Thought control. The individual believes an outside entity is controlling their thoughts, even their behaviors, or that others can hear their thoughts.
Grandiosity. Delusions of grandeur involve a person thinking they’re uniquely chosen for a mission, supremely unique, on a mission from God, or even believing they are god themselves.

Psychosis deeply affects the way a person interprets information from the environment. In time, it distorts our internal narratives, which are the stories we tell ourselves that helps us frame the world and our place in it.

Causes of Psychosis

Psychosis is sometimes a part of disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. Extreme trauma can also lead to psychosis, which is common to a class of psychological disorders, fittingly called the psychotic disorders.

Exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to psychosis, as can drug abuse, but psychosis is most commonly found in schizophrenia and related disorders. In fact, psychosis is a distinguishing feature of schizophrenia.

Treatment of Psychosis

The acute phase of psychosis must be treated first. A person can’t get any benefit from other modes of treatment when they are actively psychotic. Medication therapy is ideal for stabilizing acute psychosis.

Over the last twenty years many new antipsychotics have been developed that are more effective and have fewer side-effects than the antipsychotics of the 20th century. These include:

Vraylar (cariprazine)
Latuda (lurasidone)
Risperdal (risperidone)
Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Invega (2009)

Treating psychosis as close to its onset as possible is the best approach to recovery. As is the case for many psychological disorders, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is the most effective treatment approach that produces long-term remission of psychosis.

Psychotherapy for Psychosis

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a useful type of therapy that examines how a person’s thoughts and feelings about situations molds our reactions and behaviors. A form of CBT, CBT for psychosis (CBTp) has been developed to help people de-escalate the fear and anxiety that comes from hallucinations.

The goal of CBTp isn’t to teach a person how to determine what’s real or not—after all, if a person were able to determine that, they wouldn’t be psychotic. CBTp helps people identify hallucinations as part of their disorder and not something to be acted on or feared.

An Effective Depression Treatment: TMS Therapy

Newer and highly effective treatments for psychological disorders are becoming available. One such treatment for depression and depression related anxiety is TMS Therapy, also known as, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This form of treatment uses magnetic fields to precisely stimulate areas of the brain that are responsible for a person’s mood. TMS is FDA-approved for the treatment of Major Depression Disorder, produces no systemic side effects and is a medication-free treatment. TMS is eligible for coverage by most major health insurers, such as Medicare and Tri-Care.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Works Cited

Kiran C, Chaudhury S. Understanding delusions. Ind Psychiatry J. 2009;18(1):3-18. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.57851

Loewy, Rachel L., et al. (2011). Psychosis risk screening with the Prodromal Questionnaire—Brief Version (PQ-B). Schizophrenia research 12(1) pp. 42-46.

Miller, C. (2019, September 30). How does cbt help people with psychosis? Retrieved July 25, 2021, from https://childmind.org/article/cbt-help-people-psychosis/

The National Alliance on Mental Health: Psychosis. (2021, July 14). Retrieved July 14, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Psychosis

World Health Organization: Schizophrenia. (2019, October 4). Retrieved July 24, 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia

depressed man with head in hands with an open bottle of antidepressants in front of him

What is the Best Treatment Option for Depression?

Written by W. Nate Upshaw M.D. on July 21, 2021. Posted in Depression, Mental Health Maintenance.

Depression is a debilitating psychological disorder that affects over 17 million US adults every year. Characterized by disturbances in a person’s emotions, behavior, and thinking, depression drains all joy from life and leaves a person with either a near-total numbness or unrelenting, profound sadness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_hcITwnvs4

The best treatment option for depression must be tailored to the unique needs of the individual. There are many kinds of depression and while treatment usually consists of medication, psychotherapy, or both, it’s important to understand a little bit about depression as a disorder.

Consider these common forms of depression:

Major depressive disorder (MDD).
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
Bipolar disorder
Situational depression
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Perinatal Depression (postpartum depression)
Atypical depression

The Biological Aspects of Depression

Depression can be the result of a person’s genetic history, their early childhood experiences, general health, social and economic factors, as well as their biology. Depression can follow a traumatic life event, such as the death of a loved one, or it may arise seemingly out of nowhere.

However, in many circumstances, there is commonality among the kinds of depression a person might experience based on the level of a person’s biology. The exact causes of depression are not completely known, but researchers believe that in some cases, depression results from changes in the way brain cells communicate with each other.

Our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are formed from living circuits of brain tissue. Within these, the nerves rely on complex chemicals called neurotransmitters to signal each other. Correct signaling depends on just the right level of neurotransmitters. If something goes wrong with these levels of neurotransmitters, depression and other psychological issues are the result. Researchers also believe there are other factors influencing a person’s chances of developing depression, like hormones and a person’s genetic inheritance.

For most people who suffer from moderate to severe depression, antidepressant medications are effective at relieving the severity of depression symptoms, which is why they’re a good first-line treatment for depression.

Medical Approaches to Depression

A mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, can help evaluate whether you need medication, therapy, or both. Typically, the first-line treatment of moderate to severe depression includes a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Mild depression may sometimes be treated with monotherapy—medication or therapy alone.

Antidepressant Therapy

There are 60 known neurotransmitters, so finding the right antidepressant for a person’s depression may not happen on the first try. Antidepressant medications work by causing specific neurotransmitters to stay available to brain tissue longer, giving them more time to work.

This action is effective in treating depression, as people with depression or anxiety tend to eliminate neurotransmitters too rapidly from the brain tissues that need them.

Most antidepressants developed in the past 25 years work to increase levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, or both.

The following are two of the major types of antidepressant medications-

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are the most common first-line medications prescribed for major depression. SSRIs work by causing serotonin, a vital neurotransmitter, to stay in brain tissue longer than it otherwise would. This allows more serotonin to be available to nerves. Examples of SSRIs include:

- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs operate primarily on the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, but they also affect serotonin. Examples of SNRIs include:

- Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
- Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
- Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

Tricyclic antidepressants. These medications are an older type of antidepressant and work similarly to SSRIs and SNRIs, but tend to have more serious side effects. Examples of tricyclic antidepressants include:

- Amitriptyline (Pamelor)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Desipramine (Norpramin)

Atypical antidepressants. As the name suggests, these antidepressants work by other means that aren’t as clearly defined as those above. Popular medications of this class include:

- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
- Trazodone (Desyrel)
- Mirtazapine (Remeron)

Talking Therapy

Talking Therapy, sometimes called psychotherapy or counseling, involves meeting with a mental healthcare professional on a schedule to learn how to eliminate, reduce or control the symptoms of depression. This form of treatment is a great way to learn how to build more satisfying relationships, manage stress, and deal effectively with issues such as anxiety.

Most modern talking therapies take anywhere from 10 to 30 visits over the course of several months. Unlike older forms of therapy, such as psychoanalysis, modern therapy is focused on clear outcomes and is goal oriented toward problem-solving.

Therapy cannot “talk” someone out of purely biological depression, but for those people who lack a biological component to their depression, talking therapy is the best treatment option for depression.

Therapy can help a person:

Pinpoint the issues that drive one’s depression and make necessary changes
Identify and change habitual harmful thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs
Adjust and adapt to a crisis
Learn better ways of coping with stress
Learn skills for defusing anger
Learn to manage anxiety
Develop better ways of relating to other people
Gain control over their lives and improve their levels of satisfaction and happiness

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Depression

About one-third of all people with severe depression don’t receive relief from antidepressants alone, which makes therapy more challenging. Furthermore, depression may sometimes return, even after long periods of remission.

Fortunately, there’s a newer treatment for depression that provides long-lasting relief. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), is an FDA-approved, highly effective treatment for people with Major Depression Disorder, including medication-resistant depression and recurrent depression. TMS is also FDA-approved for the treatment of depression related obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

TMS uses targeted magnetic fields to gently stimulate areas of the brain that are responsible for one’s mood. Multiple studies have shown that TMS gives relief from depression and other mental health conditions.

Other studies have demonstrated that TMS increases the effectiveness of antidepressant therapy and reduces the time it takes for them to deliver their maximum benefits. Timely relief is crucial, yet antidepressants alone can take four to six weeks before a person receives their maximum benefit. Studies have shown that TMS reduces this lag.

TMS has many advantages over traditional treatments:

TMS works faster than any other treatment option
TMS has superior results to the best traditional treatments
TMS is safe and has no systemic side effects
TMS requires no hospitalization
TMS is convenient, with sessions lasting from 30 minutes to an hour
TMS is FDA-approved for treating depression and other psychological issues

Other TMS facilities only provide TMS, but at NeuroSpa TMS®, we offer TMS Plus™, a unique and comprehensive suite of services that address every aspect of recovery from psychological disorders, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps people understand how deeply established habitual patterns of thinking and responding to stress, depression and anxiety may be holding them back from the satisfying life they deserve.

Nutrition Counseling. Making healthy diet choices during TMS treatment is highly beneficial, as TMS therapy supports the brain as it builds healthier connections. Our nutrition counseling is provided by a registered dietitian who can help patients make lasting changes to their diet.

Blood Work. Our physicians determine if bloodwork is necessary to rule out issues like thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiency that are contributing to a patient’s depression.

Sleep Evaluation. As part of our comprehensive approach to mental healthcare, our physicians will determine if sleep apnea or insomnia are affecting a patient’s mental health.

Functional MRI Targeting. Functional MRI targeting allows our physicians to make any adjustments needed to the usual treatment areas to make sure patients get the best treatment possible.

NeuroSpa TMS® is pleased to be among the leading providers of TMS therapy in the country with the offering of TMS Plus™ and will continue to push the boundaries in order to make sure that all patients are provided with the safest most effective therapy possible. A better quality of life awaits you at NeuroSpa TMS®.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Works Cited

American Psychological Association. (2017, July). What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Clinical Practice Guideline for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral.

Brody, D. J., Pratt, L. A., & Hughes, J. P. (n.d.). Prevalence of Depression Among Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, 2013–2016. Centers for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db303.htm.

Clinical Practice Review for Major Depressive Disorder. Clinical Practice Review for Major Depressive Disorder | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). https://adaa.org/resources-professionals/practice-guidelines-mdd

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2019, October 5). Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/antidepressants/art-20044970.

Rupke, S., Blecke, D., & Renfrow, M. (2006, January 1). Cognitive Therapy for Depression. American Family Physician. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0101/p83.html.

Sukel, K. (2019, September 19). Neurotransmitters. Dana Foundation. https://dana.org/article/neurotransmitters/. Retrieved July 20th, 2021.

Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment. (2004, March). Treatment of Depression: A Systematic Review [Internet]. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28876724/. Retrieved July 20th, 2021

Symptoms of Depression Among Adults: United States, 2019, M. A., & Terlizzi, E. P. (2020, September 23). Symptoms of Depression Among Adults: United States, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db379.htm.

Syvälahti, E. K. (1994, February). Biological aspects of depression. Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7914394/.

Thase, M. E., Jindal, R., & Howland, R. H. (2002). Biological aspects of depression. In I. H. Gotlib & C. L. Hammen (Eds.), Handbook of depression (pp. 192–218). The Guilford Press.

many photographs representing loneliness with one in the center with the word loneliness written across it

How to Combat Loneliness

Written by W. Nate Upshaw M.D. on July 14, 2021. Posted in Mental Health Maintenance, Step-By-Step Guides.

Loneliness is an American epidemic that’s gotten much worse during the long anxiety-provoking days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A study conducted in 2019 by a major healthcare insurer showed that 61 percent of American adults reported feeling lonely, while a quarter of those surveyed said they felt their mental health was poor—and that was before the pandemic.

A more recent study conducted in late 2020 indicated that over 60 percent of people aged 18 to 25 reported being lonely “most or all of the time” and a third of all adults report severe or serious loneliness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7HObGhxZ64

Combating loneliness requires an understanding of what’s causing and sustaining it. You may find that you have many regular interactions with others, but these interactions have little meaning to you. In that case, you’re looking for more meaningful connections with others.

You may find that being around others is both desirable, yet anxiety-provoking, or that you lack the emotional energy to seek out connections, in which case you may be struggling with social anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression.

Although many people suffer from loneliness without any psychological disorder, some disorders are particularly prone to cause loneliness. For example, social anxiety disorder is a chronic psychological condition that causes a lot of fear, worry and distress when a person is faced with being around other people. People with a social anxiety disorder avoid being around other people if they can, not from a dislike of others, but out of an overwhelming fear of being harshly judged by others. This leads to intense loneliness.

The good news is that social anxiety disorder can be treated with psychotherapy and responds well to interventions.

People also endure existential loneliness, a profound sense of one’s life having no meaning. Both social and existential loneliness can be combated by the following tips.

Tips for Combating Loneliness

Build a web of connectedness. We can find meaning in our lives as well as stronger connections with other people by building our involvement with others. Reaching out to others can be hard to do; after all, we all fear rejection. However, take heart and try some of the following activities and resources to help you build new connections.

Join a local club. Think about your interests and passions, then check to see if there are any local groups or meet-ups devoted to one (or more) of those interests. It’s easier to interact with other people if you know everyone shares the same hobby or interest. Meet-up.com is an online app that helps people locate others locally who share the same interests. Reddit.com may also be useful in finding local clubs and groups.
Volunteer. Communities always need help. Consider causes that matter to you and find out if there are local volunteer organizations devoted to that cause. A few examples include libraries, animal shelters, retirement homes, charities, and homeless shelters. Political activism is another area that’s always eager for volunteers. Volunteermarch.org is a website that helps match volunteers and causes.
Take a class. A class can be a great way to meet people. It can be anything from yoga to learning how to code.
Structure your time. Having a schedule can help make sure you’re never at loose ends for something to do. Loneliness is often a problem when we have too much free time on our hands.
Limit your social media consumption. Social media can be fun, but it can also be depressing. In fact, there is solid evidence that heavy use of social media makes people lonelier. People post pictures of themselves having fun, living their best lives, when in reality that may not be the case. We all have a tendency to compare our lives to those of others, and that’s a quick way to become dejected.

Take Care of Yourself

Exercise. Exercising for your best mental health doesn’t mean running a marathon daily. You only need enough to trigger a release of endorphins in your brain, which promote a sense of mental ease, well-being and happiness. A brisk walk every day can make a world of difference. Start with five minutes and work up to twenty minutes a day, five times a week.
Eat wisely. A diet full of highly processed, sugary and carbohydrate-loaded foods adds pounds, as well as promotes inflammation throughout the body. Add whole, unprocessed foods to your diet to help improve your emotional well-being.
Get healthy sleep. Getting the right amount of restful sleep is as vital to survival as healthy food. Learning to practice good sleep hygiene is a big step toward getting the best sleep of your life. Consider cutting off your caffeine and sugar intake a few hours before bedtime and limiting your exposure to hand-held devices in the hour before bedtime, as blue light can promote wakefulness.

Be Kind to Yourself

Don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Loneliness is a big source of stress for tens of millions of people, so you never need to feel alone. By taking steps toward building new and better relationships, as well as strengthening current relationships, you can reduce your loneliness and feel connected to others again.

If you have been struggling with feelings of loneliness that may even result in depression or other psychological disorders, consider transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is an FDA-approved non-invasive treatment for major depression disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. TMS Therapy is a medication-free treatment that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that affect mood. This form of treatment has no proven side-effects in clinical trials and can help you get back to your best life. Among the many treatment options out there, TMS therapy is an effective alternative treatment that is eligible for coverage by most major health insurers.

This blog post is meant to be educational in nature and does not replace the advice of a medical professional. See full disclaimer.

Works Cited

Cashin, A. (2021, May 13). Loneliness in AMERICA: How the pandemic has deepened an epidemic of loneliness and what we can do about it. Making Caring Common. https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/loneliness-in-america.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, July 15). Sleep Hygiene tips – sleep and sleep disorders. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/sleep_hygiene.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 29). Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html.

Cigna. (2020, January). Loneliness in the Workplace. Cigna 2020 Workplace Loneliness. https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/about-us/newsroom/studies-and-reports/combatting-loneliness/cigna-2020-loneliness-factsheet.pdf.

Gunnars, K. (2019, June 13). 50 foods that are super healthy. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/50-super-healthy-foods#meat.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, June 19). Social anxiety disorder (social phobia). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353561.

Patulny, R. (n.d.). 2020: Does social media make us more or less Lonely? Depends on how you use it – University of Wollongong. University of Wollongong. https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2020/does-social-media-make-us-more-or-less-lonely-depends-on-how-you-use-it.php.

van Tilburg, T. (2020, June 30). Social, emotional, and Existential LONELINESS: A test of the MULTIDIMENSIONAL CONCEPT. https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/advance-article/doi/10.1093/geront/gnaa082/5865445.

Walsh, C. (2021, February 17). Young adults hardest hit by loneliness during pandemic, study finds. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/02/young-adults-teens-loneliness-mental-health-coronavirus-covid-pandemic/.

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Myth 1: People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.

Myth 2: Mental illness is just laziness or weakness of character.

Myth 3: People with mental illness can totally control their emotions and choose to feel the way they do.

Myth 4: Mental illness means serious dysfunction and disability.

Myth 5: If a person really wanted to, he or she could get better on their own.

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