Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders

Posted on January 31, 2014 by JmaC

What Are the Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders?

Panic Disorder- Characterized by panic attacks, sudden feelings of terror that strike repeatedly and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, fear of unreality, and fear of dying.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder- Repeated, intrusive and unwanted thoughts or rituals that seem impossible to control.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing a traumatic event such as war, rape, child abuse, natural disasters, or being taken hostage. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression, and feeling angry, irritable, distracted, and being easily startled are common.

Social Phobia- Extreme, disabling and irrational fear of something that really poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder- Chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting at least six months; almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it. These episodes can be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.

What Are the Treatments for Anxiety Disorders?

Treatments have been largely developed through research conducted by NIMH and other research institutions. They are extremely effective and often combine medication or specific types of psychotherapy.

More medications are available than ever before to effectively treat anxiety disorders. These include antidepressants or benzodiazepines. If one medication is not effective, others can be tried. New medications are currently under development to treat anxiety symptoms.

The two most effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety disorders are behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy tries to change actions through techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing or through gradual exposure to what is frightening.

In addition to these techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients to understand their thinking patterns so they can react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety.

Is it Possible for Anxiety Disorders to Coexist with Other Physical or Mental Disorders?

It is common for an anxiety disorder to accompany another anxiety disorder, or in some cases depression, eating disorders or substance abuse. Anxiety disorders can also coexist with physical disorders. In such instances, these disorders will also need to be treated. Before undergoing any treatment, it is important to have a thorough medical exam to rule out other possible causes.

Some of he content of this fact sheet was adapted from material published by permission from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Other Resources:

Freedom From Fear 308 Seaview Avenue Staten Island, NY 10305 Phone Number: (718) 351-1717 (ext 24) Toll Free Number: 888-442-2022 (treatment referrals). Fax Number: (718) 980-5022 Email Address: help@freedomfromfear.org Website URL: http://www.freedomfromfear.org

For More Information:

Contact the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee at 865-584-9125.

The Mental Health Association offers equally all services to eligible persons regardless of race,

color, national origin or disability.

http://www.bipolar4lifesupport.co

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Institutes

Posted on January 31, 2014 by JmaC

National library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov

National eye Institute
http://www.nei.nih.gov

National heart lung & Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Institute on Aging
http://www.nia.nih.gov

National Institute of Alcohol
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov

National Institute of Allergy and Infection
http://www.niaid.nih.gov

National Institute of Arthritis
http://www.niams.nih.gov

National Institute of Biomedical imaging
http://www.nibib.nih,gov

National Institute on Deafness & communication
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov

National Institute of Dental Research
http://www.nudcr.nih.gov

National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
http://www.niddk.nih.gov

National Institute of Drug Abuse
http://www.nida.nih.gov

National Institute of Environmental health
http://www.niehs.nih.gov

National Institute of General Medicine
http://www.nigms.nih.gov

National Institute of Mental health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov

National Institute on Minority health
http://www.nimhd.nih.gov

National Institute on Neurology
http://www.ninds.nih.gov

CENTERS & OFFICES

National Center for Complimentary and ALternative Medicine
http://www.nccam.nih.gov

NIH clinical Center
http://www.cc.nih.gov

Office of Aids Research
http://www.oar.nih.gov

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
http://obssr.od.nih.gov

Office of Rare Disease Research
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov

Office of Research on Women’s health
http://orwh.od.nih.gov

http://www.bipolar4lifesupport.co

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Talk Down Negative Self Talk

Posted on January 31, 2014 by JmaC

I might as well face it, I’ll always be fat.” When Franco Beneduce hears a client say something like this, he knows he has his work cut out for him.

Beneduce is a certified life coach and group facilitator in San Francisco. As he coaches people on weight loss, body image, and successful life strategies, he sees how their self-talk — the conversations people have in their heads — either supports or undermines their progress toward their goals.

If you are a negative self-talker, you may not even be aware of it. Thinking the worst can be second nature after years of doing it. But it can be influencing how you live life and keeping you from getting the best out of it. Here’s how to cut back on negative self-talk.
It’s Not All in Your Head
Self-talk isn’t just mindless chatter. It has a way of creating its own reality. Telling yourself you can do something can help it happen. Telling yourself you can’t do something can make that come true. Tell yourself you’ll never lose weight and it can be like eating a whole bag of chips. Tell yourself it’s too hard to find another job and you’ll likely watch TV instead of updating your resume.

“Self-talk dictates how you relate to yourself and how you show up for other people,” says Beneduce. Let’s say you think you have nothing interesting to say. If you keep telling yourself that, other people are going to see you that way, too.
In fact, people who think negatively tend to be less outgoing and have weaker social networks than positive thinkers. Multiple studies link positive emotions with more satisfying relationships, more romance, and lower rates of divorce.
Avoid a Downward Spiral
Negative self-talk can be a runaway train. Your mind goes around in circles replaying a negative event or your own shortcomings. “People who ruminate dwell on negative feelings,” says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California in Riverside. You may think that you’re getting in touch with your true feelings, but bad feelings have a way of getting worse the more attention you give them.
The more you focus on negative events or shortcomings, the harder it is to put them behind you. Research shows that happy people do put bad days behind them. In a survey of 231 college students, those with a positive outlook were more likely to look back on negative events and report how much better things are for them now.

Talk Yourself Out of It
If negative self-talk came with an off switch, you could just flip it. But it doesn’t. It takes a plan and some work to tone it down. Here are four ways to make it happen:
•Distance yourself. You can’t banish negative self-talk forever, but you can take a step back from it. When you notice negative self-talk occurring, Beneduce says address it like you would an opinionated third party. You might say, “Thanks for sharing,” or “It’s interesting you feel that way” and move on.
•Distract yourself. “Over-thinking involves focusing on a train of thought that goes around and around,” Lyubomirsky says. “You can stop that train of thought by focusing on something else.” Try playing basketball, doing a crossword puzzle, or any other activity that fully engages your mind.
•Call them on it. Give your negative thoughts the third-degree and they could crumble. You might ask yourself, “Is that really true?” or “Is there another way to look at this situation?” You may also look for benefits. If you missed that job promotion, are there any lessons for the future you can take from the situation? Or could another opportunity come out of it?
•Save them for later. Set aside a time of day for negative self-talk. If you hear yourself doubting, blaming, or comparing yourself to others at another time of day, tell yourself you will come back to the conversation later. When the appointed time arrives, your negative thoughts may have lost most of their oomph.
Make It Positive
Beneduce admits he’s not immune to negative self-talk. When he works with large groups, he knows everyone will be watching him. If he’s on, the day will go well, but if he’s off, he flops. So going in, he tells himself, “I am confident. I have the skills I need. I am going to trust myself.” Sometimes he’ll write three words on a piece of paper to reinforce it. Throughout the day, he glances at them: “Fun. Smart. Effective.” And that is what he projects.

http://www.bipolar4lifesupport.co

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Federal Proposal to Limit Access to Psychiatric Medications Causes Concern

Posted on January 31, 2014 by JmaC

By Ron Honberg, NAMI Director of Policy and Legal Affairs

On Jan. 6, the Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a rule that would limit access to certain psychiatric medications under Medicare Part D.

Currently, the Medicare Part D program protects access to medications for six classes of medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. A new rule proposed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers this program, would eliminate this “protected” status for antidepressants immediately and would eliminate protections for antipsychotic medications in 2015.

Currently, Medicare Part D plans now must include “substantially all” medications in six protected classes on their formularies (a list of preferred medications offered by a health plan). As a result, these plans have been unable to impose prior authorization, “fail first” requirements, or other mechanisms for limiting access to psychiatric medications, practices that create barriers to accessing medications for people who live with mental illness.

The rule proposed by CMS would lift these protections immediately for two of the protected classes, antidepressant and immunosuppressant medications, and would lift these protections for antipsychotic medications in 2015. Consequently, choices of medications would significantly narrow for individuals with depression, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

At a time marked by growing public recognition of America’s mental health treatment crisis, this proposed rule is both untimely and contrary to the goals of improving access and quality of care for people living with mental illness. By undoing one of Medicare’s signature protections for persons with mental illness, the rule disregards scientific understanding that psychiatric medications are not interchangeable. A medication that works for one person does not necessarily work for another person. Prescribing decisions must be individualized, based on clinical history, side effect profiles and personal preferences. Medications are a critical component of an array of services and supports vital to health and recovery for many people with mental illness.

NAMI has grave concerns about this proposed rule and is working with other advocacy groups to urge that it be reconsidered. In the coming weeks, NAMI will offer and guidance to help advocates participate in lending their voices to this important effort. Mental illness affects everyone. It’s time to stand up and demand better care, access to effective treatment, services and supports and ensure a promise of recovery.

http://www.bipolar4lifesupport.co

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The Most SImple Way’s to use Affirmations

Posted on January 31, 2014 by JmaC

The Most Simple Way To Use Positive Affirmations
Ultimately you will find your own style, way to say them, timing etc, but here is a really simple way to start.
•Stand tall, relax your shoulders and stand with good posture – take a confident standing positon.
•Have your affirmations in front of you, written down or printed out – especially if it is a new set.
•Say them one by one, in a slow, confident tone of voice – go down your affirmations list like you mean it, like you believe it, and as if it is actually real or already happened.
•Speaking slowly and confidently is important. Confident speakers take their time, they don’t rush their words, they pronounce each one properly and speak with meaning.
•Optionally you can stand at a mirror and look at yourself as you talk. You might find you feel awkward, but with practice this will be normal to you. Standing at a mirror shows you your posture and your confidence so you can ensure you are doing them properly – adjust your voice tone and posture as needed to always stand positively, and look yourself in the eye.

That’s it, that is really all you need – see, positive affirmations aren’t rocket science, get started, put in the time and you will see results!
Add a Little Structure
Getting a little deeper, it is good to add a little structure, and CONSISTENCY.

Consistency is actually key, you need to repeat them day in, day out, so having a real structure, a daily routine will really help. Here is a standard routine for you to try, you can adapt it as needed, but it is a great place to start.

•Say your affirmations 2x a day.
•Start in the morning, as soon as you can after waking up. This ensures you have a positive start to the day – that the first thing you start thinking about are your goals and ambitious, and of course, that you are thinking positive thoughts!
•Say your second set as close as you can before going to bed. This ensures that you have positive thoughts in your mind as you go to sleep, you are thinking about your goals and these will seep into your subconscious mind and solidify as you sleep.
•Say them multiple times. It is up to you, but we recommend either 5 minute sessions (so just 10 minutes a day total), or alternatively, saying your whole set of affirmations 10x each, in a slow, confident voice – whatever suits you really, don’t take too long, 10-15 minutes is probably too much and they might seem like a chore after some time, 5 minutes really is enough for permanent, lasting change.

http://www.bipolar4lifesupport.co

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