Thursday, 31 July 2014
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
TV star Ashley James throws open the doors to her battle with depression and anxiety in her Metro blog
Ashley James is best known for starring in E4’s hit show Made In Chelsea when she joined the cast for a whirlwind two series, leaving in 2013. Aside from Chelsea, she’s also a model, TV presenter and blogger. Here, Ashley throws the doors open to her personal life as she reveals all on her battle with depression and anxiety for the very first time.
‘I first wrote this in January, and decided against posting it in fear of what people might think. I revisited it following the tragic death of Peaches Geldof. I never knew Peaches personally but I was overcome with sadness over her passing. Why? Well, largely due to the fact that I am way too empathetic. But secondly, because I was heartbroken that another young individual lost their life so young. Had I known her I might have been able to support her. “You can’t help everyone Ashley”, my boyfriend said. But why not?
Recently I saw a young mother aggressively shouting at her child, then leaning into the pram taking happy selfies. How very revealing, I thought. They say a picture tells a thousand words, but are those words accurate? Social media is about enhancing your life and making the mundane look extraordinary – with the help of filters of course.
I am a perfect example of that. On the outside, and according to my social media pages, 2013 looked wonderful; being on TV, working as a presenter and model, and attending parties with interesting people. “I wish I had your life”, people would say. What people didn’t know is during much of 2013 I was suffering from extreme anxiety and isolating depression. When I wasn’t pouting and posing into a camera, I was crying, panicking, and utterly convinced that no one liked me. My self-esteem had hit rock bottom.
If you are lucky enough to have never experienced depression or anxiety let me try to explain it. You know that nervous feeling before you go on stage? Before you talk in front of everyone at school or work? Imagine having THAT feeling of impending dread with you 24 hours a day. Have you ever had a friend, a lover, a teacher, or a boss who constantly puts you down and makes you feel terrible? The beauty of having negative people in your life is that you can walk away from them, but when that voice is coming from your own head you can’t escape. That once very happy and positive person very quickly loses their mojo, their charisma, and their spark.
I’m a very proud and positive person, so how did I share my inner torment? I didn’t. The problem with faking happiness is it’s exhausting. The more you fake it the more you feel you are putting up walls, which inevitably shut people out. Putting a mask on to strangers is quite common; hiding behind a mask to loved ones is incredibly isolating. I felt the need to hide my real self – who would love an anxious, depressed, ‘negative’ person? I was ashamed of my thoughts, and felt utterly alone. On my worst days I would skive work and spend the day lying between the wall and my bed and cry. I was tired of pretending and was convinced I was a burden to those around me.
I am on the mend. I still suffer from anxiety from time to time and worry about things I shouldn’t, but who doesn’t?
What made me feel better? Talking.
I’m not telling my story for sympathy – there are millions of people much more deserving of your thoughts and I’m fully aware that on paper my life is ideal. That’s the thing about depression – there doesn’t have to be anything ‘wrong’.
I am sharing my story so if you are suffering, you know you are not alone. If you’ve never suffered then spare a thought to what people might be feeling behind closed doors. Being depressed in our society is taboo. I want people to feel able to speak out. And for us all to not judge a book by its cover – or a person by their social media pages.
If my story makes a difference to one person, then I’m happy I told it.
Monday, 28 July 2014
New app helps teens calm anxiety
Anxiety disorders affect one in eight teens.
There are medications and therapies that can help alleviate symptoms, and now there’s even an app that can help.
The MindShift app aims to teach young adults how to combat everyday anxiety, panic, conflict and worry. Teens can input their symptoms and the app will create a plan to help reduce stress.
Created by two non-profit organizations, Anxiety BC and BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Mindshift app gives users the ability to customize tools like mindfulness, visualization and positive thinking.
The free app also includes articles, questionnaires and a tracking system to analyze results over time.
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Thursday, 24 July 2014
5 Quick Ways to Calm Anxiety at Work
If you struggle with anxiety, you may find it especially tough to get things done at work. “Anxiety can be debilitating on its own, but in the workplace, it can be magnified immensely,” said Jennifer Hope, LCPC, a therapist who specializes in treating anxiety.
With its often-fast pace and mounting demands, work can spike stress. One of Hope’s clients, who has generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), feels anxious most of the time and in most situations. When her anxiety is severe, she has a hard time completing any task. She’ll reread the same line in an email because she can’t focus on anything else except her anxiety.
Whether you struggle with severe or occasional anxiety at work, you can practice certain strategies to feel better. Hope shared these five tips.
1. Slow down your breathing.
As Hope said, the reason patients get oxygen at the dentist’s office is because it calms you down. To practice deep breathing, “sit back in your chair and place your hand on your abdomen. When you take a deep breath in, your hand should rise up. When you breathe out slowly, your hand should lower.”
She suggested breathing in deeply for five seconds, and breathing out until you don’t have any breath left. “Repeat this several times until your chest feels less tight and your mind has stopped racing.”
2. Practice reassuring self-talk.
Regularly ruminating about how anxious you are and that you can’t handle the situation amplifies your anxiety and paralyzes you. “If you change your thinking, you can change your behavior,” said Hope, who practices at Urban Balance, which provides comprehensive counseling services in the Chicago area.
For instance, she suggested reminding yourself that anxiety is a feeling that will change and go away. You might say to yourself: “This is temporary. It will pass,” and “I will be OK. I am OK. I will get through this.”
You also can talk yourself through work tasks, such as: “I will work on this project for 20 minutes and then reevaluate how I am feeling.”
3. Get moving.
If you’re able to get outside, take a brisk 10- to 15-minute walk, Hope said. Or find a quiet spot in your building to do several sets of jumping jacks, she said. “This will release endorphins that will help calm your mind and your body.”
Another option is to practice muscle tension and relaxation, which shifts your focus from anxiety to the exercise, and releases the tension your body holds onto from the anxiety, Hope said.
Start with your face. “First, scrunch all the muscles in your face as tightly as you can. Hold this for about 20 seconds. Then release and relax all the muscles in your face.” Do the same with your neck and other parts of your body, moving down to your toes.
Hope’s client finds it helpful to take breaks in the office gym throughout the day.
4. Separate tasks into smaller time periods.
Most people who struggle with anxiety at work are counting down the minutes until they can go home, Hope said. They also may look at their entire schedule, instantly become overwhelmed and feel like fleeing, she said.
Breaking down tasks into shorter time increments shrinks them to a size you can manage and helps you realize that you’re capable of working, she said.
For instance, prioritize your projects, and start with the most important one. Go hour-by-hour, and then re-evaluate. “Tell yourself ‘I just need to get through this hour; then I can think about going home.’”
After that hour, set another goal, she said. “Work on another project for an hour; when that hour is over, take a break and praise yourself for making it through two hours of work.”
“Your day will slowly feel less overwhelming and you can be proud for making it through the day.”
5. Reach out.
When Hope’s client feels extreme anxiety, she emails or calls Hope or a close friend. “If you have someone you can talk to, you can explain your feelings and receive validation, comfort and reassurance, which can help remind you that you are capable of getting through this; you are already doing it.”
If you’re still struggling with persistent anxiety at work, get help. “Do not feel embarrassed. You would be surprised how many other people are suffering just like you.”
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
6 Steps for Managing Fear and Anxiety
We’ve all experienced pangs of fear and anxiety. Whether it’s blowing that big job interview, worrying about lab test results from your doctor or letting your 15-year old attend a late night rave party. Whatever the reason, our bodies kick into a “fight-or-flight” response that shoots adrenaline into our bloodstream and makes us climb the walls. Jude Bijou MA MFT, respected psychotherapist, consultant, and author of “Attitude Reconstruction: a Blueprint for Building a Better Life” has developed six highly effective techniques to help you deal with fear and anxiety.
Shake it Out
When the flight-or-fight response kicks in, your heartbeat races, your breaths grow short and shallow, and your stomach gets tied up in knots. Meet your body halfway by releasing some of the energy it’s built up. Shake and tremble. Put some effort into it and add some sounds if you have to. Releasing this pent up energy helps your mind refocus.
You’re OK (EGBOK)
Say this out loud: “Everything’s Going to Be OK.” Tell yourself that you’ll take one thing at a time, and that you can handle what’s making you fearful or anxious. This kind of positive self-assurance does work to modify your attitude and calm your body.
Act, Don’t Dwell
Fear and anxiety are things that halt action. They ball-and-chain you into sitting and dwelling on what might happen. The remedy to these arresting thoughts is action. Find out what you can do to solve the problem — whether it’s talking to someone, taking care of something you’ve been neglecting, or simply learning a new coping skill — like meditation.
Plan Don’t Panic
Fears and anxieties often spring out of a need to address something that needs attention. Instead of going into panic mode, go into writing mode: jot down the things you need to do. Prioritize and plan your course of action to get at the root of what’s making you fearful or anxious.
Get Specific
If you need to address a fear or anxiety don’t start lumping all your fears into one big downer. Many people sink into a “Sky is Falling” way of thinking that prevents them from overcoming their fear or anxiety. Address the specifics of what’s causing the problem and create a plan of action that stair-steps you right over the fear or anxiety.
This is Crucial: Acknowledge Your Improvement
Praise and compliment your steps in overcoming your fear or anxiety. Don’t be shy about giving yourself an attaboy, even for minor steps. As you overcome your fear and anxiety, you’ll grow more resilient and push through those barriers. Your confidence and courage will grow.
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Primary school children should have therapy to cut anxiety, say scientists at University of Exeter
Children as young as nine would benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, scientists said
Children as young as nine should receive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in school to help them combat anxiety, scientists say.
New research from the Universities of Exeter, Bath, Cardiff and Oxford found such prevention programmes “significantly reduce” anxiety symptoms in Year Five pupils.
The study, of more than 1,300 youngsters aged between nine and ten, also highlighted the benefits of CBT lessons in the classroom for all children – regardless of their anxiety level.
Researchers say the issue is “very common” in children, with 10% affected by an anxiety disorder by the age of 16.
Lessons in CBT involve teaching pupils how to identify and manage their emotions, replace anxious thoughts and develop problem-solving skills to cope with anxiety provoking situations.
Lead author Professor Paul Stallard, of the University of Bath’s Department for Health, said introducing the lessons would be a proactive, preventative approach.
“Schools provide a convenient location to deliver emotional health prevention programmes for children,” Prof Stallard said.
“Whilst there are a number of school based programmes, few have been scientifically evaluated to determine what effect they have on children’s emotional health.
“The results of our study are very encouraging and show that FRIENDS, a CBT programme, teaches children skills to effectively manage their anxiety.”
In the project, Preventing Anxiety in Children through Education in Schools, the researchers conducted a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of CBT lessons for 9-10-year-olds.
The researchers enrolled 1,362 pupils from 40 state schools in the South West and followed them for one year.
School year groups were assigned to receive either classroom-based CBT lessons led by teachers, CBT lessons led by health facilitators or standard school provision.
Schools classed as following “standard school provision” were those following social and emotional aspects of learning currently within the curriculum.
Pupils were given nine hour-long CBT lessons, which were provided to whole classes as part of the school curriculum.
Results showed the most effective method of reducing anxiety occurred when external health facilitators conducted the lessons, rather than teachers.
Both children with low and high levels of anxiety saw a reduction in their symptoms in the 12 months of the study.
In the study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the authors write: “Universally delivered programmes offer the potential to reduce present symptoms, enhance overall emotional wellbeing, and potentially shift population means over time.
“Our findings support this theory and show that children in the low-anxiety health-led FRIENDS group showed markedly lower anxiety symptoms at 12 months than did those in the usual school provision group.
“Because fears, anxiety and stress are common in children, anxiety prevention programmes might be especially suited to universal delivery.
“However, our data suggests that the same programme can result in different effects depending on those who deliver it.”
The team are now assessing whether reductions in anxiety are maintained after the children transfer to secondary school.
Professor Harry Daniels, from the Department of Education at the University of Oxford added: “These are important findings.
“The intervention offers an affordable and practical response to the challenges of promoting emotional health in schools.
“The need to improve the mental health of children is being increasingly recognised as a global priority given the associated health risks, and the economic and social costs, if such anxieties are not dealt with early on.”
Classroom-based cognitive therapy (FRIENDS): a cluster randomised controlled trial to Prevent Anxiety in Children through Education in Schools was published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Yoga can cure social anxiety disorders
A new study claims that yoga and other exercises, which have relaxing effect on our bodies, can help people with social anxiety disorders look at the world positively. Adam Heenan, a Ph.D. from Queen's University found that relaxation activities literally change the way people perceive the world, altering their perception so that they view the environment in a less threatening, less negative way. For people with mood and anxiety disorders, this is an important breakthrough.For the research, Heenan used point-light displays, a depiction of a human that is comprised of a series of dots representing the major joints. Human point-light displays are depth-ambiguous and because of this, an observer looking at the display could see it as either facing towards them or facing away. Researchers have found people who are socially anxious perceive these figures as facing towards them more often. Heenan said that they found that people who either walked or jogged on a treadmill for 10 minutes perceived these ambiguous figures as facing towards them (the observer) less often than those who simply stood on the treadmill. The same was true when people performed progressive muscle relaxation. This was important because anxious people display a bias to focus on more threatening things in their environment. The research is published in PLOS one.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Yoga-can-cure-social-anxiety-disorders/articleshow/38617790.cms
Friday, 18 July 2014
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Consumer anxiety jumps on tough budget
Consumer anxiety rose sharply in response to spending cuts and tax hikes announced in the federal budget, with women, low income earners and families hit the hardest.
Consumer anxiety jumped in the four weeks immediately after the May 13 budget was released.
The National Australia Bank consumer anxiety index rose almost three points to 64.5 in the June quarter - the highest level since the survey began 18 months ago.
The main causes for consumer concern were government policy in the wake of the budget as well as cost of living pressures, NAB economists said.
"The May federal budget has clearly impacted consumer anxiety," the report said.
According to the report, consumers expect the budget to impact their overall financial position, savings, investments and spending along with access to government benefits.
Anxiety was lowest in Tasmania and highest in Victoria but rose most in Western Australia, as their economy copes with the wind down in mining investment.
Women were more anxious than men, while low income earners, the unemployed and families with children also had higher rates of anxiety.
"NAB's survey indicates that on average the biggest budget impact is expected to be felt by females aged 18-29 followed by families with children and those earning less than $35,000," NAB said.
"This may reflect a number of budget measures which could impact families, low income earners and young people.
"These included tightening eligibility criteria for family tax benefits and stricter eligibility rules for unemployment benefits and Newstart youth allowances among some of the key areas of government savings."
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Smoking cannabis DOES increase the risk of anxiety and depression
- Brains of users were less able to react to feel-good chemical dopamine
- Adds to past research linking marijuana to lethargy and apathy
Smoking cannabis does increase the risk of depression and anxiety, a new study has concluded.
U.S. researchers found the brains of users were less able to react to dopamine - the feel-good chemical that inspires a spirit of get-up-and-go.
The study adds to previous research suggesting marijuana can lead to people becoming withdrawn, lethargic and apathetic.
Danger: The brains of cannabis users were less able to react to the feel-good chemical dopamine
Psychiatrist Dr Nora Volkow, of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the U.S., used the stimulant Ritalin to see the effect cannabis had on the brain.
Like cocaine, Ritalin raises levels of dopamine in the brain.This made it ideal for the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Of the 48 people in the study, half received the drug - while the other half acted as a control group.
Personality and brain scans showed the cannabis users had significantly blunted dopamine responses compared with the controls who had never taken the drug.
Previous research has suggested a lack of dopamine makes people lazy
This could contribute to drug-craving and negative emotions, a tendency towards depression and anxiety which are hallmarks of cannabis addiction.
Dr Volkow said the phenomenon cannot be unequivocally attributed to reductions in dopamine release.
They believe there is a downstream effect later in the process in an area of the brain called the striatum - the reward and motivation region.
Indeed, last year a study from Imperial College London found that long-term use of cannabis destroys dopamine.
Levels in the striatum - found towards the side of the brain - were lower in regular cannabis users.
Dr Michael Bloomfield, of Imperial College London, said: 'Dopamine is involved in telling the brain when something exciting is about to happen - be it sex, drugs or rock ‘n roll.
'Our findings explain why cannabis has a tendency to make people sit around doing nothing'
Commenting on the new study, the U.S. researchers said: 'Moves to legalise marijuana highlight the urgency to investigate effects of chronic marijuana in the human brain.'
Monday, 14 July 2014
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Anxiety and depression is rising among teenagers - and girls are suffering most, new study reveals
- The review looked at 19 studies conducted across 12 countries
- It found an increase in anxiety and depression in teenagers across Northern Europe, the UK and China
- The number of older adolescent girls suffering from mental health problems was double that off boys
Older adolescent girls across the world are increasingly experiencing severe anxiety and depression, a new Australian study has found.
The review, which has been published in the in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, looked at 19 extensive studies conducted across 12 countries and found that teenage girls in Northern Europe, the UK and China are specifically experiencing an increase in mental health problems.
The studies leader, Dr William Bor from the University of Queensland, told the Daily Mail Australia that a combination of cultural, schooling and economic factors are most likely to be leading to the growing problem.
The review looked at 19 studies conducted across 12 countries and found that teenage girls in Australia, Northern Europe, the UK and China are experiencing an increase in anxiety and depression
'There appears to be increasing school distress amongst girls as they negotiate their way through the last parts of their school careers,' Dr Bor said.
'They face difficult choices and pressures and the modern education system appears to be more problematic for girls – so the issue there is the stress of making future decisions and how they cope with them.'
However culture is also believed to have a significant impact on mental health issues within young women, who are well known to struggle with identity and appearance issues.
'Culture has high expectation on girls in terms of appearance and weight,' Dr Bor said.
'There's a lot of speculation about the pressure on girls in terms of early sexualization and concerns they have about body image.
'However, there is also a third factor around increasing economic inequality, and that may be increasing pressures at school as well.'
The studies leader, Dr William Bor from the University of Queensland said that a combination of cultural, schooling and economic factors are most likely to be the cause for the growing trend.
Due to the data coming from an array of countries, Dr Bor said the exact reasons for the difference in results across genders was not entirely clear, but are most likely tied in with education and cultural pressures.
'Boys are also affected but they're not as affected,' he said.
'You can see in the results that the trend in boys and girls is going up, but what is very clear is that girls have almost double the anxiety and worries as boys.
'We don't yet know all the answers here – each country has different pressures on their young people – and one of the odd things is that America isn't showing this increasing trend.
'We also have to account for why we are seeing a rise in China –so it's clearly not just a western phenomenon.'
Dr Bor recommended that parents, peers and medical professionals receive more education about depression and anxiety, including prevention programs being placed in high schools.
'The school factor is the common denominator and the most likely factor across the multiple countries.'
Dr Bor recommended that parents, peers and medical professionals receive more education about depression and anxiety, including prevention programs being placed in high schools, to increase the chances of successful prevention and early intervention.
'One of the greatest issues is that it could lead to higher rates of attempted and successful suicide - that's the greatest risk with anxiety and depression,' Dr Bor said.
'But having severe depression and anxiety in adolescence is also a predictor of having it in future life – about a quarter of kids go on to get the illnesses as adults so it is a risk factor for the future, and it also increases the likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse in adulthood.'
Although the study has no conclusive figures on the number of youth suffering from anxiety and depression in Australia, a population survey will be releases in 2015 with extensive figures.
Saturday, 12 July 2014
Friday, 11 July 2014
Stress, depression and 'hostility' put older people at greater risk of suffering a stroke, research has revealed
- Depression and stress associated with 'significantly increased risk' of stroke
- Factors could increase the risk for older people and middle-aged adults
- 'Hostility' can more than double the likelihood of having a stroke, say experts
- The research was carried out at the University of Minnesota in the U.S.
Stress, hostility and depression put older people at much greater risk of suffering a stroke, a new study has warned.
The three factors are associated with a 'significantly increased risk' of stroke in middle-age and older adults, researchers have found.
Hostility alone more than doubled the likelihood of having a full-blown or 'mini' stroke, also known as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), a study claims.
Chronic stress increased stroke and TIA risk by 59 per cent, and depressive symptoms by 86 per cent.
Scientists used questionnaires to assess chronic stress, depressive symptoms, anger and hostility in 6,700 men and women aged 45 to 84.
Over a period of eight-and-a-half to 11 years, a total of 147 strokes and 48 TIAs occurred within the group.
The only trait not linked to a higher risk of stroke was anger, despite the strong association with hostility.
The researchers defined hostility as a 'negative way of viewing the world' and measured it by assessing participants’ cynicism.
Study leader Dr Susan Everson-Rose, from the University of Minnesota in the U.S., said: 'There’s such a focus on traditional risk factors - cholesterol levels, blood pressure, smoking and so forth - and those are all very important, but studies like this one show that psychological characteristics are equally important.
'Given our ageing population, it’s important to consider these other factors that might play a role in disease risk.
Older people are more likely to have a stroke if they are suffering from depression or stress, research has found.
'Stroke is a disease of the elderly predominantly, and so learning more about things that can influence risk for stroke as people age is important.'
The findings are published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Chronic stress was measured in five different areas relating to personal health, the health problems of close others, work or the ability to do a job, relationships and finances.
Scientists used questionnaires to assess chronic stress, depressive symptoms, anger and hostility in 6,700 men and women aged 45 to 84
Based on participants’ answers, scores were allocated for depressive symptoms and anger levels.
The associations remained significant after accounting for age, race, sex, lifestyle and other factors known to influence stroke risk.
Dr Everson-Rose added: 'One thing we didn’t assess is coping strategies.
'If someone is experiencing depressive symptoms or feeling a lot of stress or hostility, we don’t know how they manage those, so it’s possible that positive coping strategies could ameliorate some of these associations or effects.
'We did not inquire about coping. I would say that’s one of the tasks for future studies.'
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Can staying awake all night help combat depression?
Staying awake for more than 24 hours may be the fastest treatment for moderate to major depression.
Early research has shown six out of ten patients can get symptom relief within a day of this treatment, compared with the six to eight weeks it can take antidepressants to work.
Sleep deprivation is thought to work by boosting brain messengers such as serotonin - the same one that antidepressants act on.
Several studies have found 40 to 60 per cent of patients are helped by staying awake for a long time. One researcher described it as 'a remarkable transformation of often deeply depressed, psychotic, suicidal patients in a few hours into their pre-illness selves'.
However, the improvement is short-lived, disappearing after the patient slept.
Now researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and Rhode Island Hospital are looking at providing longer relief by combining sleep deprivation with two other therapies. Pilot studies have shown that the effects of this treatment, known as triple chronotherapy, are rapid and are long-lasting - nine weeks in one trial.
The U.S. researchers will test the treatment in a larger study involving 80 patients with moderate to severe depression, postnatal depression or bipolar disorder.
Current treatments range from exercise and self-help groups to antidepressants. But medication doesn't work for everyone and some reports suggest it is no better than a placebo. It can also take two months for its effects to kick in.
The triple chronotherapy treatment, which is conducted over three days, combines sleep deprivation with 'bright light therapy' - where patients are exposed to a special lamp for up to an hour - and 'sleep-phase advancement' - when waking and sleeping times are changed.
The theory is that sleep deprivation has an anti-depressive effect; the bright light and sleep time changes then help reset the body clock, in turn helping the anti-depressive effect of sleep deprivation last longer. On day one, patients stay awake from 10.30pm, through the night and the whole of the next day. They then sleep from 6pm to 1am the following morning when the process is repeated, but sleeping and waking at different times.
Bright light therapy is given in the early morning of each of the three days - light is thought to stimulate the brain's hypothalamus, which controls mood, sleep and appetite, and to boost brain chemicals such as melatonin and serotonin.
On the second day, the patient sleeps from 8pm to 3am; on the last day, sleep starts at 10pm and finishes at 5am. From then on, patients continue with this 10pm to 5am sleep pattern.
Bright light and sleep time changes help reset the body clock, in turn helping anti-depressive effect last
A previous study at the University of California found significant improvements remained in 63 per cent of depressed patients seven weeks later.
New research at Tufts University has shed some light on what might be happening. It identified a protein called adenosine which is released when you're awake. Sleep deprivation increases levels of adenosine, which alters electrical signals in the brain, causing immediate improvement in mood.
'Triple chronotherapy typically reduces depressive symptoms within one to two days,' says psychiatrist Dr John Gottlieb, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and a leading expert in chronotherapy. 'It's as biologically active as antidepressants, inexpensive and has minimal side-effects.'
Carmine Pariante, professor of biological psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, adds: 'By putting sleep deprivation with other sleep-related therapies that have shown some effectiveness in depression, there is a reasonable expectation the antidepressant action will be stronger and more sustained.
'If this proves true, it will be an important step forward, both to understand mechanisms that cause depression and to find a new treatment for the one in four patients who don't improve with available treatments.'
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
Monday, 7 July 2014
Mothers with postnatal depression 'failed by the NHS'
A parenting charity found only three per cent of clinical commissioning groups provided new mothers with mental health support
The National Childbirth Trust found a disturbing number of situations where there is no care or very little care for mothers with post-natal depression
Mothers with postnatal depression are being failed by the NHS because only 3 per cent of health organisations offer help with the condition.
The figures from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) found 97 per cent of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) had no mental health strategy for new mothers and 60 per cent said they did not have plans to put one in place.
The parenting charity sent freedom of information (FOI) requests to 194 CCGs, of which 15 per cent directed the parenting charity to local NHS trusts or NHS England. The NCT said this suggested a lack of clarity regarding who is responsible for commissioning and providing services across England.
The charity called for more staff and resources “urgently” to tackle the “huge gaps” in support and care provided to mothers experiencing postnatal depression.
NCT chief executive Belinda Phipps said: "One in ten mothers experience some form of postnatal depression, but there are clearly huge gaps in the support and care being provided to them across England.
"While we found some areas with excellent care, too often we have found situations where there is no care, or very little care. If there are whole areas where GPs, midwives and health visitors have no training or time to dedicate to this vital service then women will not get the help and support they need.
"For many parents this will result in months of misery, damaging both family relations and children's wellbeing. And, in the most extreme circumstances, it will result in tragedy and loss of life.
"We need to see properly staffed and resourced services with clear lines of responsibility and clear targets for delivery. And we need to see that happening urgently. "
The charity also contacted NHS trusts to ask if they were able to provide a perinatal mental health service with trained specialists.
Of the 193 contacted, only 26 per cent of the trusts provided a dedicated service while just 13 per cent had a full team in place.
54 per cent said they did not provide mothers with the service, but 33 trusts did not respond to the FOI request.
The charity found only 14 per cent of trusts are employing one specialist perinatal mental health midwife or doctor, usually on a part-time basis.
NCT is a member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), a coalition of organisations committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of women and their children in pregnancy and the first postnatal year.
The MMHA will launch the campaign #everyonesbusiness to highlight the gaps in provision of maternal mental health services on Tuesday.
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Social Anxiety
Feeling nervous before a presentation or in some social settings can be normal. But in social anxiety, everyday interactions can cause irrational fear and can hinder you from moving forward. According to Wikipedia, “Social anxiety is a discomfort or a fear when a person is in social interactions that involve a concern about being judged or evaluated by others. It is typically characterized by an intense fear of what others are thinking about them (specifically fear of embarrassment, criticism, or rejection), which results in the individual feeling insecure, not good enough for other people, and/or the assumption that peers will automatically reject them.” Social anxiety can cause impairment with your social interactions and can affect your emotions and behavior. Symptoms, causes and treatment for social anxiety are listed below: What are the Symptoms:
1) Difficulty talking
2) Avoiding social interactions, speeches, presentations
3) Fear that you will look anxious in front of others
4) Fear that you will embarrass yourself in front of others when speaking
5) Sweating
6) Heart palpitations
7) Shaking
8) Avoid being the center of attention
9) Diarrhea
10) Cold hands
11) Nausea
12) Stomach upset
Some anxiety is normal and healthy for humans. It helps our bodies and minds to take action in dangerous situation. We all feel anxious from time to time. Severe anxiety, especially social anxiety, becomes a problem when it causes major problems in our overall daily functioning. When you have social anxiety, you are worried that you will develop some of the symptoms above and avoid situations that may trigger your symptoms. Feelings of shyness or feeling uncomfortable in situations does not mean that you have social anxiety. Comfort levels are different from person to person due to personality or experience. When you have social anxiety, the symptoms are more severe than shyness or nervousness and it causes you to avoid social situations. There are two subtypes of social phobia or social anxiety:
- Generalized: A person feels judgement and avoids social interactions
- Non-generalized: A person is not severely anxious unless they are in certain types of social situations.
What Causes Social Anxiety?
It is likely that social anxiety causes are a combination of factors. Below is a list of those factors that may cause social anxiety:
- Life Experiences: If we are put in situations where we feel different and are singled out in a negative way, we can develop beliefs about ourselves that are consistent with social anxiety. As these experiences continue, we pay attention to those parts of our environment and reinforce our negative beliefs.As these beliefs get strengthened, we tend to act, think and behave in a way that is consistent with social anxiety.
- Our Brains: “Several studies (such as that of Blair et al., 2008) have found that certain areas of the brain, such as a small, almond-shaped area called the amygdala, can be more active in individuals with social phobia.”
- Genes:A moderate level of heritability suggests a tendency towards anxiety.
What Treatment Options Do I Have?
Social anxiety disorder can be treated. The success of the treatment is different for everyone and is individualized. Therapy and medication have been effective. Cognitive behavior therapy, CBT, is a well known and effective type of therapy. It helps you ti identify, understand and challenge your thinking and behavior. The client is actively involved in this therapy and feels more in control in their treatment and recovery. Exposure therapy is a type of CBT where a person is gradually exposed to the feared situation where they learn to become less sensitive. Medication can be used in conjunction with therapy and can be short term or long term treatment options. It is best to speak with your physician or psychiatrist to see which medication would be the best approach for you in your treatment. Of course, support is important for your recovery. Finding a support group or therapist specializing in social anxiety can help to reduce the symptoms of social anxiety.
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