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Depression is one of the most paralyzing experiences a person can have. Depression has been described as feelings of severe despondency and dejection. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly seven percent of Americans have had a depressive episode. Of those, 64% Of them will be severely impaired by their depressive episodes. It affects individuals in a powerful way and can dramatically […]
Depression is one of the most paralyzing experiences a person can have. Depression has been described as feelings of severe despondency and dejection. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly seven percent of Americans have had a depressive episode. Of those, 64% Of them will be severely impaired by their depressive episodes. It affects individuals in a powerful way and can dramatically affect families, workplaces, social contacts, and broader society. However, as many as 37% of depressed people receive no treatment at all. So have you ever wondered if might be one of those people? Below you will find descriptions of several common symptoms found in people who suffer depressive episodes.
Depression can have a dramatic effect on eating habits. One of the things that research shows is that many of these symptoms can be problems in either direction. For example, not sleeping well or sleeping too much are problems. This is the case with eating habits. Consequently, depression affects eating habits. In some cases, depressed people suddenly stop eating. This is consistent with depressed person’s loss of interest. Conversely, it is also common for depression to manifest itself in the form of overeating. Again, this is a change in appetite that is indicative of depression. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, a 5% change in weight in one month is a reason for alarm.
Another common problem with people who suffer from depression is difficulty sleeping. It is not unusual for people with depression to struggle with insomnia. Trouble sleeping includes trouble getting to sleep, difficulty staying asleep, and quality of sleep. However, insomnia is not the only sleep problem people have. Another sleep problem is sleeping too much. Depressed people will sometimes suffer from excessive sleeping. One indication of depression is an increase in daytime sleeping. Both of these problems are possible indications of depression.
Changes in energy indicate depression. Being tired overwhelmed, or worn out are all common experiences. However, there is a difference between the everyday person and depressed person. People with depression will not only experience decreased energy, they will experience it every day. Fatigue interrupts strategies to manage depression. It also disrupts one’s daily routine. This means the fatigue affects family, work and social relationships. Fatigue is long lasting. It remains even after other depressive symptoms have declined. If not addressed, fatigue can increase complications with depression.
One of the areas affected by depression is the ability to concentrate. Sadness caused by depression results in difficulties in concentration. Many times, difficulties with concentration are accompanied by memory loss. Accomplishing complex tasks might be compromised. Distraction problems can cause others to conclude the affected person doesn’t care. It also affects areas like reading comprehension. In addition, there is also the possibility that concentration affects driving. These problems greatly impact both home and work.
Perhaps the most alarming symptom of depression are thoughts of death. People with depression will sometimes preoccupied with thoughts of death or suicide. These thoughts are not the normal thoughts a person might have about death. It is normal to occasionally think about death. However, depressed people are preoccupied with thoughts of death on a more frequent level. They are plagued by repeated thoughts involving suicide. These ideas may include a plan for the method of suicide. Conversely, the thoughts may be more general ideas of suicide that do not include a plan. Either way, thoughts about committing suicide are serious and must be carefully monitored.
One of the notable symptoms of depression is the loss of interest in pleasure. Some consider it to be one of the main symptoms of depression. Loss of interest is the consistent decrease in involvement in things that normally are enjoyable. It is a persistent loss of pleasure felt throughout the day, nearly every day. It affects nearly everything. There is very little that it doesn’t affect. This affects routine, home, work, hobbies, and food.
Depression can be paralyzing and debilitating. There are many resources for people who struggle with depressive symptoms. Some need to consider medicinal strategies. Others are going to need the help of a skilled therapist to combat the effects of their depression. If you struggle with depression, there gifted therapists in your area that can help you. I hope this list of symptoms can help you determine whether you need the help of a professional with your depression.
Coping with anxiety can be a paralyzing experience. It makes ordinary experiences more complicated. It dramatically affects people at home, at work, and in social situations. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nineteen percent of Americans struggle with anxiety. Research suggests that anxiety affects women more than men. There are a variety of types of […]
Coping with anxiety can be a paralyzing experience. It makes ordinary experiences more complicated. It dramatically affects people at home, at work, and in social situations. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nineteen percent of Americans struggle with anxiety. Research suggests that anxiety affects women more than men. There are a variety of types of anxiety including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety. Perhaps you suspect you need help with anxiety. If so, this article provides some strategies to confront your anxiety.
One aspect of coping with anxiety that helps is staying ahead of situations that can activate your anxieties. for example, if you struggle with test anxiety, you can think ahead. Instead of allowing yourself to get overwhelmed, you can study for several days, instead of cramming. Consequently, You can make sure you are adequately prepared. You can ask for testing accommodations that will help you decrease your anxiety. Being proactive helps to overcome anxious symptoms. Think about how you can prepare for situations that affect your anxiety.
Mindful meditation can go a long way in helping people with anxieties. There are many great sources that can help with learning meditation. Meditation is a primary intervention used to helping people with substance use problems to manage addiction. I really like using guided meditations. I like the guided meditations at fragrantheart.com. They have guided meditations of various lengths. They help with calming anxious symptoms. For example, I had a friend who was required to take a test for his work and used a calming meditation before his test. As a result, He did great on the test and the meditation helped calm his test anxiety.
Deep breathing is another kind of meditation. Breathing techniques are a powerful tool in learning to manage anxiety. Changing your breathing can alter the body’s responses, Taking longer slower breaths, holding them for a couple of seconds and then exhaling changes decreases anxiety. When anxious, we tend to breathe shallow quick breaths. Deep breathing activates the calming response system of the body and that helps with anxiety. Further, deep breathing exercises are easy to learn, easy to implement and easy to do almost anywhere.
Anxiety can be paralyzing and overwhelming. Because of this, it is necessary to find ways to minimize its effects. One of the ways you can do this is by approaching the problems created by anxiety in small bites. When you look at the things that cause you anxiety, they seem big and imposing. However, when you break it down into small bites, it is much easier to manage the anxiety. For instance, if you are anxious about leaving the house, there are things you can do. First, you can just go outside to the mailbox. Next, you can walk to the end of the block. Then you can drive to the drive-through at a fast food restaurant. Then you can get gas and pay inside instead of at the pump. In summary, each of these steps moves one step closer to confronting the anxiety. Conversely, each step moves you one step further away from the paralysis of the house. Take it in small steps and you can manage the anxieties.
Anxiety is a prevalent problem that can have far-reaching implications. If you struggle with anxiety there are things you can do yourself to help you with your symptoms. However, if you may need help with anxiety a therapist can help to manage the effects of your anxiety. If so, there are many therapists in your area that are gifted at helping with anxiety.
Adult ADD: It’s Not Just a Kid Thing: Graham NC Counselor Attention Deficit problems have long been known to affect children. Many people think of out of control children when they think of ADD problems. Clearly, ADD affects children socially, at school, and at home. However, adult ADD dramatically affects adults in the same ways. ADD […]
Attention Deficit problems have long been known to affect children. Many people think of out of control children when they think of ADD problems. Clearly, ADD affects children socially, at school, and at home. However, adult ADD dramatically affects adults in the same ways. ADD problems affect these adults in a variety of ways.
Adult ADD symptoms significantly affect social interactions. In some, ADD symptoms go into remission. However, roughly 80% of adults maintain their ADD symptoms. This affects marital and dating relationships. Impulsive and inattentive behaviors dramatically affect the nature of relationships. In many cases, successful, long-term relationships depend on the abilities of others to adapt. Consequently, partners who exhibit patience and understand the nature of the symptoms are instrumental in helping a relationship to endure.
Just as in children, adult ADD problems create problems on the home front. As mentioned, such problems persist in adults as well. Not only does it affect marital and dating relationships. In addition, it also affects parenting relationships. It affects other family and interpersonal relationships as well. Problems with organization, follow through, impulsivity, and being attentive affect the nature of relationships. Another possible issue is the prevalence of substance abuse. Between 35% and 70% of adults with substance abuse problem also had a childhood ADD diagnosis. Therefore, ADD problems complicate parenting and family relationships.
Finally, Adult ADD complicates school and work. Adults who are in school can expect the same struggles as children. However, adults also suffer the effects of attention deficit problems at work. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, there are at least three aspects of ADD that affect employment. First, ADD adults struggle to realize their earning potential. Second, the need for adult social assistance is increased. Finally, adults with ADD typically struggle with completing their education. They are also at higher risk of being involved in crime. These issues all greatly affect ADD adults in the workplace. Fortunately, determined adults can overcome ADD struggles have a successful work experience.
IADD affects adults in many of the same ways it affects children. Clearly, there is a stigma to those who manage attention deficit problems with stimulant medication. In many cases, therapy complements the use of medication to help with ADD symptoms. If you think you might have adult ADD, click here for a list of 19 symptoms.
Why You Need an ADHD Treatment Team: Burlington NC Therapist Your child has an attention deficit disorder and you’re completely overwhelmed. His grades are tanking and he”s driving you crazy at home. I get it. It is not easy. You need help but you don’t know what to do. The only thing you do know is […]
Your child has an attention deficit disorder and you’re completely overwhelmed. His grades are tanking and he”s driving you crazy at home. I get it. It is not easy. You need help but you don’t know what to do. The only thing you do know is that you feel alone and you don’t know how to help your child. You need a group of people to help you help your child succeed and to help you keep your sanity. You need a treatment team to help you. Here are five people you should enlist in your ADHD treatment team.
A physician is an indispensable member of your child’s ADHD treatment team. a primary care physician can serve an important role in building a treatment team. First of all, a physician is instrumental in making a diagnosis. In addition, a physician can serve an important role in making medical referrals. You will need a physician in the event that you want any testing done. A physician can also assist you in locating a therapist that is gifted in treating attention deficit problems. Finally, should you decide that a medicinal strategy is necessary, a physician can prescribe appropriate medications.
A second member of your child’s treatment team that you need is a therapist. A therapist can help a child with ADHD develop skills to aid them in succeeding at school, at home, and in social relationships. In some cases, a therapist can undertake any testing that may need to be done. This is, of course, dependent on the type of license they hold and the types of training they have received. A therapist can also provide treatment to help a child address negative thinking that may be having an effect on the child’s functioning. A therapist can also serve an important role in providing support and training the family to support one another. Research shows that the most effective treatment is a combination of medicinal and therapy.
A guidance Counselor or school counselor is an indispensable part of your child’s ADHD Treatment team help your child succeed at school. Not only do guidance counselors help students with preparing themselves for college. They also help students to accomplish their educational goals while in school. This includes developing your child’s Individualized Educational Program (IEP) to customize your child’s educational experience. A guidance counselor or school counselor will work with you to determine what accommodations might be necessary for your child to succeed. She will then work with teachers on the implementation of accommodations.
Finally, you need a teacher. This one is a little more complicated. Yes, you need a teacher. But, in reality, you need to connect to all your child’s teachers. A teacher is going to be the one that implements the accommodations specified in your child’s IEP. Therefore, it is important that you maintain a relationship with each of his teachers. Your child’s experience is going to be different in each class. There will be certain accommodations you discussed with the guidance counselor that is important in one class but not in another. So it is important to connect with each of the teachers.
This is the most important person on the treatment team. The parent has the most to gain and the most lose. Because of this, they are motivated to achieve positive outcomes for their child. The parent is going to be the one that advocates for their child. He or she will be the one that coordinates care with doctors and therapists. He or she will be the one that communicates their child’s needs with guidance counselors and teachers to identify and implement appropriate accommodations. In short, the parent is at the center of the activities of the treatment team.
My purpose as a Burlington NC therapist is to serve not only my community but ADHD parents everywhere. It may seem overwhelming to talk about building a treatment team for your child. However, I would like to point out two things in closing. First, many of the suggestions in this article, you are probably already doing. Second, constructing a treatment team is not only to help your child succeed. It is also to help you keep from becoming overwhelmed and to maintain your mental and emotional wellness.
Three Roles of a ADHD Parent: Graham NC Therapist Its hard being a parent of a child with attention deficit struggles. It can be so overwhelming. Sometimes it’s like how I feel when I visit my sister-in-law and wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. At my house, I know […]
Its hard being a parent of a child with attention deficit struggles. It can be so overwhelming. Sometimes it’s like how I feel when I visit my sister-in-law and wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. At my house, I know where all the doors and furniture is so getting to the bathroom is easy. At my sister-in-law’s, I bump into every wall and every piece of furniture. In the process, I bruise my shins and wake up everybody in the house. Maybe you, like I, have felt like you are groping your way through parenting your child. I’d like to suggest three ADHD parent roles for you to master on your way to becoming a great parent.
The first ADHD parent role for you to master is the praiser. This is an important one for an attention deficit parent. For some of us, this doesn’t come naturally. If this is true of you, it is a skill that you can master. I’m not going to say it is easy. But, you can do it. Be a praiser. Praise them for anything you can find. If they brush their teeth or take out the trash without being asked, praise them. If they make a “b” when they’ve been making “c’s,” praise them. Just praise them. Developing an encouraging style of parenting can be far more effective than traditional parenting styles. This is especially the case with the ADHD child. So be great at praising. It can go a long way for the ADHD child.
Organization is a important ADHD parent role for every parent of a attention deficit child. Attention deficit children can be significantly affected by organizational problems. This means an ADHD child might, forget their homework at home or they books at school. They might be unable to know what their homework is or when things are due. Don’t even get me started on them keeping their room clean or organized. It also means that as a parent you are going to have to help them with organization. Even with an older child, they may require your help in staying organized. consequently, you should think through systems that can help your child stay organized. This is particularly the case when is come to school. You have to be the organizer.
Advocacy is a skill every ADHD parent role that each parent should master. Advocating is something a parent must be able to do with their child’s teachers, school administrators, physicians and therapists. It is a skill that affects many of the areas of a child’s life. And advocating is an assertive, proactive skill. The ADHD child needs an active parent. Advocating is a strategic behavior. It is the commitment to making sure that your child is receiving all the benefits due them in a given situation. Advocating is the process of a parent making sure that their child has every chance to succeed. Unfortunately, this is not something they can do for themselves. However, you can help them greatly if you master the art of advocacy.
One of the things many therapists do with ADHD clients is skill building. However, you have the opportunity to build your parenting skills as well. You mastering these three roles will give your child a greater opportunity to be successful and give you greater joy in your role as a parent.
Three Resolutions You Should Make This Year, And Its Not Why You Think: Graham NC Counselor Every year I go through the motions of making new years resolutions. The main beneficiaries of my past resolutions have been the YMCA and the Weight Watchers people. In the past, my resolutions, although well intended, have been short-lived. […]
Every year I go through the motions of making new years resolutions. The main beneficiaries of my past resolutions have been the YMCA and the Weight Watchers people. In the past, my resolutions, although well intended, have been short-lived. I have gone to the gym or continued to stick with my diet for a month or so and then my resolve has waned. Finally, after a month or two, I have given up. Maybe you’re familiar with this pattern. If you are like me, you want to make changes that are sustainable and that make quality of life for you and your family more positive and more healthy. Here are some suggested resolutions and why they can help people who want to be healthy. The resolutions might sound familiar, but the reasons behind them might not.
This one is we hear all the time. I am going to work out this year. I need to lose weight. I’ll be happier with myself if I was twenty pounds lighter. Although these are good reasons for increasing your physical activity, there is a better reason to exercise. If you have anxiety or depression or cognitive struggles, exercise affects brain functioning in a notable way. When we exercise the brain releases chemicals that can help moderate some of these issues. So the reason that you should exercise this year is that it can help you to be more cognitively and emotionally healthy. It can help increase a sense of calm and balance. So whether it is working out at the gym, walking the dog, the water aerobics class (my preference), it just amounts to getting your heart rate up.
Too many people work hard, do for their family and others and never make time for themselves. I would never suggest that you stop doing for other people because that is one the things that make you great. However, make some time for yourself. Find a hobby that you can do for an hour or so every week or so. It could be playing your piano or guitar, playing tennis or golf, or taking a class. Taking classes are great because you can schedule around them and a class is something you do at a certain time. My wife and I are taking a cooking class and a stained glass window class together this year. So find something to do that you enjoy.
Of the many things that we do to take care of ourselves, sometimes getting enough sleep is not one of them. But sleep health is an important part of being healthy. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that children need as much as ten hours of sleep and adults between seven to nine hours of sleep a night. However, Gallup polling suggests that as much as 40% of Americans get less than the recommended amount of sleep. Gallup research also indicates that in the United States as the number of people who felt like that were getting adequate sleep decreased the number of people who felt they weren’t getting enough increased. The problem is that when we don’t get enough sleep it can influence brain health. While you are sleeping, your brain cycles through sleep stages and toxins are removed by cerebrospinal fluid. This is a process that can only take place while we are asleep. So, in conclusion, try to get enough sleep, take naps, get enough rest and be healthy.
Each of these resolutions is a potential positive brain health contributor. My hope for you is that 2018 is going to be a great year for you and your health.