Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD
Specialized Services
Specialize in working with individuals who are coping with Trauma, Anxiety and Depression, Attention Deficit Disorders
I use mindfulness based cognitive behavioral interventions, art, meditation, yoga, guided imagery and neurolinguistic programming in treating clients. In treatment planning clients can choose the type of interventions they find most helpful.
Stress, Trauma, Anxiety and Depression
STRESS is a word that everyone knows well.
You feel that you are being pushed beyond your limit, you feel in it in your body, you hear the pitch change in your conversation, and you are left with a taste that’s not as good in some areas in your life.
Difficulties in life some times make you question your faith and meaning in life
Most of us figure out a way to cope with stress and return to a state of balance, feel good and regain our faith. Sometimes we are unable to find a way out or the circumstances and our bodies are made differently in terms of their ability to handle stress. Some individuals are born with a biological vulnerability to disorders of mental health.
Prolonged or traumatic stress can therefore result in more difficult mind and body states that are called – Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder or Traumatic Stress Disorders. Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar disorder and Traumatic Stress Disorders are treatable states of the body and mind that are out of balance.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Approx 7% adults are affected by depression in the United States. 9% of Adolescents are affected by depression.
20% of adults in United States are affected by anxiety disorders
Stress, Anxiety, and Depression are health problems
If the psychological basis of these disorders is not treated then there is a risk of more severe physiological deterioration.
Studies show that untreated anxiety and depression is related higher blood pressure, delayed wound healing, lowered immunity to latent viruses and heart attacks.
Depressed individuals are at a higher risk for Chronic Heart Disease. In a 12 year study it was found the depressed individuals were found to have a 50% higher chance of dying of cardiac arrest.
These are genuine HEALTH problems that are sometimes triggered by environmental stressors but are caused by a compromised immunity in the body. These are health problems since they contribute further to physical illness, a shorter life span and an emotionally difficult life.
Symptoms of Depression and Bipolar Disorder
If you
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feel sad often
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cry a lot
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find that you are not motivated
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find that you cannot concentrate
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find that you don’t enjoy activities or people, or are not interested in things that used to interest you
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are irritable and reacting to situations
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are eating more or less than usual
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are loosing or gaining weight
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feel very guilty or responsible for things that you may not be able to control
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feel like you are not important or that people do not really care for you
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often have thoughts about ending your life, committing suicide
You may be depressed.
Bipolar Disorder is a type of depressive disorder. Individuals who have Bipolar disorder have cycles of depressed mood and at least one episode of mania.
In a manic state you may feel like you are high and do not need sleep, you may not sleep much for a whole week, you may believe you can do anything, you may believe you a person of great importance, you may believe you can do things that may not be realistic, you may make rash decisions which have serious consequences, and you may do things impulsively.
When you come down from the manic state you recognize that may have made some mistakes and feel guilty and get depressed.
The highs and lows seem out of your control. You may enjoy the highs and want to believe there is nothing wrong with
you – but when you are honest with yourself you are unhappy about the rash decisions you made.
For more details on symptoms that are used to form diagnosis go to:
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/dsm4TRclassification.htm
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorders
If you
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worry to much, are tired from worrying too much,
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have trouble falling or staying asleep
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feel stressed
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feel restlessness or a feel "edgy"
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are irritable
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feel tension in your muscles
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have headaches
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find yourself sweating a lot in unfamiliar situations
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have difficulty concentrating
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feel nauseous
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need to go to the bathroom frequently
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feel shaky and/or get startled easily
You may be suffering from an anxiety problem.
You may also suffer from Panic Attacks along with your anxiety
While experiencing Panic Attacks you may feel intense fear or discomfort.
You may also feel like you are having a heart attack:
You may feel like your chest hurts, you heart is pounding or racing fast, experience choking sensations, shortness of breath heart, stomach aches, nausea, dizziness, trembling shaking, numbness, and sometimes a sense that things are not real.
For more details on diagnostic criteria and symptoms of other related anxiety disorders visit the following website
http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/dsm4TRclassification.htm
What causes Depression and Anxiety?
Individuals may be biologically and genetically vulnerable to depression and anxiety.
Difficult life events or transitions often trigger a depressive episode or an anxiety episode.
Just as we need enough insulin to break down sugars or antibodies in the blood to fight off infection, a certain balance of chemicals are also needed in the brain for optimal mental health functioning. An imbalance in chemicals such as norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine, in the brain may contribute to increased levels of depression or anxiety.
Depression and anxiety are manifested in both mood and physical problems. Lack of physical exercise, social connection, and negative thinking helps to maintain symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as exacerbate them.
Why do people often believe they do not need help?
People often think they should not have mental health problems because they are afraid it means they are different or not in control of themselves. They feel guilty and think they should be able to fix it themselves.
Treatment
Treating emotional problems is similar though to the treatment of diabetes or chronic heart disease where medication alone does not the problem. A life style change, acceptance of the problem and motivation to do things differently affect prognosis of physical illnesses.
Mental health issues need a combination of medication and lifestyle and thought style change for lasting recovery.
You need a doctor for the treatment of diabetes and you may need a psychiatrist, a therapist and a fitness coach to help you with you mental health issue.
In the treatment of anxiety and depression I will ask you about your work, your family, sleep habits etc. Assessing different areas of your life will help us decide which areas we want to address in treatment and target our meetings and goals accordingly.
I will recommend the use of other experts to help you if needed.
Medications
Anxiety and Depression are treatable and medications are sometimes used in treatment. After an initial assessment if I feel medication may help you I can refer you to a list psychiatrists I know and trust. You will have the choice of being treated with or without the assistance of medication. We will discuss the importance of including medication in your treatment if it is strongly recommended by the psychiatrist. Please consult a physician before taking any drugs or before changing any dose on the drugs you are taking.
For more information on medications used to treat anxiety and depression visit the following websites.