Tag: education

Welcome – Connecting With Everyone Struggling With All Invisible Illnesses

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“Living in Stigma” connects with everyone coping with chronic pain, mental illness, and all invisible illnesses.

My blog “Living in Stigma” was launched in 2007 and originally dedicated to all of us struggling with mental illness.  I felt as if I was living in stigma with my own major depression.

Many forms of mental illness comprise of Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorders, PTSD, Eating Disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and much more.

I struggle with both mental illness and chronic migraines, and with news articles, social media, research and valued readers sharing comments and opinions on my blog, it’s a reality that invisible illnesses such as fibromyalgia, lupus, headaches, recurring back and leg pain, and so many more are also a vast portion of invisible illness stigma.  Continue reading →

Do I want Group Therapy? Yikes!

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funny

Most of my therapy has been individual, and I shied away from group therapy due to the fact that I was uncomfortable sharing my problems relating to depression and sexual abuse with a bunch of strangers.  To be honest, my biggest fear was losing it and looking like an idiot if I started bawling my eyes out!   However, I had no choice at the eating disorder program, it was 90% group and about 10% individual therapy.

I loathed it initially, others speaking out about themselves, revealing deep dark secrets that they had been holding onto, and slowly I became to trust them and I opened up.  In short, it was very helpful in my recovery, yet I have to say honestly, I still prefer one-on-one.  Give it a try though, it may suit you.

This article appeared in PsychCentral.com

Individual psychotherapy will always be the staple. It establishes the bond. It explores the ups and downs of that bond and probes the depths of the psychodynamic patterns of that bond and other bonds. It is the primary mode of understanding. It exists of and for itself and is not dependent on anything else. Group therapy is an adjunct to individual therapy.

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PTSD: Just can’t shake that Worthlessness feeling

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PTSD is to blame for my feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness habitually during my life.  Sexual abuse by a neighbor when I was six years old, coupled with the impact of living as a daughter of a narcissistic mother was the catalyst.  With trauma, both sexual and emotional, I experienced negativity leading to depression.  Seeking out therapy has improved the healing process.

On goodtherapy.org they explain Worthlessness

Worthlessness can be described as a feeling of desperation and hopelessness. Individuals who feel worthless may feel insignificant, useless, or believe they have nothing valuable to offer the world. People diagnosed with depression often report these feelings, and children who were neglected or abused may carry a sense of worthlessness into adulthood.

When worthlessness leads one to experience thoughts of suicide or causes other immediate crisis, it may be best to contact a crisis hotline or seek other help right away.

Understanding Worthlessness

Worthlessness, a feeling that may cause an individual to feel as if they have no significance or purpose, can have a significant negative effect on emotional health. A recent study conducted by researchers at Seoul National University found that feelings of worthlessness were significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempt in adults who reported major depression and had also experienced trauma. The study concluded that, among symptoms of depression, worthlessness had the strongest association with lifetime suicide attempt.

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What is codependency? Am I codependent?

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The term “codependency” was coined more than 20 years ago by authors who studied the negative impact of drug and alcohol use on families. Since then, use of the term has been expanded to include a pattern of psychologically unhealthy behaviors that are learned by individuals as a way of coping with a family environment marked by ignored or denied emotional turmoil.

Most people are able to enjoy a sense of healthy, mutual interdependence in their lives. However, people with codependency seem to habitually form relationships that are one-sided and emotionally destructive.

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Hey, are you filling my prescriptions properly? Beware!! 4 Pharmacy errors that can spell danger

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This is critical information for everyone.  Each time you pick up your prescription – check it!!

How to avoid pharmacy mix-ups that can mean serious consequences for your health

How often do serious pharmacy errors happen? Actually, nobody knows. There is little data tracking the problem across Canada.  So what do you need to know to stay safe? Here are four errors to watch out for that can have serious consequences for your health.

CBC News and Marketplace have been investigating pharmacy errors for several months in the largest hidden-camera test of its kind in Canada. Follow our continuing coverage at cbcnews.ca. Watch the complete investigation, Dispensing Danger, on Friday at 8 p.m. on CBC TV and online.

According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Canada, medication problems are often caused by a combination of factors. Here are some problems to watch out for:

Illegible prescriptions

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Are you “Attached” to your Therapist?

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image source: cromalens.com

I still have feelings of attachment for my present therapist of 6 years, it’s tough not to due to this stranger who has earned my trust, validated my feelings and permitted me to speak without interruption.  Not once did I ever see that expression of “whatever” or disbelief that I had become accustomed to when I was a child from my narcissistic mother. 

A psychotherapy blog I found that explains many topics is: Moments of Change where they have included an article on “Attachment in Therapy”

The consulting room is an emotional candy store. It is a place where you are the only person in the world and it’s all about you.  The therapist has no other mission but to understand you just as you are and help you heal and grow.  It is as close as you can come in adult life to the one-way relationship of childhood where you receive but don’t have to give back. In the case of psychotherapy, you do give back, but in a different currency, that allows for all the feeling of being taken care of.  One therapist said, “you buy my time, but the rest is free!”

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Friendship Ruined Therapy

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The therapist I have been working with for over five years has been amazing, we’ve dealt with some extremely emotional issues including PTSD sexual abuse and maternal narcissism.  She validated my feelings and showed the kind of empathy that I’d never received as a child, therefore, I’ve often craved her as a friend.  I soon understood boundaries, and realized it just wouldn’t work; therapy isn’t friendship. 

A friend told me of an occurrence where friendship ruined the relationship with her and her therapist.  She had been meeting X every 3 weeks for roughly 2 years, drudging through many agonizing, uncomfortable, personal issues and trusted X entirely with what she disclosed, more than with any other therapist.

When she was pregnant with her second child, also experiencing difficulties with her spouse, X was there to convey her thoughts to.  By the time the baby was to arrive, they worked through marital issues, which alleviated the situation at home and for her.

After the baby was born, she didn’t see X for several months, however, she did phone her to shout with joy that it was a baby girl, and X exclaimed “hooray!”  She was ‘on the fence’ about sending baby pictures, yet she did send a few via e-mail in the end and X asked to see more.

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PTSD: Just can’t shake that Worthlessness feeling

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PTSD is to blame with my feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness habitually during my life.  Sexual abuse by a neighbor when I was six years old, coupled by the impact of living as a daughter of a narcissistic mother was the catalyst.  With trauma, both sexual and emotional, I experienced negativity leading to depression.  Seeking out therapy has improved the healing process.

On goodtherapy.org they explain Worthlessness

Worthlessness can be described as a feeling of desperation and hopelessness. Individuals who feel worthless may feel insignificant, useless, or believe they have nothing valuable to offer the world. People diagnosed with depression often report these feelings, and children who were neglected or abused may carry a sense of worthlessness into adulthood. When worthlessness leads one to experience thoughts of suicide or causes other immediate crisis, it may be best to contact a crisis hotline or seek other help right away.

Understanding Worthlessness

Worthlessness, a feeling that may cause an individual to feel as if they have no significance or purpose, can have a significant negative effect on emotional health. A recent study conducted by researchers at Seoul National University found that feelings of worthlessness were significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempt in adults who reported major depression and had also experienced trauma. The study concluded that, among symptoms of depression, worthlessness had the strongest association with lifetime suicide attempt.

Continue reading →

Having Bipolar, does this make me a Genius?

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New study claims to find genetic link between creativity and mental illness

Results imply creative people are 25% more likely to carry genes that raise risk of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But others argue the evidence is flimsy

In a large study published, scientists in Iceland report that genetic factors that raise the risk of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are found more often in people in creative professions. Painters, musicians, writers and dancers were, on average, 25% more likely to carry the gene variants than professions the scientists judged to be less creative, among which were farmers, manual labourers and salespeople.

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Cyberstalking or Stalking ~ which is worse?

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An article on Psychcentral.com writes about this very subject.

In a new study, researchers explored and compared the experiences of people who had been victims of stalking or cyberstalking (harassing or threatening via the Internet).  They found that victims of cyberstalking had to engage in more ‘self-protective’ behaviors, pay higher out-of-pocket costs to combat the problem, and experienced greater fear over time than traditional stalking victims.

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Please explain what PTSD is?

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I hunted through the internet searching for a clear definition of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).  Some sites described this disorder in such a brief manner even I struggled understand it, then other sites explained in such detail it was way over my head.  Discovering this site and link @ National Institute of Mental Health came closest to the definition for me.

What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

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Imagine your child handcuffed in school because of ADHD?

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Officer sued after handcuffing school children with ADHD

Now this is taking things too far, the child now thinks he’s a criminal for a disorder that isn’t even his fault.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Two northern Kentucky women have sued a county sheriff and one of his school resource officers for placing their two disabled elementary school children in handcuffs.

The 8-year-old boy and the 9-year-old girl and their mothers are identified in the lawsuit only by their initials. The children have both been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The lawsuit says school officials asked School Resource Officer Kevin Sumner to help after the children were being disruptive in class. A report from the sheriff’s office says the children tried to hit Sumner.

The lawsuit says Sumner placed the handcuffs around the children’s biceps behind their backs.

A spokesman for the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office said Sheriff Charles Korzenborn had not been notified of the lawsuit and declined to comment. An attorney for Sumner said he acted appropriately.

Has a Therapist ever broken your Trust?I

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This article was written by: Nicole Lyons on a PsychCentral.com blog:

A few years ago I was referred to a highly reputable and respected psychologist who, in the midst of writing academic books and journals, also crossed the border on occasion to speak at very prestigious universities. From our first session we got on very well and both acknowledged that our therapist/client relationship would be an effective and suitable one. During our second session he asked me if there was any direction that he shouldn’t take our sessions and I touched on one particular area that I was not comfortable talking about at that time.

Over the course of six months things were great and moving along very well, until they weren’t anymore. My ethical and competent therapist, this highly regarded professional crossed a boundary in such an improper and alarming way that not only was our client/therapist relationship breached, all trust that I had in him was lost instead replaced by fear and suspicion of ever continuing therapy again.

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Which psych meds could be causing your weight gain?

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You watch what you eat and fit regular workouts into your schedule. So why is the number on your scale going up instead of down? The reason might lie in your bathroom cabinet.“As many as 10% to 15% of weight issues are related to medications,” says Louis Aronne, MD, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medical College.Some meds can make you feel hungrier. Others slow your body’s ability to burn calories or cause you to hold onto extra fluids.The effects aren’t the same for everybody, though. “One person might gain 15 pounds on one drug. Another might not gain anything,” Aronne says.If you suspect the medicines that you take are behind your weight gain, don’t go off them before you talk to your doctor. “You might need to be on that drug to save your life,” says Donald Waldrep, MD, co-director of The Center for Weight Loss Surgery at Los Robles Hospital. You may be able to switch to another medication, including one that can even help you shed pounds. If not, your doctor can suggest what you should do to offset the weight gain.

“There’s evidence that a low-carb diet and more exercise may help,” says Sue DeCotiis, MD, a board-certified internist who specializes in medical weight loss.

Below are some types of medicines that may be the cause of your expanding waistline. It’s not a complete list, so speak to your doctor if you have any concerns about your prescriptions.

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Bullying

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The topic of a TV show I watched last night, centered on what kids would do when put into a situation where someone was being bullied.  It was interesting; some felt uncomfortable yet didn’t want to speak up, a few spoke, another went to the person’s defense, another comforted the person being bullied.  You know what’s right, but would you defend that person being bullied in a situation that would involve you?

Image source:  cheeta-fire (polyvore)

“My Head REALLY Hurts” ~ this is what I mean……

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This was posted on Twitter.com (just today) by Chronic Migraine Aware @CMAware. Interesting for those who suffer with migraines, such as myself and now aware of how many blood vessels in and around the face area, which mine often go, and even wearing glasses is too painful.

https://www.facebook.com/ChronicMigraineAwareness

The Effects of Stress on the Body

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Healthline.com contacted me via email regarding a request to show a visual representation of “The Effects of Stress on the Body“, which I was more than pleased to post.

Hi Deb,
I hope all is well with you. Healthline just published an infographic detailing the effects of stress on the body. This is an interactive chart allowing the reader to pick the side effect they want to learn more about.

You can see the overview of the report here:
http://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body

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Attachment to your Therapist

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I am struggling with this problem of attachment to my therapist of six years, and was oblivious to what extent until we began considering termination.  The biggie for me is losing contact with the one person who has gained my trust, validated my feelings, listened and permitted me to speak without interruption, and not once had that expression of “whatever” and so on….  I never received this from my toxic mother.

A psychotherapy blog I found that explains many topics is : Moments of Change where they have included an article on “Attachment in Therapy”

The consulting room is an emotional candy store. It is a place where you are the only person in the world and it’s all about you. The therapist has no other mission but to understand you just as you are and help you heal and grow. It is as close as you can come in adult life to the one-way relationship of childhood where you receive but don’t have to give back. In the case of psychotherapy, you do give back, but in a different currency, that allows for all the feeling of being taken care of. One therapist said, “you buy my time, but the rest is free!”

Continue reading →

Difference between: “psychopath” and “sociopath”

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You may have heard people call someone else a “psychopath” or a “sociopath.” But what do those words really mean?

You won’t find the definitions in mental health’s official handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.  Doctors don’t officially diagnose people as psychopaths or sociopaths.  They use a different term instead: antisocial personality disorder.

Most experts believe psychopaths and sociopaths share a similar set of traits. People like this have a poor inner sense of right and wrong. They also can’t seem to understand or share another person’s feelings. But there are some differences, too.

DO THEY HAVE A CONSCIENCE?

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Considering Couples Therapy? Here are 7 signs….

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My husband and I have been married for over thirty years, and it was suggested that we do some couple’s counselling just to talk over some issues and have a third party to oversee each of our points of view.  It really made a difference with only 6 sessions.  

Fixing a relationship with therapy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s broken, it’s just maintenance!

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PTSD ~ Symptoms & Treatments

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I have PTSD, and through therapy I’ve begun to heal from the trauma I suffered as a child who was sexually abused.  It takes time to recognize how the symptoms listed below have affected my life, and it’s taken years with a qualified therapist to work through and cope with the intrusive memories.

 

(newsmax.com/health) — Are you unable to overcome traumatic experiences that happened in the past? Do you have troubled sleep and a constant feeling of fear and anxiety? Depression, anxiety, and panic are some of the first symptoms that show in post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD is common in the U.S. among firefighters, combat warriors, and adolescents. Post-traumatic stress disorder develops when panic and anxiety after a traumatic incident are not sorted out even after the tragic incident is over.  Instead, the sense of panic and anxiety continues for many months or years of having witnessed the tragic incident.  In such cases, depression and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD begin to appear.

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Do I want Group Therapy? Yikes!

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funny

Most of my therapy has been individual, and I shied away from group therapy due to the fact that I was uncomfortable sharing my problems relating to depression and sexual abuse with a bunch of strangers.  To be honest, my biggest fear was losing it and looking like an idiot if I started bawling my eyes out!   However, I had no choice at the the eating disorder program, it was 90% group and about 10% individual therapy.

I loathed it initially, others speaking out about themselves, revealing deep dark secrets that they had been holding onto, and slowly I became to trust them and I opened up.  In short, it was very helpful in my recovery, yet I have to say honestly, I still prefer one-on-one.  Give it a try though.

This article appeared in PsychCentral.com

Continue reading →

Workplace Suicide

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People with protective services job, like police and firemen, are at more than three times great a risk of workplace suicide than people in the general population, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.  Workplace suicide represents a small fraction of the total number of U.S. suicide deaths—more than 40,000 Americans died of suicide in the U.S. in 2013, on par with traffic accidents deaths.  Still, the rate of work place suicide is rising across the board, the study found.

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Gastric Sleeve vs. Lap Band Surgery ~ Which would be best for me?

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I found this link explaining the difference between ‘Gastric Sleeve‘ vs. ‘Lap Band‘ surgery for weight loss.  This is on a commercial site for which I am NOT promoting, however, I thought it explains the surgeries in a clear manner.

Link:   http://lapbandsurgery.com/are-you-a-candidate-for-lap-band-surgery/gastric-banding/gastric-sleeve-vs-lap-band/

 

Social Anxiety Disorder

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This seems to cover a wide range of social situations and I question… so many people would be diagnosed with this disorder.   If you were traumatized or abused as a child, would a psychiatrist come to the conclusion that this is probably what you would have and perhaps not dig further, stamping Social Anxiety Disorder on your file?  I would hope not.   So many people are uncomfortable and fall into the “speaking in public” or “eating/drinking/writing/working in front of people” category.  …. Just my opinion.

I do agree with their treatments though, they would alleviate anxiety.

 

PTSD & Dissociation

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While going though therapy, I had a rough time with dissociation (splitting) and recognize it still recurring at times.   With PTSD, it’s been a bumpy road in psychotherapy, and experiencing the flashbacks and nightmares makes me question if I should have sought out therapy in the first place.

Are Natural Remedies for Depression Effective?

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Natural remedies for depression aren’t a replacement for medical diagnosis and treatment.  But, for some people certain herbs and supplements do seem to work well.  More studies are needed to determine which natural remedies for depression are most likely to help and what side effects they might cause. Here are four natural remedies that show promise:

  • St. John’s wort. Known scientifically as Hypericum perforatum, this is an herb that’s been used for centuries to treat a variety of ills, including depression.  It’s not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat depression in the United States.  However, it’s a popular depression treatment in Europe.  It may be helpful if you have mild or moderate depression.  However, it should be used with caution — St. John’s wort can interfere with a number of medications, including antidepressants, HIV/AIDS medications and drugs to prevent organ rejection after an organ transplant. Continue reading →

Veterans & Suicide: This Bill Could Help

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The legacy of Clay Hunt: Marine recalled in new suicide legislation           Image: Pinterest.com via Washington Post

22 veterans commit suicide each day  

I found this article on (Time.com/Mental Health & Psychology) dated Feb 6/2015 ~ announcing that earlier this month, four years after Clay Hunt’s suicide, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act.

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Men and Women Experience Depression Differently, How?

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This article appeared on (Fox News.com) ~ It discusses forms of depression, and how men and women experience depression differently, and also includes other links.

Depressive disorders are a complex and often confusing family of conditions. Sometimes lumped under the general term “depression,” these disorders can cause any combination of several symptoms. Because of this, depressive disorders manifest in a variety of ways, making them sometimes difficult to diagnose.

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