Posts Tagged ‘depression help’

Various types of Pain Disorders

Monday, November 12th, 2007

Pain Disorder is a somatoform disorder in which the predominant area of focus is painful bodily complaints in which psychological factors are determined to be central to the onset, severity, exacerbation or maintenance of the complaint. Pain disorders are classified into several categories based upon their cause. Neuropathic pain is a particularly severe pain disorder that results from damage to the central and peripheral nervous system. Ion channels play an important role in the detection, transmission and cognitive recognition of pain signals. Ion channels are critical at each step in the pain pathway, including the detection of local stimuli, the transmission of the electrical impulses to the brain and the interpretation of electrical impulses as pain signals. Pain Disorder (like conversion disorder) is a form of somatoform disorder. Pain Disorder does not mean that the person has no biological reason for pain. It suggests that there are psychological factors that appear to have contributed to the onset, severity, maintenance or exacerbation of the pain. In pain disorder, it is important that the patient be assisted in determining what factors play a role in the experience of the pain.

Pain disorder may come after surgery, hospitalization, or injury; when the wound heals, the pain doesn’t go away. It sometimes comes in conjunction with an addiction as well, and may be a symptom of hypochondrism or another depressive disorder. Pain disorder is marked by the presence of severe pain. Pain disorder is relatively common in the general population especially amongolder adults; the ratio is more nearly equal. It appears to affect men and women with equalfrequency. Inflammatory pain results from the effects of inflammatory mediators and cellular debris that are released into surrounding tissues as the immune system is activated, whether appropriately to fight infection, or inappropriately, such as in auto-immune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with body dysmorphic disorder often try to have plasticsurgery or other procedures to repair or treat the supposed defect. Both neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain are types of chronic pain. Because of the many different reasons pain disorder manifests, it may or may not be successfully treatable. If it comes in conjunction with another mental illness, it should be treatable and the patient should recover fully.

Symptoms of Pain Disorders:

1. Lightheadedness or dizziness.

2. Skipping heartbeat.

3. Chest pain.

4. Excessive sweating

5. Nausea or stomach problems.

6. Feelings of unreality.

Treatment of Pain Disorders:

Surgical complications and addictions to prescription pain medications can develop if used inappropriately to treat this condition. Psychiatric referrals may be helpful, though many people with this disorder resist psychiatric interventions. Pain Disorder associated with a General Medical Condition may be treated with a course of general pain killers. This term is used for any patient who has pain that is mainly caused, worsened or maintained by a general medical condition, so long as any psychological factors play at most a minor role. Prescription and non-prescription pain medications are usually not effective and can make matters worse due to potentially serious side effects.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Mental Health | No Comments »

Various types of Anxiety Disorders

Monday, November 12th, 2007

Anxiety is a feeling of unease. Anxiety is only considered to be a mental health problem when it is prolonged, severe and is interfering with everyday activities. Fortunately, most anxiety disorders are highly treatable with psychotherapy, drugs, or a combination of both. There are at least nine identified types of anxiety disorders, include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, specific phobia, separation anxiety, school avoidance, and agoraphobia. Anxiety disorders in children can range from a simple adjustment disorder to more difficult and debilitating disorders such as panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. It’s normal to feel anxious when facing something difficult or dangerous, and mild anxiety can be a positive and useful experience. Excessive anxiety is often associated with other mental health problems, such as depression. Unfortunately, many people with anxiety disorders don’t seek treatment because they do not believe they have a legitimate illness, or they fear the reaction of family and friends.

Sometimes anxiety can be associated with a physical illness, such as thyroid disorder. For this reason it’s advisable to see your GP in order to rule out a physical cause. Symptoms occur with varying frequency and intensity but may include all of those listed above as well as trembling, chest pain, nausea, and fear. You may fear you are going crazy or dying. Some people may also have a sense of being detached from reality. Anxiety can be a long-term disorder where you feel worried most of the time about things that might go wrong. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used, as is psychotherapy and stress management techniques. Drugs used to treat anxiety include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Often, a combination of therapies works best.

What are the types of Anxiety disorders?

There are several major types of anxiety disorders:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder feel anxious nearly all of the time, though they may not even know why.

2. Phobias: A phobia is an unrealistic or exaggerated fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that in reality presents little to no danger. Common phobias include fear of animals such as snakes and spiders, fear of flying, and fear of heights.

3. Social Phobia: Social anxiety disorder can be thought of as extreme shyness.

4. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): It  is characterized by unwanted thoughts or behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control.

5. Separation Anxiety: Separation anxiety is a normal part of child development.

6. Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder: Panic disorder is characterized by repeated, unexpected panic attacks.

Symptoms of Anxiety:

The symptoms can include:

1. Abdominal discomfort.

2. Rapid heartbeat or palpitations.

3. Shortness of breath.

4. Frequent urination

5. Feeling worried or uneasy all the time

6. An inability to concentrate

7. Depersonalisation.

Treatment For Anxiety disorders:

The treatment will depend upon which type of anxiety you are experiencing and how severe it is. Cognitive-behavior therapy is very effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Tranquilisers, such as benzodiazepine tablets, may help to relieve some short-term stress-related anxieties. However, they shouldn’t be taken for long periods because of the risk of addiction. For this reason they aren’t usually prescribed. Antidepressants can treat certain anxiety disorders such as generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia, OCD, and anxiety associated with depression.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Mental Health | No Comments »

Role of vitamins in Mood Disorders

Monday, November 12th, 2007

Mood disorders are also called affective disorders. Mood disorders have a major economic impact through associated health care costs as well as lost work productivity. A mood is an emotion or feeling that lasts a long time. Moods affect how we act. Your mood also affects how you feel about yourself and life in general. Mood disorder problems may be caused by changes in your life. Chemical changes in your body can also cause a mood disorder. Moods range from feeling sad to feeling happy. Women who have a mood disorder are more likely to get depressed than men. Signs and symptoms of mood disorder start very slowly. Other people may see changes before you see or feel them. However, sometimes depression can occur due to another disorder or as a drug side effect, and in these cases it is known as secondary depression. The effects of exercise in improving the symptoms of depression are well-documented. Inadequate intake of zinc, vitamin B6, iodine, vitamin B12 and folic acid during early life may impair nervous system development and permanently alter function and behavior.

Having a mood disorder can affect your ability to function at work and at home. Treatment of mood disorders such as depression is a complex process and may involve psychotherapy and drug treatment. Where there is no clear physiological cause, the disorder is known as primary depression and it seems likely that the disorder will have several contributory causes. Research has focussed on biological factors such as heredity, hormonal abnormalities, medication side effects, disease-related effects, nutritional deficiencies and psychological and social causes. Drugs which have antidepressant effects usually alter levels of neurotransmitters, serotonin and noradrenaline, which are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain. An appropriate exercise program is an important part of any treatment of depression.

Causes of Mood disorder

Some common causes of Mood disorder are as follows:

1. Family history of mood disorder.

2. Changes in your life.

3. Chemical changes in your body.

4. You use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol.

Signs or Symptoms of Mood disorder

Following are signs and symptoms of a mood disorder:

1. Changes in your eating habits, energy level, weight, or sleeping patterns.

2. Inability to function effectively.

3. Fatigue.

4. Sense of Inferiority.

5. People may have trouble getting along with you.

6. Loss of interest.

The Role of vitamins:-

1. Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps protect the mucous membranes of the nose, eyelids, mouth, throat, stomach, intestines, thereby reducing susceptibility to infection.

2. Vitamin B Complex: Vitamins B complex provide the body with energy by aiding in the conversion of carbohydrates to glucose, which the body “burns” to produce energy.

3. Vitamin C Complex: Vitamin C plays a role in healing wounds and burns because it facilitates the formation of connective tissue in the scar.

4. Vitamin D: Vitamin D can be acquired either by ingestion or by exposure to sunlight.

5. Vitamin E: Vitamin E is necessary for all forms of oxygen-consuming life forms. It is also an antioxidant, which means it opposes oxidation of substances in the body.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Mental Health | No Comments »

Role of Exercise in Mental Problems

Monday, November 12th, 2007

The term, ‘mental health problem’ covers a wide range of problems which affect someone’s ability to get on with their daily life. Causes of mental illness also vary, but may result from genetics, trauma, biological factors such as infections or toxins, or neuroplasticity resulting from psychological or anthropological factors. Mental health problems can affect anyone, of any age and background, as well as having an impact on the people around them such as their family, friends and carers. Symptoms of mental illness greatly vary dependent upon the specific disorder, but may include mild to chronic forms of depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, difficulties with attention, loss of cognitive abilities, or the presence of hallucinations or delusions. Mental health professionals will treat mental disorders differently using one or a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, case management, or other practices.

Mental health problems result from a complex interaction of biological, social and psychological factors, but are still usually discussed in medical terms. Multiple sclerosis does cause mental illness and psychiatric conditions, other than depression, and these psychiatric conditions are relatively common. Most people recover from their mental health problems. Long -term problems can lead to considerable disruption and difficulty in people’s lives, but many of the people affected find ways of managing their problems and are able to lead active lives. People with mental health problems need help and support to enable them to cope with their illness. There are many treatment options, including medication, counselling, psychotherapy, complementary therapies and self help strategies.

Sometimes people with mental health problems are discriminated against. This can lead to social problems such as homelessness, and may make the mental health problem worse. Environmental events surrounding pregnancy and birth have been linked to an increased development of mental illness in the offspring. This includes maternal exposure to serious psychological stress or trauma, conditions of famine, obstetric birth complications, infections, and gestational exposure to alcohol or cocaine. Minority ethnic groups, including first or second-generation immigrants, have been found to be at greater risk for developing mental disorders, which has been attributed to various kinds of life insecurities and disadvantages, including racism. Mental health professionals treat mental disorders differently using one or a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, case management, or other practices. The major treatment options for mental disorders are psychiatric medication and psychotherapy.

Exercise In Mental And Other Problems

Exercise helped to relieve the symptoms of depression and more than half said it helped to reduce stress and anxiety. Regular aerobic exercise will clear the cobwebs and help your brain to function more efficiently. Physical fitness does not come easy. The best strategy is to gradually increase the duration of your exercise sessions and, along with enhancing your physical fitness, your mental muscle will also begin to take shape. Many people with mental health problems use physical exercise to make them feel better, a survey has found. Mind found that people with mental health problems were more likely to get their exercise from everyday activities like walking, housework and gardening.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Mental Health | No Comments »