Psychological stress has been suspected as being an asthma trigger for a long time, but recently there is compelling scientific evidence to validate this theory.

Asthma can be affected by stress, anxiety, loneliness, as well as by environmental irritants or allergens, exercise, and infection. It is also linked to high prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders. (1)

Rather than stress directly causing the asthma symptoms, it is believed that stress modulates the immune system to raise the amount of the airway inflammatory response to allergens and irritants.

Asthma is a disease that affects the airways that transport air to and from your lungs. It is an incurable ailment, but with proper management a person with asthma can lead a normal and progressive life.

In this article we will be looking at some of the psychological implications of asthma and how it can be controlled.

For many years, asthma had been questioned whether it was really a disease or was it just a psychological condition. Before the twentieth century, incidents of asthma were rare, and people with asthma lead healthy lives. An asthma attack was considered to be triggered by stress and was viewed as a superficial condition, especially among children who would simply throw a tantrum and trigger a consequent asthma attack. Some remedies of the past to control initial asthma attack included breathing into a brown paper bag and using distraction or relaxation. They believed it could be kept under control purely from a psychological perspective.

Now, asthma has reached epidemic proportions in all developed countries despite major advancements in effective asthma drugs.

In a study conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), there has been evidence that adult inception of asthma, especially among women, is connected to chronic stress.

Some alternative methods like Buteyko breathing techniques perceive asthma as a stress-related condition that is influenced by our emotional and psychological state of mind, directly affecting our breathing.

Modern sedentary lifestyle promotes minimum physical activity. As a result we are faced with stress which leads to gradual accumulation of muscular tension leading to hyperventilation. The Buteyko method confirms that hyperventilation as an exacerbating aspect in asthma.

However, The British Thoracic Society (2) considers the Buteyko method to help patients manage the symptoms of asthma, but states there is insufficient data showing an intentional improvement in previous studies.

Psychological factors

Asthma can take psychological toll on a person’s life. Some of contributing factors include:

• how severe the asthma is
• the degree to which day-to- day activities are constrained
• the quality of support available from family and friends
• at what age the asthma began
• the patient’s knowledge about asthma
• the person’s overall personality and skills used to cope with the condition

Each asthmatic’s experience with the ailment is unique. There is a bit of social stigma attached to asthma, as most sufferers, mostly children, tend to develop low self-confidence. They are wary of their surroundings and feel embarrassed when an asthma attack is triggered. Most asthmatics strive hard to fit in the society. This could lead them to ignore their present condition or restrict them from managing their asthma.

Lack of full knowledge about asthma is the main reason why asthmatics feel anxious about themselves. They need to gain a thorough understanding of their condition and educate others around them. This way, everyone benefits and becomes more compassionate towards the sufferer.

With regard to child asthmatics who often feel embarrassed about the ailment, parents can play a vital part by requesting their school teacher to talk to students about the condition. Once the children are informed about asthma and how it is like to live with it, it is less likely they will make fun of a child with asthma.

Strategies to cope with the psychological aspects of asthma

1. Learn to accept – Asthmatics need to accept how they feel about their asthma condition and face the situation with courage. Ignoring the emotions won’t help at all; in fact, it’ll make matters worse. Child sufferers should be encouraged to open up and talk about how they exactly feel and label their emotions.

2. Be informed – It is important to learn about asthma and how it is triggered. The more informed you are, the healthier you can aim to be. Try to make lifestyle adjustments that will help keep asthma under control. It will help in reducing asthma and make you a confident person.

3. Be inquisitive – Instead of going into a shell and feeling miserable about the condition, reach out to others. Most people are happy to help and support you. All you have to do is ask. Try and form close social networks and build healthy relationships to remain positive.

4. Learn to relax – Relaxation and breathing exercises have been proved to reduce asthma-related stress and anxiety. In certain cases, they can actually cut down the physical symptoms of asthma. If you feel anxious about attending social events, you could try meditating for 15-20 minutes to reduce anxiety.

5. Find a good medical practitioner – A friendly and reliable medical practitioner is worth his/her weight in gold. You need to feel comfortable and be supported. Someone who understands how you are feeling and can explain things, can make you feel better both psychologically as well as physically.

Asthma rates rise in the US

Asthma affects 7.85% of the population, an increase of approximately .5% every 3 years, according to a new government study. (3)

17.5 million American adults currently have asthma (4). The number of American children who have asthma is 7.1 million.

Of course, if the asthma sufferer is a young child, he or she may not be able to deal too well on their own with some of the psychological problems of asthma, so it is very important that a parent or a guardian teach them how to better cope and manage it. And its not just young children that need to learn to cope. One of the problems of asthma with teens and young adults is that there is a tendency to make the worst of what it is. They allow the asthma to play on their minds so triggering it. Sometimes the best treatment is to set yourself free by occupying your time with other things.

Sources:
1) National Institutes of Health
2) The British Thoracic Society
3) American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

As one person puts it, the feeling of anxiety can be like having worms crawling through your brain.

Overcoming anxiety is not easy, but here are 25 of the top tips to do so that we’ve seen.

1) The first question is, what is causing the anxiety?

It sounds like a simple enough question but finding an answer to it is essential.  You may notice that you feel anxious in a certain situation but aren’t sure why.  Until you figure out what is going on, you’ll be in the dark.

So, what is causing the anxiety?  To figure this out you may have to be creative – and you will also likely have to be honest with yourself.

For instance, a person noticed that they were feeling anxious when they had to take the train, but only on a certain line.  Until they thought, “wait, why am I feeling anxious?” and remembered they had a bad experience at one of the stops, they didn’t know what was going on.

2) How can you deal with the anxiety?

What are your options?  What can you do to make the anxiety more manageable?  By thinking rationally about it and coming up with ideas, you’ll feel more in control and better able to deal with it.

3) Realize or admit that you have anxiety

It can be hard to admit that you have a problem or an issue.  But once you identify the problem and are able to think about it in a certain way, you can become resistant to it and better able to deal with it.

Especially with anxiety.

This would be tip #1 because it is so important – but you likely know or suspect you have some anxiety issues, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this article.

4) See a therapist

If the anxiety is serious enough to cause issues in your life and isn’t getting better, maybe it makes sense to see a therapist.  They are trained to help you work through these issues.

5) Exercise on a regular basis

Going to the gym on a regular basis helps you work out your tensions and makes you more relaxed and feel better in general.

7) Ask yourself questions like: “How likely is it?” and “If it is true, what does it matter?”

An extremely useful technique some people use to deal with stress and anxiety is to ask themselves rationally how likely something is.  For instance, let’s say you walk past some people and they laugh.  Were they laughing at you?

Two questions can make that moment less stressful.  First, “how likely is it?”  Be honest – on a scale of one to ten, how likely is it that they were laughing at you?

Second, “And if it is true, what does it matter?”

Even if the random strangers were laughing at you, how much does it matter to you?

8) Cut back on caffeine

Caffeine and other stimulants can make you more anxious or nervous.  Cutting back on the amount of caffeine that you consume can help reduce the anxiety you feel if you are consuming a significant amount.

9) Consider medication

There are many medications that help with anxiety.  They are strong drugs, however, so their use should be reserved for more serious cases and done under a doctor’s supervision.

10) Talk to a friend

Have a good conversation with a friend.  Talking things over with someone can help put them in perspective.  Not to mention that studies show that when we spend time with friends, we simply worry less and feel better.

11) Exposure therapy

A very effective treatment for phobias is gradual exposure.  Someone who is scared of snakes might think about being 50 feet away from a snake, then think about being 10 feet away from a snake.  Then they might imagine seeing a snake, and keep working up until they can handle seeing a real live snake.

Use a similar concept.  Expose yourself to whatever it is you are anxious or nervous about and slowly build your tolerance up.

12) Write down your fears

When you write something down, you gain a sense of control over it.  The action of putting words to paper of what is bothering you can help reduce its power over you and make you feel better.

13) Listen to music

Listening to music can be very calming and induce relaxation.  Different types of music are good for different emotions.

14) Keep busy

Most worrying is done when we aren’t busy.  Instead of letting your anxiety control you, be active!  Maybe cook something or do an enjoyable hobby if you are at home, for instance.

15) Set a time to worry

Give yourself a set time to worry about things.  Say, “I’m going to think about all the things that stress me out and make me anxious from 9 to 9:15.”  Doing so is a bit counter intuitive – but for some people works wonders.

16) Think about something positive about the situation

Some of the best humor is macabre in nature.  Being able to joke internally about whatever is concerning you can help make it easier to deal with.

17) Think positive thoughts

Force yourself to think positive thoughts.  At first, it’ll be a bit awkward and forced, but with time, you’ll think the thoughts automatically.  For instance, if you think, “I can do it,” before something that might make you anxious, you’ll soon think that thought automatically.

18) Sexual activity

Engaging in sexual activity, whether alone or with a partner, releases neurological factors that induce calm and pleasure.  Sex is a great stress and anxiety reducer.

19) Do Yoga

Yoga gives your whole body a workout while emphasizing breathing and stretches that promote overall health and wellness.  It can be extremely good for reducing anxiety and tension.

20) Do deep breathing

Hyperventilation is bad, but practicing controlled, deep breathing can induce a state of calm and relaxation.

21) Take a walk in nature

Return to nature!  There is something deeply relaxing for some people in walking through a forest or park, enjoying the natural scenery.

22) Reduce the amount of stress in your life

Figure out ways to make your life have less stress and anxiety in it.

23) Watch something funny

OK, so watching a comedy isn’t going to get rid of your anxiety for good – but it might make you laugh a few times.  And laughter helps you feel better and fights stress.

24) Get involved with activities are social in nature.  Spend time with friends.  And if you don’t have them, make them!  Join social groups, clubs, organizations and get involved.

Maybe consider joining a support group.  Or volunteer – you’ll help people, make new friends, and probably feel better about things.

25) Write in a journal

Write a daily journal!  It doesn’t have to be restricted to anxiety related topics, but you can also keep track of how you are doing in dealing with it.

Hope this list helped!  And if you have your own tip for dealing with anxiety, please leave a comment and let us know.

Xanax and Ativan are both members of the benzodiazepine family and are used for the treatment of anxiety related disorders.  They can also be used for muscle relaxant and anti-convulsive effect.

For a list of ways to fight anxiety in general, see The Top 25 Anxiety Tips.

How does Xanax vs Ativan compare?

First, they are both high potency.  This means that they are relatively strong among their class of medication.

Xanax has a half life of 6-20 hours while Ativan has a half life of 10-20 hours.  This means that your body gets rid of both of these medications relatively quickly.  By comparison, Valium, another popular benzodiazepine, has a half life of 20-100 hours.

This is both good and bad.  It’s good in that you clear the drug out of your system quickly.  It’s bad in that it means that drug delivery is relatively quite rapid.  When you stop taking the medication, it quickly clears from your body, which can result in horrible withdrawal.

Both are fairly addictive when used for long periods of time.

In a survey of 31 clinicians with detox experience, 84% said that Xanax is “especially problematic” for withdrawal.  Ativan is also highly addictive and has similar withdrawal incidences, but has somewhat less of a bad reputation.

Efficacy

Both Ativan and Xanax are highly effective for the short term treatment of anxiety and neither has been indicated for the long term treatment of anxiety.  Both work at fairly high rates to treat panic symptoms.

One study of 74 patients showed that the two have similar efficacy for treating of anxiety at around two weeks.

Remember, both have very similar chemical activity and similar half-lives.

Side effects

Both have similar side effects.

Xanax and Ativan both cause some degree of memory impairment.  One study showed that Ativan was among the “most frequently associated with amnestic effects” in the benzodiazepine class.

The way that memory impairment is tested for is as follows.  Participants are told to memorize a set list of numbers or words then are given the medication and asked to recall them.  This, or some variant, is used to show if memory impairment happens.

It’s somewhat artificial and does not replicate the more realistic use of the medications over several weeks.  It has been shown that the memory impairment side effect may be attenuated to some degree over time.  On the other hand, other studies have shown that long term use of Xanax or Ativan can cause memory and attentional problems.

Both Xanax and Ativan are also both associated with sedation.  One study showed that Xanax was among the least sedating of the benzodiazepines while Ativan was among the most sedating.

Another study showed that Ativan has slower onset of sedative and memory effects, but that they lasted longer than with Xanax.

Note

There are very few studies that directly compare Ativan vs Xanax.  This is likely because drug companies have no reason to run comparison studies when there is the chance that their medication may come off in a bad light.

Lyrica, generic pregabalin, is a new medication that has anti anxiety, anti-pain and anti-convulsive activity.  Those effects means it has many uses.

In the United States, Lyrica is approved for partial epilepsy, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia and fibromyalgia.  In Europe, it is approved for treating generalized anxiety disorder.

How can it do all that?

On a chemical level, Lyrica is a lot like GABA, which is a neurotransmitter involved in slowing down the activity of certain parts of your brain.  More specifically, Lyrica binds to calcium channels and reduces their intake of calcium.  Doing so lowers the release of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and glutamate, which are involved in anxiety and other processes.

This chemical action is very similar to that exhibited by the benzodiazepines, which are known for high addiction and abuse potential.  Because of this similarity, there is the concern that Lyrica can be abused to get high and could possibly be addictive.  It seems that this is possible, but to significantly lesser degree than with the benzodiazepines.

Lyrica has been used by some doctors for off-label uses such as treating arthritis.  While such use may have benefit, it’s important to note that in 2009 a subsidiary of Pfizer plead guilty to marketing inappropriate uses of Lyrica as part of a major settlement.

Dosing:

Lyrica is typically given at from anywhere from 150mg daily to 600mg daily.  Depending on the specific use, the dose may vary.

Use for fibromyalgia

Lyrica was approved in 2007 as a treatment for fibromyalgia, the first medication for that condition.

Patients who take Lyrica for fibromyalgia have reported moderately positive results. On a fibromyalgia pain scale of 1-10, those on it will have roughly a one point reduction in pain compared to those treated with placebo. Roughly 30% of those with Fibromyalgia who use Lyrica will experience a 50% decrease in pain, while only 13% on placebo have such a reduction.

In looking at those numbers, it’s important to remember that, as a condition, fibromyalgia is difficult to treat with very few people reporting significant improvement over time.

Use for diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Lyrica appears to be a solid treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).  According to an independent analysis by the Cochrane review, 50% of patients with DPN and who take Lyrica report significant reduction in pain over time.

But how does that compare to traditional treatment?

The traditional treatment for DPN is amitriptyline, as recommended by the American Diabetic Association, as well as SSRIs and other medications.  Lyrica seems to have similar effectiveness but may have different side effects.

For DPN, the optimal dose seems to be around 300mg daily, possibly given over two doses.

Lyrica’s Side effects:

20-30% of people who use this medication stop specifically because of a serious side effect, which is somewhat on the high side for a psychiatric medication.  Side effects seem to be dose related with increasing incidence at higher doses.

Most common side effects:

Up to 45% report dizziness

Up to 30% report drowsiness

Up to 20% report ataxia, or issues with smooth movement

Up to 16% report weight gain

Up to 15% report reduced salivation

Up to 10% report constipation

Other possible side effects

Balance issues, euphoric mood, fatigue, pain in the joints, chest pain.

Use of Lyrica may rarely be associated with difficulty paying attention and or concentrating.

There have been reports of tremors associated with this medication and there was a recent case report of an older woman who developed Parkinson’s Disease symptoms most likely due to Lyrica.

This list is not comprehensive; consult manufacturers insert for more.

Drug characteristics

Lyrica is not metabolized by the traditional enzymes in the liver, which means that it may have fewer drug interactions than most drugs.  Roughly 90% of the drug is released in the urine which means both heavy use of kidney and relatively low metabolism by the liver.

This means that kidney impairment may have a significant effect on the medication.

Diet has been shown to alter certain release characteristics of Lyrica but does not seem to effect its efficacy.

Wellbutrin and anxiety

You are either taking or considering taking Wellbutrin – or just curious – and want to know if it is an effective treatment for anxiety.  Or you might be concerned about its potential to cause anxiety as a side effect.

Let’s go through the details.

If you’re interested in ideas on how to deal with anxiety in general, see The Top 25 Anxiety Tips.

What is Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is a popular antidepressant with a variety of therapeutic effects.  Beyond its role in treating depression, it may also help with smoking cessation and with attention deficit disorder.  The key to its action lies in the neurochemicals it works on.

Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, or NDRI.  That means it increases the activity of those neurochemicals in the brain.  This is significantly different from the most commonly used antidepressants, the SSRIs like Prozac and Zoloft.  The SSRIs work mostly on serotonin.

Wellbutrin is pretty much as effective as the SSRIs for treating depression, but – on a chemical levels – actually acts a lot like ADHD treatments.  It is even eventually converted to a form of amphetamine by the body.

The different action of Wellbutrin means that, as a medication, it has certain advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

Wellbutrin has less rates of weight gain and sexual dysfunction, which are quite common side effects of the standard SSRI medications like Prozac and Zoloft.

Cons

On the negative, Wellbutrin may not be as effective for the treatment of anxiety and may even cause it at higher rates.

From a biochemical standpoint, at least theoretically, norepinephrine is associated with anxiety.

Wellbutrin as an anxiety treatment

First, is Wellbutrin an effective treatment for anxiety, or for depression with anxiety?  It’s hard to say.  There is very limited research into the ability of Wellbutrin to treat anxiety disorders.  Some pilot studies have shown similar efficacy to the SSRIs for this use.  And some have shown worse efficacy.

A recent, meta-analysis, for instance, of 10 studies including a total of 2122 patients with depression and high levels of anxiety showed that response was somewhat better to SSRIs than Wellbutrin.

There is a lack of evidence either for or against the use of Wellbutrin for anxiety.  Since there are studies that specifically have shown the efficacy of SSRIs to treat anxiety disorders, and no major similar studies for Wellbutrin, it is not commonly used for that type of treatment.

Also, there may be, of course, no major studies into Wellbutrin as an anxiety treatment simply because clinicians believe that it wouldn’t work well.

Wellbutrin as a cause of anxiety?

On the other hand, Wellbutrin definitely can cause anxiety.  But it isn’t alone in doing so – anxiety is a not uncommon side effect from antidepressants in general.  It is likely, however, that Wellbutrin causes anxiety more often and possibly more serious anxiety.

Getting the exact data is not easy and depends on where you look.  If you define anxiety as simply “nervousness,” one analysis showed that Wellbutrin causes less anxiousness than Prozac and Effexor, about the same amounts as Paxil, and more than Zoloft, Remeron and Celexa.

If you, however, look at a composite of anxiety, agitation, akathisia (or feeling unsettled) and hostility, another study showed that Wellbutrin is worse than all the other antidepressants. That study showed 13.9% of people who used it had those side effects.  This is three times the amount compared to people taking Paxil and Zoloft.

Another study argued that anxiety response to Wellbutrin is dose dependent.  It said that at 150mg, the medication is about the same as placebo, with increasing issues at higher doses.

Patient experiences online tend to show that Wellbutrin can cause quite significant anxiety, especially during the first weeks of treatment.  Some users say that the anxiety can be really, really bad.  On the other hand, those who are likely to speak up online tend to not always represent the average response.

Related Articles:

1. Wellbutrin’s Side Effects
2. Why am I Depressed?
3. Antidepressants: The Pros and Cons
4. Treating Treatment Resistant Depression
5. Xanax vs Ativan for Anxiety

Immediate Depression Relief

End Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Panic Miracle: Panic & Anxiety Cure

Social Anxiety Secrets – The doctor speaks

Xanax: an anxiety medication

Xanax is one of the stronger benzodiazpines (BZD), a class of drugs that slows down the nervous system, inducing calm and relaxation.

And it works quickly, and seems to have limited side effects. No wonder that it’s extremely popular, used even by those who appear to be the most successful and least need it.

Unfortunately, use of Xanax may have gone too far because long term use can cause serious problems. Benzodiazepines like it are best used for short term relief of anxiety, and generally as support for treating anxiety and panic disorders.

The American Psychological Association released guidelines to that effect, emphasizing the preferred use of SSRI medications for anxiety disorders.

What should Xanax be used for, for how long, and what are its potential side effects?

Use

Xanax is very good at fighting anxiety. As such it makes sense to use it in the short term for insomnia caused by worrying, and for short term control of anxiety. On the other hand, other drugs are preferred for certain types of short term anxiety, like stage-fright.

Xanax can be used for panic and anxiety disorders and has shown some ability to work for those conditions – but there may be better options that just take longer to work. The SSRIs may perform better and with less risk, and as such have been recommended for typical treatment of anxiety and panic disorders.

And you can’t forget the importance of therapy and exercise for anxiety/panic conditions, which have no side effects.

Use of Xanax after a traumatic event might be a bad idea.

Xanax’s side effects

Xanax can cause excessive sedation, memory problems, and cause or make depression worse. It can interact dangerously with alcohol as both are depressants. And it is addictive.

Long term use has been associated by some with cognitive damage. This means a potential decline in intelligence, ability to pay attention and concentrate, and decreased memory. Stopping Xanax does not always reverse these changes.

Use of Xanax after a traumatic event to help control anxiety may highly increase risk of developing Post Traumatic stress disorder. It is isn’t entirely clear how – or if – this happens.

In terms of physical side effects, Xanax has less side effects than earlier drugs, but can still cause serious physical problems either in overdosing or through interactions with other medications.

Most common side effects: drowsiness, increase salivation, weight gain and constipation.

Use of Xanax can cause difficulties with memory formation and some form of memory impairment in anywhere from 7-33% of those who use it.  It may also be associated with difficulty falling asleep, headache, and some form of cognitive impairment.

Menstrual irregularities have been reported in up to 10% of women using Xanax over an extended period of time.

Addiction and Withdrawal

We know Xanax is about as addictive as cigarettes; we just aren’t fully clear on how long dependence takes.

One study showed that 1/3 of people who used any BZD for just a month became dependent to some degree. Another showed a similar rate of addiction over a two months span, and another study put the time-line at 3-6 months.

Use of Xanax over an extended period of time may lead to serious problems upon stopping. The milder problems include anxiety, unpleasant thoughts, and disorientation. Rarer but more serious discontinuation issues include extreme sense-sensitivity, seizures and psychosis.

Do you have any thoughts on Xanax?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), a disorder characterized by chronic anxiety and worry, is on the surface a bit meaningless. Everyone feels anxious and worries a lot.

What makes GAD abnormal is both the frequency of anxiety, more days than not, its length – over 6 months – and that the anxiety is pretty severe.

There are many models of how GAD works. Here are three particularly useful ones:

Avoidance:

In the avoidance model, anxious thinking is a defensive mechanism. There is a very real problem or potential consequence that could be pretty bad. To avoid thinking about the worst case scenario, sufferers barrage themselves with thoughts to distract from having to deal with “the more emotional topics.”

Treatment: A main strategy for treating the avoidance model of GAD depends on developing the cognitive skills to handle the problems directly. Desensitization, or gradually building tolerance, to the negative thoughts is key.

Another goal is to develop the ability to live in the moment and let things be.

Intolerance of Uncertainty:

In the Intolerance of Uncertainty model, the anxiety develops in response to ambiguous and uncertain situations. Those situations are “stressful and upsetting.” Because problems are over dramatized, normal life upsets can overwhelming.

The worrying becomes self-reinforcing when, anxious about problems, someone doesn’t handle them, which makes it even harder to deal with the next one.

Treatment: Similarly to above, treatment for the intolerance of uncertainty model of GAD focuses on working on internal beliefs that are leading to anxiety. Additionally, problem solving skills should be developed .

Meta-cognitive:

In the meta-cognitive model of GAD, anxiety provoking situations produce thoughts of worry, logically enough. Those initial thoughts, called Type 1 Worry, serve both a protective role as well as partly help deal with the problem by coming up with solutions.

In this model, however, the problem arises when the person starts to worry about their worrying. This Type 2 Worrying leads to excessive self-analysis and self-doubt. While the initial worrying was somewhat based off reality, the second wave is less so.

Treatment: Again, focusing on developing appropriate mental strategies for dealing with stress is a solid model.

]]> http://healthlifeandstuff.com/2009/08/3-models-of-generalized-anxiety-disorder/feed/ 3 http://healthlifeandstuff.com/2009/08/stress-related-objectorientation-disorder/ http://healthlifeandstuff.com/2009/08/stress-related-objectorientation-disorder/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:49:16 +0000 Admin http://healthlifeandstuff.com/?p=670

“I never really felt connected to things,” says John M., “And I was always losing things.”

John may be suffering from a new psychological condition that is the subject of heavy controversy.

Proponents point to a large untreated pool who, they claim, suffer from poor self- esteem and diminished quality of life.

Critics, on the other hand, say it’s just one more variation of the same and is nothing more than normal behaviors and feelings we all experience.

The diagnosis? Stress Related Object/Orientation Disorder (STROOD), a condition characterized by often misplacing things, and a sense of disorientation.

STROOD develops as a reaction to chronic stress. Psychologists say that the pressure of modern life can reshape critical pathways in the limbic system that are associated with organization and orientation. The reshaping eventually leads to a form of developed lack of focus and confusion.

Some estimates put STROOD’s prevalence as high as 5%. “It’s awful,” says Mark H., a participant in an early clinical trial. “I was always misplacing things, and not entirely clear where I was. It felt great to learn I wasn’t alone.”

Despite being a chronic condition, STROOD may be treated by Prozac and other SSRIs. And treatment should be aggressive, argue leading psychologists, pointing to diminished quality of life reported on scales from untreated sufferers.

Researchers also argue that statins may also play a role in STROOD treatment. Aggressive control of blood LDL levels can potentially help alleviate the symptoms of chronic stress.

Researchers are recruiting for the STROOD-life enhancement trial, or STROODLE.

Have you been feeling weird lately? Like things are slightly off?  Or not as energetic as you might like?

Yes?

Thought so.  How’d I know?

Because it’s perfectly normal to be somewhat tired, somewhat drained, somewhat unhappy!  It’s a hell of a lot easier to complain and feel crappy than it is to realize how good things really are.

But if you are seriously concerned about your mental health, the list below offers some questions that you might ask yourself.  If you see yourself in them, it may be worth thinking about seeing a shrink or getting some kind of help.

General

I can’t concentrate as well anymore.

I feel different over the past few weeks.

My friends are worried about me.

Mood disorders

Have you felt seriously down or unmotivated for more than a few weeks? Or have you felt irrationally happy, or excited, spending money casually?

Do you no longer enjoy doing things you used to?

Anxiety Disorders

Do you worry a lot? Is it hard for you to relax? Are there things that just make you panic?

Does the memory of some traumatic event keep coming back to you?

Psychosis/Schizophrenia

Do you believe people are out to get you? Can you read other people’s thoughts?

Does the TV sometimes talk directly to you?

Dissociative disorders

Do you often feel like things aren’t real?  Do you sometimes not remember what you did over a period of time?

Eating Disorders

Do you have difficulty eating? Do you count calories or restrict how much you eat?

Or do you eat too much and sometimes purge?

Substance use disorders

Is there something that you couldn’t live without – literally? Would stopping a substance result in physical symptoms?

Do you often blackout?

You might like:

Get Help!  Seriously.  You need it!

Source:

Abnormal Psychology, Hansell

Psychosomatic problems

It might be a good idea to think about getting psychological therapy if you suffer from the following:

1) History of psychological factors causing psoriasis

2) Depression and/or Anxiety

3) Increased itching

4) Feelings of isolation, stigmatization or thoughts of suicide

Increased sensations of itching have been shown to have a psychological link, and if you’re feeling down it’s important to get help.

If your kid is suffering from psoriasis, strongly consider psychological intervention as in pediatric populations psoriasis has an even higher link to stress and life tensions.

Therapy can help you deal with your condition.  It can also possibly help reduce the severity and occurrences of psoriasis.

40-80% of psoriasis has a link to or is caused by psychological factors. And having psoriasis makes life a lot harder.  Sufferers often feel discriminated against and unattractive.  As such, ordinary activities like socializing and sexual relations evoke a great deal of anxiety.

Therapy can prevent this anxiety from exacerbating the psoriasis and causing more pain in a vicious cycle.

Moderately heavy consumption of alcohol can prevent clearance of psoriasis.

Antidepressants and Psoriasis

A trial of bupropion (Wellbutrin) in 11 patients found significant reduction of plaques.  Oddly enough, only one person actually felt like his mood improved.

That said, three psoriasis patients who were prescribed bupropion to help quit smoking suffered extreme reactions and were hospitalized.

Lithium and fluoxetine may exacerbate psoriasis.

Sources:

Psychological influences in psoriasis
Psychiatric morbidity in psoriasis: a review