Being a teenager is not easy. Adolescents feel all kinds of pressures — to do well in school, to be popular with peers, to gain the approval of parents, to make the team, to be cool. In addition, many teenagers have other special problems. For example, they may worry about a parent being out of work or the family’s financial problems.

Adolescents may be hurt or confused by their parents’ divorce, or they may have to learn how to live with a parent’s alcoholism or mental illness. Despite these pressures, it is important to remember that most teenagers develop into healthy adults.

Unfortunately, some teenagers develop serious emotional problems requiring professional help. This glossary of brief definitions was developed to help teenagers, parents, teachers, and others learn more about the major mental illnesses, symptoms, and mental health issues which affect teenagers.

Please remember: All the problems described in the glossary are treatable and some can be prevented. In every case, the sooner a teenager gets help, the better.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

Use and abuse of drugs and alcohol by teens is very common and can have serious consequences. In the 15-24 year age range, 50% of deaths (from accidents, homicides, suicides) involve alcohol or drug abuse. Drugs and alcohol also contribute to physical and sexual aggression such as assault or rape. Possible stages of teenage experience with alcohol and drugs include abstinence (non-use), experimentation, regular use (both recreational and compensatory for other problems), abuse, and dependency.

Repeated and regular recreational use can lead to other problems like anxiety and depression. Some teenagers regularly use drugs or alcohol to compensate for anxiety, depression, or a lack of positive social skills. Teen use of tobacco and alcohol should not be minimized because they can be “gateway drugs” for other drugs (marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and heroin). The combination of teenagers’ curiosity, risk taking behavior, and social pressure make it very difficult to say no. This leads most teenagers to the questions: “Will it hurt to try one?”

A teenager with a family history of alcohol or drug abuse and a lack of pro-social skills can move rapidly from experimentation to patterns of serious abuse or dependency. Some other teenagers with no family history of abuse who experiment may also progress to abuse or dependency. Therefore, there is a good chance that “one” will hurt you. Teenagers with a family history of alcohol or drug abuse are particularly advised to abstain and not experiment. No one can predict for sure who will abuse or become dependent on drugs except to say the non-user never will.

Warning signs of teenage drug or alcohol abuse may include:

a drop in school performance,

a change in groups of friends,

delinquent behavior, and

deterioration in family relationships.

There may also be physical signs such as red eyes, a persistent cough, and change in eating and sleeping habits. Alcohol or drug dependency may include blackouts, withdrawal symptoms, and further problems in functioning at home, school, or work.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Anorexia Nervosa occurs when an adolescent refuses to maintain body weight at or above a minimal normal weight for age and height. The weight loss is usually self-imposed and is usually less than 85% of expected weight. The condition occurs most frequently in females, however, it can occur in males.

Generally, the teenager has an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight. Self evaluation of body weight and shape may be distorted and there may be denial of the potential health hazards caused by the low body weight.

Physical symptoms can include:

absence of regular menstrual cycles

dry skin

low pulse rate, and

low blood pressure

Behavioral changes commonly occur such as:

social withdrawal

irritability

moodiness, and

depression

Without treatment, this disorder can become chronic and with severe starvation, some teenagers may die.

ANXIETY

Anxiety is the fearful anticipation of further danger or problems accompanied by an intense unpleasant feeling (dysphoria) or physical symptoms. Anxiety is not uncommon in children and adolescents. Anxiety in children may present as:

Separation Anxiety Disorder: Excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or from those to whom the child is attached. The youngster may develop excessive worrying to the point of being reluctant or refusing to go to school, being alone, or sleeping alone. Repeated nightmares and complaints of physical symptoms (such as headaches, stomach aches, nausea, or vomiting) may occur.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Excessive anxiety and worry about events or activities such as school. The child or adolescent has difficulty controlling worries. There may also be restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep difficulties.

Panic Disorder: The presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent worries about having attacks. Panic Attack refers to the sudden onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness, or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom.

There may also be shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, choking or smothering sensations, and fear of “going crazy” or losing control.

Phobias: Persistent, irrational fears of a specific object, activity, or situation (such as flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). These intense fears cause the child or adolescent to avoid the object, activity, or situation.

ATTENTION DEFICIT/ HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

ADHD is usually first diagnosed during the elementary school years. In some cases, symptoms continue into adolescence. A teenager with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder has problems with paying attention and concentration and/or with hyperactive and impulsive behavior. Despite good intentions, a teenager may be unable to listen well, organize work, and follow directions. Cooperating in sports and games may be difficult. Acting before thinking can cause problems with parents, teachers, and friends. These teens may be restless, fidgety, and unable to sit still.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder occurs more commonly in boys and symptoms are always present before the age of seven. Problems related to ADHD appear in multiple areas of a youngster’s life and can be very upsetting to the teen, his/her family, and people at school. Symptoms of ADHD frequently become less severe during the late teen years and in young adulthood.

BIPOLAR DISORDER (MANIC DEPRESSION)

Bipolar Disorder is a type of mood disorder with marked changes in mood between extreme elation or happiness and severe depression. The periods of elation are termed mania. During this phase, the teenager has an expansive or irritable mood, can become hyperactive and agitated, can get by with very little or no sleep, becomes excessively involved in multiple projects and activities, and has impaired judgment.

A teenager may indulge in risk taking behaviors, such as sexual promiscuity and anti-social behaviors. Some teenagers in a manic phase may develop psychotic symptoms (grandiose delusions and hallucinations). For a description of the depressive phase see depression. Bipolar disorder generally occurs before the age of 30 years and may first develop during adolescence.

BULIMIA NERVOSA (BULIMIA)

Bulimia Nervosa occurs when an adolescent has repeated episodes of binge eating and purging. Binges are characterized by eating large quantities of food in a discrete period of time. The teen also has feelings of being unable to stop eating and loss of control over the amount of food being eaten. Usually, after binge eating, they attempt to prevent weight gain by self-induced vomiting, laxative use, diuretics, enemas, medications, fasting, or excessive exercise. These teen’s self-esteem is strongly affected by weight and body shape.

Serious medical problems can occur with Bulimia Nervosa (e.g. esophageal or gastric rupture, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney failure, and seizures). Other psychological problems such as depression, intense moods, and low self-esteem are common. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve outcome and decrease the risk of worsening depression, shame, and harmful weight fluctuations.

CONDUCT DISORDER

Teenager’s with conduct disorder have a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which they violate the rights of others, or violate norms or rules that are appropriate to their age. Their conduct is more serious than the ordinary mischief and pranks of children and adolescents.

Severe difficulties at home, in school, and in the community are common, and frequently there is very early sexual activity. Self-esteem is usually low, although the adolescent may project an image of “toughness.” Teenagers with this disorder have also been described as “delinquent” or “anti-social.” Some teenagers with conduct disorder may also have symptoms of other psychiatric disorders (see ADHD, depression, alcohol and drug abuse).

DEPRESSION

Though the term “depression” can describe a normal human emotion, it also can refer to a psychiatric disorder. Depressive illness in children and adolescents includes a cluster of symptoms which have been present for at least two weeks.

In addition to feelings of sadness and/or irritability, a depressive illness includes several of the following:

Change of appetite with either significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain

Change in sleeping patterns (such as trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much)

Loss of interest in activities formerly enjoyed

Loss of energy, fatigue, feeling slowed down for no

reason, “burned out” Feelings of guilt and self blame for things that are not one’s fault

Inability to concentrate and indecisiveness

Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

Recurring thought of death and suicide, wishing to die, or attempting suicide Children and adolescents with depression may also have symptoms of irritability, grumpiness, and boredom. They may have vague, non-specific physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches, etc.). There is an increased incidence of depressive illness in the children of parents with significant depression.

LEARNING DISORDERS

Learning Disorders occur when the child or adolescent’s reading, math, or writing skills are substantially below that expected for age, schooling, and level of intelligence. Approximately 5% of students in public schools in the United States are identified as having a learning disorder.

Students with learning disorders may become so frustrated with their performance in school that by adolescence they may feel like failures and want to drop out of school or may develop behavioral problems. Special testing is always required to make the diagnosis of a learning disorder and to develop appropriate remedial interventions. Learning disorders should be identified as early as possible during school years.

OBSESSIVE- COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

Teenagers with OCD have obsessions and/or compulsions. An obsession refers to recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are intrusive and cause severe anxiety or distress. Compulsions refer to repetitive behaviors and rituals (like hand washing, hoarding, ordering, checking) or mental acts (like counting, repeating words silently, avoiding). The obsessions and compulsions also significantly interfere with the teen’s normal routine, academic functioning, usual social activities, or relationships.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Physical abuse occurs when a person responsible for a child or adolescent’s welfare causes physical injury or harm to the child. Examples of abusive treatment of children include: hitting with an object, kicking, burning, scalding, punching, and threatening or attacking with weapons. Children and adolescents who have been abused may suffer from depression, anxiety, low selfesteem, inability to build trusting relationships, alcohol and drug abuse, learning impairments, and conduct disorder.

POST- TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

PTSD can occur when a teenager experiences a shocking, unexpected event that is outside the range of usual human experience. The trauma is usually so extreme that it can overwhelm their coping mechanisms and create intense feelings of fear and helplessness.

The traumatic event may be experienced by the individual directly (e.g. physical or sexual abuse, assault, rape, kidnaping, threatened death), by observation (witness of trauma to another person), or by learning about a trauma affecting a close relative or friend. Whether teens develop PTSD depends on a combination of their previous history, the severity of the traumatic event, and the amount of exposure.

Symptoms include:

Recurrent, intrusive, and distressing memories of the event

Recurrent, distressing dreams of the event.

Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring

Intense psychological distress when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event and consequent avoidance of those stimuli.

Numbing of general responsiveness (detachment, estrangement from others, decreased interest in significant activities)

Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (irritability, sleep disturbances, poor concentration, hyper-vigilance, anxiety).

PSYCHOSIS

Psychotic disorders include severe mental disorders which are characterized by extreme impairment of a person’s ability to think clearly, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately. Psychotic symptoms can be seen in teenagers with a number of serious mental illnesses, such as depression, bi-polar disorder (manic-depression), schizophrenia, and with some forms of drug and alcohol abuse. Psychotic symptoms interfere with a person’s daily functioning and can be quite debilitating. Psychotic symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.

Delusion: A false, fixed, odd, or unusual belief firmly held by the patient. The belief is not ordinarily accepted by other members of the person’s culture or subculture. There are delusions of paranoia (others are plotting against them), grandiose delusions (exaggerated ideas of one’s importance or identity), and somatic delusions (a healthy person believing that he/she has a terminal illness).

Hallucination: A sensory perception (seeing, hearing, feeling, and smelling) in the absence of an outside stimulus. For example, with auditory hallucinations, the person hears voices when there is no one talking.

SCHIZOPHRENIA

A psychotic disorder characterized by severe problems with a person’s thoughts, feelings, behavior, and use of words and language. Psychotic symptoms often include delusions and/or hallucinations. These delusions in schizophrenia are often paranoid and persecutory in nature.

Hallucinations are usually auditory and may include hearing voices speaking in the third person, as well as to each other, commenting on the patient’s deeds and actions. Schizophrenia does not mean “split personality.” Most people develop schizophrenia before 30 years of age with some having their first episode in the teenage years.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Teenage sexual abuse occurs when an adolescent is used for gratification of an adult’s sexual needs or desires. Severity of sexual abuse can range from fondling to forcible rape. The most common forms of sexual abuse encountered by girls include: exhibitionism, fondling, genital contact, masturbation, and vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.

Boys may be sexually abused through fondling, mutual masturbation, fellatio, and anal intercourse. Adolescents who have been sexually abused may also suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, feelings of worthlessness and helplessness, learning impairments, and destructive behaviors.

SUICIDE

Suicide is the third leading cause of death (behind accidents and homicides) for teenagers. Each year more than 5,000 U.S. teenagers commit suicide. The warning signs and risk factors associated with teen suicide include: depression, previous suicide attempts, recent losses, frequent thought about death, and the use of drugs or alcohol.

A teenager planning to commit suicide may also give verbal hints such as “nothing matters,” or “I won’t be a problem for you anymore.” They may also give away favorite possessions or become suddenly cheerful after a long period of sadness.

TOURETTE’S SYNDROME

Tourette’s Syndrome is characterized by multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic. A tic is a sudden, rapid movement of some of the muscles in the body that occurs over and over and doesn’t serve any purpose. The location, frequency, and complexity of tics changes over time. Motor tics frequently involve the head, central body, legs, and arms.

They may result in simple movements such as eye blinking, or more complex movements such as touching and squatting. Vocal tics can include sounds such as grunts, barks, sniffs, snorts, coughs, and obscenities. Tourette’s Syndrome is always diagnosed before the age of eighteen – most commonly appearing around seven years of age.

It occurs more often in males than females and symptoms are usually present for life. The severity of Tourette’s varies a great deal over time, but improvement can occur during late adolescence and in adulthood. Teens with Tourette’s Syndrome often have additional problems with obsessions, compulsions, hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness.

Please know that you can share this article with anyone you think this may help. Please just leave the footer intact and make sure that the author gets the proper credit.

Can the way you dress affect your health? Some experts say it can. Of course dressing inappropriately for the season can decrease your body’s immune system, but that is not the only way your wardrobe could potentially affect your health. Nor is the physical aspect of health the only concern. You have the same make up as every other human being. Your body responds to the same stimuli. If you neglect certain parts of what makes you who you are, you open yourself up to many negative things. Whether you do it consciously or not, the way you dress tells a story about you. It lets people know how you feel mentally as well as physically. If you feel good about yourself from a physical stance, you will tend to wear clothing that showcases confidence and a look at me aura., thereby, helping to keep your immune system healthy. However, if you do not feel good about your physical state, no matter what you put on it will show a sense of using clothes to hide in plain sight of everyone; and that can suppress your immune system.

It goes even further than that. Studies have shown that wearing certain fashions have the ability to change your mood. Dark clothing tends to portray a sad picture. Constantly being around an environment like that can have a negative affect on your mental state and the mind plays a big part in your overall health. This is why hospital rooms are a certain color. Different hues are known to help the body to heal due to the positive state of mind they put you in. There are many bugs out there that wage war against your body to move in and cohabit with your normal system, but when your immune system is healthy, it wards of the attack; sometimes without you even knowing about it. However, if you do things that affect your mental health, it has been proven that you weaken your immune system by your own hands; making it easier for microbes to invade. A melancholy dress style will do more than cause people to perceive you in that manner. It also makes your body react accordingly, too.

Further still, as those you encounter think that you look under the weather and continually asks you if you are feeling bad because you look down, your body will eventually take on the role of being sick. And whether it is a microbial sickness or mentally induced one, they feel the same. Knowing this should encourage you to take more care in how you present yourself when it comes to picking out your wardrobe. You tend to become what you visualize yourself to be. If you constantly surround yourself with attire that depicts a sunny disposition, your attitude is more likely to correspond with that look. The saying birds of a feather flock together is totally true. You should consider your clothes as your feathers. Feathers are not who the bird is, but they grow from the bird and therefore are an important part of what the bird is. Likewise, your clothes are chosen by you and they give an impression of who you are.

So if you want to put forth a healthy persona, it would help to ensure your clothes match your insides or at least match how you want to feel. If your outfits cause people to return looks and stares of negativity, you are the one who bares the brunt of those looks and they do have an effect on you. The more you are bombarded with that, the more it wears away at your overall health. Another way to enhance your overall health with your dress is to step it up a notch and cause onlookers to give you the attention you want by wearing clothing and accessories that put you on a higher level than your peers. Rather than just wear something common in casual or dress, why not push the barriers a little and add some flair to what your have on. Instead of just wearing a shirt, add a light scarf or ascot tie tied around your neck. Rather than choosing the normal tucked in shirt with dress coat and slacks, wear something that has an extended cuff and let your shirt tail hang out under your jacket over a pair of designer jeans. It’s sure to get some eyeballs on you accompanied with smiles of admiration. That can only boost your immune system.

“If your mental illness makes you feel guilty, review the definition of ‘illness’ and try to treat yourself with the same respect and concern you would show to a cancer patient or a person with pneumonia.”

~Mental Health Awareness Australia

There is too much humanity in human beings for our own good. In our unique and innate brokenness, we take any example of maladjustment that clings to us as persons and we berate ourselves for it. If our ears poke out too much, or we speak with a lisp, or our hips appear too disproportionate to the rest of our bodies, or we are no good at math, we feel ashamed. There is an ancient form of guilt imposed from deep within and there seems nothing we can do about it.

Mental ills are perhaps the biggest scourge of all, or it least among the biggest of them. We feel ashamed to admit we have been depressed or that we cannot handle the anxieties that flood our lives. But if most of the population will be impacted at some point in their lives by these things – even minimally – why do we feel so bad?

It is time to smash the stigma. Thankfully more and more countries and agencies around the world are using things like social media to propagate the message: mental health is about wellness and illness – and no judgment between them.

CONTRASTING WELLNESS AND ILLNESS

There are billions of dollars spent on wellness programs every year around the world. There is much more spent on illness, and poignantly mental illness commands its share of that purse. Still, the world cannot keep up.

These facts don’t help the person shut in to their mental illness, but they go a long way towards proving how tremendous this nemesis is. It is beyond humanity to solve it. And many issues around wellness and illness defy our understanding. Why are some people well and some ill? Child development theories may help to explain some of it, but there are always the confounding exceptions – and so many of them.

Our inherent mental health or ill-health is neither about our glory nor our fault.

And what is not our fault we should not feel guilty for or ashamed about, but inevitably we will because we are human.

We need to be able to forgive ourselves, or better, receive God’s forgiveness, for the times when we struggle to accept ourselves as we are; to treat ourselves with the same respect and show ourselves the same concern as someone physically ill.

© 2013 S. J. Wickham.

Being admitted to a psychiatric facility can occur in one of two ways. Either you admit yourself as a voluntary patient, or sign yourself in, as it is called; or you are being admitted as an involuntary patient, on some type of “order of protection” by police, doctors, or therapists. In some states, even a concerned family member can have you involuntarily admitted for evaluation.

As a voluntary patient, you are actively seeking help and realize that you are not acting responsibly. You may even fear that you will act rashly and possibly hurt yourself or others. In any case, you want to be in the psychiatric hospital and get help.

• What to expect as a “voluntary” patient-

1. You will be allowed to sign all admission paperwork.
2. You will work with your doctor and therapist and nurse to develop your plan of care
3. You will be expected to attend all groups and activities assigned for your treatment
4. You can ask to be released when you feel better

As an involuntary patient, someone else has made a petition to the legal community to have you evaluated for anywhere from 24 to 72 hours in a psychiatric facility based on specific behaviors and statements. You may or may not know what is going on; you may or may not want to be there but the fact is you will be held “against your will” until a doctor evaluates you and decides you no longer pose a threat to yourself or others.As an involuntary patient, someone else has made a petition to the legal community to have you evaluated for anywhere from 24 to 72 hours in a psychiatric facility based on specific behaviors and statements. You may or may not know what is going on; you may or may not want to be there but the fact is you will be held “against your will” until a doctor evaluates you and decides you no longer pose a threat to yourself or others.

• What to expect as an “involuntary” patient-

1. You may be allowed to sign some of the admission paperwork, but do not need to sign yourself in
2. You can work with your doctor, nurse and therapist to develop a plan of care, but may not be able to do so at the time of admission
3. You will be expected to attend all groups and activities assigned for your treatment, even if you do not want to or do not agree that you need to
4. You can not expect to be discharged just because you ask to leave

• What to expect as a patient in a psychiatric facility-

1. The first difference you will notice is that few rooms are private.
2. There are no telephones in the rooms. Family and friends will have to give some type of code # before being allowed in to visit or before being allowed to talk with you on the phone.
3. There are no televisions in the rooms. You will watch television in a day area and it will be a communal activity.
4. Your belongings will be gone through and several items you regularly use at home will not be allowed on the units. Some things will be allowed, but must be monitored when used.
5. You will not be allowed to stay in bed all day.
6. You will wear regular clothes instead of hospital gowns. Some of your favorite clothes will not be allowed on the unit due to the presence of some type of string/belt or due to the type of decoration on it (no tee-shirts with violence, drug or gang emblems). Your shoe strings will be removed as well as all belts.
7. You can expect staff to monitor your location every 15 minutes in a 24hour period, that includes during the night.
8. You will attend groups with people from all walks of life; some will not make much sense; some may not look very clean and nice.
9. If you lose control of your behavior – either you become so angry that you act out or you become disconnected from reality–the staff will intervene to assist you in regaining control.
10. You will be encouraged to talk about your thoughts and feelings with staff.
11. You will be asked questions regularly that pertain to your ability to maintain your safety. Staff will actively monitor you to provide for your safety and your security during your stay.
12. Staff will not be put off by anything you say or do, and will actively want to help you find solutions to your issues.

• What not to expect as a patient in a psychiatric facility-

1. You will not be allowed to break any of the numerous rules, no matter who you are.
2. You cannot behave aggressively and get your way.
3. You will not have the undivided attention of any of the staff. In this facility, staff act in unison as a team and all will be dealing with you at various times throughout the day.
4. Things you tell staff will not be kept “secret” from the rest of the treatment team. Your privacy will be monitored and your HIPPA rights will be guarded, but things said in treatment will be shared with the treatment team in its entirety to facilitate your improvement.
5. You will not engage in any personal relationships with staff during or after treatment as a patient.
6. You will not visit the unit after discharge to see “friends” made during your treatment. Most facilities restrict ex-patients from being allowed to return to visit current patients for several months.

• When will you be discharged-

1. Discharge will be decided by your behavior and your willingness to participate in treatment.
2. You may request to leave if you are a voluntary patient, but may not be allowed to do so based on the physicians concern for your continued safety or the safety of others.
3. As an involuntary patient, you may be allowed to sign yourself in if you agree to remain for treatment or you may have to go to court to have a judge hear both sides of the issue.
4. In either case, there is a definite process that must be followed and will be based on safety concerns and your ability to make safe decisions.

As you can see, there are similarities between medical and psychiatric hospitals–both are staffed by doctors, nurses, social workers, and clinical assistants. Both are involved with improving your condition – either physical(medical) or psychological(psychiatric) – and getting you back into your life as soon as possible. Both provide treatment to facilitate your improvement and offer some type of after-care plan.

But there are significant difference also. It is in the differences that you may become confused at an already trying time in your life. Hopefully, this will eliminate some of the confusion for you.

Mental health counselling can be an effective therapy as part of a wider treatment plan for an individual who is suffering from depression or an anxiety related disorder, or for people who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives and are finding it difficult to cope with, or for those who are struggling to deal with specific problems and issues. It is often a doctor who will recommend mental health counselling, however, many individuals will seek the services of a counsellor themselves, either by asking their doctor for advice or by approaching a counsellor directly.

What is counselling?

Basically, counselling can be described as a type of talking therapy. It is usually delivered in a safe and private setting so that the individual concerned can relax and talk openly and freely about their particular problems or issues and the emotions or feelings that can accompany them.

It is described as a talking therapy because the counsellor will listen empathetically to an individual in order to understand the situation from the individual’s point of view. In doing this a trained counsellor will be able to encourage an individual to see their situation more clearly, perhaps from a different perspective, and will be able to help them identify new ways of coping with their problems or circumstances. Counselling usually does not involve giving advice or telling someone what to do with their lives, it is more about exploring problems, identifying possible solutions and choices and obtaining clarity.

For counselling to be effective, it is essential that an element of trust develops between the counsellor and the person or persons receiving the counselling as only in this way can there be an open and free dialogue. It may take time for a person receiving counselling to lose any initial feelings of distrust, fear and embarrassment so quite often counselling will be offered over several sessions in order for a relationship to develop between the counsellor and the patient or client.

There are several types of mental health counselling services available, each drawing on its own particular theory of human psychology and development. There are also many different types of counsellors, some of who are trained to deal with a particular problem or circumstance. For example bereavement counsellors, counsellors who specialise in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, and counsellors who understand the issues surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, as well as many others.

Counselling can take place on a one to one basis, or in group sessions, face to face or over the phone. It can last for just one session, a specific block of sessions or be open ended with no time limit at all. Regardless of the particular type of mental health problem involved, the first step to recovery is recognising that there is a problem in the first place.

When mental health counselling can help

Mental health counselling can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have a tendency to repress feelings like guilt, frustration, anger, resentment, sadness and so on and who find it difficult to cope alone and who for whatever reason, perhaps do not want to discuss how they feel with their friends and family. It can help an individual to gain new insights into their own particular circumstances and problems and to achieve clarity and direction in life. Most of all it can help an individual cope and improve their quality of life.

There are numerous circumstances where someone might seek the services of a mental health counsellor or be referred for counselling by their doctor and these include but are certainly not limited to:

o Relationship problems, including separation and divorce

o Problems at work or financial worries, dismissal, redundancy

o Physical, sexual and/or mental abuse

o Bereavement

o Depression and anxiety

o Post natal depression

o Eating disorders

o OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

o Alcohol and drug abuse

o Phobias

o Panic Attacks

o Dealing with stress

o Post traumatic stress

Finding a counsellor

In order to get the right kind of help it is important that you access the most appropriate type of counselling for you and as there are so many available options, it can be problematic if you decide to go it alone.

In the first instance, it would be advisable to speak to your doctor as he or she will be able to take into consideration your full medical history before recommending any particular type of therapy or counsellor. If you decide to seek the services of a trained counsellor independently, it is up to you to check out the cost and the credentials of any potential counsellor before you start.

Many voluntary organisations have counsellors and there are numerous private counsellors advertising in the press, phone books and on the Internet. However, you can find an accredited counsellor from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy website at http://www.bacp.co.uk or from the National Board for Certified Counsellors at http://www.nbcc.org if you live in the USA

Do you live with someone who has an active drug/alcohol addiction-untreated/unstable mental health concerns-or with someone who behaves in ways that create a tremendous amount of chaos in your life? If this scenario describes you, and you are trying to love, help and support this person– it is highly likely that you are living under the influence of FOG-Fear, Obligation and Guilt.

I work with a lot of family members who are living under the influence of FOG-and they don’t even realize it. They realize they are feeling stressed, but they often lose sight of the compassion fatigue they are experiencing. Family members, who are living with someone who has an active drug/alcohol addiction or significantly unstable mental health concerns, begin to develop a tolerance for chaos. The threshold for “chaos tolerance” can become so high that family members can lose sight of how potentially dangerous or emotionally draining their environment has become. This type of tolerance to chaos can creep up on anyone-no matter how intelligent, successful, skilled, talented, financially stable, or educated he/she might be.

I have worked with family members whose “chaos tolerance” has gotten so high that they have almost nonchalantly reacted to situations that would have those of us not under the influence of FOG running for help and support. Family members often recount their experiences of extremely volatile situations (is it ever safe to stand near your intoxicated, verbally aggressive loved one who is heating a lead pipe up on the gas grill and making threats), and describe how they managed to cope (with little or no help from others) until the situation cooled down.

Untreated/unstable mental illness and addition problems affect not only the person, but the entire family. Family members often experience feeling like they are living in a fog. Things seem foggy for many reasons-some external some internal.

I believe that all family members (who are major stakeholders in their loved one’s well being) experience FOG which is an acronym for Fear, Obligation and Guilt. The combination of these three feelings creates almost a haze (or fog-like barrier) for the loved one which can cloud feelings, judgment, and the sense of what is real. Often what happens to people who have a loved one dealing with these types of concerns is that they begin to doubt how to handle certain situations because there is so much at stake.

Fear, obligation and guilt are often the roots of these feelings. Fear of what will happen if you don’t (fill in the blank). Guilt about what you should do, should have done, or should not have done. Feeling obligated to help the person or ‘fix’ the situation.

As loved ones begin to operate under the influence of FOG, they often begin to think, feel and behave in ways they normally wouldn’t. Some things that loved ones may do are:

• Overcompensate for their loved one
• Make all kinds of effort to ‘fix’ their loved one’s situation
• Behave in ways they would not normally behave (beg, yell, make threats, chastise, emotionally withdraw, etc)
• Pay off drug dealers/debts/legal fees
• Devote all emotional energy to helping/blame themselves/feel responsible
• Feel inadequate for not being able to ‘fix’ or find solutions
• Act out or emotionally withdraw/Isolate from friends
• Forget to take care of themselves/experience compassion fatigue
• Unintentionally resort to ineffective communication

In addition to people who are managing mental health/addiction problems, loved ones need support too. It is important for loved ones to get care for themselves in addition to helping their loved ones seek help. There are community resources (Jami, NAMI, Al-Anon, on-line support groups, etc.) available to provide support. Family members, who are in the role of loving, supporting and helping their loved one with these types of conditions, would likely benefit from seeing a personal counselor for emotional support and guidance.

From seeking help and support from a variety of support resources, the fog that loved ones experience can begin to clear. When the tough get going-the tough get a support network! Don’t do it alone-seek support!

Anyone who cares about their health often focuses on keeping his or her body in peak condition. Who considers the health of the mind? A psychiatrist or a psychologist is concerned with behavior, and mental health, but how can Yoga help you?

We have all heard Yoga is a good “mind and body exercise,” but how does a Yoga student exercise his or her mind through Yoga practice. How can Yoga help you develop mental strength? Let’s look at one of the many styles of Yoga, to find answers, and acquire optimum mental health.

Jnana Yoga is the union of mind, body, and spirit, through acquired knowledge. It is true that reading will make your mind sharp, but what do Jnana Yogis read? Traditionally, Jnana Yogis read Hindu scriptures to expand their knowledge.

Yoga has been around for thousands of years. The Brahmin caste would have had more access to Yogic philosophy, and the scriptures (Vedas), than the average person, at that time.

This same parallel can be made to any holy man of any religion. Access to written knowledge, books, and Holy Scriptures was not common place, in any religion, hundreds of years ago. There was a time when the average person was forbidden to have a copy of the Bible. The early Bibles were very big, expensive to produce, and not meant for the public to interpret. Whether we like it, or not, this is a part of history.

Now, let’s fast forward to the 21st century. Millions of new computer users are accessing the Internet every year. So, how is it that more people, than ever, are disconnected from their mind, body, and spirit? We have attention disorders, multi-tasking, and many distractions to keep us far from tranquility.

Even in a Yoga class, you may hear a cell phone go off – despite the fact there are rules and a sign on the entrance of most Yoga studios. The sign might read, “Turn your cell phone off,” but people do not see it, even if it is right under their nose. Why?

Unfortunately, people do not read or pursue vital information. Cable television has hundreds of channels and the Internet has millions of sites. Do you really think the masses are trying to expand their minds by reading?

Jnana Yoga practice, and regular meditation, raises the “Level of Consciousness.” Yet it seems that prosperity seems to breed poor mental and physical health. When given the choice, children would rather play video games than watch the History Channel. Therefore, many adults must be getting in touch with their “inner child.”

Now, let’s come full circle. Entertainment is a wonderful thing, but we should be deliberate in our efforts to challenge our minds. Creativity cannot be found in games that are programmed or in viewing stories where you can easily guess the ending.

Your mind must be challenged on a daily basis by reading good quality writing and watching entertainment that is true art. The modern Jnana Yoga practitioner has much more access to education, information, art, and entertainment. However, he or she must be much more selective than ever before.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

A growing recognition of the fact that “mental health is fundamental to a person’s overall health, indispensable to personal well-being and instrumental to leading a balanced and productive life” likely contributes to the fact that about 15% of our country’s population now use some form of mental health services in any given year. Nonetheless, despite effective treatments, according to Dr. Satcher’s 1999 Surgeon General’s Mental Health report, “Nearly half of all Americans who have a severe mental illness fail to seek treatment”. The fact that nearly one in five Americans are affected by a mental disorder, reinforces the understanding that “few Americans are untouched by mental illness”, whether directly or indirectly.

Clinical anxiety and clinical depression are real, treatable conditions that interfere with a person’s overall well-being and ability to do many of the things that they would otherwise enjoy. A suffer of clinical depression can no more “snap out of it,” than a person suffering from a seizure has the will-power to stop taking a seizure.

Mental illnesses range from clinical anxiety and depression to Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Anxiety disorders, the most common form of mental illness, affect more than 10% of Americans yearly. Almost 25% of Americans will suffer an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Every May, thousands of sites throughout the country offer free, local anxiety screenings, as part of National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day. Each October, national sites off free screenings for depression, as part of National Depression Screening Day.

For more information about N.A.D.S.D., N.D.S.D., as well as a complete on-line copy of the Surgeon General’s 500 page mental health publication, visit: www.SimplifiedHealth.com/links.htm

Jerry Solfanelli

Drug use disorders and mental illnesses go hand-in-hand as people addicted to drugs have two-times higher risk of developing mood and anxiety disorders as compared to general people, and vice-versa. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 24.5 percent (or 61.2 million adults) aged 18 or older experienced either any mental illness (AMI) or a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. Moreover, 16.8 percent (or 42 million people) suffered an AMI but not an SUD. The survey also reported a 3.9 percent (or 9.7 million people) incidence of an SUD but not AMI while 3.8 percent (or 9.5 million people) were found struggling with both an AMI and an SUD.

Such a high co-prevalence of AMI and SUD forces one to think is both these things are inter-related and if so, then why?

Co-occurrence: A coincidence or more

The high incidence of co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illnesses is independent of a causal association between the two. Moreover, it does not indicate any particular sequence in the onset of the problem, simply because multiple factors may contribute to SUDs and AMI, with most of them being independent of each other.

For example, it is important to see if symptoms have progressed to a specific level (per DSM) to confirm the diagnosis for any mental disorder. However, subclinical symptoms may also lead to drug use. Although it is always difficult to tell which comes first between AMI and SUDs. However. three possibilities seem to exist.

• Drug use may lead to mental illness: Drug or drugs of use may be responsible for causing one or more symptoms of a mental illness in the user. The evidence supporting the possibility comes from the known association between increased risk of psychosis and marijuana in some users.
• Mental illness leading to drug use: Researchers have been talking about the possible role of mental illnesses in causing drug use. Individuals reporting overt, mild, or even subclinical mental disorders are vulnerable to drug use as self-medication. Slowly, as the person feels more empowered with the use of the drug, they become dependent on it, leading to an addiction.
• Overlapping factors: There are certain factors including genetic vulnerabilities, brain deficits, and/or early exposure to stress or trauma, which may cause both AMI and SUDs.

All these three scenarios may express themselves (in different degrees for different individuals) in making a case for a co-occurring AMI and SUD.

Exploring common factors

Genetics has a role to play in both, an AMI and a SUD. Genetic factors can be a significant common link between these two conditions, which is known to contribute to the development of both addiction and other mental illnesses. According to researchers, genetics make a 40-60 percent contribution to one’s vulnerability to addiction. At the same time, genes can also act indirectly contributing to the development of SUD by altering an individual’s response to stress or one’s tendency to develop risk-taking and novelty-seeking behaviors.

Similar brain regions are involved. It may be more than a coincidence that in the case of both SUD and AMI, the same brain regions are affected. For example, addictive substances and mental illnesses such as depression and other psychiatric disorders affect dopamine, a chemical that carries messages from one neuron to another.

This overlap of brain areas affected by AMI and SUDs may indicate a possibility of some brain changes that may be caused from any one of these and affecting the other.

A report published in the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that the development of a mental disorder and subsequent changes in brain activity tend to increase one’s susceptibility to using substances by reducing awareness of their negative effects, amplifying their positive effects, or relieving the unpleasant effects caused due to the mental disorder.

Getting mentally healthy is all about timely treatment

Different behavioral therapies have been found effective in treating comorbid conditions. However, it is important to consider other associated factors like patients’ age and specific drug used among other things while going ahead with the planned treatment.

If you are planning on becoming healthier and improve your overall well-being, it should come as no surprise to know exercise is one of the most critical factors for your success.

However, what many people do not realize is exercise also boosts brain health. It is going to do so much more for you than help ensure you can keep your weight in a healthy range and protect your heart. It will also keep your mind sound as well.

So, how can exercise improve your psychological well-being? Let us look at some of the ways it helps you achieve this…

1. Reduced Stress. Like many other risk factors that may contribute to Type 2 diabetes or heart disease, we are now exposed to far more stressors than earlier generations have been. Stress is naturally something that can get you down, leading to burnout, feelings of depression, and anxiety. If not controlled, it could also lead to weight gain because you are not keeping your cortisol levels in check which can promote fat storage around the abdominal region.

Lowering your stress level is easy when you exercise. You will get the release of positive “feel-good” endorphins, which will help give you a boost and ensure you are feeling calmer and more in control of your situation.

2. Greater Self-Confidence. When you exercise regularly, you can also notice improvements in your self-confidence levels as well. You will see what you can achieve with a little time and effort, and this can help you move one step forward on your pathway to success. When you are gaining confidence in your abilities to exercise, you will also gain confidence in other areas of your life. To achieve this, it is vital to employ an exercise program that helps ensure you are progressively challenging your body so you can see continual improvement taking place as well.

3. Improved Memory. Exercise will also help to boost your mental health and enhance your memory abilities: this is one factor many people do not realize. When you exercise, your hippocampus begins to grow, and this is the area associated with improved memory.

If you are finding yourself a little forgetful lately, adding a little more exercise to your plan may be just the thing you need to resolve this.

Hopefully, now you can see how many benefits exercise will bring to the table. It ‘s well worth putting some extra time and attention to carving out a spot for training in your week. Your health depends on it.