Eating Disorders Symptoms of Binge Eating, Anorexia & Bulimia

Eating disorders are one of the unspoken secrets that affect many families. Millions of people are afflicted with this disorder every year, and most of them -- up to 90 percent -- are adolescent and young women. Rarely talked about, an eating disorder can affect up to 5 percent of the population of teenage girls.

Why are teenage and young adult women so susceptible to getting an eating disorder? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is because during this period of time, women are more likely to diet -- or try extreme dieting -- to try to stay thin. Certain sports (such as gymnastics) and careers (such as modeling) are especially prone to reinforcing the need to keep a fit figure, even if it means purging food or not eating at all.

There are three main types of eating disorders:

• Anorexia
• Bulimia
• Binge Eating Disorder

Anorexia (also known as anorexia nervosa) is the name for simply starving yourself because you are convinced you are overweight. If you are at least 15 percent under your normal body weight and you are losing weight through not eating, you may be suffering from this disorder.

Bulimia (also known as bulimia nervosa) is characterized by excessive eating, and then ridding yourself of the food by vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, taking enemas, or exercising obsessively. This behavior of ridding yourself of the calories from consumed food is often called "purging."
A person who suffers from this disorder can have it go undetected for years, because the person's body weight will often remain normal. "Binging" and "purging" behavior is often done in secret and with a great deal of shame attached to the behavior. It is also the more common eating disorder.
Eating disorders are serious problems and need to be diagnosed and treated like any medical disease. If they continue to go untreated, these behaviors can result in future severe medical complications that can be life-threatening.
Treatment of eating disorders nearly always includes cognitive-behavioral or group psychotherapy. Medications may also be appropriate and have been found effective in the treatment of these disorders, when combined with psychotherapy.
If you believe you may be suffering from an eating disorder or know someone who is, please get help. Once properly diagnosed by a mental health professional, such disorders are readily treatable and often cured within a few months' time.
A person with an eating disorder should not be blamed for having it! The disorders are caused by a complex interaction of social, biological and psychological factors which bring about the harmful behaviors. The important thing is to stop as soon as you recognize these behaviors in yourself, or to get help to begin the road to recovery.

Addiction

People sometimes jokingly use the term "addiction" in everyday conversation, referring to themselves as "chocolate addicts" or "workaholics." But addiction isn't something to be taken lightly. Addiction to alcohol, marijuana, prescription medications, gambling, and other substances or activities can cause serious health issues and problems with family members, friends, coworkers, work, money, and the law. Yet, despite these problems, a person continues to use the substance or engage in the activity.
People with an addiction tend to show the three Cs:

• craving for the object of the addiction, which can be mild to intense
• loss of control over use of the object of the addiction
• continued engagement with the object of the addiction in spite of harmful consequences.

In its most basic definition, addiction is a physical dependence on a substance or activity. The dependence leads to unpleasant symptoms, called withdrawal symptoms, that appear when a person stops using the substance or doing the activity.
Nobody starts out wanting to develop an addiction. But some people do get attracted to certain substances or behaviors for specific reasons. Most of these objects of addiction offer people some psychological, social, or physical rewards. Those rewards are often compelling, so the substance or behavior remains appealing even if it also comes at a cost.
One key element in overcoming addiction involves recognizing the value it holds. Once you understand the value you derive from your addiction, you can seek alternate — and less destructive — methods for filling that need.

Stress

Stress is bumper-to-bumper traffic when you're in a hurry. It's a worrisome illness, an argument with your partner, a job turning sour. It's the need to care for an ailing parent and a pile of unpaid bills.
Stress has many faces, and creeps into our lives from many directions. No matter what causes it, stress puts the body and the mind on edge. It floods the body with stress hormones. The heart pounds. Muscles tense. Breathing quickens. The stomach churns.
The body's response to stress was honed in our prehistory. Collectively called the "fight-or-flight" response, it has helped humans survive threats like animal attacks, fires, floods, and conflict with other humans. Today, obvious dangers like those aren't the main things that trigger the stress response. Any situation you perceive as threatening, or which requires you to adjust to a change, can set it off. And that can spell trouble.
Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. It can dampen the immune system, increasing susceptibility to colds and other common infections. It can contribute to asthma, digestive disorders, cancer, and other health problems. New research even supports the notion that high levels of stress somehow speed up the aging process.
Though stress is inevitable, you can help control your body's response to it. Exercise, meditation, invoking the relaxation response, and mindfulness are great stress busters.

Improving Memory

In many ways, our memories shape who we are. They make up our internal biographies—the stories we tell ourselves about what we've done with our lives. They tell us who we're connected to, who we've touched during our lives, and who has touched us. In short, our memories are crucial to the essence of who we are as human beings.

That means age-related memory loss can represent a loss of self. It also affects the practical side of life, like getting around the neighborhood or remembering how to contact a loved one. It's not surprising, then, that concerns about declining thinking and memory skills rank among the top fears people have as they age.

What causes some people to lose their memory while others stay sharp as a tack? Genes play a role, but so do choices. Proven ways to protect memory include following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar in check. Living a mentally active life is important, too. Just as muscles grow stronger with use, mental exercise helps keep mental skills and memory in tone.

Are certain kinds of "brain work" more effective than others? Any brain exercise is better than being a mental couch potato. But the activities with the most impact are those that require you to work beyond what is easy and comfortable. Playing endless rounds of solitaire and watching the latest documentary marathon on the History Channel may not be enough. Learning a new language, volunteering, and other activities that strain your brain are better bets.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder, once known as manic-depressive disorder or manic depression, is a form of depression in which periods of deep depression alternate with periods of hyperactivity and uncontrolled elation (mania).
People with bipolar disorder differ from those with other depressive disorders in that their moods swing from depression to mania, often with periods of relatively normal mood between the two extremes.
The disorder usually begins with a depressive episode in adolescence or early adulthood. The first manic phase may not follow until several years later. The length of the cycle, from the heights of mania to deep depression, varies from person to person. The risk of suicide is high among people with bipolar disorder; an estimated 1 of 4 people attempt suicide, and 1 of 10 succeed.
Heredity is an important factor in bipolar disorder. Close relatives of people suffering from bipolar disorder are much more likely to develop it, or some other form of depression, than the general population. Environmental factors, such as troubled family relationships, may aggravate this disorder.

Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is a recurring disease that goes in cycles. One part of the cycle is marked by symptoms of mania, the other by symptoms of depression. These "mood episodes" are often intense. During the manic phase, an individual can be cheerful, outgoing, talkative, and energetic. Until the mania gets out of control, he or she can be extremely productive and wonderful company.
During a manic episode an individual may:

• feel very energetic
• talk a lot about different things
• have trouble sleeping or relaxing
• jump from thought to thought or project to project
• develop exaggerated self-confidence or thoughts of power and wealth
• do risky things like abuse alcohol or other drugs, recklessly spend or invest money, engage in reckless sex

During a depressive episode an individual may:

• feel down or worried
• lose interest in activities or relationships
• have trouble concentrating
• have trouble sleeping
• think about death or suicide

The symptoms of bipolar disorder are not always easy to distinguish from other serious conditions. Mania can be difficult to tell from schizophrenia. People who take amphetamines or corticosteroid drugs or people with overactive thyroid glands have symptoms similar to those of people with the manic phase of bipolar disorder. Some people have bipolar disorder for months, if not years, before it is diagnosed.
Untreated, the manic phase can last as long as 3 months. As the mania fades, the individual may have a period of normal mood and behavior that lasts for weeks, or even years. Eventually, the depressive phase of the illness sets in.
About 10% to 20% of people with bipolar disorder develop what is known as rapid cycling, with more than four episodes of mania and depression a year. The chance that there will be future attacks rises with each new episode.

Treatment options

If you or someone you are close to is experiencing the symptoms of bipolar disorder, medical attention is urgently needed. A person in a period of mania often does not know that he or she is behaving strangely and in need of medical attention. A complete evaluation by a psychiatrist is critical to arriving at an accurate diagnosis, which is the first step toward an appropriate treatment plan. Sometimes, manic people are so out of control that they pose a threat to themselves and others and need to be hospitalized.
Bipolar disorder is highly treatable. The most commonly used medications are mood stabilizers such as lithium, antiseizure drugs, and atypical antipsychotics. Antidepressants and sleep medications may also be used. These medications are usually most effective when they are combined with psychosocial treatment.
Even with treatment, though, relapse is common. In one study, people who were treated with lithium and continued to take it averaged 1½ weeks a year when they were severely ill, whereas people who stopped taking the medicine averaged 13 weeks a year of severe illness.

Lithium

Lithium is the most frequently used mood stabilizer. It prevents the mania and, to a lesser extent, the depression, although how it does this isn't known.
Seventy percent of people with bipolar disorder who take lithium experience fewer and less-intense manic episodes. In about 20% of people with bipolar disorder, lithium completely relieves symptoms.
However, lithium is not a cure. The mood cycle often emerges if treatment is stopped, even after many years of treatment. Lithium use must also be monitored carefully. Its side effects include weight gain, hand tremors, drowsiness, excessive thirst, and frequent urination.
Because lithium can injure the heart, kidneys, or thyroid gland, it's important to have a physical examination and blood tests before taking it. The dose is usually increased gradually until the drug begins to work, and is then periodically adjusted. Blood levels of lithium are checked regularly; it is ineffective if the level is too low and risky if the level is too high.

Antiseizure medications

Antiseizure drugs may be used instead of lithium, especially when the mood cycle is very rapid. These medications can have mood-stabilizing effects and may be especially useful for treating someone in the midst of a bipolar episode and also for preventing further episodes of it. Antiseizure medications commonly used for treating bipolar disorder include:

• valproate (Depakote, Depakene)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
• lamotrigine (Lamictal)

Like lithium, antiseizure drugs can have unwanted side effects.

Atypical antipsychotics

Second-generation antipsychotics, also called atypical antipsychotics, can also be used to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Examples of these medications include:

• risperidone (Risperdal)
• aripiprazole (Abilify)
• olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• quetiapine (Seroquel)
• ziprasidone (Geodon, Zeldox)
• olanzapine plus fluoxetine (Symbyax)
• asenapine (Saphris)

Antidepressants and sleep aids

An antidepressant may help individuals cope with the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. Sleep aids may be needed during the manic phase.

Electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy, also known shock therapy, can be an effective treatment for severe manic or depressive episodes, especially among individuals having serious suicidal or psychotic symptoms, or when medical therapy is not working.

Anxiety Disorders

Definition

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The feelings can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

People with generalized anxiety disorder display excessive anxiety or worry for months and face several anxiety-related symptoms.
Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include:

• Restlessness or feeling wound-up or on edge
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating or having their minds go blank
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Difficulty controlling the worry
• Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless, unsatisfying sleep)

Panic Disorder

People with panic disorder have recurrent unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate; sweating; trembling or shaking; sensations of shortness of breath, smothering, or choking; and feeling of impending doom.
Panic disorder symptoms include:

• Sudden and repeated attacks of intense fear
• Feelings of being out of control during a panic attack
• Intense worries about when the next attack will happen
• Fear or avoidance of places where panic attacks have occurred in the past

Social Anxiety Disorder

People with social anxiety disorder (sometimes called “social phobia”) have a marked fear of social or performance situations in which they expect to feel embarrassed, judged, rejected, or fearful of offending others.
Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:

• Feeling highly anxious about being with other people and having a hard time talking to them
• Feeling very self-conscious in front of other people and worried about feeling humiliated, embarrassed, or rejected, or fearful of offending others
• Being very afraid that other people will judge them
• Worrying for days or weeks before an event where other people will be
• Staying away from places where there are other people
• Having a hard time making friends and keeping friends
• Blushing, sweating, or trembling around other people
• Feeling nauseous or sick to your stomach when other people are around

Evaluation for an anxiety disorder often begins with a visit to a primary care provider. Some physical health conditions, such as an overactive thyroid or low blood sugar, as well as taking certain medications, can imitate or worsen an anxiety disorder. A thorough mental health evaluation is also helpful, because anxiety disorders often co-exist with other related conditions, such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Improving Mental and Emotional Health

People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behavior. They are able to handle life’s challenges, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks. But just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, so it is with mental and emotional health. Improving your emotional health can be a rewarding experience, benefiting all aspects of your life, including boosting your mood, building resilience, and adding to your overall enjoyment of life.

What is mental health or emotional health?

Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, your ability to manage feelings and deal with difficulties, and how much meaning and joy you derive from life.

Good mental health isn't just the absence of mental health problems such as depression or anxiety. Rather, it's the presence of positive characteristics, such as being able to cope with life's challenges, handle stress, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.

Mental and emotional health problems often arise when your nervous system has been compromised by overwhelming amounts of stress. The body's natural and most efficient method of coping with stress and rebalancing the nervous system is via face-to-face social contact with a trusted person. This is why mental and emotional health is so closely linked with social health: helping yourself involves reaching out to others.

Why are we reluctant to address our mental health needs?

Anyone can suffer from mental or emotional health problems—and over a lifetime most of us will. This year alone, about one in five of us will suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. And mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder.

Despite how common mental health problems are, many of us make no effort to improve our situation. We ignore the emotional messages that tell us something is wrong and try toughing it out by distracting ourselves or self-medicating with alcohol, drugs, and other destructive behaviors. We bottle things up in the hope that others don't notice. But our emotional issues always affect those around us, especially when we erupt in rage or despair at the sense of hopelessness and helplessness we feel.

Our reluctance to address our mental health needs stems from a variety of reasons.

In some societies, mental and emotional issues are seen as less legitimate than physical issues. They're seen as a sign of weakness or somehow as being your own fault.
Some people mistakenly see mental health problems as something you should know how to “snap out of.” Men especially, would often rather bottle up their feelings than seek help.
Many people think that if they do seek help, the only treatment options available are medication (which comes with unwanted side effects) or therapy (which can be lengthy and expensive). The truth is that, whatever your issues, there are things you can do to improve the way you feel and experience greater mental and emotional well-being. And you can start doing them today!
The role of resilience in mental and emotional health

Being emotionally and mentally healthy doesn't mean never going through bad times or experiencing emotional problems. But just as physically healthy people are better able to bounce back from illness or injury, people with good emotional health are better able to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called resilience.

People who are emotionally and mentally resilient have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook. They remain focused, flexible, and creative in bad times as well as good. While some people learn these skills in infancy, depending on the quality of the relationship with their primary caretaker, they can also be learned at any time later in life.

Improving mental and emotional health
are social creatures with an overriding emotional need for relationships and positive connections to others. We're not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation.

Face-to-face social interaction with someone who cares about you is the most effective way to calm your nervous system and relieve stress. Interacting with another person can quickly put the brakes on defensive stress responses like “fight-or-flight.” It also releases hormones that reduce stress, so you'll feel better even if you're unable to alter the stressful situation itself.
The key is to find a supportive relationship with someone who is a “good listener”—someone you can regularly talk to in person, who will listen to you without a pre-existing agenda for how you should think or feel. A good listener will listen to the feelings behind your words, and won't interrupt, judge, or criticize you.
Reaching out is not a sign of weakness and it won't mean you're a burden to others. The truth is that most people are flattered if you trust them enough to confide in them.
If you don't feel that you have anyone to turn to, there are good ways to build new friendships and improve your support network.
Strategies for connecting to others:

Get out from behind your TV or computer screen. Screens have their place but communication is a largely nonverbal experience that requires you to be in direct contact with other people, so don't neglect your real-world relationships in favor of virtual interaction.
Be a joiner. Join networking, social, or special interest groups that meet on a regular basis. These groups offer wonderful opportunities for meeting

Jamie Grace Is Holding On

Grammy nominee says Tourette's took her 'for a spin.'

Jamie Grace Harper may be the world's only musician with Tourette syndrome, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, echolalia, anxiety disorder—and a Grammy nod. Nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song (for her breakout hit "Hold Me"), Harper, 20, attended February's Grammy ceremony with her family; the rest of the year, she lives in Atlanta with her parents, James and Mona Harper, cofounders and pastors of Kingdom City Church.

Harper is open about her struggles with Tourette syndrome, which started when she was about 8 years old in the form of tics—involuntary movements and sounds—and an obsession to repeat certain behaviors and phrases. "It took our lives for a spin," she says of the diagnosis. "I learned early on that Tourette's is not life-threatening, but it is life-altering."

Harper has been crazy busy since releasing her debut album, One Song at a Time, in September 2011. In addition to more than 100 shows, she's been working on a new album, writing a novel, recording a Christmas song (with older sister Morgan) for a holiday project, speaking on the Revolve Tour (for teen girls), acting in a movie (Grace Unplugged, due in 2013), and, incredibly, graduating from college, with a degree in children's ministry from Point University (formerly Atlanta Christian College). All before her 21st birthday.

Question & Answer

Why is that important to you?

As a kid, I was always on message boards for my favorite singers. I once sent ZOEgirl a message about something I was struggling with, and when [they] replied, it was like the kindest thing ever. I just want to do the same thing.

How does Tourette syndrome affect you today?

Mostly I repeat things I hear, sometimes obscure and random things, over and over. Lately, I've been saying one line from a movie, The Master of Disguise. I'll start saying, "I'm going to be the master of disguise," and I don't even realize it. My friends will say, "Jamie, you're quoting The Master of Disguise again." Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself! But I've been able to train myself out of it a little bit. I'll cover it up by singing it instead of saying it, or saying it under my breath. Or I'll do something to distract myself, like play my drums or go for a run.

You became an overnight sensation when "Hold Me" exploded. How has sudden fame affected you?

It was a little overwhelming. "Hold Me" was just a very personal song between me and Jesus. I was thinking it was like the worst song ever; I didn't even want it on the album! I've always prayed that God [could] use my story to touch other people, but I never thought he'd use that song. But my mom encouraged it—which just goes to show you that, one, moms know everything, and, two, God can take your dreams and do more than you can ever imagine.

Hometown: Atlanta

Church: Kingdom City Church

Reading now: Books by Lisa Harper; The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

On your iPod: Johnnyswim, Natalie Grant, Reba McEntire

Favorite movie: Princess Diaries 2

Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 30:5

Favorite website: YouTube

Your hero My parents

What makes you laugh? When 2-year-olds sing my songs

Best meal you cook? Ham, cheese, and spinach omelet

 

Living with a Mental Health Condition

If you have a mental health condition, you're not alone. One in 5 people experience some form of mental illness in any given year. And across the population, 1 in every 20 adults is living with a serious mental health condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or long-term recurring major depression.

As with other serious illnesses, mental illness is not your fault or that of the people around you, but widespread misunderstandings about mental illness remain. Many people don't seek treatment or remain unaware that their symptoms could be connected to a mental health condition. People may expect a person with serious mental illness to look visibly different from others, and they may tell someone who doesn't "look ill" to "get over it" through willpower. These misperceptions add to the challenges of living with a mental health condition.

Every year people overcome the challenges of mental illness to do the things they enjoy. Through developing and following a treatment plan, you can dramatically reduce many of your symptoms. People with mental health conditions can and do pursue higher education, succeed in their careers, make friends and have relationships. Mental illness can slow us down, but we don't need to let it stop us.

A family's mental health journey: Emergency, illness, recovery, stability

March 2010, Pam Lipp received the call she'd been dreading for months. She figured it would come from one of three places: the police, the hospital or the morgue. Instead, it was her husband, Doug, saying that he'd just received word that their 18-year-old daughter, Amanda, a freshman at Chico State University in California, was being held at a psychiatric crisis center after trying to throw herself in front of a moving car. Amanda had lost her grip on reality and fallen into a state of psychosis. She'd started selling off her belongings and believed that cameras were following her everywhere.

Doug was away at a speaking engagement, so Pam jumped in the car with a friend and raced to the crisis center two hours away. When they arrived, they found Amanda, curled up in a ball on the floor in a fetal position, sobbing. "I was hallucinating. I thought I was a doctor. When my mom got there, I realized I was the one in trouble," says Amanda. "Nothing prepares you for seeing your child in such turmoil. I felt helpless," says Pam.

Amanda was soon diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental illness characterized by manic highs, depressive lows and possible periods of psychosis. Although the diagnosis provided a new direction to what had been an all-consuming journey for the Lipp family, it was just one stop on the bumpy road to navigating the mental health system. The Lipps are not alone: Nearly one in five Americans experiences a mental illness in any given year, but fewer than half of them receive treatment.

Early signs

Amanda first started acting out when she was in middle school in Fair Oaks, California. She had extreme mood swings and explosive arguments with her parents. Pam and Doug, who run a small business together, hoped it was typical adolescent drama that would soon fade. "We never knew which Amanda we were going to get," Pam recalls — the edgy Amanda looking for a heated debate, or the down, depressed Amanda who would retreat to her room. Eventually, the intensity and unpredictability of her moods made them realize she needed professional help.

They took her to the family doctor, who agreed that Amanda required more help but said that she didn't have anyone to refer her to. Instead, the doctor recommended that Pam request a copy of all the therapists in her zip code who worked with her insurance company and call down the list. Pam called dozens of practitioners, leaving message after message. Not only was the list outdated, but most were too busy to even see her daughter and the ones who were highly recommended didn't accept her insurance anymore.

For her part, Amanda was reluctant about seeing a therapist. She worried about what other people might think, and that it would change the image she had of herself. "I was the popular kid who people looked up to," says Amanda. "I thought that if my friends saw me as someone to be pitied, they wouldn't lean on me anymore. Part of me wanted to get help, yet the other part of me didn't want to admit I needed it."

She agreed to give therapy a try and Pam found someone Amanda was comfortable with. Yet, at an out-of-pocket rate of $120 per hour, the Lipps just couldn't afford the amount of care she needed, which was about three sessions per week. She visited a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with depression and put on an antidepressant. Despite the treatment, Amanda continued to spiral downward — staying out late, self-medicating with drugs and arguing with her family.

During those years, Pam says, she and Doug were living one exhausting day to the next. They had three children to raise, but taking care of Amanda consumed their lives. "We felt like we were in prison in our own home with all the hostility and upheaval."

By the time Amanda headed to college, she was barely speaking to her parents.

Fighting for care

Amanda's bipolar diagnosis was a turning point — it meant that she could begin to receive the treatment she desperately needed. But it wasn't easy to find at first.

The crisis center would only hold her for a maximum of 72 hours, and Amanda needed much more treatment than that. When Pam asked where her daughter would be sent next, the doctor told her Amanda would be discharged and likely end up back in the center.

So Pam spent the next day in the crisis center waiting room, desperately calling one psychiatric hospital after another to find a place to send Amanda. They were all full. She begged them to call her back when they had an opening, but they told her they couldn't reserve a spot. Instead, they told her to call every half hour in the hope that she'd be able to grab the next available bed. Pam plugged her cellphone into the waiting room wall and repeatedly called each one on speed dial. "You go into mother-bear mode, where you dig in and do what you have to do to protect your cub. I knew I couldn't stop until Amanda had the help she needed," says Pam.

After eight hours of continuous dialing, Pam finally found Amanda an open bed at a hospital near their home. For Pam, it was a huge relief that her daughter was safe. "We felt like we were finally entering a new phase of tackling her condition. In the hospital, at least we knew where she was and that she was under a watchful eye. We felt safest knowing she didn't have a choice to leave."

But Amanda had a different perspective. She didn't see her psychosis as a disease — she saw it as a transformation where she was finally able to face her vulnerability and deal with her issues.

"In the hospital, I felt like a prisoner," she says. "I felt trapped in a space where people were always watching me and monitoring my behavior." Amanda is an artist who finds solace in creativity, but she says the staff in the hospital was more focused on trying to treat her medically and didn't seem to value what she was doing with her art. "Trying to express myself and heal felt impossible," she says.

Figuring out finances

While Amanda was in the hospital, Pam was gripped with fear over the coverage of the treatment. "I was terrified that insurance would run out and we'd lose our savings and everything we'd worked for."

Fortunately, a federal law passed in 2008 guarantees that mental illnesses be covered "at parity" with any other disease, without special limitations. Her insurer informed Pam that any care Amanda needed would be covered. "I was so relieved," says Pam.

After a month in the hospital, two months of a full-time outpatient program, the temporary help of an antipsychotic medication and years of therapy with a new psychologist, Amanda made an impressive recovery, learning to manage her condition.

A key point for her was a change in perspective. She went from seeing her symptoms as evidence of illness to seeing them as strengths that she could use to her benefit. For example, she could turn a period of introspection that she might have previously seen as "depression" into a piece of art.

Living out loud

Many families end up running into similar obstacles — they don't know where to go for proper care or they're worried about the cost. But there's also the stigma of mental illness that prevents people from reaching out because they fear judgment or worry that it might affect their jobs.

"When you break a leg, you get a cast and people sign it and put smiley faces on it. When you're given a mental illness diagnosis, you're cast out," says Amanda, who is now a 24-year-old college graduate and member of the board of California's National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocacy group..

It truly took a village and a community of friends to help Amanda heal.

Fortunately, Pam wasn't afraid of the stigma, having learned from her own family's mistakes. "I grew up in an environment where everything was pushed under the rug," she says. "People were suffering from mental illness, but they blamed it on other things like migraines. In reality, they needed therapy. I wasn't going to let that happen with Amanda."

Pam faced the stigma head-on and was completely open with her friends about what was happening. While this didn't help the Lipps crack the code on their daughter's illness earlier, it gave them strength when they needed it.

"Mental illness is not usually a casserole disease — when you tell your friends that a family member is suffering from a mental illness, they don't deliver a lasagna. But in our case, our friends did because we were open about it," says Pam.

People rallied around her. In particular, Pam was already part of a monthly mothers' group that got together to make care packages for their children in college. The other women urged her to keep coming to the group and making care packages for Amanda throughout her illness. "They were my rock of friendship. It truly took a village and a community of friends to help Amanda heal," says Pam.

Finding hope

Hard-won strides in the area of mental illness like the parity law helped Pam and her family get through the crisis intact, but it was a difficult road.

"We're so proud of Amanda and everything she's overcome," says Pam. That doesn't mean she's stopped worrying. "We experienced a mental health emergency, an illness and a recovery, and now we're stable. But every day I wake up and worry, could she relapse?" For anyone with a history of psychosis, another breakdown is always a possibility.

Now armed with knowledge and experience, Pam feels more confident. And in the meantime, both mother and daughter are dedicated to raising awareness and helping other families find the hope and the care they need in a system that often seems to be working against them.

For women facing similar situations, Pam has this advice: "Treat mental health concerns like you would any condition. Don't let the stigma be a roadblock to getting yourself and your family the care that's needed. If your gut tells you there's something going on with your child, look the issue in the face and get the help you need."

Stigma and discrimination

People with mental health problems say that the social stigma attached to mental ill health and the discrimination they experience can make their difficulties worse and make it harder to recover.

Mental illness is common. It affects thousands of people, their friends, families, work colleagues and society in general.

• One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives.
• Around one in ten children experience mental health problems. 
• Depression affects around one in 12 of the whole population.
• 450 million people world-wide have a mental health problem.

People with mental health problems experience prejudice and discrimination in almost every aspect of their lives. Many have said the stigma of mental ill health is more disabling than the illness itself.

Research has shown that people with mental health problems are pre-judged, find it hard to get jobs and sustain friendships and relationships. Research has also shown that ignorance, fear, and stereotypes presented in the newspapers, on the TV and at the cinema, all contribute to negative attitudes towards mental ill health. Most people have little knowledge about mental illness and their opinions are often factually incorrect.

In a survey of about 500 people given a diagnosis of schizophrenia and carried out by the independent 'Inquiry into the "Schizophrenia" label' in 2012, more than 80 per cent said the diagnosis made life more difficult. 88 per cent said they thought the public associated 'schizophrenia' with violence.

Studies have illustrated that prejudice and discrimination against people with a diagnosis of mental illness are common all over the world.

For example, more than 700 people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in 27 different countries were interviewed as part of INDIGO (International Study of Discrimination and Stigma Outcomes), a research study carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry (now Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience), King's College London, in collaboration with the World Psychiatric Association’s (WPA) Global Programme Against Stigma and Discrimination because of Schizophrenia. 72 per cent of those interviewed said they felt the need to conceal their diagnosis. 64 per cent said the anticipation of discrimination stopped them applying for work, training or education programmes and 55 per cent said it stopped them looking for a close relationship.

In addition, people who have experienced psychosis may feel discriminated against because of mental health law, which allows compulsory treatment. Side effects of antipsychotic medication – such as involuntary movements – may also make them feel set apart and seen as ‘different’.

Language used to describe mental ill health can contribute to discriminatory attitudes. Research carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry (now Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience) and the charity Rethink Mental Illness asked nearly 500 secondary school students to describe people with mental health problems. They came up with 250 different words and phrases – most of them were derogatory and used as insults in the playground.

Kenya unveils Mental Health Policy

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 17 – Kenya has unveiled its first Mental Health Policy that will focus the nation’s attention on addressing mental illnesses.

The policy (2015-2030), which was launched on Tuesday May 17th , seeks to destigmatize, decriminalize and deinstitutionalize mental health concerns, giving them high priority owing to the impact they have on a patient’s life as well as the socioeconomic development of the nation.

Issues such as the stigma that is associated with mental health as well as laws which criminalize mental health issues will all be addressed by the policy.

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Cleopa Mailu said that mental health must be safeguarded by policy directives as well as legislation and that the policy would jump start the process.

“This policy is a landmark achievement in many ways. It focuses national attention on a long-neglected problem and does so with a welcome sense of urgency,” he said.

The CS further observed that mental health was rooted in the principles of human rights and that it drew support from the Constitution as well as various international conventions.

“Every person has a right to the highest attainable standard of health including the right to healthcare services, Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy (2014-2030). This is the ultimate goal,” he explained.

Dr. Mailu also called upon all stakeholders to align their work plans to the policy in order for the country to transform mental health.

The policy will provide benchmarks for measuring the goals set for the provision of quality mental health services.

“This is what we all want to see: progress because there is no health without mental health,” argued the CS.

Dr. Mailu was accompanied by World Health Organization Country Representative for Kenya Dr. Custodia Mandlhate, who lauded the development of the policy noting that it would go a long way in addressing the health concern.

Mental, neurological and substance use disorders have become common, affecting more than 25 percent of people at some point of their lifetime. This translates to one in four people.

It is also estimated that 20 to 40 percent of patients seen in primary care have one or more mental disorders. In addition, the burden of mental, neurological and substance use disorders will be 15 percent of the total Disability-Adjusted Life Years by 2020 if nothing is done to address them.

Understanding schizophrenia

Mental health problems are generally stigmatized and considered taboo subject in many communities. Although the life-long disease cannot be cured, it still can be controlled with proper treatment, writes Dr Kizito Lubano 

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/article/2000064923/understanding-schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. People with schizophrenia — the most chronic and disabling of the major mental illnesses, often have problems functioning in society, at work, at school, and in relationships. Schizophrenia can leave its sufferer frightened and withdrawn. There are several sub-types of schizophrenia based on symptoms:

 Paranoid schizophrenia: People with this type are preoccupied with false beliefs (delusions) about being persecuted or being punished by someone. Their thinking, speech and emotions, however, remain fairly normal. 

Dis organised schizophrenia: People suffering from this condition are often confused and incoherent. They also have jumbled speech. Their outward behavior might be emotionless, flat, inappropriate, even silly or childlike. They often have disorganized behavior that may disrupt their ability to perform normal daily activities such as showering or preparing meals. Catatonic schizophrenia: The most striking symptoms of this type are physical. People with catatonic schizophrenia are generally immobile and unresponsive to the world around them. They often become very rigid and stiff, and unwilling to move. Occasionally, these people have peculiar movements like grimacing or assume bizarre postures. Or, they might repeat a word or phrase just spoken by another person. People with catatonic schizophrenia are at increased risk of malnutrition, exhaustion, or self-inflicted injury. 

Undifferentiated schizophrenia: This sub-type is diagnosed when the person’s symptoms do not clearly represent one of the other three sub types.

Residual schizophrenia: In this type of schizophrenia, the severity of schizophrenia symptoms has decreased. Hallucinations, delusions, or other symptoms may still be present but are considerably less than when the schizophrenia was originally diagnosed. 

Symptoms of schizophrenia 

People with schizophrenia may have a number of symptoms involving changes in ability and personality.  They may display different kinds of behavior at different times. When the illness first appears, symptoms usually are sudden and severe. The most common symptoms of schizophrenia can be grouped into three categories: Positive symptoms, disorganized symptoms, and negative symptoms.

 Positive symptoms of schizophrenia 

In this case, the word positive does not mean “good.” Rather, it refers to obvious symptoms that are not present in people without schizophrenia. These symptoms, which are sometimes referred to as psychotic symptoms, include: 

•Delusions: 
Strange beliefs that are not based in reality and that the person refuses to give up, even when presented with factual information. 

•Hallucinations: 
These involve perceiving sensations that aren’t real, such as seeing things that aren’t there, hearing voices, smelling strange odors, having a “funny” taste in your mouth, and feeling sensations on your skin even though nothing is touching your body. Hearing voices is the most common hallucination in people with schizophrenia. The voices may comment on the person’s behavior, insult the person, or give commands. 

In this case, the word negative does not mean “bad,” but reflects the absence of certain normal behaviors in people with schizophrenia. Those who suffer from schizophrenia exhibit a lack of emotion, thoughts, and moods that do not fit with situations, or events (for example, crying instead of laughing at a joke); withdrawal from family, friends, and social activities; reduced energy and lack of motivation.

Nervous breakdown - signs, symptoms and recovery

Everybody experiences stress and anxiety on a daily basis, though usually at levels that are manageable. When stress and feelings of worry or anxiety build up to a level that has an impact on a person’s daily life, they may be described as having a nervous breakdown.

A nervous breakdown, also known as a mental health crisis, is a form of anxiety disorder. A nervous breakdown is not a medical term, as it does not describe a specific condition. It’s more of a general term that is often used conversationally to describe someone who is obviously not coping with stress, worry or anxiety, and it gets out of hand.

A nervous breakdown can be triggered by a specific event that causes someone extreme stress, such as trauma or the death of a loved one. However, it can also be the product of a gradual build-up of stress, commonly arising from pressures related to work, relationships or financial difficulties - divorce or unemployment may be factors. Worry, stress and anxiety can build up over a long period of time and reach a point where a person is no longer able to cope or perform their normal daily tasks.

Signs and Symptoms of a nervous Breakdown

There are many different signs that indicate a person may be experiencing a nervous breakdown. Some signs relate to a person’s mental state and how they are feeling, or changes in personality. However, physical symptoms are also common. Signs vary from person to person, and can depend upon the underlying cause.

People who feel they are having a nervous breakdown can:

• feel isolated – disinterested in the company of family and friends, or withdrawing from usual daily activities
• feel unable to concentrate – difficulty focusing at work, and being easily distracted
• be moody – feeling low or depressed; feeling burnt out; emotional outbursts of uncontrollable anger, fear, helplessness or crying
• feel depersonalized – not feeling like yourself or feeling detached from situations
• have hallucinations – vivid flashbacks of a stressful or traumatic event can be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder – you should discuss any hallucinations or flashbacks with a doctor or counselor
• have thoughts of self-harm – if you have thoughts of self-harm, get professional help immediately.

Physical symptoms can include:

• insomnia – when you have a lot on your mind it can make it difficult to sleep, or sleep can be disrupted
• exhaustion – difficulty sleeping or anxiety can make you feel exhausted and lacking energy to face routine tasks
• frequent illnesses – exhaustion can leave you susceptible to infections
• headaches – headaches and dizzy spells
• muscle pain – sore and stiff muscles, particularly in the jaw or back from muscle tension
• bowel problems – stomach cramps and irregular bowel movements
• racing heart – feeling like your heart is racing, tightness across the chest or a lump in your throat, which can make it seem difficult to breathe
• sweats – hot or cold flushes and clammy hands.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one is experiencing a nervous breakdown, it is important to seek help and see a doctor or counselor.

Recovery From a Nervous Breakdown

Following a nervous breakdown, a full recovery is possible. Treatment may include counselling, while simple lifestyle changes can help deal with stress and anxiety. Working on your diet, exercise and sleep habits can help.

A healthy diet can improve energy levels, sleep habits and help to combat illness, and prevent you feeling low and tired. You might also remove stimulants such as caffeine from your diet – this can help reduce anxiety and improve sleep.

Exercise can help many forms of temporary and long-term mental illnesses. Exercise can be used as a way to do something for yourself and can provide ’time-out’ from other pressures. Team sports or activities encourage socializing, which can reduce feelings of isolation, give your mood a boost and increase self-esteem. Physical fatigue may also improve sleep, which is essential to give you the energy to cope with day-to-day activities.

Learning relaxation techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises, might also help, and can be practiced when you feel your stress levels rising.

Get to know the signs that indicate you are struggling to cope. If you can recognize the signs, then you can take action and ask for help before reaching breaking point.

In some cases, a nervous breakdown may indicate a more serious mental health issue, such as an anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder, in which case medication and therapy may be required to aid recovery.

How to look after your mental health

It’s important to take care of yourself and get the most from life. Below are 10 practical ways to look after your mental health. Making simple changes to how you live doesn’t need to cost a fortune or take up loads of time. Anyone can follow this advice. Why not start today?



1. Talk about your feelings


Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.


Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your well being and doing what you can to stay healthy.


Talking can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone. And it works both ways. If you open up, it might encourage others to do the same.


It’s not always easy to describe how you’re feeling. If you can’t think of one word, use lots. What does it feel like inside your head? What does it make you feel like doing?


You don't need to sit your loved ones down for a big conversation about your well being. Many people feel more comfortable when these conversations develop naturally - maybe when you're doing something together.


If it feels awkward at first, give it time. Make talking about your feelings something that you do.


2. Keep active

Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep, look and feel better.


Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy.


“I get a huge buzz from my rock ’n’ roll class. Hours later, my legs ache, but I’m still smiling.”


Exercising doesn’t just mean doing sport or going to the gym. Walks in the park, gardening or housework can also keep you active.


Experts say most people should do about 30 minutes’ exercise at least five days a week.


Try to make physical activity that you enjoy a part of your day.


“It’s increased my confidence, as I’ve proved to myself that I can do things, and I’m also much fitter and have lost weight. We always have a lot of fun.”

3. Eat well


There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel, for example, caffeine and sugar can have an immediate effect.


But food can also have a long-lasting effect on your mental health. Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body.


A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.


A healthy balanced diet includes:
lots of different types of fruit and vegetables
wholegrain cereals or bread
nuts and seeds
dairy products
oily fish
plenty of water.


Eat at least three meals each day and drink plenty of water. Try to limit how many high-caffeine or sugary drinks you have, and avoid too much alcohol.


Please Note: The advice on this page may not apply if your doctor or dietician have given you specific dietary advice, e.g. if you are a kidney patient or a diabetic.

4. Drink sensibly


We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.


When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of the way alcohol withdrawal symptoms affect your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings.


Apart from the damage too much alcohol can do to your body, you would need more and more alcohol each time to feel the same short-term boost. There are healthier ways of coping with tough times.


Occasional light drinking is perfectly healthy and enjoyable for most people.


Stay within the recommended daily alcohol limits:
3 to 4 units a day for men.
2 to 3 units a day for women.

Many people also smoke or use drugs or other substances to change how they feel. But, again, the effects are short-lived. Just like alcohol, the more you use, the more you crave. Nicotine and drugs don’t deal with the causes of difficult feelings. They don’t solve problems, they create them.



5. Keep in touch


Strong family ties and supportive friends can help you deal with the stresses of life. Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever’s going on inside your own head. They can help keep you active, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems.


There’s nothing better than catching up with someone face-to-face. But that’s not always possible. Give them a call, drop them a note or chat to them online instead. Keep the lines of communication open. It’s good for you!


If you’re feeling out of touch with some people, look back at our section on talking about your feelings and get started!


“Just chilling out with friends relaxes me. We have a laugh and I feel good.”


It’s worth working at relationships that make you feel loved or valued. But if you think being around someone is damaging your mental health, it may be best to take a break from them or call it a day completely. It’s possible to end a relationship in a way that feels ok for both of you.

It can be hard to cope when someone close to you dies or you lose them another way. Counselling for bereavement or loss can help you explore your feelings.



6. Ask for help


None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help.


Your family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a listening ear. Local services are there to help you.


For example, you could:
join a support group like Weight Watchers or Alcoholics Anonymous to help you make changes to your life
find a counselor to help you deal with your feelings or make a fresh start
call the council about noise nuisance
visit a Citizens Advice Bureau if you want advice on debt.


Your GP may be able to refer you to a counselor. You should consider getting help from your GP if difficult feelings are:
stopping you getting on with life
having a big impact on the people you live or work with
affecting your mood over several weeks.

Over a third of visits to GPs are about mental health. Your GP may suggest ways you or your family can help you. Or they may refer you to a specialist or another part of the health service.



7. Take a break


A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work or a weekend exploring somewhere new.


A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some ‘me time’.


“Sometimes when I’m sitting on the bus, I let my thoughts flow and it really helps me.”


Taking a break may mean being very active. It may mean not doing very much at all.


Take a deep breath… and relax. Try yoga or meditation, or just putting your feet up.


Listen to your body. If you’re really tired, give yourself time to sleep. Without good sleep, our mental health suffers and our concentration goes downhill. Sometimes the world can wait.

8. Do something you're good at


What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past?


Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it and achieving something boosts your self-esteem.


Concentrating on a hobby like gardening or the crossword can help you forget your worries for a while and change your mood.

“I’m learning the guitar. You have to really concentrate on getting it right so there’s no room in my head for worries.”


It can be good to have an interest where you’re not seen as someone’s mum or dad, partner or employee. You’re just you.


An hour of sketching lets you express yourself creatively. A morning on the football pitch gets you active and gives you the chance to meet new people.

9. Accept who you are

Some of us make people laugh, some are good at maths, others cook fantastic meals. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us, others live very differently.


We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else.


Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends.


Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.


“Being happy with who I am now means I enjoy living in the moment.”


Be proud of who you are. Recognize and accept what you are not good at, but focus on what you can do well.


Work out if there’s anything about yourself that you still want to change. Are your expectations realistic? If they are, work towards the change in small steps.

10. Care for others


Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together.


Why not share your skills more widely by volunteering for a local charity? Helping out can make us feel needed and valued and that boosts our self-esteem.


“Friends are really important… We help each other whenever we can, so it’s a two-way street and supporting them uplifts me.”


It also helps us see the world from another angle. That can help to put our own problems in perspective.


Caring for a pet can improve your well being too. The bond between you and your pet can be as strong as between people. Looking after a pet can bring structure to your day and act as a link to other people. Lots of people make friends by chatting to fellow dog walkers.

The big benefits of plain water

“Water, water, every where, nor any drop to drink.” Unlike Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, who was surrounded by undrinkable salt water, most Americans have an unlimited supply of clean water to quench our thirsts.

Yet many of us turn a blind eye to it and instead reach for other beverages throughout the day, like sodas, juices, coffee, and tea, despite warnings from health experts over recent years about the added calories in sweetened beverages and the health benefits of plain water.

Now a recent study in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics provides even more evidence that we should choose water over other drinks if we want to control our weight. For the study, researchers from the University of Illinois looked at data on the eating (and drinking) habits of 18,311 adults as recorded in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2012.

Survey participants were asked to recall their dietary intake over two separate days. They reported their consumption of plain water (which included tap water, water from fountains and water coolers, and bottled water) as well as their consumption of other beverages like soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, and sweetened bottled waters. Participants were also questioned about their intake of “energy-dense, nutrient-poor” foods, like cookies, ice cream, chips, and pastries.

On average, participants drank 4.2 cups of plain water a day and took in 2,157 calories. About 125 of those calories came from sweetened beverages, and about 432 calories came from energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. The researchers found that the participants who drank the most plain water in their daily diet consumed fewer total calories, drank fewer sweetened beverages, and took in less total fat, saturated fat, sugar, salt, and cholesterol. In fact, they discovered that increasing plain water consumption by one to three cups a day could decrease calorie intake by 68 to 205 calories a day. That could add up to a lot fewer calories over time — and result in significant weight loss.

These results support prior research on this topic, which has shown that drinking water before meals and that substituting water for sweetened beverages can cut down on calorie intake and improve weight control. That means people interested in losing weight and improving their overall health could benefit from incorporating more plain water into their daily diet.

So next time you’re thirsty, take a moment to savor the one drink that’s free, refreshing, and actually good for us: plain old water. 

Article courtesy of  Mallika Marshall, MD