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Negativity is a thief of our health and happiness

11/16/2016

Negativity in all of forms robs one of the possibility for future happiness and success. We must at every turn examine our lives and remove all obstacles that read negativity. Let's keep ourselves under constant personal surveillance for negativity in all of its forms.

Life is too short!

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SAD: five helpful tips

11/6/2016

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Have you ever had periods of the blues during the winter months?

Five Ways You Can Fight SAD
Merle McCann
November 03, 2016

When daylight saving time ends on November 6, some people will celebrate. After all, what’s better than being able to sleep in for an extra hour on Sunday? Or, being able to get your kids to bed just a little earlier since it turns dark by 5 PM now? But for others, daylight saving time marks the beginning of a long, cold couple of months made even gloomier by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that affects around five percent of the country’s total population each year. SAD can affect anyone, but those particularly at risk include younger people, and those who live farther away from the equator—because the amount of winter daylight becomes shorter the farther you are from the equator, and darkness can make SAD symptoms more severe. The exact cause of SAD is currently unknown, but some possibilities include problems in the sleep cycle, chemical changes in the brain, and factors inherited from relatives. The good news? There are ways to manage SAD. If you or someone you know deals with SAD during the winter months, read on:

See a doctor. If you’re starting to feel down as the weather changes, don’t be afraid to confide in your doctor. They will be able to assess what is going on—whether it is SAD or something else that’s causing a change in your mood—and a doctor can make the right recommendations to get you feeling better.
Try light therapy. Light therapy, or phototherapy, is one of the most commonly prescribed treatments for SAD. Many common symptoms brought on by SAD—such as overeating, oversleeping, and craving carbs such as bread and pasta—stem from light deficiency. In the winter, it’s hard to be in the sun as much as other months, so many people use special “SAD lamps” indoors in order to get the light they need.
Practice mindfulness. Symptoms of SAD can include symptoms present during a major depressive episode, such as persistent sad mood, less interest in fun activities, feelings of worthlessness, and poor concentration. By practicing mindfulness—or awareness and acceptance of being in the present moment—through techniques such as meditation and self-care, you can help to combat these symptoms.
Get plenty of exercise. Regular exercise is a good way to fight any depression—including SAD. Try to focus on getting 30 minutes of exercise daily. People with SAD should consider outdoor activities—such as a brisk walk or a bike ride—in order to get the most benefits from your exercise by adding in exposure to light.
Be sure to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. A healthy diet is a great idea, whether you deal with SAD or not. However, studies have shown that people with diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins—such as lean fish—were at lower risk for depression than those with diets high in fat and carbohydrates.

Have you ever dealt with SAD? We want to hear from you in the comments below.

Dr. Merle McCann is the service chief of the Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit at Sheppard Pratt Health System, and specializes in mood disorders. He is also a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland Hospital, School of Medicine and president-elect of the Maryland Psychiatric Society.

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It hurts when I person in denial shuts you out

11/4/2016

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What do you do? The person you love is out of control and is not listening to you. You know its going to end badly for both of you. No cooperation. Only denial. Here are some practical things one can do for their loved one, and themselves.

Fast Talk: Dealing With DenialEventually, we need to face the facts about our reality and diagnoses
By Julie A. Fast
Bphope.com

It can be upsetting, stressful, and downright incomprehensible when someone with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder denies the illness and refuses treatment. You may find yourself watching helplessly as behaviors tied to untreated bipolar lead to family distress, broken relationships, problems at school and work, money woes, and alcohol and drug abuse.
If you try to help someone in denial, you will probably be accused of interfering if you even mention the word bipolar. This is confusing because it’s very easy for you to see what’s wrong, and naturally you want to point out the problem in hopes that the person will then get help. Often, however, your attempt just makes things worse.
It hurts when a person in denial shuts you out, but it’s common.
What’s even more confusing is that you can have an honest conversation about bipolar when your loved one is stable, reviving your hopes that the person will enter or stick with treatment. Then boom! Here comes the denial again.
It may be cold comfort to learn that it is very typical behavior for people with bipolar disorder to deny they are sick and avoid treatment, even if they have been in the hospital or taken medications for the illness in the past.
It’s important to remember that people in denial are usually miserable, in a great deal of internal pain, and can’t see a way out. It’s easy to believe they really can’t see what’s going on, but unless denial is a result of a mood swing such as strong maniaor paranoia, the affected individuals usually know what is happening. They respond to your concern with aggression because they are trying to protect their decision to deny the illness.
It hurts when a person in denial shuts you out, but it’s common. The person prefers to be around others who don’t mention the illness, and will paint you as the bad guy because you are the one who is stating the truth.
There is good news, however. I’ve talked with hundreds of people who moved through denial to eventually admit that bipolar is at the root of their problems and they needed help. Over and over I’ve been told how despite their relentless inner pain and confusion, they refused help and pushed away the people who cared about them.
It’s when someone realizes that they no longer want a life controlled by bipolar disorder that they begin to listen to loving advice instead of fighting back.
Steps toward change
Find the sweet spot. Are there periods when your loved one is more open to discussion? Often people are more receptive during a mild depression. Once you see a pattern in your loved one’s moods, you’ll have a better sense of when to gently start a conversation.
Set expectations. If a loved one with bipolar is living with you, you have the right to set expectations for behaviors such as drug use, drinking, yelling, staying in bed all day, staying out all hours and, yes, refusing treatment. You are always in control of what works best for you. It’s not always about the person with the illness. It will be up to you to decide the consequences if your expectations aren’t met.
Understand the challenges. Always remember that bipolar is an illness. No one chooses to have bipolar disorder. People in denial can be very unpleasant and it’s easy to walk away from them, but don’t forget they are suffering. It’s OK to address this directly. Go ahead and say you understand that it must be hard to have someone tell you what to do. Say that you can tell the person feels misunderstood. People in denial may get angry or refuse to reply, but they have heard you. Many times, when they get better, they will tell you they heard you.
Hold on to hope. I’ve known many people who accepted treatment after years of denial, often when loved ones learn simple strategies and get them help at the right time. It isn’t easy to hang on until then. Nothing with bipolar disorder is easy! But bipolar is treatable, even for those who currently refuse to admit they are ill.
Printed as “Fast Talk: The Denial Factor”, Summer 2011

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Negativity is a thief of our health and happiness

SAD: five helpful tips

It hurts when I person in denial shuts you out

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