Category: Anxiety - Beyond The Body

Beyond The Body

Poetry Friday - What It Feels Like to Live With Multiple Mental Illnesses

3/3/2017

In this poem, Anna Lente, poet, artist, and The Mighty contributor, helps us to grasp a little understanding of what it's like for individuals who suffer from multiple mental health disorders such as anxiety and bipolar disorder.

"... Another day Mania spins me in circles,
My mind leaping to dizzying heights,
Spiraling flights of thoughts,
Dangerous impulses,
While I use every bit of my inner strength to
Sit and stay,
Waiting for the eventual
Crash back into depression.
Then crawling out from depression
Back to something akin to normal.

Some days loud, crowded spaces trigger panic attacks.
I enter rooms looking for empty corners and exit signs.
I enter conversations listening for pauses so I can escape.
A panic attack means a quick retreat
To the safe space of my car,
The comfort of my home.
I cover myself in blankets
In the comfortable cocoon of my recliner,
Listen to my favorite songs on repeat,
Tell myself everything will be OK..."

To read the full poem, visit:
https://themighty.com/2017/03/poem-living-with-multiple-mental-illnesses/

The Global Impact of Anxiety and Depression

3/1/2017

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report that examined the global health impact of common mental health issues including depression and anxiety. The report provides estimates of the prevalence of such conditions globally, and how these prevalence has changed in the last decade, in addition to the overall consequences on our health and well-being.

Most strikingly, the report demonstrates that over 300 million people worldwide or 4.4% of the global population are affected by depression; an increase of 18% in the last decade. In addition, the WHO has now ranked depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide (leading to 50 million Years Lived With Disability), due to the considerable losses on health and functioning it causes.

Anxiety disorders was also found to affect over 250 million people worldwide or 3.6% of the global population; an increase of 14.9% in the last decade. Anxiety disorders are ranked 6th in terms of contributing to global disability.
"When long-lasting and with moderate or severe intensity, depression may become a serious health condition leading, at its worst, to suicide. According to the report, some 800,000 people kill themselves every year, a significant number of them young adults between the ages of 15 and 29."

For the full report, click here:
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/254610/1/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?ua=1

For a shorter synopsis of the report, visit:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56230#.WL3-zTveLVo

A Look Into Anxiety Treatment Clinics

12/5/2016

In this fantastic article, readers learn all about the Anxiety Research and Treatment Centre at St Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. While the article offers us snapshots into the treatment programs offered at the clinic, and the impact it has had for those who have struggled with anxiety disorders, we also learn some basics about anxiety including the prevalence of these conditions, the various types of anxiety disorders, and the treatment options for these conditions from medications to therapy such as CBT.

More than that, the article also informs us that while such anxiety clinics are under increased demand, this may not necessarily be due to increased incidence, but more related to decreased stigma and more individuals coming forward for help. We also are advised to remember that some anxiety or stress can be healthy and we need to continue building resiliency rather than over-medicalize stress.

"But those who are able to joke about a disorder may have never actually experienced it, and wouldn't want to.

Symptoms of an anxiety disorder include changes in thinking, behaviour, emotions, and physical sensations that cause distress and impair your ability to function at work or socially.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, and can affect anyone in any walk of life — about 30 per cent will experience one in their lifetime — and are often made worse by an accompanying "comorbid" mood disorder, depression, or substance abuse disorder.

Anxiety has been around as long as humanity. The emotion is an evolutionary adaptation, a reaction in the central nervous system giving our bodies a jolt to react to a challenge or danger; the "fight or flight" mechanism"".

For the full article, visit:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6981046-thought-distortion-anxiety-disorders/

Pokemon Go - A Global Craze Proves Helpful For Those With Mental Illness

7/17/2016

PokemonGo has quickly become a worldwide craze in just a matter of days. Since the app was released however, news has broke about the slew of motor vehicle accidents, injuries including individuals falling off cliffs, and even criminal incidents involving robbing that have resulted out of playing the game.

Despite all the negative media attention, the global phenomenon may also be beneficial, as those with mental health conditions such as ‪‎anxiety‬ and ‪‎depression‬ are finding the game to be exceedingly helpful and possibly even therapeutic. Specifically, in the article below, those with ‪‎social anxiety‬ disorder speak out about how ‪#‎PokemonGo‬ has helped them develop the courage and desire to leave their house and begin interacting with others...

"Dr. Ganz Ferrance, an Edmonton psychologist, said the game could work as a positive catalyst for people who suffer from mental illnesses like anxiety, depression and possibly obsessive compulsive disorder.

"When you have a game like this, you are providing a purpose and a structure for the individual when they go out," he said. "What it does is, in a sense, it kind of distracts them from the anxiety they would normally feel, it breaks up the cycle.

"The person then gets the experience of being able to be successful at what they've been avoiding.""

For the full story, click here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/how-pokémon-go-can-help-fight-mental-illness-1.3682714

The Stigma of An Invisible Illness

4/13/2016

Early in April, Amber Smith shared two photos of herself on her Facebook page; one in which she is all dressed up, an image she describes as the "normal" version of herself she showcases to the world, and the other of her "true normal" self only she tends to see shortly after she's had a panic attack. Amber posted the photos in an effort to break down the ‪‎stigma‬ of invisible conditions such as ‪‎anxiety‬ and ‪‎depression‬, and demonstrate just how often people assume that because one appears youthful and fine (an image often portrayed by our social media presence), you can’t experience severe and debilitating mental health conditions.Rather Amber's photos work to highlight how mental illness does not discriminate and encourages us to recall the old adage of "not judging a book by its cover". Smith also hopes that her photos helps others who are also struggling in silence and provides them with the courage and encouragement they need to seek help.

"‘Do you know how many people that equates to worldwide?! And yet I’ve been battling with anxiety and depression for years and years and there’s still people that make comments like “you’ll get over it”, “you don’t need tablets, just be happier”, “you’re too young to suffer with that'"...

Shockingly, she described a conversation she had recently been a part of, where someone actually had the audacity to ask her: ”Aren’t you too young to be suffering with anxiety and depression? What do you actually have to be depressed about at your age?”

To read more click here: http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/06/girl-speaks-out-about-battle-with-anxiety-with-photos-taken-minutes-after-a-panic-attack-5798797/

How To Deal With Anxiety - A Child's Perspective

3/17/2016

Filmmaker and radio producer Bianca Giaever sought out to make a film on ‪anxiety‬ from a child's point of view. In her interviews with these young people, Giaever asked each of them to tell a story that they could make into a movie. What resulted, was a delightful and heartwrenchingly cute short film inspired by one of the 6 year old girls Giaever spoke with, who at the end of the film demonstrates some pretty powerful insight and advice for us all in how to deal with negative feelings like anxiety and disappointment. A must watch!

"I was curious to see if a six year old could relate to emotions like anxiety at such a young age. I didn't know that this advice would necessarily come from Asa — I interviewed a few different six year olds for this project by offering free babysitting or just asking. I asked some parents and figured that six years old is the perfect age, when kids can coherently tell a story but aren't self conscious or inhibiting themselves at all yet."

the Scared is scared from Bianca Giaever on Vimeo.

Psych In The News - Week 90

2/7/2016

Check out all the news related to mental health and psychiatry from the last few weeks!

Using Comics to Depict Anxiety and Depression

2/3/2016

Inspired by her own struggles with ‪‎anxiety‬ and ‪‎depression‬, artist Gemma Correll created a series of ‪comics‬ as a way to both explain and help cope with her ‪mental health‬ issues. She also hopes that by bringing humor into her illustrations which depict what it's like to deal with these issues on a daily basis, she will help others feel less alone in their own battles, and help break down the ‪‎stigma‬ surrounding ‪mental illness‬ by combating stereotypes and encouraging others to be more comfortable speaking up about it.

"I honestly think that ‪‎humour‬ can be a saviour at times of distress or, if you just live with a constant level of anxiety and depression like I do," said Correll. "I do think that people should speak more freely about anxiety," she added. "I know that I would have felt a little better as an anxiety-ridden teenager if I knew that I wasn't completely alone in my fears."

To see more of Correll's awesome works of ‪art‬ visit her Facebook or Instagram pages or her website here: www.gemmacorrell.com

http://freeyork.org/illustrati…/gemma-correll-anxiety-comics

More Suicides Over The Holidays - Fact or Fiction?

12/30/2015

When it comes to ‪‎mental health‬ and the holiday season, some individuals think of low mood, increased ‪‎stress‬, and worsening ‪depression‬. While studies have provided some evidence that the Christmas season is associated with increased ‪anxiety‬, mood disorders, and loneliness, the idea that the holidays are also associated with an increased risk of ‪suicide‬ is a myth, continually perpetuated by the media.

In the two articles below, we learn of the evidence that debunks this myth, although one study warns of a possible "rebound effect" following Christmas holidays when certain individuals, especially the bereaved elderly, return back to their daily routines where they are more likely reminded of previous losses and loneliness.

"According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate is at its lowest in December. And studies dating back to the 1980s and conducted across the globe have investigated the link between the holiday season and suicide, finding again and again that Christmas is associated with a decrease in suicide, both attempts and completion (the latter being the official term for people who both try and succeed in killing themselves). "

For the full articles, click the links below:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/no-suicides-dont-rise-during-the-holidays/419436/
http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/12/suicides-dont-really-spike-around-the-holidays.html?mid=twitter_nymag

Psych In The News - Week 84

11/29/2015

Catch up on all the news related to mental health and psychiatry from last week!