When You or a Family Member Suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Are you or someone you care about suffering from PTSD?

It’s important to know what the symptoms are.

Find freedom by finding help.

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My husband, who is a Vietnam veteran, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder a few years ago.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a mental disorder that happens after a traumatic event or series of events. It doesn’t occur only with those who have been to war, but to victims of natural disasters, sexual abuse, criminal attacks or accidents. Some of the Hurricane Katrina survivors, for example, are beginning to go through the stages of PTSD, due to the horrific experiences they went through.

So much of the public has a misconception about this condition. I blame this, in part, on the many unfair portrayals of Vietnam war vets, on television and in films, as deranged psychos and serial killers. While it’s true that there are some individuals with such severe problems that they may do the unthinkable, it doesn’t mean that every PTSD sufferer poses a threat to anyone and many endure their pain in silence, because they fear being categorized negatively.

Those with PTSD may not even realize that they have this condition, only that they are going through physical and emotional difficulties which they can’t explain. They often feel as though they have no control over anything. Symptoms include depression, lack of concentration, flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, paranoia, reliving harrowing events over and over again, episodes of anger, hypervigilance and social alienation.

Physical symptoms can occur as well and include chest pain, headaches, dizziness, and immune system problems. Some people with PTSD go through substance abuse, marital and other relationship problems and social anxiety.

My husband’s experience was that he felt that he had nowhere to turn, so he didn’t get benefit for years, due to the stigma he believed was attached to getting counseling. He went through divorce, estrangement from his children and fear of getting too terminate to anybody. He developed a way of camouflaging his condition publicly, but, in private, he was suffering tremendously.

After we married, I was able to persuade him to go come by assessed by a counselor at the VA, which he did and they diagnosed him with PTSD. He has since been in counseling and been prescribed drugs to treat depression and insomnia.

Counseling has been extremely cathartic for him and being able to relate to others who understand what he has been going through has helped him to open up more. He is slowly, but surely, going through the healing process now and is quite relieved that he is no longer suffering quietly.

You don’t have to be a faded to have PTSD. If you or a loved one has experienced some trauma in life and have not been able to resolve or recover from it within a few months, then you may need to seek professional help.

Getting psychotherapy doesn’t mean you are “crazy” and it can aid you in getting better.

Treatments include personal counseling, group therapy and prescription medications for some symptoms. If you dislike the idea of being put on an allopathic medication, due to the potential side-effects, ask your doctor or therapist if you can try an alternative, natural or homeopathic remedy for your condition. Always remember to keep your doctor and/or therapist informed about anything you take, to effect certain it is both safe and viable for you.

If you are the family member of a PTSD sufferer, sometimes it might seem as though you are getting caught up in his or her symptoms as well, but learn to be supportive, without being stressed out yourself. If it gets to the point that you are having difficulty dealing with your loved one’s PTSD, seek counseling, if you need it.

My husband and I have a happy marriage. He opens up to me now, because of a lot of prayer and because he had the courage to ask for help.

Don’t be afraid to arrive out. It can help you to get better.

Ricky Williams Reportedly Fails Another Drug Test

Miami Dolphins running assist Ricky Williams may not be reinstated by the NFL according to a report of a failed drug test being circulated by several media outlets.

According to the report, Williams, who under NFL’s substance abuse policy must submit to random drug tests, tested positive for marijuana in April. As a result, league doctors are recommending he not be allowed to apply for reinstatement to the league until September. He had been eligible to apply last month.

The worn Heisman Trophy winner is currently serving a one-year suspension from the league after his fourth violation of the NFL’s drug policy last February. This latest incident is part of a series of bad press received by Williams since he was drafted 5^th overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1999.

While with the Saints, a team that traded all of its remaining draft picks and 1^st and 3^rd round picks in 2000 to move up to pick him, Williams made headlines early because he would conduct interviews wearing his helmet. It was later revealed he suffered from depression and social fear disorder.

After three mediocre years with the Saints, he was traded to the Dolphins in 2002 and, in his first season with the team, rushed for more than 1,800 yards, making his first Pro Bowl. He rushed for another 1,300 yards in 2003.

However, in 2004, the NFL announced he would be suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and, rather than face suspension he abruptly retired shortly before training camp. His sudden departure contributed to a 4-12 season for the Dolphins.

After being ordered to repay most of his signing bonus to the Dolphins, Williams returned to the team in 2005, splitting time with first round draft pick Ronnie Brown. After his suspension, Williams received permission to sign with the Canadian Football League for one year, playing with the Toronto Argonauts. While playing in Canada, he suffered a broken bone in his left arm, missing two months. He finished the season with 526 yards on 109 carries and 2 touchdowns.

If he is reinstated by the league, it is unclear whether the Dolphins will welcome him succor or will attempt to trade him or release him. Former Head Coach Nick Saban likely would have allowed him to come succor but resigned after the 2006 season and fresh Head Coach Cam Cameron has not commented on the situation. Miami unexcited has Brown listed as its starter and used a 3^rd round purchase in this year’s draft to select Florida Residence running back Lorenzo Booker.

Dealing with Depression

I spoke with a friend last night that’s going through her current life drama, which consists of going through a divorce, raising a miniature kid, working a full time job and trying to balance depression. I have to say I have a lot of respect for people that are strong enough to maintain a normal life and deal with depression, and she for one is a proper soldier and deserves big ups for what she does on the daily. She is in therapy and is taking medication to combat the depression, along with proper diet and utilize and a good spiritual imperfect and help system.

I see ad after ad in magazines and on television about the different anti-depressants that are available to combat depression. The characterize they portray however is not one of realism. What I have interpreted from television ads particularly can be deemed offensive and unrealistic in the world of someone that suffers from depression. One of the commercials I particularly despise is where the product and it’s benefits as well as side effects are discussed and then they have this Brother out in a garden and he catches a butterfly and then sets it free. I think the pharmaceutical companies and the team that did that ad campaign need to think the respect involved in treating such a disease. A pill is not going to enable you to suddenly be happy and accelerate out and pick up butterflies and when I first saw the ads I resented them representing the product in that manner.

And objective maybe I am being too harsh. Are they selling hope? Maybe they are hoping to target a market that needs wait on so badly that the hope of finding a product that will ease their depression is a God send. I’m on the outside looking in so I stand to learn something here. What I peruse as an observer and relative of someone who suffered from depression is that we all need help sometimes. Dealing with depression is not an easy feat. Sometimes it takes everything one has to get up and get dressed in the morning just to try to have a normal day. Sometimes leaving the house in itself is very overwhelming to a person that suffers from depression. Interaction with others and socialization can also be quite overwhelming. As an onlooker who has certainly been unfortunate before, I realize it is valuable to be sensitive to what someone else is dealing with and to the needs of others. And reflecting encourage on the feelings of desperation, I suppose I too would have bought into an ad campaign that sold hope if the product had the ability to chase my blues and lethargy away.

I overheard a friend make a statement in reference to a relative she had that suffered from depression. She said in a very emphatic and authoritative tone, “Well he needs to get a grip because we all have problems to deal with.” Where that may be true, guess what, it has to be pretty easy for someone standing on the outside looking in on someone else’s world to pass judgment. When someone suffers from depression, you can’t expect him or her to just pull up by the boot straps and move on with life. It doesn’t work like that. It’s a process, and whether it’s clinical or chemical, it doesn’t go away over night. Depression is a disease that requires the worthy treatment plan to improve.

If you have or know someone that suffers from depression, try to be compassionate and understanding and maybe even put yourself in their place. I order there have been days where if I concept I could take a pill that could erase depression and enable me to chase happiness by the illusion of catching a butterfly, I would have tried it. Therefore I cannot totally condemn the pharmaceutical companies. I’m sure there are no perfect drugs to combat this illness. My experience with depression was short lived. A pill did not work for me and it could be because I didn’t give it the time necessary. I chose to go a different route by becoming immersed in my work, my craft and in fitness. It also took a whole lot of prayer to rise up from the depths of depression and the support of terminate friends in family. So, If by chance they are selling hope in the world we live in, and in the world of the depressed, I suppose I too am buying. If yo are depressed don’t be ashamed, don’t be embarrassed, be smart and seek whatever treatment you need. You do have a choice. With a minute work – and a lot of prayer, you will see the other side – the lustrous side of the rainbow again.

How Economic Depression Can Contribute to Mental Depression

The recent economic downturn has led many people to speculate on the prospects of another Great Depression. Though economists disagree as to what constitutes a depression, they generally point to a rise in unemployment coupled with with a decrease in economic output as clear indicators of the existance of a depression (Source: statesman.com). Economic depressions can last for years and plunge large segments of the population into poverty. What is often overlooked is the effect economic depressions can have on a different form of depression: Depression of the mind.

Mental depression comes in 3 basic Categories: Major/Clinical depression, Dysthemia, and Manic(BiPolar) disorder. Though these three categories differ in their severity and overall symptoms they share three common criteria*:

1. They cause a person essential distress.

2. They impair a person’s ability to function at work, at school, and in relationships.

3. They are not caused by other medical conditions or substances

(* Source: depression-help-resource.com)

The data on mental depression is as alarming as it is for economic depression. According to the National Institute of Health, 14.8 million Americans over 18 suffer from depression in any given year. This number represents 6.7% of the adult population(compare this to the current unemployment rate of 6% to get a feel for the number of depression sufferers). By 2020 the World Health Organization estimates that depression will be the second leading cause of death after heart disease. Left to its have devices depression is an effective assasin on its own. Of those who suffer from depression, the National Institute of Mental health states that 15% will eventually commit suicide. There is no cure for depression and medication is effective in only about half of all cases.

The cause of depression is shrouded in mystery. Some evidence suggests that it is the result of biochemical imbalances in the brain. However, depression can also be triggered by traumatic events in a person’s life. The loss of a loved one, a near death experience, loss of a job and financial insecurity can all trigger depressive episodes. Once depression is triggered, a viscious cycle can start. Indecision, a major trait of depression, can lead to missed opportunities that,in turn, will augment the sense of failure that feeds depression. Eventually depression can turn an independant successful person into a ward of the station.

So how does economic depression lead to or aggravate mental depression. Two scenarios immediately come to mind:

In the first scenario, when economic depression leads to business failure there is a gargantuan uptick in the number of unemployed. For many people, the only thing that keeps them from depression is the routine that comes from employment. Upon losing a job, those already on the edge lose a vital connection to the world, a sense of purpose and, of course, a steady paycheck. They are thrown into a world where they have to compete with so many others for the limited number of available jobs. As job rejections and bills open to accumulate, their confidence and hope may begin to falter. They can spiral downhill like water down a drain.

In the second scenario, consider the plight of the unfortunate people who were unemployed before an economic downturn. According to a 2002 report by the Mental Health Services Research Program, 61% of adults with mental health disabilities are outside the labor force. Medscape.com states that for those with depression, roughly 40% are unemployed. Studies indicate that not only do the mentally ill want to work but that they benefit from the work experience. In a good economic climate, the mentally ill are often passed over for employment due to gaps in work experience. In a bad economic climate, efforts to find work may prove even more futile and thus only aggravate their condition.

The consequences of economic depression on mental health alone are thus staggering. Not only does it lead to increased numbers of depressed people but it also aggravates the mental health of those already sick. As a consequence, the cost of social programs increases which, in turn, further aggravates economic growth. The cycle then becomes the economic depression feeds mental depression which, in turn, feeds the economic depression.

The recent death of writer David Foster Wallace brought attention to the plight of those people suffering from depression. It also highlighted how the mentally ill can contribute in substantial ways to society at large. He was not an exception. The ranks of those suffering from mental depression include such illuminaries as Abraham Lincoln, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Vincent Van Gogh and George Eastman. However, none of these great men could have known success had they been deprived of opportunity. Economic depression by its nature deprives people of opportunity. It would be a great shame if the current economic climate deprives the next great statesman, scientist, or innovator of the chance to be anything more than another victim of depression.

Works Cited:

National Institute of Health, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america.shtml#MajorDepressive, June 2008

World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/, 2009

Mental Health Services Research Record, 2002

Childhood-Onset Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic-depression, is a brain disorder. It is serious, but treatable. Bipolar disorder presents as changes in mood, thinking, energy and behavior. Anyone can suffer from this disorder, even babies. It is not yet known how common childhood-onset bipolar disorder is as there are little to no epidemiological studies. According to bpkids.org, childhood-onset bipolar disorder affects one to two percent of adults worldwide, and that it seems to be becoming more common in children.

While a number of children in the United States are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), it is thought that they may possibly have childhood-onset bipolar disorder. Depression in children seems to be chronic and relapsing. While these children have not experienced the manic phase of the illness, it is thought this depression may be early stages of childhood-onset bipolar disorder.

Parents have reported certain behaviors in children diagnosed with childhood-onset bipolar disorder such as:

1. Irritable moods
2. Lack of interest in playing with toys or friends
3. Uncouth sadness
4. Moods that change rapidly and lasting a few hours or even a few days
5. Separation anxiety
6. Rages that are explosive, long and often destructive
7. Defiance of authority
8. Hyperactivity
9. Distractibility
10. Sleeping too little or too much
11. Night terrors
12. Bed wetting
13. Cravings for sweets and carbohydrates
14. Excessive multitasking
15. Impulsive thoughts
16. Dangerous and courageous behaviors, such as jumping off roofs or out of moving cars
17. Hallucinations
18. Belief in their own abilities that they can do the impossible (such as having the ability to cruise)

Diagnosing childhood-onset bipolar disorder is a bit different than diagnosing a bipolar disorder in adults because children are usually in a mood that is a combination of mania and depression. Between episodes, it looks like children are completely well.

Diagnosis can now be made using DSM-IV criteria. There is no lower age limit for this test, but it is harder to apply the DSM-IV criteria to very young children.

How the Symptoms Affect Everyday Life

These symptoms can affect children by hindering playtime and possibly causing the child to become introverted. It also affects their sleep, making them more irritable and tired during the day, possibly setting off another episode.

Eventually, the child will not be able to function properly in school, or may become overly disruptive in class. It may be requested that the child be put into special education classes because of his behavior and inability to learn because he is trying to cope with tiredness and irritability.

A traumatic event that would normally not bother a child for a long period of time may trigger a first episode – and once that first episode happens, it is easier for the onset of additional episodes. If there is no treatment forthcoming, episodes may recur and become worse.

A child with childhood-onset bipolar disorder may start talking about suicide or making gestures about suicide, and may very well try to hurt himself. In older children, the disorder may cause drug and/or alcohol addiction, failure in school, relationships and the workplace. School attendance may be severely hindered, along with being able to stay alert and concentrate. It may also cause sensory sensitivity, such as sensitivity to light, noise and stress.

Why Some Mothers Kill Their Children

More than 200 women kill their children in the US every year.

Women commit less than 13% of all violent crime.

The reasons women destroy thier children are complex but often seen beforehand.

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Rachel Summers, a Mufreesboro Tennessee woman is accused of poisoning her her own son to death. A 19 year feeble Cuban native, Mariafelix Morales is accused of killing the son she secretly gave birth to in her Shelbyville Tennessee home. Even in rural areas like these youll find these headlines. Although it seems unnatural for a woman to kill her own children it is not uncommon. More than 200 women slay their children in the US every year, according to a recent study by the American Anthropological Association.

Homicide is the leading cause of death in children under four. Not crib death as many believe and not by a maniacal stranger but by a parent. Deliberate killing of ones own infant has never been observed in wild primates. There is a deny correlation between the act and the human society. Women, for the most fraction, do not manufacture the best criminals. FBI crime statistics show that women commit only two crimes as frequently as men. Shoplifting and the murder of their own children. Although women commit less than 13% of all violent crimes they are also responsible for about 50% of all parental murders.

Many of these instances are contributed to postpartum depression or Baby blues – triggered by the births themselves says Nancy Scheper- Hughes, a medical anthropologist specializig in motherhood, violence and mental illness. There are three types of Postpartum depression that mothers may experience after childbirth. The least threatening is baby blues, consisting of mild mood swings and bouts of tearfulness. This can usually be taken care of without medication or treatment, often by just attending a support group.

The next is Postpartum depression, occurring anywhere from a few days to a few months after having any child in the family. Felling very strong feelings of sadness, despair and tragedy that affect a woman’s ability to function. It can get worse if untreated. It can be treated with therapy and sometimes may need medication.

Postpartum psychosis is the most serious. It is a mental disorder that sets on quickly within the first three months of child birth. The mother will loose touch with reality and have hallucinations an delusions. It almost always requires medication and an extended hospitalization. The most highly publicized of these cases is the Texas mom Adrea Yates who drowned her 5 children in the bath tub. The birth of each of her children was followed by an hospitalization for deep depression.

A high percentage of these cases are also blamed on impulses as discussed in an article by Mike Rusyigan, a criminologist and Proffessor at San Fransisco University. Impulses like rage and frustration will often end in shaken baby syndrome or suffocation from covering a crying child’s mouth. About 30% are premeditated destroy, named Medea killings after an archaic Greek myth, a mother kills to punish someone like a cheating or abusive husband.

Yet another type is the narcissistic idea that the child is stymieing the mothers freedom, happiness or chance at a better life.
The most famous such case is that if Susan Smith, the South Carolina mom who drowned her two boys by strapping them in a sinking car.

The reasons women kill their children are complex but more often than not there are signs of effort before the act. Frequent bouts with depression are the most telling and most often used in court as a defense. England has instated an Infanticide Act which codifies a ready made postpartum defense. Severe poverty also lends itself to infanticide. Women often kill their children in awful societies.

Historically, the families survival is pivotal to the sacrifice of weaker children or female children. Infanticide has always soared in counties riddled with famine or during political unrest. African women on board slave ships killed their children. The amount of these cases will continue to grow each year until societal norms maintain that this is not rare behavior. Mother love is not universal. All women are not natural loving mothers. Nor does motherhood trump all illnesses and psychosis.

More than half of the 45 women on death row are there for killing their husbands and/or children and almost all reported that no one believed them when they cried out for encourage saying “I cannot be trusted with my children.” The public must take an active role in recognizing actual child abuse and how to intervene supportively before anything Else can be done.

Clinical Depression Symptoms – How to Tell If You Might Be Depressed

depression symptoms

depression treatment

dealing with depression

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A diagnosis of clinical depression is… well, depressing. Being clinically depressed is nothing to be ashamed of. I have experienced depression three times in my life and each time I have been successfully treated. Recognizing the symptoms of clinical depression helped me realize what was happening to me so that I could seek treatment.
I was so tired it was almost painful to drag out of bed in the morning. It didn’t matter how much I slept, it was never enough. All I wanted to do was lay on the couch. I couldn’t work up enthusiasm for anything. I gained weight, craving bread and seeking solace in familiar comfort foods like chocolate and ice cream without enjoying their taste. I kept a supply of Tums handy to soothe a constantly roiling stomach. I rarely had headaches before but now a persistent, dull ache hounded me. I thought I had the flu and hoped for a cough or a sneeze or even to vomit so I could be done with this thing that had taken me over.

My temper was short. I would snap at my husband for no reason. Nothing pleased me. I didn’t want to do anything and then got upset because nothing got done. I would burst into tears for no reason. I was frustrated but didn’t know why. I’m usually very organized and like to plan ahead but now I couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything. Sometimes it felt like I could barely put two words together.

Before, if you had asked me what words best described me, I would have said fun-loving. I kept asking myself, what was wrong with me? I had never felt like this before. Things weren’t great at my job but I’d dealt with difficult work environments before. It never occurred to me that the death of my beloved dog a couple of months earlier might still be affecting me.

Erin was so special, the first dog I had ever owned. She was my heart dog and she was only three years old-fashioned when she was diagnosed with bone cancer.

I pride myself on being strong and I was there for her the day we ended her pain. I cried a lot and then sucked it up and moved on, or so I thought. I had no inkling that my grief for Erin was slowly festering. I had never before in my life experienced such a crushing loss. I knew something was wrong but I didn’t make the connection. Somehow I came up with the wild notion that I must be anemic. Having finally hit on something tangible, I went to see my doctor.

It is important to note that I had been a patient of my doctor for several years, so she knew me. I remember sitting on that cold examination table with the crinkly white paper when she walked into the room. She was reading my file and looked up at me. “You’re clinically depressed,” she pronounced.

Unaccountably, visions of howling people locked away in old mansions flashed through my mind. I must have looked skeptical. I was shocked to my core at her next words. “You haven’t understanding of killing yourself have you? ” she asked.

“Good heavens, no!” I said, appalled that she would even mention such a thing. But her question really brought home to me that I should grasp this seriously. I asked her how she could diagnose depression unbiased by looking at me. She explained that there was no animation in my face at all. I looked exhausted. My eyes were dull and my body lethargic.

My dismay at such an unexpected diagnosis must have been obvious. The prospect of having what I considered a mental illness was horrifying. However, my doctor assured me that I was not bound for the funny farm. My depression was treatable. A prescription for a common anti-depressant was all I needed and in a short while I was back to being my stale fun-loving self.

Although it felt like the end of the world, actually my case of depression was mild. I responded very well to the medication. Also, for me, just knowing what was wrong and that something could be done about it was a huge step in helping me recover.

In the ensuing years I had two more bouts with depression. A few years later my brother passed away. He had been battling cancer for several years so his death was not unexpected. In this case my depression mainly took the form of insomnia. My doctor prescribed sleeping pills and I used natural remedies like Sam-e and B vitamins to help my mood.

Just a few months ago my other dog, who had been my good buddy for ten years, died from kidney failure. I knew I would be depressed, but still the symptoms snuck up on me. I was in the back yard one day about a month after he died, thinking how miserable I was and how I just wanted to race into a hole and die. Ah-ha! The light bulb went on. The crying, the temper, the lethargy, all the familiar symptoms were there. This time I chose to work through it with the aid of a counselor.

We all get depressed sometimes but there is no reason to suffer needlessly. If symptoms of clinical depression persist for more than a couple of weeks, it is valuable to see a doctor.

Avoiding Triggers for Bipolar Disorder

In a past newsletter, we provided an extensive list of triggers to bipolar episodes. In this article, I’d like to go over the main four triggers, and I’d like to do it a little differently. I want you to see these triggers from both points of view – from both the survivor and the supporter’s views.

Objective to review, in general, a trigger is something external which can set in motion an oncoming bipolar episode. Everyone has different triggers. For some people, it might be excess stress. For others, it might be frustration at work or a major disappointment. For some people who are highly susceptible, even a seemingly “wrong word” can cause them to go into a bipolar episode.

The person who has Bipolar Disorder should try to determine what those triggers might be for them, and go over these triggers with their supporter, so both of you are aware of these triggers. “Knowledge is power,” so the saying goes, and having this knowledge beforehand can help both of you to avoid an episode before it begins.

Once you identify some key triggers, you can both work on handling those triggers more effectively so they will “lose their power,” being less likely to disrupt the stability of the disorder that you both have worked so hard to attain.

Even if you (the survivor) are on medication now and it is keeping you stable, you should still both identify bipolar episode triggers and watch for indications of novel bipolar episodes because, unfortunately, sometimes even a medication that has worked for years may stop working properly. As I always roar, if this does happen, contact your psychiatrist immediately for his/her advice, so that you don’t go into a bipolar episode.

A list of triggers should be a list of those things from past episodes that you’ve both noticed which signal when things are becoming more serious for the person who has Bipolar Disorder. For example, when my mom refused to leave her room (isolated), this should have told me and my family to take action then. If we had known that her desire for complete isolation meant that her Bipolar Disorder was getting much worse, we would have taken action sooner.

One of the best ways you can prevent future episodes – besides simply staying on the bipolar medication and following the doctor’s treatment plan – is to avoid triggers. Since everyone is different, everyone has different triggers. However, there are some that are most common and which you can begin avoiding now that will succor both you (and your supporter who is helping you) to maintain long-term stability of your Bipolar Disorder.

Sleep irregularities -

SURVIVOR: Sleeping too dinky or too much are not only signs of an episode, they can also trigger them. You should get 8-9 hours of sleep a night, even if it means adjusting your schedule in order to give you enough time.

SUPPORTER: Help your loved one to maintain capable sleep habits. Make obvious they go to bed at a reasonable hour and that they get a full night’s sleep, not waking up during the night. This is very important for their “body clock.”

Poor nutrition –

SURVIVOR: When our bodies don’t get the nutrients they need or when we substitute sugar and caffeine for vitamins and minerals, we can cause physiological problems. Work on eating a balanced diet. Avoid caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. Another reason to take these steps is that they can prevent you from developing other health problems, such as heart disease or Diabetes, which can further complicate the treatment of your Bipolar Disorder.

SUPPORTER: You can help your loved one by cooking meals that are nutritious and healthy. Encourage them to stick to a balanced diet. You should be able to accumulate samples of a healthy diet from your loved one’s doctor, or from the Internet. You can also create sure that they drink only decaffeinated coffee. Try to limit snacks around the house, and if you do have snacks, limit them to sugar-free ones.

Stress -

SURVIVOR: Some stress in our lives is good, because it drives us to work hard and to better ourselves. Most of us, however, have too much stress in our lives. Stress is one of the number one triggers to bipolar episodes; therefore, you need to take action to cleave the stress in your life. Your therapist can help you identify areas of stress and can give you suggestions for stress reduction. Relaxation tapes/CD’s can aid. Regular exercise can also help you deal with stress.

SUPPORTER: You can help your loved one by reducing the stress in their life. For example, by taking steps to reduce their exposure to bad news such as calls from collection agencies or medical bills. By screening their calls and mail, you can help shield them from unneeded, negative stress. You can also help them decrease their stress by encouraging them to exercise, or even going to exercise classes with them.

Isolation –

SURVIVOR: Many people with Bipolar Disorder try to shut themselves away from everyone. Feelings of loneliness and despair can trigger episodes, so you should fight against that desire to become a hermit. Instead, join Support Groups, become active in your spiritual community, or spend time regularly with your friends and family members. Keeping a Journal may help you to get your thoughts and feelings out into the open, if you feel you can’t part these with anyone else.

SUPPORTER: Try to keep the lines of communication open with your loved one, so they will talk to you about their feelings of despair and loneliness, before they begin to isolate. If you see them start to isolate, encourage them to spend more time with their friends and family members, church, Support Group, etc. If they do isolate, encourage them to write their feelings out in a Journal.

These are only four possible episode triggers. In my Bipolar Survivors Manual, here is the full list of bipolar episode triggers I listed:

Trigger #1-Problems with Sleep and/or Dreadful Sleep Quality

Trigger #2-Increase in Stress

Trigger #3-Physical Problems

Trigger #4-Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Trigger #5-Inconsistency in Taking Your Medication

Trigger #6-Going off Medication

Trigger #7-Lack of Proper Treatment

Trigger #8-Problems at Work

Trigger #9-Problems in Your Relationship

Trigger #10-Problems with Yourself

Trigger #11-Other Mental Disorders

Trigger #12-The Kindling Effect

As I said earlier, one of the best ways you can prevent future episodes – besides simply staying on your medication and following your doctor’s treatment plan – is to avoid triggers. Keeping a Journal and/or a daily Mood Chart so that you can decide what other triggers may cause you to go into an episode will also help you and your loved one to determine your own individual triggers.

Caffeine Poisoning What Every Parent Must Know Now

Caffeine overdose in children can occur with as little as 1 gram of caffeine consumed

Fixx energy drink contains 500mg of caffeine per 20oz bottle

Symptoms include tremors, anxiety, disorientation, queer heartbeat, and difficulty breathing

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Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. This central nervous system stimulant is found naturally in the fruit, leaves, and seeds of several different plants, and has been broken-down medicinally for thousands of years. Found in coffee, tea, guarana, cacao pods, and kola nuts, caffeine has recently been added to a much wider variety of products. This has greatly increased the risk of caffeine overdose, once a condition almost completely unheard of, yet now occurring more and more frequently, especially in children.

It seems that hardly a day goes by without some new caffeine-containing product hitting the market. Energy drinks can contain many times the caffeine of a regular soda or cup of coffee. Energy bars and supplements are now available with extra caffeine, added for endurance during exercise. Diet pills expend caffeine to reduce appetite, and some claim that the stimulant carry out helps to burn calories. Over-the-counter and prescription medications can contain caffeine, and there are even brands of potato chips and chewing gum that contain the stimulant. When added to sources such as coffee, tea, sodas, and chocolate, the spread of caffeine into products means that it can be difficult to avoid.

With the pervasiveness of caffeine, parents must believe the possibility of caffeine overdose. While it would take a very large amount of caffeine to develop caffeine poisoning in adults–5 to 10 grams, the amount found in eighty strong cups of coffee–children are much more susceptible to the effects of caffeine. This means that a child can overdose on only one gram of caffeine. If this still sounds like an unrealistically large amount of caffeine for someone to drink in one day, consider that one 2.5oz serving of Redline Power Urge energy drink contains 350mg of caffeine. One ounce of Ammo, an “energy shot” whose directions state it should be diluted but which is usually consumed straight, contains 171mg of caffeine. Fixx, an energy drink aimed at serious weight-lifters, contains a whopping half a gram of caffeine per 20 ounce bottle. By inequity, a twelve ounce can of Pepsi only contains 38mg of caffeine.

Not only is caffeine everywhere, children face a mountainous deal of pressure to take it. Energy drinks are “cool.” Diet pills are increasingly current with teenage girls and boys alike as they try to conform to the ideal body image reinforced by the media and peer pressure. More rigorous school classes and greater amounts of homework, combined with after-school and extracurricular activities, mean that our children are busier than ever and most don’t net enough rest. Drinking a small “energy shot” or chewing some caffeine gum seems like a harmless diagram to get a little boost to do studying for that final exam.

How can you know if your child is suffering from a caffeine overdose? There are some symptoms to watch out for. These include tremors, nausea and vomiting, a speedily heart beat which may also be irregular, anxiety, and confusion. Caffeine overdose can even mimic the symptoms of manic depression, schizophrenia, and panic disorder. With greater caffeine exposure, the child can experience disorientation, seizures, and difficulty breathing. In the most severe cases, these symptoms can lead to death.

More important than recognizing the symptoms of this once-rare overdose is educating your child on the safe use of caffeine. Most people don’t realize that caffeine can be so very dangerous. One terrific website is www.EnergyFiend.com. Not only does it list the caffeine content of a wide array of food and drinks, it has a page called “Death By Caffeine” where you can input your weight, choose your favorite drink, and find out how much of it you’d have to consume to get a fatal dose of caffeine.

Finally, if you suspect that your child is suffering from caffeine poisoning, don’t hesitate. Get medical attention immediately.

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