If you are suffering from BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and have a committed partner who is willing to work with you “Closeness” therapy looks promising.

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By Andrea Dilea

There has been controversy for some time about whether psychotherapy can be conducted effectively remotely by phone or internet technology. Science Alert reports a study from the University Of New South Wales and St. Vincent’s Hospital that argue that online treatments are as effective as traditional face to face treatment for a variety of mental health conditions.

They report that “Anxiety, social phobias and depression are all conditions that respond well to clinician-supported internet-based treatments, the researchers found, with program participants recording recovery rates comparable to those in face-to-face therapy.”

These results are based on trials conducted targeting depression (the Sadness program), generalized anxiety disorder (Worry program) and social phobias (Shyness program). The studies were undertaken by Professor Gavin Andrews and Dr Nick Titov, from UNSW’s School of Psychiatry and The Virtual Clinic at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.

A paper outlining the results of the latest generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) trial appears in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.

They are currently recruiting for larger trials for further analysis. The results achieved by all three programs – which involved simple online lessons, regular emails and online discussion forums – reportedly surprised everyone involved.

The programs were described as highly structured and and involve people working systematically through a series of lessons and homework assignments, guided by the therapist.

While such interventions will likely never replace traditional psychotherapy completely, there is the possibility that online therapy may present a cost effective approach for many clients. Some people are likely to prefer this mode of treatment and others likely will find it too impersonal for their liking.

They are accepting new participants, but you must live in Australia to participate. You can check out more information at their Virtual Clinic website. The laws and ethics of providing such services vary from one country and profession to another so you will have to find out for yourself if this treatment option is available for you.

About the Author: Get the latest mental health and mental illness news at Mental Health News Today, News and information for consumers and professionals.

Courtesy: www.articlerich.com

Photo: www.gloriamundi.blogsome.com

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In this medical health video, Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, shares his recommendations for coping with and recovering from mental illness.

Courtesy: Health Central Network

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by Christine

Americans do not believe they know much about depression, but are highly aware of the risks of not receiving care, according to a survey released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

The survey provides a “three-dimensional” measurement of responses from members of the general public who do not know anyone with depression, caregivers of adults diagnosed with depression, and adults actually living with the illness.

• 71 percent of the public sample said they are not familiar with depression, but 68 percent or more know specific consequences that can come from not receiving treatment — including suicide (84 percent)
• 62 percent believe they know some symptoms of depression, but 39 percent said they do not know many or any at all.

One major finding: almost 50 percent of caregivers who responded had been diagnosed with depression themselves, but only about 25 percent said they were engaged in treatment.

Almost 60 percent of people living with depression reported that they rely on their primary care physicians rather than mental health professionals for treatment. Medication and “talk therapy” are primary treatments — if a person can get them — but other options are helpful.

• Fifteen percent of people living with depression use animal therapy with 54 percent finding it to be “extremely” or “quite a bit” helpful. Those using prayer and physical exercise also ranked them high in helpfulness (47 percent and 40 percent respectively).
• When people living with depression discontinue medication or talk therapy, cost is a common reason, but other significant factors include a desire “to make it on my own,” whether they believe the treatment is actually working and in the case of medication, side effects.

“The survey reveals gaps and guideposts on roads to recovery,” said NA MI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. “It tells what has been found helpful in treating depression. It can help caregivers better anticipate stress that will confront them. It reflects issues that need to be part of ongoing health care reform.”

“There are many treatment strategies” said NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth. “What often works is a combination of treatments that fit a person and their lifestyle.

“Research indicates that the combination of medication and psychotherapy are most effective. But physical exercise, prayer, music therapy, yoga, animal therapy and other practices all can play a role.

“The good news is that 80 percent or more of the public recognize that depression is a medical illness, affecting people of all ages, races and socioeconomic groups, which can be treated”

Harris Interactive conducted the survey for NAMI on-line between September 29 and October 7, 2009. Participants included 1,015 persons who did not know anyone diagnosed with depression, 513 persons living with depression and 263 caregivers of a family member or significant other diagnosed with depression.

The survey was made possible with support from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly & Co. and Wyeth. NAMI does not endorse or promote any specific medication, treatment, product or service.

About the author: NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness, including depression. Over 1100 state affiliates engage in research, education, support and advocacy.

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by Diana Ketchen

Treating depression naturally is much easier than any method involving prescription medication. There are less worries about probable side effects, less regret, and more hope for the future of your mental health. More options are available to you when you step outside of the box and consider treating depression without drugs. There are only a limited amount of options to choose from when you decide to medicate with prescriptions, and the possibilities are much more limited.

Consider Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is one of the ways you can go about treating depression without drugs. It involves no medicine whatsoever, just you and a psychotherapist who is experienced and familiar with what you are going through. In this type of therapy, you and your counselor will work together to find different ways that work for you to help you overcome your emotional difficulties.

The Natural Approach

A different way of treating depression naturally is by using natural remedies. It is important that you be aware that natural remedies are not considered to be medications. The most used and highly recommended are SAM-e and St. John’s Wort. These two herbal remedies are a synthetic form of a naturally occurring chemical inside of the body. They have been proven most effective for treating the symptoms of depression.

If you are taking any other types of prescription medications, you need to consult your physician before adding these remedies to your daily supplement regimen because there is always the risk of side effects when combine them with unnatural treatments.

Get Some Exercise

Obtaining daily exercise is another way of treating depression naturally. Exercising can also prevent depression symptoms from coming back. It boosts the chemicals in the brain that all medications try to promote: serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Each of these chemicals have been proven to become imbalanced during depression. It also decreases the amount of cortisol in the body, which has been known to contribute toward weight gain. Individuals who are overweight have also been known to experience an additional amount of depression due to their physical appearance.

Vitamins & Supplements Can Help

Another way to go about treating depression without drugs is to obtain extra daily amounts of folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins. Try eating more raw fruits and vegetables along with adding more salmon, tuna, and trout. For folic acid, you can either choose to take an additional supplement or eat more whole-wheat breads, peas, beans, spinach, and broccoli-or both.

Natural remedies and treatments can be used for those with depression, as well as for those who want to prevent it without any worries pertaining to side effects, expensive doctor bills, or doubts concerning ineffectiveness.

Get Some Rest

Everyone is bound to become depressed at some point or another. Sadly, depression is very common and it really shouldn’t be. You should always remember to get enough sleep and relaxation time as well. Sometimes when people are depressed, their bodies are just simply worn down. We live in a world full of demands and responsibilities.

Treating depression naturally is a lot less complicated than what you may think, and a lot more effective. It worked for me, and it can work for you.

Original title: Shouldn’t Treating Depression Naturally Come Naturally?

About the author: Diana Ketchen is a Natural Health Consultant and is currently taking classes to earn a certificate in herbalism. Her website, Natural Health and Herbal Remedies, offers the knowledge, insights and experiences she has gained from her journey into the world of natural health and her quest to share it with others. Learn more about anxiety and depression at her website.

Courtesy: EzineArticles
photo credit: Jerry Cooke

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Borderline personality disorder is one of the most challenging conditions to treat, Dr. Charles Nemeroff notes in his latest videoblog. What does imaging tell us about its neurologic underpinnings?

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According to its description, “Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents offers parents, caregivers, and adolescents themselves a complete understanding of this complex and tough-to-treat disorder. It thoroughly explains what it is and what a patient’s treatment options are.

“Dr. Blaise A. Aguirre… describes recent advancements in treatments and brings into focus what we do and don’t know about this condition. He explains the most advanced techniques available, including the revolutionary new treatment called dialectic behavior therapy.

“Readers will learn the differences between BPD and other adolescent psychiatric diagnoses; treatment options (e.g., medication and therapy); how to choose the right therapist; how to determine when inpatient treatment is necessary; how to enforce boundaries; how to take care of and protect yourself; and practical techniques for effective communication with those who have BPD.”

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If you haven’t heard about this “latest and greatest” social anxiety cure yet, let me regurgitate the news in brief. It all started when scientists from Zurich University found that people who inhaled the hormone called oxytocin continued to trust strangers even after they were cheated on. That discovery, they say, could lead to future treatments for social phobia. It didn’t take long for a long-sales-letter type websites to appear selling the new wonder drug.

It has been called “the love hormone,” “the cuddle chemical,” “the mind reading hormone” and “the trust drug.”

And for a reason.

It’s the chemical that makes you feel what you’re feeling during an orgasm. It is also produced during labor and it’s responsible for the unique and unbreakable mother-child bond. When your brain is releasing oxytocin, you feel loved, relaxed and more open to trust – not only friends and lovers, but also strangers.

The Zurich University’s study has found that oxytocin has a very specific effect in social situations: it seems to diminish fears. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Baumgartner thinks that a lack of oxytocin is at least one of the causes for the fear experienced by social phobics.

Brain scans show that oxytocin can lower activity in the amygdala – a region of brain that is responsible for feelings of fear and apprehension – and which is overactive in social phobics. So, yes – it’s true: a sniff of oxytocin could improve readiness to engage in social interactions for people who suffer from social anxiety disorder by simply making them less fearful.

Then again, there are other things you can sniff to increase your confidence in social situations . . . Lots and lots of people who don’t have social phobia consume alcohol for the same reason.

The problem is, such substances are indiscriminate in their effects: uncritical trust can be just as damaging as irrational avoidance.

Will this new drug heal us or kill us . . . ?

About the author: Anita Bern writes about her experiences with social phobia disorder at Social phobia anxiety blog.

Courtesy: EzineArticles
photo credit: russelljsmith

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In this second part of our discussion with Ivan Spielberg, LCSW, which was originally published at Treatments Online, Mr. Spielberg talks about strategies and tools that have been successful in helping his borderline clients move toward a healthier life.

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A person suffering from BPD may appear completely “normal” and may often have the ability to act “as if” he or she has no problems. Although some may be tempted to abandon a BPD sufferer, you are their parent and cannot do that. The worst part is that you feel helpless. You want to help your child; you don’t know how.

There is recent research-based evidence of a treatment model that can address the fundamental and important need that parents are longing to satisfy: help for their child. Before we look at this new model, let us review what therapies have been used to date, and where they may fall short.

For BPD adolescents, up to now they have likely been in individual therapy with some skills-based Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and perhaps group counseling. DBT is a therapy developed by Marsha Linehan in Washington State, and combines person-centered empathy and acceptance with cognitive behavioral problem-solving (CBT), social-skills training and Middle-Eastern philosophy. It helps BPD individuals to modulate and control their extreme emotionality and behaviors, tolerate their distress as “abnormal,” and trust their thoughts and emotions.

Although these components are helpful, therapy needs to include family members and to address core family processes unique to BPD, as well as the complexities of an adolescent’s development. During this developmental stage in an adolescent’s life, there is substantial physical change along with hormonal development, there is development of key cognitive abilities as the brain grows, honing of social skills, and immense peer pressure to perform competently. While your child is experiencing this turmoil, they are interacting with family members as they develop their identity and seek support as they grow. A positive family role is particularly important in the life of a BPD adolescent, and this component would address the need for an effective, holistic and systemic treatment approach to adolescents with BPD and drug abuse.

If these approaches have been working for some time now, then what is missing, and how does this new model address the need?

With Integrative Borderline Adolescent Family Therapy (I-BAFT), the researchers believe that they have created an approach that incorporates three necessary treatment components:

• Structural Family Therapy (SFT), which assists families to restructure out of fragmentation and under organization to help with role definition and boundary setting
• empirically-tested Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) to help with communication
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) discussed above

The approach also includes developmental focus which is more critical here than in adult BPD. This multi-component treatment model brings together varied activities for the adolescent and their family to combat this disorder, and to lift their burden. This includes weekly family therapy; individual therapy; and skills-building interventions. It is designed to be offered in three sessions per week over a 6-8 month period, and involves separate therapists and a psychosocial skills trainer.

There are a number of specific issues which are a source of concern to parents and unhelpful to the adolescent, including:

• Self Harm
• Drug abuse
• Emotion dysregulation & impulsivity
• Failure to establish life goals & skills
• Unstable family relationships
• Family interactions that maintain the behavioral problems.

Although it isn’t cheap, this approach focuses on changing these factors. It also encompasses comprehensive strategies that are designed to target and alter behaviors which hinder the child’s ability to cope effectively with BPD. These include: no suicide-related behavior; continued therapy during crisis; crises framed as opportunities; and working with family members to provide structure.

Because parents are concerned whether their child is able to cope with BPD, the adolescent’s treatment goals are:

• Increasing skills in regulating emotions and maintaining healthy relationships
• Setting life goals
• Increasing motivation to achieve goals
• Modifying suicidal & parasuicidal behavior
• Eliminating drug abuse;
• Reducing impulsive behaviors
• Reducing severe emotional dysfunction.

While parents will see their child’s learning grow, the family can also learn and grow. Therefore, family treatment goals are: increasing parental leadership, guidance and nurturance; fostering parent-adolescent attachment; promoting familial validation through communication; eliminating ongoing verbal, physical or sexual violence; reducing interactions that reward emotion dysregulation; and promoting parent-adolescent engagement. All these will create a healthy and supportive environment for your child.

But will this approach produce results?

The researchers found that an adolescent population is difficult to engage, retain and treat, and that the therapy is intensive. Despite these difficult obstacles, through this effective and successful treatment, they were able to engage 70% of the adolescents and families that enrolled. High parent and adolescent satisfaction reflected a positive assessment of the three treatment components by both adolescents and their parents. This is especially significant as the adolescent clients were not self-referred nor were they originally interested in treatment. They also found that unhealthy family patterns may precede the BPD behaviors and help them to blossom, so treatment that deals with adapting these is positive for parents and children. A positive note was that adolescent BPD traits were less entrenched than those of an adult BPD sufferer, and so the outlook for parents is brighter.

Key learnings during the conducting of this research were that there is a negative impact on the adolescent when parental figures are lacking, there are adult-adolescent attachment problems to be addressed, and generic family therapy alone is insufficient. The research convincingly emphasizes the importance of providing a developmental and growth approach during the adolescent’s developmental stage.

Parents will be pleased to note that this research contributes to the growing impetus for integrative, systemic and holistic approaches to mental health, which include a variety of treatments that had been offered separately before now. If you are a parent or family member of an adolescent diagnosed with BPD, don’t think that you have to battle this alone. Contact your local Child and Youth Mental Health branch to discuss these treatment options that will not only help your child, but also help the whole family to become more resilient and take a role in meeting the challenge of adolescent BPD. Admittedly BPD may be a struggle, yet the goal is to struggle well!

Sean Latimer, MA; RCC (2006)

About the author: Sean Latimer, B.Comm; CA; MA; RCC is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in private practice in White Rock, BC, Canada. His areas of practice are: trauma therapy (EMDR and OEI), relationships (Gottman Marital Therapy), and worklife and career issues.

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However, within these types there are also variations in the symptoms, their severity and duration. Major depression causes symptoms i.e. excessive fatigue, relentless pessimism, hopelessness etc. that interfere with your ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy activities that were once pleasurable.

This type of depression can be disabling and may occur once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime. A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, generates longer-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but prevent you from functioning optimally or feeling enthusiastic when you should.

Many also experience major depressive episodes sometime in their lives. Another form of depression is bipolar disorder.

This serious and often devastating disorder is characterized by mood changes that cycle in and out or on and off- severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Occasionally, the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but usually they are slower and gradual.

When in the depressed cycle, one can have any or all of the symptoms of depression. When in the manic cycle, however, you may be overactive, over-talkative and manifest too much energy.

Mania often affects your thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems, anger and embarrassment. For example, once in a manic phase you may feel elated and full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic or promiscuous sprees.

Left untreated, this disorder can literally ruin your life and even cause a deterioration into psychosis. Medical treatments typically used, depending on the condition type and severity, include anti-depressant medications, anti-psychotics, psychotherapy and mood stabilizers.

The best psychotherapeutic treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy which treats how your thinking processes affect your mood and behavior.

Unfortunately, sometimes patients inappropriately drop-out of medication therapy, rather than follow-through because of side effects which could have been ameliorated had they stayed in treatment.

Wonder if you are getting the correct treatment for your depression? The following recommendations are based on a review of the scientific literature regarding the use of psychotherapy, counseling and medication in treating depression.

Take heed:

1. The treatment of first choice for your depression should be cognitive behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy. This is because of their superior long-term outcomes; they also pose fewer medical risks than using drugs or combined treatments. However, you should consider medications, combined treatment, or other types of psychotherapy if you do not respond appropriately.

2. You should not undergo insight-oriented psychotherapy by itself because studies suggest that it may produce poorer outcomes.

3. It is important that psychotherapy or counseling be included in your treatment program when anti-depressants are prescribed; you are at a higher risk for relapse if you use medication by itself. Generally, the best results are achieved by the combined use of cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication.

4. Everything else being equal, when starting medication, a single medication administered with psychotherapy should be used.

5. Everything else being equal, when using an anti-depressant, you should use the lowest, safest therapeutic dose for the shortest possible duration. This minimizes the risk that you may experience any possible side effects, cardio-toxicity, potential suicidality or even drop-out of treatment prematurely.

6. If you are hospitalized, antidepressants should be only very cautiously prescribed, especially if you have cardiac vulnerabilities, because of the risk of sudden death.

7. If you have been suicidal, you should take antidepressants only if there is a vigilant monitoring plan in place to prevent over-dose.

8. Everything else being equal, you should be very reluctant to have ant-depressants prescribed for your children because there is no compelling evidence that they are effective for them and little is known about the health risks they pose for this population.

9. Caution should be used in prescribing antidepressants to elderly people because of possible hypotensive and side effect risks.

10. You should avoid taking regular minor tranquilizers alone for your depression because they have resulted in worse outcomes than no treatment at all.

11. It is crucial to hire the right professional for the right task. Clinical psychologists receive most of their training in psychology, counseling and psychotherapy.

Psychiatrists receive most of their training in medicine. Choose a psychologist for counseling and therapy; go to a psychiatrist for medication.

About the author: Dr Michael Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Marengo and Lake-in-the-Hills. He’s an expert psychologist. Call 1 847 516 0899 and make an appt or learn more about counseling at http://www.carypsychology.com

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This is a not an illness but it is more of a behavioral and psychological condition. Recurring episodes of panic disorder and anxiety attacks can be very devastating and without the proper treatment it will become chronic. It will seriously affect your job, your relationship with people and even simple daily activities like driving. If panic disorder and anxiety attacks become too much for you to handle and it interferes with your daily life, you need to seek professional help to control your disorder.

Here are some ways to conquer panic disorder and anxiety attacks.

Medication
Doctors can recommend or prescribe anti-anxiety or anti-depressants medicines to help you control panic attacks. While drugs can give you immediate relief, it is best not to be too dependent on drugs because you may suffer from different side effects with prolong use of drugs.

Meditation
This is a relaxation technique for the mind to keep you calm and focus your thoughts on positive things. Meditation practice will give you a feeling of physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation which is helpful if you want to control panic disorder and anxiety attacks. Sit comfortably in a quiet room and close your eyes. Relax your muscles and breathe. Concentrate on your breathing and feel the beating of your heart. Let your mind wander on positive thoughts and come back to feel your breathing again. A constant meditation practice will help you manage your panic and anxiety disorder.

Exercise and diet
People who are healthy with stress-free lifestyle have positive outlook in life. Perspiration through exercises eliminates toxins from your body and proper breathing technique is helpful for your oxygen supply and blood circulation to keep you healthy and energetic. Proper diet is also important to get the nutrients and vitamins you need. There are diets with calming effects and known to control panic disorder and anxiety attacks like alkaline diet. It is a diet more on fruits and vegetables. Acid forming foods like dairy products and processed foods triggers high level of anxiety.

As mentioned above, if you cannot handle panic disorder and anxiety attacks on your own, seek professional help. Did you know that acute anxiety and panic attacks can be cured in easy to follow steps without any medication using a revolutionary new technique? To find out more visit Panic Away

To know more about panic disorder and anxiety attacks visit Conquer Panic Attacks

To know more health remedies visit Great Discovery-Health and Beauty

Author: Gerry Restrivera
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It might take a bit of searching on the internet, but there are professionals out there who will offer their therapy and counseling services for free so that people who can’t afford it can get some light help and advice. This is not to say that the free service is only available to people who are tight on cash, it is also available for people who are unsure of therapy but feel it might be something for them to seriously look at. Most people will bulk at the idea of spending a large sum of money for a therapy session they worry will not do them any real good. Free online therapy is available for people to try and see if they feel they will get what they need out of it. From there they can decide whether they will return to it for some advice on occasion or if they should set up a regular meeting with a therapist or counselor about something that is troubling them.

At this point, many might be thinking that there is a catch to the free online therapy being offered. While it has become the norm for people to expect a catch, most professionals who offer the free online therapy do not have one. They are allowing people the chance to get some of the help or guidance that they require because they care about their job and the people they are offering to help. There are too many people throughout North America and the world who don’t have the help available to them; these professionals are working to lower these numbers when they can.

Free online therapy and counseling is just that; free. It is a service that is there for people when they need it. It is another open door for people to walk through if they need to, or even if they feel they just need to talk to someone, without the worry of how much it is going to cost them. Free online therapy is also available at just about any time, either in the form of a chat room, a forum, or even by setting up an appointment to chat through instant messaging. It is a service that is not to be taken for granted, but one that is there for people who would normally find it difficult to talk to a therapist or counselor in person. The other benefit of the free online therapy is that it is accessible from just about anywhere that has a decent internet connection, so the person’s identity never has to be revealed and their confidentiality can be guaranteed.

About the Author: Jennifer B. Baxt, LMHC, LMFT was born and raised in south Florida. She went to the University of Florida for her undergraduate work and majored in communications. She then got her Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. While she was getting her Master’s, she worked in a hospital Emergency Room as a patient advocate and family counselor.

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