Skin picking comes under the category of impulse control disorders. Impulse control disorders refer to those in which individuals find it extremely hard to resist to act on an impulse which might be harmful to them or to others. Generally, there is some sort of tension or stress before the act and a feeling of relief or even pleasure after the action is completed.
Compulsive skin pickers usually cause harm to their own selves in order to relieve some sort of tension. In some cases, the skin pickers seem to derive a lot of pleasure from this act of self-damage. A probable reason why skin picking can help in relieving stress temporarily is that it provides distraction to the people from the stressors in their life.
Instead of focusing on those things and situations in their life which are leading to stress, skin pickers want to get their minds off and hence indulge in skin picking. However the relief from stress is only temporary. And by ignoring the problem, it won’t go away on its own. So, these people keep on indulging in skin picking till it becomes a deadly addiction with them.
The habit of skin picking becomes so strong, that they find it very difficult to control it. They might realize the harm it is causing, but they have become so used to the habit, that they feel helpless and unable to overcome no matter how much they try.
There are many other disorders similar to this like hair pulling, nail biting, binge eating etc. In almost all these cases, the primary motive of patients is to find relief from stress, worry or some other negative feelings. Most of the times, these people suffer from self-esteem issues and probably do not have the mental toughness to handle difficult situations. They try to run away and hide from problems instead of trying to solve them.
They are usually unable to face difficult or unpleasant situations. There could be various reasons for this, One of the common reasons is childhood trauma. Maybe these patients went through difficult and testing situations during childhood. Maybe they were mentally or physically abused while they were kids.
The good thing is that there is a cure for every problem. It might require some amount of will power and determination on your part. However, if you put your mind to it and try earnestly, a door might open up for you. The important thing is not to despair and really wish to improve your condition by overcoming this disorder.
Improve Your Mood With Green Plants
Presence of green plants at home or office not only adds beauty to the surroundings but also can have a positive impact on person’s lifestyle and thought process. These plants can make our mood pleasant and increases our potential of working. According to landscape architects plants such as aloevera, schefflera, rhoeo discolour, pelargonium etc. affect our mood positively and also relieve us from stress.
Increases our capacity to work
As per one of the survey made by a professor of Washington State University, it has been revealed that if plants are also included as part of the decoration of the interior of the house, it keeps the family members stress free since green surroundings directly affect our mood. Similarly using plants in office also can benefit the employees. According to researchers, presence of plants increases our potential and capacity to perform better at work by 12%. Those suffering from high blood pressure can observe lower level of systolic blood pressure if they are surrounded by green plants.
Circulates fresh air
New buildings and walls look really attractive with bright colours but because of this element called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) get assimilated in the air. As a result of this person develops different types of allergies and respiratory problems. One of the researchers of NASA has stated that in above-stated condition if person keeps green plants in newly constructed buildings, it helps in circulation of fresh air and also deactivates the VOCs present in the air. Thus, they purify the air.
Reduces noise pollution
According to result of a survey done by University of Washington, in case plants are kept properly in an office premises it helps to reduce the noise level in the surrounding. Experts feel that indoor plants restrict the way of sound waves, thereby reducing the level of noise. Green plants in a retail outlet not only add to the beauty of the place but also impress the customers. Thus it helps sales executives in achieving their targets and make profits for the company.
Act as air purifier
Several ornamental plants such as orchids, epiphytic bromeliads, and succulents consume the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere and release oxygen. It is insisted upon that in a house or office compound of 100 square feet, two-three green plants should be kept. At the same time one should also keep plants at a distance of 6-8 cubic feet from their bed, television or computer. This will provide a good and soothing atmosphere while working on computer or relaxing. Several nursery owners also insist on keeping mint, ginger or lemon grass and similar herbs rooted in pots. The presence of these herbs affects the environment and surroundings in a positive manner and fragrance of these herbs relaxes human mind.
Eases out tension and stress
It is said that presence of plants at home relieves a person from mental stress and tension and thus relaxes his mind. As we all know green colour has positive affect on person’s psychology and eases out tension. Thus, if a person is tired, in a bad mood or undergoing stress, then sight of these green plants can uplift his mood and relaxes his mind, body and soul. Sight of green plants and colourful flowers makes a person’s mood better in few seconds. Fragrance of flowers helps in reduction of stress hormone in a person whose undergoing stress.
Lowers down temperature
One more known benefit of indoor plants is that they help an important role in reducing the humidity level in the atmosphere. Presence of green plants at home keeps the temperature low. Higher level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the important reasons for increase in temperature. Environment experts state that increase in temperature leads to rise in number of lizards and insects like spiders at homes.
Change Your Mood in 5 Easy Steps
5 Easy ways to change your mood
We all get in a rut, a bad mood, and here are five easy ways when you find that you are caught up in that mood for you to stop, and get out of that mood quickly. Winter Blues in particular are a problem in the Midwest and across the country. However, don’t just think this happens in the winter, people suffer with depression and mood issues all year long.
The first and maybe the most difficult for some is to get up and go exercise. I understand that it maybe difficult in the winter to go outside, but if you can even for ten minutes you can how you feel in an instant. If going outside is out of the question, then do 25 lunges each leg and find a bench or step and step up each leg 10 times each. Just working out for ten minutes at a time will give you the start to strength training and give you some health benefits.
Second is getting a good night sleep. Stick to a schedule and don’t eat before bed, but if you are having trouble falling asleep sometimes a warm glass of milk will help calm you down to rest easier.
Third, try not to drink more alcohol. Many times in the winter people will reach for an extra glass of alcohol, try a cup of tea or sparkling water instead. Besides packing on extra calories, alcohol will not help you sleep any better.
Forth, and my favorite, dab a bit of peppermint oil on your pulse points! Aromatherapy can instantly improve your state of mind. You can take a whiff or put a little on for all day relief!
Lastly, eat smart. Foods loaded with vitamins may help with stress, but they will certainly help with heart and other organs keeping them healthy. Remember, you only get one set of organs and as of right now, no doctors are “face-lifting” organs per say. Keep them strong and healthy and that will certainly improve your mood!
Stress can be good or bad, depending of the situation. It affects the body, thoughts, feelings and behavior, through emotional, physical and nervous system symptoms.
The effects of stress on the body include; restlessness, shortness of breath, headache, heart palpitations, stomach upsets, difficulty with decisions, mood swings, muscle tension, sweating, loose stools, disturbed sleep and irregular sleep patterns.
Some of the behavior patterns associated with stress include anger outbursts, an increase in smoking, crying, irritability, relationship problems, overeating, or eating when you’re not hungry. Stress affects the nervous system, causing reactions such as fight or flight, aggression or social withdrawal.
Now that you can clearly see how the body responds to stress it will be much easier to identify when you are experiencing the effects of stress. You can take the steps needed to reduce or eliminate that stress. Keep in mind that sometimes stress can be just the catalyst needed for change.
Some things you can do to combat stress are:
1. Make sure that you get at least five hours of rest every night. Stay in bed without raising your head, even if you’re not sleeping. This is to keep your adrenal glands functioning well. Another way to assist your adrenals, is to invert your body every day for one or two minutes, even if it’s just bending over with your head lower than your hips.
2. Take some time on a daily basis to do something you enjoy, no matter how small.
3. Plan ahead, but be flexible if things don’t work out exactly as planned. Have a plan B and C.
4. Procrastination creates stress, so don’t let it become a habit. Take action!
5. Make a list of your priorities. Look at them every day first thing in the morning.
6. Reward yourself for things done well.
7. Talk to at least one or two of your favorite people daily.
8. Know your emotional limits and take a break when you recognize their approach.
9. Take a break in the middle of a job or situation, stretch your legs, go for a walk in the fresh air, get something to drink, or just leave.
10. During your break, think about a moment in time when you felt relaxed. Take at least a minute or two to do this until you feel refreshed and stress free.
11. Say at least two positive things about yourself for every negative. Think about your strengths and stop yourself from reflecting on past weaknesses or failures.
12. Use a thought stopping technique when you start thinking about something negative or when you’re feeling angry or stressed out. Say to yourself, “No! That’s not true. I choose not to be offended, angry or worried.” (“I do not believe that about myself or another person”). Choose to forgive yourself, the other person, or even just take a deep breath. Choose an appropriate action and follow through.
13. Ask in advance, if possible, for you to take time before responding or acting; or ask for it at the time. Give yourself permission to do these things!
14. Give yourself permission to say “No” to things that will take up a lot of your time, or that are stressful, especially if it is something that will last over a long period of time.
15. Manage your time so that you will not be in a rush, going from one thing to another.
Promising Preliminary Results for Drug to Treat Cognitive Dysfunction Associated With Schizophrenia
Targecept has recently announced positive results in their Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the new drug TC-5619′s ability to improve cognition in patients with schizophrenia.
Many see schizophrenia, a devastating brain disorder, as an illness that causes hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. However, the disease is also characterized by cognitive deficits that cause an inability to think, learn, remember, and concentrate. More than 2 million in the US suffer from schizophrenia, and 75% of these experience cognitive dysfunction.
Cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia have a significant impact on a person’s ability to function at home, work, and school. Many medications are available to treat the hallucinations and delusions, but there is currently no medication available to treat cognitive dysfunction from schizophrenia.
Targacept has been working to develop medications that meet this need. Their latest product, TC-5619, binds the alpha-7 neuronal nicotinic receptor (NNR), which is involved in normal cognitive brain function.
The multi-center Phase 2 clinical proof of concept trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel group study conducted at seven sites in the United States and twelve sites in India. Nearly 200 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and taking either the antipsychotic, quetiapine (Seroquel®) or risperidone (Risperdal®) were enrolled in the study.
Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either TC-5619 or placebo together with their prescribed antipsychotic for 12 weeks. Patients receiving TC-5619 were administered 1 mg daily dose for the first four weeks, 5 mg daily for the next four weeks, and 25 mg daily dose for the last four weeks. Before the study started, patients from both groups were given the GMLT (Groton Maze Learning Test), a computerized assessment of their cognitive function.
This test was then administered at three separate times during the course of the 12 week treatment period. Study investigators looked for a change in patients’ GMLT scores from baseline.
TC-5619 was considered superior to placebo if their was an improvement in GMLT scores following treatment and that improvement was significantly different from the GMLT scores observed with placebo. Not only did the study see improvement in GMLT scores with TC-5619, but these improvements were noted at two of the three measurement dates (at 4 weeks and 12 weeks).
There were no differences in adverse events associated with placebo and TC-5619. The most frequent adverse event was mild to moderate nausea (5%); this nausea did not cause patients to dropout of the study. Targacept plans to release detailed information about study results later this year.
There are a wide number of other therapies and treatment regimens being evaluated to improve the quality of life for people suffering from schizophrenia.
You may ask yourself the question how do I know if I’m bipolar? Many people do not really understand the difference or are they able to distinguish the difference between blues and happiness in comparison to severe depression and bipolar disorder. Many bipolar patients that have been diagnosed will think themselves other people have problems too. I can think of many friends and family members that have been sad, mad, happy, angry, upset and many more emotions all in the same day. What makes me any different than these individuals and everyone else in the rest of the world?
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So to begin understanding the difference between what we call normal people and other individuals that have been diagnosed with bipolar, must understand that everyone has shifts in moods that enable them to experience happiness, sadness and many other emotions. What really distinguishes the difference between people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, also known as being manic-depressive, is that these individuals have unusual and drastic shifts in moods, energy, behavior and thought patterns that are not seen inside a normal individual.
Many of these mood swings or shifts in thought and behavior comes very quickly and abruptly with bipolar disorder patients. The manic episodes that are associated with bipolar disorder can cause people to become extremely happy at different times especially when it is not related to any environmental cause. For example, an individual with bipolar disorder may be extremely happy all of a sudden when a dramatic or sad event has taken place for no apparent reason. At the same time, a normal individual will experience some form of sadness or sorrow for the event that has taken place.
It is not uncommon at all for bipolar patients to be extremely happy one minute and then extremely sad the next. These are called mixed episodes and happen in bipolar disorder patients. This enables them to go from one end of the spectrum to another all within a matter of minutes, hours and even days. There is no one calls for a bipolar patient to go from one end of the spectrum to the other. There are many different triggers and causes, such as daily stress, the food you eat and many other factors, but these shifts in moods are very chronic and recurring over time. The intensity of the symptoms and how often they have been in an individual is what distinguishes someone who has bipolar disorder and someone who just has what we call the normal mood shifts or mood swings.
While estimated to affect up to 20 million American adult every year, depression can be easily diagnosed and treated. All of us suffer from sadness at one time or another but people with true depression suffers from recurring and frequent long term symptoms. But if we all suffer from sadness or feelings of being depressed from time to time, how do you know if you already have a depression problem?
Here are some depression symptoms to help you. Not all people have all the same symptoms or even at the same time. If you suspect your or someone you know may be suffering from depression the best thing to do is consult a doctor.
- Unexplained crying
- Lethargy
- Indecisiveness and difficulty in concentrating
- Anger, worry, worry, agitation and irritability
- Prolonged sadness
- Negativity or pessimism
- Loss of energy
- Thoughts of death and suicide
- Unexplained body aches and pains
- Social withdrawal
- Feelings of guilt and sense of worthlessness
- Irregular sleep patterns and loss of appetite
- Fatigue even without heavy physical activity
- Lack of interest to surroundings
A medical check-up for depression will include a complete physical examination to rule out any other health problems and to get a detailed clinical history. When being diagnosed, you must be honest with your feelings to help the doctor arrive at the correct diagnosis. Though we’ve listed the most common depression symptoms above, never do any self diagnosis or rely on unqualified opinions from friends or family. Only a trained medical practitioner can determine if you are indeed suffering from depression and he will be able to help in recommending the proper care for you.
Also note that one type of depression is recurrent, this means the depression episodes regularly happen. This could be as regular as once a month or as far between as several years.
Depression must never be covered up. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed if you are diagnosed with depression. You should accept the problem and seek medical assistance. No one is immune from depression. People from all walks of life, ethnic groups and ages could be affected. And as mentioned earlier, over 20 million suffer from it every year so realize that you are not alone.
Panic attacks can be experienced by many individuals at least once in their lifetime. Anyone of us is not immune to it. However, there are some among us that do not suffer from your garden variety panic attack. A panic attack disorder is a chronic condition that can be paralyzing in a sense that it prevents the sufferer from living a normal life. Individuals who suffer from panic disorders can have an attack at any moment. These attacks can be trigger by a variety of situations or things, depending on the individual’s experience. People who are suffering from this condition may experience constant and uncontrollable fear and terror for no apparent reason. In some cases, the sufferer can experience several consecutive attacks.
An individual who is experiencing this kind of attack will feel extreme fear and terror without any warning whatsoever and with no clear reason as well. The sufferer will also experience several symptoms that can contribute to the anxiety attack as well. That dreaded feeling that you are about to die is frightening to any normal person, but to an individual with a panic disorder, terror associated with the thought of dying is multiplied exponentially. This is why the individuals who just had an attack, which usually lasts twenty to thirty minutes, are left feeling fatigued and drained of energy. These attacks are usually exhausting, both physically and emotionally. Kamagra oral jelly canada
The possible causes of panic disorders can vary from the experiences of every individual. However, there are causes that are quite common in most panic disorder sufferers which include heredity, certain phobias, side effects of certain medications, as well as substance abuse. These are just some of the possible causes that may trigger an anxiety attack. Although a traumatic experience may also play a significant role in an individual who suffers from panic attacks. A panic disorder that is caused by heredity means that the condition can be traced through the family history. If your parents or grandparents have a history of panic disorders, then there is a good chance that you or your siblings may get the condition as well.
When it comes to the symptoms that are associated with panic attacks, it may vary from person to person as well, although there are certain symptoms that are common among panic disorder sufferers. One of these common panic attack symptoms that most sufferers experience is the rapid heartbeat that can sometimes be mistaken as a heart attack. Once the panic attack ensues, the individual experiencing it will feel a rapid heart rate that can worsen the feeling of fear or terror because it makes the individual feel like he or she is dying. The rapid heart rate is then typically followed by chest pains, nausea, and hot flashes. The majority of individuals who have panic disorders may experience these symptoms.
Treating a panic attack disorder is not as easy as one might think, although it is possible to treat the symptoms. If you are a chronic panic attack sufferer, then you should get some help if you wish to live your life normally, since panic disorders cannot be handled alone. You will most likely need treatment for anxiety and depression, especially since depression is also one of the typical symptoms experience by people with panic disorders.
Right Food for Right Mood
According to an observation made by research experts, positive and negative changes in our behaviour occur as a result of many brain chemicals. For many kinds of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, endorphin, glutamine and serotonin we need to have nutrients such as amino acids, minerals, fatty acids, protein and carbohydrate in our daily diet. In case a person doesn’t follow a proper diet enriched with such nutrients, the brain chemicals suffer in negative manner and as a result person feels stressed and can even enter into depression.
Regulating blood sugar level
Eating small quantity of food and healthy snacks in small intervals helps us to maintain the blood sugar level the whole day. According to experts, instead of having three heavy meals a day, person should opt for five small meals. One should not miss out on their daytime meals and especially the breakfast. Food rich in carbohydrates helps in increasing the level of serotonin in our body. Serotonin is one neurotransmitter which keeps our mood pleasant and stress free. It also helps in curing the problem of insomnia and increases our appetite. Sugary food should be taken in minimal amount since for once they do increase our blood sugar level all of a sudden which lowers down quickly. Low level blood sugar makes us feel tired, irritable and tensed.
Food rich in amino acids
Experts believe that whenever a person feels sad and dejected, he should have food which is rich in amino acids like milk, chicken etc. Amino acid increases the production of serotonin hormone which keeps our mood good. Apart from that one can also take food rich in carbohydrates. Health experts advice to have a balanced diet and not to follow any such diet plan which prohibits any kind of food or nutrient.
Stay away alcohol and caffeine
It has been observed that few people tend to drink alcohol so as to distract their minds and keep it free from thoughts creating tension in their minds. This practice surely doesn’t solve a person’s problem and in turn affects the health of the person. In one of the researches it has been found out that not only alcohol but caffeinated drinks and liquids induce depression. Liquids containing alcohol or caffeine negatively affect person’s sleep, mood and ability to focus.
Intake of good amount of fruits and green leafy vegetables
It has been found out that one of the reasons of depression in a person can be lack of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in his diet. Food must be rich in vitamin B6 (all types of grains, potato and banana), vitamin B12 (all kinds of low fat dairy products), folic acid (all types of green vegetables, oranges, beans and dry fruits), vitamin C (lemon and all kinds of citrus fruits) etc. They not only make our mood better but also keep us free from stress and tension.
Intake of fats is crucial
According to experts our food must contain some amount of fats. Fats play an important role in making our mood better and also channelise production of hormones required for a healthy mind. As per cardiologists mono-saturated fatty acids are beneficial in case of heart diseases since it lowers down the level of LDL cholesterol. Thus, our food should include groundnut oil, olive oil, almonds, cashewnuts, melon seeds etc. Saturated fats such as butter, margarine should not be taken in excess. According to a recent research, it is due to low amount of omega-3 fatty acids in body that a person highly likely gets into depression. Walnuts and flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acid.
Have you ever wondered about the ads we see on TV regarding depression and bipolar disorder and speculated if treating these medical conditions is as simple as taking these medications? Every lay person knows many of the drugs by name since they fill our TV viewing with 30 second commercials with descriptions of possible symptoms and how you should talk to your doctor to see if this drug would be right for you. This is a double edge sword where on one hand it informs people that there is help out there, but it may also give the wrong impression that treatment is a simple as taking a pill.
The truth is proper diagnosis and treatment can take a long time, especially in the case of bipolar disorder. In a study in 1994 and again in 2003 by Lish and Hirshfeld respectively, they found that it takes about a decade from the time patients seek help to be correctly diagnosed. (shorter for type I illness; longer for type II). One of the biggest reasons for this is that bipolar disorder when it first appears often presents itself as unipolar depressions and these people will suffer three major depressive episodes before their first manic episode. (Goodwin and Jamison 1990). About one half of acutely manic patients do not realize they are experiencing a manic episode. Hence when a patient presents with depression and the clinician seeks to identify past mania or hypomania, the patient will deny such symptoms half of the time.
The important point here is that although depression and bipolar disorder are some of the more effectively treated medical conditions out there, it may take time and a skilled medical clinician to properly diagnose and treat the patient. This is often not your primary care physician. A psychiatrist who has proper training, insight and experience regarding manic episodes can hasten proper diagnosis and treatment to this population.
So like with so many things on TV these days, use these commercials as a tool to understand that there is help available. Seek professional assistance and discuss not only what is seen on TV but also other effective treatment plans that are available.