T is for TMS (Trans-Cranial Magnetic Stimulation)

Trans-Cranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS for short, was approved in 2008 by the FDA as an acceptable treatment for Depression.  It has been shown to improve symptoms, especially for those who are medication treatment-resistant or where medications are not able to be used due to side effects.  While the treatment is still in its infancy, it is being used with remarkable results. 

TMS, by definition, uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.  A large electromagnetic coil is placed against the scalp near the forehead, creating electric currents that stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain involved in mood control and depression. 

To read the description of what it is and how it works may sound more like something out of a Frankenstein movie, but the reality is it works and the wonder of modern medicine is giving hope to many to suffer depression when no medication seems to work.  The treatment, however, is far from barbaric.  A session lasts about 40 minutes and is done in the doctor’s office, over a period of four to six weeks. 

I have had TMS treatments and I have had ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) and in my opinion having TMS is a far better choice. With ECT, there is the added stress of being in the hospital, being under anesthesia and having a seizure induced.  A TMS treatment, however, is simply sitting in a chair for 40 minutes and then continuing with your day.  Both treatments have worked for me in the past and I am going through a “maintenance” series of TMS now, which involves a treatment every two weeks or once a month after the initial six week treatment series.  The only downside to TMS is the time that it does take as treatment is five days a week for six weeks, scheduled can become a problem and the monotony of the trips do get to be a bit much after a while.  At least they did for me, I am not one for schedules and I was finding it hard to get myself there after a couple weeks, I simply wanted it to be over. In the end though, it was the best thing I could have done for myself and for my illness.

S is for Selfie

The Selfie.   Nearly all of us  have taken one at one time or another, either it was to try it out and see what all the hype was about or to share a photo with someone – it has become the way we share our lives with others.

There is some concern, however, in some circle that selfies may actually lead to some sort of mental illness.  Now, before you start to panic, there are many schools of thought on this and I am going to explain just a couple of them. 

According to Psychcentral.com,  taking too many selfies is not a mental disorder.  Some may see the overuse of the photos as a problem, but its not a mental illness.  They have simply become all the rage the updated smartphones and cameras.  There was a recent article out of the Philippines that called the obsessive selfies, “Selfitis.”  What people did not realize is that they were reading a parody site and never bothered to check the facts of the article. 

The question remains, however, is there actually any research in the phenomenon?  Could it one day be considered a mental disorder?   It is doubtful unless it is linked to a person’s pre-existing illness and narcissism. 

This leads me to my second article on Selfies.  Psychology Today says in an article about, Facebook – Selfies  - and narcissism, selfies generate strong emotion in us.  We enjoy seeing ourselves, which many will relate to being narcissistic and simply enjoying the idea of seeing oneself in pictures and sharing them with the world on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram. 

A study was done with over 400 people who were asked about their Facebook behaviors, one of the main questions was about how they would rate their profile picture.  This is where the narcissism came out in most people.   They see themselves as their profile picture, how it is seen by others, are they attractive, etc.  According to the test, however, women tended to be more narcissistic when it came to how they were perceived in their profiled picture.  It reflected much of their identity, more so than men. 

So, there are many thoughts on what selfies are doing to us as a culture, is it good or bad, no one can say for sure.  It is a personal opinion as to what you do with the pictures, how often you take them and what they are used for.  For those already living with mental illness, it can affect the perception of ourselves if the pictures are not received as we think they should be.

It’s a fine line to be walked by us all.  As technology develops  I am sure we will be faced with another “habit” before long.

How many selfies do you take?  Do you think it can lead to bad behaviors and thoughts? 

R is for Relapse

The word Relapse is most often used when speaking of those addicted to drugs or alcohol, but it also pertains to those with mental illness.  According to Webster’s Dictionary, “Relapse” is to fall back or revert to an earlier condition. 

In plain English, I would refer to it as a time when life seems to be going along and fine and all of a sudden there is a brick wall in front of you and you are not sure how to climb over it.  All tools, therapy and medications you have acquired are no longer relevant.  This often leads to a hospitalization in order to set things right again. 

The word relapse, however, is not often used by those with mental illness, it is more seen as being well or unwell.  To use the word relapse means going backward and that is the one thing that is feared the most, losing ground on stability or going back to square one.  In addition, many believe that in order to relapse you would have to have been well, then become unwell again and continued the cycle.  The realization is, those with mental illness believe that they have never “been well,” so there is no way to relapse.

If all this seems confusing, think of it this way.  Mental illness is something we are born with, it is not brought on by anything we have done, so while there may be a relapse, so to speak  in treatment or how one is feeling – is really a matter of how well we are feeling at a particular time. 

The most important thing is to be aware of the signs and know when we are becoming “unwell” again.  Be aware of changes in thought, feelings and behavior.  What I have found is tracking my moods and medication daily.  I have two apps on my phone that help with this and I receive reminders several times a day that ask me how I am doing and if I have taken my  medication. 

First is “MedCoach,” this keeps track of my medication when it needs to be taken, my doctors information, refill information, etc.  Second is “My Mood,” this app keeps track of my sleep pattern, mood, stress, energy and a number of other things that can affect how I feel and relate to my illness.  (These are both Apple apps, I do not know if they  are available on Android)  It is vital for me to do this every day, sometimes I wonder if it does any good, but when I do find myself falling back I am able to see where it may have happened, how I was feeling and what was going on at that particular time.

No matter what it is called, the important thing is to stay aware of your actions, feelings and most of all be vocal to those around you that care about you and your doctors so as to avoid a major setback.  

P is for Positivity

I am always looking for quotes or songs that stand out and put into words what I am not able to say myself.  I have recently done some research on staying positive and how it affects mental health and I was surprised to see how many studies have been done on this subject and how much I have learn.

It has been shown that negative thoughts have the ability to lower our moods, affect our actions and even our overall health.  

The goal is to become optimistic and focus on the positive things in life as much as possible. This does not mean that negative thoughts will completely go away or that we will never have them, it is simply a way to combat them and live a better life.  I have worked on this for many years and it does work, it takes time and practice but in the end the benefits are well worth it.

Some of the best ways to gain positivity in your life:

• Write!  Journaling is one of the top tools used in therapy and for people, in general, when it comes to getting thoughts out of our minds and on paper where it can make more sense to us.  By seeing the written words, we are able to absorb them and we can envision a plan or goal more clearly.
• 
  
• Exercise:  A simple walk around the block is enough to boost your energy and clear your mind.  Exercise 20 minutes a day at least a few days a week can help you feel better as well.
• 
  
• The SilverLining:  It may sound like some overused psycho-babble, but finding the positive in a negative situation, but it can show how you may have grown or changed because of a particular situation.  Ask yourself what you may be gained from the experience, not only personally, but within your relationships as well.
• 
  
• Practice Gratitude:  Practicing gratitude once again brings us to writing.  Keeping a gratitude journal can help you see the good things, whether they are big or small, that are happening in your life.  Writing letters to those who may have helped you through a tough situation, or even sharing good news with friends, helps us see the good that is in our lives.  
• 
  
•  Lastly, Avoid Negative Thinking:  This is the most difficult one to tackle, and the reason I no longer watch the news at night.  The negativity that is broadcast is enough to ruin a good day.  In a study of those taking tests, those who focused on negative thoughts had lower scores than those were more focused on the positive. 

These techniques are by no means easy and will not stop all negativity and make you an instant positive person, but it is a starting point.  I, myself, use journaling a lot in my attempt to become more positive and combat the negativity and challenges of my illness.   

There is another practice used by therapists and their patients when thoughts become overwhelming and anxiety is not controlled.  I call it the “snap method.”  Simply put, a rubber band is worn and every time an intrusive thought comes to mind or you start ruminating, you snap the band.  This is to remind you and bring you back to the present.  It may seem extreme like I said, but it works. 

How do you stay positive on a daily basis?  What tips or techniques can you share?

O - is for Obstacle

Picture for a moment a sporting event, no matter the sport there are obstacles in the way and there is a challenge to move around them in order to win the game or race.  It takes determination, practice, precision and most of all a dedication to what it will take to win.  So, you may ask what does this have to do with mental illness, well it takes that same determination and dedication to achieve stability despite the challenges that are placed in our way. 

When it comes to treatment my doctors consider me a challenge.  I have tried more medications than I could mention, not being able to take the majority due to side effects and my system being so sensitive.  I’ve had my psychiatrist sit and shake his head at me and smile, telling me I am a challenge.  I will take that as a compliment to him, as he has found ways to treat me that work and not give up because of my sensitivities.  Each medication or treatment that does not work is an obstacle I must overcome in order to stay healthy.

My diagnoses in itself is an obstacle, the initials or names may not mean much to people, but to me they make up part of who I am and why I do the things that I do.  I face the challenge of PTSD (Post-Traumtic Stress Disorder) because of years of abuse.  I have spent many years fighting to get back what was taken from me.  I have hope that I will find my way until then the wall is there and one brick at a time I am chipping away at it. 

Bipolar disorder and Anxiety create a world of havoc in my life that can last for days or weeks, even months at a time.  Each of these illnesses on their own can create chaos, put them together and the challenge can become monumental.  What is most important with these illnesses is learning the triggers, or obstacles that find their way into your life and cause the mood swings. 

Putting this all together into one single post is difficult, but in the end we are all the same.  We are each faced with challenges and obstacles on a daily basis that challenge us or make us doubt our choices.  It’s normal and with each obstacle we face we know that we become stronger as people and learn what we are truly capable of.

What are some of the challenges in your life?  

N - is for Natural Remedies

For years medication was known as the best way to treat mental illness, along with therapy and hospitalization.  A change is happening, however, to a more holistic way of treating these illnesses.  There are reasons people step back from traditional medications, side effects top the list, with many people feeling they are simply taking too many medications and what they can to do to our bodies.  In many cases, the drugs cause irritating side effects, which in turn is treated with more medication to alleviate the symptoms. 

The search for different treatments has been my goal in recent years, with my own mental illness; I have been on too many medications to mention and often they came with debilitating side effects so I would not be able to take them, this lead me on a journey to find another way.  i still take a couple medications and they do help, but there are ways to treat these illnesses without making weekly trips to the pharmacy. 

One of the best I have found is simply being out side in the fresh air and sunshine.  A short 15 minute walk can change your outlook on the day or situations that are ruminating in your mind.  I have discovered over time that when I am not able to be outside my moods tend to cycle more and I become moody.  I am a simple person, I enjoy the woods most of all, surrounding myself with the sounds of birds chirping and trees rustling around me.  During a hike the distractions are only a memory and my mind will once again focus on serenity and peacefulness of what is around me.  In addition, we receive Vitamin D from the sun which is also known to help the mind. 

in addition to spending time outside there are other medical treatments that do not include medication.  ECT (electric Convulsive Therapy) or TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) are common ways to treating mental illness.  ECT has received a bad rap over the years after movies and the media have shown it as barbaric, when it is a simple procedure today lasting no more than a few minutes while the patient in under anesthesia.  TMS uses a simple MRI type machine that stimulates the brain with magnetic pulses. 

I think one of the best treatments, next to be outside is journaling.  Writing down feelings and thoughts keeps them from ruminating and clears the mind of disturbing thoughts and ideas. 

There are many other treatments including vitamins and supplements to help stave off the symptoms of many illnesses.  The trick is to find the one that works best for you and you alone.  

D is for the Many Faces of Depression

We all feel it at one time or another, the feeling of sadness and hopelessness; to a point it’s normal phase of life.  Different situations affect us and we go through a period of time where it seems nothing can go right.  For some,  however, that feeling doesn’t go away, lingering for days and weeks at a time and interfering with everyday life.  The most important aspect of depression is for those who live with the illness and more so for those who do not  is to know that it is not a sign of weakness or being negative, it is a legitimate health issue and treatable with medication, talk therapy, and lifestyle changes.   

Depression is not as clear cut as many may think there are many faces to depression and I want to touch on a few of them here.  The diagnosis of the type of depression is critical is finding the right type of treatment.    

Major Depression is the illness that is most commonly heard of.  It is characterized by a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, loss of weight, or weight gain, a feeling of being sleepy most of the time, a feeling of worthlessness, trouble concentrating and thought of suicide.  Five of more of these symptoms must be present for at least two week for a diagnosis of Major Depression.  Once you have a diagnosis, your doctor can then begin to work with you on the best way to treat your illness. 

Persistent Depressive Disorder:  This type of depression follows the same pattern of Major Depression, however, the symptoms must be present for at least two year.  This would be considered Persistent Depression and is treated with medication and therapy. 

Bipolar Disorder:  While it mimics the symptoms of depression, there are also periods of extreme highs, called manic episodes.  The most important thing here is to use medication to stabilize the moods swings, these are called mood stabilizers.  Anti-depressant is not commonly use with Bipolar Disorder because they tend to increase the chance of a manic episode.  

Seasonal Affective Disorder:  This is most common during the winter months when there is less sunlight and the days are shorter.  Major depression occurs during this time and is treated with anti-depressants and light therapy.  Light therapy is most common and requires the person to sit in front of a natural light box for 15 to 30 minutes a day.  

Psychotic Depression:  This is a diagnosis of major depression which includes with it symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia.  Anti-Depressants and Anti-psychotic drugs are used to treat this type of depression. 

PostPartum Depression:  This has also been known as the “baby blues,” and occurs in the weeks and months after the birth of a child.  Anti-depressants and therapy are known to help with this illness.  

Situational Depression:  While there is not a technical term for this type of depression, but it hits all of us at one time or another when a stressful event occurs in life.  The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, divorce or any occurrence that makes you feel unsure of yourself and the world around you.  Therapy is the most common treatment for this type of depression

As you can the illness of depression is not cut and dry, one size fits all type of illness.  There are many facets and anyone can fall under one or more diagnosis.  The more we talk about depression and mental illness the more we can come to understand that it is a medical condition and that 1 in 4 people live some sort of mental illness, most often you do not know who it is.  

C is for Coverage and Care for Mental Health Patients

Insurance companies love them or hate them, they are a necessary evil and that is never more evident than when it comes to mental health care.  The news is overrun with stories of people trying to find help only to be let down by their insurers or mental health facilities in general.

 

With the push for people to sign up with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it has become evident, according to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) that there is a lack of providers in plans for mental health care.  The problem falls not only on the companies themselves, but in some cases the doctors as well.  There are many psychiatrists and psychologists that are not taking new patients with health insurance because they do not receive a high payment rate, add to that the number of sessions, appointments and paperwork, many independent doctors find it easier to shy away from the insurance all together. 

 

Mental health, when it comes to finding inpatient care is difficult.  A paper in Baltimore ran a story of a man in New York who died of an overdose after his admission to a treatment center was denied after it was deemed not medically necessary, within two months he was gone.  The system failed not only the young man, but his family as well. 

 

A personal experience showed me just how difficult it is to use insurance for psychiatric care.  I found out that my plan allowed only 30 days a year for inpatient care, for outpatient is approved only two facilities both of which would not accept me due to the fact I was not “sick enough.”  This series of events left not only me, but my doctors baffled as well and searching for ways to get me the assistance I needed and work around the obstacles that were thrown in our way.  The final outcome was not good; I came away with only appointments with my psychiatrist and psychologist, with those closely monitored as well as to the number of times I was allowed to go. 

 

Denial for mentalhealth care is higher than other type of medical care, leaving high out-of-pocket costs for patients when it comes to care and medications.  According to state and federal laws there is to be equal coverage for both mental health and medical conditions, costs should be no different between the two, though discrimination still exists, and surveys have shown that is much more difficult to find a mental health care provided than a medical doctor, with inpatient care be harder than for any other care. 

 

You get the basic idea of what not only United States, but countries around the world are facing when it comes mental health care.  It is not seen as medically necessary in most cases and until that change there will be more patients not finding the help they need at some of the most difficult times in their lives. 

 

B is for Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness #atozblogchallenge

The attempt to break the stigma of mental illness is a hard-fought battle, with, at times it seems, no end in sight.  March 30th was World Bipolar Awareness Day, a day to educate people on the illness itself, but to eliminate the stereotypes that come with it.  The illness affects nearly 27 million people worldwide with five and half million in the US alone.

According to an article a South Dakota newspaper about breaking the stigma, changing the way of thinking is the key in helping people seek treatment for mental illness. When there is a negative reaction to anything the number of people who will seek help is dramatically less than if there was an open conversation available. 

While I could spout statistics and words of wisdom from the best doctors around the world, it makes more sense to me to have this post be real and personal and tell my own story and the battles I have faced when it comes to “coming out,” to the public about who I am. 

I was diagnosed in 1996, just before my 30th birthday.  Wasn’t exactly how I had I planned on celebrating my birthday, but what can you do?  I knew there was something not quite right, so I finally made an appointment with a therapist to try to understand what was happening.  All I knew was that I was happy one minute and depressed the next, five minutes later I would be elated again.  Sometimes it would last for days or weeks, but more often than not it was minutes, and I was not OK with it.  The therapist, knowing what was happening, sent me to a psychiatrist and the challenge of finding the right medications began.  It is important to know that medication is not the answer to controlling bipolar, it helps of course, but it takes a combination of drugs and therapy and self-exploration to find your way to living. 

As my luck would have it, the medication part  process was not so easy, it seems my body is very sensitive when it comes to medication and nearly everything we tried was not good for me, I was having side effects of the worst kind.  It took an extremely educated and patient psychiatrist to find a combination that worked for me, by going back “old school,” as he called it and using drugs that were  uncommon. 

My diagnosis is actually a complicated one, Schizo-Affective Disorder is the official name.  A combination of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia is the easiest explanation, or Bipolar with psychosis. (Scary, I know)

I tell you all this to show the favorable side of mental illness, it is possible to live a “normal” life, be functional and sane.  While, all is good now, the early days brought a lot of anger, and I ruined a lot of positive things in my life.  It showed me; however, that people can forgive and who I want to be in my life and who I don’t.  Most of all it showed me; it is the media and people’s misconceptions that lead us down the road to silence and embarrassment. 

There are people in my life, who know of my illness, that hesitate to bring up certain subjects with me so as not upset me, or worry if I get “to happy."  I try to understand their point of view; they don’t understand and how can they really?  I simply smile and reiterate, again, that I am a regular person with an illness, please don’t treat me like a child.

Through all of this, I have learned a lot, and I hope you, after reading join in the movement to banish the stigma of not only mental illness, but all stigmas.

After the April Blog challenge #atozblogchallenge

April brought the opportunity to let my voice be heard in the area of mental health, the struggles, misconceptions, treatments and simple thoughts of my own.  I struggled through some of it; the challenge was trying to find things that began with each letter, but in the end, it came together.   I did take a small break after the challenge to recharge my battery, so to speak and decide where to go from here.  What I learned during the month of April though was this……………. 

Mental Health Stigma will always be with us, as people, we fear what we do not know and cannot understand.  The easiest thing to do is walk away and whisper to others what we fear the most about the illnesses.  As one who lives with Mental illness, it is a heartbreaking thing to see, I speak for everyone; I believe, when I say we are just like everyone else; you would be surprised to know the truth about these illnesses and what they do and don’t do a person. 

For some of this, I blame the media; they are first to mention mental illness as the cause for any act of violence that occurs, when it most likely had nothing to do with the event, but it is the perfect scapegoat for what was done, after all. How could anyone really cause such pain to others?  It is for this reason that I rarely watch the news anymore; it makes me angry on so many levels. 

Now that I have put it out there about my illness, it is time be more open and share the ups and downs, the struggles and triumphs of my battle in the hopes it will help others know they are no longer alone in this world, and you do not have to hide.  

I am interested in what you think about the issue of stigma and mental health and if there are certain topics you would like to see covered here.  

“Z” is for Zero Symptoms #atozblogchallenge

“If a person doesn’t achieve zero symptoms, they haven’t failed, but if they are never given the opportunity to achieve that goal, the system has failed them.”    Allen Doederlein, DBSA President

 

What is the first thing you strive for when you have a cold, no symptoms, the ability to breathe again, no coughing or fever?  A cancer patient has a goal of no cancerous cells, remission.  There is a new movement for those who live with mental illness that tackles this topic, the goal for total remission, the ability to live with no symptoms. 

Target Zero to Thrive was a month-long  campaign in April to bring mental health professionals, researchers and those who live with a mental illness to work toward a goal of zero symptoms, and not settle for just feeling better.  That has been the goal in the past, to simple control symptoms and hope they do not come back.  We followed this protocol because that is the way it has always been done, but no more.  There is a better life out there, and it is time we found it. 

Some will look at this and think that maintaining stability is the same thing; however, it may only bring temporary relief  that is often fleeting, and the symptoms persist but to a lesser degree.  The true goal here is to eliminate the symptoms all together and allow each person the ability to thrive in their lives and not worry about when their illness returns.   Without the opportunity to achieve the goal of zero, the system has not done all it can to help.  Why should we settle for just good enough, when there is so much more to strive for?  

I have lived with mental illness for nearly 20 years in that amount of time I have seen many doctors and there has never been a real interest in finding a way to control how I feel daily;  it has always been a matter of what medication will make you feel better for the longest period of time, or at least until I saw  them again.  This new idea of working toward total remission is a welcome change in the way of thinking, hope in a sea of medications and doctor visits with nothing to show for it but bills and continued depression, mania and psychosis.

May has been dubbed Mental Health Awareness Month, I hope throughout the next 31 days people are made aware of what we live with and what can be done to help make each day better than the one before.  The media portrays mental illness in one way,  let’s change their perception.