Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR)

Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR)

Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) is a powerful tool for use in the rapid and successful resolution of virtually any trauma-related condition. TIR has also been successful in treating specific phobias, depression, and anxiety, as well as other unwanted feelings. Please contact us for more information and to learn how you can benefit from this technique. Visit: http://www.mindfuljourneycenter.com/traumatic-incident-reduction/

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The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous

The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous was established in 1935, when knowledge of the brain was in its infancy. It offers a single path to recovery: lifelong abstinence from alcohol. The debate over the efficacy of 12-step programs has been quietly bubbling for decades among addiction specialists, researchers have debunked central tenets of AA doctrine and found dozens of other treatments more effective. It has taken on new urgency with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which requires all insurers and state Medicaid programs to pay for alcohol- and substance-abuse treatment. The 12 steps are so deeply ingrained in the United States that many people, including doctors and therapists, believe attending meetings, earning one’s sobriety chips, surrender their ego, accept that they are “powerless” over booze, never taking another sip of alcohol, make amends to those they’ve wronged, and pray is the only way to get better.

To read the full article: http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/03/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/?utm_source=SFG%2B

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Trauma and Nightmares

Trauma and Nightmares

Following a traumatic event people can experience nightmares within a few days or even the next day. Nightmares can be very vivid and interfere with the quality and quantity of rest a person is getting. This can affect the brain; the brain needs good and enough sleep to rest, to heal and to cope with a traumatic event. It is important to be able to deal with this because if the nightmares continue for more than a month and there are other symptoms then we can be dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This article offers some advice on how you can work through nightmares.        

For the full article: http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/when-trauma-follows-you-into-your-nightmares-0708144

http://www.mindfuljourneycenter.com/

Immune response is linked to genetic markers for PTSD

Immune response is linked to genetic markers for PTSD

A new study of blood samples from US Marines has identified genetic markers associated with post-traumatic stress disorder that are also linked to the immune system response. The research team - from the US and UK - says the discovery could lead to new diagnostic techniques and treatments for the condition, as well as predict which individuals are most at risk for the disorder. The researchers explain that adopting this approach could lead to the creation of a blood panel of biomarkers that could help identify which individuals are at risk of PTSD. What is more, they say the molecular information from blood samples could be used to develop personalized prevention and treatment strategies for the disorder.

To read the full article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290691.php

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Students are not seeking Mental Health help

Students are not seeking Mental Health help 

A student at a prestigious university posted this on Facebook before committing suicide: “I needed time to work things out and to wait for new medication to kick in, but I couldn’t do it in school, and I couldn’t bear the thought of having to leave for a full year, or of leaving and never being readmitted”. A number of students are not seeking Mental Health help and students receiving Mental Health treatment are lying to their therapists because of a possible threat that they will be withdrawn from the school or hospitalized for their conditions. “The student had already withdrawn from and been readmitted to Yale once; the school’s policies state that a second readmission will only be considered "under unusual circumstances”.

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/03/when-mentally-ill-students-feel-alone/386504/

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Relax and soothe yourself

Relax and soothe yourself

Learning to relax and soothe yourself is very important for many reasons. When you are relaxed, your body feels better. It also functions in a healthy way. In a state of relaxation, your heart beats more slowly and your blood pressure is reduced. Your body is no longer in a state of constant emergency, preparing to either confront a stressful situation or run away from it. As a result, it is easier for your brain to think of healthier ways to cope with your problems.

Included here are some simple relaxations and soothing activities that are meant to bring you a small amount of peace in your life.

1.       Burn scented candles or incense in you room.

2.       Find a place that is soothing for you to look at, like a park or a museum.

3.       Carry a picture of someone you love.

4.       Listen to music.

5.       Listen to recording of a relaxation exercise.

6.       Listen to a recording of nature sounds, such as birds or another wildlife.

7.       Practice deep breath.

8.       Pray.

9.       Practice Dancing Mindfulness.

10.   Carry gum, chocolate or another candy with you to eat when you are feeling upset.

If some of this activities doesn’t help you feel relaxed, or makes you feel worse, don’t do it. Try something else. And remember, each one of us id different.  As you explore this list, think about what works best for you and be willing to try something new if it sounds exciting.

http://www.mindfuljourneycenter.com/

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What Impact has Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity on Suicide Risk?

What Impact has Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity on Suicide Risk?

This article shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations are at increased risk for suicide. Elevated rates of mental disorders and suicidal behavior are attributed to greater exposure to prejudice, discrimination, victimization and negative social views. Discriminatory laws and policies increase the prevalence of mental disorders in LGB adults. There is an increased suicide attempts in LGB youths who lack supportive social environments, including protection against bullying and discrimination. Family rejection is also strongly related to depression and suicide attempts in LGB youths. Treatment requires that practitioners be familiar with the culture of LGBT life.

To read the full article: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/special-reports/impact-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-suicide-risk-implications-assessment-and-treatment/page/0/1#sthash.0vYTReIi.dpuf

http://www.mindfuljourneycenter.com/

Which antidepressant medications carry the highest risk for suicide and self-harm?

Which antidepressant medications carry the highest risk for 

suicide and self-harm?

In patients with clinical depression, rates of suicide and self-harm are similar among those treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants, but higher among those treated with other antidepressants.

This is a large study but the data is far from solid. There were a small number of events and there were differences in how all these medications were prescribed. If one type of medication was prescribed more often to patients with more severe depression, then the increased suicide risk with the use of this type of medication would relate to the severity of the depression treated and not to an effect of the medication. The most important message in this article is that it showed the increased rate of suicide occurs in the first 28 days after starting an antidepressant medication and in the 28 days after stopping the medication, these are the times when we have to increase the vigilance for suicidal ideations. 

For the full article: http://www.jfponline.com/clinicaledge/view-by-date/single-article/suicide-self-harm-rates-and-antidepressants/94057828c0eb3efe0b034c5cc269f2ba.html

http://www.mindfuljourneycenter.com/