Best Mental Health Articles

Where there is yang there is yin and where there is yin
there is yang. Neither exists without each other. Balance
between both sustains harmony or whole and imbalance
between both creates to much of either. This is aspect of
duality. We are surrounded and internalised by this
duality. If we look at our own bodies and start from the
top then we know that our brain is split into right and
left brain which controls different way of thinking. There
is also two eyes two openings in the heart, two lungs, the
liver splits in two, there are two kidneys etc. This
duality in the body applies to the yin or the solid organs
in the body. The yin organs in the body hold and the yang
organs excrete, more about this later.

Looking at the outside world we can see the yin and yang in
the aspect of day and night, hot and cold, light and dark,
sun and moon, left and right, wet and dry, heavy and light,
below and above, contraction and expansion, slow and rapid,
descending and rising, water and fire, solid and gaseous,
growth and death, passive and aggressive, heaven and earth
and many other possibilities. The play between all these
qualities create result or action and reaction and
consequence. The more one aspect dominates the other, the
stronger is the reaction in the environment which it
influences. For example if there is too much heat and sun
like in desert there is no growth. If it is too cold and
little sun like in the arctic there is no growth. If there
is equal amount of day and night like it is at the equator,
there is easy growth.

The further the yin and yang is from each other, the more
conflict it can be. This is very true in relation to our
relationship with other people. If we take for example right
wing and left wing politics. There was a wide gap between
these two ideology. It created one of the greatest conflict
ever we have seen in this world. It almost brought us on the
brink of destruction. But from that conflict there was
creation of even greater aspect into our mass consciousness
and that was the demand of peace and brotherhood. There has
never been so many organisations and individuals fighting
for human mankind to bring awareness of non-conflict or
tolerance towards difference of being and demand of peace.
This is still going on and even today the need is great
since we are seeing great conflict between two ideology and
cultures again in a different way.

So what does all this politics got to do with health. Well,
what is above is below and what is outside is inside. The
laws of the universe are everywhere the same. In fact the
Chinese philosophy talks about the universe being reflected
in our bodies. This is not only in Chinese philosophy but in
others philosophies as well. So in our bodies there is
conflict between yin and yang and the further the yin and
yang splits apart the more serious consequence there is. If
there is to much yang there is too much heat if there is too
much yin there is too much cold.

Good example of conflict between yin and yang might be
manic depression or bipolar syndrome. This mental disease
can be described as swinging between the extremes of
over joy and depression. This creates great suffering for the
person involved. Both ends have the potential to be
destructive and the person fights in between against one
and the other. In our everyday life we are constantly
making decisions between so called right and wrong behaviour
or action. This can create stress in our life’s and constant
indecision. This is an example of conflict and it can be
trivial or very serious. Who doesn’t know the feeling of
the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other
shoulder, of course metaphorically speaking.

It is always the middle path that is the most generous,
but so hard to stay on it. Understanding and trusting
that understanding is our key. Intuition is the fluid
which brings us back to the balance.

Be Well

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Tags: bipolar, chinese meidicine, conflict, depression, mental disease, stress, yin andyangbipolar, chinese meidicine, conflict, depression, mental disease, stress, yin andyang

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Introduction

It is estimated that between 1% and 6% of the adult population has AD/HD. (Wender) Forty percent of children who have AD/HD have at least one parent who also meets the criteria for diagnosis. (Zeigler) AD/HD affects up to 7.5% of school-aged children, or between one to three students in every classroom. (Barbaresi, et al) For various reasons, AD/HD in adults often goes undiagnosed. Thus, these parents are trying to carry out adult responsibilities without the benefit of appropriate treatment for their own AD/HD. Undiagnosed AD/HD in parents affects the entire family. These adults typically exhibit emotional labiality and tend to have higher rates of depression, substance abuse disorders, and other co-morbidities.

Adults with AD/HD are less likely to graduate from college and even less likely to obtain advanced educational degrees. Like most adults with AD/HD, these parents face uncertain career prospects. Although they may be intelligent and enthusiastic workers, they often have difficulties keeping a job. (Pary) Social skills deficits are common among this population. AD/HD can interfere with the ability to establish and maintain close relationships and may contribute to an unstable home environment.

Parents of a child who has AD/HD are three times as likely to separate or divorce as parents of non-AD/HD children. (Barkley 1995) Simply put, the parent may not have the emotional tools needed to effectively support the special needs of the AD/HD child. Parents who do not have AD/HD report that these children are often far more challenging to parent than their non-AD/HD siblings. The adult with AD/HD faces the already formidable task of raising a difficult child while at the same time trying to cope as best they can with their own AD/HD. If the parents’ own AD/HD issues are not addressed, these adults can have tremendous difficulties fulfilling their roles as parents.

Evaluating the Parent

Parents may be unaware that they exhibit behaviors that would indicate the presence of AD/HD. Furthermore, AD/HD has been long considered a childhood disorder. It was not until the mid-1980’s that researchers began to acknowledge that AD/HD indeed lasted into adulthood. Parents may be under that mistaken belief that they outgrew their AD/HD while in fact it continues to affect their life.

When treating a child who has AD/HD, the physician should discuss with the parent the genetics of AD/HD and inquire if a parent might be struggling with symptoms too. Physicians (i.e. pediatricians) who are uncomfortable or unable to evaluate the adult should then refer parents to another health care provider for an AD/HD evaluation. Should the parent show resistance to the idea, the physician might discuss the difficulties of raising an AD/HD child if ones own AD/HD is not addressed and treated. One or both of the parents may indicate that they faced many of the same problems when they were a child. The parent may recall that school was difficult, although he or she had the intellectual capabilities to do well. There may be family stories of hyperactivity or behavioral problems during the parent’s childhood.

Mothers or fathers may see in the opposite sex parent many of the same behaviors now being exhibited by their child. Often is the case when one parent will turn to the other and say, “I know where it comes from. You’re the exact same way!” Physicians may want to ask about the behaviors of other family members as well, to better ascertain the possibility of undiagnosed AD/HD in the family. These kinds of questions can bring up a plethora of information pointing to the possibility that the parent, too, might have the disorder.

Research on AD/HD and behavioral disorders is fairly recent and may not have been attributed to AD/HD when the parent was a child. The astute physician will take a patient history by posing questions in terms of behavior and not necessarily in terms of any specific diagnosis. How does this affect the physician’s role in evaluating and treating their young patients? Treating the parent is an important part of improving the quality of life for the child. One can see that an impulsive, distracted parent might have problems remembering to give a youngster his/her medication. Adults with AD/HD tend to be disorganized and often have difficulty maintaining a home. These adults have trouble keeping appointments, getting the child ready and off to school in time, and performing other basic parenting duties.

How AD/HD Symptoms Compare in Adults and Children

The same symptoms that apply to children with AD/HD also apply to adults; however, the symptoms may be manifested in a number of ways. Diagnosis is further complicated by the overlap between the symptoms of adult ADHD and the symptoms of other common psychiatric conditions such as depression and substance abuse. (Searight)

The primary symptoms of AD/HD are inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The adult versions of these symptoms often have severe consequences. Inattentive children are reprimanded for daydreaming in class. Inattentive adults neglect their spouses, forget directions, and crash their automobiles. Impulsive children often make bad choices. Impulsive parents also make bad decisions.

Consequently, they may face huge credit card bills, marital strain and other negative consequences. Hyperactive children are always moving. Hyperactive adults may feel restless and are drawn to high-risk behaviors. Other behaviors that are common to children who have AD/HD are also seen in adults with the disorder. Children with AD/HD will procrastinate, turning in homework late, if at all. Their work is often sloppy.

Procrastination in adults results in paperwork and work-related projects being completed late or not at all. Bills go unpaid not because there is no money, but because the adult simply never gets around to mailing in the payment.

Other common symptoms include not living up to one’s potential, hypersensitivity to stimuli, emotional reactivity, and poor short term memory. Any one of these behaviors presents a problem for an adult. Taken as a group, they represent a potentially disabling condition.

Consider the following challenges:

1. How can the parent who procrastinates, help his AD/HD child learn strategies for getting homework and other school projects finished in a timely fashion?

2. How can the disorganized parent help his child learn organizing skills to keep materials and possessions tidy and at hand?

3. How can the hyperactive, restless parent find a way to emotionally connect with a child who may prefer quiet activities?

4. How can the daydreaming parent listen and be attentive to her child’s needs?

5. How can the overly emotional, short-fused parent stay calm when his child needs a steady, calm parent to help her self-regulate her own volatile unpredictable moods?

6. How does the hypersensitive parent handle the onslaught of activity and noise of a busy household? Untreated, the parent facing such challenges could easily become depressed, anxious, angry, or an explosive combination of all three, setting up a vicious cycle wrought with guilt and poor self-esteem. These parents often question why they can’t do a better job raising their child. Invariably, the child loses out too, because his or her emotional and sometimes physical needs are not being met.

Treatment for Adults

Adults with AD/HD respond well to treatment. Appropriate management of adult patients with AD/HD is multimodal and should include psychoeducation, counseling, supportive problem-directed therapy, behavioral intervention, coaching, and cognitive remediation. Couples or family therapy may be indicated to help the parent learn better parenting strategies for raising the AD/HD child. (Wender)

Stimulant medications are the first line of treatment for adults with AD/HD. Stimulant use among patients with a history of substance abuse should be closely monitored to ensure that no abuse occurs. Approximately 70% of adults who have been treated with stimulant medication show a reduction of symptoms. The antidepressant medication Bupropion has also been shown to be effective in treating adults with AD/HD. (Kuperman) Atomoxetine, a non-stimulant medication which is a highly selective inhibitor of the norepinephrine transporter, appears to be an efficacious treatment for adult AD/HD. Its lack of abuse potential may be an advantage for many patients. (Michelson)

Once effective treatment is in place, adults with AD/HD usually do quite well. Paired with the other interventions, medication can provide the parent with the tools he or she needs to improve the quality of life for the family.

Conclusion

Because AD/HD is a genetic disorder, screening the parent of the AD/HD patient is imperative as part of the overall medical/psychological management of the child. Appropriate and effective treatments are available to both child and parent and should be considered for both in order for families to live successful, healthy lives.

References:

Barbaresi, W., Katusic, S., Colligan, R., Pankratz, V., Weaver, A., Weber, K,. Mrazek, D., Jacobsen, S. “How Common Is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Incidence in a Population-Based Birth Cohort in Rochester, Minnesota” Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Vol. 156 No. 3, March 2002 Barkley, R. “International Consensus Statement on AD/HD” January 2002 Barkley, R. Taking charge of ADHD. NY: Guilford Press. 1995 Kuperman S, Perry PJ, Gaffney GR, Lund BC, Bever-Stille KA, Arndt S, Holman TL, Moser DJ, Paulsen JS. “Bupropion SR vs. methylphenidate vs. placebo for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults.” Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 2001 Sep; 13(3):129-34 Michelson D, Adler L, Spencer T, Reimherr FW, West SA, Allen AJ, Kelsey D, Wernicke J, Dietrich A, Milton D. “Atomoxetine in adults with ADHD: two randomized, placebo-controlled studies.” Biol Psychiatry 2003 Jan 15; 53(2):112-20 Pary R, Lewis S, Matuschka PR, Rudzinskiy P, Safi M, Lippmann S. “Attention deficit disorder in adults.” Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 2002 Jun; 14(2):105-11 Searight HR, Burke JM, Rottnek F., “Adult ADHD: evaluation and treatment in family medicine.” American Family Physician 2000 Nov 1; 62(9):2077-86, 2091-2 Wender PH, Wolf LE, Wasserstein J. Adults with ADHD. An overview. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 2001 Jun;931:1-16 Zeigler, Chris. Teaching Teens with ADD and ADHD, Dendy, November 2000 2003

Terry Matlen, MSW., ACSW, is a psychotherapist and consultant specializing in AD/HD in adults. She is the author of “Survival Tips for Women with AD/HD”, director of http://www.addconsults.com and http://myADDstore.com and serves on the board of directors of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA).

A popular presenter at local and national conferences, Ms. Matlen has a passion for raising awareness of the special challenges for women with AD/HD and the unique issues parents face when both they and their children have AD/HD.

Tags: ad/hd, add, adderall, adhd, attention deficit, concerta, mental health, psychiatric disorders, ritalinad/hd, add, adderall, adhd, attention deficit, concerta, mental health, psychiatric disorders, ritalin

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Over Compulsive Disorder is very much a mental complaint that we the sufferer fight to control twenty fours a day seven days a week. OCD is like; buy one get one free offer down at the local supermarket. A two in one offer where bargain of the day is pain.

We have the mental hurt accompanied by the physical pain like backache, headache, cramp and much more while seeking contentment.

Depending on the individual symptoms may differ.

Victims usually suffer from back pain due to a second carpeting of bits on the floor? An OCD victim is more times on bended knee than those of any priest or vicar believe me. Pockets in an apron are a necessity for an over compulsive disorder sufferer. Why? Well because this is a great place to stash every bit or crumb picked up from the floor. No matter how severe the agony of back pain, you may bet an OCD sufferer will find a way to stoop to remove the offending bit of fluff. This offensive alien no bigger than the size of a pin head can cause severe heartache till exterminated.

Crumbs are enough to send an OCD victim to hell and back.

How OCD dominates our eating habits.

Before sitting down to eat, forced upon us is the imaginary stop watch where count down begins to finish a meal. A sufferer you will find will never have the time to digest the content of dinner tea or supper due to the need of the plate being washed and put away.
Shopping lists will never consist of rich tea biscuits/crisps or a crusty loaf.

Colour of packaging and labels denote what goes in to a sufferer’s pantry and heaven forbid should the sugar bag split.
An OCD sufferer and the visitor not a match made in heaven. The guest has to comply with all the ground rules, where if a sandwich is served up then it is eaten outside with Jack Frost.

Could this be the reason why many victims of OCD lead a lonely life? Choices have to be made where you are faced with two options. Do you allow visitors to pop in for a chat or opt for a world of silence? Silence is golden in the eyes of an OCD victim;

Over Compulsive Disorder is dictator in our lives where it slowly takes the living out of life.

Understanding and trying to control why we do what we do, is still very distant in our thoughts. So until we have the answer we will continue to hope and cope with the pressure stress and anxiety that comes with OCD and of course a prayer to God.
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Tags: mental, ocd, over compulsive disorder, pain, suffer, suffering, symptonsmental, ocd, over compulsive disorder, pain, suffer, suffering, symptons

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