Social Anxiety Disorder
July 24, 2010 by summit-admin
Filed under Anxiety (Stress), Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders
Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear in social situations, causing distress and impaired ability to function in daily life.
Social anxiety disorder is a potentially disabling disorder, but can be controlled and successfully treated.
Physical symptoms often accompanying social anxiety disorder include excessive blushing, sweating (hyperhidrosis), trembling, palpitations, nausea, and stammering. Panic attacks may also occur under intense fear and discomfort.
An early diagnosis may help minimize the symptoms and the development of additional problems such as depression.
Social anxiety disorder often occurs alongside low self-esteem and clinical depression, due to lack of personal relationships and long periods of isolation from avoiding social situations. An early diagnosis may help minimize the symptoms and the development of additional problems.
Substance Abuse and Social Anxiety Disorder
People with social anxiety disorder may use alcohol or other drugs to attempt to reduce their anxiety and alleviate depression, which can lead to substance abuse. It is estimated that one-fifth of patients with social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcohol dependence
In addition, many who "self-medicate" an undiagnosed social anxiety disorder may not seek the professional help they need. Because of this many people suffering from social anxiety disorder are only diagnosed after they seek treatment for their substance abuse or substance dependence problems.
Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorder
Social anxiety disorder often occurs together with substance abuse and substance dependence disorders. Often the substance use is the result of an attempt to "self-medicate" but just as often substance dependence is the primary disorder with social anxiety disorder being secondary. In either case, both disorders must be treated simultaneously to achieve an effective outcome.
Depression Disorder
July 23, 2010 by summit-admin
Filed under Affective (Mood), Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders, Featured
Depression is a major psychiatric disorder that affects millions of Americans and their families, friends, and colleagues. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 18.8 million adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. adult population, suffer from some form of depressive disorder.
The linkage between depression and physical illnesses makes it, in the words of the World Health Organization, "the world's second-most disabling disease after heart disease."
Symptoms of depression
- Ongoing sad, anxious or empty feelings
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Feeling irritable or restless
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable, including sex
- Feeling tired all the time
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or difficulty making decisions
- Not able to go to sleep or stay asleep (insomnia); may wake in the middle of the night, or sleep all the time
- Overeating or loss of appetite
- Thoughts of suicide or making suicide attempts
- Ongoing aches and pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not go away.
What is Depression?
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) lists nine symptoms for major depression, five or more which must be present over the same two-week period, including one of the first two:
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished pleasure.
The other seven symptoms include:
- Significant weight gain or loss.
- Insomnia or hypersomnia.
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation.
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate.
- Recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thinking, and suicide attempts.
How is depression treated?
Medications and counseling are the cornerstones of depression therapy. Reacting to depression as soon as it is noticed is important. With prompt treatment, a depressed person can return to a happier lifestyle and more balanced outlook on life. There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants and talk therapy. Most people do best by using both.
How long will the depression last?
This depends on how soon you get help. Left untreated, depression can last for weeks, months or even years. The main risk in not getting treatment is suicide. Treatment can help depression lift in 6 to 8 weeks, or less.
Reasons to get help for Depression
- Early treatment helps keep depression from getting worse or lasting a long time.
- Thoughts of suicide are common in people with depression.
- The risk of suicide is higher if you don't get treatment for your depression.
- When depression is successfully treated, the thoughts of suicide will go away.
- Treatment can help you return to your "normal" self, enjoying life.
- Treatment can help prevent depression from coming back.
Other Types of Depression
Dysthymia Depression
Dysthymia is chronic mild to moderate chronic depression, as opposed to major depression. The DSM-IV mandates the same symptoms as for major depression, except for suicidality, but requires only three symptoms in all, so long as they have persisted over two years. Mild to moderate is a misnomer, as dysthymia can make a person’s life as miserable as major depression.
Melancholic Depression
Melancholic depression is major depression with an emphasis on lack of pleasure or lack of reactivity to pleasure. Other characteristics include (three or more): Depressed mood, depression at worst in the morning, early morning awakening, psychomotor agitation or retardation, significant weight loss, and inappropriate guilt.
Atypical Depression
Atypical depression is a misnomer, as more outpatients suffer from atypical depression than from other forms of depression. Atypical depression is major depression that differs from melancholic depression in that patients react positively to external events, plus (two or more): Significant weight gain (as opposed to weight loss), hypersomnia (as opposed to insomnia), leaden paralysis, and sensitivity to personal rejection.
Bipolar Depression
Bipolar depression is a feature of bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, an illness characterized by mood swings from depression to mania. The diagnostic criteria for bipolar depression are the same as for major depression, but bipolar patients tend to have atypical features. Bipolar patients who rapid cycle can be up and down in a matter of minutes, and in mixed states depression and mania are present at once.
Psychotic Depression
Psychotic depression is a rare form of depression characterized by delusions or hallucinations, such as believing you are someone you are not and hearing voices.
Catatonic Depression
Catatonic depression is a rare form of major depression characterized by (at least two): Stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism, peculiarities in voluntary movement, and repetition of other people's words or actions.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder is major depression that appears in the fall or winter and goes away in spring, thought to be caused by lack of sunlight.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of a women giving childbirth. Most new mothers suffer from some form of the “baby blues.” Postpartum depression, by contrast, is major depression, thought to be triggered by changes in hormonal flows associated with childbirth.
Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorder
Depression disorders often occurs together with substance abuse and substance dependence disorders. Often the substance use is the result of an attempt to "self-medicate" but just as often substance dependence is the primary disorder with depression being secondary. In either case, both disorders must be treated simultaneously to achieve an effective outcome.
Disclaimer: This assessment is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or emotional condition. It is advised that you consult your physician with any concerns regarding this condition.
Non-Governmental Organizations
June 22, 2010 by summit-admin
Filed under Non-Governmental Resources
The organizations and links below are simply resources for you to find more information, research and statistics about drugs, drug abuse, drug addiction and recovery, so that you can make your own informed and educated conclusions.
- An educational site focusing on addiction issues, especially opiate addiction and treatment.
- Dedicated to educating the public about the effects of alcohol, alcoholism and treatment.
- Publisher of prevention literature.
- Mental Illness, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism, MIDAA(R), MICA.
- Internet Clearinghouse of resources, support and information.
- Information on alcohol and the social and health consequences of its misuse.
- National resource center and meeting place for communities working to reduce substance abuse and gun violence.
- Educational resource covering all aspects of alcoholism.
- Directory of mental health resources.
- Website that answers questions about methadone and has Methadone Anonymous support.
- Information on the cost of substance abuse throughout society and its impact on our lives.
- Provides education, information, help and hope in the fight against substance abuse.
- Dedicated to promoting public and professional recognition, awareness and understanding of Sexual Addiction, Sexual Compulsivity, and Sexual Offending.
- A resource for parents, educators and professionals on inhalant abuse.
- A website and that helps people locate addiction treatment centers and drug rehabilitation programs.
- Woodbury Reports presents resources for parents and professionals trying to help at-risk teenagers.
- Educational site about why teens begin using, what they are using, and how those drugs are affecting teens physically, socially, and mentally.
- Provides accurate information about alcohol and other drug addictions. Resource for anyone needing factual information about abused drugs.
