Skip to main content
All Posts By

Norman

How To Deal With Anxiety At Work

Anxiety at work

The medical definition of anxiety provided in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it.” According to Mental Health America’s 2021 Mind the Workplace report, nearly 83 percent of respondents felt emotionally drained from their work, and about 9 in 10 workers, which is equal to 85%, reported that job stress affected their mental health. Anxiety symptoms can range from mild to severe. Workplace anxiety generally develops in response to stress at work and can manifest in and outside of the workplace environment. To help decrease stress and assuage anxiety at work, consider the following tips, provided by U.S. News & World Report:

  • Focus on others, not yourself: Switching from an internal to an external focus can be helpful in reducing anxiety.
  • Challenge your negative, anxious thoughts: Identify the anxious thoughts that surface when you think of work, analyze them, and challenge them to discern if your initial reaction is truly how you feel or if you are just assuming the worst.
  • Draw your attention to external stimuli: Look around you and notice tangible items in your surroundings; this can be both grounding and helpful in gaining perspective over your anxiety.
  • Breathe: Focus on slowing down your breath to help pull your focus away from your anxiety and onto your breath.
  • Take a break: Carve out time each day to take regular mini breaks where you can conduct a quick body check and see where you may be feeling tension, exhaustion, or any unwanted feelings.
  • Avoid getting overwhelmed: Slow down and do one thing at a time instead of attempting to multitask. By tackling one thing at a time, you can allocate undivided attention to completing each task accurately and efficiently.
  • Acknowledge your feelings: Although it may seem that your anxiety will last forever, it won’t; by acknowledging and naming your feelings you can help diffuse your angst.
  • Arm yourself with a robust supply of relaxation tools and techniques: Test out as many different relaxation methods as you can to figure out what resonates with you best. Consider trying out meditation, yoga, reading, listening to music, journaling, etc. to quiet your mind. Research has found that meditation can help lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, improve insomnia, and more.

While some amount of work stress is generally unavoidable, it is atypical for an individual to experience persistent and debilitating symptoms of anxiety and could indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder. If you are experiencing frequent and/ or severe bouts of anxiety it is best to err on the side of caution and consult a mental health professional.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

What Is The Most Effective Therapy For Trauma?

Therapy For Trauma

Trauma is defined as any type of distressing event or experience that can have an impact on a person’s ability to cope and function. Trauma can affect the innerworkings of one’s brain. For example, research indicates that traumatic stress can result in increased cortisol and norepinephrine responses to subsequent stressors, whereby the brain learns to associate certain stimuli with the traumatic event. Endorphins (the hormones in one’s body associated with feeling pleasure) also play an essential role in trauma exposure. An increase in the level of endorphins in the brain occur during trauma, and the levels remain elevated to help numb the emotional and physical pain of the trauma. For some, exposure to trauma can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a diagnosable mental illness that is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). PTSD is defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event—either experiencing it or witnessing it.” There are many treatment options for trauma and PTSD, and there is no single method of treatment for trauma that is universally recognized as more effective than others.

Therapeutic Treatment Options

Every person is different and will require a customized treatment plan to ensure all nuanced needs are properly addressed. Common psychotherapeutic interventions that may be included in one’s treatment plan could include one or more of the following, provided by the American Psychological Association (APA):

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): uses mindfulness skills to help an individual focus on accepting their emotions, while also helping to adjust the unhealthy behaviors that arise from the emotions.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): this can help correct irrational and/ or inaccurate thoughts a person may have regarding the trauma as well as help him or her develop skills and healthy coping mechanisms for reducing anxiety and stress.
  • Expressive arts therapy (play therapy, art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, sand therapy, etc.): provides an alternative medium to express, process and integrate one’s thoughts and feelings surrounding trauma.
  • Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): helps individuals learn how to modify and challenge unhelpful beliefs related to trauma.
  • Group therapy: participating in group therapy sessions can help an individual learn from peers that are navigating thoughts and emotions related to trauma.
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): utilizes guided eye movement techniques to help process one’s memories, thoughts, and emotional associations in relation to the experienced trauma.

The outcomes associated with untreated trauma span a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses and misdiagnoses, functional impairments, and evolving educational, vocational, relational and health problems. Through working with the individual, mental health professionals can identify which therapeutic tactics are helpful to the recovery process and which may need to be altered during treatment.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

The Risk of PTSD After A Car Accident

PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) under the new category called Trauma- and Stressor- Related Disorders. Psychology Today explains that PTSD is a “mental health condition that develops in response to experiencing or witnessing a distressing event involving the threat of death or extreme bodily harm.” According to the National Center for PTSD, a program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, of every 100 people nearly seven or eight will experience PTSD in their lifetime.

Risk Factors

Although anyone can develop PTSD at any age, research shows that some people are at greater risk than others for PTSD. Several factors have been found to increase the risk of developing PTSD, some of which include the following, provided by Verywell Mind:

  • Dissociation during or immediately after the traumatic event
  • Family history of psychopathology
  • High levels of emotion (e.g., fear, helplessness, horror, guilt, or shame) during or immediately after the traumatic event
  • History of prior trauma
  • Lacking social support after the traumatic event
  • Perceived life threat to self or others
  • Prior psychological adjustment problems

The leading cause of PTSD in the general population is motor vehicle accidents. Each year, millions of people are involved in car accidents. In 2020, approximately 2.3 million people were injured in motor vehicle accidents on U.S. roads. According to a National Institute of Mental Health study, 39.2% of car accident survivors develop PTSD.

Signs and Symptoms

Each person with PTSD has the propensity to experience varying levels of severity of symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) divided the symptoms of PTSD into the following four categories:

  1. Intrusion symptoms: The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in the following way(s):
    1. Involuntary, upsetting memories
    2. Distressing dreams
    3. Flashbacks
    4. Emotional distress after exposure to traumatic reminders
    5. Physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders
  2. Avoidance: Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma, in the following way(s):
    1. Avoiding people, places, activities, objects, and situations that may trigger distressing memories
    2. Resist talking about what happened or how they feel about it
  3. Alterations in cognition and mood: Negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):
    1. Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event
    2. Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world
    3. Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma
    4. Negative affect
    5. Decreased interest in activities
    6. Ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame
    7. Feeling detached or estranged from others
    8. Experiencing a void of happiness or satisfaction
  4. Alterations in arousal and reactivity: Trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):
    1. Difficulty sleeping
    2. Hypervigilance
    3. Irritability or aggression
    4. Difficulty concentrating
    5. Risky or destructive behavior
    6. Heightened startle reaction

As is outlined in the PTSD diagnostic criteria provided in the DSM-5, for a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, his or her symptoms must last for more than one month, must create distress or functional impairment, and must not be due to medication, substance use, or other illness.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

Nightmares And Night Terrors In Bipolar Disorder

Nightmares

Bipolar disorder is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a chronic mental health illness and is classified as a mood disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that bipolar disorder “causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.” It is characterized by noticeable, unprovoked, sometimes extreme, changes in mood and behavior, that typically present as severe episodic mood swings, shifting between emotional highs (manias) to emotional lows (depressions) with intervals of stable, neutral moods.

Nightmares & Night Terrors

A nightmare is defined as “a terrifying dream in which the dreamer experiences feelings of helplessness, extreme anxiety, sorrow, etc.” They are disturbing, well-remembered dreams. In those with bipolar disorder, researchers believe that nightmares may predict upcoming mood swings. People with bipolar disorder also commonly face night terrors. A night terror is not a dream, but rather an abrupt awakening accompanied by physical symptoms. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine explains that a person experiencing a night terror will suddenly begin to exhibit signs of panic and terror while sleeping (e.g., screaming, flailing, kicking, etc.) as well as other symptoms such as rapid heart rate and breathing, flushing of the skin, sweating, dilation of the pupils, and tensing of the muscles. During a night terror, an individual awakes in a state of confused and inconsolable terror, which they may or may recall in the morning.

Signs and Symptoms 

According to the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5, bipolar disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences three or more manic symptoms and five or more depressive symptoms. Examples of signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder could include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following, provided by the Mayo Clinic:

  • Signs and symptoms during a mania or hypomania state:
      • Increased energy
      • Euphoria
      • Agitation
      • Easily distractible
      • Decreased need for sleep
      • Excessive talkativeness
      • Lack of judgment
      • Atypically upbeat
      • Difficulties at work
      • Shift in social activities
      • Psychosis
      • Relationship challenges
  • Signs and symptoms of a major depressive episode:
  • Inability to experience pleasure or loss of interest in social activities
  • Irritability
  • Crying spells (frequent and random crying throughout the day)
  • Depressed mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Loss of energy
  • Shift in sleeping habits (either sleeping too much or experiencing insomnia)
  • Slowed behavior
  • Restlessness
  • Feelings of excessive guilt
  • Inability to think clearly
  • Indecisiveness
  • Suicidal ideations
  • Lack of energy
  • Shift in appetite resulting in drastic weight loss or weight gain

As is noted in both manic symptoms and depressive symptoms, is clear that disturbed sleep is common in people who have bipolar disorder. Still, the type of sleep disturbances that may occur typically depends on whether an individual is experiencing a manic or depressive episode.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

Is DBT Good For Complex Trauma?

Trauma

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), describes trauma as “an event, or series of events, that causes moderate to severe stress reactions… [that are] characterized by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury, or the threat of serious injury or death.” Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). It is defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event—either experiencing it or witnessing it.” Unlike PTSD that is caused by a single traumatic event or isolated incidents, complex trauma refers to a series of traumatic events that take place over time. Many symptoms of complex trauma overlap with symptoms of PTSD, some of which include:

  • Anxiousness
  • Flashbacks
  • Avoiding circumstances that are reminders of traumatic events
  • Distorted sense of self
  • Difficulty controlling emotions
  • Relationships challenges

Somatic symptoms (e.g., fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, joint or muscle pain, headaches, etc.) are also common with complex trauma. More than an estimated 3% of people in America meet the criteria for complex trauma. If complex trauma is left untreated, its symptoms can be pervasively disruptive and interfere with one’s ability to function in his or her daily life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Psychologist Marsha M. Linehan developed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in the late 1980s as a means to more effectively treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is founded on the principals of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), utilizing standard CBT techniques for emotional regulation and reality testing, and combines concepts derived from Buddhist meditative practice such as awareness, mindfulness, and attentiveness to current situations and emotional experiences.

Psychology Today emphasizes the notion that complex trauma requires multifaceted and sequenced treatment, which involves different components that target the various symptoms that present on the road to recovery. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, due to the fact that DBT does not necessarily involve any form of trauma processing, it is not and should not be considered a stand-alone treatment for trauma. However, some studies do indicate that DBT can be used to effectively treat the symptoms of complex trauma. DBT remains the only empirically supported treatment for BPD, and current evidence also recognizes DBT as an applicable and effective treatment method for many other mental health conditions.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

What Type Of Behavior Is The Highest And First Priority Of DBT?

Dialectical behavior therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment that was originally developed by Psychologist Marsha M. Linehan, in the late 1980s, to help better treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is founded on the principals of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but places greater emphasis on the psychosocial aspects of treatment. DBT remains the gold-standard form of treatment for individuals with BPD and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), has since been recognized as an effective method of treatment for a wide range of other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), eating disorders, and more. As explained by Behavioral Tech, DBT focuses on teaching four sets or modules of behavioral skills, which include:

  • Core mindfulness: the practice of being completely present and aware in any given moment
  • Distress tolerance: increasing an individual’s tolerance of negative emotions as opposed to attempting to avoid or escape them
  • Emotion regulation: decreasing emotional impulsivity, learning to manage and shift intense, problematic emotions
  • Interpersonal effectiveness: authentically advocating for one’s own wants and needs in a relationship in a way that is both self-respecting and non-damaging

The therapeutic approach is comprised of three different therapy settings, including weekly individual psychotherapy sessions, weekly DBT skills training group therapy sessions, and as-needed phone coaching to provide additional support between the weekly individual and group sessions.

DBT Treatment Targets

DBT relies on a hierarchy of treatment targets to help the therapist determine the order in which problems should be addressed. The first and highest priority target behavior is any life-threatening behaviors, (e.g., suicide communications, suicidal ideation, and all forms of suicidal, non-suicidal self-injury, etc.). The subsequent treatment targets, in order of priority, according to the University of Washington, are:

  1. Therapy-interfering behaviors: This includes any behavior by the client and/ or therapist that interferes with the client receiving effective treatment (e.g., arriving late to sessions, cancelling appointments, etc.).
  2. Quality of life behaviors: This category includes any other type of behavior that interferes with clients having a reasonable quality of life (e.g., disorders, relationship problems, financial or housing crises, etc.).
  3. Skills acquisition: This refers to the need for clients to learn new skillful behaviors to replace ineffective behaviors and help them achieve their goals.

Clients who receive DBT typically have multiple problems that require treatment, which is why the hierarchy of treatment targets is so deeply embedded in the DBT framework.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

What Does The Term ‘High-Functioning’ Bipolar Disorder Mean?

bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive disorder or manic depression, is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a chronic mental health illness. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by noticeable, unprovoked, sometimes extreme, changes in mood and behavior, that typically present as severe episodic mood swings, shifting between emotional highs (manias) to emotional lows (depressions) with intervals of stable moods. According to the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5, bipolar disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences three or more manic symptoms and five or more depressive symptoms. Bipolar disorder can develop at any age, but it is most diagnosed in individuals younger than age twenty-five. Bipolar disorder affects nearly 4.4% adults in America. A 2020 study suggests that nearly 23% of those with bipolar disorder could be considered high functioning.

High Functioning Bipolar Disorder

High functioning bipolar disorder (HFBD) is not an official clinical diagnosis. Further, there is no technical definition for the term “high-functioning” bipolar disorder, but HFBD generally refers to how well a person can deal with bipolar disorder and, in large part, mask its symptoms. Since people with bipolar disorder can experience both depression and mania simultaneously or consecutively, the same individual may appear highly productive (mania) as well as unproductive (depression) at different points in their lives.

It is important to note that although people with HFBD are able live their lives with less interference from the symptoms than a lot of other people with the same diagnosis, being labeled as high functioning has no bearing on the severity of their condition. The main difference between bipolar disorder and high functioning bipolar disorder is the person’s ability to perform under the demands of their symptoms. Most people with HFBD are highly adept at concealing their symptoms, contributing to the fact that it is not uncommon for their condition to go overlooked, undiagnosed, or untreated. The name “high functioning bipolar disorder” is both misleading and stigmatizing, which is why many now use the term “bipolar disorder with low support needs” in its place.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

Eating Disorders Are On The Rise In USA

Eating Disorders in USA

Eating disorders are complex psychological conditions that are broadly characterized by abnormal, irregular eating habits, and an extreme concern with one’s body weight or shape. They are specifically defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) as “serious medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances to a person’s eating behavior.” There are several different types and each are recognized as chronic mental health disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) under the Disorder Class: Feeding and Eating Disorders. The pervasive symptoms associated with any type of eating disorder can cause adverse physiological consequences and interfere with one’s ability to function optimally in daily life.

According to Proclamation 10340 of February 18, 2022, which is a presidential document by the Executive Office of the President, “nearly 1 in 10 Americans are expected to develop an eating disorder in their lifetime.” Recent data estimates up to 24 million people of all ages and genders currently suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S., and 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. Experts assert that 13% of adolescents will develop an eating disorder by the age of 20. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

Is Covid-19 To Blame?

The novel coronavirus, also referred to as Covid-19, traveled rampantly through the world, affecting millions of individuals in a variety of ways. In efforts to slow the spread of the virus, states all across America instituted social distancing guidelines, implemented sporadic stay-at-home orders for all non-essential workers, closures of restaurants, schools, entertainment venues and more. Although the demand for mental health services significantly increased, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide. The WHO further reported that 72% of mental health services for adolescents were halted between June and August 2020, and within this population a surge in the prevalence of eating disorders occurred that was said to be exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics explained that across America, inpatient admissions for young adults and adolescents with eating disorders rose by a rate of approximately 0.7% per month in the two years leading up to the pandemic. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, that growth increased to an average of 7.2% per month. The pandemic may be partially to blame for the rise in eating disorders, but more importantly it unmasked a global eating disorder public health crisis and simultaneously highlighted the urgent need to raise awareness of these disorders.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

Are Dangers Associated With ADHD Stimulant Use During Pregnancy Small?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a chronic, neurological disorder. It is characterized by pervasive and impairing symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can significantly impact many aspects of behavior as well as performance in a variety of settings. Typically, ADHD is most effectively treated with a combination of behavior therapy and medication. The overall prevalence of current adult ADHD is 4.4%, and with many being of childbearing age, it is perplexing that there are no guidelines to inform the treatment of ADHD across pregnancy and the postpartum period.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies various types of drugs as Schedule I, II, III, and V controlled substances under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). The CSA provides a mechanism for substances to be controlled, categorized, and regulated as each substance is sorted into one of the five schedules, whose placement is based on the substance’s medical use, potential for abuse, and dependence liability. Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiled a list of safe medications for use during pregnancy, and stimulants are not listed. Even with the several systematic reviews that have assessed the literature on stimulant use during pregnancy, the lack of comprehensive data on use or misuse and associated variables greatly constrains any ability to derive a reproductive safety profile for stimulants. As such, according to the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA), none of the medications used to treat ADHD (e.g., Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, etc.) are proven to be safe for use during pregnancy, but they are also not proven to be harmful. Therefore, the decision to include the use of stimulants in one’s treatment plan while pregnant will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, the dangers associated with ADHD stimulant use while pregnant are relatively small when the medication is used exactly as directed by one’s prescribing physician. However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that substance abuse while pregnant, including the abuse of prescription stimulant medications, may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, infant withdrawal syndrome, birth defects, premature birth, low birth weights, gastroschisis, omphalocele, transverse limb deficiency, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Every day and week in gestation significant fetal growth and physical developments occur. Depending on the woman, pregnancy can be a dangerous and complicated medical condition. There are many factors that contribute to a woman’s ability or inability to successfully conceive, carry, and deliver a baby. While there are natural complications that can arise during pregnancy, the longer a pregnant woman abuses stimulants, the more she increases her and her fetus’s risk for developing complications.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.

 

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

Postpartum Anxiety Is Invisible, But Common And Treatable

Postpartum anxiety

Anxiety is defined as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” It is the body’s natural response to stress and will manifest differently in everyone. Experiencing feelings of worry, fear, sadness, overwhelm, etc. after becoming a parent is to be expected, but when these symptoms persist and become debilitating it could be indicative of postpartum anxiety. Research findings indicate that anxiety disorders in pregnancy and the postpartum period are more prevalent than previously thought, with about 20.7% of women meeting diagnostic criteria for at least 1 anxiety disorder and 5.5% meeting criteria for at least 2 anxiety disorders. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that postpartum anxiety is reported to affect about 1 in 5 new or new again mothers, making it highly common. 

Signs and Symptoms

The timeframe for postpartum anxiety is longer than many assume, as it can occur at any time within the first 12 months following childbirth. The Cleveland Clinic provide examples of common signs and symptoms of postpartum anxiety some of which include:

  • Physical symptoms:
  • Disrupted sleep.
  • Increased heart rate or heart palpitations.
  • Nausea or stomach aches.
  • Being unable to breathe or feeling short of breath.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Trouble sitting still.
  • Muscle tension.
  • Emotional symptoms:
  • Inability to relax or keep calm.
  • Racing thoughts, especially about worse-case scenarios.
  • Obsessing over irrational fears or things that are unlikely to happen.
  • Difficulty focusing or forgetfulness.
  • Irritability.
  • Feeling on edge or fearful.
  • Behavioral symptoms:
  • Avoiding certain activities, people, or places.
  • Being overly cautious about situations that are not dangerous.
  • Checking things repeatedly.
  • Being controlling.

Postpartum anxiety may interfere with a person’s ability to bond with their baby, which can negatively impact a baby’s mental and physical development. If left untreated, postpartum anxiety may lead to severe consequences such as infant neglect and, in extreme cases, infant death.

Treatment

The treatment options for postpartum anxiety reflect those used for other types of anxiety disorders. Medical News Today explains that the two main treatments for anxiety disorders include psychotherapy and medication. Further, it is becoming increasingly common to integrate traditional psychotherapeutic methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy (IPT), and more, along with holistic treatment modalities (e.g., meditation, aromatherapy, etc.) into postpartum mental health recovery plans. For some, integrating a combination of psychotherapy and medication may be recommended. The different types of medications prescribed for anxiety disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). However, medication is not always needed, and for those breastfeeding it is prescribed with caution as medication can cross over from the bloodstream into breast milk and potentially harm a child who is breastfed. Anyone struggling with postpartum anxiety will require a nuanced treatment plan that carefully incorporates the best possible treatment methods specifically geared to each person’s distinct needs.

Treatment In Calabasas

Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options. 

The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.

Back to top