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Tag: mental health treatment

  • Kirstie Alley Shares Hot Take On Psychiatric Meds

    Kirstie Alley Shares Hot Take On Psychiatric Meds

    The “Cheers” actress had a lively discussion about psychiatric medication on Twitter over the weekend. 

    Actress Kirstie Alley’s Twitter feed has been the topic of debate over her controversial tweets on psychiatric drugs.

    Before her Sunday hot take on psychiatry, Alley shared a heartfelt revelation on the popular app. The Cheers actress opened up about what she does with the money she used to spend on cocaine back when she was battling an addiction to the drug. 

    “For u who don’t know much about me, I used to be a coke head,” Alley who is now 40 years drug-free tweeted on Thursday. “I quit drugs in 1979 & vowed to spend the same $ weekly on flowers that I’d spent on drugs.”

    The 66-year-old added, “I buy & arrange my own flowers as a gift to MYSELF. I buy them in the grocery store.”

    Alley’s fans congratulated the actress for her four decades of being drug-free and shared their own sober tales. A couple days later, Alley upset some Twitter users when she called into question the prevalence of psychiatric drugs. 

    Hot Takes

    “Does anyone else worry about how unconscious we are being rendered by pharmaceutical drugs? Is anyone else concerned that we are the most psych drugged country on the planet? I tell you what, if I was an evil dictator & wanted to control a society, I would drug them into apathy,” Alley tweeted on Sunday. 

    Her tweet received mixed reviews from her followers, with some lauding Alley, a long-time Scientologist, for speaking out against what she perceives as an overall overprescription of psychiatric drugs. Alley’s views echo those of Tom Cruise, inarguably the world’s most famous living Scientologist.

    Cruise caught a wave of backlash from mental health experts and patients after proclaiming his disdain for psych meds in a now-infamous 2005 interview with Matt Lauer.

    “I’ve never agreed with psychiatry, ever,” Cruise said. “Before I was a Scientologist I never agreed with psychiatry, and when I started studying the history of psychiatry, I understood more and more why I didn’t believe in psychology.”

    Prior to the Lauer interview, Cruise had taken Brooke Shields to task with accusations that she was “promoting” antidepressants by saying that the medication Paxil helped her deal with postpartum depression.

    “As far as the Brooke Shields thing, look, you have to understand, I really care about Brooke Shields – she’s a wonderful and talented woman, and I want her to do well, and I know psychiatry is a pseudoscience,” Cruise stated. “The thing that I’m saying about Brooke is that there’s misinformation, okay. And she doesn’t understand the history of psychiatry. She doesn’t understand in the same way that you don’t understand it, Matt.”

    “There’s No Such Thing As A Chemical Balance”

    Cruise went on to denounce the prescription of Ritalin to children and suggested that “vitamins and exercise” could resolve personal issues. 

     “Drugs are not the answer,” said Cruise. “I think there’s a better quality of life.”

    Shields responded to Cruise’s comments in an interview with People. 

    “I agree with him about his feeling on prescribing drugs to kids. We are in accord,” she said. “I don’t think Ritalin should be prescribed to kids. Postpartum depression is a different matter. I think I’m more qualified to talk about that (than he is).”

    According to Shields, Cruise offered her a “heartfelt apology” in 2006 for bringing her into his psychiatric debate.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Chipotle To Offer Mental Health Benefits To All Employees

    Chipotle To Offer Mental Health Benefits To All Employees

    Chipotle employees and their family members will be able to meet with a licensed counselor via phone, online or in-person.

    Chipotle recently announced its newly expanded 2020 employee asistance program. The company which has around 80,000 employees, will be expanding its 2020 employee asistance program to include mental health support, financial wellness and discounted gym memberships.

    Employees and their family members will have access to the programs even if they don’t have health insurance through the company. 

    “This is just the beginning of how we’re strategically investing in the well-being of our employees and their families,” said Chipotle’s Chief People Officer Marissa Andrada in a statement.  “Our vision for people is to create a culture where employees can thrive and pursue their passion and by extending access to all levels and enriching our Employee Assistance Program, we are ensuring that our employees can build mental fitness and bring their best selves to work every day.” 

    Chipotle employees and their family members will be able to meet with a licensed counselor via phone, online or in-person.

    Starbucks To Offer Headspace

    Coffee giant Starbucks made headlines in September when CEO Kevin Johnson announced that the company would be putting the spotlight on mental health.

    “The more thoughtful we are about creating a range of benefits that matter to our partners — that helps us attract new partners,” Johnson told CNN Business. “Over this past year, one of the things that partners have highlighted is the need for increased focus on mental health.”

    The company’s current employee asistance program offers short-term mental health assistance. By January, the company plans to offer employees’ subscriptions to Headspace, an app that teaches users how to meditate. 

    More Needs To Be Done

    While these efforts are a step in the right direction, they are merely a drop in the bucket for fast food workers who are put in a high-stress situation for mininum pay. Inadequate staffing, and unrealistic drive thru times add to the mental health strain felt by these workers. 

    A study from Mental Health America found that out of 17,000 employees, the food service industry ranks among the top 3 unhealthiest workplaces along with retail and manufacturing.

    A report by SAMHSA found that food service workers have high rates of subsatnce abuse and heavy drinking as a result of their high-stress jobs.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Lady Gaga Talks To Oprah About PTSD, Working Through Trauma & Self-Harm

    Lady Gaga Talks To Oprah About PTSD, Working Through Trauma & Self-Harm

    “I have PTSD. I have chronic pain. Neuropathic pain trauma response is a weekly part of my life. I’m on medication; I have several doctors. This is how I survive,” Gaga said.

    Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey dove deep into mental health, healing from deep-rooted trauma and the benefits of getting treatment on a recent episode of Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations podcast. The power duo have both been outspoken mental health advocates throughout their careers.

    Living With Trauma

    The Bad Romance singer has long been a champion of inclusivity and owning your truth and her sitdown with her mogul hero was exceptionally open and honest. The founder of the Born This Way Foundation discussed her past trauma and how she manages it.

    “I have PTSD. I have chronic pain. Neuropathic pain trauma response is a weekly part of my life. I’m on medication; I have several doctors. This is how I survive,” Gaga said. “I would also beckon to anyone to try, when they feel ready, to ask for help. And I would beckon to others that if they see someone suffering, to approach them and say, ‘Hey, I see you. I see that you’re suffering, and I’m here. Tell me your story.’”

    Then the singer revealed that she self-injured for a number of years in the hopes of helping another person who self-harm see that they’re are not alone.

    “I was a cutter for a long time, and the only way that I was able to stop cutting and self-harming myself was to realize that what I was doing was trying to show people that I was in pain instead of telling them and asking for help. When I realized that telling someone, ‘Hey, I am having an urge to hurt myself,’ that defused it. I then had someone next to me saying, ‘You don’t have to show me. Just tell me: What are you feeling right now?’ And then I could just tell my story.”

    Using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy To Heal

    The Grammy award-winning singer no longer self-harms – she also clarified that her admission is not meant to glamorize it any way.

    “One thing that I would suggest to people who struggle with trauma response or self-harm issues or suicidal ideation is actually ice. If you put your hands in a bowl of ice-cold water, it shocks the nervous system, and it brings you back to reality.”

    Gaga went on to rave about her experience with dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). With DBT, patients are encouraged to explore the emotions surrounding their trauma so they begin the path to accceptance.  

    “I think that DBT is a wonderful, wonderful way to deal with mental health issues,” Gaga pined. “It’s a really strong way of learning how to live, and it’s a guide to understanding your emotions.” And for Gaga understanding and acceptance are important keys to life.

    “I believe life is asking of us to accept the challenge. Accept the challenge of kindness. It’s hard in a world the way that we are; we have a very, very grave history. We’re in trouble, and we have been before. But I think life asks us amid these challenges, this hatred, this tragedy, this famine, this war, this cruelty: Can you be kind and can you survive?”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Should Marijuana Be Used To Treat Psych Disorders?

    Should Marijuana Be Used To Treat Psych Disorders?

    Researchers examined 83 studies to determine if there is any evidence that MMJ can be beneficial for those with psychiatric disorders.

    A new review of 83 studies concluded that there is “scarce evidence” that marijuana and other cannabis products are beneficial for psychiatric distress including post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. 

    The study was published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

    “We considered all studies examining any type and formulation of a medicinal cannabinoid in adults for treating depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or psychosis, either as the primary condition or secondary to other medical conditions,” the study authors explained. 

    What The Evidence Says

    They found that in the studies, which covered more than 3,500 patients, those who used marijuana did not experience relief from their psychiatric symptoms. 

    “There is scarce evidence to suggest that cannabinoids improve depressive disorders and symptoms, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or psychosis,” the study authors wrote. “There is very low quality evidence that pharmaceutical THC (with or without CBD) leads to a small improvement in symptoms of anxiety among individuals with other medical conditions.”

    This should cause providers and patients to use caution when it comes to cannabis products to treat mental illness. 

    “There remains insufficient evidence to provide guidance on the use of cannabinoids for treating mental disorders within a regulatory framework. Further high-quality studies directly examining the effect of cannabinoids on treating mental disorders are needed,” the study authors concluded. 

    There’s Big Money In Touting MMJ To Treat Psych Disorders

    In an editorial that accompanied the study, Yale medical professor Dr. Deepak D’Souza explained that doctors and patients should recognize that there are commercial interests at play in portraying cannabis as a treatment for psychiatric disorders. 

    “There is growing public interest in the use of cannabis and its principal constituent cannabinoids, [THC] and cannabidiol, for a plethora of conditions, including psychiatric disorders,” he wrote. “In parallel, there is considerable commercial interest in touting these products as treatments for various disorders. As a result, health practitioners need to be well informed about this topic.”

    Reports about the benefits of cannabis should be considered scientifically, not just for how they play out in the news, he said. 

    “Although the potential therapeutic use of cannabinoids receives substantial coverage in the media, more scientific information is needed about this topic that is based on careful systematic reviews or meta-analyses,” he said. “Although there have been a few reviews of existing evidence have been published none has considered all the available evidence, the potential differential effects of different cannabinoids, and the safety of these compounds in mental disorders.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Is Mindfulness Meditation A Viable Treatment Option For Depression, Anxiety? 

    Is Mindfulness Meditation A Viable Treatment Option For Depression, Anxiety? 

    Experts believe that the mental health practice can be beneficial to those dealing with mental health issues.

    There may be another treatment option for those struggling with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, according to Psych Congress.

    Speakers at the 2019 Psych Congress discussed the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation as a treatment for such disorders, either on its own or alongside other treatment options. 

    In short, those who practice mindfulness meditation choose a “target,” which can be something like their own breath or a mantra. When they find their minds drifting elsewhere, according to Psych Congress, they acknowledge those thoughts and then redirect themselves to their chosen target.

    Hitting The Reset Button

    Psych Congress Steering Committee member Saundra Jain says mindfulness meditation helps “reset the balance” in the brain for those struggling with mental health disorders. She notes that people should “think about mindfulness as a way to soften, dampen, or quiet that internal chatter.”

    Jain also explored the scientific evidence for the practice, stating that brain imaging has demonstrated that mindfulness meditation is linked to an increase in the volume of gray matter in four different areas of the brain. She also noted that there was a connection between the practice and “beneficial changes in the activation of parts of the brain” and that the practice can still be beneficial to those patients who may already be on a medication.

    “Mindfulness meditation practices are effective interventions, and sometimes for mild to moderate conditions—depression and anxiety—super-effective as front lines,” Jain said.

    According to psychiatrist Michele Hauser, this practice has been around for about 3,500 years, with roots in Europe beginning in the 1700s. Such practices, according to Hauser, made their way west in the mid-20th century. She added that since 1999, the number of studies about mindfulness meditation have increased. 

    For Hauser, it’s important to note that the practice teaches its users how to respond to a situation rather than just react. 

    “Instead of spiraling downward into increasing anxiety and depression, we’re able to stop that spiral and respond in a more appropriate fashion,” she said.

    Practicing mindfulness meditation can be done in any moment, according to Mindful.

    “Mindfulness is available to us in every moment, whether through meditations and body scans, or mindful moment practices like taking time to pause and breathe when the phone rings instead of rushing to answer it,” the website states.

    The site also speaks about the importance of posture and positioning when practicing. 

    In order for the practice to be effective, Jain says that patients must practice it daily and cannot skip days. Research, she says, has shown the practice to be effective even if only for 10 minutes each day.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Jesse Eisenberg Talks Childhood Anxiety

    Jesse Eisenberg Talks Childhood Anxiety

    Eisenberg described how the anticipation of being bullied caused him to feel extremely anxious growing up. 

    Actor Jesse Eisenberg struggled with anxiety as a child, making it difficult for him to relax around other children, he said in a conversation with Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, president of the Child Mind Institute.

    The conversation was titled “Great Minds Think Unalike 2.0” and was a part of Advertising Week, a gathering of media professionals. Eisenberg, who has his Zombieland sequel coming out on October 18, said that he anticipated being bullied as a child, putting him on edge around other children.

    “I kept one tissue for crying and one for bleeding,” he told Koplewicz. “I was prepared for battle, but nothing ever happened, which was almost worse.”

    Acting Offered Eisenberg A Safe Space

    He also described how acting has been cathartic by providing a controlled space to experience emotion.

    “Acting is a very visceral experience,” he said. “It is a cathartic way to have an emotional experience that is safe and contextualized. [It’s] different form real-life experiences [like] when I ran out of middle school hysterically crying due to my anxiety.”

    The Academy Award-nominated actor, who says his anxiety surfaces “just in the morning, afternoon and evening,” said that if his younger self had witnessed the increasing discussion of mental health awareness that we are seeing today, it would have provided him some sense of relief. “If 12-year-old me was able to see something like this, it would show me that life ebbs and flows. It helps destigmatize something that is incorrectly stigmatized,” he said.

    Being Mindful Around His Son

    Speaking about his two-year-old son, Eisenberg said he tries not to project his anxiety around him. “To me, there’s nothing better for one’s mental health than to worry about things that are real, and when you have a child, you can only worry about something that’s real,” he said.

    “I resist all of the temptations I have to make [my son] neurotic because I know it’s not helpful. I know that what might feel good in the moment of consoling a kid who appears nervous may be detrimental in the long term,” he added.

    In 2017, Eisenberg shared a video for the Child Mind Institute’s #MyYoungerSelf series, in which he shared what he would tell his younger self about dealing with anxiety and nervousness.

    “I think I would probably tell myself two things. One is that it’s not the worst thing in the world to have those feelings. Even though it might feel like the worst thing in the world… actually having that anxiety might be indicative of other beneficial positive characteristics like sensitivity to the world or an empathy or maybe a kind of interesting or unusual perception of life that could benefit you over the long term,” he said.

    He said the second thing he would tell his younger self is to get involved with charitable work sooner than later.

    “I worked with people with terminal illnesses and volunteered at a domestic violence shelter, and you realize very quickly that other people have bigger problems than you and it puts your life in perspective in a healthy way. And it also gets you out of your own bad, cyclical thinking patterns. And of course, more importantly, it’s helping somebody else.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Bam Margera Sent To Hospital Because Of Bipolar Meds

    Bam Margera Sent To Hospital Because Of Bipolar Meds

    Margera took to Instagram to clarify the reasons behind his hospital visits.

    Former Jackass star Bam Margera was reportedly hospitalized twice in one week after a fall that he says was caused by side effects from a new medication for his bipolar disorder.

    According to the reality star, he was sleepwalking when he fell and hit his head, resulting in a laceration that required six staples. 

    According to unCrazed, he suffered a kick to the wound while playing in the pool with his son, sending him back to the hospital. “I got karate kicked in a pool in the neck surgery playing with Phoenix with community kids by accident,” he said.

    Margera was unable to remember the name of the medication he was given, saying that it “starts with a Z” in an Instagram video he made to dispel rumors that his trips to the hospital meant that he was once again using drugs. 

    “I am in treatment in Huntington Beach,” he explained. “I’ve been in treatment for a long, long time, and I’m gonna be here for a longer, longer time. And I’m gonna miss all of autumn in Pennsylvania.”

    In & Out Of Treatment

    Margera has been in and out of rehab for most of 2019, most recently agreeing to enter treatment after an intervention staged by his wife and talk show host Dr. Phil. He appeared to have left the rehab facility and may have been intoxicated in a video taken in August that showed the troubled celebrity refusing to leave a hotel lobby after allegedly harassing bar patrons, claiming someone had paid him to catch one of them cheating.

    After the police were called, Margera was arrested and taken back to the rehab facility, where he was allowed to return after agreeing to commit to the program.

    He appears to have stayed out of trouble since then. He was in the news in September, but only for an appearance on Dr. Phil in which he opened up about his mental health and credited his son, Phoenix, for keeping him from ending his life.

    Baring All To Dr. Phil

    “I had such a mental breakdown that I really thought like I… could just go to the lake and be free,” he said. “I was like the pain was gone and I had to beg for pain back. I was like, ‘Please just give me back my pain so I could stay because I want to be with him.’”

    Phoenix turns two in December, and Bam has only good things to say about him.

    “He is the raddest kid ever,” he told Dr. Phil. “He’s so interested in skateboarding. I have all these toys everywhere and he just goes right to the skateboard. He’s like my best friend and I’ve known him for not even two years.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Can Omega-3s Help Treat Depression?

    Can Omega-3s Help Treat Depression?

    A panel of experts weighed in on whether the supplement provided any benefits for those with major depressive disorder. 

    Anyone with major depression or who is at high risk of developing the condition should take a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oil, according to new recommendations. 

    The International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research made the recommendations and released them on Sept. 3 in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 

    Panel Of Experts Weigh In

    “The expert consensus panel has agreed on using [omega-3s] in [major depressive disorder] treatment for pregnant women, children, and the elderly, and prevention in high-risk populations,” the review authors wrote. 

    The expert panel reviewed research on omega-3s in the treatment of major depression. It concluded that the benefits of omega-3s were well-established. 

    “Several lines of evidence have suggested the efficacy of [omega-3s] as a preventive and treatment strategy in [major depressive disorder], from epidemiological and case-controlled studies to randomized-controlled trials and meta-analyses,” the authors wrote. 

    Despite that, there were no clinical guidelines that dictated the best way to use omega-3s for patients with major depression. The committee set out to create guidelines for doctors. They laid out the dosage that patients should get. 

    “The recommended therapeutic dosages should aim for 1–2 g/day of total EPA from pure EPA or 1–2 g/day EPA from an EPA/DHA (>2:1) combination,” they wrote. 

    Finding The Right Dosage

    The amount of omega-3s can be increased biweekly. That same amount can also be used as a preventive measure for high-risk individuals, the study authors noted. 

    It’s important to emphasize that the authors said that omega-3s should be combined with other treatments, including antidepressant medications and therapy. They are not effective on their own, but could make a big difference when used in conjunction with other therapies. 

    Dr. Kuan-Pin Su has studied the effect of omega-3s on patients with depression and anxiety extensively. He told Medscape that their effectiveness is often “overlooked” and should be “on the radar” of more physicians who are treating people with depression and anxiety. 

    Earlier this year, a study showed that eating a Mediterranean diet can cut the risk of depression by up to one-third. That’s in part because this way of eating includes many healthy fats, like omega-3s. 

    Food is important to overall mental health, said Charles Conway, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

    “Especially the omega three fatty acids,” he added. “Those are known to have pretty clear effects with depression.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Starbucks Set To Improve Mental Health Benefits For Employees 

    Starbucks Set To Improve Mental Health Benefits For Employees 

    The company is encouraging employees to “break the stigma and really normalize that your mental health is just as important as your physical health.”

    Starbuckshas announced that it will focus on improving access to mental health benefits for its workers. 

    Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson told CNN Business that mental health of employees—called “partners” by Starbucks—is essential to the company’s culture. It also makes good business sense, since employees who are in good health are more productive and engaging, Johnson said in a letter that announced the new focus. 

    “The more thoughtful we are about creating a range of benefits that matter to our partners—that helps us attract new partners,” Johnson said. “Over this past year, one of the things that partners have highlighted is the need for increased focus on mental health.”

    Employee Assistance Program

    Starbucks employees already have decent access to mental health care. Their insurance covers inpatient and outpatient mental health stays, and the company’s Employee Assistance Program offers six free counseling visits a year. John Kelly, senior vice president of global public affairs and social impact for Starbucks, said that the plan is “very comprehensive,” but less than 5% of employees take advantage of it, he said. 

    The company plans to work with employees to design a mental health benefits plan that will be better utilized. This might include coverage of telemedicine or digital appointments with healthcare providers. 

    Training Managers

    In addition to updating its mental health plan, Starbucks is training managers on how to spot employees who are struggling with mental health issues and connect them with support. The “mental health matters” training kicked off at a recent Chicago conference hosted by the company, and will be integrated throughout the chain in the future. 

    Kelly said that in addition to benefiting the company and employees, the focus on mental health will challenge the social stigma against mental illness, especially in the workplace. 

    The company is encouraging employees to “break the stigma and really normalize that your mental health is just as important as your physical health,” Kelly said. 

    Tracie Sponenberg, chief people officer for The Granite Group, said that more companies are speaking openly about their mental health benefits as a way to attract employees. 

    “This is an area that, as HR professionals, we weren’t talking about quite as much until recent years,” Sponenberg said. 

    A recent survey found that most American workers are afraid to take a mental health day. Discussing the importance of mental health more openly allows people to prioritize their well-being without fearing repercussions at work. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Telemedicine Closes Mental Health Treatment Gap For Rural Patients

    Telemedicine Closes Mental Health Treatment Gap For Rural Patients

    “There’s just not enough mental health coverage across the state, but the rural areas are particularly hit hard,” said one doctor.

    People living in rural areas face challenges that can take a toll on their mental health, including low wages, limited job opportunities and a lack of social capital. All of that is compounded by the fact that it can be harder to access mental health care in rural America. 

    From Months To Days

    Now, telemedicine is helping to close the gap in treatments available in rural areas. At Meridian Health Services in Indiana, integrating telemedicine has reduced the wait time for new patient visits with a psychologist from months to days, according to NPR. 

    That makes a big difference for patient outcomes, said Meridian’s chief medical officer Dr. Sarfraz Khan. 

    “In my opinion, it’s lifesaving,” he said. Meridian was having trouble delivering mental health services because the organization couldn’t find doctors who were willing to work in rural areas. 

    “There was a time when we were seriously considering: Would it be viable for us to provide psychiatric services because nobody would like to come to small towns?” Khan said. 

    Now, doctors don’t need to come to small towns to work. They work out of a central location in Indianapolis. Patients, meanwhile, visit rural clinics for their appointments. There, a nurse takes their vitals and sets them up with a two-way computer screen, where they teleconference with a doctor from the city. 

    Patients Share Their Experiences

    Some patients might balk at the idea of receiving health care through a screen, but a Meridian patient named Mariah said that telemedicine actually helps her be more honest with her providers. 

    “It’s easier because they’re not there, so I feel like I can tell more, and speak more and truly just be fully real. If they’re sitting right there, I might not want to say everything or say as much,” she said after finishing her first telemedicine appointment. 

    In Texas’s DeWitt County there are no practicing psychiatrists. 

    “We kept looking at what our needs were (in DeWitt County), and we did not have adequate access to mental health care,” Lynn Falcone, CEO of Cuero Health, told the Victoria Advocate. 

    Falcone knew that she was unlikely to be able to find a psychiatrist to come practice in the area, so she reached out to Access Physicians, a group that provides telemedicine services. Now, patients at Cuero Regional Hospital can have telemedicine appointments with psychiatrists. 

    Dr. Chris Gallagher, CEO of Access Physicians, said he is seeing more and more rural hospitals turning to telemedicine, especially for mental health services. 

    “Psychiatry is probably the most in-demand specialty,” he said. “There’s just not enough mental health coverage across the state, but the rural areas are particularly hit hard.”

    View the original article at thefix.com