INTEGRATIVE + ONLINE PSYCHIATRY + HOLISTIC HEALTH

Category: Depression

Meditation, mindfulness, happiness - zen garden with massage stones and waterlily

Meditation – Mental Health Essential

Meditation, Mindfulness, or Introspective Practices

have well proven their value in holistic mental health work for mood, anxiety, addiction, and health issues. Meditation can be an essential tool for happiness and mental health. Enhancement of longevity and decrease in brain aging has also been demonstrated as an added benefit. In many other areas, there are proven benefits as in work, school, athletic performance, sleep, and creativity. The mere awareness in meditation – that thoughts and emotion are of a changing and transient nature – is enlightening for those felt imprisoned by harsh negative thoughts and emotions.

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huge hurricane over Florida - hurricanes, depression, and recovery

Hurricanes, Depression, and Recovery

“Hurricanes, Depression, and Recovery” article is a story of one person’s tragedy from severe depression and hurricane losses. Experiencing a larger force of nature brought him not only to a deeper understanding of his life but to healing and recovery. The hurricane calamity also affected the multitude of people living in the same destructive path. The devastating hurricane or a storm can be compared to depressive illness: both need a path to recovery. A story presents one man’s journey of despair and loss, to redemption and healing.

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53669229 - beautiful colorful butterfly sitting on female hand, close-up - thyroid gland is like a butterfly in the anterior region of the neck

Thyroid, Mood, and Health

The Thyroid Gland (Butterfly Shaped), Autoimmunity, Mood, and Health

The association of mood, thyroid dysfunction, and autoimmunity is a possible contributing and treatable element in mood disturbances. Integrative Psychiatry encourages looking beyond labels, symptoms, and diagnosis. An integrative approach cautions against premature jumping to treatment with what is favored, familiar, or expedient. Integrative Psychiatry fosters awareness of complexity and the possible presence of underlying and correctable factors.

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aspie traits, diversity, goldfish

“Aspie” Traits

aspie traits, diversity, goldfishInstead of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or a person with Asperger’s syndrome, some have a preference to be seen as an “aspie” person or as one that has aspie traits. Looking at the diversity of features found in aspie individuals,  some will only have a few and others will have many of the traits and characteristics. Often there is a preference for a positive name or identifier when a person has some unique differences. A name is preferred that brings forth a response from others that would focus on potential, meaningful affirmation, acceptance, and accommodations.

Words or names can be helpful or hurtful.

Will aspie be a positive identifier, an ennobling and uplifting expression, in our vocabulary, or will it end up in the wastebasket of other derogatory terms as nerds, egg heads, geeks, and other words that are demeaning?

From High Functioning Autism Spectrum to Aspie Traits

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association published the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition, known as the DSM-5, and intended this as a manual for the diagnosis of mental disorders. Before DSM-5, Asperger’s Syndrome was the diagnostic label. It referred to individuals with a qualitative impairment in social interaction and communication with repetitive and restricted behavior. Now in a positive way, this is sometimes referred to as “aspie traits’.

The new DSM-5 changed the diagnostic name to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD or referred to as high-functioning autism spectrum). The essential features in DSM-5 for ASD were: persistent defects in reciprocal social communication and social interaction, and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.

The DSM-5 is a Diagnostic text and sourcebook for the clinician. It is an aid with the categorization of different mental health disorders. The level of the impairment and severity of illness are also represented.

Observed weaknesses, symptoms, and behaviors are categorized by diagnosis per the manual’s criteria. It helps qualify people for insurance coverage. It can be important in qualifying for services or programs as vocational rehabilitation. The DSM-5 can be a guide for research and population studies. It defines clusters of symptoms, traits, attributes, and clinical presentations. A condition once classified or named, in the DSM-5, is an aid to the clinician. A diagnosis can help in the selection of a matched research-validated treatment protocol.

Shifting to a Positive Focus on Strengths, Skills, Acceptance, and Accommodations

Once diagnosed, the individual becomes a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – before DSM-5 this was known as Asperger’s Syndrome. The labels of illness – thought of value in medical research and treatment – can also be the basis of stigmatizing a group of people – as sick defective or impaired. The label can misplace the focus of the potential or strengths of an individual. Acceptance of their differences and advantages needs to be the emphasis.

The diagnostic criteria for ASD are also the defining characteristics of many people that have comparable traits, which do not want to be stigmatized or treated with arrogance by others. They reject the negative inference of being a diagnostic label, an illness, or a defective population.

Looking at the diversity of features found in aspie individuals,  some will only have a few and others will have many of the traits and characteristics. The expression of a developmental or genetic trait can afford significant advantages without any associated impairments. Another side of the spectrum shows the expression of many developmental problems, autism spectrum impairments or disabilities.

To be assigned a diagnosis or a disease label can contribute to a “poor self-concept of being defective” vs. being a person to be respected and seen for potential as having unique talents and worthiness. An association with an illness or diagnosis can lead to discrimination from others. High functioning aspie individuals can still experience:

  • non-acceptance and non-support as in social networks, families, organizations, and in job settings
  • inadequate resources as in the community or educational systems
  • rejection by peers, discrimination, bullying
  • problems in getting through school, finding work, establishing a career, or suitable relationships
  • economic disadvantage, hardship, isolation, and disfranchisement

Aspie individual need support and assistance,

just as those diagnosed with ASD or Asperger’s Syndrome do. “They need to be informed and learn the secrets of typical social understanding and require help to negotiate through the social world that surrounds them. The challenge may be more comfortable for aspies than for those with Asperger’s Syndrome as a direct result of the people who surround them”.*

See Attwood paper “Aspie Criteria”*

As a consultant in medical and psychiatric facilities, conflicts arose between staff and patients.

Patients would have difficulties interacting with their peers or staff. If problems following the guidelines of the unit occurred, difficulties would ensue.  The staff’s expectations were for each patient to behave and interact as expected. Individuals involved in conflicts did not take well to correction or admonishment. Incidences could escalate, from agitation to combative, aggressive, or destructive behavior. The staff could be reactive with more verbal or aggressive behaviors than needed.

The perceived offending person was often diagnosed with official labels.  Some were:

  • attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • personality disorder
  • conduct disorder
  • antisocial behavior
  • schizoid, or schizophrenia
  • bipolar disorder or depressive disorder
  • social anxiety or obsessive-compulsive

These were some of the tried intervention:

  1. isolation of the involved individuals
  2. recording of the inappropriate actions
  3. options considered were unique behavioral treatment plans, consequences, or medications

When a careful history was taken on identified offenders, developmental issues or traits were found associated with high functioning autism spectrum, an Asperger’s profile, or a person with significant aspie traits. These characteristics would then be considered as an important influence on the conflicts that occurred between peers or with staff. Some of these individuals identified had other exacerbating problems as:

  • trauma history
  • prior life events
  • early life in a disruptive home environment
  • early life abusive or neglectful significant others
  • drugs and alcohol abuse
  • traumatic brain injuries

Other existing problems like – ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression – can improve with behavioral or other treatments.

Aspie traits include – no significant intellectual impairment – with possible difficulties in:

  • social skills
  • social communications
  • ease of social engagement
  • reciprocal conversation
  • perceptiveness, empathy or intuitiveness
  • social cue recognition
  • executive functioning
  • information processing
  • passionate interests in certain specific areas

Aspie characteristics may be helpful for some; however, this can be a problem for others.

Positive characteristics can be strengths for success and contribution. Negative characteristics may contribute to rejection and discrimination. Several significant traits together can be problematic. Difficulties may occur in daily functioning, work, and related social activities.

Education anDiverity on yellow tulipd instruction to all participants involved can improve a conflict situation. A more positive therapeutic milieu can develop in the physical and social setting. The education would include a discussion about individuals and their differences.

Negative traits would be viewed in a constructive manner and not as a defect or a “pathology.” Aspie attributes have a positive potential to contribute to the group. Recognition of differences in social interactions, interpersonal communications, and behaviors is a start on the path toward acceptance, flexibility, tolerance, and non-discrimination.

Individuals with these traits can develop low self-esteem, defensive, reactive type of behaviors.

This results from repeated experience of:

  • rejection from their families and peers
  • failures in the educational system
  • bullying, rejection, and discrimination
  • unemployment and lack of access to necessary programs and accommodations for their needs
  • exclusion from many social setting
  • lack of mental health and educational support services
  • lack of appreciation for their differences and potentials
  • lack of tolerance, acceptance, and support

Aspie traits in an organization can also lead to conflicts.

In a medical setting, this could be with other staff members as well as with some patients. High achievers in any field can have successes because of their unique aspie attributes. The same people, however, may appear to others as having negative characteristics as being:

  • demanding
  • poor listeners
  • arbitrary in their decision-making
  • over-talkative, rambling, intellectual thinkers
  • to cut people off, interrupting, or change the subject
  • to have a strong belief or attitude that they are right
  • to be scrupulous or a perfectionist
  • to be obsessive compulsive about completing things in a valued way,
  • to be impatient, rude, or arrogant
  • to be a bully or tyrant
  • not to be a team player
  • odd in mannerisms

People with aspie traits might tend to:

  • become irritated when distracted from their work or conversation
  • feel that ordinary social conversation or small talk is irrelevant
  • prefer to work alone or to be alone with their activities and projects
  • less comfort or interest in the usual social encounters than a neuro-typical person (a person without aspie traits that represent most of our population)

Persons with aspie traits contribute and gain respect in organizations for:

  • high intelligence, reliability, persistence, open-mindedness
  • positive work ethic, honest, follows the rules
  • determined, original or unconventional in problem-solving
  • creative abilities, technical skills, verbal skills
  • getting to the point and forthrightness even when not tactful or in their self-interest
  • aware of details and errors that others don’t see
  • able to absorb and keep significant amounts of information
  • self-motivated, independent learners, able to generate novel solutions
  • the ability for spending time alone for research and completing projects
  • a perfectionist can perform repetitive tasks with precision and commitment
  • willingness to learn social skills which a not natural for them
  • ability to tolerate rejection and frustration to complete work
  • sees the best in everyone even though it sometimes backfires, reliable as a friend
  • the sense of social justice and fairness, advocate for the oppressed, bullied, and disadvantaged

Conflicts can arise between staff members and a person with aspie traits.

Resolution involves interventions such as team-development-work along with focused education about:

  • communication differences
  • the uniqueness of personalities
  • tolerance and acceptance of difference

Consideration is to bring in a consultant who is knowledgeable about aspie individuals for training. If an individual of concern has aspie characteristics, but in addition, a history of other significant co-occurring colored pensils diversityproblems as noted above – earlier life trauma for example – would be a candidate for focused therapy work in that area.  Use of an executive-functioning-coach can be essential if executive functioning is a major difficulty.

People with aspie traits need to be recognized for their strengths and contributions.

With their talents and genius, they are able to do complex tasks as well as complete projects. They are able to complete tasks which other neurotypical people (those who do not have the aspie traits) either couldn’t do or have failed.   Peoples’ differences are essential for the survival and success of a group or organization. It takes a team with diversity.

Talented people with unique traits make our society function. The person who can see the big picture can come up with novel strategic ideas and solutions to the problem. The person that can stay on task can bring a project to completion. They can get past small failures or distractions to get things done. An accepting and supportive culture stops discrimination with training and education where needed. These principles apply to couple’s relationship work as well. Acceptance and understanding of each partner’s strengths and weaknesses comes first. Then a successful relationship that operates in a complementary fashion can ensue.

There is much evidence that aspie traits are genetic.

You often find these characteristics in other family members. Early life experiences or environmental influence can affect these characteristics or traits as well. There is great diversity in presentation and features seen in the aspie population. Performance and levels of functionality will depend on each person’s pattern of development. Adaptation to a “neurotypical” population (the majority of the population that does not have the aspie traits) is a challenge where acceptance is lacking. Successes with societal participation, work, independence, and social integration comes with support and education.

High functioning aspie individuals can have difficulties or disabilities. The degree can depend on the presence of other co-occurring problems or debilitating conditions. There may be the need for significant support, specialized programs, and sometimes medication.

BOB’S STORY:

Bob*is a highly-paid staff in resource development at a high-tech software company. He had difficulty finding and keeping a job. At age 38 he discovered that he had an aspie profile. Bob was intelligent and had admirable skills – especially in the tech areas. He related well to others that had similar interests. He lacked executive skills, as in organization and time management. It would take him forever to complete any of – what he deemed – important projects. He would misplace important papers and be easily distracted. His self-esteem was low. He had experienced rejection and discrimination at prior jobs and during his school years.

Bob found an employment advisor who worked with aspie clients. First, there was a referral to an executive-functions-coach, who helped him plan his time. Time blocks were set up to help him organize his work schedule, allowing him to get all his priorities accomplished.  He learned how to avoid procrastination, and how to break large tasks down into doable chunks. He became better at prioritizing, starting a task, focusing and finishing. He began to use a planner to organize things. With his employment advisor, he worked on presentation and interview skills.

He chose companies where his unique skills and aspies were accepted and valued. His current company was a good fit, and he thrived there. He made some friends in his new organization. These new friends shared some of his interests and even some of his “aspie” traits.

*To protect confidentiality, the above is a composite of some clinical experiences and does not represent an actual person or any prior patients.

High functioning individuals that are not impaired by aspie traits or co-occurring problems, have the potential for:

  • gifted intellectual problem-solving
  • coming up with needed creative solutions
  • ability to think outside of the box in original ways
  • leadership and advancing knowledge in the area of interest.

Their strengths need appreciation and support. Recognition and encouragement are needed throughout childhood, in school, organizations, and the community. They can be the person that comes out with a money-making product that saves an industry. They could be the general that wins the war. They could be a surgeon and master mechanic that can fix things and save lives.

An aspie individual may need support and guidance from their employer.  Job expectations should be clear. Help with interpersonal skills to aid effective and cooperative teamwork is important.  Help with organizational skills, time management, and priority setting is also valuable. Successful employment or career opportunities offers the many potential benefits –  an increase of income, improvement of self-esteem, offering a place to apply talents and abilities, and provide a setting to develop a positive social network. Help is available from resources as the Job Assistance Network (JAN) that offers help with work accommodations or Vocational Rehabilitation Services – see resources below.

Whatever the name, label or diagnosis one chooses –  or with which one best identifies in their search for meaning, help or support, whether Autistic Spectrum, High Functioning Autism spectrum, Asperger’s Syndrome, or Aspie – is fine and supported by me. In this article, I wanted to explore and to get a better understanding of the different names and classifications. My intent was not to offend anyone or to undermine any individual’s beliefs regarding their learning and struggles to either comprehend or understand this complex area. This article was a little Aspie lengthy and Aspie loaded with some of my bias, but it is all about sending some love and support to all that want to know more about this
topic, for those who have been confused about some of the terms and labels used, or for those who have personally struggled with some of these issues.

Resources:

The Asperger / Autism Network (AANE) A positive presentation and understanding of Asperger’s are available in several articles written by staff on the ANNE website –  which works with individuals, families, and professionals to “help people with Asperger Syndrome and similar autism spectrum profiles build meaningfully connected lives.”

Following is a quote from the ANNE website with a link on “Neurodiversity”:

“Diagnostic labels, by nature, define disorders and tend to ignore the strengths, gifts, and adaptive benefits of the individuals diagnosed. In contrast to this, the Asperger constellation of traits has more recently been described as the product of natural variations in human neurology that lead to differences in individual experiences, sensitivities, and perceptions.

It is not necessarily a neurological “dysfunction”; rather, it is evidence of “differently” functioning neurology. “Neurodiversity advocates propose that instead of viewing this gift as an error of nature . . . society should regard it as a valuable part of humanity’s genetic legacy while ameliorating the aspects of autism that can be profoundly disabling without adequate forms of support” (Silberman, p. 470*). Just as the natural world thrives through a web of diversity, offering up a range of valuable interconnected attributes, so does humanity”.  http://www.aane.org/neurodiversity/

Job Assistance Network (JAN)

“The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome” by Tony Attwood an excellent resource and review

Been There. Done That. Try This!: An Aspie’s Guide to Life on Earth

“Aspie Criteria” – A helpful article by Attwood.

NeuroTribes – The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity” by Steve Silberman – important book, excellent read, and resource for an in-depth history, present and future overview of the Autism Spectrum and Asperger’s, written by a very talented journalist and a New York Times bestseller.

What is Asperger’s Syndrome? – article by Atwood

Asperger’s from the Inside Out by John Carley – a helpful book, for Asperger adults.

GRASP – Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership – a good resource – an organization run by people with Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders, to help their peers with programming to increase the independence of Autistics and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  They have established workshops, social events, and groups, and helped increase the visibility of ASD adults within society with emphasis on Community-Based Outreach and Individual Self-Advocacy – advocating for Individuals on the Spectrum.

Autismspeaks.org – Another source of information on recognition and understanding Asperger’s.

Take an online Asperger’s screening test, as the AQ test, if interested at any of site linked below:

http://aspergerstest.net/interpreting-aq-test-results/

https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests

https://www.aspergerstestsite.com/75/autism-spectrum-quotient-aq-test/

To contact or for more information go to:

http://ronparksmd.com/

Thank you for your interest and review of this article,

Article by Ron Parks, MD and edited by Shan Parks

QUESTION – COMMENTS:

How does “aspie” traits related to you, your family, or your work? Comment below.

Spiritual Emergence, Recovery

Neuroplasticity – Recovery & Transformation

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Recovery and Transformation are often felt to be impossible for individuals with addictions or mental health problem as depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other stress or painful conditions.

There is new hope with the advances in neuroplasticity, neuroscience and its technology to identify, modify or change neuro-circuitry, behavior, responses and reactions. Progress in better understandings of the psychology of the human mind and behavior have contributed to greater success in overcoming what was known previously, which in the past was considered hopeless and beyond the reach of those who had been affected by unrelenting, disabling conditions. The study of other healing methods and traditions, as the 12-Step-Programs for addictions, also has led to more successful integrative treatment programs.

As in the first two steps of 12-Step-Programs, for addiction recovery, there must first be the acceptance of the disease as such, and realization of the impossibility of recovery without profound change. Pursuing treatment on a superficial level for an addiction or any other persistent or chronic illness often fails, such as making limited attempts to make cosmetic changes in one personal way, learned habits, or in the expectation that medication will help. To the person afflicted, life has become unmanageable, and the individual “me” admits to being powerless to make the deep changes needed for recovery. The nature of the illness often has led to feeling hopeless, helpless and powerlessness.

The reason for repeated failures or relapses is that a person unsuccessfully tries to use what was learned from earlier life as:

  • non-effective coping
  • use of manipulation and attempts to control others and the environment
  • efforts to rebuild failing relationships to fulfill unmet needs for nurturance, love, and acceptance
  • repeated ineffective efforts to feel sufficient, empowered and adequate

To recover and transform, one has to get beyond ego, personality, habits, reactions, and behaviors.

If there comes a realization of the powerlessness to change the existing status quo, the opportunity exists to embrace the insight that there are the greater potentiality and possibilities beyond a person’s individual ways and self-identity. When one can’t find any viable alternatives from the repertoire of prior failed actions and behaviors – one has “hit the wall” or “rock bottom” – survival is threatened, the need to tap into a greater “well of resourcefulness” hopefully becomes apparent. After running out of the “customary” choices for survival, there has to be a willingness to let go of the old and embrace options out of the larger sphere of positive possibilities – turning one’s life over to a “higher power.”

The idea for acceptance of a higher power is confusing to some that come to 12-Step-Programs, who may associate this with earlier life negative religious experiences or associations with an abusive authoritarian or dominating figure, especially if there has been traumatic abuse. Gaining flexibility to explore and invest in behaviors or practices to bring about recovery and transformation is what is needed. When stuck in an inflexible state of a rigid self, one needs to shift from an unproductive personal belief about power and control existing in the limitation of individual development and programming since birth, to the realization that there is much more: a greater potentiality, a higher resource beyond the personal limitations and rigid entrapments.

One of the barriers to change relates to deep held core beliefs of:

  1. not being safe
  2. not being loved
  3. not being enough
  4. not being worthy – burdened with guilt and shame

Arriving at a place of great despair, a “dark night of the soul,” there is a need of letting go of the established, old limiting “ego identity.” Embracing spiritual attunement becomes the only viable option, with an acceptance that there is a greater field of possibilities and potentialities, where love, acceptance, and inclusion prevail. Embracing the essence of being – the higher power – allows for profound empowerment and motivation for the steps required for transformation – restoration of “sanity” as identified in the 2nd of the 12 Steps.

Spiritual emergence

is the experience of personal awakening, beyond the constriction and restriction, set by the trained and programmed part of the mind (the ego) – to a higher level of perception, realization, and functioning. A new developing integrative addiction treatment program in Asheville, NC – Center for Spiritual Emergence (see their website) – describes spiritual emergence as a “natural opening and awakening that many people experience as a result of coming to terms with the difficulties of life, through an established faith tradition, as a result of systematic spiritual practices or through unexpected peak experiences.  Spiritual emergences gently allow one to experience and embrace their natural connection to the transcendent domain, forever changing their limiting self-concepts into a more integrative, awakened self”.

Psychoneuroplasticity (PNP)

as presented by Lawlis in his well-done book – Psychoneuroplasticity Protocols for Addictions (Lawlis et al. 2015) is portrayed as an evidence-based science with restorative, rehabilitation, and transformational tools and applications. PNP is founded on post 0716 edit mindset-developments in neuroscience, neural therapies, rehabilitation medicine, addiction and other integrative approaches to mental health treatments.  Though the book focuses on evidence-based treatment approaches for addiction, it is very applicable to the care of other mental health issues and problems and supports the value of integrative approaches and therapies. Brain plasticity is based on the understanding of brain activity, neuronal circuitry, and the ability for the stimulation, modification, retraining, and growth of nerve cells and their complex networks.

Positive brain plasticity can be helpful in many problematic areas as:

  • cognitive processing, worries, physical pain, migraines
  • emotions, depression, anger, reactiveness, stress
  • anxiety, fear, phobias, obsessiveness, distractibility
  • alertness, focus, arousal, ADHD, brain fog, fatigue
  • PTSD, sleep disturbance, addictions, cravings, over-weight

To set the stage for healing, recovery, transformation, and neuroplasticity, any difficulties in above noted areas, may need to be addressed early on. Several are discussed in greater detail below.

Anxiety and fear

can be a disabling condition and a major interference with life and productivity and can act as a barrier to recovery from other mental health condition, including addictions and other health problems. The following can contribute to anxiety or panic like conditions:

  1. unmanaged stress
  2. prior life losses and trauma
  3. lack of adequate parenting or an early life nurturing environment
  4. adverse effects from medication and drugs
  5. life-threatening physical illness

Resulting impairment can become chronic with only temporary relief, if any, from drugs or use of substances that could be harmful to one’s health and well-being. Studies of brain waves often will show high-frequency beta waves in localized regions of the brain suggesting increased activation and the need to retrain and repair the brain’s neural networks to more relaxed frequencies and a healthier state. Mental health professionals sometimes will label people as having other mental health conditions or personality disorders, like borderline personality disorders, because they have not been able to grow and mature emotionally. The behaviors and personality may be related to earlier life abuse, persistent severe anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed – resulting in resistance or the inability to resolve severe chronic anxiety that blocks healthy development around their families, social network, and peers.

Traumatic life events

can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can either be of a simple type where there has only been one major traumatic event or complex where there have been multiple accumulative traumas. A person’s life development can get stuck in a time-relation to an earlier trauma. Integrative type treatment protocols and therapies focusing on treatment of  trauma, as those presented by Lawlis (Lawlis et al. 2015) have the potential to bring relief by relieving the emotional connection to trauma memories and supporting positive brain changes and plasticity . The use of neurofeedback type treatments as the BAUD (bioacoustical utilization device) can disrupt the reconsolidation of traumatic memory and has been shown to relieve symptoms of PTSD (RESET Therapy). Relaxation or stress-reducing therapies, music, meditation practices, breathing techniques, nutritional diet, neuro-biofeedback and skill development can be a part of neuroplasticity enhancing protocols. Other sensory or trauma-focused therapies as EMDR, are also utilized to form new and healthy neuro-circuitry and response patterns.

Depression

can interfere with recovery and be due a multitude of factors including:

  • response to negative life events, chronic stress, trauma, and losses
  • low self-esteem
  • genetics, nutritional deficiencies, and medical illness
  • toxic environmental exposure including to drugs and alcohol

With depression there may be associated: ruminations and obsessional thought, as seen in OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder); anxiety; loss of productivity; feelings of loss of control; loss of interest in things; a downward spiral of increasing depression and development of suicidal thinking, which can lead to loss of life or complication with other medical illness. If suicidal thinking occurs, immediate help should be sought from mental health professionals.

The brain, if studied with EEG brain wave studies in identified areas of the brain, will show a pattern of under activation and low voltage waves. Neuroplasticity focused protocols look for healthy interventions to bring these areas of the nervous system back online and restore responsive feelings, energy, joy and happiness without the individual resorting to using potentially dangerous drugs or chemicals. Intervention may include therapies as noted above including:

  • neurofeedback or neuro-therapies, BAUD
  • psychotherapies including trauma-focused therapies as EMDR
  • exercise, nutritional diet, supplements
  • sound, rhythm, aroma, movement, and dance therapy
  • mindful meditation, breathing techniques
  • social network development with active peer support
  • coping, relapse prevention, and social skill development

Cyclic patterns of disturbed emotions and behavior

can interfere with recovery. These can present as periods of irritability, rage, heightened anxiety, obsessiveness, sleep disturbance, periods of dramatic increase in activity and hyper focus alternating with times of fatigue, depression, loss of motivation and loss of interest in things. These patterns are sometimes labeled as being in the Bipolar Spectrum (see Dr. Parks article) but can also be related to PTSD and prior accumulative trauma. Many of the above-noted treatments and others are considerations to correct altered behavioral pattern, skill deficits, dysfunctional brain patterns, and neuro-circuitry.

Consider broader integrative or neuroplasticity related approaches if you or a loved one has difficulties with any the above-discussed symptoms or conditions. Seek out competent and well-trained health care practitioners trained in these areas.

Written by Ron Parks, MD, edited by Shan Parks

Question:

What symptoms or conditions do you or a significant other have that may be helped by one of the above-discussed approaches? I would be interested in your comments or opinions. Please respond below.

Picture of a depressed man

The Downside of Untreated Depression

Recovery from most medical illness is difficult unless depression is recognized and treated.

Depression often co-exists with other illnesses. Major depression is one of the most disabling mental disorders in the U.S.. (read more: & see Huffington Post article).  Diseases as diabetes, chronic pain problems, substance abuse, arthritis, hypertension and heart disease are frequently complicated by depression. 

What is wrong with Peter’s father?

Ben, now 67, felt tired, sad and hopeless about life and things in general. He felt blue and empty and cried a lot. He felt cold all the time, with no energy, poor sleep and appetite. He wondered whether life was worth living. His son Peter was becoming more concerned, especially as his father was living alone after the death of his wife one year prior.  Peter had his dad see his family physician who ran some test and referred him to an integrative psychiatrist. Ben was not suicidal, but was felt to have significant depression with associated grief from the loss of his wife. Tests showed that Ben was also severely hypothyroid (low thyroid) and had some nutritional deficiencies from his poor eating habits. He recovered from his depression with his active participation in therapy work and his coming to terms with his losses (death of his wife, retirement from his accounting career). Antidepressant medication was considered but felt not needed with Ben’s rapid improvement. He began thyroid hormone for his thyroid problems and nutritional support for his identified deficiencies.  He joined several community support programs and moved into a smaller apartment which was near his son where several of his friends lived. Peter had offered his dad a place to live with his family, but Ben prized his independence and felt positive about getting back on his own two feet again. *(To protect confidentiality, the above is a composite of some clinical experiences and does not represent an actual person or any prior patients).

 Effective identification and treatment of depression may bring:

Depression is costly to everyone.

Health care money spent for depression in the United States, plus the cost of lost work, is enormous.  Effective intervention for depression, when occurring with substance abuse or medical problems, lowers health care costs. (read more “Economic Impact of Depression” )

Depression can clearly predate a medical or addiction problem. It may also occur as a reactive response to illness related stress. Depression can also relate to the physiology of the illness or to the treatment interventions or medications. In neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and strokes, the lifetime prevalence of depression is 30 to 60 percent*, compared to a much lower percent in the general population.

In diabetes, the lifetime prevalence of depression is double to triple that of the general population. It can cause increased insulin requirement and increase the risk of diabetic complications. People with coronary artery disease and depression are estimated to have a 40 percent* higher risk of having a cardiac event. Depression increases the risk of death from a heart attack five-fold* and is a significant predictor of disability one month after a heart attack or one year after coronary bypass surgery. Estimates of depression and cocaine dependence range from 33 to 53 percent*. Estimates of depression in alcoholics seeking treatment range from 15 to 67 percent*. Those who are dependent on opiates have rates of depression estimated as high as 75 percent*.    ( read more & also to see additional information )

dep word laufer sizedEarly diagnosis and treatment of depression is critical in preventing and alleviating sickness, suffering, and possible death. Some studies suggest that in primary care settings, 30 to 50 percent* of depressed patients go unrecognized – and only about 20 percent* of those recognized receive adequate treatment. Health care providers, friends, family and employers all need to make a greater effort. Community education about key signs of depression is important.

Symptoms of depression include:

  1. loss of interest or pleasure in doing things
  2. often feeling down, hopeless or sad
  3. trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
  4. feeling tired or having little energy
  5. poor appetite or overeating
  6. frequently feeling bad about yourself
  7. trouble concentrating
  8. slowing down of speech or movements
  9. being fidgety or restless more than usual
  10. thoughts of dying or of hurting yourself
  11. difficulty functioning at home, work or getting along with people.

When suicidal feelings, thoughts or statements occur, get immediate help and assessment from a qualified mental health professional or resource. In U.S. for help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

An integrative approach to treatment gives the best chances for improvement or recovery.

Identification and treatment of contributing factors can be as important as taking an antidepressant medication or other remedies. Consultation, which may include specialized testing, may uncover:

  • hormone deficiencies such as hypothyroidism
  • deficiencies in nutrients as B12, folic acid, minerals, amino acids or essential fatty acids
  • toxic environmental exposures such as to mercury or lead
  • environmental illness such as allergies to mold
  • food sensitivities as to wheat, gluten or diary
  • other medical or addiction problems

People with depression, beyond simply taking an antidepressant pill or a natural remedy, can benefit greatly from social support, psychotherapy and other complementary approaches. Seek out help from qualified health professionals when needed – preferably those with a holistic orientation. Learn as much as possible about depression by seeking information, reading, or attending educational programs or support groups.

*(some statistics noted above are from Dr. Parks prior research on this topic without specific references given here, however, some recent articles and statistical references are presented in the links above)

Article by Ronald R. Parks, M.D.,  edited by Shan Parks

Question:

If you or a significant other has signs of depression, what would be your concerns and first steps to take? I’d be interested in your comments.
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