Grief

Grief is a natural response to loss and losing something or someone you love can be very difficult and painful. When you experience a loss, you may feel a variety of emotions that range from anger to sadness, and many others in-between. Sometimes it feels like the hardship will never end, but the good news is that with time, the feelings of grief seem to lessen.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross developed a theory based on the way that people grieve. She found that people generally go through 5 various stages:
1.DENIAL: “This can’t be happening to me.”
2.ANGER: “Whose fault is this and why is it happening?”
3.BARGAINING: “If I do this, then can I get that..?”
4.DEPRESSION: “I’m too sad to do anything.”
5.ACCEPTANCE: “I’m at peace with what happened.”
*They may or may not occur in this order and some stages may never be reached at all.

Grief does not only occur when a loved one dies. Losing a relationship, a job, your health, your financial stability, your pet, or your feelings of safety can all cause grief as well. However, there is not one right way to grieve; everyone does it their own way. The pain does not go away faster if it is ignored and it is important to go through it the way that best suits the individual.

Therapists and counselors can be very helpful when someone is dealing with a loss. It can be helpful for them to talk to someone about the pain they are feeling. It is possible that the pain of grief will never disappear in its entirety, but it definitely can get better.

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

SOURCES:
Coping with Grief and Loss
How to Deal with Grief 0104/default.asp>
Image from: http://blog.al.com/pr/grief%20day%201%20side.jpg

Prescription Drug Abuse

Adequate pain treatment has always been a struggle in our society. Frequently, doctors prescribe medication to their patients in hopes that the patient’s symptoms will be minimized. However, recently many people have started abusing these prescription drugs. Unfortunately, these drugs are easily obtained through multiple doctor shopping, over prescribing by physicians, use of someone else’s medication, forgery of prescriptions, and/or from illegal online pharmacies. It is important to recognize that both the physician and the patient are at fault here, as doctors should more closely monitor their patients and as patients should not abuse the system.

The most commonly abused prescription drugs are:
1.Opioids: usually prescribed for pain
2.Central Nervous System Depressants: usually for sleep disorders or anxiety
3.Stimulants: usually to treat ADHD, obesity, and narcolepsy

Statistics:
•At least half of all Americans take at least one prescription drug.
•In a 2006 survey of teenagers, 62% said it was easy to get prescription pain relievers from their parent’s home.
•19.5 million Americans (8.2% of population) age 12 and over currently use illicit drugs. Of this total, 6.3 million abuse prescription drugs (2.7% of population).
•Admissions to federally supported treatment programs for prescription opioid about increased 342% from 1996 to 2006.

Almost all of the states in the U.S. have made an attempt to battle this epidemic by keeping electronic files on patients and attempting to monitor their usage. Consumers can help by acknowledging the issue and taking extra steps to make sure their prescriptions are securely locked up. Both the DEA and the FDA have been working together to battle these issues and are striving to press criminal charges against anyone involved in the misuse of prescription drugs. The battle is far from over, but it is important to recognize how serious of an issue it has become and to take steps to prevent it from getting any worse.

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

SOURCES:
Fear of Prescription Drug Abuse Affects Pain Management (2010)
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175137.php
Prescription Drug Abuse (2005)
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14428
Prescription Drug Addiction, Abuse, and Treatment (2007)
http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/prescription-drug-addiction-abuse-and-treatment_32.html
Prescription Drug Abuse (2009)
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/prescription_drug_abuse.html#
Almost Half of Americans Take at Least One Prescription Drug (2010)
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/healthcare/a/usmedicated.htm
Image from: http://www.familiesandcommunities.org/showDoc.cfm?pObject=269&pMenuTop=14

Mental Health in the Prison System

“With the reduction of psychiatric beds in past years, there is only one place that can't say `no' when you need someone kept away from society: the criminal justice system,” (Daly, 2006).

Due, in part, to changes in the economy, the number of mental health services available for prisoners have been reduced, while the number of people being incarcerated has increased. The administrators involved are looking to reduce costs, but unfortunately they are taking away much needed opportunities for these prisoners.

Many prisoners are sent to jail, but what the prison system has been failing to acknowledge is that many of these people have mental health issues and/or substance abuse issues. What this means is that prison is not always the most suitable place for these people: in many instances, the person would be better helped at a different facility. However, when a person commits a serious crime they are generally sent to prison, with good reason, but without any opportunities to recover when they are in jail, the prisoners are more likely to commit additional crimes, violate parole, and/or return to prison at a later date.

It is important to recognize that prisoners are not always “bad” people; many of them have disorders or other underlying issues. If there is hope for prisoners to ever really change, their real condition should be examined and their opportunities for success should not be limited.

SOURCES:
Daly, R. “Prison Mental Health Crisis Continues to Grow”

Image from: http://bloomingpeaches.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/jail.jpg

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

Child Abuse

“Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4,” (Childhelp, 2010).

Child abuse is a very serious issue in today’s society and it is impacting more and more children as the years pass. There are four major types of abuse:

Physical: This type of abuse goes beyond spanking a child to discipline them. The caregiver may be angry and harm or injure the child. If the child lives in fear, it is not discipline; it is abuse.
Emotional: When a caregiver emotionally abuses a child, they make them feel sad and worthless. They are generally very critical of the child and they are always saying things that make them feel bad about themselves.
Sexual: Sexual abuse is when a caregiver exposes a child to sexual situations or materials. The abuser is usually someone the child knows and they make the child feel ashamed and guilty, so they do not expose the secret.
Neglect: This is when a caregiver fails to provide for a child’s basic needs (food, hygiene, clothing, or supervision).

In some cases, the caregiver has a substance abuse or mental health issue and this greatly impacts their ability to adequately raise their children. The caregiver may also have been abused in their own life, so they may not know any other way to treat their children. Child abuse may not always be easy to detect, but it is best to trust your instincts if you think it is happening to someone you know; you could be saving a child’s life. Abuse takes a psychological toll on children later in their life, and in many cases, the harm is irreversible. Additionally, if a child confides in you, you should take their words to heart and take them seriously. Children depend on their caregivers to teach and protect them, but when their caregivers fail to do so, someone else should be there to save them.

SOURCES:
National Child Abuse Statistics: http://www.childhelp.org
Child Abuse and Neglect: http://helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_
emotional_sexual_neglect.htm

IMAGE from: http://abdoukili.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/child-abuse.jpg

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

How a Struggling Economy Affects Mental Health

When an economy starts to weaken, it causes more stress for the people involved. Economic turmoil such as struggling to pay bills, unemployment, or threats of foreclosure play an enormous role in people’s mental health: risks include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and/or compulsive behaviors (such as overeating, gambling, or spending).

Warning Signs that the Economy is Affecting YOU:
•Excessive anxiety or anger
•Change in sleep patterns
•Increased use of narcotic drugs and/or alcohol
•Not feeling up to doing everyday activities

Recent studies and polls have shown that from 2008 until the present, Americans have felt much sadder, more stressed, and more overwhelmed than in past years. The unemployment rates are significantly higher as of late and many people are struggling to make ends meet. It is normal for these extra stressors to cause turmoil in one’s life and frequently it takes a toll on people’s mental well-being.

It is important to acknowledge that the economy is affecting everyone, and that at some point it is all going to get better. People should reach out to their community and work together to make the hard time easier for everyone.

SOURCES:
Getting Through Tough Economic Times: http://www.samhsa.gov/ECONOMY/

Mental Stress Spirals with Economy:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-11-stress-poll_N.htm

IMAGE FROM: http://www.gossipcraze.com/_mm/_d/_ext2/53427/big_Unemployment%20Extension%20101.jpg

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are characterized by extreme changes in a person’s diet and lifestyle. People may choose to eat almost nothing at all, or extremely overeat, while being preoccupied with thoughts about their weight and the food they are taking in. In many cases, eating disorders have a psychological component, and are a way for people to have some control in their lives. Additionally, many people try to hide their eating disorder, as they hope it will go unnoticed. Eating disorders are usually classified into two types:

ANOREXIA NERVOSA:
People with this disorder yearn to be thin and try so hard that they may not eat much of anything. They feel like they are overweight and see themselves as looking that way, even after significant weight has been lost. Their body loses a lot of its strength and weight and eventually, this disease can take a person’s life.

BULIMIA NERVOSA:
People who suffer from this disease, eat unusually large amounts of food, and then feel a lack of control, so they get rid of the food from their system- usually by purging (laxatives, extreme exercising, or diuretics may also be used). A person suffering from this disorder may have problems with their throat, glands, and teeth if the disorder continues, and may eventually end in death as well.

Eating disorders are more common in women, but they are popping up everywhere in today’s society. They are treatable in most cases, through use of counseling, monitoring, medications, and by creating a new life-style plan. Eating disorders are very serious and can ultimately lead to death, so they should be treated as soon as someone notices a problem.

SOURCES:
Eating Disorders: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/complete-index.shtml

Image from: http://ehgazette.blogs.brynmawr.edu/files/2009/12/anorexia02ez3.jpg

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

Dealing with a Troubled Teen

The teenage years are commonly a time of rebellion and experimentation for adolescents. Arguments may become more frequent, they may change their appearance, they may experiment with drugs and alcohol, and they may spend less time at home. These are common behaviors for a teenager, but in some cases they are far more extreme.

But what do you do when a teen becomes out of control, and how do you know when that is? If you notice any extreme changes in the teen’s life, this is a warning sign that something may be wrong: for example, new friends or no friends, becoming violent or harmful to other people or things, change in school performance, change in behavior and/or dramatic mood swings. Parents usually know their teenagers the best, so they are best equipped to notice these differences.

But what do you do when you see these changes? First you should observe their behavior and think about why they might be doing these things: explore the options. The next step is realizing that a change needs to be made (maybe with the parent as well) and to reconfigure the established parenting style.

HELPFUL HINTS:
• Reward positive and responsible behaviors and decisions.
• Create clear rules and enforce them regularly. This also means establishing reasonable consequences if the rules are not followed.
• Try to communicate with the teen about what is going on in their life and stay open-minded.
• Stand by your decision.

Boot camps, wilderness treatment facilities, boarding schools, and the like should all be last resort options. If making changes in the home does not seem to work, try going to see a professional. Sometimes all teenagers need is a little help and they will be able to get back on track.

SOURCES:
Troubled Teen 101 http://www.troubledteen101.com/articles11.html

Image From: http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/people/4579760-troubled-youth.php?id=4579760

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com