• nicotine, found in tobacco
• THC, found in marijuana
• opioid (narcotics), or pain relievers
• cocaine

• Peer pressure.
• Curiosity about the effect.
• Media influence, Modeling.
• Easy access (often at home).
• Cultural / sociological traditions.
• Makes one feel good, self-medication.
• Behavioural or Psychiatric problem.
• Children of alcoholic parents have a greater risk than others to develop dependence.

• Withdrawal symptoms when you tried to stop drinking. These symptoms include tremors, anxiety, irritability, racing heart, nausea, sweating, trouble sleeping, and seizures.
• Have little or no control over the amount you drink, when you drink, or how often you drink.
• Tried to limit or stop your drinking but found you couldn’t.
• Have had one or more occasions when you put yourself in a dangerous situation such as driving, swimming, and unsafe sex while drinking.
• Have become tolerant to the effects of drinking and require more alcohol to become intoxicated.
• If you have continued to drink despite having memory blackouts after drinking. Having frequent hangovers that cause you to miss work and other normal activities.
• If you have continued to drink despite having a medical condition that you know is worsened by alcohol consumption.
• Have continued to drink despite knowing it is causing problems at home, school, or work.
• Drink alone or start your drinking early in the day.

What is nicotine addiction?

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical found in the tobacco plant. The addiction is physical, meaning habitual users come to crave the chemical, and also mental, meaning users consciously desire nicotine’s effects. Nicotine addiction is also behavioural. People become dependent on actions involved with using tobacco. They also become accustomed to using tobacco in certain situations, such as after meals or when under stress.

Nicotine is primarily consumed by inhaling the smoke of tobacco cigarettes. Other ways to smoke tobacco include pipes and cigars. Smokeless tobacco is inhaled through the nose as a powder or held in the mouth.

The effects of nicotine addiction (Smoking and Tobacco)

• lung cancer
• emphysema
• chronic bronchitis
• cancer, especially in the respiratory system
• leukemia
• heart disease
• stroke
• diabetes
• eye issues, such as cataracts and macular degeneration
• infertility
• impotence
• miscarriage and pregnancy complications
• weakened immune system
• cold, flu, and respiratory infections
• loss of sense of taste or smell
• gum disease and dental issues
• the appearance of premature aging
• peptic ulcer disease
• osteoporosis

• sudden infant death syndrome
• asthma
• respiratory infections
• ear infections
• other illnesses

• an inability to stop using tobacco products
• withdrawal symptoms when nicotine use stops
• a desire to keep smoking even when health complications arise
• continued use of tobacco products even if it negatively impacts your life

• Medical Homeopathic Management.
• Psychological and Behavioural therapy.
• Occupational Stability.
• Family support and supervision.

What Is Depression?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

• In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks.
• In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.
• In grief, thoughts of death may surface when thinking of or fantasizing about “joining” the deceased loved one. In major depression, thoughts are focused on ending one’s life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depression.

Risk Factors for Depression

• Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression.
• Genetics: Depression can run in families. For example, if one identical twin has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life.
• Personality: People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more likely to experience depression.
• Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression.

Dealing With Depression

A Psychiatric Disorder also called a Mental illness or Mental disorder is a health condition involving changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior. It cause Headache, increased stress, Violent behavior, Depression, having fear of something, suddenly getting panic, Insomnia (problems falling and staying asleep), suspicious behavior, etc.

Psychiatric Disorder is a manifestation of physical imbalance in which emotional components have a strong influence. The link between the mood and compromised health issues can be followed, in such cases, as the disease emerges, develops or repeats its pattern over time. “Psyche” refers to the emotional or mind-related aspects and “somatic” indicates the organic or physical symptoms and signs.

Studies have revealed that inappropriate activation of the autonomous nervous system, endocrine system (hormones and internal secretion glands), and immune system accounts for several of the known paths that link emotional overload to a condition of organic dysfunction and, in some cases, even physical distress.

Causes

Upbringing, environment, social settings, genetics, and personal interpretations of events, as well as the capacity to cope with the elements that come together as the person develops and interacts seem to play an important role when confronted with a psychosomatic manifestation. Psychiatric Disorder The key aspect of all these disorders is that they are enduring, relatively immutable conditions that represent a baseline substrate of impaired adaptation, of deficiencies or distortions that limit the capacity to adapt successfully to the demands of life.

Body & mind Connections

There is increasing evidence that stress has a direct biological effect on disease risk, involving the sympathetic nervous system, the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenomedullary axis, and the inflammatory response system – a major chain reaction released by the immune complex. The interaction established among these systems and a central autonomic network which includes both prefrontal and limbic cerebral structures is integrated to form an internal regulation system through which the brain controls visceromotor, neuroendocrine, and behavioural responses that are critical for goal-directed behaviour, adaptability, and health.

When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, hormones such as catecholamines ( epinephrine and norepinephrine) are released and the hypothalamus simultaneously secretes corticotrophin-releasing factor. The release of corticotrophin-releasing factor produces adrenocorticotropic hormone from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. This hormone, in turn, stimulates the adrenal cortices to release cortisol, a stress hormone that helps the immune system to operate efficiently. The release of catecholamines and cortisol allows the body to break down sugar as a source of available energy. This represents the sympathetic adrenomedullary system, an essential component of the normal acute alarm response to the threat that produces the fight-flight reaction.

Most common types

1) Schizophrenia

2) Mood disorder

3) Anxiety disorder

4) Dementia

5) Stress disorder

6) Eating disorder

7) OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder)

8) Psychiatric Disorder 

Overview

A disorder that affects a person's ability to think, feel and behave clearly.

The exact cause of schizophrenia isn't known, but a combination of genetics, environment and altered brain chemistry and structure may play a role.

Schizophrenia is characterised by thoughts or experiences that seem out of touch with reality, disorganised speech or behaviour and decreased participation in daily activities. Difficulty with concentration and memory may also be present.

Treatment is usually lifelong and often involves a combination of medications, psychotherapy and coordinated speciality care services.

Symptoms

Requires a medical diagnosis

Schizophrenia is characterised by thoughts or experiences that seem out of touch with reality, disorganised speech or behaviour and decreased participation in daily activities. Difficulty with concentration and memory may also be present.

People may experience:

Behavioural: social isolation, disorganised behaviour, aggression, agitation, compulsive behaviour, excitability, hostility, repetitive movements, self-harm, or lack of restraint

Cognitive: thought disorder, delusion, amnesia, belief that an ordinary event has special and personal meaning, belief that thoughts aren't one's own, disorientation, mental confusion, slowness in activity, or false belief of superiority

Mood: anger, anxiety, apathy, feeling detached from self, general discontent, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, elevated mood, or inappropriate emotional response

Psychological: hallucination, paranoia, hearing voices, depression, fear, persecutory delusion, or religious delusion

Speech: circumstantial speech, incoherent speech, rapid and frenzied speaking, or speech disorder

Also common: fatigue, impaired motor coordination, lack of emotional response, or memory loss

Treatment consists of medications and therapy

Treatment is usually lifelong and often involves a combination of medications, psychotherapy and coordinated speciality care services.

What is a mood disorder?

A mood disorder is a mental health problem that primarily affects a person’s emotional state. It is a disorder in which a person experiences long periods of extreme happiness, extreme sadness, or both.

It is normal for someone’s mood to change, depending on the situation. However, to be diagnosed with a mood disorder, symptoms must be present for several weeks or longer. Mood disorders can cause changes in your behaviour  and can affect your ability to deal with routine activities, such as work or school.

Two of the most common mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder. This article will review these disorders and some of their many subtypes.

Depression (major or clinical depression). Depression is a common mental disorder. Grief or sadness is a typical response to a traumatic life event or crisis, such as the death of a spouse or family member, loss of a job, or a major illness. However, when the depression continues to be present even when stressful events are over or there is no apparent cause, physicians would then classify the depression as clinical or major depression. For a person to be diagnosed with clinical depression, symptoms must last for at least two weeks.

There are several different types of depression. Symptoms may vary depending on the form of the disorder.

• Postpartum depression (peripartum depression) - This type of depression occurs during pregnancy or after delivery

• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) - This is a chronic form of depression that can last for at least two years. Symptoms may occasionally lessen in severity during this time.

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - This is another type of depression that occurs during certain seasons of the year. It typically starts in the late autumn or early winter and lasts until spring or summer. Less commonly, SAD episodes may also begin during the late spring or summer. Symptoms of winter seasonal affective disorder may resemble those of a major depression. They tend to disappear or lessen during spring and summer.

• Psychotic depression - This is a type of severe depression combined with psychotic episodes, such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not) or delusions (having fixed but false beliefs). The episodes may be upsetting or disturbing and often have a theme.

• Depression related to a medical condition, medication, or substance abuse

Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder). Bipolar disorder is defined by swings in mood from periods of depression to mania. When someone experiences a low mood, symptoms may resemble those of a clinical depression. Depressive episodes alternate with manic episodes or mania. During a manic episode, a person may feel elated or can also feel irritable or have increased levels of activity.

There are four basic types of bipolar disorder.

• Bipolar I - This is the most severe form. Manic episodes last at least seven days or may be severe enough to require hospitalization. Depressive episodes will also occur, often lasting for at least two weeks. Sometimes symptoms of both mania and depression are present at the same time.

• Bipolar II disorder - This disorder causes cycles of depression similar to those of bipolar I. A person with this illness also experiences hypomania, which is a less severe form of mania. Hypomanic periods are not as intense or disruptive as manic episodes. Someone with bipolar II disorder is usually able to handle daily responsibilities and does not require hospitalization.

• Cyclothymia disorder (cyclothymia) - This type of bipolar disorder has sometimes been defined as a milder form of bipolar disorder. People with cyclothymia experience continuous irregular mood swings – from mild to moderate emotional “highs” to mild to moderate “lows” – for extended periods of time. In addition, changes in mood can occur quickly and at any time. There are only short periods of normal mood. For an adult to be diagnosed with cyclothymic, symptoms have to be experienced for at least 2 years. For children and adolescents, the, symptoms must persist for at least one year.

• “Other” or “unspecified” bipolar disorder - Symptoms of this type of bipolar disorder do not meet the criteria for one of the other types but people still have significant, abnormal changes in mood.

Other mood disorders

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder - This type of mood disorder occurs seven to 10 days before menstruation and goes away within a few days of the start of the menstrual period. Researchers believe this disorder is brought about by the hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle. Symptoms may include anger, irritability, tension, decreased interest in usual activities, and sleep problems.

• Intermittent explosive disorder - This is a lesser-known mood disorder marked by episodes of unwarranted anger. It is commonly referred to as “flying into a rage for no reason.” In an individual with intermittent explosive disorder, the behavioural outbursts are out of proportion to the situation.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What causes mood disorders?

There may be several underlying factors, depending on the type of the disorder. Various genetic, biological, environmental, and other factors have been associated with mood disorders.

Risk factors include:

• Family history

• Previous diagnosis of a mood disorder

• Trauma, stress or major life changes in the case of depression

• Physical illness or use of certain medications. Depression has been linked to major diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and heart disease.

• Brain structure and function in the case of bipolar disorder

What are the symptoms of common mood disorders?

Symptoms depend on the type of mood disorder that is present.

Symptoms of major depression may include:

• Feeling sad most of the time or nearly every day

• Lack of energy or feeling sluggish

• Feeling worthless or hopeless

• Loss of appetite or overeating

• Gaining weight or losing weight

• Loss of interest in activities that formerly brought enjoyment

• Sleeping too much or not enough

• Frequent thoughts about death or suicide

• Difficulty concentrating or focusing

Symptoms of bipolar disorder may include both depression and mania. Symptoms of hypomanic or manic episodes include:

• Feeling extremely energized or elated

• Rapid speech or movement

• Agitation, restlessness, or irritability

• Risk-taking behaviour, such as spending too much money or driving recklessly

• Unusual increase in activity or trying to do too many things at once

• Racing thoughts

• Insomnia or trouble sleeping

• Feeling jumpy or on edge for no apparent reason

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

How are mood disorders diagnosed?

Your doctor may perform a physical examination to rule out physiological causes for symptoms, such as a thyroid problem, other illnesses, or a vitamin deficiency. The doctor will ask about your medical history, any medications you are taking, and whether you or any family members have been diagnosed with a mood disorder. The Doctor, will conduct an interview or survey, asking questions about your symptoms, sleeping and eating habits, and other behaviour.

How are mood disorders treated?

Treatment will depend on the specific illness and symptoms that are present. Usually, therapy involves a combination of Homeopathic medication and psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”). 

What is ADHD?

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.

Signs and Symptoms

It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends.

A child with ADHD might:

• daydream a lot

• forget or lose things a lot

• squirm or fidget

• talk too much

• make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks

• have a hard time resisting temptation

• have trouble taking turns

• have difficulty getting along with others

Types

There are three different ways ADHD presents itself, depending on which types of symptoms are strongest in the individual:

• Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: It is hard for the individual to organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details, or to follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines.

• Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to sit still for long (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework). Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times. It is hard for the person to wait their turn or listen to directions. A person with impulsiveness may have more accidents and injuries than others.

• Combined Presentation: Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the person.

Because symptoms can change over time, the presentation may change over time as well.

Causes of ADHD

Scientists are studying cause(s) and risk factors in an effort to find better ways to manage and reduce the chances of a person having ADHD. The cause(s) and risk factors for ADHD are unknown, but current research shows that genetics plays an important role. Recent studies link genetic factors with ADHD.1

In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including:

• Brain injury

• Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age

• Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy

• Premature delivery

• Low birth weight

Research does not support the popularly held views that ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos. Of course, many things, including these, might make symptoms worse, especially in certain people. But the evidence is not strong enough to conclude that they are the main causes of ADHD.

Diagnosis

Deciding if a child has ADHD is a process with several steps. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many other problems, like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and certain types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms. One step of the process involves having a medical exam, including hearing and vision tests, to rule out other problems with symptoms like ADHD. Diagnosing ADHD usually includes a checklist for rating ADHD symptoms and taking a history of the child from parents, teachers, and sometimes, the child.

Treatments

In most cases, ADHD is best treated with a combination of behavior therapy and Homeopathic medication. For preschool-aged children (4-5 years of age) with ADHD, behavior therapy, particularly training for parents, is recommended as the first line of treatment before medication is tried. What works best can depend on the child and family. Good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups, and making changes, if needed, along the way.

You may feel anxious or nervous if you have to tackle a problem at work, go to an interview, take a test or make an important decision. And anxiety can even be beneficial. For example, anxiety helps us notice dangerous situations and focuses our attention, so we stay safe.

But an anxiety disorder goes beyond the regular nervousness and slight fear you may feel from time to time. An anxiety disorder happens when:

• Anxiety interferes with your ability to function.

• You often overreact when something triggers your emotions.

• You can’t control your responses to situations.

Anxiety disorders can make it difficult to get through the day. Fortunately, there are several effective treatments for anxiety disorders.

Who is at risk for anxiety disorders?

A mix of genetic and environmental factors can raise a person’s risk for developing anxiety disorders. You may be at higher risk if you have or had:

• Certain personality traits, such as shyness or behavioral inhibition — feeling uncomfortable with, and avoiding, unfamiliar people, situations or environments.

• Stressful or traumatic events in early childhood or adulthood.

• Family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions.

• Certain physical conditions, including thyroid problems and heart arrhythmias (unusual heart rhythms).

Anxiety disorders occur more often in women. Researchers are still studying why that happens. It may come from women’s hormones, especially those that fluctuate throughout the month. The hormone testosterone may play a role, too — men have more, and it may ease anxiety. It’s also possible that women are less likely to seek treatment, so the anxiety worsens.

What are the types of anxiety disorders?

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

• Panic disorder.

• Phobias.

• Separation anxiety.

Other mental health conditions share features with anxiety disorders. These include post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

With GAD, you may feel extreme and unrealistic worry and tension — even if there’s nothing to trigger these feelings. Most days, you may worry a lot about various topics, including health, work, school and relationships. You may feel that the worry continues from one thing to the next.

Physical symptoms of GAD can include restlessness, difficulty concentrating and sleeping problems.

What is a panic disorder?

If you have a panic disorder, you get intense, sudden panic attacks. These attacks often feature stronger, more intense feelings than other types of anxiety disorders.

The feelings of terror may start suddenly and unexpectedly or they may come from a trigger, like facing a situation you dread. Panic attacks can resemble heart attacks. If there’s any chance you’re experiencing a heart attack, go to the emergency room. It’s better to err on the side of caution and have a healthcare professional check you.

During a panic attack, you may experience:

• Sweating.

• Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is pounding).

• Chest pain.

• Feeling of choking, which can make you think you’re having a heart attack or “going crazy.”

Panic attacks are very upsetting. People with panic disorder often spend a lot of time worrying about the next panic attack. They also try to avoid situations that might trigger an attack.

What are phobias?

Phobias are an intense fear of certain situations or objects. Some of these fears may make sense, such as a fear of snakes. But often, the level of fear doesn’t match the situation.

Like with other anxiety disorders, you may spend a lot of time trying to avoid situations that may trigger the phobia.

A specific phobia, or a simple phobia, is an intense fear of a particular object or situation. It may cause you to avoid everyday situations. Some specific phobias include fear of:

• Animals, such as spiders, dogs or snakes.

• Blood.

• Flying.

• Heights.

• Injections (shots).

Social anxiety disorder

Healthcare providers used to call this condition social phobia. You may have overwhelming worry and self-consciousness with daily social situations. You may worry about others judging you or you may be anxious that you’ll embarrass yourself or open yourself up to ridicule. People with social anxiety disorder may avoid social situations entirely.

Agoraphobia

If you have agoraphobia, you may have an intense fear of being overwhelmed or unable to get help. Usually, you have a fear of two or more of these environments:

• Enclosed spaces.

• Lines or crowds.

• Open spaces.

• Places outside your house.

• Public transportation.

In severe situations, a person with agoraphobia may not leave the house at all. They’re so terrified of having a panic attack in public that they prefer to stay inside.

What is separation anxiety disorder?

This condition mostly happens to children or teens, who may worry about being away from their parents. Children with separation anxiety disorder may fear that their parents will be hurt in some way or not come back as promised. It happens a lot in preschoolers. But older children and adults who experience a stressful event may have separation anxiety disorder as well.

How common are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the U.S. They affect about 40 million Americans. They happen to nearly 30% of adults at some point. Anxiety disorders most often begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood.

How do anxiety disorders affect children?

It’s normal for children to feel some amount of anxiety, worry or fear at certain points. For example, a child may feel scared of a thunderstorm or barking dog. A teenager might get anxious about an upcoming test or school dance.

But sometimes, children approach these situations with overwhelming dread or they can’t stop thinking about all the fears tied to one of these events. It may seem that none of your comforts help. These children often get “stuck” on their worries. They have a hard time doing their daily activities, like going to school, playing and falling asleep. They’re extremely reluctant to try something new.

When thinking about your child’s anxiety levels, “getting stuck” is key. It separates the regular worries of childhood from an anxiety disorder that needs professional help. If the anxiety or worry interferes with your child’s ability to function, it may be time to seek help

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What causes anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are like other forms of mental illness. They don’t come from personal weakness, character flaws or problems with upbringing. But researchers don’t know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. They suspect a combination of factors plays a role:

• Chemical imbalance: Severe or long-lasting stress can change the chemical balance that controls your mood. Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period can lead to an anxiety disorder.

• Environmental factors: Experiencing a trauma might trigger an anxiety disorder, especially in someone who has inherited a higher risk to start.

• Heredity: Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. You may inherit them from one or both parents, like eye color.

What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have. General symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:

Physical symptoms:

• Cold or sweaty hands.

• Dry mouth.

• Heart palpitations.

• Nausea.

• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet.

• Muscle tension.

• Shortness of breath.

Mental symptoms:

• Feeling panic, fear and uneasiness.

• Nightmares.

• Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences.

• Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts.

Behavioral symptoms:

• Inability to be still and calm.

• Ritualistic behaviors, such as washing hands repeatedly.

• Trouble sleeping.

How do I know if my child has an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety-related problems in children share four common features. The anxiety:

• Is typically a fear or fixation that interferes with the ability to enjoy life, get through the day or complete tasks.

• Is puzzling to both the child and parents.

• Does not improve after logical explanations to address the worries.

• Is treatable.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

How are anxiety disorders diagnosed?

If you have symptoms of an anxiety disorder, talk to your healthcare provider. They’ll start with a complete medical history and physical examination.

There are no lab tests or scans that can diagnose anxiety disorders. But your provider may run some of these tests to rule out physical conditions that may be causing symptoms.

How are anxiety disorders treated?

An anxiety disorder is like any other health problem that requires treatment. You can’t will it away. It’s not a matter of self-discipline or attitude. Researchers have made a lot of progress in the last few decades in treating mental health conditions. The Doctor will tailor a Homeopathic treatment plan that works for you. Your plan may combine medication and psychotherapy.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a general term used to describe a decline in mental function that is severe enough to interfere with daily living. Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a group of symptoms that can affect thinking, memory, reasoning, personality, mood and behavior.

Dementia develops when the parts of the brain that are involved with learning, memory, decision-making, and language are affected by any of various infections or diseases. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. However, there are numerous other known causes of dementia, such as vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and dementia due to Parkinson’s disease and others. The condition of dementia is not a normal part of aging.

One common misbelief about memory loss is that it always means a person has dementia. There are many causes of memory loss. Memory loss alone doesn’t necessarily confirm a diagnosis of dementia. It’s also true that some memory loss is normal as a person ages (some neurons in the brain naturally die as we age). However, this type of memory loss is not disabling.

Who gets dementia?

Dementia is considered a late-life disease because it tends to develop mostly in elderly people. About five to eight percent of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, and this number doubles every five years above that age. It is estimated that as many as half of people 85 or older have dementia.

What are the types of dementia?

Dementias are often broken down into two main categories -- Alzheimer type or non-Alzheimer type. Dementias of the Alzheimer’s disease type are defined by the symptoms of memory loss plus impairment in other brain functions, such as language function (aphasia); inability to move the muscles associated with speech (lips tongue and jaw; apraxia); or perception, visual or other inabilities to recognize speech or name objects (agnosias).

Non-Alzheimer dementias include the frontotemporal lobar degenerations, which are further broken down into two main types. One type primarily affects speech. An example is primary progressive aphasia syndromes. The other type is defined by changes in behavior, including lack of feeling, emotion, interest or concern (apathy); loss of a “social filter” (disinhibition); personality change and loss of executive functions (such as the ability to organize and plan ahead). In both of these frontotemporal lobe dementias, memory loss is relatively mild until later in the course of the disease.

Other non-Alzheimer’s disease dementias include vascular disorders (multiple strokes), dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's dementia, and normal pressure hydrocephalus.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What causes dementia?

Dementia is caused by damage to the brain. There are many causes of dementia. The causes of dementia can be generally grouped as follows:

• Degenerative neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal lobar dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease dementia and Huntington's disease

• Vascular disorders, such as multi-infarct dementia, which is caused by multiple strokes in the brain

• Infections that affect the central nervous system, such as HIV dementia complex and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a quickly worsening and fatal disease that is recognized by its symptoms of dementia and muscle twitching and spasm (myoclonus)

• Long term drug or alcohol use

• Depression

• Certain types of hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid within the brain that can result from developmental abnormalities, infections, injury, or brain tumors

Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 percent to 70 percent of all dementias. However, many patients with Alzheimer's disease also have damage from other vascular brain disease, such as from mini strokes. Patients with more than one brain condition present that cause dementia are considered to have "mixed" dementia. Frontotemporal lobar degenerations, of which there are several types, account for a substantial number of dementias, especially among people in their 50s and 60s. Dementia with Lewy bodies has also been diagnosed with increasing frequency in recent years. These patients have clinical signs of Parkinsonism as well as dementia, though the connection between dementia and Parkinson's disease is still not completely understood.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Early symptoms of dementia include :

• Forgetting recent events or information

• Repeating comments or questions over a very short period of time

• Misplacing commonly used items or placing them in usual spots

• Not knowing the date or time

• Having difficulty coming up with the right words

• Experiencing a change in mood, behavior or interests

Signs that dementia is getting worse include:

• Ability to remember and make decisions further declines

• Talking and finding the right words becomes more difficult

• Daily complex tasks, such as brushing teeth, making a cup of coffee, working a tv remote, cooking, and paying bills become more challenging

• Rational thinking and behavior and ability to problem solve lessen

• Sleeping pattern change

• Anxiety, frustration, confusion, agitation, suspiciousness, sadness and/or depression increase

• More help with activities of daily living – grooming, toileting, bathing, eating – is needed

• Hallucinations (seeing people or objects that aren’t there) may develop

The symptoms mentioned above are general symptoms of dementia. Each person diagnosed with dementia has different symptoms, depending on what area of the brain is damaged. Additional symptoms and/or unique symptoms occur with specific types of dementia.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

How is dementia diagnosed?

Confirming the diagnosis of dementia can be difficult due to the many diseases and conditions that cause it as well as because its symptoms are common to many other illnesses. However, doctors are able to make the diagnosis based on the results of personal medical history, review of current symptoms, neurological (brain) and cognitive (thinking) tests, laboratory tests, imaging tests (CT, MRI, PET scans) and by interacting with the patient.

Current general symptoms that would indicate dementia are, by definition, a decline in such mental functions as memory, thinking, reasoning, personality, mood or behavior that are severe enough to interfere with the ability to accomplish everyday tasks. Patients undergo mental function testing (memory tests, language skills, reasoning and judgment evaluations, problem-solving tasks, other thinking skill tests) to identify problems in these areas. Interviews with family members and/or close friends who may have noticed changes in these areas are helpful as well.

Laboratory tests rule out other diseases and conditions as the cause of dementia, such as thyroid problems and vitamin B12 deficiency. Similarly, brain scans can look for signs of a stroke or tumor that may be the source of the dementia. A PET scan can determine if amyloid proteins are present in the brain, a marker for Alzheimer’s disease.

Oftentimes, neurologists and geriatricians assist in making the diagnosis.

Is dementia treatable?

First, it’s important to understand the difference in the terms treatable, reversible, and curable. All or almost all forms of dementia are treatable, in that Homeopathic medication and supportive measures are available to help manage symptoms in patients with dementia. 

Some dementias disorders, however, may be successfully treated, with patient returning to normal after treatment. These dementias are ones caused by:

• Side effects of medications or illicit drugs; alcohol

• Tumors that can be removed 

• Subdural hematoma, a buildup of blood beneath the outer covering of the brain that is caused by a head injury

• Normal pressure hydrocephalus, a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain

• Metabolic disorders, such as a vitamin B12 deficiency

• Hypothyroidism, a condition that results from low levels of thyroid hormones

• Hypoglycaemia, a condition that results from low blood sugar

• Depression

What are eating disorders?

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Eating disorders are a range of psychological conditions that cause unhealthy eating habits to develop. They might start with an obsession with food, body weight, or body shape.

In severe cases, eating disorders can cause serious health consequences and may even result in death if left untreated.

Those with eating disorders can have a variety of symptoms. However, most include the severe restriction of food, food binges, or purging behaviour like vomiting or over-exercising.

Although eating disorders can affect people of any gender at any life stage, they’re most often reported in adolescents and young women. In fact, up to 13% of youth may experience at least one eating disorder by the age of 20 

Summary Eating disorders are mental health conditions marked by an obsession with food or body shape. They can affect anyone but are most prevalent among young women.

What causes them?

Experts believe that eating disorders may be caused by a variety of factors.

One of these is genetics. Twin and adoption studies involving twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different families provide some evidence that eating disorders may be hereditary.

This type of research has generally shown that if one twin develops an eating disorder, the other has a 50% likelihood of developing one too, on average 

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Personality traits are another cause. In particular, neuroticism, perfectionism, and impulsivity are three personality traits often linked to a higher risk of developing an eating disorder 

Other potential causes include perceived pressures to be thin, cultural preferences for thinness, and exposure to media promoting such ideals 

In fact, certain eating disorders appear to be mostly nonexistent in cultures that haven’t been exposed to Western ideals of thinness 

That said, culturally accepted ideals of thinness are very present in many areas of the world. Yet, in some countries, few individuals end up developing an eating disorder. Thus, they are likely caused by a mix of factors.

More recently, experts have proposed that differences in brain structure and biology may also play a role in the development of eating disorders.

In particular, levels of the brain messengers serotonin and dopamine may be factors.

However, more studies are needed before strong conclusions can be made.

Summary Eating disorders may be caused by several factors. These include genetics, brain biology, personality traits, and cultural ideals.

1. Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is likely the most well-known eating disorder.

It generally develops during adolescence or young adulthood and tends to affect more women than men 

People with anorexia generally view themselves as overweight, even if they’re dangerously underweight. They tend to constantly monitor their weight, avoid eating certain types of foods, and severely restrict their calories.

Common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include :

• being considerably underweight compared with people of similar age and height

• very restricted eating patterns

• an intense fear of gaining weight or persistent behaviors to avoid gaining weight, despite being underweight

• a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a healthy weight

• a heavy influence of body weight or perceived body shape on self-esteem

• a distorted body image, including denial of being seriously underweight

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are also often present. For instance, many people with anorexia are often preoccupied with constant thoughts about food, and some may obsessively collect recipes or hoard food.

Such individuals may also have difficulty eating in public and exhibit a strong desire to control their environment, limiting their ability to be spontaneous.

Anorexia is officially categorized into two subtypes — the restricting type and the binge eating and purging type (8).

Individuals with the restricting type lose weight solely through dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise.

Individuals with the binge eating and purging type may binge on large amounts of food or eat very little. In both cases, after they eat, they purge using activities like vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, or exercising excessively.

Anorexia can be very damaging to the body. Over time, individuals living with it may experience the thinning of their bones, infertility, brittle hair and nails, and the growth of a layer of fine hair all over their body 

In severe cases, anorexia can result in heart, brain, or multi-organ failure and death.

Summary People with anorexia nervosa may limit their food intake or compensate for it through various purging behaviour  They have an intense fear of gaining weight, even when severely underweight.

2. Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder.

Like anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood and appears to be less common among men than women

People with bulimia frequently eat unusually large amounts of food in a specific period of time.

Each binge eating episode usually continues until the person becomes painfully full. During a binge, the person usually feels that they cannot stop eating or control how much they are eating.

Binges can happen with any type of food but most commonly occur with foods the individual would normally avoid.

Individuals with bulimia then attempt to purge to compensate for the calories consumed and relieve gut discomfort.

Common purging behaviors include forced vomiting, fasting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, and excessive exercise.

Symptoms may appear very similar to those of the binge eating or purging subtypes of anorexia nervosa. However, individuals with bulimia usually maintain a relatively normal weight, rather than becoming underweight.

Common symptoms of bulimia nervosa include (8):

• recurrent episodes of binge eating with a feeling of lack of control

• recurrent episodes of inappropriate purging behaviors to prevent weight gain

• a self-esteem overly influenced by body shape and weight

• a fear of gaining weight, despite having a normal weight

Side effects of bulimia may include an inflamed and sore throat, swollen salivary glands, worn tooth enamel, tooth decay, acid reflux, irritation of the gut, severe dehydration, and hormonal disturbances 

In severe cases, bulimia can also create an imbalance in levels of electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium. This can cause a stroke or heart attack.

Summary People with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food in short periods of time, then purge. They fear gaining weight despite being at a normal weight.

3. Binge eating disorder

Binge eating disorder is believed to be one of the most common eating disorders, especially in the United States

It typically begins during adolescence and early adulthood, although it can develop later on.

Individuals with this disorder have symptoms similar to those of bulimia or the binge eating subtype of anorexia.

For instance, they typically eat unusually large amounts of food in relatively short periods of time and feel a lack of control during binges.

People with binge eating disorder do not restrict calories or use purging behaviors, such as vomiting or excessive exercise, to compensate for their binges.

Common symptoms of binge eating disorder include 

• eating large amounts of foods rapidly, in secret and until uncomfortably full, despite not feeling hungry

• feeling a lack of control during episodes of binge eating

• feelings of distress, such as shame, disgust, or guilt, when thinking about the binge eating behavior

• no use of purging behaviors, such as calorie restriction, vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative or diuretic use, to compensate for the binging

People with binge eating disorder often have overweight or obesity. This may increase their risk of medical complications linked to excess weight, such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes

Summary People with binge eating disorder regularly and uncontrollably consume large amounts of food in short periods of time. Unlike people with other eating disorders, they do not purge.

4. Pica

Pica is another eating disorder that involves eating things that are not considered food.

Individuals with pica crave non-food substances, such as ice, dirt, soil, chalk, soap, paper, hair, cloth, wool, pebbles, laundry detergent, or cornstarch 

Pica can occur in adults, as well as children and adolescents. That said, this disorder is most frequently observed in children, pregnant women, and individuals with mental disabilities

Individuals with pica may be at an increased risk of poisoning, infections, gut injuries, and nutritional deficiencies. Depending on the substances ingested, pica may be fatal.

However, to be considered pica, the eating of non-food substances must not be a normal part of someone’s culture or religion. In addition, it must not be considered a socially acceptable practice by a person’s peers.

Summary Individuals with pica tend to crave and eat non-food substances. This disorder may particularly affect children, pregnant women, and individuals with mental disabilities.

5. Rumination disorder

Rumination disorder is another newly recognized eating disorder.

It describes a condition in which a person regurgitates food they have previously chewed and swallowed, re-chews it, and then either re-swallows it or spits it out 

This rumination typically occurs within the first 30 minutes after a meal. Unlike medical conditions like reflux, it’s voluntary 

This disorder can develop during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. In infants, it tends to develop between 3–12 months of age and often disappears on its own. Children and adults with the condition usually require therapy to resolve it.

If not resolved in infants, rumination disorder can result in weight loss and severe malnutrition that can be fatal.

Adults with this disorder may restrict the amount of food they eat, especially in public. This may lead them to lose weight and become underweight.

Summary Rumination disorder can affect people at all stages of life. People with the condition generally regurgitate the food they’ve recently swallowed. Then, they chew it again and either swallow it or spit it out.

6. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a new name for an old disorder.

The term replaces what was known as a “feeding disorder of infancy and early childhood,” a diagnosis previously reserved for children under 7 years old.

Although ARFID generally develops during infancy or early childhood, it can persist into adulthood. What’s more, it’s equally common among men and women.

Individuals with this disorder experience disturbed eating either due to a lack of interest in eating or distaste for certain smells, tastes, colors, textures, or temperatures.

Common symptoms of ARFID include :

• avoidance or restriction of food intake that prevents the person from eating sufficient calories or nutrients

• eating habits that interfere with normal social functions, such as eating with others

• weight loss or poor development for age and height

• nutrient deficiencies or dependence on supplements or tube feeding

It’s important to note that ARFID goes beyond normal behaviors, such as picky eating in toddlers or lower food intake in older adults.

Moreover, it does not include the avoidance or restriction of foods due to lack of availability or religious or cultural practices.

Summary ARFID is an eating disorder that causes people to under eat. This is either due to a lack of interest in food or an intense distaste for how certain foods look, smell, or taste.

Other eating disorders

In addition to the six eating disorders above, less-known or less common eating disorders also exist. These generally fall under one of three categories (8):

• Purging disorder. Individuals with purging disorder often use purging behaviours, such as vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or excessive exercising, to control their weight or shape. However, they do not binge.

• Night eating syndrome. Individuals with this syndrome frequently eat excessively, often after awakening from sleep.

• Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED). While not found in the DSM-5, this includes any other conditions that have symptoms similar to those of an eating disorder but don’t fit into any of the categories above.

One disorder that may currently fall under OSFED is orthorexia. Although increasingly mentioned in the media and scientific studies, orthorexia has yet to be recognized as a separate eating disorder by the current DSM.

Individuals with orthorexia tend to have an obsessive focus on healthy eating, to an extent that disrupts their daily lives.

For instance, the affected person may eliminate entire food groups, fearing they are unhealthy. This can lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss, difficulty eating outside the home, and emotional distress.

Individuals with orthorexia rarely focus on losing weight. Instead, their self-worth, identity, or satisfaction is dependent upon how well they comply with their self-imposed diet rules .

Summary Purging disorder and night eating syndrome are two additional eating disorders that are currently not well described. The OSFED category includes all eating disorders, such as orthorexia, that don’t fit into another category.

The categories above are meant to provide a better understanding of the most common eating disorders and dispel myths about them.

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that usually require treatment. They can also be damaging to the body if left untreated. 

Stress management is a wide spectrum of techniques and psychotherapies aimed at controlling a person's level of stress, especially chronic stress, usually for the purpose of and for the motive of improving everyday functioning. Stress produces numerous physical and mental symptoms which vary according to each individual's situational factors. These can include a decline in physical health as well as depression. The process of stress management is named as one of the keys to a happy and successful life in modern society. Life often delivers numerous demands that can be difficult to handle, but stress management provides a number of ways to manage anxiety and maintain overall well-being.

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do something over and over again (compulsions). Some people can have both obsessions and compulsions.

OCD isn’t about habits like biting your nails or thinking negative thoughts. An obsessive thought might be that certain numbers or colors are “good” or “bad.” A compulsive habit might be to wash your hands seven times after touching something that could be dirty. Although you may not want to think or do these things, you feel powerless to stop.

Everyone has habits or thoughts that repeat sometimes. People with OCD have thoughts or actions that:

• Take up at least an hour a day

• Are beyond your control

• Aren’t enjoyable

• Interfere with work, your social life, or another part of life

OCD Types and Symptoms

OCD comes in many forms, but most cases fall into at least one of four general categories:

• Checking, such as locks, alarm systems, ovens, or light switches, or thinking you have a medical condition like pregnancy or schizophrenia

• Contamination, a fear of things that might be dirty or a compulsion to clean. Mental contamination involves feeling like you’ve been treated like dirt.

• Symmetry and ordering, the need to have things lined up in a certain way

• Ruminations and intrusive thoughts, an obsession with a line of thought. Some of these thoughts might be violent or disturbing.

Obsessions and Compulsions

• Many people who have OCD know that their thoughts and habits don’t make sense. They don’t do them because they enjoy them, but because they can’t quit. And if they stop, they feel so bad that they start again.

Obsessive thoughts can include:

• Worries about yourself or other people getting hurt

• Constant awareness of blinking, breathing, or other body sensations

• Suspicion that a partner is unfaithful, with no reason to believe it

Compulsive habits can include:

• Doing tasks in a specific order every time or a certain “good” number of times

• Needing to count things, like steps or bottles

• Fear of touching doorknobs, using public toilets, or shaking hands

OCD Causes and Risk Factors

Doctors aren’t sure why some people have OCD. Stress can make symptoms worse.

It’s a bit more common in women than in men. Symptoms often appear in teens or young adults.

OCD risk factors include:

• A parent, sibling, or child with OCD

• Physical differences in certain parts of your brain

• Depression, anxiety, or tics

• Experience with trauma

• A history of physical or sexual abuse as a child

Sometimes, a child might have OCD after a streptococcal infection. This is called pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, or PANDAS.(Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections)

Homeopathic management depends upon Individual Case - medicine, therapy, or a combination of treatments

What is a phobia?

Almost everyone has an irrational fear or two—of spiders, for example, or your annual dental checkup. For most people, these fears are minor. But when fears become so severe that they cause tremendous anxiety and interfere with your normal life, they’re called phobias.

A phobia is an intense fear of something that, in reality, poses little or no actual danger. Common phobias and fears include closed-in places, heights, highway driving, flying insects, snakes, and needles. However, you can develop phobias of virtually anything. While most phobias develop in childhood, they can also develop in later life.

If you have a phobia, you probably realize that your fear is irrational, yet you still can’t control your feelings. Just thinking about the feared object or situation may make you anxious. And when you’re actually exposed to the thing you fear, the terror is automatic and overwhelming. The experience is so nerve-wracking that you may go to great lengths to avoid it—inconveniencing yourself or even changing your lifestyle. If you have claustrophobia, for example, you might turn down a lucrative job offer if you have to ride the elevator to get to the office. If you have a fear of heights, you might drive an extra 20 miles in order to avoid a tall bridge.

Understanding your phobia is the first step to overcoming it. It’s important to know that phobias are common. (Having a phobia doesn’t mean you’re crazy!) It also helps to know that phobias are highly treatable. No matter how out of control it feels right now, you can overcome your anxiety and fear and start living the life you want.

Normal fears in children

Many childhood fears are natural and tend to develop at specific ages. For example, many young children are afraid of the dark and may need a nightlight to sleep. That doesn’t mean they have a phobia. In most cases, they will grow out of this fear as they get older.

For example, the following childhood fears are extremely common and considered normal:

0-2 years – Loud noises, strangers, separation from parents, large objects.

3-6 years – Imaginary things such as ghosts, monsters, the dark, sleeping alone, strange noises.

7-16 years – More realistic fears such as injury, illness, school performance, death, natural disasters.

If your child’s fear is not interfering with their daily life or causing them a great deal of distress, then there’s little cause for undue concern. However, if the fear is interfering with your child’s social activities, school performance, or sleep, you may want to see a qualified child therapist.

Common types of phobias and fears

There are four general types of phobias and fears:

• 1. Animal phobias such as the fear of snakes, spiders, rodents, and dogs.

• 2. Natural environment phobias such as a fear of heights, storms, water, and of the dark.

• 3. Situational phobias (fears triggered by a specific situation) including the fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), flying, driving, tunnels, and bridges.

• 4. Blood-Injection-Injury phobia, the fear of blood, injury, illness, needles, or other medical procedures.

Some phobias, however, don’t fall into one of the four common categories. These include fear of choking, fear of getting a disease such as cancer, and fear of clowns. Other common phobias that don’t fit neatly into any of the four categories include:

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is fear of social situations where you may be embarrassed or judged. If you have social phobia, then you may be excessively self-conscious and afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety over how you will look and what others will think may lead you to avoid certain social situations you’d otherwise enjoy.

Fear of public speaking—an extremely common phobia—is a type of social phobia. Other fears associated with social phobia include fear of eating or drinking in public, talking to strangers, taking exams, mingling at a party, or being called on in class.

Agoraphobia was traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces, but is now believed to develop as a complication of panic attacks.

If you’re afraid of having another panic attack, you become anxious about being in situations where escape would be difficult or embarrassing. For example, you’re likely to avoid crowded places such as shopping malls and movie theaters. You may also avoid cars, airplanes, subways, and other forms of travel. In more severe cases, you might only feel safe at home.

Signs and symptoms of phobias

The symptoms of a phobia can range from mild feelings of apprehension and anxiety to a full-blown panic attack. Typically, the closer you are to the thing you’re afraid of, the greater your fear will be. Your fear will also be higher if getting away is difficult.

Physical symptoms of a phobia include:

• Difficulty breathing

• Racing or pounding heart

• Chest pain or tightness

• Trembling or shaking

• Feeling dizzy or light-headed

• A churning stomach

• Hot or cold flashes; tingling sensations

• Sweating

Emotional symptoms of a phobia include:

• Feeling overwhelming anxiety or panic

• Feeling intense need to escape

• Feeling “unreal” or detached from yourself

• Fear of losing control or going crazy

• Feeling like you’re going to die or pass out

• Knowing that you’re overreacting, but feeling powerless to control fear

When to seek help for phobias and fears

Although phobias are common, they don’t always cause considerable distress or significantly disrupt your life. For example, if you have a snake phobia, it may cause no problems in your everyday activities if you live in a city where you’re not likely to run into one. On the other hand, if you have a severe phobia of crowded spaces, living in a big city would pose a problem.

If your phobia doesn’t impact your life that much, it’s probably nothing to be concerned about. But if avoidance of the object, activity, or situation that triggers your phobia interferes with your normal functioning, or keeps you from doing things you would otherwise enjoy, it’s time to seek help.

Consider treatment for your phobia if:

• It causes intense and disabling fear, anxiety, and panic

• You recognize that your fear is excessive and unreasonable

• You avoid certain situations and places because of your phobia

• Your avoidance interferes with your normal routine or causes significant distress

• You’ve had the phobia for at least six months

Treating a phobia

Self-help strategies and therapy can both be effective at treating a phobia. What’s best for you depends on factors such as the severity of your phobia, your access to professional therapy, and the amount of support you need.

As a general rule, self-help is always worth a try. The more you can do for yourself, the more in control you’ll feel—which goes a long way when it comes to phobias and fears. However, if your phobia is so severe that it triggers panic attacks or uncontrollable anxiety, you may want to seek additional support.

Therapy for phobias has a great track record. Not only does it work extremely well, but you tend to see results very quickly—sometimes in as a little as one to four sessions. However, support doesn’t have to come in the guise of a professional therapist. Just having someone to hold your hand or stand by your side as you face your fears can be extremely helpful.

Phobia self-help tip 1: Face your fears, one step at a time

It’s only natural to want to avoid the thing or situation you fear. But when it comes to conquering phobias, facing your fears is the key. While avoidance may make you feel better in the short-term, it prevents you from learning that your phobia may not be as frightening or overwhelming as you think. You never get the chance to learn how to cope with your fears and experience control over the situation. As a result, the phobia becomes increasingly scarier and more daunting in your mind.

The most effective way to overcome a phobia is by gradually and repeatedly exposing yourself to what you fear in a safe and controlled way. During this exposure process, you’ll learn to ride out the anxiety and fear until it inevitably passes. Through repeated experiences facing your fear, you’ll begin to realize that the worst isn’t going to happen; you’re not going to die or “lose it.” With each exposure, you’ll feel more confident and in control. The phobia begins to lose its power.

It’s important to begin with a situation that you can handle, and work your way up from there, building your confidence and coping skills as you move up the “fear ladder.”

Make a list. Make a list of the frightening situations related to your phobia. If you’re afraid of flying, your list (in addition to the obvious, such as taking a flight or getting through takeoff) might include booking your ticket, packing your suitcase, driving to the airport, watching planes take off and land, going through security, boarding the plane, and listening to the flight attendant present the safety instructions.

Build your fear ladder. Arrange the items on your list from the least scary to the most scary. The first step should make you slightly anxious, but not so frightened that you’re too intimidated to try it. When creating the ladder, it can be helpful to think about your end goal (for example, to be able to be near dogs without panicking) and then break down the steps needed to reach that goal.

Work your way up the ladder. Start with the first step and don’t move on until you start to feel more comfortable doing it. If possible, stay in the situation long enough for your anxiety to decrease. The longer you expose yourself to the thing you’re afraid of, the more you’ll get used to it and the less anxious you’ll feel when you face it the next time. Once you’ve done a step on several separate occasions without feeling too much anxiety, you can move on to the next step. If a step is too hard, break it down into smaller steps or go slower.

Practice. The more often you practice, the quicker your progress will be. However, don’t rush. Go at a pace that you can manage without feeling overwhelmed. And remember: you will feel uncomfortable and anxious as you face your fears, but the feelings are only temporary. If you stick with it, the anxiety will fade.

Perform a simple deep breathing exercise. When you’re anxious, you tend to take quick, shallow breaths (known as hyperventilating), which actually adds to the physical feelings of anxiety. By breathing deeply from the abdomen, you can reverse these physical sensations and feel less tense, less short of breath, and less anxious. Practice when you’re feeling calm until you’re familiar and comfortable with the exercise.

Homeopathy is capable of resolving this emotional trauma. Homeopathic repertory has the biggest section of rubrics on fear.

Insomnia: 

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep at night, resulting in unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep. And it’s a very common problem, one that takes a toll on your energy, mood, and ability to function during the day. Chronic insomnia can even contribute to serious health problems.

Some people struggle to get to sleep no matter how tired they are. Others wake up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, anxiously watching the clock. But, because different people need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is defined by the quality of your sleep and how you feel after sleeping—not the number of hours you sleep or how quickly you doze off. Even if you’re spending eight hours a night in bed, if you feel drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.

Although insomnia is the most common sleep complaint, it is not a single sleep disorder. It’s more accurate to think of it as a symptom of another problem, whether it’s something as simple as drinking too much caffeine during the day or something more complex like feeling overloaded with stress.

Symptoms of insomnia include:

• Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired.

• Waking up frequently during the night.

• Trouble getting back to sleep when awakened.

• Unrefreshing sleep.

• Relying on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep.

• Waking up too early in the morning.

• Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or irritability.

• Difficulty concentrating during the day.

Causes of insomnia: Figuring out why you can’t sleep

In order to properly treat and cure your insomnia, you need to become a sleep detective. Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression cause half of all insomnia cases. But your daytime habits, sleep routine, and physical health may also play a role. Try to identify all possible causes of your insomnia. Once you figure out the root cause, you can tailor treatment accordingly.

What’s causing your insomnia?

• Are you under a lot of stress?

• Are you depressed? Do you feel emotionally flat or hopeless?

• Do you struggle with chronic feelings of anxiety or worry?

• Have you recently gone through a traumatic experience?

• Are you taking any medications that might be affecting your sleep?

• Do you have any health problems that may be interfering with sleep?

• Is your bedroom quiet and comfortable?

• Do you try to go to bed and get up around the same time every day?

Common psychological and medical causes of insomnia

Sometimes, insomnia only lasts a few days and goes away on its own, especially when it is tied to an obviously temporary cause, such as stress over an upcoming presentation, a painful breakup, or jet lag. Other times, insomnia is stubbornly persistent. Chronic insomnia is usually tied to an underlying mental or physical issue.

Anxiety, stress, and depression are some of the most common causes of chronic insomnia. Having difficulty sleeping can also make anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms worse. Other common emotional and psychological causes include anger, worry, grief, bipolar disorder, and trauma. Treating these underlying problems is essential to resolving your insomnia.

Medical problems or illness. Many medical conditions and diseases can contribute to insomnia, including asthma, allergies, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, acid reflux, kidney disease, and cancer. Chronic pain is also a common cause of insomnia.

Medications. Many prescription drugs can interfere with sleep, including antidepressants, stimulants for ADHD, corticosteroids, thyroid hormone, high blood pressure medications, and some contraceptives. Common over-the-counter culprits include cold and flu medications that contain alcohol, pain relievers that contain caffeine (Midol, Excedrin), diuretics, and slimming pills.

Sleep disorders. Insomnia is itself a sleep disorder, but it can also be a symptom of other sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and circadian rhythm disturbances tied to jet lag or late-night shift work.

Habits that cause insomnia and disrupt sleep

While treating underlying physical and mental issues is a good first step, it may not be enough to cure your insomnia. You also need to look at your daily habits. Some of the things you’re doing to cope with insomnia may actually be making the problem worse.

For example, maybe you’re using sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep, which disrupts sleep even more over the long-term. Or maybe you drink excessive amounts of coffee during the day, making it harder to fall asleep later. Other daytime habits that can negatively impact your ability to sleep at night include having an irregular sleep schedule, napping, eating sugary foods or heavy meals too close to bedtime, watching mobile, laptop and TV Screen for long time and not getting enough exercise or exercising too late in the day.

Not only can poor daytime habits contribute to insomnia, but a poor night’s sleep can make these habits harder to correct, creating a vicious cycle of un-refreshing sleep:

Treating insomnia with a better sleep environment and routine

Two powerful weapons in the fight against insomnia are a quiet, comfortable bedroom and a relaxing bedtime routine. Both can make a big difference in improving the quality of your sleep.

Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool. Noise, light, a bedroom that’s too hot or cold, or an uncomfortable mattress or pillow can all interfere with sleep. Try using a sound machine or earplugs to mask outside noise, an open window or fan to keep the room cool, and blackout curtains or an eye mask to block out light. Experiment with different levels of mattress firmness, foam toppers, and pillows that provide the support you need to sleep comfortably.

Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Support your biological clock by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including weekends. Get up at your usual time in the morning even if you’re tired. This will help you get back in a regular sleep rhythm.

Turn off all screens at least an hour before bed. Electronic screens emit a blue light that disrupts your body’s production of melatonin and combats sleepiness. So instead of watching TV or spending time on your phone, tablet, or computer, choose another relaxing activity, such as reading a book or listening to soft music.

Avoid stimulating activity and stressful situations before bedtime. This includes checking messages on social media, big discussions or arguments with your spouse or family, or catching up on work. Postpone these things until the morning.

Avoid naps. Napping during the day can make it more difficult to sleep at night. If you feel like you have to take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes

ormal adults need about 6-9 hours of sound sleep to function well.  Some people can function well even with 4-5 hours of sleep. Infants require much more sleep than adults, and they can sleep for up to 16-20 hours a day. 3-6 months old babies need about 15 hours of sleep. Children older than this need about 10-13 hours of sleep daily. Pre-teens and teenagers need 9-10 hours of sleep. After 50 years of age, the sleep duration is about 5-6 hours at night.

Normal sleep consists of:

1. Slow-wave (non-REM) sleep

2. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

Let’s have a look at them in detail.

Slow-wave (non-REM) sleep:

Non-REM sleep lasts about 70-90 minutes. Non-REM sleep is useful for the repair of the body. It has four stages as follows:

• Transitional stage (lasting about 1-7 minutes)

• Light sleep

• Moderately deep sleep (20 min after falling asleep)

• Deep sleep

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep:

REM sleep occurs within 50-90 minutes of falling asleep. Initially, it lasts 5-10 minutes. Gradually, the length or duration of this phase increases until the final REM period, which may last for 50 minutes. Mostly, you get dreams in this phase of sleep. As the name suggests, during this phase the eyeballs of a sleeping person move rapidly side-to-side under the lids. The muscles of the body become relaxed during this phase. This phase is particularly useful for the growth and repair of the brain itself.

 Homeopathic Treatment For Sleeplessness:

Individuals suffering from insomnia or sleeplessness find amazing positive results by using homeopathic treatment. It is free from any adverse effects. Homeopathic medicine is not a sleeping pill; it helps to induce sleep naturally.

Homeopathic treatment for sleeplessness treats the disease at the root level as the underlying cause of sleeplessness is taken into consideration while selecting the medicine. During the case study or case taking at Ramkrishna Homeopathic Consultancy , we try to evaluate the presentation of the symptoms, history of the present complaints, the lifestyle of the person, emotional make-up of the person, current mental state, the stress which person is going through, the past medical history, family history, etc. In such a way, the cause of sleeplessness (such as anxiety, stress, depression, faulty lifestyle, hormonal imbalance, or any other medical condition, etc.) is identified during the case taking and the treatment is aimed towards treating that cause to treat the disease at a deeper level.

If there are any environmental causes or sleeplessness is resulting due to a faulty lifestyle then it needs to be corrected by the patient by following certain measures so that insomnia can be treated.

How does homeopathy help in treating sleeplessness?

• Homeopathy improves the ability of the mind and body to handle stress effectively.

• Homeopathic treatment treats the underlying cause of sleeplessness.

• Homeopathy improves the quality of sleep.

• Over a period, homeopathic treatment calms and relaxes the mind.

• With the regular use of homeopathic medicines, the need for sleeping pills may reduce. 

• Homeopathy is absolutely safe and free from any side-effects

• Homeopathic medicines do not cause dependency and they are non-habit-forming.