I sat down to write today’s post, scanning through drafts I’ve begun. Some of the topics:  Depression…Connections Between Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder…Treatment Side Effects…Recess Makes Better Students…Active Kids are Independent Kids…Migraines and Mood Disorders are Related…

…the list goes on for quite some time because I’ve outlined 58 potential posts.

The thing is, I want to talk about the happy stuff today.

I want to focus on the good and I want to be grateful.

I want you to be grateful.

I can rattle off lots of amazing blessings just considering my ordinary Friday in Tucson, Arizona.

I think I will…

1. I made lots of new Twitter friends. ( you can follow me there, too!)

2. I watched a beautiful pack of coyotes wrestle and romp just outside my window.

3. The wind cleaned off my back patio.

4. My feet don’t hurt too much today.

5. I’ve had conversations with all of my children.

6. I felt energized after my trip to the gym.

7. My son’s in-laws shared delicious hand made tamales. I had 2 for lunch.

8. I cannot remember the last time I had a headache.

9. I felt an increase in my strength when I carted 25 cu. ft. of potting soil to & from my car. Yay gym!

10. Buddy the dog is happiest when sleeping on my lap.

11. My mother and I truly like one another.

12. I’m involved in a love affair… with my husband.

I3. I’m reading a well-written, compelling novel. (The Senator’s Wife by Sue Miller)

14. I am healthy.

15.  I am loved.

16. I am grateful.

All of that in just a couple of minutes. See how great life is. Now…quick!…write your own list! And have a wonderful weekend. We’ll get back to the topics listed above next week!

Panic Disorder affects more than 2.4 million Americans. Striking twice as many women as men, Panic Disorder is characterized by unexpected and repeated sensations of extreme fear accompanied by chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, numbness and tingling, dizziness or stomach upset.

Mimicking symptoms of heart or respiratory distress, Panic Disorder is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. This failure leads to increased medical costs as well as delay in treatment and relief. Additionally, when left untreated the frequency of episodes seems to increase. Many people with Panic Disorder exist in a near-constant state of anxiety, fearing the next episode.

Panic Disorder often co-occurs with depression and other mental or behavioral health issues. Nearly half of people with Panic Disorder abuse alcohol or drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, attempting to alleviate their discomfort. Those with dual diagnoses need to simultaneously be treated for substance abuse or depression in order to successfully treat the Panic Disorder. Sadly, one in five people diagnosed with Panic Disorder attempt suicide.

People with Panic Disorder often have other anxiety- or stress-induced illnesses, such as irritable bowel syndrome, characterized by intermittent bouts of gastrointestinal cramps and diarrhea or constipation. Headache, bursitis, tendonitis and neck or shoulder pains are also common.

People with Panic Disorder often develop phobias about places or situations where they’ve experienced panic attacks; and they often avoid situations and locations where they think another attack may occur, where they may not have quick access to bathrooms, or where help would not be immediately available. This avoidance can develop into agoraphobia, which is an inability to go beyond known and safe surroundings because of intense fear and anxiety.

The exact cause of Panic Disorder is unknown, but research suggests that panic attacks occur when an area of the brain sends in incorrect message that suffocation, thus death, is imminent. There seems to be a genetic component as well as learned patterns of thought that exaggerate relatively normal automatic physical reactions. Stress is also thought to be a factor. Fortunately, effective treatments are available.

The NIMH conducted a large-scale study to evaluate the effectiveness of combining prescription medications with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, finding that 70-90% of treated patients experienced significant improvement after only a few weeks of therapy.

Treatment is available and it works. If you know someone who lives with several of the symptoms listed below, encourage them to get help. Wellness is worth it.

Symptoms of Panic Disorder or Panic Attacks

Fear of dying

Racing or pounding heartbeat

Terror - a sense that something terrible is imminent and prevention is impossible

Chest pains

Dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea

Difficulty breathing

Tingling or numbness in the hands

Sense of unreality or disconnection

Flushes or chills

Fear of losing control, going “crazy,” or doing something embarrassing

Nearly half of American young adults experience addiction, substance abuse or mental health issues, but few seek treatment, according to a recent report published in the December 2008 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

U.S. researchers recently analyzed data from more than 5,000 young adults aged 19 to 25, who took part in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Researchers found that nearly 48 percent of the study participants met the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder, but only 25 percent of those identified with disorders sought treatment.

Among those in college, alcohol abuse (20.4 percent) and personality disorders (17.7 percent) were the most common disorders. Young adults not in college were most frequently diagnosed with personality disorders (21.6 percent) and nicotine dependence (20.7 percent).

College students were less likely to use drugs, tobacco, or have bipolar disorder than the non-students; but college students’ potential for alcohol abuse was much greater. Additionally, students were significantly less likely to receive treatment for drug or alcohol abuse or addiction.

“In view of the high prevalence and low rate of treatment of alcohol-use disorders in college students, greater efforts to implement screening and intervention programs on college and university campuses are warranted,” wrote Dr. Carlos Blanco, of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York. “The centralized delivery of campus student health services might offer an advantageous structure for carrying out such screening and interventions.”

The researchers also noted that a high overall rate of psychiatric disorders exists among young adults, who are at a vulnerable stage of development. This is not surprising since the average age of onset for many mental illnesses is seventeen.

“The vast majority of disorders in this population can be effectively treated with evidence-based psychosocial and pharmacological approaches,” Blanco wrote. “Early treatment could reduce the persistence of these disorders and their associated functional impairment, loss of productivity and increased health-care costs. As these young people represent our nation’s future, urgent action is needed to increase detection and treatment of psychiatric disorders among college students and their non-college-attending peers.”

Something must change. Facts and information need to find their way to young people, especially those in college. They must learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and understand their seriousness. Young people must be encouraged to seek treatment, and must have access to cost-effective treatment options.

Consider the numbers—nearly 50% of a generation of Americans is affected. Only a small fraction receives treatment. Their future, our future, is at risk.

I can relate!

Check out this post on my poetry site, Musings by Kate.

“Do nothing which, after being done, leads you to tell a lie.” *

This is basic. If an action causes you shame, embarrassment, denial or fear,  NEVER DO IT AGAIN!

If you have enough forethought to consider these possibilities before committing an act, DO NOT COMMIT THAT ACT!

A lie eats away at your integrity and sense of self-worth. It creates negative energy that you will deal with again and again.

Live honestly.

Interact with moral character and personal strength, virtue.

Adhere to your value system.

Do not compromise your own moral code.

Honor yourself — your physical self, your intellectual self, your emotional self and your spiritual self; and develop all of these facets if you are unsure of their strength.

Live with integrity. You will sleep better at night, you will feel better during the day, you will avoid unnecessary stress.

*This is the most recent installment in an ongoing series elaborating on 52 proven stress relievers identified by researchers at Texas Woman’s University.

Visit my other site!

Here’s a sampling…

“The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanely sensitive. To them… a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create — so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, their very breath is cut off…They must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency they are not really alive unless they are creating.”

- Pearl S. Buck

I recently visited the site of my friend and fellow writer at  www.janedevin.com and was struck by the brilliance shared in the comment section of her post “Anchors.” An incredible creative community of mostly, but not exclusively, women regularly converges on Jane’s site, sharing wit and wisdom and wonder. I love it there.

I love creative people. We resonate with one another, our energies flow into the others.  I gravitate toward their gatherings, both virtual and real. I think creative people are more evolved, god-like. The same is often true of those with mental illness. The line is oh-so-fine.

After reading the above quote so wisely posted by Kris D, I realized that I AM one of Ms. Buck’s “truly creative minds.” So is my daughter and many of my friends and acquaintances. Like minds flock together.

Ms. Buck’s “…a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death…” so describes my younger self. Blessedly, aging has afforded me the opportunity to better understand and manage my Newtonian “equal and opposite reactions,” and to learn the value and power of balance, flexibility, strength and honoring self.

A touch is now a welcome connection.

Sound is music in one form or another.

A misfortune is a lesson learned.

A joy is a joy is a joy.

A friend is a gift, a lover is a blessing, and failure is another chance to learn again.

I love aging. I love creating. I love my abnormally, inhumanely sensitive self.

Special thanks to Kris and Jane for instigating this post.

Thanks to Violet Crush for the following review of Mommy I’m Still in Here. You can read more interesting comments and reviews at her site.

Here is her review, in it’s entirety:

I am constantly surprised by the knowledge books provide, the way they let you experience and imagine things that could never have been possible otherwise. The way they tell stories that surprise, horrify or humble you. Mommy I’m still in here is one such story. As the tag line says ‘It is the story of a family’s journey with bipolar disease’.

I don’t know about others but I knew nothing about bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness.

Manic-depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviors, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to live. It is an illness that is biological in its origins, yet one that feels psychological in the experience of it; an illness that is unique in conferring advantage and pleasure, yet one that brings in its wake almost unendurable suffering and, not infrequently, suicide.

The author Kate had a perfect family with husband Mark and 3 children Chloe, Michael and Monica, all 3 years apart. Everything is going fine when the eldest daughter Chloe at the age of 17 suddenly experiences severe mood swings and depression. After doctor appointments and observations Chloe is diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. As the depression and mood swings increase, Chloe also starts hallucinating. She sees and hears things that are not there. Her relationship with her mother and siblings becomes strained due to her constant mood swings.

Kate also goes through a series of emotions like confusion, desperation, grief and guilt. Kate blames herself for not recognizing the signs early even though she knew there were a lot of cases of depression and substance abuse in the family.

When after constant monitoring Chloe’s illness becomes somewhat manageable, her son Michael is diagnosed with the same illness. He starts drinking and taking drugs to feel normal.

We can imagine what a mother goes through when one of her child falls sick, this twice is a mother’s nightmare. Kate has made a lot of sacrifices for her children. She explains the difficulties of living and caring for a chronically ill person. This one dialog had chills running down my spine. It’s when Chloe attempted suicide by cutting her nerves and after Kate patched her up.

Through it all, Chloe did not fight me, did not talk, and did not respond. When we were finished, she raised her face to mine and stated matter-of-factly, “Next time I’ll cut the other way, straight down the vein. It’ll be faster and you won’t be able to fix it.”

This is also Kate’s story. She learned not to blame herself when she finally admitted to herself and to others that she is not responsible for what happened or will not be responsible for what happens in the future. Kate says she has come to terms with the fact that eradicating her children’s illness is not the solution.

If we believe that disabilities must be altered or abolished, then we imply that the absence of disability equals a good life. But does it? Because if that’s true, one might deduce that anyone with a disability is inferior. That line of reasoning leads to a horrible, deeply disturbing, and dangerous arena.

Disability does not require solution or abolition, but understanding, and when necessary, temperature to allow the disabled to function more fully.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness. It does not go away. Chloe and Michael will always have it. It will forever alter their lives, and as a result, will alter ours too. Nevertheless, we embrace the experience and anticipate future legs of the journey because we know that this world, this life, offers everybody opportunities to learn and grow and evolve.

Okay, I’ll stop else I’ll end up quoting the entire book. All I can say is please, please, please read this book. It is sad, horrifying, depressing, uplifting, encouraging, gripping, informative, moving and hopeful. I hope Chloe, Michael and even Monica is doing fine. I hope the entire family is doing fine. I would like to take back my sentence ‘The author Kate had a perfect family…’ and correct it to ‘The author Kate has a perfect family…’. A family that supports one another, that understands each others problems and accepts it without judgment is nothing more than perfect.

Did you know that Napoleon, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, William Faulkner, Sylvia Plath, John Keats, Virginia Wolf, Vincent Van Gogh were possibly victims of Bipolar disorder?

Stress.

What, exactly, is it?

According to Wikipedia, “STRESS is a biological term which refers to the consequences of the failure of a human or animal body to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined.

“It includes a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion. It refers to the inability of a human or animal body to respond. Common stress symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and accelerated heart rate.”

Given this definition, it is not surprising that college students, dealing with lots of new situations and experiences, and often on their own for the first time, often complain of excess stress.

The good news is, almost anyone can learn to manage stress and maintain health. Learning to recognize the physical and psychological warning signs of stress and then responding correctly are keys.

Warning Signs of Stress

Taking longer to fall asleep
Awakening during the night
Waking up tired and not well-rested
Insomnia
Compulsive overeating
Inability to eat
Desire to eat abundant carbohydrates
Headaches
Increased irritability
feeling short-tempered or intolerant of others
Recurring colds and minor illness
Frequent muscle aches or tightness, particularly in neck and shoulders
inability to organize time and materials
Forgetfulness
Increased difficulty in task completion
Feeling a persistent sense of time pressure
Increased frustration
Increased anger
Increased sadness

If several items on this list seems describe you or someone you know, it’s time to make some changes or seek some assistance.

Stress Management

Consider these ideas to bring balance back into your life and manage the stress that inevitably accompanies a busy student lifestyle:

Get at least 30 minutes of physical exercise every day. Ride your bike, play a team sport, go for a walk, do yoga…whatever you like. Just do it. Every day.

Create a road map for your life and organize your time. First, set long and short term goals, and write them down. Second, itemize and write down the steps required to attain each goal. Third, in a calendar or planner that you find convenient, write down your class schedule, work commitments and social engagements. Then block out time in your calendar for household chores and personal responsibilities, such as grocery shopping, laundry and bill paying. Finally, fill in any additional actions or deadlines from your itemized goals list.

Spend at least 15 minutes every day in quiet reflection. This can take many forms: Prayer, meditation, controlled breathing, listening to music and writing in a journal are a few examples. Do what most effectively quiets body, mind and spirit.

Maintain relationships with loving and supportive people who have similar goals and interests, as well as with family and friends. Socialize. Have fun. And include these people in your life when challenges arise or frustrations emerge. Sometimes talking about a problem or sharing a burden is all it takes to reduce its weight.

Maintain a sense of humor and a positive attitude. These two character traits will take you further than nearly anything else you develop.

Seek the help of a guidance counselor or another trusted person if you feel too overwhelmed.