Archives for 2014

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, approximately 40 million adults are currently dealing with an anxiety disorder, and an additional 14.8 million people 18 and older have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. This helps shed light on the fact that both of these medical conditions are extremely prevalent. In fact, it’s estimated that 26.2 percent of American adults have a diagnosable mental disorder. Therefore, it’s important to debunk the myths that surround these very real conditions so that people can get the assistance that they need.

Five Common Myths about Depression

1. Depression Only Impacts Women – This myth takes its basis from the fact that women are much more likely than men to admit to dealing with issues such as depression and anxiety, but there’s still a very high quantity of men who suffer from these mental health conditions. With this in mind, it’s vital not to get bogged down by inaccurate gender stereotypes.
2. Depression Can’t Actually be Properly Treated – Although many people believe this myth, depression is actually one of the most easily treated mental disorders. It’s also not always necessary for people to take medication in order to improve their mental health. Therefore, if you’re currently dealing with feelings of depression, you should strongly consider signing up for counseling and making any applicable lifestyle changes.
3. People Who Think They’re Depressed Simply Have the Blues – Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that can have an extremely negative impact on your entire life. Due to this, you need to recognize the fact that being depressed for more than just a couple of weeks is an indicator that you’re battling something much more intense than simply having the blues. Sadly, people who allow themselves to buy into this myth often end up suffering in silence for an extended period of time.
4. People Who Say They’re Depressed are Just Weak – There is absolutely no correlation between feelings of depression and the strength of your personal character. Therefore, battling with a mental disorder should be viewed as being equally serious as medical conditions such as diabetes, and you need to seek out assistance to make things better.
5. A Medical Test can Diagnose Depression – There is currently no medical or biological testing that can be used to determine if someone is clinically depressed. Instead, you need to disclose all of your symptoms to a health professional so that they can provide you with the proper diagnosis.

There are also several common myths about anxiety disorders, and many of them are extremely similar to the misconceptions about depression. For example, people with anxiety are often believed to be simply worrywarts. However, anxiety is a very real illness, and if you’re suffering from this condition, you will need therapy and possibly medication to properly treat it.

Although these mental disorders can seem very daunting, you can receive assistance from a local counselor. For example, people who live in New York can easily turn to a NYC therapist who is specially trained to deal with your specific condition. If you need help getting started in New York City, you can contact us toll-free at 888-441-0015 to find the location closest to you.

If you or a member of your family is struggling with a mood disorder, you should know about recent research. Strong links are turning up between heredity and mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. These disabling conditions are among some of the most common, affecting about 9.5 percent of adults in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

You probably know that mood disorders have a physical component, as antidepressant medications confirm. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft focus on rewiring reactions in the brain that affect your mood.

New evidence suggests that your genome helps determine whether you’re at risk for developing bipolar disorder or major depression. This breakthrough research will someday help doctors predict and possibly prevent these genetic disorders.

Insight into Depression
As the number one disabling illness for Americans aged 15 to 44, major depressive disorder is a widespread problem that affects nearly 15 million people in the U.S. each year. If you have depression, you probably have a parent, a grandparent or a sibling who suffers from the same disease. As it turns out, major depression and bipolar disorder run in families.

Research studying identical twins has been especially conclusive. Results of one study show that if one twin has a mood disorder, the second twin stands around a 50 percent chance of developing the same illness. Another study reveals that 46 percent of the time, depression in identical twin sets affects both twins. Since identical twins have identical genes, this supports the theory that the seeds for major depressive disorder are rooted in some people’s DNA.

Bipolar Disorder Research
If you have bipolar disorder, you’re in good company. Nearly 5.7 million American adults – that’s 2.6 percent of everyone over 18 — are bipolar. Even though it’s becoming clearer that specific genes can trigger mood disorders, scientists haven’t pinpointed which ones link to bipolar and which to depression.

University of Michigan researcher Jun Li, Ph.D., has been studying family groups in which several members are bipolar. He has isolated a few common genomes that could be the culprits. So far, his team has identified FOXD4, DRD5 and GRIK3, all genes with known connections to mental illnesses like schizophrenia, ADHD and OCD. The next step is further scrutiny of Dr. Li’s identified genes and developing new micro therapies to address them.

The Environmental Wild Card
The environment in which you grew up is also a deciding factor in whether you develop a genetic disorder. For example, children born with a genetic tendency for depression who experience abuse are more likely to develop the disorder. Other environmental stress factors such as poor parenting, neglect or bullying might also add to your genetic risk for mood disorders.

Epigenetics, or factors that shape your inherited traits, could also be at play in your early years. According to the tenets of this science, environmental factors actually drive physiological changes that affect the way your genes ultimately express themselves. Epigenetics may work for you, reducing your risk of mood disorders, or against you, making you more susceptible to them.

Genetics and Mood Disorder Treatment
Besides acting as an indicator of risk, your genome may also suggest the best treatment for your mood disorder. Family members are more likely to respond well to the same types of medications, so that gives your doctor a starting place for drug therapy. Once researchers know the specific genes that increase your risk for bipolar or major depressive disorder, they will have data that is key to finding a cure. Read more about treatment of mood disorders in New York City, or get help by contacting our psychologists at comprehendthemind.com today.

Cognitive therapy is a method where the therapist explores how thoughts and perceptions affect you. For example, if you mess up a certain task, you might begin to think you could never do it right. Further, you might also think that messing up other things reinforces your original mistake. This rapidly snowballing effect is commonly known as the self-fulfilling prophecy. A cognitive therapist will try to help you weed out the bad thoughts and not only accomplish the original task but also overcome other past and future failures by giving you the right ammunition.

Behavioral therapy bases itself on learned behaviors and conditioned responses. The main idea is: Something happens to you, and you create false ideas about it. For example, after getting punched in the gut by someone you tried to hug, you might start mistrusting anyone who wants to hug you.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines these two approaches. It asks you not only to think about your “thinking” but also about how your thoughts affect your behavior. You, as the patient, develop ways to avoid destructive thoughts and methods for assessing your behavior. You’ll also learn the difference between an irrational fear of a perceived outcome and the actual outcome of a certain behavior. The best example of this is exposure therapy. For example, if you’re afraid of cats, the therapist puts you on a sofa next to a cat so that you can see the cat for what it is and not what you think it is.

If you need this kind of help, Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. is just what the doctor ordered. Contact us today.

Everyone experiences anxiety in certain situations, but for some people, the feeling can be so strong that it interferes with living a regular life. According to the Mayo Clinic, only two types of treatment are available for anxiety, but before taking drugs with possible side effects, it is best to try cognitive behavior therapy. While it may sound complicated, behavior therapy is really nothing more than learning skills that teach you how to cope with anxiety. Following are 10 tips for overcoming anxiety to get you started.

1. Acknowledge the anxiety.
The first step to overcoming anxiety is to acknowledge it and accept that you are experiencing it.

2. Think through the problem.
Don’t fight your anxiety. Just think about your problems, understand them and try to develop solutions to them.

3. Consider the reality of the situation.
Are you sure your anxiety is over something that could actually happen? There’s no sense in worrying over a situation that’s not real.

4. Know that you can’t be perfect.
Don’t set your personal standards too high. You must understand that no one is perfect. Everyone has weaknesses, everyone makes mistakes and, sometimes, life is just dirty.

5. Chase away the fear.
Most instances of anxiety are closely related to fear, but you can chase those fears away by imagining the worst that can happen. You will soon realize that the worst is not going to happen, and your fear will naturally subside.

6. Talk to yourself.
Encourage and reassure yourself out loud by repeating a few calming phrases, such as the following:

• This feeling is only temporary. It will pass.
• I am in no danger.
• My heartbeat is returning to normal as I speak.
• I am strong and will make it through this.

7. Talk to others.
Discuss your problems, fears and concerns with a trusted friend or family member. In many instances, you won’t even need to receive any advice. Airing out your problems often makes them dissipate.

8. Go to bed.
When you are experiencing anxiety, it is important to get the proper amount of rest. If you can’t sleep at night, find time to nap during the day.

9. Create a distraction.
Sometimes anxiety becomes a problem when you find yourself unable to stop thinking about it. This calls for setting up a distraction that will change the focus of your attention, such as taking a walk, playing a game or making a cup of tea.

10. Give yourself a treat.
Pets are not the only animals to respond to treats. Give yourself a reward for all of your past accomplishments or just for being alive.

If you feel you need further help with your anxiety, find a top-rated psychologist by giving us a call or visiting our website at http://comprehendthemind.com/psychologist-queens/.

If you’re a parent with an autistic child, you may be spending much of your time scratching your head, pacing and wondering what you’ve done wrong. In most cases, parents take the blame unnecessarily, so you can stop beating your head against the wall. Although there may be links to certain prenatal behaviors, the causes of autism in babies have more to do with the environment and genetics than you might suspect.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall far From the Tree
Autism is a multifaceted developmental disability, and there is no single cause for the disorder. However, research has shown that it may have a genetic foundation. This means if Grandma Betty or Uncle Rich are autistic, the family genetic code has been compromised, which increases the likelihood of your baby developing the condition. If your child is autistic, you can probably blame biology more than anything.

In some cases, volatile genes may inhibit brain development, which means some babies are just susceptible to autism. When there is already a history of the disorder in the family, the risk of a vulnerable baby developing autism increases. Unfortunately, heredity involves more than just passing on your killer sapphire eyes or untamed auburn locks. Parents who have one autistic child may be at a higher risk for having a second child with the disability.

Life on the Prenatal Planet
Genetics aren’t the only contributing factors when it comes to a baby developing autism. In many cases, the prenatal environment is the culprit. When a pregnant female is exposed to chemical contaminants, such as traffic-related air pollution, pesticides and certain metals, the unborn baby is at risk. Exposure outside the womb can also trigger autism if the baby is genetically vulnerable to the disorder.

Maintaining a healthy prenatal atmosphere may reduce the risk of autism in babies. Nutritional deficiencies, antibiotic and antidepressant usage, persistent high fever and the development of infections or influenza during pregnancy can compromise the wellness of a fetus. Even the mother’s age can adversely affect the cozy little nook an unborn baby resides in. Autism has been linked to low birth weight and other neonatal complications as well.

Playing the Blame Game
Some theories connect autism with certain genetic disorders, food allergies, mercury-based vaccines and anti-seizure medications taken during pregnancy. With so many possibilities, pointing fingers like an injured toddler on a playground can be futile. Getting a diagnosis as early as possible is more worthwhile. There are numerous facilities that can provide the proper psychological testing in NYC and other major cities around the world.

Although some causes of autism are easy to detect, many parents don’t ever obtain definitive answers. New evidence is continually uncovered regarding the disorder’s origins, which can annihilate even the most gratifying aha moments. Autism is a sneaky and mysterious foe, and getting answers can be as frustrating as the disability itself. Parents facing this struggle may find relief simply by taking action and getting early treatment.

It’s a hectic world out there. With deadlines to meet, bills to pay and loved ones to care for, some level of concern is natural. Unfortunately, when a normal response to the stresses of life takes on a life of its own, you could be dealing with anxiety disorder.

Debilitating apprehension normally takes one of five distinct forms. These include:

– Generalized anxiety disorder. Affecting nearly 7 million people in the U.S.A. alone, GAD’s free-floating sense of foreboding can affect nearly every aspect of daily living.

– Obsessive-compulsive disorder. In a subconscious attempt to deal with underlying anxieties, sufferers of OCD feel compelled to perform meaningless repetitive actions or senseless rituals.

– Post-traumatic stress disorder. This common complaint of war-zone veterans can affect anyone who has undergone a traumatic life experience. PTSD symptoms include frightening flashbacks, exaggerated startle reactions and a general loss of interest in life.

– Panic disorder. Unexpected episodes of rapid heartbeat, vertigo, sweating palms and a sense of impending doom characterize this often-crippling form of anxiety disorder. Desperate to avoid potential triggers, many sufferers become housebound.

– Social phobia. This disorder results when a fear of being constantly judged morphs from a dread of group events to an eventual avoidance of all social contact.

The good news is that no one needs to suffer. Anxiety disorders are treatable, and a qualified Queens NY therapist can help. With a bit of the proper attention, you might just get your life back.

Is your child’s activity level spinning out of control? Maybe your husband’s temper tends to run off the rails, or you, yourself, might find it difficult to concentrate on what someone is trying to tell you.

If anything like this sounds familiar, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could be to blame. Better known as ADHD, this condition adversely affects behavior by shortening attention spans and taking the brakes off impulse control.

In recent years, its incidence has continued to climb. As of 2011, at least 6.4 million children in the United States had received the diagnosis. The prevalence varies by region, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, it measures 7 percent or higher in every state but Nevada.

Neuropsychological Testing, ADHD-Style
The condition is responsible for inciting a wide range of behaviors. Fortunately, there are tests to determine whether your or a loved one does or does not suffer from ADHD. When symptoms can very so widely, these evaluation methods must be of sufficient scope to permit an accurate diagnosis. The most useful ones will assess an individual’s:

• Sensory processing ability
• Cognitive skills
• Academic performance
• Emotional maturity

In addition to measuring the severity of the symptoms, structured testing methods will evaluate when they began, how long they’ve existed and under what circumstances they usually appear.

The Symptoms of ADHD in Children
When children can’t sit still, follow instructions or refrain from making left-field comments at inappropriate times, it’s easy to believe that their parents are to blame. What people often fail to understand is that many of these children have little control over their behavior. ADHD has taken it away.

In addition to an inability to relax or play quietly with other children, children with ADHD will often tend to engage in:

• Excessive talking
• Impulsive behavior
• Squirming, fidgeting or jumping entirely out of their seats
• Sudden outbursts of temper

However, this is not always the case. Some children with ADHD have no problem sitting still. Instead, their disorder manifests as an inability to pay attention. These children will:

• Be easily distracted
• Have problems getting organized or finishing what they start
• Tend to misplace their possessions
• Find it difficult to comprehend what others are saying

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults
Contrary to popular belief, ADHD is not limited to the younger set. The symptoms frequently continue beyond the age of 17. Adults who have never received a diagnosis often fail to recognize that their problems with organizational skills, punctuality and anger management can indeed be symptomatic. However, ADHD usually originates in youth. Anyone who exhibits these symptoms after attaining majority will likely have experienced them since childhood.

Experts suspect adult ADHD in patients who:

• Struggle with organizational tasks
• Drive recklessly
• Experience marital difficulties
• Cannot concentrate in noisy surroundings
• Find it difficult to listen
• Often feel tense and unable to relax
• Are incapable of prioritization
• Have a quick temper
• Tend to procrastinate

Is it ADHD or Something Else?
Are these symptoms always indicative of ADHD? Only a professional can make that determination. With careful and accurate neuropsychological testing, ADHD can be more accurately diagnosed. If you think that you or someone you love is acting inappropriately, these tests will assist in determining whether the behavior is or is not normal.

Don’t Lose Hope
Always keep in mind that ADHD sufferers are often extremely imaginative, flexible and beloved for their enthusiastic and spontaneous personalities. Their wide range of interests can fascinate others, and their energy and drive frequently inspire those around them.

For sufferers, however, the experience is not as pleasant. They often yearn for relief, and an accurate diagnosis can be the first step toward obtaining it. Contact us to learn more about ADHD testing. Thanks to the availability of modern medical and behavioral therapies, this condition doesn’t have to cramp anyone’s style.

Everyone gets lonely or feels anxious at one time or another. But when loneliness or anxiety threaten to take over, it’s time to do something about it.

Loneliness seems easy enough to fix, until you’re the one suffering from it. Even if you have plenty of friends and social contact, it’s still easy to feel lonely. Loneliness isn’t necessarily the absence of human contact–it’s depression caused by feeling that we aren’t being heard, understood, and appreciated.

To deal with this feeling, you must first learn to like yourself. If you like yourself, it’s easier to deal with being alone, to not depend on others for your sense of identity and self-worth. Remind yourself frequently of what you like about yourself, and combat those negative internal thoughts that make you need external validation. Liking yourself also makes you more relaxed, which makes it easier to make social connections, which in turn helps combat loneliness and anxiety.

That may sound like a case of “easier said than done,” but with practice, it does get easier. For the positive affirmations, you might benefit from keeping a journal of positive thoughts. Whenever you think of something good about yourself, write it down. Even something as simple as being organized, liking your smile, or being a good neighbor should go on the list. Then when the negative fears start, you can refer to your list of positive attributes.

For both anxiety and loneliness, one of the best remedies is exercise. This doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym: going for a brisk walk, hopping on the stationary bike, or even just doing jumping jacks in your living room can give you the same effect. The key is to get your heart pumping. Aerobic exercise has the unique ability to both stimulate and calm, to relieve depression and anxiety, and to energize and relax you.

There are both chemical and behavioral benefits of exercise. Exercise reduces the amount of stress hormones in your system, and at the same time, it stimulates your body to produce endorphins, which are your body’s natural mood elevators. Out with the bad, in with the good: exercise gives you a double-edged mental benefit. On the behavioral side, you’ll feel better physically and feel better about yourself, which enhances your self-image.

If regular aerobic exercise isn’t enough to reduce your anxiety levels, try deep breathing exercises. Breathing exercises are easy to learn and don’t require you to buy any special equipment. It’s can be as easy as forcing yourself to concentrate on your breathing and consciously relaxing your muscles.

Anxiety and loneliness can be treated at home with some of the techniques mentioned above. However, if your symptoms are not improving or if they become worse, you should seek professional help.

We can’t avoid stress altogether, and probably shouldn’t. Any psychologist will tell you it provides the adrenaline needed to escape danger in scary situations. But over time, and in a not-so-dangerous modern context, excess stress can really wreak havoc on our health. Since we can’t escape it altogether, these stress management activities can help you keep anxiety in check.

Take a Tech Break
Turn off your computer, phone and other devices to truly get away from it all — even if only for 20 minutes. Even the technophiles among us may not realize how draining it is to be available to the world 24/7. If it makes you feel better, set up an “away” message so you won’t leave friends, relatives and co-workers hanging.

Get Inspired
Nothing gets your mind off the daily grind like planning for an exciting project. Whether you’d like to go to Costa Rica or want to start building a new career, the first step is getting inspired. Compiling an inspiration board will help put you on the path toward planning for your next adventure or creation.

Build Something
Creating an item, developing a skill set or building something from the ground up are all wonderful stress management activities. From starting a patio garden or learning coding to refinishing a thrift store table or taking cooking lessons, you’ll have a new “happy place” to escape to when the going gets rough. As a special bonus, you’ll experience a confidence boost that will help you deal with bumps in the road.

Forensic psychology is a fascinating field that allows professionals to work their way into the minds of criminals. A forensic psychologist in NYC can perform one of the forensic evaluations listed bellow to learn more about a defendant. There are three primary types of evaluations that can be used by a forensic psychologist. Guidelines for these evaluations are set forth by the American Psychological Association.

Competency To Stand Trial
Defendants are required to be able to understand the court proceedings, acknowledge the charges involved in the case and assist their attorney with the defense. Forensic psychologists will evaluate a defendant to determine whether the individual is truly unable to complete any of these tasks.

A mental impairment may render a defendant unable to stand trial. The psychologist is tasked with verifying or disproving that such an impairment exists. The court typically asks that the forensic psychologist evaluate whether the defendant could be expected to regain competency to stand trial in the future. The hearing may be moved to a later date in this case, and the psychologist will be asked to reevaluate the individual to see if changes in mental state have taken place.

Legal Sanity
Everyone has heard stories about people using the insanity defense after committing a crime. Forensic psychologists evaluate a defendant in order to determine whether the individual can be considered legally insane. Someone who is deemed to have a history of mental illness may be put in an inpatient psychiatric care facility for criminals instead of being incarcerated.

It is important to understand that this defense is only valid if a person has an established history of mental illness. Disorders do not have to be previously diagnosed, but a psychiatrist will gather information about a person’s past to determine whether they have displayed signs of mental illness.

Readiness For Release
Inmates who may be released need to by evaluated if their crime involved violence. Forensic evaluations for readiness for release focus on determining whether it is likely for the individual to act violently in the future. A risk assessment is used to make the determination.

Evaluations of inmates who have the opportunity to be released tend to be subjective in nature. Psychologists are given a basic goal of determining whether the individual would be manageable when released into society.

Forensic psychology is a field that focuses on evaluating the mental state of people who have been charged or convicted of a crime. Competency to stand trial, legal sanity and readiness for release are types of evaluations that forensic psychologists perform routinely.