Archive for the ‘mental disorder’ Category

How Internet Affects Mental Health

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

By Charles Leigh Moore

The lives of millions of people around the world have never been the same since the advent of the internet. It has breached the barriers of commerce and built bridges for global collective research and education. It has greatly modified public communication, information acquisition and amusement. Sending of important information or simple personal greetings is made possible in the fastest way through e-mail.

These days you do not have to spend hours in the library to gather information for research work as everything is already simplified for you through the internet. All you have to do is open your laptop, type in what you are looking for and then indulge in the overflow of information. Most people will just tell you to “Google It” when you ask them about something. Moreover, people miles apart can conduct conferences as if they are just conducting it on one table.

The above mentioned are only a few the wonderful advantages offered to us by the internet. However, these advantages also have its positive and negative effects on people. This article will particularly discuss the effects of the internet to the mental status.

Sure, being afflicted with diseases is one cause why people use the internet to look for health information. But recent studies reveal that most people who search the web for health information are healthy people and that they are usually looking up information for a loved one or simply to be informed.

These people may have all the good intentions, but little did they know that what they are doing may bring harm to their mental stability. Knowing too much about health conditions may cause rumination thereby triggering anxiety or hypochondriasis which is the over-preoccupation of having severe illness. Obtaining too much information about diseases may bring about pointless concerns for their own health or for their family. Otherwise healthy people may encounter problems in their psychological state.

Additionally, an increase in incidences of depression have been related to excessive participation in online games, gambling and even window shopping.

In relation to this, researchers found out that sadistic online games influence hostility to players specifically children and teenagers.

On the brighter side of things, easy communication brought about by the internet augments social ties and creates new ones. Distance does not anymore prove to be a barrier for loved ones to bond. The effect is greater positive affect, low levels of stress and generally good psychological functioning.

On the other hand, people who have reduced social communication due to their distance are observed to have poor psychological functioning and high stress levels. But be warned as well, because online communication with strangers through chat sites may also not be good to your psychological and emotional health.

To some extent, the internet offers so many forms of entertainment that it is the easiest and most attainable form of reprieve from the stresses of the real world.

These things do not necessarily happen to everyone using the internet as they are all but possibilities. How it affects you will still rely on the way you use it. To help you with, just remember that the real world is outside and that too much of anything is generally not good. Enjoy the real life…go on a picnic, go camping, laugh, love, live…

About the Author: Charles Leigh Moore writing for Vuyanilodge.com which offers safari holidays in south africa and african safari honeymoon as well as a host of additional services.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=613372&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

Go here to read the rest: How Internet Affects Mental Health

The Many Community Mental Health Services Available to You

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

By Christine Crotts

Well developed and well managed community mental health services are actually associated with low suicide rates. Hence, mental health services for the masses can be improved by focusing on the community based and specialized mental health services.

If ever you are in need of mental health services, you can contact your local affiliates of the national self help organizations or the local mental health center. Most of these agencies have the relevant information on the various services designed to meet the different needs of those who are suffering from different types of disorders such as anxiety conditions, panic disorders, schizophrenia, etc. Apart from these, they also provide information related to community mental health services designed specifically for children, refugees, HIV infected patients, the elderly, etc. Here are a list of various community health services available for your use.

Mental health act has provided a great opportunity in rendering different kinds of community care based upon individual needs. The provision of good residential accommodation for various groups of mentally disordered or patients with disorders who need constant care by the government aided agencies is a step towards enhancing the community health services.

Generally community health services treat or support people suffering with mental disorders in a domiciliary setting instead of placing them in a hospital or a psychiatric asylum. The various services offered by these community services usually differ from country to country. Most of the community services consist of psychiatric wards similar to that of a hospital. These services are mostly rendered by professionals and government organizations. According to the world health organization, community services are very easy to access by a wide range of people and are quite effective and even aid in reducing social exclusion.

When compared to private mental hospital, community services are less likely to have possibilities for the violation and neglect of human rights which are rarely encountered in few of the mental hospitals. These community services also play an important role in educating the people about the various common disorders and their corresponding symptoms. This way, people gain knowledge on various disorders and can easily recognize individuals who may be suffering from these disorders but might not really be aware of them. Aged and older people who require constant attention, can get benefited by these community services, instead of paying huge bills at private hospitals, they can get good care at the community services.

With the population in the older age group on the rise, there is need for the development of community mental health services in various localities. Also, with many specialists willing to volunteer at the community services, clients can gain a lot of benefits. Since, most of the mental health disorders occurrence do not have a clear reason behind them, the treatment usually is a long term one and for people who cannot afford highly expensive treatments and consultations, community mental health services is the best place to choose. With government pitching in to provide funds for them, it is time people think of visiting them when needed.

About the Author: Christine Crotts loves supporting the local sports teams but can’t stand those bleacher seats. Christine has written a site containing reviews on stadium cushion, as well as stadium seat cushions.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=504963&ca=Medical+Business

See original here: The Many Community Mental Health Services Available to You

How to Choose a Mental Health Clinic

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

By Christine Crotts

The process of choosing a mental health clinic begins by first identifying which kind of clinic you wish to opt for. There are various options of clinics to choose from such as – a mental health clinic that only caters to outpatients and is run by a privately owned organization or clinics which offer inpatient facility or a day patient facility, most of which are usually run by the government or the clinics run by health services or communities. Depending on what exactly are your needs, you can choose a particular kind of clinic.

The next important factor to be considered before selecting a clinic is whether the clinic accepts insurance or any other form of medical payments. Also, find out about the services being offered at the clinic, in detail. If you are not sure about the insurance coverage, then consult your insurance provider and find out about the mental health clinics covered by them or just go online to your insurance provider’s website and you can get these details. If you can, it is better to get a referral from your family doctor or the health care provider you have been visiting. Otherwise, you can speak to your friends and family members and ask for their inputs too. Since insurance policies on providers of mental health vary widely, always check your coverage details beforehand.

If a patient is quite unstable and requires hospitalization, then it is advisable to opt for a mental health clinic operated by government, as they have direct link ups with government mental hospitals, it is a better choice. However, even private clinics have their own advantages such as they may house a number of psychiatrists and therapists who work together and render their services to the patients, this way, if a patient requires the services of therapist and psychiatrist, then he can get that in a single place. Moreover, few of these clinics may have mental health practitioners who have specialization in certain kinds of clients or therapies, such as a a child psychiatrist or a couples therapist in particular, etc. Payments for services such as therapy for an individual or for groups can be very expensive, hence never forget to contact your insurance provider before you sign up for any of these activities.

Finding the best mental health clinic, requires considerable amount of effort, since not all the clinics cater to all kinds of requirements, you have to do intense research to narrow down onto the clinic that is the best for you. Especially for people who are not residing in urban areas, there might not be much choice, since there may or may not exist a mental health care center in their neighborhood. For most of these people, it is better if they can get a referral and then find out about the clinic before making any efforts of visiting the clinic.

You might not really realize the various kinds of options available in mental health clinics, until the day you start your search. Hence, keep the above mentioned factors in mind, before you begin searching.

About the Author: Christine Crotts likes to travel a lot and makes sure that her dog can travel with. Christine has written a site containing reviews on small pet carrier models, as well as a pink pet carrier.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=504962&ca=Medical+Business

Link: How to Choose a Mental Health Clinic

How Stress Affects Our Mental Health.

Friday, February 25th, 2011

By Salihu Ibrahim

Chronic stress is vulnerable to the brain and could result in severe lack of focus. Hence the tendency of patients of chronic stress becoming less and less efficient and even susceptible to accident while on the job. Chronic stress on children has been proven to deter their ability to retain things in their memory.

Apart from the fact that aged people easily loose their memory, memory loss can occur in patient with chronic stress. Studies have proven this that those who, in a certain research process, were given cortisone pills, which is a major stress hormone, had problems with their memory. Prolonged stress often results in severe cases by loss of memory. This is because a prolonged chronic stress condition which exposes the patient to cortisone for a long period, can cause emaciation on the center of memory referred to as the hippocampus. Common occurrence of this condition is in those experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as a traumatic events or sex assault.

Increased cortisone level in the body is highly responsible for memory lost. A research conducted, shows that aged people have higher cortisone levels hence the memory loss in them. Situation of memory loss can be changed if only cortisone levels can be reduced to the required levels, because cortisone is a vital hormone in the human system.

Stress, according to researchers can also be reduced if one has enough social and family support. There are, according to studies, high levels of cortisone found in aged people who have less family and social support. Hence they are prone to occurrence of memory loss. Stress could actually be reduced to minimal if a patient can get support in time of serious needs.

Each time you try to remember vital issue or try to recall what you just stored in your brain or an event that transpired during the day without success, then you should know you are stressed up and will need to undergo a program and various forms of counseling that will enable you reduce stress and restore your memory’s ability to retain and recall happenings and events as often as you wish.

About the Author: The Author, Salihu Ibrahim has written many articles on health matters. You can find articles on vitamins and minerals at his website http://www.vitaminswell.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=120547&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

See the original post: How Stress Affects Our Mental Health.

Mental Health: Knowing When To Get Help

Friday, February 25th, 2011

By Aseya Me

Some people can get so depressed or problematic that they even reach a point where they question their own sanity. Many people actually wonder if they have really “gone over the edge.”

How about you? Try to answer these questions:

Do you have feelings of sadness or irritability? Has there been a loss of interest in pleasurable activities that you once enjoyed? Have you noticed any weight loss or change in your appetite? Have you noticed changes in your sleeping pattern? Are you feeling guilty? Are you experiencing difficulty in concentrating, remembering things or making decisions? Have you had thoughts of suicide or death? If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, consider consulting your family physician as your mental health maybe at risk.

Mental health, as defined by the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, “refers to the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity.” On the other end of the flow is mental illness, a term that refers to all “mental disorders.”

Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior associated with distress or impaired functioning. This notion of a continuum sees mental health on one end as “successful mental functioning” compared to mental illness on the other end as “impaired functioning.”

Mental health is how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Everyone feels worried, anxious, sad or stressed sometimes. But with a mental illness, these feelings do not go away and are severe enough to interfere with daily life. It can make it hard to meet and keep friends, hold a job, or enjoy life.

Mental illnesses are quite common and affect about one in five families in the U.S. These disorders such as depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many others are real diseases that one cannot get away from. Fortunately, they are often treatable. Medicines and therapy can improve the life of most people with mental illnesses. But, it is more cost-effective to have a physician prescribe mood stabilizers instead of seeing a psychiatrist. However, follow doctor’s instructions on counseling and referrals to mental health professionals.

People who are emotionally and mentally healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They feel good about themselves and have good relationships. They can keep problems in perspective. It’s important to remember that people who have good emotional health sometimes have emotional problems or mental illness. Mental illness often has a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and problems with family, work, or school can sometimes trigger mental illness or make it worse. If you feel that you or someone you care about is at risk, ask for help, it may not be easy at first, but there are ways and steps that may save your own or someone else’s life.

About the Author: http://DrugstoreTM.com is a reputable online drug store. From sexual health to a woman’s health, sleeping aids to weight loss pills, our online pharmacy offers convenient customer access to various health medicines, including an array of health product and medicare

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=196028&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

Continue reading here: Mental Health: Knowing When To Get Help