Suicide is becoming an increasingly dangerous and common problem in the US. Boise is honoring suicide prevention day and week with activities coming up.
Gaslighting is a form of brainwashing and manipulation that happens on a regular basis. What is Gaslighting? The goal of the gaslighter is to make the victim doubt themselves. Gaslighting abuse causes a person to lose their sense of identity, perception, and worth. Gaslighting is a form of narcissism and sociopathic tendencies as they look to gain power over someone. Pathological gaslighting is a severe form of abuse through mind control. It can happen in the workplace, with society, friends, family, and relationships. Gaslighting abuse is extremely destructive to victims. Before you ever have [...]
Bipolar disorder has four distinct types and is a bigger problem than people realize. Currently, this disorder affects more than 5.8 million Americans. With the rates of mental illnesses rising in the U.S., it’s clear this battle will not end soon. The characteristics of bipolar disorder revolve around normal, manic, and depressive phases. The term “Euthymia” refers to having a normal mood. This ‘normal’ phase means being in a positive, tranquil, and stable mental state. In the manic phase, the individual has an abnormal elevated arousal state. As such, they could be feeling euphoric, [...]
Mirtazapine Use Mirtazapine is a newer medicine belonging to the group called tetracyclic antidepressants. Also, known as cyclic antidepressants, the original antidepressants were developed in the 1950s. Although effective and a much better alternative than electroshock, they have been replaced by medications that have fewer side effects. The benefit of the medicine Mirtazapine and the other medications in the cyclic family is that they relieve extreme depression when other treatments haven’t worked. They do so by bringing chemicals in the brain back into balance. It helps relieve symptoms that go along with depression-like loss of [...]
Every day, we are at risk of experiencing intrusive thoughts. With thousands of thoughts per day, sometimes we don’t even realize they are there. The intrusive thoughts are the one that are disturbing enough, we pay more attention to them. Our everyday life concerns make up 67% of our thoughts. We experience 18% of thoughts that are bad, unacceptable or not comfortable to deal with. Disturbing intrusive thoughts make up 13% of our daily thought process. Intrusive thoughts are normal. We all experience them. They are unwanted thoughts or images that can cause you [...]
You may have seen a blockbuster hit where the comedic support is filled by a quirky clean freak with something called obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The leading actor may get upset over a love interest but no matter how much he tries to confide in his OCD friend, all they seem to care about is the cleanliness of the silverware. It gets a good laugh in the theaters, sure, but this common media portrayal of obsessive compulsive disorder is not only taking away from the incapacitating severity of this disorder, it’s also neglecting to [...]
Why are American veterans at significant risk of addiction ? More importantly, what can be done to help? Members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces experience a very specific set of challenges and responsibilities not usually encountered by the rest of the civilian population. Regular deployment – moving from place to place Extended separation from family – frequently for months at a time Unique culture – drinking is often seen as a way to bond Combat service – needing to constantly be on alert Life or death situations – split-second decisions that impact [...]
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is something we often relate to as an illness for war vets. In fact, it’s a mental health condition. When something traumatic occurs, the person will experience triggers in the present that place them back to the event. These events can be violent and make a person feel as though they were powerless. As a type of anxiety disorder, it is based on a past event or series of events. The person will have experienced or witnessed something very traumatic. There are symptoms of flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety that incapacitate [...]
Going outside can be scary for all of us. Weather, traffic and other factors can make staying inside seem like a great option on most days. Many people, however, suffer from a condition called agoraphobia, which makes leaving the house nearly impossible. Agoraphobia is caused by the fear of people, crowds, open spaces and other things that exist outside the house. Ultimately, the condition results in a fear of leaving home entirely. Millions of Americans suffer from agoraphobia. It has a profound effect on the well-being of many people. A lot of us feel [...]
Living with addiction or mental health stigmas is hard. The same goes for dealing with mental health problems. Both require strength in the face of weakness. If you or a loved one have had to, you understand the challenge. There is a constant fight, on the inside and out. The world may not understand you. Your family may not understand your problems. Sometimes, it all seems to be too much. What makes it worse is the problems that come from around you. People with mental health problems may seem off-kilter. Addiction can make working [...]
