How We Deal With Trauma



Possible Reactions to a Disaster or Traumatic Event

With the recent school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, many people are asking how the kids at the school will react to experiencing such a traumatic event.

Many of the reactions noted below are normal when children and youth are handling the stress right after an event. If any of these behaviors lasts for more than 2 to 4 weeks, or if they suddenly appear later on, these children may need more help coping. Information about where to find help is in the Helpful Resources section of this tip sheet.

 

Youth and Adolescents, 11–19 years old: go through a lot of physical and emotional changes because of their developmental stage. So, it may be even harder for them to cope with trauma. Older teens may deny their reactions to themselves and their caregivers. They may respond with a routine “I’m ok” or even silence when they are upset. Or, they may complain about physical aches or pains because they cannot identify what is really bothering them emotionally. Some may start arguments at home and/or at school, resisting any structure or authority. They also may engage in risky behaviors such as using alcohol or drugs.

 

If you or someone you know has experienced a traumatic event, some of the following resources may be helpful!

 

Helpful Resources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center (SAMHSA DTAC)

Toll Free: 1-800-308-3515

Web Site: http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac

Treatment Locators

Mental Health Services Locator

Toll-Free: 1–800–789–2647 (English and Español); TDD: 1–866–889–2647

Web Site: http://store.samhsa.gov/mhlocator

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

Toll-Free: 1–800–662–HELP (1–800–662–4357) (24/7 English and Español); TDD: 1–866–487–4889

Web Site: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

Hotlines

Disaster Distress Helpline

Toll-Free: 1-800-985-5990 Text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746

Web Site: http://www.disasterdistress.samhsa.gov

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Toll-Free: 1–800–4–A–CHILD (1–800–422–4453)

Web Site: http://www.childwelfare.gov/responding/how.cfm

Resources Addressing Children’s Needs

Administration for Children and Families

Web Site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/

 

Is Facebook making Bullying Worse?

We see in the headlines over and over again, that bullying has become one of the top concerns parents, students, and teachers are facing on a daily basis. The problem is, bullying has been around forever. It is not new; generation after generation can recall either being bullied or watching the bullying behaviours occur. Remembering back to high school or junior high there will always be some sort of memories connected to how the “Bullies” ruled certain areas of the playground or the back corner lunch tables. Yes, kids were scared when crossing them in the hallway or some took certain measures to avoid all contact. But as the school bell rang, all kids could go to the comfort of their homes. But the biggest question that we should be asking today is: Is electronic communications technologies leading to such extreme cases of bullying? Youth are no longer safe in their bedrooms or at home with their parents, electronic communication technologies, such as texting and social networking sites have taken bullying to a new level. A new term has evolved that expresses the severity of the consequences that bullying is taking on its victims; it sadly describes the growing rate of suicides because of bullying. Today, it is called “bullycide”. On November 5, 2010 16 year old Cassidy Andel hung herself in her home, unable to cope with the vicious things being said about her through text messaging and social media networks. It seems that kids that are being bullied can’t escape the malicious names and comments once the bell rings, and kids are being tormented night and day by the never ending stream of hurtful words published through the internet. Is avoiding bullies no longer a choice? Are the kids that are partaking in the constant name calling or the starting of cruel rumours not stopping at the school doors? Tell us what you think! Leave a comment below!

Your Thoughts On Bullying?

What Do Think The Negative Consequence(s) For Bullying Should Be At Westminster School?

Please leave your comments or try the new post feature on the top right hand corner of the page to post your comment.

Substance Use Disroders



Substance Use

Although the term substance can refer to any physical matter, "substance abuse" has come to refer to the overindulgence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health, or the welfare of others.

The disorder is characterized by a pattern of continued pathological use of a medication, non-medically indicated drug or toxin, which results in repeated adverse social consequences related to drug use, such as failure to meet work, family, or school obligations, interpersonal conflicts, or legal problems. The most common types of substance use disorders are addictions to alcohol and drugs.

Substance dependence or addiction is the progressive need for alcohol or drugs that results from the use of that substance. This need creates both psychological and physical changes that make it difficult for the users to control when they will use the substance or how much they will use. Psychological dependence occurs when a user needs the substance to feel normal or to engage in typical daily activities. Physical dependence occurs when the body adapts to the substance and needs increasing amounts to ward off the effects of withdrawal and to maintain physiological functioning. Dependence can result in:

The continued use of a substance despite negative consequences. The individual continues drug or alcohol use despite incidents, such as accidents, arrests, or a lack of money to pay for food because it was spent on drugs.

An increase in tolerance to the substance. The individual requires more of the alcohol or drug to obtain the same effect.

 Withdrawal symptoms. The individual needs to consume the substance in order not to experience unpleasant withdrawal effects, such as uncontrollable shaking and tremors or intense nausea

Behavioral changes. The individual who is dependent:

Uses more than intended

Spends a majority of the time either obtaining, using, or withdrawing from the use of the substance

Cannot stop using until the substance is gone or the individual passes out.

Mental Illness

SUDS have a strong association with mental illness. In 2007, an estimated 24.3 million adults aged 18 or older had a serious mental illness. (Having a serious mental illness is defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder during the past year that met the DSM-IV criteria.) Adults with a serious mental illness are much more likely to have used illicit drugs within the past year than those adults without a serious mental illness (28.0 percent versus 12.2 percent).

It is not clear why there is a high correlation between SUDs and mental illness. Three ways in which they may relate to one another are:
The disorders may occur independently of each other.

The mental health disorder may place an individual at greater risk for SUDs.

Alcohol or drug intoxication or withdrawal may result in temporary mental health disorders, such as paranoia or depression.

It is common for either the SUD or the mental health issue to go undiagnosed. In addition, not all mental health problems affecting a parent necessarily will appear severe or profound. As a result, when one issue is identified, it is important to screen for the other. When both are identified, current accepted practice is to treat both disorders simultaneously, especially with individuals who have serious mental illnesses.

· Services for the treatment of substance use disorders, including detoxification, rehabilitation, and outpatient group and family therapy.

Substance Abuse Treatment

Medical Treatment

Most substances abusers believe they can stop using drugs on their own, but a majority who try do not succeed. Research shows that long-term drug use alters brain function and strengthens compulsions to use drugs. This craving continues even after your drug use stops.

Because of these ongoing cravings, the most important component of treatment is preventing relapse. Treating substance abuse depends on both the person and the substance being used. Behavioral treatment provides you with strategies to cope with your drug cravings and ways to avoid relapse. Your doctor may prescribe medications, such as nicotine patches and methadone, to control withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings.

Often, a drug user has an underlying mental disorder, one that increases risk for substance abuse. Such disorders must be treated medically and through counseling along with the drug abuse.

Eating Disorders?

Eating Disorder or Diet? Having an Eating Disorder is much more than just being on a diet. An Eating Disorder is an illness that permeates all aspects of each sufferer's life, is caused by a variety of emotional factors and influences, and has profound effects on the people suffering and their loved ones...

Anorexia NervosaThe person suffering with Anorexia may be abnormally sensitive about being perceived as fat, or have a massive fear of becoming fat -- though not all people living with Anorexia have this fear. They may be afraid of losing control over the amount of food they eat, accompanied by the desire to control their emotions and reactions to their emotions...

Bulimia NervosaMen and women who live with Bulimia seek out binge and purge episodes -- they will eat a large quantity of food in a relatively short period of time and then use behaviors such as taking laxatives or self-induced vomiting -- because they feel overwhelmed in coping with their emotions, or in order to punish themselves for something they feel they should unrealistically blame themselves for...

Compulsive OvereatingPeople suffering with Compulsive Overeating have what is characterized as an "addiction" to food, using food and eating as a way to hide from their emotions, to fill a void they feel inside, and to cope with daily stresses and problems in their lives...

Binge Eating DisorderMen and Women living with Binge Eating Disorder suffer a combination of symptoms similar to those of Compulsive Overeaters and Bulimia. Reasons for Binge Eating can be similar to those of Compulsive Overeating; Using Binges as a way to hide from their emotions, to fill a void they feel inside, and to cope with daily stresses and problems in their lives...

Eating disorder treatment: Help for anorexia and bulimia

The exact treatment needs of someone struggling with an eating disorder will vary according to the individual. It is, therefore, important that a health professional coordinate any treatment plan.

Eating disorder treatment step #1: Ask for help

Eating disorder treatment step #2: Find a specialist

Eating disorder treatment step #3: Address health problems

Eating disorder treatment step #4: Make a long-term treatment plan

Gina’s story

Gina battled bulimia for seven years—struggling on her own in secret—before she finally opened up to her mother. Gina wrote her a long letter explaining her shame and embarrassment, and gave her mother a book about how to deal with someone with an eating disorder. Her mother was so relieved that Gina had finally opened up, and together they sought professional help.
Gina’s road to recovery was still rocky and she had plenty of slip-ups, but she also had the support of her family. Gina chose to use relationships to replace her bulimia. She saw a therapist and joined a support group of fellow eating disorder sufferers. In time, she went back to graduate school, got married and had children. Like everyone else, she still had difficult experiences in life. Her mother developed cancer and Gina lost her job. But she no longer used her eating disorder to cope.

Where to go for more information

For further information about eating disorders, contact a community organization like the Canadian Mental Health Association to find out about support and resources in your community. Visit their website at www.cmha.ca. In addition, the National Eating Disorder Information Centre keeps a national listing of treatment services and resources online at http://www.nedic.ca/.

What causes an eating disorder?

When someone has an eating disorder, their weight is the prime focus of their life. Their  preoccupation with calories, grams of fat, exercise and weight allows them to displace the painful emotions or situations that are at the heart of the problem and gives them a false sense of being in control.

There is no single cause. An eating disorder generally results from a combination of factors. Psychological factors include low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy or lack of control, depression, anger or loneliness. Interpersonal factors include troubled family and personal relationships, difficulty expressing emotions and feelings, history of physical or sexual abuse. Media promotion of unrealistic images and goals, along with its tendency to equate a person's value with their physical appearance is another contributor.

The possibility of biochemical or biological causes is being studied. Some people with eating disorders have been found to have an imbalance of chemicals in the brain that control hunger, appetite and digestion, possibly as a result of the disorder.

What is Anxiety?
Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year, causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated. Anxiety disorders commonly occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse, which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse. In some cases, these other illnesses need to be treated before a person will respond to treatment for the anxiety disorder.
Effective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, and research is uncovering new treatments that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives.
Here are some different types of anxiety disorders:

• panic disorder,
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
• social phobia (or social anxiety disorder),
• specific phobias, and
• generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Each anxiety disorder has different symptoms, but all the symptoms cluster around excessive, irrational fear and dread

Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

In general, anxiety disorders are treated with medication, specific types of psychotherapy, or both.Treatment choices depend on the problem and the person’s preference. Before treatment begins, a doctor must conduct a careful diagnostic evaluation to determine whether a person’s symptoms are caused by an anxiety disorder or a physical problem. If an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, the type of disorder or the combination of disorders that are present must be identified, as well as any coexisting conditions, such as depression or substance abuse. Sometimes alcoholism, depression, or other coexisting conditions have such a strong effect on the individual that treating the anxiety disorder must wait until the coexisting conditions are brought under control.
Often people believe that they have “failed” at treatment or that the treatment didn’t work for them when, in fact, it was not given for an adequate length of time or was administered incorrectly. Sometimes people must try several different treatments or combinations of treatment before they find the one that works for them.

Medication

Medication will not cure anxiety disorders, but it can keep them under control while the person receives psychotherapy. Medication must be prescribed by physicians, usually psychiatrists, who can either offer psychotherapy themselves or work as a team with psychologists, social workers, or counselors who provide psychotherapy. The principal medications used for anxiety disorders are antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and beta-blockers to control some of the physical symptoms. With proper treatment, many people with anxiety disorders can lead normal, fulfilling lives.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy involves talking with a trained mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or counselor, to discover what caused an anxiety disorder and how to deal with its symptoms.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is very useful in treating anxiety disorders. The cognitive part helps people change the thinking patterns that support their fears, and the behavioral part helps people change the way they react to anxiety-provoking situations.

Mood Disorders?

What are Mood Disorders?

A lot of people are familiar with the term mood disorder, however very few people actually know specifically what one is and how to spot one, and more importantly how to distinguish the different and varying types of mood disorders. This post is going to talk about what mood disorders actually are.
A mood disorder is also known as an affective disorder, and is a type of mental health problem. Mood disorders are not concentrated to one gender, age or type of person and they can occur in almost anyone including children. It is often noted that in children the worst kind of mood disorders are seen, but this isn’t always true. Adults can have mood disorder problems, with much more damaging consequences than the ones found in children.
The root cause of mood disorders isn’t fully understood, however many scientists have attributed mood disorders to an imbalance of certain brain chemicals that are technically known as neurotransmitters. However sometime it is not due to this imbalance, and in these cases the cause of mood disorders falls on substance and drug abuse and traumatic life events.
The most common and frequently discussed type of mood disorders include major depression, bipolar disorder and dysthymic disorder. Each one of these main types of mood disorder has their own distinctly different characteristics, so need to be dealt in different ways. Therefore there is no one way or quick fix for mood disorders.
The major and most notable symptoms of a mood disorder include immense and ongoing feelings of sadness and despair. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness are also common. Another feeling that is common in mood disorder sufferers is inadequacy. Along with this comes feelings of guilt, followed swiftly by suicidal thoughts and behaviour patterns, and this is where mood disorders can take a very nasty and frightening turn.
Along with these various strong feelings comes things like easily being irritated, having rapid changes in appetite as well as experiencing some chronic fatigue.
Mood disorders also make it incredibly difficult to carry out daily tasks, which would usually be effortless for people without mood disorders. Managing relationships becomes incredibly difficult for people that have mood disorders and it is common for people with these problems to have huge disputes and arguments with loved ones as well as complete strangers.
As briefly mentioned above, treatments for mood disorders are very individual to the person, mostly due the fact that everyone’s moods are different and unique to them. The first step would usually be having a full medical diagnosis by a mood and behaviour specialist to evaluate your symptoms and assess the best course of action. Medication may be used along with things like cognitive therapy and behavioural therapy and there may also be some lifestyle modification training. To change the core attributes and feelings that are leading to these mood disorders. Please post your comments regarding this issue.

Mental Health Is Everyone's Concern

Next time you are in line at the grocery store or waiting at the bus stop, look around you. How many people do you see? 5 maybe 10? Research shows that two of ten people have or will have mental illness. Mental illness can affect anyone, anytime.

What Is Mental Health?
Most of us have heard the terms mental illness or mental disorder. These terms are used ro describe a wide range of different conditions but what they have in common is that they affect a person's emotions, thoughts and behaviours, how they see themselves, see the world around them and how they interact in that world.
Althought there are many types of mental illnesses, we will be looking at 8 different mental illnesses commonly associated with youth.

Types of Mental Illnesses?
1) Mood Disorders
2) Anxiety Disorders
3) Eating Disorders
4) Substance Use Disorders
5) Self Harm/Self-Injury
6) Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity Disorder)
7) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
8) Autism
**Note: Each week for the next 8 weeks, we will be looking at each one of these mental health disorders in greater detail. We will also be discussing simple ways to practice mental health fitness as well as dealing with misconceptions and stereotypes related to mental illness.
Please provide post your comments regarding any of the information presented.

Facts About Mental Illness
1) By 2020, The World Health Organization predicts that Depression will become the number two cause worldwide of years lost due to disability.
2) The number of suicides in Canada is around 400 people a year. For people aged 15-24, suicide is the number two cause of death.
3) Mental illness is the number one leading cause of disability in the world.
4) Mental illness costs the Canadian economy 51billion dollars a year
5)Mental illness is the number one cause of disability in Canada
6)The unemployment rate among people with serious mental illness is between 70-90%


Source: Canadian Mental Health Association