Mental Health

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• QHow can I become more resilient?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  There are a number of things you can do to become more resilient. Everyone needs resilience, especially in midlife. Everyone needs that ability to recover from difficulties. Resilience is a delicate balancing act; an ongoing process that takes practice and requires time and patience. Asking yourself—and practicing—these things can help you become more resilient:

  1. Can I change the channel? If you're watching a television drama you don't like, it's easy enough to find a different narrative—by changing the channel. Try changing your own channel and come up with a different story. Pay attention to the things you tell yourself, and question them. Doing so can change your take on what has happened, and put it in a different—and more positive—light. Instead of seeing the situation negatively, for example, think about what it has taught you and how it may help you help other people.
  2. Can I practice optimism? If you're not lucky enough to come about this trait naturally—and you're the half-empty rather than half-full kind of person—you can still learn to be optimistic.
  3. Can I make connections? It can be tough to go it alone. Making and maintaining good relationships with friends and family members can help strengthen resilience; social support is invaluable in getting through life's challenges.
  4. Can I detach? While this may seem contradictory to making connections, it doesn't mean you should disengage from personal contact. Instead, detaching yourself from a challenging situation—and not taking it personally or blaming yourself—can help bolster resilience. 
  5. Can I practice self-care? Don't neglect your own needs, feelings and desires. Get regular exercise, but also make sure to fit in some relaxation; nurturing isn't just for others. Taking care of yourself will equip your mind and body to deal with difficult situations.
  6. Can I trust myself? Can I trust myself? Building or maintaining confidence in yourself and trusting your instincts go a long way toward feeling mastery over your ability to solve problems. So does acting decisively on an adverse situation, which goes along with trusting yourself.
  7. Can I allow myself to feel my emotions? There's no doubt that many situations will evoke strong emotions, and it's okay to let yourself feel them. But just as importantly, you must know the time to push them aside to continue to function.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QWhy is general health important in treating vascular cognitive impairment?

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  A Dr. David A. Merrill, MD , Psychiatry, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  In treating vascular cognitive impairment, the most important thing is to take care of the person’s general health. Any known vascular disease, like a cardiac condition, high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugars, must be managed. This is to prevent further cerebrovascular disease.
  
  If you can prevent damage, you can actually stop the progression of vascular cognitive impairment. It will not get any worse if you control some very straightforward things.
• QWhat are the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can vary from person to person, especially since not everyone has the same mood disorder associated with their schizophrenia. The mood disorders typically associated with schizoaffective disorder are depression or bipolar disorder. You may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

  Symptoms of schizophrenia include not always being able to tell reality from fantasy, seeing and hearing things that are not real, feeling paranoid about a government plot against you, being extremely depressed and feeling void of emotions, and/or acting, speaking, and moving in odd ways (if at all).

  Depression is associated with feeling incredibly down and apathetic.

  Bipolar disorder is associated with periods of feeling depressed, but also periods of mania where you have lots of energy, speak a mile a minute, and feel like you can do a million tasks at once.

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• QWhat is the treatment for schizoaffective disorder?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Treatment for schizoaffective disorder is similar to other mental illness treatment. This includes medicine and different forms of counseling.

  Medications used for schizoaffective disorder depend on which mood disorder is associated with the schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is typically treated with antipsychotic medications since they relieve the psychotic symptoms. Mood stabilizers and antidepressants are also common forms of treatment since they relieve the mood-related symptoms.

  Therapy can also help people with schizoaffective disorder. It is more likely to be helpful when combined with medication treatment. Therapy sessions give you an opportunity for you to voice your feelings and feel more connected, as well as discuss your concerns, worries, and struggles in life. It can also help you identify relapse warning signs and learn coping techniques.

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• QCan nutritional supplements help treat mood disorders?

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  A International Bipolar Foundation answered

  Studies conflict, answers escape us and the jury is out when it comes to the great finds on nutritional supplements and mood disorders. The most important thing to remember is to talk to your doctor about studies you have read or supplements you're considering using or adding to your treatment regimen. Your doctor should have the most up-to-date information on clinical studies and findings. Your doctor will also warn you about side effects and potential interactions a supplement causes.
  
  Like prescription medications, nutritional supplements can work wonders for one person and not even faze another. Our bodies are chemical storehouses, each one individual with differing levels of hormones, oils, proteins, acids and more! Taking one medication could do the trick for you. Taking two medications and one supplement may be just the cocktail your body needs to function optimally. With nutritional supplements—as with the right medication, the right therapist, and the right support group—success comes after persistent effort, trial and error.
• QHow can I save money on treatment for my mood disorder?

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  A International Bipolar Foundation answered

  All healthcare providers have experience in helping patients cut medical or therapeutic costs. If you have a mood disorder, do not hesitate to talk to these professionals about:

  • reduced fees and payment plans
  • the cost savings and efficacy of generic medication
  • your eligibility for free medication from the drug manufacturer (senior citizens sometimes can get discounts)
  • the healthcare provider's access to free samples of your medication
  • intervening on your behalf with your insurance company, either with a phone call or letters

  Other strategies for reducing treatment costs include:

  • using county or state services
  • going longer between psychiatric appointments. (Your therapist or psychiatrist can help you learn coping skills to manage your mood between visits.)
  • contacting your state's mental health organizations to find out whether the state offers a risk pool for hard-to-insure individuals.
  • getting to your healthcare providers or support groups before you get to a crisis point. Talking briefly with a professional or making a slight adjustment in your medication can prevent more expensive interventions when a full-blown crisis occurs.
• QCan conduct disorders be prevented?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Some experts believe that a developmental sequence of experiences occurs in the development of conduct disorder. This sequence may start with ineffective parenting practices, followed by academic failure, and poor peer interactions. These experiences then often lead to depressed mood and involvement in a deviant peer group. Other experts, however, believe that many factors, including child abuse, genetic susceptibility, history of academic failure, brain damage, and/or a traumatic experience influence the expression of conduct disorder. Early detection and intervention into negative family and social experiences may be helpful in disrupting the development of the sequence of experiences that lead to more disruptive and aggressive behaviors.
• QWhat type of social service is best suited to me?

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  A Lisa Oz , Health Education, answered

  Deciding what type of service is right for you involves self-awareness and a commitment to a higher state of being. Yes, those are running themes here, but they are essential for consciously living in relationship with anyone and everyone, including those you seek to help. It may be useful to refer to the Enneagram when assessing your character traits as they relate to contribution. It can give you clues, not necessarily about what you should do, but about how to do it. So, for example, if you are a Four and you want to volunteer as a political activist, try to bring your creative and flamboyant spirit to the experience. Do not choose a boring rote activity or become just another member of a group. Keep in mind that assisting someone else should not be torture for you. For example, if you faint at the sight of blood, your call to service is probably not as an emergency medical technician. Ideally, the way you choose to benefit humanity should bring you pleasure and deep satisfaction - not only because you are doing something worthwhile, but because you love doing it. Finally, allow yourself to be led to where you may be needed most. You can call it divine providence, synchronicity, or fate, but try to recognize the opportunities that come your way on a daily basis. This does not mean that you should just sit back and wait for people in need to show up at your door. Keep your eyes open and you will see a million different paths of service to pursue. Follow one and see the possibilities unfold.

• QWhat are examples of behavioral reinforcement?

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  A Dr. Sheri D. Pruitt , Psychology, answered

  Behavioral reinforcement (the principle that rewarded behaviors are more likely to be repeated) can take a variety of forms. All kinds of treats -- money, candy, verbal praise, applause, or gold stars on a monitoring chart -- can increase your chance of repeating a desired behavior. What works best? That's the tricky part, and it's an individual thing. What might be a powerful treat for one person might not be for someone else.
  
  Here are some broad categories:
  

  • Monetary rewards (cash)
  • Non-monetary gifts (clothes, music CDs)
  • Social rewards (praise from friends and family)
  • Activity rewards (going out to a movie or getting a manicure)
  • Physiological rewards (pleasant sights, sounds, tastes, and smells)
  • Psychological rewards (feelings of happiness, contentment, and satisfaction)
• QWhat is positive reinforcement?

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  A Dr. Sheri D. Pruitt , Psychology, answered

  One of the most basic principles of behavioral science is that rewarded behaviors are more likely to be repeated. This principle is referred to as reinforcement, and it affects everyone -- pets, children, and adults.
  
  Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by an event that increases the chances that the behavior will be repeated. This process can take many forms. For example, positive reinforcement could include receiving money for a job well done, getting a compliment from a friend after you've lost weight, or giving your child a treat for being good. In each case, the chance of the particular behavior (doing a good job, losing weight, and being "good") being repeated is likely to be improved because it is associated with a pleasant event. Positive reinforcement is a great strategy for creating new behaviors.

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