For much of the last half century mental health professionals and research has focused on the biological model of anxiety and depression. This model posits that depression and anxiety are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. In addition, much of the research that supports this model has been sponsored by drug companies who make billions of dollars a year manufacturing the anti-depressant medications used to treat these imbalances.
But is there a different approach to depression and anxiety that works just as well as medications? David Burns, MD, who is the author of best selling self-help book "Feeling Good" has been one of the prime movers of another approach that treats these disorders in most cases without medications. This approach is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy has been borne out in thousands of studies and is the most effective type of psychotherapy for depression and anxiety. The main focus of this therapy is the understanding that feelings such as anxiety and depression come as a result of our thoughts. Simply put, if we have negative thought patterns then we will feel anxiety or depression. If these thoughts are pervasive enough then the resultant anxiety or depression can be disabling. The treatment approach in CBT includes teaching patients to identify automatic negative thought patterns and learn to replace these with constructive thought patterns based on reality. This process can be thought of as reprogramming the brain. The first step is to identify negative thought patterns such as "mind-reading" or "fortune-telling" and then substituting rationale thoughts in their place. The program involves constant practice and is life-long but the rewards can be great and can come without medications and their side-effects. Next time you feel depressed or anxious just pay attention to what you have been thinking about and inevitably it will have been negative. If you notice that you are consistently depressed or anxious then it may be worth seeing a mental health professional or doctor. Of course, each individual case is different and the advice in this post should not substitute for getting a consultation with your doctor. Visit the home page for more information on Murdock Health and our services or call 214-929-2411 to schedule an appointment today.
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Recently I wrote about the Zika virus and the possible connection the virus may have with microcephaly. Since then the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Zika virus a global health emergency.
But has the incidence of microcephaly in Brazil been overblown? According to the New York Times, 4783 cases of microcephaly have been reported thus far in Brazil. Of those cases only 404 have been confirmed as microcephaly, 709 cases have been ruled out, and remainder are still under investigation. They also report that only 17 of the cases have tested positive for the virus although the testing process may not be perfect. From the New York Times article: The government began requiring local health officials to report suspected cases of microcephaly in October. It did so after doctors in Zika-stricken areas began seeing an alarming increase in babies being born with unusually small heads and the brain damage that often comes with it. Brazilian researchers then linked the condition to the virus, which had only recently made its way to Brazil. The government originally told health professionals to report suspected microcephaly cases when a baby’s head at birth was 33 centimeters, or 13 inches, or less. At that time, very little was known about the virus and its possible effects on pregnancy, so officials here did what is common in public health surveillance cases: They set broad criteria to make sure they were catching as many cases as possible. But that standard also meant that there were many false positives of babies being reported who were actually healthy, said Claudio Maierovitch, director of the department of surveillance of communicable diseases at Brazil’s health ministry. Later in the article: Maria Teresa Vieira Sanseverino, a pediatrician and medical geneticist who attended the meeting, said that, “there was consensus among the medical groups that the current criteria is too broad and is drawing too many false positives.” One consequence of the new standard could be a significant drop in the number of reported cases. While the actions of Brazilian health officials may have been appropriate in terms of trying to have overly broad criteria for microcephaly, this fact was not reported by the media to a large degree nor explained by these same health care officials. Whether this will result in another over-hyped virus scare like the bird flu or other viruses remains to be seen. Of course, each individual case is different and the advice in this post should not substitute for getting a consultation with your doctor. Visit the home page for more information on Murdock Health and our services or call 214-929-2411 to schedule an appointment today. A lie detector is something that many people associate with attempts by law enforcement to determine whether someone is telling the truth. Separate from that use, the lie detector can tell us a lot about the power of our thoughts.
According to Dr. Amen, "the deep limbic system is responsible for translating our emotional state into physical feelings of relaxation or tension." Activation of the limbic system, as in when someone is lying on a lie detector test or when they are having repetitive negative thoughts, among other things leads to measurable changes in our body such as cold hands, high blood pressure, heart racing, faster breathing, and muscle tension. Your body reacts to every thought you have. There is also significant evidence that our thought patterns are associated with the stress/anxiety we feel in our lives which can contribute to or be causative in many chronic conditions including chronic pain. According to Dr. Hanscomb, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in back pain, anxiety/stress are key contributors to promoting pain signals and perpetuating chronic pain anywhere in the body. Conversely, when patients with chronic pain learn to manage their anxiety and stress many find significant or complete resolution of their pain over time. One technique to get people out of chronic negative thoughts is to be "present" or mindful. Mindfulness helps us be be more aware of the present moment instead of being focused on past failures or future hurdles. Some common things we can do everyday to be more present is to: 1. Focus on your breath for just one minute. You can use a auditory or visual cue to help you focus on your breathing which means to be aware of your breathing. 2. Choose a natural object in your environment and focus on it for a minute or two. This could be a flower, insect, or the sky. 3. Take time to appreciate a normal activity such as taking a shower or touching a doorknob. 4. Just listen to those you speak with without interjecting your own thoughts or judgments. 5. Pay attention to the detail in one activity you do daily. For example focusing on the different activities involved in cleaning the dishes. 6. Appreciate five things in your day that normally go unappreciated. Visit the home page for more information on Murdock Health and our services or call 214-929-2411 to schedule an appointment today. Often times I find that patients want a quick fix to a problem instead of a permanent solution. In most cases this means they want a prescription drug. Americans are more likely to believe in the value of prescription drugs than some other countries and it is not uncommon to see people on 10-20 medications. But many prescription drugs have significant side effects and drugs are implicated in the deaths of tens of thousands per year.
This brings me to Glenn Frey, the co-founder and front man of the Eagles, who recently died of possible medicine side affects of treating his rheumatoid arthritis (RA). According to the band manager, "The colitis and pneumonia were side effects from all the meds. He died from complications of [ulcerative colitis] after being treated with drugs for his rheumatoid arthritis which he had for over 15 years." Some of the medications used for RA are powerful immune modulators and can cause serious side effects including elevating the risk of infection. Anti-inflammatories which are used to control pain are also implicated in liver and kidney damage. All too often there are alternative treatments that are not promoted. Some of these treatments require dedication to a healthy lifestyle. The root of RA is chronic inflammation. Often this inflammation can be exacerbated by a diet too high in sugar and processed foods. Conversely, eating a diet high in vegetables while eliminating grains and sources of carbohydrates can be helpful. Soda consumption has been associated with RA in some studies. Aside from dietary changes other helpful things include optimizing Vit D levels and taking natural anti- inflammatories like curcumin, boswellia, astaxantin, and ginger. Of course, each individual case is different and the advice in this post should not substitute for getting a consultation with your doctor. If you would like to try a different approach to managing RA schedule a visit today. Visit the home page for more information on Murdock Health and our services or call 214-929-2411 to schedule an appointment today. |
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