Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter Z is for Zoning Out

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter Z is for Zoning Out

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To meet the criteria for GAD, several physical symptoms must also be present on most days. These include; restlessness; becoming easily fatigued; problems concentrating or “zoning out;’ irritability; muscle tension; and sleep disturbances.

Click here to check out the article.

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Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter Y is for Years of Cycling in Bipolar Disorder

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter Y is for Years of Cycling in Bipolar Disorder

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What Is Rapid in Cycling Bipolar Disorder?

Rapid cycling is a pattern of frequent, distinct episodes in bipolar disorder. In rapid cycling, a person with the disorder experiences four or more episodes of mania or depressionin one year. It can occur at any point in the course of bipolar disorder, and can come and go over many years depending on how well the illness is treated; it is not necessarily a “permanent” or indefinite pattern of episodes.

Click here to check out the article.

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Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter X is for X-ray and Bipolar Disorder

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter X is for X-ray and Bipolar Disorder

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Brain imaging technology has yielded significant insights into bipolar diseases. Brain imaging techniques allow visualization of the whole living brain or slices of the living brain without ever having to perform surgery. Because these procedures are non-invasive and give lots of information about brain structure and function, they have revolutionized research and medicine. Various studies have documented differences in brain structures and functions that are typically present when bipolar and non-bipolar (e.g., healthy) brains are compared.

Structural studies measure brain composition using technologies such as Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In CAT, X-rays are used to scan the brain. With each scan, a digital photograph is taken and a computer compiles these photographs into a three-dimensional image of the brain. In MRI, the brain is scanned by a magnet which is linked to a computer. Each MRI scan produces hundreds of digital images from multiple angles to produce an accurate three-dimensional image. Using these methods, researchers have found enlarged ventricle spaces (spaces which carry cerebrospinal fluid through and around the brain) in those with a bipolar diagnosis. Larger ventricles indicate less brain tissue is present as a whole within the brain and suggests that either deterioration has occurred, or that bipolar brains develop differently than normal brain controls. Another structural anomaly observed is that bipolar brains tend to contain an abnormal amount of small, white areas in the brain known as ‘white matter hyperintensities’. White matter is involved in transmitting information from one part of the brain to the other. Patients who have these hyperintensities have an occurrence of bipolar disorder that is three times as likely as the general population. Furthermore, in bipolar patients, there is a reduction in glial cells, which are cells that insulate brain neurons, making them communicate more efficiently. Less glial cell density within bipolar brains means that these brains do not communicate as efficiently as their normal counterparts. If the bipolar brain has a difficult time conversing with itself because of white matter hyperintensities and/or glial cell degeneration, mood fluctuations might be a natural result of this miscommunication. The imaging data are relatively new and preliminary, and their meaning is not known definitively at this time. As more data become available, a clearer picture of how brain structure affects bipolar diagnosis will emerge.

Click here to check out the article.

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Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter W is for Warning Signs of Mental Illness in Adults and Children

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter W is for Warning Signs of Mental Illness in Adults and Children

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Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn’t always easy. There’s no easy test that can let someone know if there is mental illness or if actions and thoughts might be typical behaviors of a person or the result of a physical illness.

Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following:

• Excessive worrying or fear
• Feeling excessively sad or low
• Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
• Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
• Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
• Avoiding friends and social activities
• Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
• Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
• Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
• Changes in sex drive
• Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality)
• Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality (”lack of insight” or anosognosia)
• Abuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
• Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
• Thinking about suicide
• Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
• An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance

Mental health conditions can also begin to develop in young children. Because they’re still learning how to identify and talk about thoughts and emotions, their most obvious symptoms are behavioral. Symptoms in children may include the following:

• Changes in school performance
• Excessive worry or anxiety, for instance fighting to avoid bed or school
• Hyperactive behavior
• Frequent nightmares
• Frequent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums

Click here to check out the article.

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Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter V is for Vitamins for Bipolar Disorder

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter V is for Vitamins for Bipolar Disorder

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Considering taking a vitamin or supplement to treat Bipolar Disorder? Below is a list of common natural remedies used to treat or reduce the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. Follow the links to read common uses, side effects, dosage details and read user reviews for the drugs listed below.

Click here to check out the article.

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Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter U is for Using Meds for Mental Disorders

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter U is for Using Meds for Mental Disorders

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There are several different types of drugs available to treat mental illnesses. Some of the most commonly used are antidepressants, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, mood stabilizing, and stimulant medications.

Click here to check out the article.

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Finding the right medication cocktail can be difficult for many people. My current cocktail is somewhat helpful, but finding the perfect one for me simply isn’t happening. It may never be perfect.

Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter T is for Treatment Centers for Mental Illness

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter T is for Treatment Centers for Mental Illness

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Treatment Center for a Variety of Mental Health Conditions

ARTA member facilities offer residential mental health treatment for a variety of psychiatric conditions, including, but not limited to:

Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, Depression, Personality disorders, Mood disorders, Anxiety disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress Disorder Disorders, combined with substance abuse.

Click here to check out the article.

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I have been in treatment centers in a local hospital that offered in-patient treatment and also partial hospitalization.

Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter S is for Schizophrenia

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter S is for Schizophrenia

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Schizophrenia

Overview

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.

Click here to check out the article.

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Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter R is for Racing Thoughts

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter R is for Racing Thoughts

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Everyone occasionally experiences situations that cause their mind to race. Imagine that feeling amped up several notches and persisting without relief and you have an idea of what it’s like to experience racing thoughts. This symptom often signals a hypomanic or manic episode in people living with bipolar disorder, although there are other possible causes.

Click here to check out the article.

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You simply can’t sleep if your thoughts are racing and won’t shut down.

Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge – Letter Q is for Quirk/Idiosyncracy

Tenth Anniversary of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge

I have chosen to write for the mental health topic. It is very important to me that we support all those with mental health issues and I personally suffer from a good amount of them myself.

Letter Q is for Quirk/Idiosyncracy

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quirk

noun

\ ˈkwərk  \

Definition of quirk

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a: an abrupt twist or curve

1b: a peculiar trait : IDIOSYNCRASY

1c: ACCIDENT, VAGARYa quirk of fate

2: a groove separating a bead or other molding from adjoining members

quirk

verb

quirked; quirking; quirks

Definition of quirk (Entry 2 of 2)

: CURVE, TWIST quirked his eyebrows

Click here to check the dictionary.

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Most people have some sort of quirk, some of which are legendary.

Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com