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Ailmemts & Remedies

Claustrophobia

Definition:
A phobia is a form of anxiety disorder in which someone has an intense and irrational fear of certain objects or situations. Anyone suffering from high levels of anxiety is at risk of developing a phobia. One of the most common phobias is claustrophobia, or the fear of enclosed spaces. A person who has claustrophobia may panic when inside a lift, aeroplane, crowded room or other confined area.

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Some other phobias, borne from anxiety, include social phobia – fear of embarrassing yourself in front of others – and agoraphobia, which is the fear of open spaces. The cause of anxiety disorders such as phobias is thought to be a combination of genetic vulnerability and life experience. With appropriate treatment, it is possible to overcome claustrophobia or any other phobia.

It is an anxiety disorder that involves the fear of enclosed or confined spaces. Claustrophobes may suffer from panic attacks, or fear of having a panic attack, in situations such as being in elevators, trains, or aircraft.

Conversely, people who are prone to having panic attacks will often develop claustrophobia.[citation needed] If a panic attack occurs while they are in a confined space, then the claustrophobe fears not being able to escape the situation. Those suffering from claustrophobia might find it difficult to breathe in enclosed spaces. Like many other disorders, claustrophobia can sometimes develop due to a traumatic incident in childhood.

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Claustrophobia can be treated in similar ways to other anxiety disorders, with a range of treatments including cognitive behavior therapy and the use of anti-anxiety medication. Hypnosis is an alternative treatment for claustrophobia.

The name claustrophobia comes from the Latin word claustrum which means “a bolt, a place shut in” and the Greek word phobos meaning “fear”.


Causes :-

Claustrophobia can develop from either a traumatic childhood experience (such as being trapped in a small space during a childhood game), or from another unpleasant experience later on in life involving confined spaces (such as being stuck in an elevator).

When an individual experiences such an event, it can often trigger a panic attack; this response then becomes programmed in the brain, establishing an association between being in a tight space and feeling anxious or out-of-control. As a result, the person often develops claustrophobia.

Symptoms:
If a person suffering from claustrophobia suddenly finds themselves in an enclosed space, they may have an anxiety attack. Symptoms can include:

*Sweating
*Accelerated heart rate
*Hyperventilation, or ‘overbreathing’
*Shaking
*Light-headedness
*Nausea
*Fainting
*Fear of actual harm or illness.

Specific symptoms of claustrophobia:-
When in an enclosed space, the signs of claustrophobia may include:

  • Inside a room – automatically checking for the exits, standing near the exits or feeling alarmed when all doors are closed.
  • Inside a vehicle, such as a car – avoiding times when traffic is known to be heavy.
  • Inside a building – preferring to take the stairs rather than the lift, and not because of health reasons.
  • At a party – standing near the door in a crowded room, even if the room is large and spacious.
  • In extreme cases – for a person with severe claustrophobia, a closed door will trigger feelings of panic.

The catch-22 of avoidance
Once a person has experienced a number of anxiety attacks, they become increasingly afraid of experiencing another. They start to avoid the objects or situations that bring on the attack. However, any coping technique that relies on avoidance can only make the phobia worse. It seems that anticipating the possibility of confinement within a small space intensifies the feelings of anxiety and fear.

Frequency:-
It was found that 5-10.6% of people screened before an MRI scan had claustrophobia. Furthermore, it was found that 7% of patients had unidentified claustrophobia, and had to terminate the scanning procedure prematurely. 30% reported milder distress due to the necessity to lie in a confined space for a long time. For specific phobias in general, there is a lifetime prevalence rate of 7.2%-11.3%. Other forms of Claustrophobia include conditions such as Agrophobia and panic attacks.

The thought of treatment can be frightening
For someone with a disabling phobia, the realisation that this fear is irrational and that treatment is needed can cause further anxiety. Since most treatment options depend on confronting the feared situation or object, the person may feel reluctant.

Support and encouragement from family and friends is crucial. A person trying to overcome a phobia may find some treatment methods particularly challenging and will need the love and understanding of their support people. The therapist may even ask the family members or friends to attend certain sessions, in order to bolster the courage of the person seeking treatment.

Treatment:-

There is no cure for claustrophobia, however, there are several forms of treatment that can help an individual control her condition. Treatment for claustrophobia can include behavior therapy, exposure therapy, drugs or a combination of several treatments.
Treating phobias, including claustrophobia, relies on psychological methods. Depending on the person, some of these methods may include:

  • Flooding – this is a form of exposure treatment, where the person is exposed to their phobic trigger until the anxiety attack passes. The realisation that they have encountered their most dreaded object or situation, and come to no actual harm, can be a powerful form of therapy.
  • Counter-conditioning – if the person is far too fearful to attempt flooding, then counter-conditioning can be an option. The person is taught to use specific relaxation and visualisation techniques when experiencing phobia-related anxiety. The phobic trigger is slowly introduced, step-by-step, while the person concentrates on attaining physical and mental relaxation. Eventually, they can confront the source of their fear without feeling anxious. This is known as systematic desensitisation.
  • Modelling – the person watches other people confront the phobic trigger without fear and is encouraged to imitate that confidence.
  • Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) – the person is encouraged to confront and change the specific thoughts and attitudes that lead to feelings of fear.
  • Medications – such as tranquillisers and antidepressants. Drugs known as beta blockers may be used to treat the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a pounding heart.

Alternative claustrophobia treatments include regression hypnotherapy, in which hypnotherapy is used to remember the traumatic event that led to the individual’s claustrophobia. The patient is taught to see the event with ‘adult’ eyes, which helps to decrease the sense of panic that it has instilled into their minds.

Length of treatment
The person may be treated as an outpatient or, sometimes, as an inpatient if their phobia is particularly severe. Generally, treatment consists of around eight to 10 weeks of bi-weekly sessions.

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Where to get help

  • Sane Australia Helpline Tel. 1800 187 263
  • Your doctor
  • Psychologist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Trained therapist

Things to remember

  • A phobia is an intense and irrational fear of certain objects or situations.
  • A person who has claustrophobia may panic when inside an enclosed space, such as a lift, aeroplane or crowded room.
  • With appropriate treatment, it is possible to overcome claustrophobia or any other phobia.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Claustrophobia?open
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claustrophobia
http://www.epigee.org/mental_health/claustrophobia.html

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Ailmemts & Remedies

Bipolar Affective Disorder

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About 1 in 100 people in the US has bipolar affective disorder, also known as manic depression. in this disorder, episodes of elation and abnormally high activity levels tend to alternate with episodes of low mood and abnormally low energy levels (depression). More than half of all people with bipolar affective disorder have repeated episodes. trigger factor for manic and depressive episodes are not generally known, although they are sometimes brought on in response to a major life-event, such as a marital breakup or bereavement. Bipolar affective disorder usually develops in the early 20s and can run in families, but exactly how it is inherited is not known.

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Symptoms?
Symptoms of mania and depression tend to alternate, each episodes of symptoms lasting an unpredictable length of time. between periods of mania and depression, mood and behavior are usually normal. however, a panic phase may occasionally be followed immediately by depression. sometimes, either depression or mania predominates to the extent that there is little evidence of a pattern of changing moods. Occasionally, symptoms of mania and depression are present during the same period.

The symptoms may include:

· Elated, expansive, or sometimes irritable mood.
· Inflated self-esteem, which may lead to delusions of great wealth, accomplishment, creativity, and power.
· Increased energy levels and decreased need for sleep.
·Distraction and poor concentration.
· Loss of social inhibitions.
· Unrestrained sexual behavior.
· Spending excessive sums of money on luxuries and vacations.

Speech may be difficult to follow because the person tends to speak rapidly and change topic frequently. At times, he or she may be aggressive or violent and may neglect diet and personal hygiene.

During an episode of depression, the main symptoms include:

· Feeling generally low.
· Loss of interest and enjoyment.
· Diminished energy level.
· Reduced self-esteem.
· Loss of hope for the future.

While severely depressed, an affected person may not care whether he or she lives or dies. About 1 in 10 people with bipolar disorder eventually attempts suicide.

In more severe cases of bipolar disorder, delusions of power during manic episodes may be made worse by hallucinations. When manic, the person may hear voices that are not there praising his or her qualities. In his or her depressive phase, these imaginary voices may describe a person’s inadequacies and failures. in such cases, the disorder may resemble schizophrenia.

It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar disorder as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, above which is moderate depression and then mild low mood, which many people call “the blues” when it is short-lived but is termed “dysthymia” when it is chronic. Then there is normal or balanced mood, above which comes hypomania (mild to moderate mania), and then severe mania.

In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized.

Bipolar disorder may appear to be a problem other than mental illness—for instance, alcohol or drug abuse, poor school or work performance, or strained interpersonal relationships. Such problems in fact may be signs of an underlying mood disorder.

What might be done?
During a manic phase, people usually lack insight into their condition and may not know that they are ill. Often a relative or friend observes erratic behavior in a person close to him or her and seeks professional advice. A diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder is based on the full range of the person’s symptoms, and treatment will depend on whether the person is in a manic or a depressive phase. For the depressive phase, antidepressants are prescribed, but their affects have to be monitored to ensure that they do not precipitate a manic phase. during the first days or weeks of a manic phase, symptoms may be controlled by antipsychotic drugs.

Some people may need to be admitted to the secure environment of a hospital for assessment and treatment during a manic phase or a severe depressive phase. They may feel creative and energetic when manic and may be reluctant to accept long-term medication because it makes them feel “flat”.

Most people make a good recovery from manic-depressive episodes, but recurrences are common. for this reason, initial treatments for depression and mania may be gradually replaced with lithium, a drug that has to be taken continuously to prevent relapse. If lithium is not fully effective, other types of drugs, including certain anticonvulsant drugs, may be given. In severe cases in which the drugs have no effect, electroconvulsive therapy may be used to relieve symptoms by including a brief seizure in the brain under general anesthesia.

Once symptoms are under control, the person will need regular follow-ups to check for signs of mood changes. A form of psychotherapy can help the person come to terms with the disorder and reduce stress factors in his or her life that may contribute to it.

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Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies

Resource:

http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/Bipolar_1.html

http://www.charak.com/DiseasePage.asp?thx=1&id=31

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Anorexia Nervosa: A serious eating disorder

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..click & see is a developmental period fraught with the physical and psychological changes that accompany the transition from childhood to adulthood. Teenagers must cope with the establishment of independence from parents, the creation of personal identity, the development of intimate relationships with members of the opposite sex, and the bodily changes that herald adulthood. Often, the key to self esteem lies in feelings about physical attractiveness. In our society, the high premium placed on thinness can create anxiety during this metamorphosis. Considering the myriad of social, academic, and parental pressures adolescents must face, it s no wonder some adolescents develop physical and psychological disturbances….click & see

A common manifestation of such disturbances is the development of an eating disorder. The incidence of the three common eating disorders    anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and obesity have increased in the last decade. Among women aged 15 to 30, incidence rates are roughly 30 percent for obesity, 10 percent for bulimia, and one percent for anorexia nervosa. Although the least common of these three eating disorders, anorexia nervosa carries the gravest medical and psychological consequences.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition wherein a person systematically restricts food intake to the point of extreme emaciation. In 1689, a physician first described a patient with this illness as “a skeleton wrapped up in skin.” Anorexia nervosa is also characterized by an irrational fear of becoming obese, denial of physical discomfort, excessive physical activity, and high self expectations. Although “anorexia” means lack of appetite, people with anorexia nervosa may actually be concealing a large appetite. In fact, they are morbidity preoccupied with food and fear losing control and falling victim to binge eating.

Alarmingly, the incidence of anorexia nervosa has doubled over the past two decades. Most anorectics are white and come from middle class or upper middle class families. Some 90 to 95 percent of those with anorexia nervosa are female.

Anorexia nervosa usually begins in adolescence. A typical case is a mildly overweight teenager who believes herself to be overweight. She reduces her weight by 5 to 10 pounds. Rather than stopping there, she finds it becomes easier and easier to lose weight. Whether this continued weight loss stems from a boost to her self esteem or from physiologic changes secondary to starvation is unclear. The weight loss is maintained by severe restriction of caloric intake or food restriction alternating with periods of binge eating that end in self-induced vomiting or purging with laxatives and diuretics (“water pills”).

Regardless of the method of attaining the weight loss, the danger is that further emaciation may progress unremittingly until death. The overall mortality rate has been reported to be between two and 15 percent. One reason the patient allows herself to pursue this macabre wasting course is attributed to a “body image disturbance.” Specifically, patients with anorexia nervosa deny they are too thin or that they experience any physical discomfort from their self-imposed starvation. In fact, they may insist they are still slightly overweight even when severely emaciated. Surprisingly, the parents may also deny the existence of a problem. Therefore, teenagers with anorexia nervosa often come to medical attention in a severe state of inanition. The physical and psychological consequences can be severe.

Of the psychological consequences, the most feared is suicide. Although the incidence of suicide among anorectics is relatively low (two to five percent), it is high compared to the general population. Other psychological problems, such as depression, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and difficult family relationships may persist even after weight gain.

The most common physical manifestations of anorexia nervosa in women are amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and estrogen deficiency. The latter may contribute to osteoporosis (brittle bones). A host of other hormonal disturbances often accompany anorexia nervosa. Imbalance in body chemistry can also have dire consequences. For example, starvation, vomiting. laxative, and diuretic abuse can all cause dangerous lowered levels of potassium in the blood. Low potassium can cause disturbances in the heart s rhythm and even cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in anorexia nervosa. Additionally, many anorectics also have abnormally slow heart rates and low blood pressure.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as constipation, are common. Anorexia nervosa also predisposes patients to kidney stones. Because malnourishment impairs the immune system, patients are at an increased risk for infection.

In short, the consequences of anorexia nervosa are diverse and many are serious. But, what causes anorexia nervosa? No one knows for sure. This disease can vary along a broad spectrum of severity ar-id may have just as broad a spectrum of contributing causes. Theories incorporate sociocultural factors, occupational and recreational environments. psychological causes, and neurochemical abnormalities.

Western society may play an important role because of the emphasis placed on thinness, especially for women. In a society where one is held personally responsible for one s body type (“you are what you eat”), obesity is tantamount to failure. Other societal pressure such changes in the ecology of food and eating (eg. high calorie fast foods), alterations in family and community life, and nuclear threat have also been implicated as contributing to rising rates of anorexia nervosa.

Occupational and recreational environments that put women at risk for anorexia nervosa are those that stress thinness such as ballet and athletics. Both the strenuous physical training and the restricted calorie intake contribute to the development of the disease.

Anorexia nervosa used to be viewed as primarily a psychological disorder. Now, the many physical complications are given equal attention. However, normal psychological functioning is often impaired. Patterns of early developmental problems and disturbed family interactions, accompanied by depression are often noted. Patients often experience a paralyzing feeling of ineffectiveness. Weight loss may be a defense against such feelings, a way to gain control over one s self.

Current research is focusing on a search for abnormalities in the hormones and chemicals that transmit nervous impulses in the brain. Whether these disturbances are the underlying cause of anorexia nervosa or are a result of starvation remains to be seen.

While the definitive cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown, treatment will probably continue to be largely unsatisfactory. Denial of the illness by the teenager and family alike impede compliance with treatment.

Current treatments include nutritional rehabilitation, individual, group, and family psychotherapy, and occasionally, antidepressants. In severe cases, the teen is hospitalized to correct physical imbalances or to prevent possible suicide. Unfortunately, relapses are common.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious illness with grave consequences. It is disturbing to health care professionals that the incidence is rapidly rising. Hopefully, in the future, the exact cause of anorexia nervosa will be discovered allowing for better treatment.

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Anorexia and Pregnancy
Source: www.kidsgrowth.com

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