MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK: A LOOK INSIDE ANOREXIA, BULIMIA AND BINGE EATING

We ran through 5 types of mental illnesses with 2 remaining, Depression and eating disorders.  Since Depression is a part of all that we have talked about, we're going straight to the eating disorders.

There are 3 main eating disorders that we'll briefly cover: Anorexia,  Bulimia, and Binge eating.

First, the most popular of all the eating disorders is Anorexia. Anorexia Nervosa, the technical term, is defined as a significant weight loss from excessive dieting.  In basic terms a person with anorexia nervosa starves themselves.  It involves extreme weight loss of at least 15% below a person’s body weight.  A person with Anorexia Nervosa fears becoming overweight, when in reality they may be just skin and bones...like Amy Winehouse.

Secondly, the next common eating disorder is Bulimia. Identified as Bulimia Nervosa, it is a cycle of binge eating followed by purging to try and rid the body of unwanted calories.  Other forms of Bulimia include abusing laxatives, taking enemas, or exercising obsessively.  Speaking of abusing laxatives, my Brother and I used to spike each other's Coke, Pepsi, iced tea, or any dark beveage with liquid laxative as a practical joke.  It worked every time too.  Just thought I'd throw that in there.

Anyway, there are two subtypes of Bulimia Nervosa.  The first is the purging type, when a person regularly engages in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives or enemas.  The second is the non-purging type, when a person fasts or excessively exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, or enemas.

Finally, Binge eating, which has just recently become a classified eating disorder because of its secrecy, affects millions of Americans and is purportedly the most common eating disorder diagnosed today.  Binge eating is characterized by consuming significantly large amounts of food, eating more rapidly than normal, eating until uncomfortably full, eating alone out of embarrassment, and feeling depressed and guilty after over-eating.  Socially, behaviors such as avoidance can affect school, work, and other social activities. 

On another personal note, I binge eat Reese Cups...I scarfs 'em.

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MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK: POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Having a baby can be one of the most joyful times in a woman's life. One would think that the birth of a new baby is always a celebratory time, but for some women, this isn't so. Some women feel sad, angry, afraid or anxious after childbirth. New mother's with this feeling are considered to have Postpartum Blues. These feelings usually go away after a few days, but sometimes the feelings last longer and become more intense. This is referred to as Postpartum Depression, which often requires counseling and treatment. Postpartum Depression can occur after any birth, not just the birth of the first child.

The exact cause for Postpartum Depression isn't known. Hormone levels change during and after pregnancy and it has been considered that this may produce chemical changes in the brain, and that this may in turn play a part in causing depression. The length of time that Postpartum Depression lasts varies for each woman. Some feel better within a few weeks, for others it may lasts for many months. For women who have more severe symptoms, or who may have suffered with depression in the past, it may take longer to get well.

Some symptoms of Postpartum Depression are: feeling sad or down often, frequent crying, restlessness or irritability, loss of interest in the pleasures of life, loss of or increase in appetite, loss of energy and motivation, trouble falling to or staying asleep, feelings of worthlessness or hopeless, unexplained weight gain or loss, and showing little or no interest in your baby. In some cases, Postpartum Depression can be so severe that the mother would commit suicide or may harm the baby.

Postpartum Depression is treated like any other depression. Support, counseling and medication can all help. Your doctor can help determine which treatment is best for you. If you take an anti-depressant, it can enter into the breast milk, so talking to your doctor about risks would be wise if you choose to breastfeed. Your doctor can decide which medication you can use while nursing your baby.

If you find that you are suffering from Postpartum Depression, it doesn't mean that you're losing your mind, are going crazy nor does it mean you are a bad mother. Having a great support system during this time would really be helpful. Help with household chores, errands, or just having someone to talk to can really make a big difference during this time. Many communities offer support groups. Remember to take time for yourself. Becoming a new mom can really be overwhelming, and a 15 minute break could relieve a lot of stress and tension and make it easier to cope.

Are you a mom? Have you ever experienced postpartum depression? How did you overcome it? Do you know of anyone who appeared to be suffering from postpartum depression? Did you intervene?

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MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK: GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (or GAD) is characterized by exaggerated anxiety and the tendency to worry about everyday life with no  reason for worry. People with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster and can't stop worrying. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear, and dread. Eventually, the anxiety dominates the person's thinking so that it interferes with daily functioning, including work, school, social activities, and relationships.

According to WebMD, Benzodiazepines including Xanax, Librium, Valium and Ativan are used to treat GAD.  Antidepressants such as Paxil, Effexor, Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft are also used.

Panic attacks are common with people diagnosed with GAD.  I had to find that out the hard way. I used to work with someone who had GAD, but I really didn't know what it fully entailed because she always seemed okay. She never had an episode at work, and she always seemed upbeat. One day, she and I went to Big Lots on our lunch break. I forgot what I was looking for, but she wanted a purple hair clip.  There was this huge box in the center of the store filled with exactly what she was looking for - hair clips, in all colors.

I didn't see it then - you know, the set up. Honestly, what are the odds of there being a box of hair clips sitting in the middle of the aisle? She looked in that box, looked at me, then started screaming. I didn't know what was going on. After the screaming, she sat down on the floor Kumbaya style and started rocking back and forth. She had a panic attack, and I hear that was one of the worse kinds to have. Some people get light-headed and need fresh air. This woman screamed like I did something horrible. I was totally embarrassed. Time was winding down. I had to leave her there. I went back to my job and clocked in after she told me to go on.

When she got back to work, she apologized to me for the scene she caused. She told me that she just wanted one purple hair item, but there were hundreds in all colors. That set her off. Just listening to her explain told me that she had a mental issue. I later found out that her marriage was the reason for her GAD.  When she got rid of him, things got better. She even stopped taking her Xanax.

Personal situations can cause a number of mental issues.Living right and not settling for mediocre companionship is a huge step toward mental stability. Have you ever seen a panic attack?  Have you ever had one?

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