Electroboy Fights Stigma of Mental Illness
Los Angeles, CA (ContentDesk) May 11, 2006 -- For Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, and Vivien Leigh, bipolar disorder (or manic depression) has no doubt played a large role in their mythology and legend. But for Andy Behrman, author of "Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania," bipolar disorder is an illness he copes with on a daily basis, and not what defines him or his creative legacy."Electroboy" is Behrman's chronicle of his battle with bipolar disorder which nearly ended his life and led him into one of alcohol and drug abuse, sexual promiscuity and illegal activities including an art counterfeiting scheme which the New York media lapped up and for which he was ultimately convicted and sentenced to prison.Eliminating the stigma of mental illness is the goal of Behrmans one-man crusade, as he crisscrosses the country speaking to hundreds of mental health support groups, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, nurses, college audiences and book clubs. With more and more young people being diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses, we have to educate Americans now to understand what it is like to struggle with and treat these invisible diseases, says Behrman. Twenty percent of Americans suffer from some type of mental illness. Getting the word out is critical to helping raise awareness and promoting tolerance," says Behrman, who in the past fifteen years has been prescribed more than thirty-eight medications and nineteen electroshock therapy treatments to stabilize his condition.Hollywood is currently making Electroboy into a major motion picture -- the first film in which the protagonist has bipolar disorder.
Not every person who has bipolar disorder is a genius, or a raving psychopath, or suicidal, says Behrman, who is intent on dispelling the myths of mental illness. The public needs to be educated about mental illness to understand that its no worse than having diabetes or even cancer. It can be overcome, he says. The Bush administration spends $100,000 a minute on a war halfway around the world, but in this country Ive seen mental health advocates redeeming soda cans to pay for support group expenses and suicide prevention programs, to reach people who are suffering needlessly, says Behrman.Bipolar disorder is a mental illness highlighted by alternating episodes of mania and depression -- euphoric highs and desperate lows. It's an emotional disorder which is frequently overlooked by the patient, his or her friends and family and sometimes even by mental health professionals who are prone to misdiagnosis.
And perhaps the most frightening fact is that the suicide rate during a manic depressive episode is higher than it is for any other mental illness. More than 2.3 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder, and these are just the people who are diagnosed there are as many as five million more who may not be currently diagnosed. Bipolar disorder is an invisible illness, and sometimes the stigma of having it is almost as bad as the disorder itself. There has got to be a way for people who deal with life-long mental illnesses to be treated like other members of society the way those who are diagnosed with diabetes or cancer or epilepsy are, says Behrman. Ill fight until the end for the 20% of Americans who have mental illnesses, because mine nearly destroyed my life, he adds..
Do You Think You Have Depression?
Do you have days where nothing can make you happy? You are not alone. I ignored my depressive thoughts about life for years. Unfortunately I didn't do anything to fix my situation until they became so dehabilitating that I had no choice.Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. In a given year, an estimated 22.1% of Americans aged 18 and older (about 1 in 5 adults) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. According to the 1998 United States Census population estimate, this figure translates to 44.3 million people! In addition, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S.
and other developed countries are mental disorders, with major depression being the leading cause of disability.It is estimated that depression alone will occur in approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5% of the United States population aged 18 or above. If you are a woman, you are twice as likely than a man (12% vs. 6.6%) to be affected by depression each...
Do You Think You Have Depression?
Depression > Do You Think You Have Depression?
Use Adipex to Get Rid of Obesity
If your body mass index is over 30 you are considered to be obese. Obesity is dangerous because obese you are at the risk of getting various life-threatening diseases. Obese people are the host of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, different types of cancers etc. and it often decreases their life expectancy.
Apart from making obese people prone to host of diseases, obesity also affects their normal life and activity. Moreover, obese people are likely to lose their efficiency and work performance to a drastic level.
Furthermore, obesity affects people's sexual health and due to unsatisfying sexual activity people may face psychological problems such as depression, mental stress, lowered self esteem, lack of social involvement etc.
To help obese people overcome the health risks posed by obesity there are plenty of weight loss plans, techniques, diets and weight loss diet pills available in the market. Among them, the most preferred one...
Depression > Use Adipex to Get Rid of Obesity
The Mysterious Problem of Phantom Pain
When a person loses an arm or a leg, it involves, not only a shock to the physical body, but a tremendous amount of stress on an emotional and psychological basis. Depression, anger, and fear can set in as the injured person begins to cope with the loss of a limb and the resulting change in body image, as well as uncertainties of the future. Physical therapy needs to be accompanied by emotional support as the patient recovers.
One mysterious but very common consequence of limb loss is the occurrence of "phantom pain," ranging from an odd sensation to sometimes severe pain seemingly coming from an arm or leg which is no longer there. The phenomenon has existed for as long as human beings have been surviving wounds involving amputation. Only recently has the medical community begun to understand the reasons behind this event.
Once thought to be strictly a psychological problem, most doctors and researchers now believe that the pain is neurological in origin....
Depression > The Mysterious Problem of Phantom Pain
Common Scents For Emotional Well Being
Aromatics which include essential oils, perfume, centred candles and incense, have been used for centuries to affect the mind (and also, ultimately, the body) in a positive a This practice finds its origins in religion and primitive beliefs. Aboriginal Australians burned the leaves of eucalyptus to fumigate an area from viruses. Aboriginal Americans use sage and cedar and the Slavs, such plants as sunflower, pine and garlic peels for the same purposes. This was done because occult powers were thought to be sensitive to fragrances and could protect against fever, sorcery, epidemics and demonic charms.Today scents are often used to calm, uplift or sedate a troubled mind. This is called the psyche-soma effect.
The theory is that the bloodstream might absorb scents entering the nose and cause a chemical effect in the brain. Here is a list of common scents you can find in the form of incense, perfumes and oils that might help you to cope with certain unpleasant emotional states.Orange:...
Common Scents For Emotional Well Being
Depression > Common Scents For Emotional Well Being
Calming The Inner Voice
Stress. Depression. Anxiety. They're powerful words that conjure up all kinds of images and prejudices in our minds. People who suffer from these illnesses find it hard to cope with life.
They can feel deeply unhappy, they can find no joy in anything life has to offer, and of course, their levels of self-esteem, confidence and self-respect plummet. But how can this happen to someone?Let's concentrate on how these illnesses affect the way we value the self. Of all of the destructive patterns of behavior these illnesses cause, the way a sufferer talks to the self is the fuel that maintains their illness. I have experienced depression from two sides. For 5 years, a series of traumatic events triggered a personal nightmare I believed would never end.
One of these events came when my lover was diagnosed with depression. At this time, I too had entered into the spiral of anxiety-induced depression. Both of these experiences have given me an insight into how sufferers destroy...
Calming The Inner Voice
Depression > Calming The Inner Voice
How To Avoid Descent Into Depression
Copyright 2006 Christopher Green
You'll hear many times that single events can trigger a major episode of stress, depression and anxiety. The key word is "trigger", because that is all a single event is. It doesn't actually CAUSE stress, depression or anxiety but it does trigger a sequence of behaviors that lead to mental trauma.
But how does this happen?
Descent into a stressful, depressive or anxious episode happens because of negative and catastrophic reactions to events you are confronted with. One event by itself simply isn't enough. There are many chain-reactions that take place before a person becomes highly stressed or depressed or anxious, but I'm going to discuss one of the biggest ones: using one event to ascribe catastrophic meanings to all areas of your life ? I call it "generalizing".
Let's take a look at two events that most, if not all humans, will experience during their lifetime:
1.
Loss of a job....
How To Avoid Descent Into Depression
Depression > How To Avoid Descent Into Depression
Depression
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