Archive for October, 2013

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ADHD and Managing Halloween Celebrations

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There is a common misconception that ADHD is caused by excess sugar in a child’s diet. While research does not support this, the fact is, Halloween and its excessive candy consumption is cause for concern. Halloween can be a very distracting time for children in general but can be exceptionally hard for young people with ADHD. There are chemicals in the candy that may interfere with the medication prescribed by their Orange County therapist or trigger negative reactions, not ...

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27
OCT
0

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How Creative Activity Helps Depression

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Singer Katy Perry recently admitted that writing songs for her newly released album, Prism, helped her overcome the depression she had after her December 2011 divorce from Russell Brand. 2012 was a sad year for her, she said, even admitting to having some suicidal thoughts after the divorce. Katy is past her depression now but credits the album with helping her through it. And while there is no substitute for professional help for clinical depression, evidence shows that creative therapy ...

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24
OCT
0

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Effective For Health Anxiety

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Health anxiety, also known as hypochondria, is defined as obsessive worrying about one’s health. This can cause great distress and affect a person’s ability to function properly. Recently, researchers from the UK conducted a study that indicates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from a mental health therapist is more effective at reducing health anxiety than standard care.

According to the researchers, about 10-20% of hospital patients suffer from health anxiety. This can result in an unnecessary burden on health services. Health anxiety ...

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22
OCT
0

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Depression During Pregnancy

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Women who have depression during pregnancy may be more likely to have a child who is depressed by the age of 18, according to a recent study. Researchers from Bristol University in the United Kingdom studied data from 4,500 parents with teen children. The higher the mothers scored on their questionnaire assessing prenatal depression, the more likely their children were to be depressed.

Since October is Depression Awareness Month, the results of this study are well timed. These findings suggest that ...

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18
OCT
0

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OCD Week Helps Spread Awareness

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This week is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Awareness Week. OCD Week is an international effort to raise awareness and understanding about obsessive compulsive disorder and related disorders, with the goal of helping more people get access to effective treatment. An estimated 1 in 100 adults and 1 in 200 children in the United States likely have some form of OCD.

When most people think of OCD, they think of people who wash their hands compulsively or repetitive counting. But it’s so much ...

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17
OCT
0

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Study Indicates Genetic Disorder 22Q Can Mimic Autism

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There is still much to learn about the autism spectrum: what causes it, how broad the spectrum is and the best ways to treat it are still being researched. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, children who suffer from a genetic disorder called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, or 22q, may be at risk of being misdiagnosed with autism. This new discovery goes to show the best way to ensure a proper diagnosis is ...

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15
OCT
0

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Preschool Behavior Can Help Predict ADHD

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October is ADHD awareness month, a time set aside to help the public focus on this common mental disorder. Children with ADHD often show signs and symptoms early in life, but many do not get diagnosed until they start school. But a new study suggests parents can get a heads up on whether their child may develop ADHD as early as their preschool years if they work with their child’s teacher and a mental health therapist who specializes in ...

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12
OCT
0

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Celebrities + Mental Health: the Amanda Bynes Story

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Over the last several years, the world watched as former child actress Amanda Bynes went from a seemingly normal teenager to a young woman in serious mental distress. Hints of trouble began in 2010 when Amanda was fired from the movie Hall Pass due to her erratic behavior. Later that year she announced she was retiring from acting. In 2012, a DUI and string of minor car accidents caused her to lose her driver’s license. A year of strange behavior and even ...

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10
OCT
0

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National Depression Screening Day is October 11

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Since October is Depression Awareness Month, the goal within the health community is to spread knowledge and understanding to the general public. Depression affects around 19 million American adults every year,  some of which may go untreated otherwise. Anyone who thinks they may have depression is highly encouraged to participate in National Depression Screening Day on October 11.

Health screenings provide a quick and simple way to spot the first signs of serious illness. Clinical depression is a common mental illness, ...

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8
OCT
0

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Group Therapy Sessions Help SAD Patients

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We’re just a couple of weeks away from “falling back” from Daylight Savings time. As the days grow shorter and darker, many people begin to experience the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This seasonal mood disorder causes periods of depression, social avoidance, fatigue and loss of interest in normal activities. Regular exercise, behavioral therapy from your Costa Mesa therapist and medication can help treat SAD, but the biggest benefit of all may be group therapy, including our ...

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5
OCT
0

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Why An ADHD Diagnosis Matters

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October is a big month for health awareness. In addition to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Depression Awareness Month, October is also ADHD Awareness Month. Despite the fact that ADHD is a legitimate disorder that affects more than 15 million Americans, copious doubters skill voice their skepticism about ADD/ADHD and its treatment options. For this reason alone, ADHD Awareness Month is very beneficial.

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition that involves a lack of focus, being overactive, struggling ...

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3
OCT
0

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Is It Depression or Just the Blues?

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October is National Depression Awareness Month. The purpose of setting aside this month to bring more awareness to depression is so that those who are living in a state of sadness will know that there is hope and it’s okay to ask for help. But everyone goes through periods of sadness, and sometimes what we fear might be depression is really just a case of the blues. Here are three key differences between a temporary case of sadness ...

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1
OCT
0

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