Mental Health Archives - Healthhype

Dementia (Mental Deterioration)

Dr. Chris — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:08:23 +0000

What is dementia? Dementia is a condition where the mental processes are impaired to the point that it affects normal activities of daily life. Other features for that need to be considered in the definition of dementia is : lasting for six months or longer, not present since birth, and not associated with a loss of consciousness. It is often that dementia is simply a matter of memory loss but the condition extends beyond poor memory, and the decision making and reasoning processes are also affected. Dementia is not a single disease but rather a syndrome. Even though it is common in the elderly, the associated features of dementia are not a normal part of the aging process and it is more serious than forgetfulness in the senior years. Dementia is largely irreversible. It gets worse with age and the quality of life gradually deteriorates. Other Names for Dementia Dementia is known by various common terms. Many of these names are inappropriate and used quite loosely for a range of behavior that is not considered the norm. This includes : Insanity Madness Mental deterioration Mental decay Derangement However, it is important to note that dementia is a medical disorder and [...]

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10 Signs That You Are Suffering With Stress

Dr. Chris — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 20:20:40 +0000

For most of us, stress in everyday life has become an accepted part of living in the modern world. It is a combination of physical, mental and emotional strain as we deal with the demands of a modern lifestyle and life events that can be very disruptive. Some people handle stress better than others but stress affects every person to some degree at some point in time. Stress is a broad term that refers to any substance, disturbance, activity or event that places a strain on the body. Different types of stress may affect the body in different ways. Running around the block when you are not conditioned for this type of activity is considered as stress. But life stress specifically focuses on activities and situations that cause a sustained strain on the system. It can range from minor incidents like feeling overwhelmed when rushing around to many appointments in a day on a tight schedule or driving around a car full of screaming kids. More severe stress is seen with events like losing your job, a failed relationship or death of a loved one. It is usually a combination of physical strain on the body, mental exhaustion and emotional [...]

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Tips To Remedy Morning Muzzy Feeling (Foggy Mind, Groggy)

Dr. Chris — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 23:34:38 +0000

There are mornings where we all wake up with our mind not feeling as clear and focused as it should even though we are physically rejuvenated. There are host of different terms to describe this feeling. It is not exactly lightheadedness or confusion. Neither is just a matter of difficulty concentrating and reasoning. There is no single word to describe this sensation accurately and often we use a range of terms such as a muzzy or groggy feeling, or a foggy mind. Basically our mind is not yet ready to get going for the day and could do with further rest. This can be a symptom of certain diseases but in many instances it is just a reflection of our poor sleep habits, nutrition and lifestyle. A Good Night’s Sleep Everyday Most of us think that we know what makes for a good night’s sleep but this is not always the case, especially for adults. The stresses of modern life and demands of daily commitments often compromise the quality of sleep at night. Here’s the basics – 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily around the same time everyday. Sleep ensures that you are both physically and mentally invigorated. [...]

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How To Know If You Have Adult ADHD

Dr. Chris — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:35:02 +0000

It is still thought of as condition that only affects children. The thoughts of an uncontrollable and excitable child, unable to sit still and throwing tantrums in public. The child that does not pay attention in class, is constantly fidgeting and disrupting social activities. But ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is not always so typical in presentation. And it does not only affect children. It is now known that childhood ADHD can continue into adulthood although not be as prominent in the way it appears. The problem is that adults today who were born in the 60s and 70s were most likely undiagnosed as having childhood ADHD and the symptoms in adulthood are often mistaken as personality traits or other mental health conditions. Adult ADHD The exact cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unknown – both in children and adults. Unlike other mental health conditions, ADHD does not start in adulthood. Instead it was present from childhood and persists into adulthood in some people. Genetics is believed to play a major role in the condition but the exact genes and interaction with other factors has not as yet been clearly identified. There is also some evidence to suggest [...]

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Bipolar Affective Disorder

Dr. Chris — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:00:46 +0000

What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar affective disorder, more commonly known as bipolar disorder, is a very common psychiatric illness. Also known as manic-depressive illness (MDI), bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of prolonged depression that alternate with episodes of mania. Between these periods of mania and depression, usually there are periods of higher functionality, in which patients lead a productive life. Bipolar affective disorder leads to severe impairment of social and occupational function with a profound impact on interpersonal relationships. How common is bipolar disorder? In the United States, the lifetime prevalence (percentage of people with bipolar affective disorder at some point of time in their lives) is around 1.5%. Bipolar affective disorder usually starts between ages 15 to 25. It affects men and women equally; however, occurrence of four or more episodes annually is more common in women than in men. Types of bipolar disorder Bipolar affective disorder may be one of the following types. Bipolar I disorder Bipolar I disorder, which is mainly defined by a week’s long manic or mixed episodes, two weeks’ long depressive episodes, or by severe manic/depressive symptoms. Bipolar II disorder Bipolar II disorder, which is defined by episodes of depression shifting back and [...]

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Schizoid Personality Disorder

Dr. Chris — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:07:06 +0000

What is schizoid personality disorder? Schizoid personality disorder is a psychiatric condition where a person is indifferent to other people. A person suffering from this disorder prefers isolation to social interaction. The schizoid personality disorder belongs to a group of disorders known as eccentric personality disorders (also known as cluster A personality disorders). The affected individuals behave in a peculiar way which is not considered normal by the general population. The term “schizoid” means “schizophrenia-like”. Schizoid personality disorder is similar to schizophrenia, but the symptoms are not severe enough for the patient to be termed schizophrenic. In addition, these patients do not exhibit hallucinogenic tendencies, delusions or a complete disconnect from reality that is characteristic of schizophrenics. Since schizoid personality disorder is not as disabling as schizophrenia, these cases are rarely reported or treated. Although schizoid personality disorder is currently considered separately from similar personality disorders, some researchers believe that there is not enough scientific evidence to categorize this as a distinct disorder. How common is schizoid personality disorder? The sufferers of schizoid personality disorder do not think that they have a problem. Since these individuals usually do not seek medical help by themselves, the condition might be under-reported. The [...]

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What are Night Terrors and Nightmares?

Dr. Chris — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:12:10 +0000

Night terrors (sleep terror or pavor nocturnus) are a sleep disorder characterized by sudden crying, screaming, sweating, apparent fear and hysteria while asleep. A person experiencing a night terror is not awake and may often go back to sleep without recollecting the events. However a sufferer may awaken and continue to display the symptoms of a night terror for a few minutes after waking. Night terrors often occur in the non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep. A night terror differs from a nightmare and can affect any age group (infants, toddlers, young children, teens and adults) although it is more common in children under 5 years of age. Nightmares are scary and disturbing dreams or ‘bad dreams’ that may induce symptoms similar to night terrors. Many sufferers can recall the nightmare and are aware that they had a nightmare upon waking. A nightmare occurs during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep or ‘deep sleep’ and will usually end immediately upon waking. Parasomnia : Night Terror (Sleep Terror/Pavor Nocturnus) Disorder Night terrors or sleep terrors are disorders categorized as a parasomnia. Usually in sleep, the body’s ‘sleep chemicals’ cause muscle atonia meaning that the body cannot move or act [...]

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Sleep Behavior Disorder – Types of NREM & REM Parasomnia

Dr. Chris — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:40:57 +0000

Parasomnia is a category of sleep related / sleep behavior disorders characterized by disturbance of sleep. Parasomnias usually involve sleep experiences that affect physical or verbal behavior. Parasomnia sleep behavior disorders may involve any abnormal movement, behavior, emotion, perception and dream (nightmares) during sleep. Parasomnia can occur in any stage of sleep or the transition between sleep-wake stage. NREM & REM Sleep Stages The experience of sleep can be divided into two phases – NREM (Non Rapid Eye Movement) or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Parasomnia disorders can occur in either of these two phases. NREM sleep is the transition phase, from wakefulness to ‘deep sleep’ and then into the dream stages of sleep (REM sleep). NREM sleep and has 4 distinct stages known as stage 1 to stage 4. and is then followed REM sleep which is the period during which dreams and nightmares may occur. A natural sleep cycle consists of many episodes of NREM sleep followed my REM sleep in a single night’s sleep. Types of Sleep Behavior Disorders – NREM & REM Parasomnias Parasomnias include a wide range of sleep related behavior occurring at different stages of NREM and REM sleep. Night terror disorder (sleep terrors [...]

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Causes & Treatment of Night Terrors (Pavor Nocturnus)

Dr. Chris — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:18:50 +0000

Causes of Night Terrors (Sleep Terror) Night terrors are a sleep disorder categorized as parasomnia, affecting non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. There are no definitive causes of a night terror although some contributing factors may be responsible for night terrors. Teething in children (infants, babies, toddlers) Fevers Pain or discomfort Abuse, trauma or stress (physical, emotional, verbal or sexual) Overexertion and extreme fatigue Prolonged sleeplessness, persistent insomnia or sleep deprivation. Drugs / medication acting on the central nervous system (CNS) like benzodiazepines and barbituates. Use of narcotic drugs and alcohol abuse. Drug or alcohol withdrawal may also be a cause of night terrors. Family history may be a predisposing factor. Treatment & Management of Night Terrors (Sleep Terror) There is no clearly established therapeutic protocol for the treatment of night children. Treatment should be targeted at possible causes and contributing factors. Establishing a proper sleep routine may be useful especially in children experiencing night terrors. Avoid factors that may disturb sleep especially in the initial stages of sleep. Certain classes of antidepressants may provide temporary relief for night terrors. Antidepressants for the treatment of night terrors should be prescribed by a medical doctor after careful assessment and investigation of the [...]

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Night Terrors in Young Children – Baby, Infant, Toddlers

Dr. Chris — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:07:06 +0000

Night terrors or sleep terrors occur more frequently in children (babies, infants and toddlers) although it can affect any age group. Night terrors more often affect children under the age of 5 years of age often peaking at the 3 year age bracket. A young child experiencing a night terror may ‘awaken’ screaming, crying and hysterical and may need to be consoled before falling asleep. Unlike nightmares, children experiencing a night terror do not remember the experience and may go back to sleep immediately after experiencing a night terror. Childhood Night Terrors Night terrors are a sleep disorder that affects the early stages of sleep or non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. This usually occurs within the first 2 hours of sleep before the child enters the ‘dream stage’ of sleep or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Night terrors can be distressing for parents as the child may become agitated, appearing emotionally troubled and usually results in screaming, hysteria, sweating and restlessness which may last only a few minutes. Attempting to interrupt the night terror experience in children can cause the child to ‘awaken’ in an anxious, scared and hysterical state. Related Articles What are Night Terrors & Nightmares? Causes & [...]

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