Substance abuse and mental health disorders often go hand-in-hand. It can be difficult to pinpoint whether drug use causes mental health concerns or if undiagnosed mental health problems open the door for substance abuse. In all actuality, experts say that it can occur both ways. Those living with mental health problems might use drugs to cope with symptoms, while other individuals under the influence of drugs discover that the capacity to disrupt the brain’s normal development from the drug use may lead to compromised mental health.

A Psychology Today article also points out that adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of substance abuse as their brains are still growing and developing. Ironically, ADHD in adolescence has been linked to higher rates of drug abuse. A decade-long study whose results were released in 2011, uncovered that individuals with ADHD had nearly a 50 percent higher risk of turning to substance abuse at some point in their lives when compared to others without an ADHD diagnosis.

Some parents questions whether it is the ADHD medications themselves that lead to a greater likelihood of later substance abuse. Because there were almost 3 million children and adolescents prescribed ADHD medications in 2007 alone, it’s understandable why parents might be concerned. Though, many studies on the subject can put that fear to rest as there has been no credible evidence linking stimulant use among kids with ADHD to higher instances of drug experimentation or later substance abuse.

In fact, research seems to support the exact opposite. One study made public in 2008, examined 114 children with ADHD for half a decade. And while 94 percent received stimulant treatment, the group was at nearly a 75 percent reduced risk of developing a problem with substance abuse despite their use of medication.

Experts say that it’s important to be aware of the co-existence of mental health and substance use disorders. Mental health professionals at the Family Guidance Center can help individuals sort through symptoms so that one or both conditions can be correctly diagnosed and treated. If you suspect that a loved one may be affected by either an issue of mental health or substance abuse, help is available through Family Guidance Center.

1.) Turns out I wasn’t told that during a psychological assessment 4 years ago I was diagnosed with a somatization disorder (why didn’t my doc tell me? Not sure.)

Somatization disorder

I’m also blessed to have a cousin like Nicole. She once sent me a pic that said “the world couldn’t handle us as sisters so God made us cousins” and she is the big sister I can always count on. I’m a better person just knowing her. She is my sister by choice she is one of the few people left in the world with a heart of pure gold!
I’ve got SO many beautiful, wonderful people in my life. Even one (who I shall not name, because she wishes to not be named on some social networks) old friend! Who came back into my life at the most PERFECT moment.. Just.. what a blessed experience!

No matter what I am going through, I am eternally grateful for them all. And perhaps this is my apology in advance to any of you that I neglect on my journey to self-healing and discovery (after the psychological assessment, and all that jazz). Days go by without me really noticing at this point. This isn’t a way to look for pity, or any of that. This is a way for me to say this is what’s up: I’m not right in the head (more so that usual). I’m a little embarrassed about it (that’s understandable). I’ve got some health issues (biopsy stuff) that are looking better but have had my anxiety on overdrive.

And so, to make a long blog.. longer.. I just want to say how through this journey I am really enjoying the experiences of faith I receive with my continued connection with my God getting stronger everyday. I feel like I’m finding my own faith again. And, where I wasn’t lacking, I was lazy. And now, I see, that I need the strength from the prayers. Life never waits for you to be totally ready for it. You have to dive in, head first.

But I’ve been stuck treading water for quite some time now. Keep the faith, though. There’s a reason behind things.. I’m just.. tired. Perhaps bed, and then I’ll ponder life’s meaning again.

Xo

My family is moving. I will not say where to protect our privacy. We are all very excited, in just three weeks we will be in our new home. Jimmy has been acting out lately. I am pretty sure this is due to the unexpected. I have been preparing him. We talk about it on a daily basis. It is still hard for him. He needs to have a strict routine so he knows what happens next. If something unexpected happens he ends up in a meltdown. His melt downs are not fun to say the least and can become very bad very quick.

He will not be with me during this move. I just couldn’t do it with him here. He is going to be with my mother for about a month and a half or so. I am hoping that my mom will be a guest author and put up some posts during the time that Jimmy is with her. They are going to be doing some very cool things. However I will leave that up to her as to what she wants to share, pictures included.

Jimmy will continue with his mental health help. Just transferring from the office here to the office where we will be living. Everything will be in place when he returns to our new home. The professionals will be in place and already working with Chrissy and Lee. I will have already interviewed them to make sure they are a good fit.

The house will be unpacked and his room will be set up. Oh, I must mention we are going from a three bed room to a four bedroom. This makes everyone happy. Especially Jimmy and Lee as they have never shared a room before. Cleaning rooms for them will be different. They always say the other made the whole mess. Once we move that will not happen.

I plan on making some changes in routine as summer will be here. All kids are getting passed on to the next grade and will not need to enroll in school where we will be moving to. So summer starts early for them.

I guess that is all for now. I need to get packing. It is slow going since I am sick, and having the kids help is almost impossible. Maybe if I bribe them……. lol

Now first with my causes.

A lot of my causes fall into the overlap between psychological and social causes.  I noticed as I was doing my draft that I had placed certain items in psychological and then realized they would better fit in the overlap between that and social, like stigma.  I think the reason I have a number of items in most sections is the fact that I have both a more “medical/biological/neurochemical” disorder that being schizoaffective disorder and then I also have the Borderline Personality Disorder which is considered a disorder more of psychological and social disorder.  I placed being over-sensitive in the overlap of everything because: I have physical symptoms and just a lower threshold like crying and such, it’s also psychological and sometimes just my thinking can cause me to start going into an over-sensitive mode, also the social part is that my family had a large influence on me being over-sensitive with their perfectionism and criticizing.

Next is the symptoms:

You may notice that some causes and symptoms are the same, like paranoia and suspiciousness; it’s a cause since those symptoms cause me to withdraw and trigger some BPD behaviors and obviously a symptom of both BPD and Sza (Schizoaffective disorder.)  Again you will see most parts have a number of symptoms in them.  Again as I was doing my draft I way noticing things that should be in an overlap like Dissociation being both biological and psychological or Dependent/Co-dependent being psychological and social.  You’ll also notice I have some Anxiety symptoms I consider to be purely biological and then another set I consider to be in the overlap between psychological and biological.

Now for Treatment

My health professionals tend to focus more on the BPD than the Sza which is why I have more treatment aspects being in psychological and those that overlap with it.  The biological treatments are few and now that I’m thinking about it I could have put ECT (ElectroConvulsive Therapy, aka “shock therapy”) and my VNS implant (Vagus nerve stimulation) but didn’t think about it since I don’t use either of those treatments anymore.  My social treatments are few because of my anxiety, trust issues, and paranoia.  It looks like more than it is because 3 out of the 5 are just single individuals.

If anyone would like clarification on why I think a cause, symptom, or treatment fit in a specific category feel free to ask in the comments.

The past few days have just been up-and-down emotional roller coaster.  And I’ll be honest: these emotions scare me. Because the highs feel high and the lows feel so, so low. And the mood swings happen so suddenly. My stress level and anxiety seems to peak, and even though I’m trying my best to cope with it, the feelings just aren’t always matching those “positive” thoughts and “positive” behaviors. Anhedonia scares me. I don’t want to lose pleasure in the things that I like, but I have experienced it happening…I can be out and enjoying life with good people  and still feel…sad, preoccupied, anxious, insecure, worried.

My therapist is a blessing and she inspires me to touch other lives the way she has touched my own. She lets me call her whenever I need, and today I needed to talk to her. For the first time, she explored the possibility of medication.  

Oh, medication. I can’t say I’ve never thought about it. The human side of me is apprehensive, ignorant, and resistant. Because medication carries a stigma. Medication means something is chemically imbalanced. Medication means something is really, really wrong. Medication means you can’t just fix it with willpower. Medication means depending on something other than myself. Then, of course, there’s the clinically-trained side of me that recognizes the powerful capabilities of pharmaceutical treatment. I have taken enough neuroscience and psychobiology classes to know how neurotransmitters affect our state of minds.That side of me LOATHES the stigma, LOATHES that I even winced at the possibility of taking some kind of drug to ease my worries. That side of me knows that my sense of willpower has been distorted for a very long time. In my lifetime, I hope the myths surrounding drugs disappear; I hope they become as widely accepted as any other of medication.

It is difficult to distinguish whether the anxious and depressed symptoms correlate to my eating disorder. And naturally, it is hard to tell if my eating disorder is just a symptom of these underlying problems…or vice versa. For example, will I still feel this way if I woke up completely recovered tomorrow? I remember feeling anxious as a very young child. It just manifested in different ways of “needing” control (i.e: many signs of obsessive-compulsion disorder: I counted steps, meticulously checked things, etc.)

Then again, is my definition of “mood swings” really just a representation of what “normal” people feel like? Obviously, with an eating disorder, we learn how to avoid feelings by engaging in the destructive behaviors. Am I just THAT out-of-tune with experiencing emotions that any feeling creates anxiety for me? 

And then part of me wonders: Am I just overanalyzing everything? I read the DSM on a daily basis and use it for school-related purposes on nearly every assignment. I recognize  most all the disorders and their subsequent symptoms, populations, modes of treatment, and side effects from memory. Thus, it almost appears that I would naturally “self-diagnose” myself, categorizing a cluster of vague symptoms into a concise definition. Medical students do it. We “take on the role” of our careers, especially when starting out. This year alone, I’ve contemplated Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Dysthymia, Clythomania, Bipolar II, Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder…maybe the DSM is the mental health version of WebMD for physical illnesses. You’re feeling fatigued and suddenly it’s cancer, right?

I have no idea where I’m going with this post anymore. But it’s late over here, and I’m going to bed. My mood right now feels content. I am excited for my weekend. I had a great interview at an agency this afternoon and the woman (who would be my potential supervisor) told me that my clinical skills are superior and I obviously have an innate gift for helping others. While I may not need external validation to feel good about myself, hearing this compliment made me feel so lifted. I have been absolutely swamped with this interviewing process for my internship, as it is very competitive and exhaustive…I have doubted my own abilities to succeed in this field, but I have not doubted my passion for it. 

That’s how I know I’m exactly where I need to be. Learning, growing, fighting, loving, changing, evolving. No matter what happens, I am worthy<3.

Day 9 Map of Kitty Heaven

I have always been around cats. I have fallen in love with my own cats, of course; but, also, with the cats of my friends and neighbors, with stray cats in my neighborhood, and cats I regularly see. They each are so unique and interesting as cat lovers know. I have lost so many cats in my life as well.  I grew up on a busy street and our cats were always outside and inside cats. People knew we had many cats and would drop off cats needing homes. It was wonderful having so many loving pets.  It is terribly awful to lose them whether they run off to live elsewhere or get hit by a car or die of old age. I can recite the dates of many of our cat losses.  The most recent though, is a wonderful cat I know, Bagheera.  I met her in 2001 when I befriended her mom.  She has huge golden saucer eyes on her round face and is plump with super silky soft black fur. She always bumped her head on my hand for me to rub it some more – she could never get enough. My friend, Devon, had to put Gheera to sleep today because of her kidney failure. She was 17. I knew she was ill and was hoping to see her one last time. I didn’t get down there in time though, and while I am saddened by that, my memories of Gheera are the feisty, playful, sassy cat I knew for almost 12 years.  Also, recently, my cousin, Chelle, lost her cat, Julius, who was just the sweetest fluffy black cat with clear yellow-green eyes and the best disposition. He would cuddle up with us at night and play so darlingly with my cousin’s 10 year old daughter. He was periodically sick for a long time and died way too young. I am really glad I got to spend time with Julius in December where I took some amazing photos of him. I was so saddened to hear he was sick again and then died a couple days later. That was just a month or so ago. I know how much they miss him and how much he must miss them.

My mom doesn’t even want any more pets because after too suddenly losing Kozzie and Garfy in 2011, she can’t handle the loss again. Panda, our bionic kitty is the only one left at my mom’s. She almost died at the end of 2011 and again last fall.  She’s only 13 and is in great health now. I can’t imagine that house without a pet; however, I completely understand my mom’s feelings. It is too hard to lose a pet because of their unconditional love, amazing personalities, and complete joy in life.

Every time I have lost a cat, or a friend has lost a cat, I think of all the wonderful things they could be doing in Kitty Heaven such as rolling in catnip all day, lounging on a stump in the sun, spying on butterflies from a great perch, eating endless cans of tuna (being able to work the can opener), running up trees after squirrels, etc.  So to honor Gheera and Julius and all the other kitties to whom I have had to say goodbye, I made up a Kitty Heaven Activity List for Day 8.  I made a draft of the list and thought of clever names of the locations where the activities could take place. I arranged it in colored pencil, well Prismacolor, (which is so much better in quality than cheapo colored pencils) by the activity which took up too much space. I thought to arrange it by location and that made more sense space-wise and used color to coordinate it. I love playing with the spectrum of colors. I have loosened up, though, and don’t worry about being so perfect about it.  This is a huge coup for me in terms of relaxing my ultra-detail oriented-ness about papers, materials, fabrics, textures, sheens, tones, etc…

Then, I got to thinking that there would be all kinds of great things available in Kitty Heaven that aren’t necessarily activities, like endless amounts of whipped cream and little houses in which to sleep, so it needs a map. I envisioned Kitty Heaven as a space where all the animals I have lost over the years play, purr, and pounce with endless joy. If a space like this didn’t exist, I know that losing an animal would be even more catastrophic for me. Therefore, for Day 9, I made a Map of Kitty Heaven including things like kitty villas where they could have their own spaces and perches to check out what is going on around them. I centered it on Fishy Lake where they can watch and even catch the fish. (granted the fish would come back to life to restock the pond somehow…). I made a draft again and while chatting with my mom decided that doming some kind of fun shape would be fun, so I made Fishy Lake fish-shaped. I put all the other locations around it where it seemed like it may be fun – like a tree island in the lake near the Awesome Tree Orchard so that the kitties could jump across the lake on the branches to the little island. They could hide out in the catnip field to spy on things going on in or on the lake. It was fun making this in colored pencil because I tried to make each area sort of monochrome to designate it from other areas.  I could have spaced things very differently and placed the names in better spots. I could also have elaborated this so much more and come up with much more clever names and even more activities. But, just making this made it much easier for me to envision the happy space where my kitties and all the kitties of the world can play after they pass on from their earth bound lives. I do have a feeling that some of my cats have the spirits of previous cats within them; but, that will be tabled for another day.

Blessings to you Bagheera, Julius, Garfy, Kozzie, Margot, Miffy, Salt, Little Momma, Ziggy, Rolo, Snuggles, Boo Boo Head, Senji, Oliver, The Stir, Brovie, Brother Kitty, Honey, Thomas Cat, Tiger Cat, Carrie (the fish), Scooter (the dog), Scarface, Pee Wee, OJ, Tiger, Bootsie, Castor, Pollux, Two-Toes, Lily, and all the other dozens of kitties we have lost over the years. Have a ball in Kitty Heaven.

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Day 8 – First and second draft of Kitty Heaven Activities below – in Sharpie and then in colored pencil (Prismacolor), final draft at top

Day 9 draft and progress below of Map of Kitty Heaven in Sharpie and in colored pencil (Prismacolor). Final Draft at top

What many people don’t know is that Bipolar is a “MOOD DISORDER”.  It involves extreme ups and downs, where the person goes through manic phases of increased confidence, excitement, and extreme spending habits.  There are other symptoms and signs of mania too but these are the most common.  The downs are depression so deep that you want to commit suicide at times, because you don’t want to live your life in such a deep hopelessness of despair.  There are many types of bipolar too, such as “rapid cycling bipolar” “bipolar one”, “bipolar two”, etal.

Bipolar is a mood disorder where the person who suffers from it does not have complete control over their thoughts and feelings. Most of us have a trigger is our brain to make us realize a situation is bad for us, and those with bipolar lack this. There may be people that you know that have the signs of being bipolar but having those signs can be confused with many other mental conditions that are around.

The mood of one with bipolar can go from happy to sad in a matter of seconds. When they get mad, it is almost like they are not happy until those around them are upset and angry also. Another symptom of bipolar is having high energy but still being in control. One of the biggest complaints from people with bipolar is that their brain does not shut off, even when they are trying to go to sleep at night. Many people that have bipolar also have ADHD or ADD. They cannot concentrate long enough on one thing to complete a task that they have before them.

Those suffering from bipolar also have great bouts of depression and have feelings of no self-worth at this time. They also talk very fast and are hard to follow. Many people with bipolar jump from subject to subject with no break in-between. They also have a hard time keeping a job and getting along with others. Unfortunately, many also abuse drugs and alcohol making their condition much worse. They also have a very hard time sleeping at night and this can cause the problems at work.

All of these combined does not mean that a person has bipolar, but it is wise to get someone tested.

What illnesses often co-exist with bipolar disorder?

Substance abuse is very common among people with bipolar disorder, but the reasons for this link are unclear.⁷ Some people with bipolar disorder may try to treat their symptoms with alcohol or drugs. However, substance abuse may trigger or prolong bipolar symptoms, and the behavioral control problems associated with mania can result in a person drinking too much.

Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social phobia, also co-occur often among people with bipolar disorder.^8-10 Bipolar disorder also co-occurs with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which has some symptoms that overlap with bipolar disorder, such as restlessness and being easily distracted.

People with bipolar disorder are also at higher risk for thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other physical illnesses.^{10, 11} These illnesses may cause symptoms of mania or depression. They may also result from treatment for bipolar disorder.

Other illnesses can make it hard to diagnose and treat bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder should monitor their physical and mental health. If a symptom does not get better

How does bipolar disorder affect someone over time?

Bipolar disorder usually lasts a lifetime. Episodes of mania and depression typically come back over time. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but some people may have lingering symptoms.

Doctors usually diagnose mental disorders using guidelines from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM. According to the DSM, there are four basic types of bipolar disorder:

1. Bipolar I Disorder is mainly defined by manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, the person also has depressive episodes, typically lasting at least two weeks. The symptoms of mania or depression must be a major change from the person’s normal behavior.
2. Bipolar II Disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes shifting back and forth with hypomanic episodes, but no full-blown manic or mixed episodes.
3. Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS) is diagnosed when a person has symptoms of the illness that do not meet diagnostic criteria for either bipolar I or II. The symptoms may not last long enough, or the person may have too few symptoms, to be diagnosed with bipolar I or II. However, the symptoms are clearly out of the person’s normal range of behavior.
4. Cyclothymic Disorder, or Cyclothymia, is a mild form of bipolar disorder. People who have cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania that shift back and forth with mild depression for at least two years. However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for any other type of bipolar disorder.

Some people may be diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. This is when a person has four or more episodes of major depression, mania, hypomania, or mixed symptoms within a year.² Some people experience more than one episode in a week, or even within one day. Rapid cycling seems to be more common in people who have severe bipolar disorder and may be more common in people who have their first episode at a younger age. One study found that people with rapid cycling had their first episode about four years earlier, during mid to late teen years, than people without rapid cycling bipolar disorder.³ Rapid cycling affects more women than men.⁴

Bipolar disorder tends to worsen if it is not treated. Over time, a person may suffer more frequent and more severe episodes than when the illness first appeared.⁵ Also, delays in getting the correct diagnosis and treatment make a person more likely to experience personal, social, and work-related problems.⁶

Proper diagnosis and treatment helps people with bipolar disorder lead healthy and productive lives. In most cases, treatment can help reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.

Medications

Bipolar disorder can be diagnosed and medications prescribed by people with an M.D. (doctor of medicine). Usually, bipolar medications are prescribed by a psychiatrist. In some states, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and advanced psychiatric nurse specialists can also prescribe medications. Check with your state’s licensing agency to find out more.

Not everyone responds to medications in the same way. Several different medications may need to be tried before the best course of treatment is found.

Keeping a chart of daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events can help the doctor track and treat the illness most effectively. Sometimes this is called a daily life chart. If a person’s symptoms change or if side effects become serious, the doctor may switch or add medications.

Some of the types of medications generally used to treat bipolar disorder are listed on the next page. Information on medications can change. For the most up to date information on use and side effects contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)External Link: Please review our disclaimer..

1. Mood stabilizing medications are usually the first choice to treat bipolar disorder. In general, people with bipolar disorder continue treatment with mood stabilizers for years. Except for lithium, many of these medications are anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsant medications are usually used to treat seizures, but they also help control moods. These medications are commonly used as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder:

• Lithium (sometimes known as Eskalith or Lithobid) was the first mood-stabilizing medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1970s for treatment of mania. It is often very effective in controlling symptoms of mania and preventing the recurrence of manic and depressive episodes.
• Valproic acid or divalproex sodium (Depakote), approved by the FDA in 1995 for treating mania, is a popular alternative to lithium for bipolar disorder. It is generally as effective as lithium for treating bipolar disorder.^{23, 24} Also see the section in this booklet, “Should young women take valproic acid?”
• More recently, the anticonvulsant lamotrigine (Lamictal) received FDA approval for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.
• Other anticonvulsant medications, including gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) are sometimes prescribed. No large studies have shown that these medications are more effective than mood stabilizers.

Valproic acid, lamotrigine, and other anticonvulsant medications have an FDA warning. The warning states that their use may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. People taking anticonvulsant medications for bipolar or other illnesses should be closely monitored for new or worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. People taking these medications should not make any changes without talking to their health care professional.

MY VIEW ON BIPOLAR AND MY ACTIONS

I personally am on Lamictal, with the anti-depressant Cymbalta and Thorazine to sleep (since they’ve tried every other sleeping pill and it wouldn’t work).

A lot of my episodes are triggered by flashbacks of what happened to me in IRAN.

Just remember there is help and below are some links that might explain and give you resources for getting tested or finding out more information.  I hope this has been helpful because so many people misunderstand bipolar.  Some celebrities with bipolar:  Katherine Zeta Jones (Michael Douglas’ wife), Johnny Depp, Robing Williams, Jim Carey, and a few other well known people.  The movie “CATCH ME IF YOU CAN” with Leonardo DiCaprio was based on a man with bipolar.  Most bipolar people are HIGHLY INTELLIGENT!!!  And get upset with others because they don’t understand their highly creative nature and higher level of functioning.  My IQ tested to be 155 and 168 recently, *(NOT BRAGGING just giving you an example, even though I don’t feel smart at all).  Also if a bipolar is hell-bent on completing a task of some sort they usually can talk anyone into anything, and this is very true.  You wouldn’t believe some of the things I’ve gotten away with in my life, even when I was high.   Another thing to realize is that when I bipolar person starts getting pissed with someone and they talk very nasty to you, it’s nothing personal.  I know that sounds ridiculous, it’s just their task to make everyone around them feel as miserable as they do.  So please get tested and CONTROL your moods ….to a degree:)  I truly do hope this helps if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Thanks for listening.

RESOURCES:  http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml

http://www.ManagingBipolar.com

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/ds00356

http://crowdsourcemyhealth.com/browse/index/239/?wr=information%20on%20bipolar&ru=p&subid=&fuse=wizcb&range=1598141&thm=oud9zdzs&adid=1533445336

http://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-resources.html

http://bipolarchild.com/resources/online-resources/

http://www.thebalancedmind.org/learn/resources

It has been known for years that certain environmental factors—such as stress during pregnancy—can influence a baby’s development later on in life. On April 4^th at the British Neuroscience Association Festival of Neuroscience in London, researchers presented very interesting findings on a possible mechanism negatively affecting fetuses. According to an article in Science Daily, Professor Megan Holmes, a neuroendocrinologist from the University of Edinburgh/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science in Scotland (UK), has discovered a possible mechanism whereby a fetus’ exposure to high levels of stress hormones can result in mood disorders later in life.

The Study

Professor Holmes used genetic engineering in Rodents–the process of adding, removing, or manipulating a part of an animals genome via Biotechnology–to remove an enzyme she believed to be vital in correct pre-natal development. Holmes hoped to test how high levels of stress hormones affected both fetuses and puberty-age rodents—another time when drastic changes in development occur.

The Cellular Mechanics 

According to Holmes, increased levels of Glucocorticoids—the steroid hormones that increase a result of stress or abuse– might directly affect the programming of fetal cells, raising the chances of problems later on. The steroid, Cortisol, is believed to be a key factor in the fetal cell programing, for it reduces growth, changes tissues, and has long-term effects on gene expression (Davis, 2010).

The enzyme, 11β-HSD2 (11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2),  usually found in the placenta and the fetal brain, has been implicated in breaking down Cortisol to inactive form, subsequently preventing it from harming a fetus during growth (Kajantie, 2003). By genetically engineering the mice to not have 11β-HSD2, and exposing them to high levels of stress hormones, Holmes was able to test if too little 11β-HSD2—or, better put, too much active Cortisol—was causing negative changes in programming.

What Holmes Found

The high levels of stress hormones directly reduced fetal growth and led to mood disorders later in life. More-so, the placentas of these 11β-HSD2 knockout mice were smaller, making nutrient transport more difficult in the developing fetus. Holmes therefore suggests that the placental 11β-HSD2 is key in inhibition of later mood disorders, acting as a shield to harmful stress hormones.

Holmes further states  “preliminary new data show that with the loss of the 11ß-HSD2 protective barrier solely in the brain, programming of the developing foetus still occurs, and, therefore, this raises questions about how dominant a role is played by the placental 11ß-HSD2 barrier. This research is currently ongoing and we cannot draw any firm conclusions yet.“

The Implications…

You may think this is all great, yet Holmes bring an important issue to question: What implications do these findings have on current treatments? Specifically, for the past 20 years or so, we have treated pregnant mothers expected to prematurely deliver with dosages of synthetic glucocorticoids to stimulate fetal lung development. In trying to enhance the probability of life upon early birth,  we may be causing irreversible mood disorders in children later on. Homes emphasizes “while this glucocorticoid treatment is essential, the dose, number of treatments and the drug used, have to be carefully monitored to ensure that the minimum effective therapy is used, as it may set the stage for effects later in the child’s life.”

What About Adolescence? 

Holmes and her colleagues then decided to look at the affect of stress during early teenage years on mood and emotional behavior. They trained rats to respond to a specific learned task, and then exposed them to stressful environments, postulating that  high levels of glucocorticoids released during times of stress may cause changes in the brains neural networks associated with emotional processing.

The fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) results successfully  ”showed that in stressed ‘teenage’ rats, the part of the brain region involved in emotion and fear (known as amygdala) was activated in an exaggerated fashion when compared to controls.” Therefore, “altered emotional processing occurs in the amygdala in response to stress during this crucial period of development.”

Closing Thoughts…

Holmes emphasizes that “determining the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive fetal programming will help us identify potential therapeutic targets that can be used to reverse the deleterious consequences on mood disorders. In the future, we hope to explore the potential of these targets in studies in humans.” Additionally, she hopes the results will promote awareness that “children exposed to an adverse environment, be it abuse, malnutrition, or bereavement, are at an increased risk of mood disorders” later, and the “children should be carefully monitored and supported to prevent this from happening.”

-Adapted from Science Daily Article

- Abstract title: “Perinatal programming of stress-related behaviour by glucocorticoids”.

- Symposium: “Early life stress and its long-term effects-experimental studies”, at 15.15 hrs BST on Sunday 7 April, Cinema 1.

It turns out that seasonal allergies are linked with the onset of depression in bipolar patients.

You’re kidding me. There’s yet another trigger for a bipolar swing?

Apparently, this is so. From Psychology Today:

Spring is usually a happy, hopeful season – think spring fever and spring break. But for some people, the season brings out the opposite feelings. Two likely culprits are seasonal allergies and reverse SAD.

Seasonal Allergies: The Achoo! Effect

Springtime pollen allergies may leave you both sneezy and grumpy. Several studies have now shown a link between allergies and depression. Researchers have also noted that the springtime pollen period seems to coincide with a spike in suicides.

One interesting study led by researchers from the University of Maryland at Baltimore was recently published in the journal Bipolar Disorders. The researchers found that depression worsened during peak pollen periods in people with both bipolar disorder and active pollen allergies. The misery endured by seasonal allergy sufferers – sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itchy eyes or throat; watery eyes – might be reason enough to get depressed. But in this study, the worsening of depression after high pollen exposure wasn’t fully explained by the severity of people’s allergy symptoms. Something more also seemed to be contributing to their blue mood.

The most likely candidates are cytokines, the chemical messengers of the immune system. Allergy attacks trigger the release of cytokines that promote inflammation. In both humans and animals, high levels of inflammation-promoting cytokines have been linked to something called “sickness behavior.” This pattern of behavior is characterized by increased sleeping, decreased appetite, reduced sex drive, and withdrawal from the environment. In short, it’s an awful lot like depression.

Beyond that, raging allergies make it hard to get a good night’s sleep. And too little or poor quality sleep may also contribute to depression symptoms.

Reverse SAD: Bright Days, Dark Moods

Rain or shine, some people find the weather depressing. A recent study led by researchers at Utrecht University looked at different patterns of mood in response to weather conditions. One group, dubbed Summer Haters, felt in a worse mood as the weather got warmer and sunnier. The researchers speculated that Summer Haters might be at risk for a condition sometimes referred to as reverse SAD.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of recurring depression in which the symptoms start and stop around the same time each year. Typically, they begin in fall or winter and subside in spring. But in about one out of 10 SAD sufferers, the pattern is reversed, with depression returning in the spring or summer. Common symptoms of reverse SAD include insomnia, irritability, restlessness, poor appetite, and weight loss. It’s thought that this form of depression may be a reaction to higher heat and humidity, since traveling to a cooler locale sometimes brings relief.

Unfortunately, the very fact that spring is supposed to be a time of joy and renewal can highlight what’s missing for those who aren’t feelng that way. It’s the “I’m the only one not having fun on spring break” effect, and it’s bound to make someone who’s already down feel even worse.

If you’re in that group, there may be some comfort in knowing that you aren’t the only one. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you’re struggling. For some people, April showers bring not only May flowers, but also a trip to the therapist’s or a prescription for antidepressants.

For those of you who are more clinically inclined, there’s this research from NIMH:

Although growing evidence supports an association between allergy, allergens and depression, it remains unknown if this relationship is between “states” (possible triggers) or “traits” (possible vulnerabilities). We hypothesized that patients with recurrent mood disorders who are sensitized to tree pollen (as determined by allergen specific IgE antibodies), in comparison to those who are not sensitized, would report larger negative changes in mood during exposure to tree pollen in spring. We also hypothesized that differences between high and low tree pollen periods in self reported allergy symptoms would correlate positively with differences in self reported depression scores. We present 1-year preliminary data on the first 51 patients with unipolar or bipolar disorder (age: 19-63 years, 65% female, twelve patients were tree-pollen IgE positive). Ratings of mood and allergic disease status were performed once during the peak airborne pollen counts and once during the period of low airborne pollen counts, as reported by two local pollen counting stations. Linear regression models were developed to examine associations of changes in depression scores (dependent variable) with tree pollen sensitization, changes in the allergy symptom severity score, adjusted for gender and order of testing. We did not confirm the hypothesized relationship between a specific tree pollen sensitization and changes in mood during tree pollen exposure. We did confirm the hypothesized positive relationship between the changes in allergy symptoms and changes in subjects’ depression scores (adjusted p<0.05). This result is consistent with previous epidemiological evidence connecting allergy with depression, as well as our recent reports of increased expression of cytokines in the prefrontal cortex in victims of suicide and in experimental animals sensitized and exposed to tree pollen. A relationship between changes in allergy symptom scores and changes in depression scores supports a state-level rather than only trait-level relationship, and thus lends optimism to future causality-testing interventional studies, which might then lead to novel preventative environmental interventions in mood disorders.

Good luck this allergy season, my friends.

So, I knew that the New Smyrna Beach hot air balloon festival was April 5-7. I thought about driving over there to see the balloon launch either Saturday or Sunday morning, so I looked up the times and such on Friday and my mom and I thought about going. We even texted my sister with an invite.  I looked at the weather and noticed that the wind may be upwards of 9+ mph which means that the balloons may not launch (they can’t do it if it is over 8 mph apparently). The whole evening on Friday I knew that my Saturday artwork would be of a hot air balloon whether or not I saw the launch. I stayed up too late Friday night to make the launch and by late Friday evening my mom wasn’t in the mood anymore anyway. It turns out  that only 9 balloons went up Saturday morning anyway due to the wind.

I envisioned while going to sleep that night that all my anxiety and my fears were being lifted off in the hot air inside the balloon.  I connected myself to the universe and really pictured all kinds of crap that floats in my head just floating away burning up in the flames that power the hot air balloon.  That kind of meditation and envisioning is very good for me to do. It helps me cope quite well.  My brain sometimes has difficulty remaining focused and even finishing the vision, thought, or meditation. That is a task on which I am working and getting better at with each attempt. I try to say connected to the universe as often as possible, it helps me remain grounded and in a higher state of thought – not lost in my amygdala (the fight or flight center of the brain). I find that my crisis mode is pretty much the times in which my brain succumbs to my amygdala and my thoughts are all skewed and distorted. Using Daniel Goleman’s term “amygdala hijack” from Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ (1996) makes sense to explain what I have been calling crisis mode as well. I use some of the meditation and envisioning tools and methods to get myself out of my own head and back to center. This artwork is helping me do that. I like how I am choosing my projects and how each one has some sort of connection to my coping beyond just me making it.

This Balloon is an interesting one because I made it with paper but stuffed it to make it dimensional. I used extra stuffing I had from recovering my mom’s dining room chairs. I used a background that was harder than a piece of paper or thin piece of carton (like from a cereal box). I covered a piece of cardboard from IKEA packaging with blue cardstock. I made a template for the balloon and divided it into pieces to make the segments for the different colors. One of the things I love about hot air balloons besides their grace and quiet movement is the great colors and patterns. So, I pulled out a pack of paper with a wide variety of colors and chose the warm tones to construct the balloon. I made the left and right symmetrical by cutting the matching pieces at the same time. When assembling the pieces I naturally glued them with a glue stick – my favorite go to adhesive. But, I also used Scotch tape to make sure that the seams didn’t split when I added the stuffing. The artist’s double stick tape I needed to get the stuffing to work the way I planned was at my mom’s so I had to pack up the parts so far and head there. The stuffing adhered to the back of the balloon just fine with the gummy artist’s tape. Putting it on top of the stuffing so that the whole thing would stick to the background was a bit tricky. There ended up being some gaps. I like the dimensional look and the clean look of the balloon though. I like that I chose to use some tree wrap to make the basket and some twine for the ropes. The contrast of texture is something that I like here and not always comfortable doing aesthetically. I always love saving bits of materials, like the extra batting bits I used for stuffing and the bits of twine I used for the rope. I love finding unique materials like the tree wrap. I have a huge roll of it and have used it in collages and even to wrap gifts. I even save the thread that holds the fold down on the bags of cat food I buy. It is really an interesting, semi-worn texture and comes in a variety of red hues. I will find a way to use it in one of these projects, I am certain.

Process of making my Balloon piece as described above:

Strength 1 (left)

Strength 2 (right)

My post that mentioned bravery reminded me that I want to do a piece about strength. Strength has always been a theme in my life as I seem to associate it with independence and capability. My dad is physically strong and capable of designing, making, or fixing anything and knows about everything. My mom never showed us any weaknesses, worries, or fears that she may have had making me believe she was some sort of super hero. My sister and I learned how to do so many things from the talents our dad and mom gave us and skills they taught us. My sister and I are quite physically strong and don’t assume we are incapable of fixing or making anything. We were taught we have the creativity, problem solving skills, intelligence, and resources to figure out what ever we need to figure out. This was not only something we learned from our parents; but, was also taught to us in school. We were very lucky in that way. My sister and I have subsequently repaired our cars (from installing radiators to replacing brake calipers), have designed and built shelves and other furniture from scratch, installed faucets and washing machines, rewired lamps and installed ceiling lights, painted houses, planted entire gardens, moved heavy furniture and appliances, designed and sewed clothes and accessories, installed complex electronics, and tons of other stuff.  These are some things that some girls would have never been encouraged to do back in the 70’s let alone since. It is something that we have to deal with when we take our cars to the mechanic or have a repair person at the house. They often don’t believe we know what we are talking about when in fact we do.

I know that I am strong, I know that I am capable, I know that I am smart and resourceful. It is my brain chemistry that tricks me sometimes and causes me to think I am not as strong as I really am. The depression and anxiety makes me feel like I am a victim of my brain chemistry. When my anxiety kicks in I don’t feel capable of anything. I don’t feel like I am worthy of even trying to attempt something because it will just end poorly. It can really be called crisis thinking and all-or-nothing thinking which is very detrimental and poisoning. I know that when my brain goes into this crisis mode that it is my anxiety making me think that way.  The symptom isn’t my situation at the moment – the symptom is my brain chemistry. The result is the backwards thinking and crisis mode. I have to convince myself of that and then I know that the anxiety will pass and that the situation isn’t necessarily a problem or symptom of my feelings. It is hard to explain; however, it makes everything make so much more sense to me. Being creative helps me to get out of my own crisis mode sometimes if I can conjure up the energy to be creative. This project is helping me make that a much more regular practice so that I can access my creativity in the face of crisis. I haven’t experienced a crisis during this project; yet, and I am wondering how much better I will cope. I have been very good about taking my meds and my vitamins which are both essential to remember every day. The regimentation of making artwork every day helps me with the regimentation of taking my meds every day. I am hoping to add in more healthy aspects to my day such as more regular mediation and even more regular house cleaning, more dog walking, more sleeping in my bed… I’ll post how those things go.  The more I do the more I realize I can affect my brain chemistry and the stronger I feel.

My sister gave me a necklace for Christmas that has a fleur de lis charm on a red cord. It stands for strength.  I haven’t taken it off since. I touch it all the time reminding myself that I am strong. Also, my dear friend gave me a great fleur de lis rubber stamp along with some other awesome craft supplies. So, I wanted to use the fleur de lis stamp on some old book pages for my art project. It was sparked by the inspiration from the necklace my sister gave me to make a piece.  I figured since I would be playing with paper and stamps that I would end up making more segments that would end up making two pieces.  That happens to me when I start assembling paper.  I have so many supplies and so many ideas that there are thousands of options.  Knowing this in advance, I decided to make the pieces for day 4 and 5 together. I conceived of the idea on day 4 and executed them on day 5.

I used more of a greeting card or scrapbooking aesthetic which is busier than my own typical aesthetic.  I wanted to branch out and layer things a bit more than I typically would. I like perfectly matching colors and symmetrical layouts.  It is my logical side poking through my creative side. This time I tried to depart from that in a few ways. I am not thrilled with the results; however, I did like that I attempted to use mixed colors and odd placements of things that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I like making small pieces out of paper because it is easier to be symmetrical without a lot of left over negative space that seems to need something. I worked on two different sizes this time and the smaller size was much more comfortable for me. It was the piece I did first with the text in gold rub on letters “strength.” I used the fleur de lis shape cut out of a page from a book that says something like “you can do it” which reminded me of being strong. I think of this piece as an affirmation that can remind me to be strong, that I am strong, that I am creative, and that I can do it. It also reminds me how much I adore French things such as the fleur de lis and even brioche which is mentioned on the page of text. I added the birds because they seem to balance out the piece a bit in terms of negative and positive space, color, and texture, and the form of the bird echoes the form of the fleur de lis. I also, as you know, adore birds and respect them for their many of their attributes including their strength.

Process of making Strength 1 – pulling out everything that inspired me included boxes of rubber stamps, ink, and embossing powders, my drawer of gold paper scraps, and flipping through a torn up book for interesting pages on which to stamp and cut shapes.  I made a fleur de lis template to make a larger one out of book pages, then put it to the left of my page. Then I added a gold center portion, rubbed on the letters “strength,” stamped and embossed a fleur de lis in the upper right corner, and then pasted and stamped birds as seen in the final image at the top of the page.  The fleur de lis I cut out isn’t my favorite; but, I wanted to include some particular words that were on the page.

The second piece, the square one, started with the segment in the upper left hand corner where I stamped the fleur de lis on a book page. I would typically put that on a greeting card layered with a ribbon and another piece of paper and that would be that.  I did use embossing powder and a heat gun to make it more dimensional.  I love the effect the powder has when it is heated.  It is also a pretty clean process, unlike glitter.  Here I wanted to play with space a bit so I added the larger tan stamp in the bottom right corner and did a bit of embossing on that. I don’t like the layout; but, I love the quote I put on there from Eleanor Roosevelt, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… Do the thing you think you cannot do.” She was such a strong woman and so wise, that her words are perfect for reflecting. I knew I wanted to add a quote and should have incorporated the piece of paper I wrote it on before I did the larger stamp so that the spacing and layering would have turned out better.  So, then I added the few large words in the center and played with the gold colored pencil.  I probably should have stopped before then, actually.  However, I do like the large words as they help me reflect on the quote without having to read it. I want to make more things with this great stamp and the book pages.  I think next time; I will further disassemble a French literature book that I happen to have in storage. I have dozens of books ready for use for their interesting paper. I am inspired to make a pack of greeting cards actually.  This is a benefit of this project, and also a setback. I am inspired to make so many more things and don’t really have as much time to do that because I want to keep pushing myself to make something that will relate to my coping. Making several of one design is being creative because I have to design the first one; but, I typically get over it pretty quickly. I like making things that would typically repeat with some differences each time.

Process of making Strength 2 – it is always hard to decide what to do so I pull out a ton of materials and push them around and see what I like. Then I glued on the black edges, made the large square stamp and embossed it, added the fleur de lis segment on the book page, added some gold edges, added the Eleanor Roosevelt quote with the gold candy wrapper frame around it, did the gold pencil accents and words.  My handwriting wasn’t great in making this; but, I like that it is my writing as I see the words ingrained in my own hand and they seem to have more impact that way.