Seasonal Affective Disorder

When you are young, winter brings tidings of joy, snowball fights, and Christmas lights. To a child, a blizzard means no school and Christmas means free gifts. To an adult, however, despite the song “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” the winter and holiday season may be the worst time of year.

To a working adult, a blizzard means tardiness and Christmas means long lines with crazy parents. Additionally, the bleak weather and reduced sunlight can bring upon depression symptoms in the form of a disorder named Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a condition that half a million people in the United States suffer from, many of which do so unknowingly. Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder are similar to that of depression and can consist of anything from low energy, lack of interest, sleeplessness, and sadness. The lack of sunlight, at times darkening before people even get out of work, affects hormonal cycles — leading the condition to be physically driven, as well as mentally driven.

While Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect a large amount of people, their functionality is not greatly affected. Those suffering from the disorder can still make it out of bed and work, albeit with extra effort. Studies have found that instances of Seasonal Affective Disorder increase greatly as one travels north. Only 3 percent of Floridians suffered from the disorder while 11 percent of New Hampshire residents showed symptoms of the disorder.

One of the most popular treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder is light therapy. Research has shown that light therapy can indeed be an effective treatment for the disorder. There are two types of light therapy: bright light therapy and dawn simulation. In bright light therapy, the patient sits in front of a light box for a set amount of time, usually done in the morning. In dawn simulation, a light is timed to go on at a certain time before the patient wakes up, gradually getting brighter. Light therapy can begin to work in as little as 3 to 5 days and may help by resetting your circadian rhythm, which controls sleeping and waking.

Physicians may also prescript antidepressants, which can treat general depression symptoms in people with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Antidepressants may be used in conjunction with light therapy as a comprehensive treatment for severe cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The downside of antidepressants are side effects that include: nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, sleeplessness, headaches, and loss of sexual desire.

With the proper treatment, Old Man Winter’s icy grasp around your neck can be broken. As such, the tough winter months can melt away as the snow does, leading those suffering from the disorder into spring bliss filled with sounds of birds chirping and the sight of flowers growing.

Eating Disorder

Whether you are at school or at work, spending a significant amount of time around a friend may cause you to notice certain signals. For example, if your friend is constantly displaying a fear of gaining weight, paying constant attention to food or dieting, binge eating, or acting withdrawn, it would not be much of a stretch to be suspicious that they are struggling with an eating disorder.

Eating disorders can attack anybody at any time, particularly teenagers and younger youth. With the many social pressures that they face on a daily basis, ranging from magazine ads displaying pin-up, perfect-looking girls to peer pressure, eating disorders can affect more than just the body. For example, anorexia, one of the most common eating disorders, can keep a person out of a proper social life if they constantly refuse to eat or through social withdrawal.

An eating disorder can be a very serious problem. In addition to the social withdrawal that comes with the disorder, chronic health problems or even death may occur in very severe situations. Furthermore, eating disorders may lead to other psychological disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or personality disorders.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are the two most common eating disorders among teens. A person with anorexia has an extreme fear of gaining weight, to the point where he or she refuses to eat — leading to severe weight loss, to a point where it is unhealthy. Bulimia, another common eating disorder, characterized by binge eating and compensatory behaviors, usually in the form of defensive vomiting, or purging.

So what can you do to help a friend that you suspect may have an eating disorder? Follow these tips:

1. Show that you care

When you first approach your friend, show that you care for them. Explain that you are worried about their health, and listen to their story (or anything they have to say) sympathetically. Be persistent with your approach. Remember, ignoring their problem is not how you should show your love.

2. Be positive

The negative body image that people with eating disorders have is the root for their problems. Encourage your friend with positive statements by pointing out strengths and complimenting his or her talents. Always be supportive and show your friend that you believe in him or her, it will make a difference.

3. Empathize and sympathize

Empathize with your friend’s fear and shame, and sympathize with their situation. However, it is important that you let your friend know that his or her behaviors are destructive.

4. Be a friend

Being a good friend by bringing your friend to movies, concerts, or anything entertaining can keep their mind off of their weight. Show that you love them by dedicating your time to them.

5. Be yourself

While you are sharing your feelings and encouraging your friend to fix their disorder, always be honest with who you are. Don’t change your eating habits just because of your friend.

Beating Insomnia

Insomnia, the world’s most common disorder, can cause rifts in both your professional and social life. The disorder can disrupt your sleeping pattern, effectively disrupting your circadian rhythms.

Your circadian rhythm, and more specifically, your cortisol level and melatonin level are responsible for your sleep and wake cycles. Cortisol is manufactured from cholesterol by the adrenal glands and is controlled by hormones released from the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. The reason insomnia, as a disorder, is common during times of stress is due to the changes in cortisol levels — a response to acute or chronic stress.

To avoid the tossing and turning nights in your bed, consider tweaking your lifestyle by following these 5 steps to defeating the disorder:

1. Eat Properly

Everybody knows that caffeine can keep someone up for longer than usual, but did you know that nicotine and alcohol also contribute to the disorder? Alcohol, while seemingly helping you sleep, may cause you to wake up again later in the night. Avoid drinking alcohol, smoking a cigarette, or drinking caffinated beverages before going to bed. Also, if possible, avoid eating a late night snack as it may also affect your sleep patterns.

2. Exercise and Stay Active

If you have just come back from a 12 hour flag-football tournament with your office and come out of a 20 minute hot shower, it is unlikely that you could last more than 5 minutes lying in your bed (especially if you have silk sheets and a down comforter!). Staying active will not only prevent insomnia, but will also keep you healthy. Exercise activates different hormones which fight aging and disease. However, it is important to remember that everything is related. Exercise helps you sleep, which keeps you healthy, and sleep is required to stay healthy.

3. Keep Your Room Conducive to Sleep

Your circadian rhythm is heavily affected by light. Keep your bedroom separate from your computer, television, or other entertainment — a bedroom is for sleeping. Doing so will help your body instinctually fall asleep when you are in that specific room. Your body’s melatonin levels are inhibited by sunlight entering the eyes and, therefore, less sunlight exposure during the day will encourage the body to produce melatonin.

4. Take a Hot Shower

Temperature is another mechanism used by your body to know when to fall asleep. Taking a hot shower about 1 hour before bedtime helps you boost your body temperature which allows for a sharper drop of temperature, which helps combat the disorder.

5. Clear Your Mind

Sleep disorders are often a product of stress or a clouded mind. Constantly thinking over the days events and keep your mind active, making it very difficult to fall asleep. A few tips to clear your clouded mind include: writing down what’s on your mind, reading a book, or listening to calming music.

Fighting insomnia requires not only discipline, but small changes in your lifestyle. As getting enough rest is essential to staying healthy and effective, the sleep disorder can affect all aspects of your life, from your family to your work. Follow these tips to defeat the disorder and sleep like baby.

Learning Disorder

Children that suffer from a learning disorder may feel discouraged and embarrassed, especially in a school setting. While other children are learning and progressing with ease, a child with a learning disorder may have to work harder to achieve the same success.

Conversely, living with a learning disorder can strengthen the personality and work ethic of a child, as long as they are supported by their friends and family. Having to work hard from their adolescence will help them in the future, whether it be in further education or in a work environment. As a parent, it is your responsibility to be supportive and patient with your child, and to speak up on their behalf when it is necessary.

Follow these tips to help your child cope with their learning disorder:

1. Be An Expert

The first and most important thing you can do as a parent is to understand and accept that your child is suffering from a learning disorder. Doing so will empower you do anything in your power to help your child. Learn all that you can about the disorder so that you can become a supportive, knowledgeable parent and advocate. Talk to your child’s school to help determine what the problem is, and do research to become an expert in that particular type of disorder.

2. Be Encouraging

As said before, it is important to support your child through the disorder. This includes being encouraging for all of their endeavors, including praising their strengths and talents. If your child is strong at speaking, encourage them to tell stories! If they are good at sports, encourage exercise and community sports programs! If your child tells you that he or she is good at video games however, you may want to be suspicious that they are “good at lying.”

3. Be Creative

Work with your child’s teacher to help explore options for improving learning. If your child is better at speaking than writing, ask if he or she can do an oral presentation instead of a writing assignment. If your child is discouraged, consider involving them with extra-curricular activities.

4. Be Helpful

Keep your expectations of your child high, and constantly let your child know that you believe in him or her. Always encourage your child to think, and help him or her accomplish tasks that would usually be difficult to do alone. Keep an open communication to let them know that you trust in them.

5. Be Outward

At times, it can be beneficial to your child’s disorder to reach out for outside help. You may want to hire a tutor or others with specialties in special education or learning disorders.

Living with a learning disorder can potentially be very beneficial to a child’s future. As a parent, it is important to be educated, encouraging, creative, helpful, and outward in helping your child deal with their learning disorder. Keep these tips in mind to become the supportive advocate that your child may need!

Dyspraxia

The learning disorder of dyspraxia involves difficulties with motor skills. Simple tasks such as combing hair or waving goodbye are taxing for those with this disorder. Learning disorders such as dyspraxia can become so frustrating to the sufferers. The ability to perform certain movements and gestures is a difficult chore. Dyspraxia, one of developmental disorders, has the following characteristics: trouble determining left from right, difficulty with phonation, slow language development and problems with correct pencil grip.

How to Treat Learning Disabilities

The treatment of learning disorders is best accomplished by occupational or speech therapists that have the extensive training and knowledge to identify the specific disorder and formulate a plan of action. Therapists treat disorders by giving instruction on learning skills based on the child’s abilities while correcting the targeted behavior or actions. For example, an occupational therapist treating the disorder of dysgraphia would teach letter formation combined with directional sequence. Additionally, the therapist might give the parents activities the child can do at home to help treat the disorder. For example, activities such as baking, making crafts and playing sports is beneficial in improving motor skills. Visual memory can be improved by playing cards, marbles and jacks. Dyspraxia is also treated by speech and language therapists, but the goal is to help the child to gain control over speech muscles so that controlled sounds can be made at will. Remedial teachers may assists with a child with dyspraxia with individualized instruction. Parents of a child with dyspraxia can help the child’s program by having the child perform simple chores such as dressing himself, brushing his teeth or making his bed each day.

Reading Disability

Reading disability is the most common learning disorder with a projected 70% to 80%. One type of reading disorder is dyslexia. Dyslexia makes reading and spelling a difficult task for those affected. Some of the symptom of this disorder include: difficulty learning the alphabet, difficulty with word retrieval, mixing up sound in words with multisyllables such as “bisghetti” for spaghetti, slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling and confusion with before/after and left/right.

Writing Disability

Another type of learning disorders is the writing disability. Dysgraphia, one type of these disorders, is characterized by an inability to identify forms in letters, written letters and to comprehend the relationship between written letter, sound and spoken words. The disorder of dysgraphia has been associated with difficulty with fine motor skills such as motor memory, muscle coordination and movement in writing.

Learning Disorders

A learning disability, also known as a learning disorder, prohibits an individual from learning in a normal manner. These types of disorders affect the brain’s ability to receive and process information. This impedes an individual’s capability to learn as quickly or in the same manner as someone without a learning disorder. Learning disorders are expected to rise in adults over 60 by 36% between 2001 and 2021. In addition, learning disorders affect even the living arrangement of those afflicted. 60% of adults with learning disorders live with their families.

Social Anxiety

Social anxiety disorder affects the lives of nearly 15 million people. It is marked by a powerful fear of negative public examination. The individual is afraid of being embarrassed or humiliated in front of others. Usually the individual’s lack of social skills perpetuates the fear. The most common example of social anxiety disorder is the fear of public speaking. Other situation that can cause extreme distress include eating or drinking in front of others, talking on the telephone, dating or going to parties. The manifestation of these disorders includes blushing, sweating and difficulty in speaking. In severe cases, sufferers will isolate themselves from other to avoid the pain from this disorder.

Treatment Options

There are varying treatment options for anxiety disorders depending on the particular disorder. However, a successful treatment plan should be supervised by a psychiatrist or psychologist and must address the individual’s specific needs. Psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, has been found to be successful in the treatment of these disorders. Additionally, antidepressant medications as well as anxiolytics have offered relief to sufferers. Anxiety disorders are also remedied by having the patient learn how to relax. Meditation, breathing retraining exercises as well as regular physical exercise can be beneficial if performed on a regular basis.

Compulsive Disorder

Equally common among men and women, obsessive-compulsive disorder commonly known as OCD, usually begins in childhood. The annual cost of OCD is $148 billion. OCD is a disorder that is characterized by repetitive obsession and compulsions. Some examples of the manifestation of this category of disorders include the following: persistent thoughts, walking in a certain pattern, repeated washing of hands, closing and opening doors. Many times sufferers of OCD illogically believe that they have to do a certain action so that a bad occurrence does not happen.