Keeping Your New Year's Resolution with Mindfulness

By Brandon Cornejo M.D., Ph.D.

How many of you are trying to get yourselves back into a regular gym and exercise routine for your New Year's resolution? When it comes to exercise, one of the biggest challenges is staying motivated and consistent. I hope I can help you with this two-part blog post on "Mindfulness."

What is Mindfulness?

• Mindfulness is a nonjudgmental, present-centered awareness in which each thought, feeling, or sensation that arises is acknowledged and accepted.

Mindfulness as a Therapeutic Approach

• Mindfulness based stress reduction means to focus your attention on the "now."

• People practicing mindfulness work on not judging or evaluating the present moment but focus on simply “being” present.

• People in a formal mindfulness class engage in daily meditation along with skill-building homework that ties them to the “here and now.” 

 How Does Mindfulness Work?

• Mindfulness allows a person to pause calmly and reflectively before reacting to things.

• Mindfulness may prevent relapse of clinical depression by allowing a person to have some “space” between who they are and their emotions.

• Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a form of therapy that combines elements of mindfulness with cognitive based approaches to treatment, can be an effective approach for the treatment of anxiety or depressive disorders.

• Mindfulness may enhance mood as well as help eliminate negative thoughts associated with depressive states.

So why is "mindfulness" important to keeping that New Year's resolution of daily exercise? Next week, I will post part two with my tips for staying in the present moment while exercising. Happy New Year's!

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How to "Bully-Proof" Kids

By Gariane Phillips Gunter, M.D. 



Do you think October's national anti-bullying campaign was successful in stopping bullies? The Washington Post recently blogged about our country having a hard time defining bullying among kids. So, what can we, as parents, do to protect our children and teens? Here are some tips for "bully-proofing" your kids:

Distinguish between events and feelings - It is important to teach your children the difference in their interpretations of life situations. This helps kids learn to understand and relate to the feelings of others. They will be able to determine if someone is treating them appropriately - or if they are, in fact, being bullied.

Develop a sense of self - Another great way to bully-proof your child is to help them develop a sense of self. Encourage them to learn about and understand who they "are" because children who struggle to identify self-awareness or constantly strive to be their "hero" are never going to be able to live up to those expectations. This can be detrimental for their self-esteem - making them a direct target for bullying. Kids with low self-esteem are less likely to stick up for who they are which makes them prime targets for those looking to pick on someone (bullies often bully due to their own low self-esteem).

Monitor their online lives - Parents or caregivers should have access to online accounts and cell phones to ensure their teens' safety over the Internet. Cyberbullying continues to be a nationwide epidemic.  



Positive activities - It is also important to encourage your kids to explore activities that make them feel good about themselves. Find something that they are really good at because it will help increase their overall self-esteem and feeling of self-worth. Encouraging courageous behavior is another great way to guide children. You can teach them to stand up for themselves and for their peers and other friends. When groups of kids or teens stand together to put an end to a bullying situation, the bully is more likely to back off and won't mess with your child again.



Following these tips when your kids are young is the best way to show them how to establish early on that they will not tolerate bullying. 



Sources: http://www.makebeatsnotbeatdowns.org/, http://www.olweus.org/

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Double chocolate chip brownies

Double chocolate chip toasted coconut pecan brownies.

Semi homemade brownies at there finest!

(It's a very grey day here so the lighting is not the best)

I used a box of double chocolate chip brownie mix.

Topped with a delicious frosting! I toasted some un sweetened coconut under the broiler for 2 min., tossed and toasted for another 2 min. Then I toasted some crushed up pecans and mixed both in with some vanilla frosting and spread it on top of the brownies, yum.

The frosting is amazing! Semi homemade is the way to go sometimes. You get all the ease and convenience from the box, but then you can switch up the recipe to make it your own unique creation.

These will be sent off to a friend to enjoy, and boy are they delicious!

Baked nachos

There's nothing as yummy and comforting as nachos. These nachos are healthy and delicious and super easy to throw together on a Friday night enjoyed with a movie, or served at a party for your friends to enjoy.

Start with a base of refried beans of choice, I used vegetarian refried black beans. Topped with a layer of lime flavored Food should taste good chips, more refried beans, black beans, salsa, grated carrot, Greek yogurt mixed with taco seasoning, more chips, reduced fat cheddar cheese, and diced tomato.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 min.

Serve topped with a little more salsa, some more Greek yogurt, and a squeeze of lime.

I promise that these baked nachos will go quickly if served at a party and will be a crowd pleaser for sure!

Female Athlete Triad: Sport Gone Bad

By Claudia L. Reardon, M.D.

Psychiatrists encourage nearly everyone to participate in sports and exercise. Sports not only improve physical health but also can greatly improve mental well-being. However, if girls and women take involvement in sports too far, they can suffer a well-described triad of symptoms. The so-called female athlete triad consists of the following three inter-linked health problems:

1. Insufficient caloric intake/disordered eating


2. Menstrual problems


3. Weak bones

Girls and women who participate in “leanness sports” that emphasize thinness (running, ballet, gymnastics, figure skating, and others) are particularly at risk. If they receive the message that being thinner could result in greater athletic success, they may try to cut down on their caloric intake to levels too low to support their levels of physical activity. This can result in full-blown eating disorders, irregular menstrual cycles, and weak bones (including osteoporosis at young ages).

Some common myths about the female athlete triad include the following:

• If an athlete’s performance has not started suffering, then she must not have a problem. FACT:  Even if an athlete’s performance has not started suffering, it eventually will.  Not taking in enough calories to match activity level is not sustainable in the long-run.


• It is normal for female athletes to stop menstruating. FACT:  It is never normal for a female athlete to stop menstruating. There are serious health risks, especially bone loss, to not menstruating. Studies show that after three years of not menstruating, bone loss is likely to be permanent. Loss of future reproductive function could also occur.


• If an athlete is not eating enough to match activity level, she is aware of what she's doing. FACT: Denial is powerful. Athletes will very often feel that they are being as healthy as possible, and that meticulous attention to diet is a sign of dedication to sport. Coaches, parents, and professionals will need to help the athlete see the problems with the behaviors.


• An athlete who eats “healthy," is a top performer on the team, and excels in class is unlikely to have an eating disorder. FACT: Traits that are desirable in an athlete can make them more at risk of developing an eating disorder. Mental toughness, pursuit of excellence, performance despite pain, commitment to training, and being a team player are very similar to excessive exercise, perfectionism, denial of discomfort, and being self-less.

What can you do if someone you know might be suffering from the female athlete triad?

1. Share your concerns with the athlete.


2. Talk with the coach, athletic trainer, or school counselor.


3. Encourage the athlete to see a physician and dietitian. Not all health care professionals are familiar with the details of the female athlete triad; to help them out, you can send along this brochure with the athlete to the appointment.

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Should your Doctor be your Friend?

By Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D.

Last Friday, October 14th, I was asked to be a guest on the Dr. Drew show to address the important issue of the doctor-patient relationship. Our discussion centered on the friendship between Dr. Conrad Murray and Michael Jackson and the inappropriate crossing of boundaries.

First and foremost, the doctor-patient relationship is special, centered on trust, caring, and helping. But it is not a friendship – friendships are two way streets. The therapeutic alliance in the doctor-patient relationship is a one-way street – the doctor’s role is to help the patient. 

Another issue we discussed was “doctor shopping." When a person who has a diagnosis of chemical dependency gets prescriptions from various doctors in order to misuse medications, typically pain meds or anti-anxiety meds (benzodiazepines), it's called "doctor shopping." When a physician is aware of this behavior or even suspects "doctor shopping," it's the doctor's duty to take action and stop filling prescriptions rather than enable such destructive behavior.

If you have a friend or family member misusing medication in this way, don’t sit by quietly. Taking appropriate action could save a life. Encourage your loved one to seek appropriate treatment. On the Healthy Minds Public Television series, we have two episodes which focus on chemical dependency, episodes #111 and #112 which can be seen at www.wliw.org/healthyminds. 

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Devil dog cake

Pumpkins have always been my favorite. From decorative pumpkins, to actual pumpkins, and pumpkin flavored foods.

This little pumpkin was the inspiration behind the "best ever chocolate cake".

I just learned recently about a snack cake called a devil dog. What is a devil dog you ask? Well it's a chocolate snack cake with a whip cream frosting inside. And of course it's shaped like a hot dog.

When I ran across a recipe for a devil dog cake on the pioneer woman's website I knew it was a sign I must make this. For the man who's favorite #1 treat is a devil dog.

You can find the devil dog recipe here including the frosting.

I decided that a hot dog shaped cake WAS NOT an option. I needed something much cuter then that. So after baking the sheet cake I cut it in half. Frosted one half, topped it with the other half, and then free hand cut out a shape of a pumpkin. Once it was cut out I ditched the scrapes for snacking later and wallah. I had a pumpkin shaped devil dog cake. Please don't judge my pumpkin shape. I swear it's better in person, and I guess it has some character, right?

I got so excited about the end product and getting it ready for shipping that I forgot a final picture. I shipped this cake that I was so proud of across the country to New York city. For it to be enjoyed by someone special! And enjoyed it was!

Fall soup

I love cool crisp fall days with a hint of drizzly rain, its perfect for soup.

And when it's made in the crockpot it makes everything that much better.

Broccoli potato soup

3 cups organic non fat milk

2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

1 package Applegate farms turkey hot dogs (sliced into pieces)

1 package shredded hash brown potatoes

1 package frozen broccoli

1 small diced baby onion

1 diced red bell pepper

seasonings: 1 tsp. each of basil, oregano, garlic powder, chili flakes, sea salt, and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours. Add one cup of reduced fat cheddar cheese to the crockpot and simmer for one more hour.

This soup get's even better the next day.

The Significance of a Sleeping Brain

By Sara Coffey, D.O.

As a mother of a newborn, "sleep" is an increasingly interesting and important topic in our household.  Not only for my baby, but for my husband and myself - which brings me to the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Weissbluth.  Since I'm a psychiatry resident as well as a mom, I'm especially drawn to Dr. Weissbluth's discussion on studies showing sleep linked to temperament and attention in children.

Children need sleep in order to develop.  A sleeping brain is more than just a resting brain; it is a brain that's able to restore, process, and complete essential tasks that an active awake brain is unable to do.  Dr. Weissbluth explains that for young infants, daytime sleeping or naps can help to enhance the brain’s capacity to think.  When we become adults, our busy schedules cause us to forget the importance of these daytime respites and restorations.  Our hectic grown-up days may not always allow naptime, but naps are essential to raising healthy infants and kids.  

The significance of sleep doesn't only apply to young children.  Did you know that teenagers need more sleep than pre-teens?  So, to all parents who are noticing behavior problems, irritability, decreased concentration, or other changes in your children's moods, focus on their sleeping habits.  HealthyMinds.org blogger Dr. Gariane Gunter shares how many hours of sleep a child needs according to his or her age in this post.  I've included some of her tips below:

• Birth-6 Months: Children need 16-20 hours


• 6-12 Months: Children need 14-15 hours


• Ages 1-3: Children need 10-13 hours


• Ages 3-10: Children need 10-12 hours


• Ages 11-12: Children need 9-12 hours


• Teenagers need 10-12 hours of sleep per night

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Live Longer by Making Mental Wellness Your Mission

By Felicia Wong, M.D.

September is National Recovery Month, and this year, SAMHSA announced the first National Wellness Week (September 19-25, 2011) to show why "wellness" is so important.  Did you know, people with mental and substance use disorders die decades earlier than the general population, mostly due to preventable medical conditions?

Each day, we face all sorts of demands and drama which can lead to insomnia, lack of concentration, problems in our relationships, and other mental health issues.  In May, I suggested using these tools to cope better with stress and boost your overall well-being.  Here's my "Top 8 Tips for Mental Wellness;" I hope you will take another look and share with your loved ones this week. 



1) Help Others. People who consistently help others experience less depression, greater calm, and fewer pains.

2) Take Care of Your Spirit. People who have strong spiritual lives may be healthier and live longer. Spirituality seems to cut the stress that can contribute to disease.

3) Stay Positive. Positive emotions can boost your ability to bounce back from stress.



4) Get Physically Active. Exercise can help relieve insomnia and reduce depression.

5) Get Enough Sleep. Not getting enough rest increases risks of weight gain, accidents, reduced memory, and heart problems.

6) Eat Well. Eating healthy food and regular meals can increase your energy, lower the risk of developing certain diseases, and influence your mood.

7) Deal Better with Hard Times. People who can tackle problems or get support in a tough situation tend to feel less depressed.

8) Get Professional Help if You Need It. More than 80 percent of people who are treated for depression improve.

Which tips on this list are missing in your life?  Today is the perfect time to take action!  Your wellness matters. 

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Marrionberry cobbler

When it's the end of summer and you have an abundance of blackberries sitting in your fridge, what else should you make but cobbler.

I haven't had cobbler in such a long time, years. I tend to be more inclined to make a crisp over a cobbler. I mean a crisp has a crunchy oat topping, yum and is so easy to make. And a cobbler is much more complicated.

That was until I made this cobbler. It was so easy and very delicious, as well as not too sweet.

I made this mixed fruit cobbler recipe from cooking light. I used spelt flour for the filling and the topping instead of the whole wheat and white flour. I also cut the sugar in the filling down from 1 and 1/4 cups sugar to just 1/4 cup of sugar. Even with a 1/4 cup of sugar it was slightly too sweet. Thank goodness I didn't use 1 and 1/4 cups sugar, oh my! I also used all marionberries for the fruit filling.

This cobbler was amazing and perfect for summer, and so easy to make. Move over crisp you have some competition from the cobbler.

Helping Others Helps Your Mental Health: Why Volunteering Makes Us Happier

By Roberto Blanco, M.D.





I had just sat down for Dr. Norden’s Neuroanatomy class when one of my classmates, who had just walked into lecture late, announced he heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers.  As was her way, Dr. Norden showed immediate concern, and before I knew it, we were watching another plane fly into the second tower live on CNN in the front of the lecture hall.  It was a surreal scene in Light Hall on Vanderbilt’s Medical campus; one that I did not expect to experience.  The rest of the day was a blur of events and emotions – people in a state of shock, tears shed, classmates comforting each other, and Dr. Norden attempting to put things in perspective.  Class was dismissed for the day, and the rush to call loved ones in New York City and Washington, D.C. began.  My thoughts immediately turned to family members who lived in New York and worry when I was unable to reach them.



10 years ago, the world of every American changed.  In response, the country and the world came together in support of the victims of the terrible tragedy.  People from far and wide drove, some for thousands of miles, to reach New York City and care for complete strangers.  People sacrificed their time, sweat, and a good portion of their lives and livelihoods to help those in need.  Donations flooded in to support the victims’ families.  A rush of prayers, love, and aid from across the globe also streamed in for those affected.  It seemed that the world was one in giving to those who had lost.



I recently wrote a blog post here on happiness, human fulfillment, and flourishing.  In that posting, I discuss human fulfillment and flourishing as the real definition of happiness and the final aim of all of what we do.  A great way to help yourself and your own mental health is to help others.  Feeling useful and needed is a wonderful way to work towards human fulfillment and recognize all you have for which to be grateful.  Serving others is a sign of individual and community emotional health.  Volunteering your time and talents also leads you to finding the love within yourself that you didn’t know you had.  When faced with those who have lost and are truly in need, just like on September 11th, the true beauty of mankind comes out.  



For Sunday's 10th Anniversary of September 11th, President Obama is calling for a national day of giving in memory of those who passed during the attacks.  His goal is to have over 1 million Americans engaged in volunteer work on September 11th.  The American Psychiatric Association has joined "Give an Hour" in aid of military members, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families as part of the “I will” campaign to encourage that same spirit of service that was felt in the days following the attacks.  So, think about joining us in giving by helping build a house for a needy family through an organization like Habitat for Humanity.  Volunteer to distribute food or give to your local food bank.  Help a friend move.  Donate time or resources to a homeless shelter, spend time with the elderly, or serve at a local hospital.  This September 11th, let’s honor those who died by helping a member of your community in need.

In photo: Dr. Blanco and another volunteer work together to build a home through Habitat for Humanity

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Shredded chicken

Happy Labor day weekend

If you are looking for something to make for this Labor day weekend then this is the meal to make. It's quick, easy, and can feed a bunch of people without requiring a lot of time in the kitchen.

Shredded BBQ chicken

2 chicken breasts

1 can tomato paste

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup BBQ sauce

1 sliced onion

spices: 1 tsp. each cumin, smoked paprika, basil, oregano, garlic powder, chili flakes

dash salt and pepper

Combine everything in a crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours.

Once done shred chicken and serve

You can't have BBQ chicken without a nice crunchy slaw. This one is perfect with a seasonal summer twist with the addition of nectarines.

Summer nectarine slaw

1 bag shredded cabbage cole slaw mix

1 sliced red bell pepper

2 diced nectarines

Dressing

1.5 tsp. garlic gold oil

1.5 tsp. sesame oil

1 TB. rice vinegar

1 TB. soy sauce

1 TB. raw honey

juice of 1 lime

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

Mix dressing, cabbage, red pepper, and nectarines together. Let marinate for 1 hour or longer. If you would like a crunchy cole slaw I would suggest marinating for an hour. If you would like a soft more traditional cole slaw marinate for 2-3 hours.

Toss and serve.

Served with a side of creamy millet grits. This was an amazing summer dinner. The best part, it was so simple to create and would be perfect for a picnic or BBQ.

So many yummy things you can create with a bowl of shredded BBQ chicken.

Hmm what shall I create.

Life changing thoughts

Journey part 3

Life is a constant journey. Filled with changes, tough times, growth, and learning opportunities. I have definitely had my fair share of them this past year. Lately I have been working more on my inner health as well as my outer health. Focusing on how my thoughts translate into actions in my life, both positive and negative. I've always believed that in order to be truly happy you have to have all parts of yourself focused on improving and developing.

I've always believed that the attitude you have affects those around you as well as your own life. Positive people usually surround themselves with other positive people. People that look at the world and see all the amazing things in it and work to achieve those things. Those with a negative outlook usually are stuck in that outlook and surround themselves with people who feed into that perspective. Often feeling that the world has been unfair to them.

I also believe that the thoughts and actions you project into the world are reflected back into your life. Recently I have begun to learn so much more on how this is so true. It's amazing how every thought you have can determine your day as well as your future. It's incredible what can happen when you create a mind set of looking on the brighter side of things, staying positive, and re enforcing within yourself what you want and deserve in your life.

I've found some good resources that I'm using to dig deeper into this subject and I'm learning a lot of life changing information. I always had a positive half full kind of attitude but this information takes it to a new level. Re affirming what I already believed in as well as developing the theory of "what you think is what is reflected back into your life".

As I learn and develop more on this subject I will share some of my key learning's with you. I have started by creating a list made up of the characteristics of what I would like in life and what I'm looking for in a partner to share in that life. It is a constant involving and changing list, as I grow and develop and fine tune what those things are that I desire in life. As part of directing my inner thoughts I look at the list daily as well as think about those things that I desire and channel those thoughts into the universe. Even in just a few weeks I can see a difference in how I feel inside and my outlook on life, it's been pretty amazing.

Summer berry bars

I love summer. Everything is so colorful and warm and all my favorite foods are in season, nothing better!

I have a ton of berries and I've been eating them in everything. From my oatmeal, pancakes, salads, and anything else. Today I made some delicious oatmeal bars and gave them a summer twist by adding in some giant blackberries.

Summer blackberry oatmeal bars

(Original recipe found here)

They are so delicious. I wish I would have added a few more blackberries or added some raspberries also. I was afraid the berries would cook down and release there juices making the bars too wet. But actually the berries stayed whole and the bars turned out perfect. I just want the delicious flavor of more berries. So next time I will add a cup of berries instead of half a cup.

Mental Illness or Muse? Amy Winehouse and Historic Artists with Bipolar Disorder

By Mohammad Alsuwaidan, MD 



We have no doubt lost a profound musical talent in the tragic death of Amy Winehouse this week.  Her public struggle with substance abuse and bipolar disorder (commonly known as manic depression) has reignited curiosity about possible links between creativity and mental illness. In such unfortunate circumstances, it serves well to draw upon the lessons of history in making meaning out of sorrow.



A little more than 120 years ago, a misfortune befell another budding talent. A young painter entered a psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Southern France. Known by his neighbors in town as “fou roux" (the crazy redhead), he had been troubled with mental illness throughout his life. A few months prior, he had reached a crisis point and during his breakdown, he rushed to a brothel to see his friend - a prostitute named Rachel. He handed her a small wrapping of newspaper - telling her to “keep this object carefully” and ran off. Unwrapping it, she was shocked to find the freshly cut and still bloody lower portion of his left ear!

Vincent van Gogh holds legendary status in Art and his influence has crossed cultures and eras. To gaze onto the vivid colors and hypnotic swirls in his work is to be transported into another world - a morphed view of reality that can only be seen through his eyes. There is a tendency to romanticize van Gogh’s mental illness – which most respected psycho-biographers believe to have been bipolar disorder.



The notion that there is a fine line between creative genius and “craziness” is not new and has existed since ancient times. Most of this interest has focused on bipolar disorder; many famous figures have been speculated to have suffered from this mental illness: Beethoven, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, Edvard Munch, and many more. We continue to see this pattern in the modern day among celebrated actors, poets, painters, and musicians like Ms. Winehouse. Yet, despite our modern methods, illuminating the “line” or “link” between mental illness and creativity remains elusive.  Studies show that a certain level of melancholy or mixed emotions may be needed to access the creative spring. Unfortunately this negative emotion may also underlie some of the symptoms seen in bipolar disorder. 



Herein lies the eternal dilemma in the field of medicine – balancing benefits of treatments against their risks. Could some bipolar treatments dampen the creative drive? The evidence, both anecdotal and empirical, says yes.



Yet research also reveals that when individuals with bipolar disorder receive treatment, their overall productivity, focus, and organization improve. We know that the poet Robert Lowell produced the largest portion of his work after receiving lithium treatment for his bipolar disorder. And though some critics argue that his “pre-lithium” work is more striking in its poetic beauty, they admit that had it not been for the stabilizing effects of his treatment leading to many more – still beautiful – poems, we may have never known Lowell and his artistic mastery at all.



The message to mental health professionals is clear in my mind; we should attempt to treat highly-creative individuals with mood disorders with all the latest advancements including medications. BUT we should listen carefully and work with our patients to understand what effect treatment is having on their creative drive. Perhaps some individuals need some degree of discontent to “kindle the creative fire,” and we should step up to the challenge of helping them achieve a tolerable and productive balance.



At the young age of 37, after a manic episode of creating many paintings, Vincent van Gogh walked into an empty field outside his home, aimed a loaded revolver into his chest, and pulled the trigger. His famous last words, as he lay dying in his brother Theo’s arms, were "La tristesse durera toujours" (the sadness will last forever).



Perhaps had he not suffered some degree of sadness, you and I would have never heard of van Gogh. Perhaps had he lived longer, his influence would have been even greater. Perhaps the next van Gogh or Poe or Winehouse will walk into a mental health clinic next week suffocated by their sadness, yet possessed by creative inspiration. The questions are complex scientifically, ethically, and philosophically. But I believe that a balance can and should be reached (or at least approached) and that tragic endings can be re-written. 



Dr. Mohammad Alsuwaidan is a psychiatrist with expertise in Mood Disorders at the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Health candidate at Johns Hopkins University. Learn more: http://www.mohammadalsuwaidan.com/





References:

KR Jamison, Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temparment, Free Press Paperbacks (New York 1993). p.85

AW Flaherty, Frontotemporal and Dopaminergic Control of Idea Generation and Creative Drive. Journal of Comp. Neurology 493:147-153 (2005).

Santosa C.M. et al. Enhanced creativity in bipolar disorder patients: A controlled study. J. Affect. Disord. (2006), doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.10.013

Flaherty, A. (2011). Brain illness and creativity: mechanisms and treatment risks. Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie, 56(3), 132.





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Best summer

This summer has been the best summer of my life, literally! It's amazing how last year at this time I was having the worst time of my life. In one year things have completely changed for the better and in every way.

This summer has included LOTS of running and biking. I just went to Bend this last weekend, where I biked 17 miles the first day and 20 miles the second day, it was AWESOME! I'm becoming quite the cyclist, who knew, but I love it.

It's been a VERY rainy cool summer here. Which has made me loose a lot of my motivation and enjoyment for cooking. With all the fruits and veggies running low and behind in the growing season it has really killed my creativity. It's also been raining so much that I haven't been to the farmers markets nearly as much as I usually do.

But I do have some great recipes on the horizon and I'm ready to get back in the kitchen and put my skills and love for recipe creating back to work. So stay tuned as I present some very delicious recipes.

Can My Child Have Bipolar Disorder? Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Fact or Fiction

By Molly McVoy, M.D.   



Can children really have bipolar disorder?  Or, is it a parenting issue?  Is this mental illness overly-diagnosed?

Many of these questions have been raised in the media with increased frequency over the last several months.  What's most concerning is, that instead of focusing on diagnosis and treatment for children with serious mental illness, the debate has focused on who is to blame: is it parents, psychiatrists, drug companies, schools?  The bottom line is that children are suffering, and parents are struggling to keep their children safe, healthy, and happy.  More attention should be paid to actually helping these children, not to pointing fingers of blame.

Pediatric bipolar disorder is a rare but very real illness.  The most recent statistics indicate the mental illness affects approximately 1.5% of children.  Contrary to popular reports, the most recent studies also indicate the rates of pediatric bipolar disorder are not increasing over time, and the rates do not vary between US and non-US populations.¹

When pediatric bipolar disorder occurs, it can be very impairing.  Affected children have extreme mood swings – not for minutes at a time but for days.  Children can become suicidal, violent, and often feel quite out of control.  When properly diagnosed and treated, the lives of these children and their families can improve dramatically.  Treatment often involves a combination of mood stabilizing medication and intensive psychotherapy.  But when missed or misdiagnosed, these children may go on to suffer for a lifetime.



Stigma continues to be associated with a mental health diagnosis, and nowhere is that truer than in pediatric mental illness.  Perhaps, in the future, efforts will focus on how to help, not who to blame.

Links:

http://www.aacap.org/

http://www.bpkids.org/

References:

1. VanMeter, AR, Moreira, AL, Youngstrom, EA. Meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies of pediatric bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011, May 31.

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