EPISODE 33: THE COMPLEX EFFECTS OF TRAUMA WITH DR. CHRISTIAN HEIM

EPISODE 33: THE COMPLEX EFFECTS OF TRAUMA WITH DR. CHRISTIAN HEIM

* Please Note - Some links in this post may be affiliate links *

Hello friends and welcome back to the Is That Soh Podcast!

Today on the podcast, I have invited award-winning Psychiatrist and Music Professor Dr. Christian Heim to come on the podcast and talk to us about the complex effects of trauma, trauma symptoms, the causes of trauma, types of trauma, and trauma recovery/how we can overcome it.

With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Heim speaks from a place of deep compassion and authority on Mental Health. Anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, suicide, personality issues, and relationship breakdown are all common themes in his line of work, and his latest book "The 7 Types of Love: navigating love in a fractured world" was created with the hopes of helping people better understand and connect with each other.

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY!

Today on the podcast we are going to be talking about the complex effects of trauma, what happens when a person experiences trauma, trauma symptoms, the causes of trauma, types of trauma ( ie physical trauma, childhood trauma, psychological trauma), how the body holds on to trauma, triggers, window of tolerance, and trauma recovery / how to heal from trauma.

To learn more about Dr. Christian Heim - CLICK HERE

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did! Feel free to leave your thought below!

Also, special thanks to Mattias Friberg for composing the music for this podcast and perfecting my sound!

- TYPES OF TRAUMA -

Emotional Trauma / Psychological Trauma - is the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless in a dangerous world. Psychological trauma can leave you struggling with upsetting emotions, memories, and anxiety that won't go away.

Childhood Trauma - often described as serious adverse childhood experiences, childhood trauma could include neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and witnessing abuse of a sibling or parent.

Physical Trauma - a serious injury to the body. Two main types of physical trauma are:

  • Blunt force trauma—when an object or force strikes the body, often causing concussions, deep cuts, or broken bones.

  • Penetrating trauma—when an object pierces the skin or body, usually creating an open wound.

Generational Trauma - trauma that isn't just experienced by one person but extends from one generation to the next (ie psychological distress experienced by children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors)

Complex Trauma - Complex trauma commonly occurs with repeated trauma against a child. Sometimes a parent or caregiver has experienced their own trauma, which is still affecting them e.g. from mental illness, drugs and alcohol misuse, or being physically or emotionally unavailable. Many situations can cause complex trauma in childhood however not all complex trauma is based in a persons childhood and can be a result of experiences of violence in the community, domestic and family violence, civil unrest, war trauma or genocide, refugee and asylum seeker trauma, sexual exploitation and trafficking, extreme medical trauma and/or re-traumatisation.

Collective Trauma or Mass Trauma - a psychological reaction to a traumatic event shared by any group of people and can affect even an entire society. Covid is an example of a collective trauma.

Betrayal Trauma - trauma perpetrated by someone with whom the victim is close to and reliant upon for support and survival.

- TRAUMA SYMPTOMS -

trauma symptoms

- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES -

The 7 Love Types: Navigating love in a fractured world.

We live in a fractured world: pandemics, economic upheavals, mental illness, screen addiction, loneliness, alienation & separation. We look for love, get confused, get hurt and lose love. More than ever, we need better relationships with family, friends, love partners, and even strangers. Do we even understand love? Or the different love types? Science and Ancient Ideas can help us know love more, show love more, and secure it in our lives.

- Where To Find Dr. Heim Online -


INSTAGRAM ▶ @drchristianheim
WEBSITE ▶ www.drchristianheim.com
YOUTUBE ▶Dr. Christian Heim

Follow The @IsThatSohPodcast On Instagram!

The first of many interior design decisions to come! Now that we are half way through the last phase of our interior renovations (the basement) I am getting really excited about shifting my focus from renoing our Toronto Victorian home to styling a
No more scary basement! 🏡 Here is a little before and after of our basement underpin by @icy.reno We went from 6 foot ceilings to just under 8.5 and installed new drains, waterproofing and a radiant floor! DYK that doing an underpin and finishing

If you have any comments or questions about the complex effects of trauma, what happens when a person experiences trauma, trauma symptoms, the causes of trauma, types of trauma ( ie physical trauma, childhood trauma, psychological trauma), how the body holds on to trauma, triggers, window of tolerance, and trauma recovery / how to heal from trauma, feel free to leave them below! I hope you enjoyed this episode and I look forward to sharing more episodes soon!

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EPISODE 27: AMELIA ZACHRY'S STORY OF HEALING AND LIVING WITH BIPOLAR

EPISODE 27: AMELIA ZACHRY'S STORY OF HEALING AND LIVING WITH BIPOLAR

* Please Note - Some links in this post may be affiliate links *

Hello Friends and welcome back to the Is That Soh Podcast!

Today on the podcast, I have invited author and mental health advocate Amelia Zachry to come and share her incredibly vulnerable and moving story.

Amelia’s story is one of sexual assault, mental illness, suicide ideations, relationship struggles, motherhood and healing. It is a story that when I first heard it, moved me at my core and I knew as soon as she was done sharing it, that such a story needed to be amplified if we are going to help end the stigma around mental health and put a stop to rape culture.

TRIGGER WARNING: Topics discussed in today’s episode could be triggering. In the case that you are triggered, please reach out to your local helpline. To quickly find the number to your local helpline you can go to Check Point Org.

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY ENJOY!

Today on the podcast we are going to be talking about sexual assault, mental illness, bipolar disorder suicide ideations, relationship struggles, motherhood and healing.

To learn more about Amelia Zachry contact her at https://ameliazachry.com/

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did! Feel free to leave your thought below!

Also, special thanks to Mattias Friberg for composing the music for this podcast and perfecting my sound!

- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES -

1) National Institute of Mental Health - Shareable Resources on Bipolar Disorder

2) CAMH - Mood Stabilizing Medication

3) CAMH - When a Parent Has Bipolar Disorder ...What kids want to know

- Where To Find Amelia Zachry Online -


INSTAGRAM ▶ @browngirlcrazyworld
WEBSITE ▶ https://ameliazachry.com/
FACEBOOK ▶ @browngirlcrazyworld

Follow The @IsThatSohPodcast On Instagram!

The first of many interior design decisions to come! Now that we are half way through the last phase of our interior renovations (the basement) I am getting really excited about shifting my focus from renoing our Toronto Victorian home to styling a
No more scary basement! 🏡 Here is a little before and after of our basement underpin by @icy.reno We went from 6 foot ceilings to just under 8.5 and installed new drains, waterproofing and a radiant floor! DYK that doing an underpin and finishing

If you have any comments or questions about this episode, feel free to leave them below

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EPISODE 8: HACKING YOUR HAPPINESS CHEMICALS

EPISODE 8: HACKING YOUR HAPPINESS CHEMICALS

Hello and welcome back to the Is That Soh Podcast

Today on the podcast I wanted to talk to you about happiness chemicals.

The human body is really an amazing evolution. Life is designed to be a blissful experience and our biology ensures that everything we need for our survival will make us feel good, that is why we seek pleasure and avoid pain. Naturally, our bodies have the ability to produce happiness chemicals and today I thought I’d share some vital information about how they work and a few hacks you can do to boost them.

Did you know that the warmth you feel from a long hug is caused by an entirely different chemical sensation than the high you feel after a long run or bike ride?

So to start, there are four major chemicals in the brain that influence our happiness. These happiness chemicals are fundamentally responsible for creating the sensations and emotions we’ve come to associate with happiness and they go by the acronym DOSE.

Dopamine
Oxytocin
Serotonin
Endorphins

Dopamine aka the “feel-good” hormone and neurotransmitter, plays an important part in your brain’s reward system. Dopamine is associated with pleasurable sensations, along with learning, memory, and motor system function for example. It is the source of that little happy feeling when someone fills in a checkbox or complete a small task. It is responsible for reward-driven behavior and pleasure-seeking as it is meant to motivate your body toward a distant goal, one step at a time.

Did you know that you can get a natural dose of Dopamine when you perform acts of kindness toward others? Volunteering has been shown to increase dopamine as well as have other long-term health benefits. Some research has even found that just thinking about love and kindness can actually bring on the dopamine high as well.

Oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” is essential for childbirth, breastfeeding, and strong parent-child bonding. This hormone can also help promote trust, empathy, and bonding in relationships and oxytocin levels generally increase with physical affection like kissing, cuddling, and sex. I’ve also heard it affectionately referred to as the “hugging drug” because it is released by the brain during physical contact with others. It’s also the feeling behind love, friendship, or deep trust.

What’s especially great about oxytocin is that it often works two ways. So those long hugs give both you and the hug-receiver a dose of oxytocin .

Studies have shown that oxytocin seems to affect males and females differently though, especially in social contexts. It is theorized that because the hormone acts differently in the male and female amygdala - the portion of your brain responsible for emotion, motivation, and reward - causing males and females to be affected differently. One study even suggested that Oxytocin hormones could influence males to stay faithful to their partner. In theory, the more time you spend with your partner, the more oxytocin you and your partner produces. The more oxytocin you produce with your partner, the more you desire your partner, and the more attracted to them you become versus other unfamiliar females. This in turn makes them more prone to being faithful and creating a behavior loop so to speak.

Did you know that Oxytocin also boosts our immune systems, makes us better problem solvers, and more resistant to the addictive qualities of dopamine. Unlike dopamine, which is largely responsible for instant gratification, oxytocin gives us lasting feelings of calm and safety.

Serotonin, also known as ‘The Confidence Molecule” is also a hormone and neurotransmitter like Dopamine except that Serotonin helps regulate your mood as well as your sleep, appetite, digestion, ability to learn, and even memory.

If someone is experiencing low serotonin levels, they might:

  • feel anxious, low, or depressed

  • feel irritable or aggressive

  • have sleep issues or feel fatigued

  • feel impulsive

  • have a decreased appetite

  • experience nausea and digestive issues

  • crave sweets and carbohydrate-rich foods

Like oxytocin, Serotonin is also considered a social chemical because of how it plays a role in the dynamics of pride, loyalty, and status. When we feel a sense of accomplishment or recognition from others, we are experiencing the effects of serotonin. This for example could be as a result of receiving your diploma, crossing the finish line in a race, or being appreciated for hard work in the office.

Photo by Vasily Koloda on Unsplash

Photo by Vasily Koloda on Unsplash

Did you know Serotonin also plays a role in many crucial systems in our body beyond just our well-being and happiness. It’s believed to affect digestion, bone growth, and even organ development. Interestingly enough, an estimated 80 percent of serotonin exists in the gut, and is governed by your state of hunger! This is why you get haangry!

Last but not least, the E in DOSE is for Endorphins - our body’s natural pain reliever. Endorphins are responsible for masking pain or discomfort and the name Endorphin translates into “self-produced morphine." That is why when it comes to happiness, endorphins are what help you “power through” stress or discomfort and give you a boost in your overall mood when you engage in reward-producing activities, such as eating, working out, or having sex. It is also why many describe getting a ‘runners high’ after exerting themselves for a long period of time. Once you remove the pain part of the equation, endorphins actually feel like a “high” or even just a nice relaxing feeling. For example, have you ever been to a thermal spa where they have cold and hot tubs. When you move from a hot to a cold tub or jump into a freezing cold shower you are giving yourself a huge boost of endorphins which can feel quite rewarding if you can stand a minute or two of physical discomfort.

Did you know that If you were to examine the chemical structure and effects of endorphins they look a lot like opiates.

Like endorphins though, Adrenaline also helps the body deal with distress and fearful situation. Known as “The Energy Molecule”, adrenaline plays a large role in the fight-or-flight mechanism. A release of adrenaline is often described as exhilarating and creates a surge in energy that both increases your heart rate and blood pressure. An "adrenaline rush" can be triggered on demand by doing things that terrify you like sky diving or being put into a situation that feels dangerous and jolts of adrenaline are said to be healthy in small doses, especially when you need a pick me up. 

Together though, these 5 happiness chemicals create desirable mood states in the brain and by focusing on lifestyle choices that secrete each of these neurochemicals, you will increase your odds of happiness across the board. So the question then becomes, how do I boost them. Well, there are a variety of ways!

WAYS TO BOOST YOUR HAPPINESS CHEMICALS

Go outside. Simply spending time outdoors, in sunlight, is a great way to do this. Start with at least 10 to 15 minutes outside each day. Try exploring a new neighborhoods or park.

Regular physical activity can also increase your dopamine and serotonin levels. Just like the “runner’s high” I talked about before, your body can naturally give you an endorphin releases with some exercise.

Laugh. Laughter can help relieve feelings of anxiety or stress, as well as improve a low mood by boosting dopamine and endorphin levels.

Plan meals around food items known to boost your happy hormones like:

  • spicy foods, which may trigger endorphin release

  • yogurt, beans, eggs, meats with low-fat content, and almonds, are just a few foods linked to dopamine release

  • probiotic-rich foods, such as fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut which actually help boost dopamine production

  • foods high in tryptophan, like turkey and salmon which have been linked to increased serotonin levels

Research suggests that eating 25 to 30 grams of carbs along with foods high in tryptophan may help more tryptophan make it into your brain.


Curcumin the active ingredient in turmeric has also been shown to increase dopamine levels in mice and may have antidepressant effects.

Green tea is another item shown to contains the amino acid which has been known to increase dopamine levels as well.

Listening to instrumental music, especially music that gives you chills, can increase dopamine production in your brain.

Meditation - If you’re familiar with meditation, you might already know of its many wellness benefits — from improving sleep to reducing stress. Studies show the link between many of meditation’s benefits to increased dopamine production during the practice while other research shows it can spur an endorphin release.

Plan a romantic evening. Simply being attracted to someone can lead to the production of oxytocin along with physical affection like kissing, cuddling, or having sex which actually releases both endorphins and dopamine. Further, sharing a glass of wine with your partner or dancing can add an endorphin boost.

Pet your dog! They don’t call them ‘man’s best friend’ for nothing. Giving your dog some affection is a great way to boost oxytocin levels for both you and your dog. According to research, dog owners and their dogs see an increase in oxytocin when they cuddle so if you don’t have another human being to offer you affection to your favorite pet can also do the trick.

Getting a good night’s sleep can also help boost your happiness hormones. Sleep effects your happiness chemicals more than you think and not getting enough quality sleep can affect your health in multiple ways. For one, it can contribute to an imbalance of hormones, particularly dopamine, in your body. This can have a negative impact on your mood as well as your physical health. Setting aside 7 to 9 hours each night for sleep can help restore the balance of hormones in your body, which will likely help you feel better.

Managing your stress. It’s normal to experience some stress from time to time. But living with regular stress or dealing with highly stressful life events can cause drops in dopamine and serotonin production. This can negatively affect your health and mood, making it harder to deal with the cycle of stress.

Get a massage. Believe it or not, massages can boost up to 4 of your happy hormones. According to research, both serotonin and dopamine levels increased after massages and one study that looked at 84 pregnant women with depression said that those who received 20 minutes of massage therapy from a partner twice a week felt less anxious and depressed while also showing higher serotonin levels in their body after 16 weeks.

Have a good cry. Holding back tears can build up tension and anxiety whereas if you let it go and have a good cry, it generally provides a physical relief from tension in the body, and stimulates Endorphin releases.

Keep yourself motivated by planning baby steps towards a goal. The idea of breaking down a tough task you have to get done makes it feel more do-able while also allowing your brain to reward you with dopamine each time you complete a small step.

Supplements are also said to be a great way to boost your serotonin and dopamine production however some supplements can also interact with certain medications, so make sure talk to your healthcare provider before you try them.

All right, so there you have it. Everything you need to know about the bodies natural abilities to produce happiness chemicals and how you can boost them. If you have any comments about this episode please feel free to leave them in the comment section of my show notes! Alright! I hope everyone has a great week boosting those happiness chemicals and I’ll see you again next Monday! CIAO!

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4449495/
https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-hormone#pets
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/activate-chemicals-gamify-happiness-nicole-lazzaro/
https://www.happyfeed.co/research/4-brain-chemicals-make-you-happy
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-happiness
https://medium.com/thrive-global/the-brain-chemicals-that-make-you-happy-and-how-to-trigger-them-caa5268eb2c
https://www.psychologies.co.uk/self/how-to-boost-your-natural-feelgood-chemicals.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-increase-serotonin#takeaway
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dopamine-supplements#section14
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-increase-dopamine#section11
https://www.healthline.com/health/love-hormone#negative-effects

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EPISODE 7: WELLNESS EXPERT LAURA DE SANCTIS DISCUSSES THE LINK BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND YOUR GUT HEALTH

EPISODE 7: WELLNESS EXPERT LAURA DE SANCTIS DISCUSSES THE LINK BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND YOUR GUT HEALTH

Hello and welcome back to the Is That Soh Podcast!

In today’s episode, we are talking about how depression has been found to be linked to your gut, and to help discuss this topic I have invited a very special guest on, nutritionist Laura De Sanctis to fill us in on all the latest research and findings.

For those who don’t know Laura, she is the Wellness Expert at Global News and AM640 as well as an official Bodyrocks nutritionist and the founder of ‘Go With Your Gut’ Tea!

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER EPISODES FROM THE PODCAST!

LAURA’S OFFICIAL CREDENTIALS

Reiki Level 1, Toronto (2019)

Energy Medicine Practitioner  – Institute of Holistic Nutrition, Toronto (2016)

Holistic Nutritionist – Institute of Holistic Nutrition, Toronto (2016)

For those who need a quick biology refresher, the Gut not only aids digestion but it also,
+ can boost immune system defense
+ breaks down food so we can absorb vitamins
+ injects the body with anti-inflammatory compounds
+ and now also apparently produces chemicals that influence the brain!

Main problems or symptoms that you may experience that would tell you if you may be having issues with your gut:

  • Irritable bowel syndrome

  • bloating

  • inflammation

  • fatigue

  • joint pain

  • excessive gas

  • mood swings

  • cramps

  • anxiety

  • stress

  • brain fog

Fun Fact! You have 1 kg of bacteria in your gut. That is equivalent to the weight of the human brain.

Study At Belgium Luven Centre of Microbiology the links Depression To Gut Health

They found that certain bacterias found in the gut produce substances that interact and therefore could affect the nervous system.

  • Missing Bacteria:

    • Coprococcus
      - Produces DOPAL - which is a dopamine metabolite
      - Produced Butyrate - which is an anti-inflammatory dietary fiber found in plants

    • Dialister

      - Produced Butyrate - which is an anti-inflammatory dietary fiber found in plants

“We found that the ability of microorganism’s to produce DOPAL, a metabolite of the human neurotransmitter dopamine, was associated with a better quality of life.” - study co-author Mireia Valles-Colomer

American Gut Project 2012

People with depression have similar gut bacteria breakdowns.

Those with better well being had a high concentration of Coprococccus and Faecal bacteria.

Those who are more active and a good diet were happier.

Recommends diets with low processed food, more veggies, fruits, legumes, nuts and grains.

Plant-based diet - a diet consisting entirely of foods derived from plants, including vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and fruits.

Mediterranean diet - all the rage in the 60s, started in Italy and Greece
High amounts of olive oil, legumes, fruits, veggies
Moderate to high amounts of fish
Moderate amounts of wine and dairy
Low amounts of meat

- The Chicken and the Egg -

- People with depression have different habits, lifestyles, diets than those people without depression and so that could affect gut microbes which in-turn reinforcing the depression symptoms.

Laura has also created two teas, a digestive cleansing tea and a prebiotic honey elixir that support better gut health. You can find out more about both products through her website linked below.

WHERE TO FIND LAURA DE SANCTIS

WEBSITE ▶ http://www.gowithyourgut.org/
INSTAGRAM ▶ https://www.instagram.com/gowithyourgut/
FACEBOOK ▶ https://www.facebook.com/Go-With-Your-Gut-287384384940789/

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @ISTHATSOHPODCAST

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If you have any comments or questions about this episode on the brain gut connection, feel free to leave them below

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EPISODE 6: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS - A MENTAL HEALTH 101

EPISODE 6: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS

- A MENTAL HEALTH 101 -

Hello and welcome back to the Is That Soh Podcast!

So today on the podcast I wanted to talk about the difference between mental health and mental illness as well as do a little mental health 101 download.

I think most of you will agree with me when I say that in recent years, mental health has become less of a taboo topic of conversation and although I am personally extremely happy about this, there is still so much information that needs to be discussed to fully understand this topic. Most people have a general understanding of what mental health but a lot of the time they are also unclear of what is fact versus fiction

I for one am constantly trying to learn more about mental health so that I can be a better advocate and educator on the topic, and one of the ways that I think we can all start to better understand it is to breakdown the differences between mental health and mental illness. Okay?!

Let’s get started!

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS

Mental health is the health of your mind. Everyone has to look after their mental health just as they do their physical health.

“There is no health without mental health.” - World Health Organization


So, what does this mean? Well, it means that during the course of everyone’s lifetime, everybody will struggle or face challenges pertaining to their mental well-being but not everyone will experience a mental illness.

When we talk about mental health we are talking about emotions, one’s ability to problem-solve, to cultivate social connections, and to understanding life and the world around them. Just like our physical well being, our mental well being will be impacted in various degrees if we do not take care of ourselves by getting proper sleep, eating a balanced diet, or dealing with stress properly for example.

The length of time associated with poor mental health also varies. It can last for a short time or a long time depending on how quickly one can address, fix, or find ways to cope with the problem at hand.

Some people with mental health issues find that their experiences actually help them to become more compassionate and empathetic towards others while also make them more artistically inclined, grateful for what they have, and better able to understand and help others around them.

Mental illness, on the other hand, is exactly that, an illness. Although generally, the term is used to describe a variety of experiences that affect the way people think, feel, behave, interact with others, and their ability to live their life. The varieties of mental illness and the degrees to which people are affected by them are also quite broad.

TYPES OF MENTAL ILLNESS

  • Mood disorders like depression which affects the way you feel about yourself, others, and the world around you, and bipolar disorder which affect your mood and the way you process emotions.

  • Anxiety disorders which cause you to experience unexpected anxiety or to become fearful of situations or events that most people consider normal. Anxiety disorders are actually the most common type of mental illness and include panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorders.

  • Psychotic disorders like Schizophrenia affect your ability to sense what’s real and what isn’t and thus make it difficult for those suffering from this type of mental illness to think, speak and interact in an organized way.

  • Eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating all involve a distorted body image which has an adverse effect on how you manage food and weight. These disorders are much more than about food though, they also have a lot to do with how one feels about themselves and how they are able to cope with their feelings. In Canada, about 90% of people diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia are women however stats around binge-eating disorder affects men and women more equally.

  • Personality disorders like a borderline personality disorder, OCD, or OCPD - affect the way you feel, act, and form relationships with others. They can also cause people to be more impulsive, inflexible come off as brash, or even pushy.

    • People who experience hoarding and the inability to throw away items from their homes are often categorized as having a personality disorder.

    • People living with BPD feel like there's something fundamentally wrong with them—and often experience extreme changes in their moods, have a hard time controlling impulses, and experience extreme peaks and valleys of both highs and lows. They also may have a hard time trusting others and yet may also become very scared of being abandoned or alone. Further, symptoms of BPD often fall into 5 groups - unstable behavior, unstable emotions, unstable relationships, unstable sense of identity, and awareness problems. According to American Psychiatric Association about 1% to 2% of the general population has BPD but according to the American Psychiatric Association statistics - most people with BPD actually find that their symptoms become more manageable as they get older, and some according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, can even recover.

  • Substance abuse disorders or more commonly know as addiction start to form when someone becomes dependent on a substance such as alcohol, tobacco, or hard drugs.

  • Dementia - the loss of memory, judgment, and reasoning, along with changes in mood, behavior, and one’s ability to communicate is also considered a mental illness. Dementia happens when someone experiences a severe loss or deterioration of brain cells and other illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease also fall into this category.

  • Learning disabilities like Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can also be considered a mental illness as it affects your ability to focus your attention due to hyperactivity, which is when you become easily over-excited.


1 in 5 people currently suffer from a mental illness

Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash

Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash

COMMONLY IMPACTED GROUPS

Youths - During a time in their life where they are experiencing a lot of changes both physically and socially, many youths go undiagnosed because their parents, teachers, guidance councilors or whoever, categorize their behavior as ‘just a phase’ instead of recognizing that there could be a real serious problem at hand. Because of this, a lot of them do not get the help or treatment they need to properly deal with their illness.

Refugees - mostly as a result of the stressful events that forced them to flee their homeland and the difficulties involved in moving to a new country. Many refugees experience higher rates of mental illness such as depression and PTSD

People with disabilities or chronic illnesses are also at a higher risk of experiences anxiety and depression because of the chronic pain, and stress that comes with challenges they face on a daily basis living with a chronic. 1/3 people with chronic illnesses tend to also experience depression.

People of Aboriginal descent - Reasons for this trend are believe to be complex and connected partially to their history and environment. May aboriginal people experience higher rates of depression, suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use problems.

Women are more likely than men to experience a mental illness however this can be due to the fact that women are often more likely to seek help. Men, on the other hand, more commonly experience problems with substance use.

The Elderly are also at an increased risk of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety disorders because they tend to face serious health problems and are at a point in their lives where they are loosing loved on. Further, your chances of developing an illness like Alzheimer’s or dementia increases as you age.


“In 2009, about 3% of Canadians aged 12-19 said they experience a mood disorder and about 4% said that they experience an anxiety disorder.” - Here To Help

DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREATMENT

Most people use a combination of treatments to help them deal with a mental illness like:

  • medication

  • counseling

  • support groupS

  • light therapy

  • regular exercise

  • self-help practices.

Recently I also learned while listens to an episode of Goop’s podcast that Ketamine is also being used now to treat depression which was very interesting.

CLICK TO LISTEN TO GOOP’s PODCAST ON THE USE OF KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY TO TREAT DEPRESSION

CLICK TO LISTEN TO GOOP’s PODCAST ON THE USE OF KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY TO TREAT DEPRESSION

SIGNS OF A MENTAL ILLNESS

Identifying whether you or someone you know is suffering from a mental illness can be tricky because symptoms can look different from person to person and range in severity. Your best bet in identifying whether you or someone you know has a mental illness is by paying attention to a change in the way you or they think, act, and feel .

For example, if you:

  • no longer find interest in activities you once enjoyed

  • inability to complete daily tasks

  • find yourself getting angry or sad for little or no reason

  • experience mood swings

  • feel numb like nothing matters

  • have strange thoughts or voices that you can’t seem to get rid of

  • feel sick constantly or have little to no energy

  • have feelings of helplessness and despair

  • experience changes in eating and sleeping habits

  • start to form explainable fears about things in your life that are otherwise easy for others to cope with

  • decrease attendance at work or school

  • substance abuse

  • start self isolating

  • start to have suicidal thoughts

  • lash out at friends and family members

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

All in all, people who live with mental illnesses are not bad people. A lot of people with mental illnesses feel like they have to constantly apologize or hide their existence but feeling shame for having a mental illness helps no one.

Before you go I also just wanted to reiterate that people living with mental illnesses can and do go on to live full lives often accomplishing great things. There are so many celebrities who have opened up about their mental illnesses include Kendall Jenner, Adele, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, Dakota Johnson, Demi Lavoto, Emma Stone, Ellen DeGenerous, Dwayne Johnson, Lili Reinhart, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, JK Rowling and Kristen Bell, just to name a few. Those who seek treatment for a mental illness by talking to a therapist, I believe, actually become better communicators and are able to recognize and describe what emotion or feeling they are battling with. This, I believe, leads them to become great song writers, artist, authors, and even athlete. Living with a mental illness is not the end of the world even though it may seem like it. With the right help and treatment, many of us living with mental illness can live a productive and happy life.

All right, well I hope you walked away from today with some fresh insights and I just wanted to let you know that you can still sign up for my mental health challenge if you haven’t already!

If you have any comments about this episode please feel free to leave them in the comment section here!

Alright! I wish everyone a great week and I’ll see you again next Monday!

CIAO!

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