For some people this time of year is, quite honestly, a struggle. It’s not just the hurry of the approaching holidays, or the long list of things to do, or the colder weather. For some people it is actually the decrease in daylight hours that cause their mood swings, and it can be very debilitating. It’s called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it affects half a million Americans today.

Symptoms

Sufferers of SAD feel an overwhelming feeling of the “blues”, lethargy, hopelessness, anxiety, social withdrawal, and change in appetite. Sounds like depression, doesn’t it? The fact is that SAD is a recognized form of depression, only it comes in cycles along with the climate changes. During summer days that are bright and warm, these SAD sufferers feel happy and can function normally. But when the days are shorter and cloudier and colder, these individuals feel the depression setting in and lose interest in things, often wanting to stay in bed for days on end.

Mechanisms

SAD has been said to be caused by lack of sunlight hitting brain receptors that tell the body to sleep or wake up. A new study suggests that it is an actual mutation in a gene that is responsible for SAD. This gene regulates a pigment in the eye that controls hormone levels and sleep, and without it functioning properly, low levels of sunlight exaggerate problems in the body. Low levels of serotonin then occur, which lead to instability in mood. This theory is also backed up by the statistic that SAD seems to run in families, which also suggest a genetic factor.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Another concern with SAD is that sufferers will sometimes turn to alcohol or drugs to ease their minds and pick them up, but this only adds to the problem. Sometimes it becomes a vicious cycle – the person feels bad for using drugs or alcohol, which depresses their mood even more.

Treatment

There are things that can be done about SAD and some people are able to manage it on their own. Joining a gym and exercising, or getting out and socializing rather than sleeping may be easier said than done, but will actually help the mind and body get moving again. It may seem easier to stay in bed and sleep it off, but the best thing to do is to stay active and keep the mind busy with good things.

For those that have a more severe form of SAD, or have been suffering for a long time, therapy or treatment by a professional may be necessary. Antidepressants may be prescribed, or phototherapy may be in order, which exposes the patient to artificial lights in order to stimulate the brain. Hormone treatments and psychotherapy may be other ways a physician will choose to treat SAD. The good news is that when the weather turns nicer and the days are longer, most SAD patients recover well and are able to live life again, and with help, this disorder can be overcome.

Breakthroughs tips and trends: November 7th

Conwell, Vikki De-stress to fight off seasonal depression The Atlanta Journal-Constitution November

Klockenga, Janet Your winter survival plan 10/27/08

Baker, Eliot As days shorten and skies darken, sufferers of SAD gear up to fight winter blues October 30, 2008

Dirk Hanson Shining New Light on Addiction SAD phototherapy may help with alcoholism September 29, 2007

Most people view police officers, firefighters, and EMT workers as those people that have it together and help others out with their problems. But what happens when it’s the police officer or firefighter that is suffering and in need of help? Public safety workers are constantly dealing with trauma and seeing things that most people don’t have to deal with, and while they are trained for such work, sometimes tragedies become too much to handle.

9/11 and PTSD

A study done after 9/11 showed that one in eight rescue and recovery workers at the World Trade Center suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that is generally caused by experiences of fear or terror. Anxiety is often associated with this disorder, and the cause can be any kind of trauma, such as war, accident, or personal injury. Many people who suffer from it develop family and work problems because of their fear, anxiety, trouble sleeping, emotional stress, and flashbacks. Drug and alcohol abuse are also common results of PTSD.

During the rescue and recovery of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, public safety officers encountered awful sights as they cleared up the wreckage and bodies of victims, including many of their colleagues. It may be natural to think that seeing those sights would cause someone to be filled with anxiety afterward, and turn to alcohol and drugs.

All part of the job?

While 9/11 was the most troubling task rescue workers have had to endure in our country, public safety officers face life-changing trauma every day. Firefighters are constantly putting themselves in danger; many times fearing they will not make it out alive. Police officers have to deal with the bad things people do, and the results of their horrific crimes. EMT workers see and treat injuries and attempt to save lives destroyed by accidents or trauma. Sometimes it is the stress of a few incidents that builds up over time, sometimes it is one tragic or scary event, but public safety officers are at risk for mental disorders such as PTSD, as well as substance abuse.

Bring it into the open

There are things we can do to help our public safety officers, the main one being to shed a light on the subject of mental illness and substance abuse. Since these workers are viewed as being the country’s rescuers and protectors, there is a feeling of pride associated with the job. To admit that there is a problem can be a difficult thing to do. Many workers suffer in silence today, when help can actually be very effective.

Getting help

Help is out there. Once the problem has been identified, PTSD can be treated with intense therapy and sometimes medication. The more time that passes before treatment begins, the worse the effects of the disorder will be. Anxiety will increase, depression could occur, and the risks of substance abuse increase. By talking about PTSD and the fact that real people suffer from it, we can encourage others to get treatment for PTSD.

Sources
Stress Disorder.” ScienceDaily 30 August 2007

McCooey, Paula Firefighter reveals pain to help save others The Ottawa Citizen October 6, 2008

Former firefighter fights mental health stigma Sept. 30, 2008

public saftey, addiction treatment, mental health

How would you feel if your insurance provider told you that the doctors’ visits and treatment costs for your illness were not going to be covered, or that you would have to pay a high deductible? Many people in our country are being told just that, and the reason is that the illness they have is substance abuse. There has long been a view in the world that substance abuse is a choice, or a character flaw, not a mental illness. Things are changing, however, and more and more research is being done on the complexities of the brain and its reaction to substance abuse. People today are beginning to see that while substance use might start as a decision to try something new, it quickly becomes an addiction that can’t be controlled.

Congress approves Mental Health Parity Act

Congress approved legislation last week that would change the way insurance providers handle claims for mental illness and substance abuse. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 provides “equity in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders by ensuring that group health care plans do not charge higher co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and impose maximum out-of-pocket limits and lower day and visit limits.” Supporters of this measure include many in the House and Senate, businesses, insurance companies, and physicians. However, a few questions remained and until last week, it was uncertain whether or not the bill would pass before Congress went into recess this year. By attaching it to the Wall Street bailout bill, however, Congress was able to pass it quickly.

Help is needed

Help can’t come soon enough for many Americans struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, mental illness is the leading cause, and substance use is the second leading cause, of disability among adults. Many of these adults are not getting the help they need to recover from their mental illness, and often it is because of the high cost of treatment. Another reason is fear of discrimination from their employer if they do seek treatment.

Equal Coverage for an epidemic

With legislation such as the Mental Health Parity Act, those with a substance abuse disorder can be reassured that their insurers will not be able to set a cap on healthcare coverage for mental illness or substance abuse that isn’t set for other illnesses.

In order to deal with the epidemic of substance abuse, we need more good addiction treatment facilities, more affordable health care to addicts, and more support behind families dealing with substance abuse. Through the passage of this bill, those with addiction should be encouraged to move forward and seek treatment, so that we can work toward decreasing the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse.

Sources

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Hails Passage of Mental Health Parity Act September 24, 2008

Many State Reform Initiatives Are Neglecting Mental Illness, Says Study July 08, 2008

Layton, Lyndsey Congress Approves Mental Health Bill Private Insurers Would Provide More Benefits Sept. 24, 2008

Ault, Alicia Equal Coverage For Mental Health?
Many States Require Parity, and Congress May Order It Nationwide November 6, 2007

Curley, Bob Congress, Bush Approve Addiction and Mental Health Parity Legislation October 3, 2008

The term “dual diagnosis” refers to someone who has been diagnosed with a major mental health problem and a substance addiction at the same time. Nearly half of all patients with mental health problems abuse drugs and alcohol. They often go hand-in-hand. For example, those dealing with alcoholism may be coping with mental illness. Those suffering from depression may disguise their symptoms with dependence on drugs or alcohol.

The first problem is diagnosis itself. A substance abuse problem can affect mental health disorder symptoms by either aggravating them, or masking them. On top of that, symptoms of substance abuse can closely resemble the symptoms of mental health disorders, so defining what is causing each symptom is increasingly difficult. Patients may also use one disorder to cover for the other. For example, an alcoholic patient suffering from bipolar disorder may agree to treatment of the disorder to cover up for his or her alcoholism. Upon completion of the psychiatric help, the patient may drop out of treatment entirely.

The families of those suffering from dual diagnosis also face increased problems related to the disorder. Most mental health services are ill-prepared to deal with both the mental health disorder and the compounded substance abuse problem. They also, then, cannot effectively treat and assist the families of those afflicted. Families also deal with the violence associated with their sick relatives. Domestic abuse and suicide is very common among those with the compounded diagnosis. It has also been reported that sexual abuse is prevalent among those dealing with dual diagnosis as well.

So what to do about these problems? For starters, many in the mental health profession are beginning to recognize that substance dependency is a problem, and they have stopped relegating it to a symptom. By doing so, they broaden their view of their patients and do not mistakenly categorize substance abuse under the mental health disorder “umbrella”. There has also been an increased awareness of dual diagnosis in the medical field. This has led to more discussions on treating both disorders simultaneously, rather than one at a time. By doing so, treatment effectiveness increases, as both the mental health disorder and the substance abuse are treated at each stage of rehabilitation. This increased awareness also results in more education on the topic for those in the medical field, which can only lead to further discussion, and treatment that can be effective for both the patient and their families.

A policy brief by the Justice Policy Institute confirms what Substance Abuse Professionals have already known.

http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/04-01_REP_MDTreatmentorIncarceration_AC-DP.pdf

Publication Year: 2004

Publisher

Justice Policy Institute
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Washington, dc 20008
Phone: 202-737-7270
Website: http://www.justicepolicy.org/
Email: info@justicepolicy.org