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May 05 2015

Friday Factoids: Dangerous New Synthetic Drug

Author Susan Vaught Categories Blog, Continuing Education, Current Interns, Friday Factoids, General Information, Mental Health and Wellness, Resources for Interns 0 Comments

 

 

‘Flakka’ is a new synthetic drug that has recently been moving across the country and may soon find itself in Kentucky (and the effects in our hospital and area). News articles have reported that about a year ago, police officers had never heard of the drug. However, it has recently been called an “epidemic” in Florida and has crossed into Tennessee.

 

Flakka has been described as similar to bath salts. A report stated, “they get an initial high and when the high wears off, that is when hallucinations start. They are experiencing super human strengths.” Individuals who have taken Flakka tend to believe they are being chased, can be aggressive, and have been described as having no fear. A police officer noted, “A taser is not effective, verbal commands not effective, pepper spray not effective, and you don’t know what extreme you are going to be in.”

 

Flakka has become popular because it seems to be easily attainable and cheap (some sources saying $5-$10).One story reported a man felt he was being chased and, in an attempt to get into a police station, began to climb over a fence and impaled his leg on the fence. A couple of news stories are listed below for more information. It may be beneficial for us to be familiar with the symptoms of this drug as we may soon see people who have used it. Flakka does not appear on a typical drug screen panel, so it may not be easily identifiable.

 

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/cops-battle-flakka-crazy-street-drug

 

http://news.yahoo.com/naked-paranoids-begging-police-save-them-thats-flakka-092502635.html

 

Brittany Best, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

 

 

May 05 2015

Friday Factoids: Myths and Truths about Anxiety Disorders

Author Susan Vaught Categories Blog, Continuing Education, Current Interns, Friday Factoids, Mental Health and Wellness, Resources for Interns 0 Comments

 

How much do you know about anxiety? Have you bought into any of these myths? Here’s some information that might help!

 

Myth

Truth
If I have a bad panic attack, I will pass out/faint. It is very unlikely you will faint during a panic attack.   Fainting is typically caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and, during a   panic attack, blood pressure actually rises slightly.
I should just avoid situations that stress me out. Avoiding anxiety tends to reinforce the anxiety. When   individuals avoid anxiety-provoking situations, they continue to believe they   cannot manage or cope with those situations.
I’ll carry a paper bag in case I hyperventilate. Paper bags (similar to as-needed medications) can become a   safety crutch for anxiety.
Medication is the only treatment for my anxiety. Therapy can also help to reduce worry and anxiety. In   fact, research shows that a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)   and medication can be the most effective treatment.
I’m just a worrywart and nothing can really help me. Therapy can help anyone to learn a different relationship   with their own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
If I eat well, exercise, avoid caffeine, and live a   healthy lifestyle, my anxiety will just go away. Healthy living can help with worry and anxiety; however,   it cannot cure an anxiety disorder.

“You need more help than just reducing your stress. You   may need to face your fears, learn new facts about your symptoms, stop   avoiding, learn tolerance for some experiences, or change how you think,   feel, and behave with respect to other people.”
My family is always reassuring and help me avoid stress,   which helps me. Similar to the paper bags, well-meaning friends and family   can contribute to and prolong anxiety. Encouraging and supportive friends and   family can better help by assisting an individual through anxiety and   discomfort rather than helping avoid.

 

Would you like some resources for anxiety? Some organizations with helpful resources include National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

 

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2015). “Myth-conceptions,” or common fabrications, fibs, and folklore about anxiety.

 

Brittany Best, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

 

May 05 2015

Friday Factoids: Balance Between “Alone Time” and “Isolation”

Author Susan Vaught Categories Blog, Current Interns, Friday Factoids, General Information, Mental Health and Wellness, Resources for Interns 0 Comments

 

In our society today, we are constantly connected to people near and far through technology and social media. Here at the hospital, we discuss improving social supports and interactions. Additionally, isolation can be a red flag. However, some interesting research indicates that some alone time may be beneficial for health and wellbeing.

 

Spending time on your own may:

 

  1. Make you more creative.
    “Decades of research have consistently shown that brainstorming groups think of far fewer ideas than the same number of people who work alone and later pool their ideas,” Keith Sawyer, a psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis.
  2. Make you work harder.
    The concept of “social loafing” suggests that people put in less effort when others are involved in the task.
  3. Be the key to your happiness (IF you are an introvert).
    “For introverts, most social interactions take a little out of that cup instead of filling it the way it does for extroverts. Most of us like it. We’re happy to give, and love to see you. When the cup is empty though, we need some time to refuel.” Kate Bartolotta, Huff Post blogger.
  4. Help you meet new people.
    Participating in activities on your own may help you meet people with similar interests.
  5. Help with depression (especially for teenagers).
    A study found that “Adolescents.. who spent an intermediate amount of their time alone were better adjusted than those who spent little or a great deal of time along,” Reed W. Larson, emotional development expert.
  6. Clear your mind.
    “Constantly being ‘on’ doesn’t give your brain a chance to rest and replenish itself,” Sherrie Bourg Carter.
  7. Help you do what you want to do.
    Nobody else to please!

 

Weingus, Leigh. (2015). ‘Alone time’ is really good for you.

 

Brittany Best, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

 

 

May 05 2015

Peer Support: Relationships in Recovery

Author Susan Vaught Categories Blog, Continuing Education, Information About Peer Specialists, Resources for Interns 0 Comments

Peer Support training states that there are ten guiding principles of recovery.  One of these is the “relational” principle.  It tells us that an individual’s chances of recovery are greatly increased if he or she has a strong foundation of support at home and in the community.  This can be a difficult principle to achieve for many, as people often find themselves isolated when they leave institutions.  Some patients have burned bridges they feel can’t be repaired.  Family members may have abandoned them.  In some cases, family wants to be involved, but with privacy laws, they are unable to help the patient regulate mediation or keep in touch with the patient’s doctors to find out about any progress or regression.  Some patients entered the hospital not only because of mental illness, but also because of stress put on them from toxic people, sometimes family.

 

According to the Kentucky Peer Support training, through healthy relationships, a person with a mental illness or substance abuse disorder can find roles which can give him or her purpose through social interaction.  Being a volunteer, a student, an employee, or a peer support can make one feel a greater sense of self and give one a better outlook on life.  Becoming a part of an advocacy group can help others while empowering the individual as well.

 

When a mentally ill person or a person diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder cannot find support in a faith-based institution or with family, there are other organizations on which to lean.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness has chapters across the country and may have support groups or day-time programs. There are also volunteer possibilities through them.  The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (dbsalliance.org) also gives opportunities for people living with these illnesses to become facilitators of support groups and to volunteer and advocate on behalf of others with mental illnesses.  The Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (sardaa.org) is yet another group.

 

There are many possibilities for a mentally ill person to integrate into the community, even if it is through social media at first.  Any connection to groups of people with similar experiences helps.  Any connections that allow for socialization and the promotion of friendships will help an individual in his or her recovery journey.  The “relational” aspect of the recovery process is an important one.

 

 

Rebecca Coursey, KPS
Peer Support Specialist

March 03 2015

Effective Listening and Peer Support

Author Susan Vaught Categories Information About Peer Specialists, Mental Health and Wellness, Resources for Interns 0 Comments

Effective Listening and Peer Support Services The Peer Support Specialist uses “Effective Listening” techniques when working with his or her peers (patients).  According to the Kentucky Peer Support training, the difference between listening and “effective” listening is that we know what we are listening for; there are cues that guide the questions we will ask.  We try to discern the person’s current self-image, what the person thinks would improve his or her life and what he or she thinks is standing in the way of those goals.  Self-image, goals, and barriers are simple things to listen for actively.

 
It can be hard to really listen.  We try to interrupt with advice, judgments, criticisms, or comparative stories of our own, or even feel the need to one-up the person.  Effective listening means there may be moments of silence.  That is okay.  The Peer Support person’s role is to guide the peer into listening to his or her own inner truth with open, honest questions.  These questions go by the old rules of journalism: who, what, where, when, how…but “why” is never involved.  “Why” can make people defensive.  Honest questions mean that one doesn’t already know the answer.  The patient may feel his or her intelligence insulted by such questions.

 
The next time you have a conversation with a friend, try using these techniques.  It can be difficult!  Try to do as a Peer Specialist and don’t fix, save, advise, judge, or set the person straight.  Just listen and ask honest, non-judgmental questions.  It is interesting how much people really appreciate it.

 

Rebecca Coursey, KPS
Peer Support Specialist

 

“Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”

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