In some cases, individuals may experience a traumatic event that triggers such a potent stress response via the sympathetic nervous system, that memory of the event becomes repressed. The potency of the stress-response exceeds their innate ability to cope and other coping resources. Emotions associated with the traumatic event are often overpowering, leading to intense …
Bipolar disorder is characterized by uncontrollable mood swings typically from a depressed state of functioning to either mania or hypomania. Most people with Bipolar disorder tend to have a genetic predisposition to the illness, but even those without a genetic predisposition can develop it. The trend in society among psychiatrists and mental health professionals is …
Although most people turn to pharmaceutical medications to cope with mental illness like depression and PTSD, medications are not a person’s only option. In many cases, making healthy lifestyle changes (i.e. natural cures for depression) such as getting more exercise, reducing stress, and staying out of toxic relationships can be beneficial for a person’s mental health. Though …
Beta blockers are drugs that act on “beta receptors” within tissues of the sympathetic nervous system to inhibit stimulatory hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. Medically they are utilized primarily to help manage cardiac arrhythmias, prevent heart attacks, and reduce blood pressure. The first effective beta blockers were documented in the early 1960s as a …
Panic attacks can strike at anytime and turn a seemingly normal situation into sheer terror. Unless you’ve personally experienced a panic attack, it may be difficult to understand what it feels like. Many panic attacks are caused by a specific stimulus or “trigger” (i.e. person, event, etc.). In other cases they may occur organically without …
Theta brain waves are considered brain waves that oscillate between the frequencies of 4 Hz to 8 Hz (cycles per second). This brain wave rhythm may be dominant among children, individuals with ADHD, or overpowering when individuals are unable to focus on a particular task. Theta waves have been linked to experiencing emotions, daydreaming, intuition, …
There are many different scenarios that can lead a person to experience PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). As a person who has had to deal with PTSD and knows about the extreme “fight or flight” response and adrenaline that accompanies this severe disorder, I know how painful it can be to deal with. Not everyone …