This Week in News You Can Use

Gender identity and sexual orientation are not mental disorders, yet those who identify as LGBTQ+ often face a wide range of challenges that prevents them from accessing services and supports to augment their overall mental wellness. Using anonymous data from individuals who self-identified as LBGTQ+, and in conjunction with the HRC Foundation, The Trevor Project, and UT-Austin, National Mental Health America just released its LGBTQ+ Mental Health report.  Its goal is to highlight the urgent need to create and direct appropriate resources to better support those in need. ANYONE concerned about their mental health can take any of 10 free, confidential screenings here. Image courtesy of 123RF.com

Considering Online Therapy?

While probably nothing can fully substitute for the therapeutic benefits of in-person therapy, there are lots of circumstances that make online sessions a viable and effective option. Whether on an emergency-only basis or as your routine session, here are 5 Reasons Online Therapy May Be for You.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Little kids have tantrums; bigger kids get moody. Often, it's nothing more than emotions they don't yet know how to express appropriately. But how do you know when it's more than the norm, something that's a sign of a more serious condition? Oppositional Defiant Disorder: What Parents Need to Know can help sort it out.

When Anti-Depressants Stop Working

You're going along, taking your anti-depressant, it works well for you, then, bam...it just stops being effective. Often called medication poop-out or anti-depressant tolerance, this phenomenon is clinically called Tachyphylaxis. It doesn't happen to everyone, and each person's solution must be individually assessed. You'll find eight items to consider during the assessment period in What Do I Do When My Anti-depressant Stops Working?

Handle a Panic Attack at Work

Anyone who has experienced a panic attack knows how scary it can be. Having a good understanding of what's actually happening, and knowing you have a plan makes those scary minutes much more manageable. This article focuses specifically on considerations to help you Handle a Panic Attack at Work.  Image courtesy of AntonioGuillem/123RF.com

Brain Imaging and Depression

When initially diagnosed with depression, it can feel like a race against the clock to find the right dose of the right medication(s).  New imaging techniques prove hopeful in identifying which types of depression don't respond to an SSRI...the most commonly prescribed anti-depressant. This means doctors could immediately select a different medication, reducing the amount of time the patient spends "starting out" on a medication that is unlikely to treat symptoms. Here's a quick read on how Brain Imaging Study IDs 3 Types of Depression.  Image courtesy of Inna Jacquemin/123RF.com

Psychopathy or Sociopathy?

Just about every form of mass media has done an excellent, but erroneous and misguided, job in distorting and stereotyping the behaviors of Sociopathy and Psychopathy. The terms are tossed about in everyday conversation, often without understanding the meaning or realizing they are not synonymous. Because these are complex conditions, these articles help explain some of the basics.            Image courtesy of 123RF.com

• Differences Between Psychopathy and Sociopathy
• 16 Key Differences

NAD IV Therapy

Anyone interested in where new addiction treatments might be headed will find these newsworthy. While the NAD therapy approach has not yet met the standard for evidence-based, Harvard Medicine finds it promising, and its ability to repair cell damage makes it unique.

• Hunger Hormones Offer Promising Avenue for Addiction Treatment
• NAD Therapy

Words and Thinking

Much is written about how certain phrases or conversational styles gives a clue to our emotional state. These articles help us be more aware of when someone's words might signal depression, and to recognize and move away from entrenched patterns of black-and-white thinking as a strategy to improve coping skills.   Image courtesy of iqoncept/123RF.com

• These Common Words and Phrases May Signal Depression
• Moving from Black-and-White to Dialectical Thinking

Youths, Bipolar, Treatment

A parent who has bipolar disorder is often on pins and needles, constantly worried and on guard for the earliest signs of the illness in his/her child. Early intervention is always the best course, and a newly developed algorithm provides guidance to clinicians about which interventions and medications will be most effective. From the Psychiatric Times, Treatment Options for Youths at Risk for Bipolar.