Anxiety can manifest in a variety of ways in the human body. It can make us tense in our large, voluntary muscles, activate the involuntary muscles of our internal organs, and even cause changes in our thinking, sensation, and perception. I want to focus here on one particular pattern of anxiety—anxiety in the smooth muscles—and the style of self-punitive thinking that is associated with it.

Smooth muscle anxiety is linked with a wide range of physical problems that are emotional in origin but can be mistaken as medical, which can lead to misspent health care dollars, lost time, and dashed hopes. It is my hope to help you identify manifestations of smooth muscle anxiety, learn about the thoughts linked with smooth muscle anxiety, and gain exposure to intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy, a model that has demonstrated effectiveness in treating smooth muscle anxiety.

What Are the Smooth Muscles?

The smooth muscle systems of the body include the gastrointestinal system, the vascular system, the bronchi, and the urogenital system. There are also smooth muscles in our skin and eyes. The muscles are called smooth because they are made up of small, mushy, somewhat elastic cells. They differ from our skeletal muscles, which have long, striated fibers that are less flexible.

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When our smooth muscles are functioning as they should, they regulate our blood pressure, digestion, sexual and excretory functions, and breathing—functions that are essential to human survival. However, the smooth muscles are linked to the emotional center of the brain by the nervous system, and they can be activated in response to anxiety (Janig, 2003). So what happens when anxiety impacts the smooth muscles? What symptoms are linked with dysregulation of the smooth muscle systems?

Conditions Linked with Smooth Muscle Activation

The following conditions are associated with involuntary tensing of the different smooth muscle systems (Abbass, 2015):

• Vascular system: Hypertension, migraine
• Gastrointestinal system: Irritable bowel syndrome (e.g., acid, spasms, diarrhea, nausea), ulcerative colitis
• Bronchi: Reactive airways (e.g., asthma attacks)
• Urogenital system: Sudden urge to urinate or defecate

Are Types of Thoughts Associated with Smooth Muscle Anxiety?

Clinical researchers, especially in the literature on intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy, have noted an association between self-attacking thoughts and smooth muscle symptoms. While it is not clear whether the self-punitive thoughts can cause a stomachache or migraine, harsh thoughts and smooth muscle symptoms do seem to show up together.

In ISTDP, we use collaborative, exploratory questions to support people as they learn to reflect on the emotions that are making them anxious and triggering self-attack.

Here’s a smattering of thoughts I have heard lately that have shown up alongside smooth muscle symptoms in people I work with:

• “These symptoms will never get better. I’ll be crippled by this.”
• “The fight we had was my fault. How could I have been so stupid?”
• “I’m a letdown.”

As these examples from my practice demonstrate, negative thoughts going against the self seem to co-occur with nausea and migraines. If you find that these kinds of thoughts co-occur with your IBS, migraine, or other physical symptoms, or seem to trigger them, you may be experiencing smooth muscle anxiety that has been diagnosed as a medical syndrome.

What Triggers Self-Attack and Smooth Muscle Anxiety?

Clinical research in ISTDP has demonstrated a link between complicated, mixed emotions toward loved ones, tendencies toward self-attacking thinking, and smooth muscle anxiety (Abbass, 2015). The theory of smooth muscle anxiety in ISTDP, which has been repeatedly supported by my experiences as a therapist as well as in case series data (Abbass, 2002) and empirical research (Creed, et al., 2003; Guthrie, et al., 1993), is that mixed emotions toward our attachment figures trigger anxiety. These mixed emotions are anxiety- and guilt-laden because it feels dangerous to have rage toward people whom we long to be close with and depend on.

Because of the anxiety and guilt associated with these feelings, the feelings are repressed—not thought about or reflected on. In fact, self-attacking thoughts seem to have the function of turning the anger toward the loved one back against the self with harsh thoughts and against the body with smooth muscle activation. The beloved person is protected from the anger, and the body and the self are punished. It is almost as though an unconscious, automatic part of the mind says, “How dare you have rage toward your beloved! You must redirect the rage toward yourself and your stomach to protect them!”

The Role of ISTDP in Healing

In ISTDP, we use collaborative, exploratory questions to support people as they learn to reflect on the emotions that are making them anxious and triggering self-attack. Increased reflective awareness of emotions seems to reduce the anxiety connected to them—if it can be thought about, talked about, and felt, it is no longer as scary or guilt-ridden. The complicated emotions we have about our loved ones are no longer unconscious (out of awareness) and frightening but can be seen and felt by the light of day and recognized for what they are—just feelings! People learn that they have been getting punished for emotions, which are mental, bodily events that are not inherently dangerous or wrong. Fear and guilt about emotions are replaced with thoughtfulness, openness, and comfort (Abbass, 2015).

If you are experiencing self-attacking thoughts and smooth muscle anxiety and are looking for systematic support in overcoming the automatic emotional factors that trigger your symptoms, ISTDP may be a useful treatment for you.

References:

1. Abbass, A. (2002). Office based research in ISTDP: Data from the first 6 years of practice. Ad Hoc Bulletin of Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy, 6, 5-14.
2. Abbass, A. (2015). Reaching through resistance: Advanced psychotherapy techniques. Kansas City, MO: Seven Leaves Press.
3. Creed, F., Fernandes, L., Guthrie, E., Palmer, S. Ratecliffed, J., & Read, N. (2003). The cost-effectiveness of psychotherapy and paroxetine for severe irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology, 124, 303-317
4. Guthrie, E., Creed, F., Dawson, D., & Tomenson, B. (1993). A randomized controlled trial of psychotherapy in patients with refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome. British Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 315-321.
5. Janig, W. (2003). The autonomic nervous system and its coordination by the brain. In Davidson, R. J., Scherer, K. R., & Goldsmith, H. H. (Eds.), Handbook of affective sciences (pp. 135-187). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

When it comes to knowing ourselves, ideas and mental constructs are overrated. We put too much emphasis on conceptual knowledge and not enough on direct experience.

While it’s tempting to use only cognitive methods to “figure ourselves out,” when we can let go of the mental stories and rest in direct experience as it unfolds, we challenge the habitual ways we make sense of who we are.

When we see ourselves in this direct way, a response of fear is common; our culture trains us to know ourselves through the mind. But rest assured, this fear is a sign of growth. In order for us to grow, we have to move beyond our familiar sense of who we are and into unknown territory—and our natural response to the unknown is typically fear. If we learn to become comfortable with this fear and stop judging it as a sign of weakness or another negative, we begin to open a door of great discovery and even excitement.

Of course, this is easier said than done. Our habitual ways and defenses are deeply ingrained, and a lot of dedication is needed to move beyond them. Below are some ways to work with the fear that inevitably comes up as we journey inside.

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Resting in Not Knowing

It isn’t easy to be with the sensation of not knowing. We tend to either compulsively take action to find answers or avoid situations that trigger the sense of not knowing altogether. What we often miss here is a third option: By staying with the inner experience of not knowing, at the same time fully feeling the desire to know without pushing for an answer, we can experience new levels of self-awareness.

Again, this radical approach isn’t easy. It takes time and practice to develop the capacity to tolerate the experience of not knowing without trying to control it.

Connecting to Aliveness

When we are able to stay with the sensations of insecurity, nervousness, or fear that come from being with the unknown, we also connect with our aliveness. At this point, aliveness and fear can feel like the same thing—but upon further exploration and working skillfully with the uncomfortable sensations of fear, we can begin to discern how excitement is an aliveness different from fear. This sense of aliveness becomes a major player in our development if we learn to trust it, but it requires us to be willing to feel what we encounter in our experience.

Conversely, when we try to deny any part of our inner experience, we only reject parts of ourselves—and this blocks our vitality and joy.

The Body Is Your Ally

If we learn to sense our bodies directly instead of trying to figure things out mentally when we feel a fear of the unknown, we are doing the work. Fear shows itself in many ways, but fundamentally it has a physiological manifestation. If we sense it directly in the body, we develop tolerance for these experiences. When we try to work with fear only at the level of thoughts or even emotions, we are unlikely to deepen in our self-discovery.

For example, say you notice you’re experiencing obsessive thinking about something in the future: you might try to apply a mental solution by appealing to reason, and you may even find temporary relief. However, later on, that anxiety manifests again, perhaps with a different story. What if, instead, you turned toward the body, without ignoring the thoughts, and focused on the actual sensations of the anxiety (e.g., tightness, heavy breathing, vibration, etc.)? You may discover that the sensations themselves, without the attached meaning your mind attributes to them, are more manageable than you think.

Furthermore, you may begin to see there’s a feedback loop between thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. In other words, by understanding the relationship between thinking, feeling, and body sensations, you may see how stories and mental strategies only reinforce the sense of anxiety. This is a liberating insight that can give us the confidence to be with any internal experience.

Don’t Be Afraid of Fear

Fear will inevitably arise when we encounter the unknown, and the more comfortable we become with the different sensations that occur, the easier they may be to navigate. After enough practice, we can begin to recognize that fear is simply a natural response of our nervous system when it encounters the unknown.

If we are not experiencing fear in our lives, we are not growing. We are most likely staying in our comfort zone.

Be Aware of Counterphobic Tendencies

When encountering new layers of fear and defenses, some people tend to dive into these experiences head-on, believing they will “master” the experience. There can be a reckless pushing through with great force that wants to break open the fear and the defenses, but what is behind that movement is fear itself.

Learning to tolerate not knowing and the uncomfortable space that arises when we first encounter new defenses is a practice in itself. The key here is not so much to charge through the experience or break your defenses in a rushed way, but to get in touch with the outer layers of the defense.

Usually what we encounter if we don’t force anything is vulnerability and tenderness. Hanging out in those spaces without trying to change them is the real challenge. Staying open with the parts of you that are terrified—which means being able to slow down and hang out with the vulnerability—is the real brave act, not jumping over it or trying to break through.

For instance, my wife recently confronted me with some patterns of behavior of mine that were affecting her in a negative way. My first reaction was defensive. I was arguing back to her, and I was trying to blame her. As I recognized I was being defensive, I noticed that my chest and solar plexus were contracted. I found myself trying to break open the defensiveness and the contraction. I was trying to force myself to not be defensive.

I recognized I was doing this and that I was in fact being violent toward myself. I took a few breaths, slowed down, and brought in space. With that space, I recognized there was fear and that the fear was pushing the forceful energy. I stayed with the uncomfortableness of the contraction and the mental defensiveness. I simply observed them and felt them without trying to change them. As I allowed the experience, I became more tolerant of it, developed some understanding about it, and bit by bit it dissolved. I was left in an open, spacious, and peaceful state. I was able to see what my wife meant, and I was able to validate her experience and stay open to mine.

Usually what we encounter if we don’t force anything is vulnerability and tenderness. Hanging out in those spaces without trying to change them is the real challenge. Staying open with the parts of you that are terrified—which means being able to slow down and hang out with the vulnerability—is the real brave act, not jumping over it or trying to break through.

In a way, it is more of a challenge to stay with the edges of the experience than to dive in, but if we pull it off, two very important things can happen. First, we build our capacity to tolerate ambiguity and not knowing. In a way, it’s like building endurance by training for a marathon. We don’t push ourselves to run the whole thing when we start training but gradually challenge ourselves more each time. The second thing that can happen is we may uncover related unconscious content from the “bottom up,” instead of figuring it out from a purely mental perspective. In other words, by staying with the outer edges of an experience, memories and mental images can come naturally, without us having to figure out anything.

In my example above, when I felt the chest contraction and observed my mind, I became conscious that my wife’s telling me I was hurting her with my behavior triggered old wounds from my family of origin that did not have to do anything with the current situations. Seeing that allowed me to relax more and not judge my reactivity as bad, but rather to recognize it as a natural response given my past conditioning.

The key here is to stay present and curious in a dynamic and engaged way without pushing and without an agenda. This is not an easy process, and it can take time to develop this receptive attitude. Typically, we need others who have explored the territory before us to help us navigate our inner world.

A Word of Caution

Depending on the level of psychological injury we incurred when we were infants or children, our capacity to relax and tolerate body sensations can be compromised, and we may benefit from therapy. If as young children we were traumatized or chronically neglected in our environment, we may need reparative experiences to heal those deep, early wounds. The level of contraction that early psychological injury creates in the human organism may require a lot of soothing and healing work.

The good news is there are many compassionate therapists who focus on early trauma, wounding, and attachment. It’s imperative that the parts of us that are closed off begin to open in the safety of a compassionate, loving presence.

The Role of the Inner Critic

As we get in touch with the young and vulnerable parts of ourselves, our inner critic may try to persuade us to not continue on this path. It may use all kinds of strategies to steer us away from these places (i.e., “You are so weak!” or, “This is a waste of time!”). So it’s important to recognize when this is happening and work skillfully with the inner critic. It’s also important to recognize the inner critic is a defense motivated by fear.

Although fear can be paralyzing and problematic, and in some cases people may feel stuck or trapped by it, fear can also be seen as a sign of growth. Encountering fear and its associated defensive mechanisms means we are at the edge of our comfortable experience. As we encounter the fear that arises every time we get out of our comfort zone, we can learn to skillfully navigate our inner experience and find deeper levels of peace.

By nature, humans are emotional creatures. When things are going well, you are likely to experience positive emotions that often lead to increased motivation and productivity. However, in times of hardship or stress, it can be challenging to leave negative feelings at home and keep them from impacting your work.

Whether you work in an office or from home, staying productive in times of personal crisis is no easy task. When a loved one is diagnosed with an illness, a pet passes away, or your partner loses a job, the added stress, grief, or anxiety can be distracting and sometimes even debilitating.

At some point, you may face a time when life stressors come up, and you may not be able to put your professional life on hold. Here are 11 tips to help you stay focused and remain productive in a time of personal crisis.

1. Adjust Your Schedule

In a time of crisis, you may need to adjust your schedule to accommodate personal matters. Time management is key to maintaining your professional life when your personal life requires more attention than usual.

Take a look at your schedule and see how you can adapt it. In medical situations, you may need to attend health appointments in the mornings and work later in the afternoon, or vice versa. Try to plan your day efficiently to maximize the value of the time you are able to put in at work. Consider scheduling your time in blocks with frequent breaks. Taking a break can help you reset and prevent emotional overwhelm.

2. Practice Self-Compassion

Be gentle with yourself. Don’t beat yourself up for not performing as well as you think you should. Remember: you are human. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, anxious about a medical diagnosis, or stressed about some other personal matter, allow yourself to recognize your emotions as a normal part of the experience.

Feeling distracted or foggy during stressful times is not uncommon. It may take time to bounce back, so give yourself a break. Honor your feelings and do the best you can under the circumstances. Praise yourself for what you do manage to accomplish rather than feeling frustrated by any difficulties you may be experiencing.

Amy Armstrong, LPC, suggests embracing difficult emotions rather than suppressing them.

“For many of us, it’s tempting to tamp down those unpleasant feelings and hide them. This usually just increases your stress levels,” Armstrong said. “Confide in friends you trust. Get professional or peer support, if you are comfortable with that. Go for a run. Have a good cry. Most importantly: feel what you need to feel and let it out. I’m not advising anyone to freely cry at their desk because that can be problematic in other ways, but it’s important to own your feelings and give yourself an outlet. If you can do it in a fairly controlled way, those emotions are less likely to just pop up in places where they are less helpful to you—like in the middle of a stressful meeting.

3. Share with Discernment

[fat_widget_right]When times are tough, talking about your situation can provide you with support and help you process your emotions. However, it is important to use discernment when sharing personal details.

Depending on your situation, you might be obligated to share some information with your supervisor, but you may want to be more cautious when sharing information with coworkers.

Ask yourself how sharing this information could impact the relationship and your personal situation. Do you work in the type of workplace that is friendly and open with personal concerns? Are you prepared to hear any advice or input your coworkers may have about your situation? How might telling your coworkers impact your performance at work?

In some instances, sharing your situation with your colleagues may make things easier for you. In others, it could become more challenging. Consider the effects and use discernment before you choose to share.

4. Practice Living in the Moment

Meditation and mindfulness practices can help you embrace the moment and find feelings of inner peace and acceptance even during the hardest of times. By practicing being present, you can prevent yourself from ruminating about your problems, dwelling on the past, or worrying about the future. A daily meditation practice can help you to remain mindful and present at work and help you stay focused on the task at hand.

It may also be helpful to reframe your time at work as an escape from what is happening in your personal life. Focusing on another task can provide temporary relief from any turmoil or crisis you may be dealing with at home.

5. Use Your Support System

Sometimes it can be tough to ask for help from others, even when it is needed the most. If you are dealing with a crisis, it can be very difficult to stay productive without a solid support system. Seek out the people in your life who you can count on during times of hardship and reach out to them. Perhaps you need someone to take your child to school, prepare meals, clean the house, or just to listen to you. If you try to maintain everything on your own, you’re more likely to experience emotional overwhelm, which will not only increase your stress, but it can wind up making you less productive in the long run.

6. Prioritize and Delegate

Recognize that your productivity potential will likely be lower during times of crisis. So make the best use of the productivity you have by prioritizing your tasks. Create to-do lists and prioritize the most important tasks first.

“Even though it’s difficult, this is a time to be diligent about saying no to extra commitments to people in your personal and professional life,” Armstrong said. “You’ve gone the extra mile for others when they were having difficulties, and you can do so again, but this isn’t the time.”

Delegating tasks to others can also be helpful. Look to your co-workers for assistance when possible, rather than trying to conquer everything on your own.

7. Practice Self-Care

When you are under a large amount of stress, it can be easy to forget about the importance of taking care of yourself. In times of crisis, people tend to be more vulnerable and self-care may be more important than ever. Do your best to take good care of yourself. Remember to eat healthy foods, exercise, and take time to rest.

“Self-care during times of personal crisis is crucial,” Armstrong said. “Don’t skimp on things like sleep, baths, workouts, walks, massages, or just time spent kind of zoning out for 10 minutes. Taking the time to take care of yourself is the best investment you can make during difficult times. It helps you maintain your resilience (and your sense of humor) when you need it the most.”

8. Acknowledge Difficult Days

Remember you are human. You are allowed to feel emotions. Some days will be more difficult than others. There may be days when you don’t have the strength to get out of bed. Even when you’re trying so hard to focus on what’s important, some tasks may slip your mind, and that’s okay.

“Even though it may sound selfish and may seem like everyone says this, if you are going through a personal crisis, you need to make sure that you put yourself first and are honest about what you can and cannot do,” Armstrong said.

Don’t berate yourself for your feelings. Instead, allow yourself to feel the emotions at the surface, knowing that everything passes in time.

9. Choose Positive Coping Skills

Stress often makes it easier to reach for a vice. Whether it’s smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, overspending, gambling, or some other addictive habit, everyone has weaknesses. While vices may relieve some stressful feelings immediately, they usually wind up making things worse and increasing stress over time.

Rather than engaging in a bad habit, use positive coping mechanisms to deal with your stress. These might include spending time with loved ones, exercising, eating a healthy and delicious meal, napping, meditating, trying a new hobby, or working on a creative activity.

10. Take Some Time Off

As much as you might want to be productive, sometimes it is necessary to take some time off to heal. If things get too challenging to maintain, use some of your vacation or sick days and take some time away from work.

Though Armstrong advocates for a combination of an improved self-care routine, increased exercise, and therapy, she suggests people do an honest self-assessment on how they’re coping with everything.

When you are under a large amount of stress, it can be easy to forget about the importance of taking care of yourself. In times of crisis, people tend to be more vulnerable and self-care may be more important than ever.“If you are seriously considering taking a leave of absence from work, talk to your doctor and mental health professional as soon as possible regarding appropriate documentation. Also, contact your Human Resources department regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),” Armstrong said. “Do not tell your manager or co-workers about your personal crisis. It may seem tempting, but if you are considering a leave of absence, it is crucial that all of your information remain confidential and that starts with you. Even the Human Resources department should only be provided with the minimum amount of documentation required to substantiate your request for leave, and all of that should come from medical professionals, not you. It’s important to remember this because even though nobody is supposed to press you for details, they often do.”

Armstrong suggests the best time to request a leave of absence is before a personal crisis starts to affect your work performance. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need from your employer. Oftentimes, people will be willing to work with you to come up with a solution that works for everyone. Many people may feel guilty for missing work, but remember emotional crises can sometimes be as debilitating as physical illnesses, and some time off may be the best way to start the healing process.

11. See a Therapist or Attend a Support Group

Therapists and counselors play an important role in helping people cope with a crisis. Psychotherapy can help individuals assess their situation and create positive coping skills to manage their stress.

Support groups can also be a valuable means of support. They are widely available for those facing many different life challenges, from cancer to divorce to drug addiction. Whatever you’re dealing with, being able to talk with another person who can empathize with your situation can be helpful.

Earlier this year, the Powerball jackpot soared to $1.5 billion dollars. Ticket sales went through the roof. People who never played the lottery before were suddenly buying handfuls of tickets. According to psychologists, this is likely rooted in an innate fear of missing out.

FOMO, an acronym for “Fear of Missing Out” has become a popular internet term in the last few years. It was even added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013. FOMO is defined as the feeling of anxiety or apprehension over the possibility of not being included in an exciting event happening elsewhere that others are experiencing.

The term may be new, but the feeling itself is not. People tend to wonder if the grass might be greener on the other side. There’s always the question of whether someone out there is living a better life, making more money, or finding more opportunities. In the digital age, when social media and smartphones have the potential to make us more preoccupied with others’ lives than ever before, FOMO can become a serious problem for some people.

Where FOMO Comes From

The term FOMO was originally popularized by entrepreneur Caterina Fake. FOMO is a modern-day form of “keeping up with the Joneses.” Where people were once trying to keep up with a handful of neighbors, they’re now trying to keep up with hundreds, even thousands of social media friends and followers.

Social media has its good points. It can help people stay connected to friends and family around the globe, but it can also create serious feelings of anxiety, inferiority, and depression for some. People look to social media to feel more connected, but in many ways, it can make people feel more disconnected.

[fat_widget_right]It is not clear to researchers whether social media is responsible for creating feelings of FOMO or if it simply makes it easier for people to indulge in those feelings. The latter is more likely, as humans have dealt with emotions such as envy and regret since the beginning of time. Looking at others’ lives on social media for hours each day can exaggerate those emotions.

Research has linked FOMO to feeling disconnected from others and discontent with one’s own life. According to a 2013 study published in Computers in Human Behavior, people with a high degree of FOMO feel less competent, less autonomous, and less connected in their daily lives than the average person. People with strong feelings of FOMO also reported using social media more often, suggesting social media may be a significant contributing factor to their anxiety.

Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, has noticed the negative effects of social media in people who are seeking to improve their self-esteem through therapy.

“In my workshops, participants often begin a conversation around social media and how it affects their self-esteem and the ability to feel satisfied in their own lives,” MacCutcheon said. “They see all these pictures and status updates on Facebook and develop a fear that they are missing out on the happiness, success, perfect families, and exciting experiences that everyone else seems to have.”

For those looking to improve their self-esteem and increase satisfaction in their own lives, here are some tips for overcoming FOMO.

Embrace the JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)

JOMO, or “Joy of Missing Out” is a counter-term created by entrepreneur Anil Dash. While people with FOMO may second-guess their choices and wonder if they could be having more fun elsewhere, people with JOMO embrace the choices they have made and find joy in the present situation.

Millions of amazing events take place in the world at any given moment. It is impossible to be everywhere at once. Rather than worrying about what you may or may not be missing out on, try making the choice that is best for you and owning that decision. Find happiness in what you’re doing, and remind yourself why you made the choice in the first place.

Limit Your Social Media Intake

FOMO might be an age-old problem, but social media can add fuel to the fire. If you find social media is making you feel envious of others’ lives or unsatisfied with your own, try limiting your time on social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Many people have become addicted to knowing what is happening in others’ lives. They end up neglecting their own lives, staring into a screen instead of being fully present in the moment.

Try giving yourself a set amount of time to check social media each day. Applications such as StayFocusd, Anti-Social, and Self-Control can block or limit time on social media and other distracting websites. You can also stop notifications from appearing on your phone so you are only engaging with social media when you are actively logged on.

Go to a Digital Detox Camp

FOMO is a modern day form of “keeping up with the Joneses.” Where people were once trying to keep up with a handful of neighbors, they’re now trying to keep up with hundreds and even thousands of social media friends and followers.If limiting time on social media doesn’t seem like enough, sometimes a full hibernation may be helpful. Some people choose to take a few weeks or even months off from social media to spend time with their real-life friends and family and focus on the present moment.

Some may choose to go on a camping or hiking trip to unplug. Others may find it more difficult to put their phones down, so they choose to attend a digital detox camp. Camp Grounded, located in Northern California, is one such digital detox camp. Adult campers willingly give up their phones for a few days, leaving the work jargon at home and participating in activities such as campfires, yoga, meditation, swimming, archery, and stargazing, among others.

Remind Yourself Social Media Is Airbrushed

Remember what is posted on social media is usually not what it seems. Just like the photos of models in magazines are airbrushed, people don’t typically post the whole truth on social media. Instead, people typically only post their best selfies and are more likely to share a photo of an exciting adventure rather than a rant about any difficulty they may be having. Remember, no matter how perfect or interesting a person’s life seems, everyone has bad days.

Be Grateful

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help combat anxious and envious feelings. Research has shown simply writing down a few things you’re grateful for each day can help increase your overall life satisfaction. Further positive psychology research links gratitude to greater feelings of happiness and well-being. The next time you’re feeling envious of what someone else has, try redirecting your focus to the positive aspects of your own life. You may start to feel better.

Practice Meditation

Meditation can help you become more mindful of your thoughts and feelings and how they affect your life. Taking a few minutes to meditate each day can help clear your mind and reduce anxiety.

Change Your Thoughts

According to psychologists, FOMO can actually be a form of cognitive distortion. Cognitive distortions are irrational thought patterns—such as believing your friends don’t like you if you weren’t invited to a recent event—that can lead to depression and other mental health conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can help people learn to spot cognitive distortions when they occur and transform them into more positive and constructive thoughts.

Unplugging from technology, redirecting your thoughts, and seeking help from a qualified mental health professional are all ways you can stop worrying about what you’re missing out on and start feeling confident in the way you choose to spend your time.

References:

1. Burkeman, O. (2014, October 17). This column will change your life: The joy of missing out. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/17/joy-of-missing-out-oliver-burkeman
2. Hinds, H. (2016, January 13). Fear of missing out fuels pressure to play Powerball. Retrieved from http://www.fox13news.com/consumer/74215255-story
3. Huet, E. (2014, June 20). Camp Grounded: Where people pay $525 to have their smartphones taken away from them. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2014/06/20/camp-grounded-digital-detox/#732df78c688a
4. Giving thanks can make you happier. (2011). Harvard Health. Retrieved from http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
5. Glei, J. K. (2010). 10 online tools for better attention and focus. Retrieved from http://99u.com/articles/6969/10-online-tools-for-better-attention-focus
6. Pappas, S. (2013, May 14). Life satisfaction linked with fear of missing out. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/fear-of-missing-out-life-dissatisfaction-fomo_n_3275349.html
7. White, J. (2013, July 8). Research finds links between social media and the ‘fear of missing out.’ The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/research-finds-link-between-social-media-and-the-fear-of-missing-out/2013/07/08/b2cc7ddc-e287-11e2-a11e-c2ea876a8f30_story.html

Living with anxiety can be exhausting, frustrating, and painful. Frequent anxiety symptoms may be robbing you of sleep, joy, and/or confidence. However, there is much you can learn and benefit from when it comes to understanding anxiety. In fact, anxiety works to your advantage in some significant ways. Identifying anxiety and exploring how you relate to it may help you uncover some of your most significant strengths and useful skills.

Here are seven ways anxiety can actually be a good thing:

1. Anxiety may make you smarter.

A person who tends to be anxious may also naturally be highly intelligent. Anxious people can be incredibly good researchers, critical thinkers, and analyzers. In addition to naturally tending toward higher-level intellectual processing, anxiety can also teach you to be smarter as you go through a process of learning more about it. Building a better understanding of your anxiety can help you learn to explore options consciously and problem solve calmly. That skill improves both your mental and emotional intelligence.

2. Anxiety is rooted in your need to protect yourself.

Fear is designed to keep you safe from danger. Anxiety is an adaptation of that vital and fundamental fear response. Sometimes anxiety will tell you that the worst is true (perhaps getting you to believe that everyone dislikes you or that someone is determined to harm you). However, paying attention to that uneasy feeling can help you stay connected to sense of self-preservation.

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You can think of anxiety as an annoying friend with good intentions. This may help you learn when to take back the control to stop anxiety from dictating many of your thoughts and actions. You may start to notice your anxiety response sooner, allowing you to make conscious decisions about whether there is danger and how to best take care of yourself.

3. Anxiety directs to you whatever needs your attention.

It can be healthy to temporarily distract yourself from anxiety to gain perspective, but if a thought or situation causes anxiety repeatedly, your mind and body are likely trying to tell you there is something needing to be addressed. It may also give you a sense of what you truly care about and want to take action on, even if it may be difficult to do so. Anxiety can direct you to see that something about a situation is too important to ignore. A therapist can help you learn how to give a situation attention without it needing to be anxious attention.

4. Anxiety directs you to finding your deepest core values.

Noticing what you fear is a gateway to discovering what you truly value. We feel a form of anxiety when we see someone being bullied or harmed. We feel anxiety when a person says something that seems dishonest. This response doesn’t have to mean we are predicting the worst possible outcome; it is a vital radar to show us what is right and wrong for us. To fully eliminate anxiety would be to eliminate discernment and self-awareness.

5. Anxiety can help you discover your fullest potential.

Many people who have a form of anxiety are chronic overachievers. Anxiety is often used as a tool to help you push yourself to your limit of achievement. The downside is that there are often negative meanings attached, such as not being good enough or not valuing rest. Often, anxious overachievers have difficulty saying no, trouble completing tasks to their liking or knowing which tasks to prioritize, and issues trusting or working with others.

Using anxiety as a means to “motivate” yourself can only work to a certain extent. Looking at the amount you accomplish even with the negative pressure of anxiety, imagine how much more you could do if you felt focused, calm, and fulfilled by the tasks you accomplish. Anxiety can give you that glimpse into what your body and mind are able to achieve, even under great pressure. You can achieve things with more focus and fulfillment by working with a therapist to let go of the negativity that anxiety can bring.

6. Anxiety provides the energy necessary for taking action.

For many people, anxiety doesn’t inspire over-achievement but instead a perceived inability to take action. Does anxiety ever leave you feeling paralyzed, unable to move forward? The good news is this stress response can work to your benefit.

Does anxiety ever leave you feeling paralyzed, unable to move forward? The good news is this stress response can work to your benefit.

The energy that fuels anxious thoughts and behaviors is giving you what you need to take action and get unstuck. By not taking action, the energy is just getting bottled up inside you with nowhere to go but in circles. A mind spinning in circles or a body that fidgets or panics is stifling the energy of anxiety. Taking action can channel and alleviate that pressure, and the stress response can help you have the energy to do that.

Especially for someone who struggles with depression in addition to anxiety, training the body and mind to take small actions using that energy can provide healing over time—for example, using that energy to take a walk outside or to start a conversation (rather than playing it out repeatedly in your mind).

7. Anxiety can teach you to find balance in life, whatever that may mean for you.

Practicing responding to anxiety in purposeful ways can guide a process of finding balance in every aspect of your life: work and play, social time and personal time, rest and activity, etc. Anxiety gives clues to wherever your world may be out of balance.

Taking charge of your relationship with anxiety may be the most rewarding thing you do for yourself. You can prove to yourself what you are capable of by learning to consciously respond to your anxiety rather than allowing it to control you. This process can help you develop incredible acceptance, confidence, and leadership abilities. Find a therapist to guide and support your efforts and accomplishments.

The expression, “If it bleeds, it leads,” has been used to characterize media coverage of lurid stories since the early days of newspapers, and today’s around-the-clock news cycle has made avoiding negative news nearly impossible.

The near-constant barrage of stories about disease outbreaks, war, and natural disasters are taking a toll on people who consume the news, said Dr. Mary McNaughton-Cassill, a psychologist who studies the connection between stress and the media.

“What I believe happens to most people is that it adds to a feeling of malaise—a feeling that the world is just not going well,” she said.

Psychologists have studied the connection between repeated exposure to negative news items and an increase in feelings of depression and anxiety among news consumers. Some people may experience compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress, becoming less sympathetic to the plight of others over time due to an overabundance of stories of violence and suffering in the media. Others may experience a reaction similar to those who have experienced trauma firsthand.

Connection Between Media Exposure and Acute Stress

A 2013 study looked at the effect of continuous media coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings on a group of respondents from New York City, Boston, and the rest of the United States. A total of 4,675 adults took an Internet-based survey within a two to four-week period after the bombings on April 25, 2013; of that sample, about 10% were directly exposed to the bombing and 9% experienced the lockdown in Boston while police were looking for the suspects. Other respondents without direct exposure to the bombing reported six or more hours of daily media exposure to bombing coverage.

[fat_widget_right]The results indicated those respondents viewing news coverage for six or more hours were nine times more likely to report high acute stress levels than those with minimal media time. Those who had direct exposure had continuous acute stress symptoms but were less likely to exhibit high acute stress, perhaps, as researchers suggest, because emergency responders were on the scene to provide support. Researchers say repeated exposure to traumatic imagery through the media can activate fear circuitry in the brain and cause flashbacks—two precursors to developing posttraumatic stress (PTSD).

E. Alison Holman, PhD, lead author of the study, recognizes the results are correlational and the relationship between media and trauma is complicated.

“There are so many factors one needs to consider—prior life history (trauma, stress, health, social, family circumstances), ongoing post-Boston Marathon Bombing stressors, coping skills, and emotion regulation skills,” Holman said. “It is possible that this could happen, although I would caution that many people have acute stress symptoms that dissipate over time. We are currently looking into the question of quantity (hours) versus content (images, sounds) that might predispose someone to developing lasting posttraumatic stress and other mental health issues. At this point, all I can say is that it seems that both really matter.”

In a 2007 study, 179 college undergraduates were shown a 15-minute news broadcast, followed by a 15-minute relaxation exercise or a 15-minute lecture. The negative feelings induced by the newscast returned to a baseline level only in the group exposed to the relaxation exercise, suggesting that simply diverting attention was not enough to buffer negative feelings.

Coping With Negative News

The ways in which people cope with grim subject matter in the media can be categorized in three ways, McNaughton-Cassill said. The first group—hypervigilant and prone to anxiety—are the most self-selecting of what news they view and will generally tune into a message they agree with.

“If they’re not plugged in, they feel they’re missing something,” she said.

“If your work requires that you engage with frequent media stories—especially if they are of graphic violence—build stress-relieving activities into your routine so that you can counteract the negative effects.” —E. Alison Holman, PhD

The second group may tune out entirely and be unaware of what is going on the world, McNaughton-Cassill said, while the third group—the middle-ground category that most people fall into—is viewing news in a random manner and not consciously thinking about media exposure.

McNaughton-Cassill admits neither extreme is ideal but suggests people should be willing to set limits in terms of how often they check news and what items they choose to pay attention to.

Those who work in journalism may need to take extra precautions to neutralize potentially negative outcomes. Holman cautions people to avoid watching a 24-hour news cycle filled with negative news, as it is often sensationalized for shock value.

“There are studies showing that reporters who are frequently exposed to images of graphic violence report experiencing more mental health-related symptoms, and women may be more vulnerable to having a stronger physiologic stress response than men after subsequent stress when primed with reading negative news articles versus neutral news articles,” Holman said. “If your work requires that you engage with frequent media stories—especially if they are of graphic violence—build stress-relieving activities into your routine so that you can counteract the negative effects.”

Because media outlets are now under immense pressure to produce a continuous stream of news content, it is becoming increasingly difficult to filter out what information represents a legitimate threat and what is more benign.

“The way our memory works, we’re wired to pay attention to negative, scary things,” McNaughton-Cassill said. “The truth is, on objective measures, we’re much better than in the past.”

McNaughton-Cassill sees a silver lining to negative news if it propels people to action and toward contributing a solution to the problem. She suggests a solutions-based approach to counteract the negative aspects of news.

“I think the tagline that is missing in the media is ‘What can we do?’ What is the solution?” she said. “They need to show more people who are trying to solve problems.”

References:

1. Holman, E. A., Garfin, D. R., and Silver, R. C. (2013). Media’s role in broadcasting acute stress following the Boston Marathon bombings. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol 111 (1), 93-98. doi:10.1073/pnas.1316265110
2. Moeller, S. D. (1999). Compassion Fatigue: How the Media Sell Disease, Famine, War and Death. New York, NY: Routledge.
3. Schwarzer, R. (1997). Psychosocial Notebook. Retrieved from http://www.macses.ucsf.edu/research/psychosocial/anxiety.php
4. Szabo, A. and Hopkinson, K.L. (2007). Negative psychological effects of watching the news in the television: Relaxation or another intervention may be needed to buffer them! International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Vol 14 (2), 57-62. doi:10.1007/BF03004169

I think you have quite a bit of insight about your problem: your childhood experiences and past relationships have shaped your worldview in such a way that you don’t trust your current reality.

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You have made yourself vulnerable by committing to not hurting your husband—and that feels scary to you. We all carry some baggage from our formative experiences into current relationships. It seems, however, that your fears are preventing you from enjoying your relationship as you could. I imagine you find yourself in a pretty constant state of anxiety or fear—watching and waiting for evidence that you might get hurt. That’s exhausting. It also can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We expect someone to tire of us, and we push for reassurance or we accuse them of not caring enough until they do tire of our behaviors and disengage from the relationship. That then confirms what we believed all along—that people will hurt us and leave us.

Most people will leave us if we push them away hard enough. The challenge is not to push when we feel scared or vulnerable, but to engage and connect.

To accept love, you must feel worthy of love. It sounds as if that may be a significant part of your struggles.

There is no quick fix or easy answer to your question. I recommend that you find a therapist to work through your relationship fears and feelings of self-worth. There is quite a bit of healing that will likely need to happen before you can fully embrace being in relationship with another person.

To accept love, you must feel worthy of love. It sounds as if that may be a significant part of your struggles. You can talk with a therapist about how to bring your husband into the work you do together—as he can likely be a great support for you. If he understands your triggers and how to respond most effectively to you, that can only enhance your relationship. However, I do not suggest focusing on couples work. I think you would benefit first and foremost from individual work to address your concerns.

Best wishes,
Erika

People I work with in psychotherapy often tell me how they manage bothersome thoughts or worries: “I just try not to think about it.” This process of mental avoidance—trying not to think about specific thoughts or feelings—can actually trigger unwanted thoughts. For example, if I instruct you not to picture an elephant, what happens? Do you not think of an elephant?

Our ability as humans to distract and compartmentalize our problems and emotional experiences is part of an evolutionary and complex mental system. Avoidance is not inherently good or bad as a widely applied coping skill. However, the way one avoids stress may affect his or her level of engagement with others. Mentally speaking, avoidance is a typical response to stressful thoughts and events. Crossing the street so as to not pass by someone walking in your direction is an example of physical avoidance. The paradoxical effect of anxiety and mental avoidance leads us to a new therapeutic model.

Acceptance-based behavioral therapy (ABBT) is from the third wave of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches. This new flood of therapies incorporates mindfulness practices. ABBT, for its part, focuses on the management of cognitive avoidance. It addresses the omnipresent suffering that encompasses the mind’s ability to project into the future and dwell or ruminate on the past. Our thinking in this department is more complex than for any other mammal on the planet, but to a fault.

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The worry that we create through habitual patterns of thinking serves as a form of avoidance from the present moment experience. The avoidance becomes automatic or habitual over time, so we tend not to be aware that we are avoiding things. We might not realize that the worrying or our perception of an association in the future distracts us from other emotional topics.

This is especially resonant in American culture. Westernized values center on productivity and success as determinants of self-worth. This egocentric position ingrains our fixation on what the future will bring. It is eloquently framed the “intolerance of uncertainty.”

Worrying or attempting to not fixate on an idea or memory is viewed by ABBT as a “natural response” rather than inherent pathology. The worrying takes place as a way to reduce physiological arousal around something aversive or feared, but allows us to avoid more distressing issues. One of the ways this directional thinking or grasping (i.e., future or past) causes us so much stress is that the observation becomes self-identification. An inability to tolerate the ambiguity of an uncertain future creates a tendency to respond in a negative way. Negative prediction or judgments of the future lead us to further worry, which we then try to manipulate as the cycle perpetuates.

Take an invitation to public speaking as an example. If you are asked to give a presentation in front of a group of coworkers tomorrow, you might start thinking about material to reference or what the room looks like that you will present in. Then you ponder how many people will be in attendance. You consider what type of attire you should wear and how people will be staring at you. What if you make a mistake? The thinking and worrying narrows your focus toward potential social threats (the coworkers watching, the bosses evaluating, etc.).

The associations can begin to entangle the person and they become hooked by their own mental processes around the potential experience. The cognitive aspect pairs with physical reactivity such as increased heart rate or a sinking feeling in one’s stomach to condition the anxiety. Rather than noting this experience as anxiety, people often self-define as saying or thinking, “I’m really anxious!” The idea of being anxious is fused with the person. The person views himself or herself negatively and further worries about how he/she will respond in this perceived state of mind. A conclusion often stems from personal judgments around the anxious state and can come in the form of a belief: I am weak.

If your way of operating includes attaching to these beliefs, certain states of mind (fear, sadness, anxiousness) become framed as personal deficits or flaws. Put more simply, the idea that there is “something wrong with you” is cemented. When a person believes there is something wrong with him or her, often the thought is that if I could just fix [insert a perceived deficit], then my life would be better. The self-criticism and judgmental thinking—not the perception of stress or deficit—tends to be the issue needing addressing. Awareness of your state of mind throws a wrench in this way of thinking and changes the operating system.

Acceptance-based behavioral therapy facilitates a system of operation with an emphasis on active awareness of one’s mind. Thoughts and feelings are not being replaced or altered. You recognize or observe what is occurring in the present moment.

Acceptance-based behavioral therapy facilitates a system of operation with an emphasis on active awareness of one’s mind. Thoughts and feelings are not being replaced or altered. You recognize or observe what is occurring in the present moment. Initial worry manifests as a thought and not who you are. However, beginning to worry about the worry and the avoidance strategies that accompany that way of operating is the process ABBT is directed toward. It also arranges a structured framework for therapists to work with the reactions of people in therapy (i.e., the behavioral component to the CBT coin).

The ABBT approach presents as a new way of operating for some people. Think about the functional change that occurs in the transition from desktop computers to mobile devices for using the Internet. The first major step of ABBT is being connected. It is like finding a Wi-Fi network to link with. The connection enables you to cultivate an expanded awareness or Wi-Fi signal as opposed to the narrow Ethernet cord-to-wall technology of the desktop computer. One must carry this signal of awareness and not be tangled up or fused with internal experiences (i.e., thoughts, rumination, etc.). The second step is a willingness to read or face the news of your experience (i.e., feeling states). The analogy here is once you are connected to a signal, you can open up a single web browser like Google or Internet Explorer. Engaging with the browser (don’t be tempted by random advertisements, Facebook or Twitter) offers the third metaphorical piece to ABBT: mindfully participating in personally meaningful behaviors.

As humans, we all benefit from increased awareness and empathic responses to environmental changes. Cultivating this practice of momentary acceptance while observing one’s own internal states will intrinsically create meaning within the activities one engages in. Put simply, if you are open and willing to put out a clear signal and connect with the world, your options for engagement are boundless.

Reference:

Roemer, L., & Orsillo, S. M. (2014). An Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In: D.H. Barlow (ed.) Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders. Fifth Edition. New York: The Guildford Press, pp. 206-236.

A seizure is a sudden and unexpected loss of control accompanied by abnormal body movements or convulsions, a loss of consciousness, or both. Though epileptic seizures are caused by sudden, rapid, and chaotic electrical discharges in the brain, not all seizures are epileptic.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are not caused by abnormal discharge of electrical brain signals, but instead are emotional in nature and usually triggered by stress or anxiety. Although these seizures are rarely discussed, they are not rare. PNES have a prevalence similar to that of multiple sclerosis.

Statistically, one in five people sent to epilepsy centers experience PNES rather than epilepsy. In fact, a team of physicians and psychologists at Johns Hopkins Hospital reported that more than one third of patients admitted to the inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit were experiencing stress-triggered seizures rather than true epileptic seizures.

Diagnosing Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

Because PNES can mimic epileptic attacks, they are often misdiagnosed. At least 80% of patients experiencing PNES are treated with antiepileptic drugs for several years before a correct diagnosis is made.

[fat_widget_right]The source of this dilemma is multifaceted. Most physicians do not have access to electroencephalogram (EEG) video monitoring, and even those who do can easily misread an abnormal EEG without video if they have not been specifically trained in epileptology. A 2005 study of 46 patients published in the Neurology journal revealed that 54% of EEG readouts were misinterpreted as epilepsy.

Epileptic seizures tend to be more serious than PNES. If there is any doubt, a neurologist will usually treat the more serious condition. If medication fails to treat seizures, a patient is then referred to an epileptic center, and it is often there that the diagnosis of PNES is made.

With proper equipment and specialized knowledge, an epileptologist can easily distinguish between epilepsy and PNES. An EEG-video monitoring system monitors a patient for several hours and sometimes days until a seizure occurs, though there are techniques that can be used to trigger a seizure to speed up the monitoring process if necessary or desired. By analyzing the video of the seizure, a diagnosis of PNES can be made with 100% certainty.

Causes and Risk Factors

PNES is a somatoform illness, meaning that emotional stress creates physical illness in the body. These seizures are emotional in nature—induced by stress—and often result from traumatic experiences, some of which may have been repressed or forgotten. Such traumas may include divorce, physical or sexual abuse, death of a loved one, incest, or any other great loss or sudden upheaval in one’s life.

Individuals without developed coping skills may be more susceptible to PNES than those with a high level of resiliency to stress. A team of neuropsychologists and neurologists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that people with PNES don’t necessarily have a higher frequency of stress and/or trauma than others, but they seem to lack effective coping mechanisms to deal with stress and are thus more affected by it.

Coping with Diagnosis and Stigma

Psychosomatic illnesses like PNES are often misunderstood by family members and even by physicians and other health care professionals. A person may be reluctant to accept the diagnosis and become upset when told the seizures are psychological. Some people completely refuse to accept the diagnosis and continue to take antiepileptic drugs even as symptoms continue. This places responsibility on the physician to stop administering the drugs.

A lack of public knowledge and awareness of PNES only increases the misconceptions, misdiagnoses, and stigmatization of the illness. Somatoform illnesses like PNES are real—resulting from real stressors and traumas—and should be treated as such.

Treatment and Outcomes of PNES

Overall, PNES can be treated if properly diagnosed. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome may be. About 70% of people who receive adequate treatment for PNES eventually experience a complete disappearance in seizures. The recovery time will vary from patient to patient depending on the severity of the traumas and stressors involved, as well as the person’s established coping mechanisms and resiliency to stress.

While a neurologist typically treats epileptic seizures, PNES tends to be treated by a psychologist or other mental health professional. Someone who has been newly diagnosed and has been taking antiepileptic drugs will need to work with a neurologist to gradually come off the drugs rather than stopping use abruptly.

About 70% of people who receive adequate treatment for PNES eventually experience a complete disappearance in seizures.Treatment for PNES typically involves various types of psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be used to help people develop adequate coping skills to deal with life stressors. Relaxation techniques and biofeedback are also used to help manage and cope with stress.

For those whose seizures are a manifestation of past trauma, PNES is typically treated as posttraumatic stress. In this case a physical seizure may be the body’s way of expressing what the mind cannot. Some physicians have also found eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to be an effective treatment for PNES.

EMDR is a synthesis of many different therapeutic approaches including CBT, psychodynamic, interpersonal, body-centered, and experiential therapies. This information-processing therapy occurs in eight phases—attending to past traumas that contribute to the pathology being treated; the current situations, beliefs, and sensations that are triggering the dysfunctional emotions; and the positive experiences needed to improve mental health and well-being in the future.

The costs of being treated for misdiagnosed epilepsy are high and should not be ignored. As the incidence of misdiagnosed PNES continues, it is important for neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists to work in collaboration to raise public awareness, remove the stigma, and provide proper diagnosis, treatment, and support.

References:

1. Benbadis, S.R. and Heriaud, L. Psychogenic (Non-Epileptic) Seizures: A Guide for Patients and Families. (n.d.). Comprehensive Epilepsy Program: Tampa General Hospital & University of South Florida College of Medicine. Retrieved from: http://hsc.usf.edu/COM/epilepsy/PNESbrochure.pdf
2. Desmon, S. (2012, April 10). Symptoms that Mimic Epilepsy Linked to Stress, Poor Coping Skills: Patients with “Pseudo-Seizures” Often Misdiagnosed. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved from: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/symptoms_that_mimic_epilepsy_linked_to_stress_poor_coping_skills
3. The Truth about Psychogenic NonEpileptic Seizures. (n.d.). Epilepsy Foundation. Retrieved from: http://www.epilepsy.com/article/2014/3/truth-about-psychogenic-nonepileptic-seizures
4. What is the actual EMDR session like? – EMDR International Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.emdria.org/?120

More than a quarter of Americans experience mental health issues each year, and the World Health Organization reports that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. However, many Americans think mental health care is both expensive and difficult to access, according to a study jointly sponsored by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

In a survey of 2,000 adults, most (almost 90%) said they equally valued physical and mental health. One third reported that mental health care is hard to access, and 40% said high costs are a barrier to treatment. Forty-seven percent thought they had experienced a mental health issue, but only 38% of them had received treatment.

[fat_widget_right]Among those who sought treatment, therapy was the most popular option, with 82% pursuing psychotherapy and 78% taking medication. Eighty-six percent said that they knew mental health conditions such as depression increase the risk for suicide, but only 47% knew that anxiety-related conditions could also increase one’s suicide risk.

Though federal laws mandate equal coverage for mental and physical health, a number of recent reports suggest that many insurers continue to deny mental health claims.

64% of Psychology Experiments Fail Replication Test

In May, GoodTherapy.org reported on research suggesting that the majority of psychology studies could not be reproduced by subsequent researchers. Reproducibility is a hallmark of sound science. When a study’s results cannot be recreated, this suggests that the study could have been flawed, biased, or a fluke. Now, the results of that research have been published in Science, sparking debates about a so-called crisis in psychology. The research argues that the results of only a quarter of social psychology experiments and half of cognitive psychology experiments could subsequently be reproduced.

Living Small: The Psychology of Tiny Houses

Tiny houses are trending all over social media. For young people facing an expensive housing market, more economically sized homes can be enticing. These houses encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint by living simply, offer greater mobility because they can easily be moved by a trailer, and are much more affordable than standard-size homes. Moving into a tiny home may require significant downsizing of clothing, furniture, and belongings, but the advantages may include increased control over one’s housing experience, a private alternative to keeping costs down, and the ability to personalize design to fit one’s mood.

Health Buzz: Alcohol Education Should Begin at Age 9

Parents often delay talking to their kids about alcohol until the adolescent years, but a new survey published in the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that these conversations should begin much earlier. The survey found that two thirds of teens had consumed alcohol by their high school graduation and that a quarter have had more than just a few sips before eighth grade. Researchers also found that children and teens drink more heavily than adults, raising concerns about alcohol poisoning and addiction. To give kids accurate and relevant information, the report recommends parents begin the alcohol conversation by the time their children are 9 years old.

Religion Rarely Part of ICU Conversation

Though three quarters of people charged with making health care decisions in an intensive care unit report that religion and spirituality are “fairly” or “very” important in their lives, less than 20% of family health care meetings involve discussion of religion or spirituality with doctors and other caregivers. Particularly when discussing end-of-life decisions, religion can be important, but it is usually the caregiver, not the doctor, who broaches the subject.

Japan’s Worst Day for Teen Suicides

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. For many Japanese parents, it may also be a time of increased concern about suicide among their teens. In Japan, more school students commit suicide on September 1 each year than on any other day. Though experts have posited various explanations—such as worries regarding bullying at school after a summer break free of emotional and physical attacks from peers—suicide remains common. Japan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates, and suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 39. Figures from the Japanese government show that more than 18,000 adolescents under the age of 18 committed suicide between 1972 and 2013.

Oliver Sacks, Renowned Neurologist Who Wrote About His Cancer, Dies at 82

Famed author and neurologist Oliver Sacks died of cancer at his home on Sunday, August 30. Sacks wrote about unusual neurological conditions, often naming books after symptoms he saw in his clinical practice, such as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. He was the inspiration for the doctor played by Robin Williams in the 1990 movie Awakenings, which is based on Sacks’ 1973 book of the same name.

Lack of Sleep Puts You at Higher Risk for Colds, First Experimental Study Finds

According to a study of 164 healthy people, inadequate sleep could increase the risk of developing a cold. Scientists monitored participants’ sleep patterns for a week, then quarantined them in a hotel for five days and exposed them to a cold virus. Researchers also checked the participants’ blood for an antibody that fights the common cold, then removed participants who had the antibody to make sure those participants would not bias the infection rates of the group.

At the end of the quarantine period, 45.2% of those who slept less than five hours a night exhibited at least one sign of illness—revolving around mucus production—and one other immune response. Of those who slept five to six hours, the cold rate was 30%, compared to 22.7% for those who slept six to seven hours. The rate was only 17.2% for those who got more than seven hours of sleep. At the end of the study, researchers determined that people who slept less than five hours per night were 4.5 times more likely to get sick than those who slept seven hours or more.