Being Mentally Well

May is Mental Health Awareness month. From the beginning, CWUW has always understood the importance being mentally healthy has on a person's total life and well-being. Unfortunately, in some communities, just bringing up the topic of mental health is difficult but we must break the silence.

Mild and even clinical depression is something that many women suffer from in silence and feel that this is just how women are suppose to feel. It is not our lot in life. We don't have to suffer from depression and we have to actively work to heal ourselves by being proactive in getting assistance, locating resources, and talking to others about how you're feeling.

What happens in the mind, effects the body. Stress has an effect on the immune system, the heart, the digestive system and more. It effects us at the cellular level. When we are going through depression and stress sometimes its accompanied or followed by physical illness.

Remember, what you eat also can effect your mental wellness. Stay away from sugary and fatty foods.

For more information about Depression and your journey to healing, check out this website.

http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_tips.htm

Depression in Women

Contrary to popular belief, clinical depression is not a “normal part of being a woman” nor is it a “female weakness.” Depressive illnesses are serious medical illnesses that affect more than 19 million American adults age 18 and over each year.[1] Depression is a treatable medical illness that can occur in any woman, at any time, and for various reasons regardless of age, race or income.

Prevalence
Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year.[2]
About one in every eight women can expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime.[2]
Depression occurs most frequently in women aged 25 to 44.[3]

Contributing Factors
Many factors in women may contribute to depression, such as developmental, reproductive, hormonal, genetic and other biological differences (e.g. premenstrual syndrome, childbirth, infertility and menopause).[4]
Social factors may also lead to higher rates of clinical depression among women, including stress from work, family responsibilities, the roles and expectations of women and increased rates of sexual abuse and poverty.[4]

Gender Differences
Women experience depression at roughly twice the rate of men.[3]
Girls 14-18 years of age have consistently higher rates of depression than boys in this age group.[5]

PMS/PMDD
Twenty to forty percent of women may experience premenstrual syndrome and an estimated 3 to 5 percent have symptoms severe enough to be classified as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). [6]

Marriage/Childbirth
Married people have a lower rate of depression than those living alone. However, unhappily married people have the highest rates of depression; happily married men have the lowest rates.[3]
Approximately 10%-15% of all new mothers get postpartum depression, which most frequently occurs within the first year after the birth of a child.[7]

Co-occurring Illnesses
Research shows a strong relationship between eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia nervosa) and depression in women.[8] About 90-95% of cases of anorexia occur in young females.[9] Reported rates of bulimia nervosa vary from one to three out of 100 people.[6]
Research shows that one out of three depressed people also suffers from some form of substance abuse or dependence.[9]

Suicide
Although men are more likely than women to die by suicide, women report attempting suicide approximately twice as often as men.[10]
An estimated 15 percent of people hospitalized for depression eventually take their own lives.[11]
Treatment
Depression in women is misdiagnosed approximately 30 to 50 percent of the time.[12]
Fewer than half of the women who experience clinical depression will ever seek care.[13]
Fortunately, clinical depression is a very treatable illness. More than 80 percent of people with depression can be treated successfully with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both. [3]

Women’s Attitudes Toward Depression:
According to a Mental Health America survey [14] on public attitudes and beliefs about clinical depression:
More than one-half of women believe it is “normal” for a woman to be depressed during menopause and that treatment is not necessary.
More than one-half of women believe depression is a “normal part of aging.”
More than one-half believe it is normal for a mother to feel depressed for at least two weeks after giving birth.
More than one-half of women cited denial as a barrier to treatment while 41% of women surveyed cited embarrassment or shame as barriers to treatment.
In general, over one-half of the women said they think they “know” more about depression than men do.

References
[1] National Institute of Mental Health: “The Numbers Count: Mental Illness in America,” Science on Our Minds Fact Sheet Series. Accessed August 1999.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm
[2] National Institute of Mental Health, Unpublished Epidemiological Catchment Area Analyses, (1999).
[3] National Institute of Mental Health: “Depression: Treat it. Defeat it.” Accessed June 1999.
Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/depression/genpop/gen_fact.htm.
[4] National Institute of Mental Health, D/ART Campaign: “Depression: What Every Woman Should Know,” (1995). Pub No. 95-3871.
[5] Kandel DB, Davies M: “Epidemiology of Depressive Mood in Adolescents: An Empirical Study,” Archives of General Psychiatry 1982; 39:1205-1212.
[6] National Institute of Mental Health. “Women Hold Up Half the Sky,” Updated June 1999.
Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/womensoms.cfm.
[7] Seidman D: “Postpartum Psychiatric Illness: The Role of the Pediatrician,” Pediatrics in Review, 19 (1998):128-131.
[8] Willcox M, Stattler, DN: “The Relationship Between Disorders and Depression,” The Journal of Social Psychology 1996; 136:269.
[9] National Institute of Mental Health: “Co-Occurrence of Depression with Medical, Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Disorders,”
Accessed July 1999. Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/depression/co_occur/abuse.htm
[10] Horton JA: “A Profile of Women’s Health in the United States,” The Women’s Health Data Book, 2nd ed., Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health, 1995.
[11] National Institute of Mental Health. “Helpful Facts About Depressive Illnesses,” (1994). Pub. No. 94-3875. Accessed June 1999.
Netscape: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/depression/genpop/dep_fact.htm.
[12] McGrath E, Keita GP, Strickland BR, Russo NF: “Women and Depression: Risk Factors and Treatment Issues. Washington, DC, American Psychological Association, 1990.
[13] Rupp A, Gause E, Regier D: “Research Policy Implications of Cost-of-Illness Studies for Mental Disorders,” British Journal of Psychiatry Suppl 1998; 36:19-25.
[14] National Mental Health Association, “American Attitudes about Clinical Depression and its Treatment,” (March 27, 1996).

For More Information:
For help finding treatment, support groups, medication information, help paying for your medications, your local Mental Health America affiliate, and other mental health-related services in your community, please click here to access our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. If you or someone you know is in crisis now, seek help immediately. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24 hour crisis center or dial 911 for immediate assistance.
Page last updated: 03/09/2007

reprinted by permission from Mental Health America

Binge Eating Disorder

What it is and what it’s not

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) shares a common thread with all eating disorders - severe disturbances in eating behavior. People who have been diagnosed with BED have frequent episodes of compulsive overeating two days a week on average, and have had these episodes for at least six months. An episode is characterized by eating large amounts of food within a two-hour period and feeling that you cannot stop eating.

Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder. According to the National Institute of Eating Disorders, BED affects between two and five percent of Americans, with men making up a large percentage of that number. This disorder has similar characteristics to non-purging bulimia and is also referred to as compulsive eating disorder.

Most people with this problem are either overweight or obese, but normal-weight people also can have the disorder. About ten to fifteen percent of people who are mildly obese and who try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have binge eating disorder. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.

People with binge eating disorder frequently eat large amounts of food and feel a loss of control over their eating, as well as guilt after eating. However, eating too much does not mean you are a binge eater – most people occasionally overeat and then feel bad about it, or eat too much even when they’re not hungry. Neither does the rare “binge” on junk food (or any food) necessarily imply a disorder – most people respond to an urge to overindulge now and again.

People also often mistakenly describe binge eating as a form of bulimia, but the two disorders are different. Although people with bulimia often binge eat, they usually purge, fast, or exercise strenuously after an episode of binge eating. People with binge eating disorder don't necessarily do this.

Behaviors and warning signs

Some of the warning signs and behaviors associated with binge eating disorder include:

*Rapid weight gain
*Constant weight fluctuations
*Coping with distress by eating
*Loss of control over eating
*Avoiding social situations - especially those involving food
*Mood swings
*Eating large amounts of food late at night
*Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
*Eating abnormally large amount of food in short period of time
*Eating more rapidly than normal
*Secretive eating because of embarrassment
*Feelings of self-disgust, depression or guilt about bingeing
*Continuing to eat after feeling full, even if it causes discomfort

People with BED will exhibit at least three of these behaviors. However, remember that these examples do not provide a diagnosis. If you think you may have binge eating disorder, or want help overcoming even mild binge eating problems, speak to a health professional.

What causes it?

Repressed anger is a compelling factor in many females with BED
There are many psychological, cultural, and biological factors that contribute to binge eating disorder. Underlying issues associated with BED and other eating disorders include depression, diminished self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, inability to cope with or communicate feelings, feelings of loss of control, and anxiety. Binge eating may be used as a coping mechanism for these issues.

For females

Our cultural preoccupation with female slimness and perfection is a clear contributor to eating disorders. Because full and healthy female figures are not valued by our society, women mistreat their bodies both in pursuit of an unattainable slimness, and out of guilt that they can’t fulfill the images of perfection surrounding them.

According to Louise Freedman, an eating disorders therapist interviewed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, repressed anger is a compelling factor in many females with binge eating disorder. Freedman explains that in families where anger is not allowed to be expressed by a child to a parent, that child will instead process it through secret binge eating, starvation, or self-induced vomiting; the disorder is like a silent rage against the nurturer. Most parents still teach (whether consciously or not) that a good girl keeps her anger to herself. Freedman believes that parents who encourage their daughters to express their anger instead, might actually help prevent them from turning toward the violent cycles of binge eating.

Treating the disorder

Binge eating disorder puts a huge strain on your body and threatens physical health
Many people assume that a person with an eating disorder has a problem with food. However, eating disorders actually have more to do with the mental and emotional health of a person than their relationship to food. Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders are common in people with BED. Substance abuse is often also a problem.

Because binge eating disorder is really a symptom of underlying problems in a person's life, it often needs the help of a professional to be brought under control. If you are a binge eater, and have tried unsuccessfully to control the problem on your own, you may want to seek professional treatment.

The treatment of binge eating disorder is not only important for your mind, it is also vital for your body. The physical health risks associated with binge eating disorder include:

*Type 2 diabetes
*High blood pressure
*High cholesterol levels
*Gall bladder disease
*Heart disease
*Kidney failure or disease
*Certain types of cancer
*Complications during pregnancy

To avoid these complicated health problems, it's best to get your disorder under control as soon as possible.

Like other eating disorders, BED can be treated and a healthy weight restored. However, the sooner this disorder is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome is likely to be. BED can require medical care and monitoring, as well as psychological and nutritional counseling. Some severe cases may require hospitalization.

For further information on where to get professional help, and for referral to binge eating disorder programs, click on the NIDDK link below.

Getting beneath the binge

Understanding what's going on beneath your bingeing is key to taking control of the disorder. Writing and processing your thoughts and feelings is the first step towards this understanding. Consider these statements that are true of many binge eaters, and use a journal to work through your reactions to the questions.

Binging is a temporary suspension from reality and feelings. Could this be true for you? When you binge do you think or feel anything, or are you just involved in eating? Think of some situations in your life that cause painful feelings. Are there any connections between these situations and feelings, and a binge episode?

Binge eaters have low self-esteem. Do you expect too much of yourself on the one hand, and on the other hand, are you ever really satisfied with your accomplishments? What does it take for you to be satisfied with yourself? What, in your eyes, would make you worthy of your own praise? Is your self-talk that of a caring best friend or a harsh critic that can't be pleased?

Binge eating is an outlet for unexpressed anger. Were you allowed to express anger as a child? How often do you express your anger now? After an argument with a loved one do you feel rejected, criticized, and guilty for causing it, even if you were not at fault? What do you think would happen if you expressed your anger?

People binge because they feel something is missing in their life. Ask yourself what is missing in your life. Go one step further - what can you do to change that?

Binge eating is often about rebellion. Some people say that when they binge it feels good because they are defying or rebelling against what has been expected of them. Does this ring true for you? If so, what or who are you rebelling against? Can you think of other ways to rebel without negative consequences?

Binges are predictable. Some people say that they can predict a binge – can you? Think about your last three binge episodes, what preceded them? Is there a common thread? Could you have predicted them? Could you have avoided them?


References :
This article was compiled in consultation with CalorieKing.com experts and in reference to the following sources:
National Eating Disorders Association, 'Binge Eating Disorder,' 2002, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
'Finding hope when eating is a problem,' Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sept. 2000
Last updated: February 27th, 2007

Copyright © 1996-2008. All rights reserved. CalorieKing, 1001 W. 17th St., Ste. M, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

Diabetes, Depression Linked

Diabetes, depression linked: Having one makes other more likely- June 18, 2008

Jun. 18--For the first time in a single study, Johns Hopkins scientists have found that diabetes contributes to depression and vice versa, confirming long-held assumptions about the intertwined nature of two diseases that affect millions of Americans.

The research, published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, provides added proof that diabetes plays a role in depression and depression plays a role in diabetes. Previous studies have looked at only one aspect of the link.

For years, researchers had assumed that diabetes led to depression, said University of Michigan epidemiologist Briana Mezuk. The new research provides evidence. "That's what makes this study so great," said Mezuk, an expert on diabetes and depression.

Both ailments affect a significant number of people. Almost 21 million Americans -- 7 percent of the population -- have diabetes. In Baltimore, the proportion is even higher: One in 10 adults is diabetic, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And 30 million adults -- about 16 percent of the population -- have had at least one bout with serious depression during their lifetime.
"We were able to show that there's a bidirectional association," said the study's lead author, Dr. Sherita Hill Golden, a diabetes expert at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Golden said she hopes that the study will lead to increased understanding among both doctors and patients that the two illnesses are so closely intertwined. She emphasized in particular that doctors who treat diabetes should watch their patients for signs of depression.

The study looked at an ethnically diverse group of 6,814 men and women between the ages of 45 and 84, spread across the country. Over three years, subjects visited a clinic three times to be examined for symptoms of type 2 diabetes and depression. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness in which the body cannot properly remove sugar from the blood. The illness has a genetic component but usually occurs in overweight people or those who eat a high-sugar diet. It differs from type 1 diabetes, which is much less common and is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own pancreas. The pancreas makes insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar.

Those with higher levels of depression were almost 50 percent more likely to develop diabetes than those who were not depressed. Subjects who were most depressed were most likely to become diabetic.

Compared with the general population, depressed people tend to smoke more, to overeat, to exercise less and to be overweight. All of these factors increase the risk of diabetes. Golden's study found that these activities contributed to the higher rates of diabetes for subjects with depression.

But there are other factors, too. Golden, an endocrinologist, suspects that depression might cause physiological changes that predispose people to diabetes. Depression raises levels of stress hormones such as cortisol as well as other molecules that lead to inflammation; these chemicals in turn contribute to diabetes.

Depression plays a role in several chronic physical conditions besides diabetes. For years, scientists have known that depression is associated with higher rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and perhaps dementia. Stress hormones and inflammatory molecules play a role in all of those diseases.

Interestingly, the link between depression and diabetes seems to be closely related to socioeconomic status. A new study by the University of Michigan's Mezuk in the American Journal of Public Health found that people with depression whose level of educational achievement was limited to high school or less had a 200 percent increased risk of becoming diabetic.

But depressed people with at least some college education had no increased risk. Mezuk suspects that the difference has something to do with the fact that in people with less education and income, depression tends to last much longer -- probably because this group has less access to treatment. The longer the illness persists, the more chance it has to do harm.

Most researchers think that for diabetic patients who become depressed, worry and anxiety play a central role. The disease is chronic, and patients must think constantly about diet as well as the possibility of complications, which can include heart disease, peripheral nerve problems and blindness.
"Either you have them or you're worried about getting them," said epidemiologist William Eaton. A professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, he has studied diabetes and depression for years but did not work on the study.

Golden found that diabetic patients getting treatment were more likely to be depressed than patients not in treatment. She suspects that diabetes treatment, which involves regular monitoring and injections, causes psychological stress on patients, thus increasing the risk of depression.

Awareness of the link between the illnesses can make a significant difference: A study last year by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that depressed diabetic patients who received mental health care were half as likely to die after two years compared with depressed diabetic patients who did not receive the extra care.

"Treating depression is not only important for mental health, it's important for physical illness as well," said University of Pennsylvania family medicine specialist Dr. Hillary Bogner, the study's lead author.
david.kohn@baltsun.com
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