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Archive for the ‘depression’ Category
Sunday, October 25th, 2009 by Christina Torres
Having a baby is a thought to be a miracle. The baby is born and although mom may be extremely tired, in the days that follow, there’s also joy and happiness that surrounds the event.
For some women, though, it’s a very trying time. Mood swings, insomnia and fatigue set in and get in the way of the mother caring for her newborn baby. On the extreme end, some mothers with Postpartum Depression end up committing suicide or even killing their own child or children.
What is it Like Living with Postpartum Depression?
Dr. Shoshana Bennett understands. She’s a survivor of two life-threatening, undiagnosed postpartum depressions and will be sharing her story on this Tuesday’s HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show. Now an author and advocate for postpartum depression, Dr. Bennett spends her time appearing on radio and television shows and considers herself a pioneer on the topic.
Dr. Bennett’s books include:
You don’t want to miss the opportunity to watch the show and learn from someone who has overcome what affects so many women today. And, of course, you’ll be able to ask her your personal questions. (Call us at 1-888-883-8045 and share your experience with postpartum depression. Info on Sharing Your Mental Health Experiences here.)
Postpartum Depression Show Details
In addition to Dr. Bennett, HealthyPlace.com Medical Director, Dr. Harry Croft, will be here to talk about Postpartum Depression and the dangers involved. Discussing symptoms, treatment and prevention may help you or someone you know get through this complicated time in your life.
As usual, the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show airs live every Tuesday night at 5:30 pm PST / 7:30 pm CST / and 8:30 pm EST. If you miss it, you can always click the “on-demand” button on the player and watch the show at your convenience.
Please contact me at producer at healthyplace.com and share your stories with me. If there is a specific topic you’d like us to cover or if you simply have a question, contact us and we will do our best to get you on the right track.
Thanks!
Tags: childbirth, healthyplace tv, postpartum depression, pregnancy
Posted in Coming Shows, depression | No Comments »
Friday, September 25th, 2009 by Christina Torres
Last Tuesday, we covered an unusual aspect of suicide; surviving it.
After listening to our guest Patricia Gallagher relive her husband, John’s, failed suicide attempts, we understand that although he survived, there were many pieces left to put together. The Gallagher’s dealt with shame and initially decided not to divulge too much information to friends and family.
They also endured many obstacles, such as separation in their marriage and their teenage children who had trouble dealing with their father’s choices. Now an advocate for preventing suicide, John and Patricia don’t hide anymore secrets and want others to learn from their troubling experience.
In addition to Patricia, HealthyPlace.com Medical Director and Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Dr. Harry shared the warning signs of suicide. If you or anyone you know is displaying any of the following symptoms, professional help should be sought immediately to prevent a tragedy.
• Lack of energy
• Clinical depression
• Sleep problems
• Severe panic attacks or suffering from panic disorder
• Talking about suicide
Lastly, please remember that those who attempt suicide and fail are at increased risk of trying again.
To watch the show in its entirety, click the “on-demand” button on the player on the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show homepage. To learn more about the Gallagher’s , visit their website at www.speakingaboutdepression.com.
On Tuesday September 29, we will revisit food addictions with our guest Caryl Erlich. We want to hear your stories so email me at producer AT healthyplace.com.
Tags: attempted suicide, depression, healthyplace tv, patricia gallagher, suicide
Posted in TV Show, depression | No Comments »
Sunday, September 20th, 2009 by Christina Torres
As you know, suicide is never a pleasant subject. Often times, bouts of depression are so strong that those suffering feel the only way out is to end their life. What family members are left to deal with is unbearable, as feelings of loss and guilt take over.
But what happens when the suicide attempt fails? It seems that situations such as these are not any easier to deal with.
Fear, Worry, and Stress of a Repeated Attempted Suicide
This Tuesday, September 22, we will talk with one family who lived through this nightmare. Patricia Gallagher watched as stress and depression consumed her husband’s life. John, a financial analyst, lived in constant worry over the stability of his job and the welfare of his family. After dealing with excruciating headaches, high blood pressure from the stress and weight loss, he decided he could not deal with the stresses any longer and made the life altering decision to end his life…but failed…twice.
Be sure to watch Tuesday as Patricia relives her husband’s failed attempts at ending his life and what they are doing now to keep their family together.
Dr. Croft will be available to discuss the impact of stress and depression and take questions on this or any mental health related questions. You can read Dr. Croft’s blog post on Coping with Suicide here. We also have comprehensive information on all facets of suicide here.
Have a comment or story you would like to share? E-mail me at producer AT healthyplace.com. We’re here to provide the most up-to-date and trusted information on mental health.
See you Tuesday at 5:30p PST, 7:30 CST, 8:30 EST. You can watch the show live, or later on-demand, on the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show homepage. As always, our guest will be taking your questions during the live show.
Tags: attempted suicide, depression, healthyplace tv show, mental health, patricia gallagher, psychology, stress, suicide
Posted in Coming Shows, depression | 1 Comment »
Friday, July 10th, 2009 by Christina Torres
The topic of Tuesday’s show, Surviving the Suicide of a Child, was quite difficult, but we hope it may prevent the tragic loss of another life by suicide.
HealthyPlace.com Medical Director, Dr. Harry Croft, provided some reasons why children and teens might choose to commit suicide:
• Depression
• Loss of relationship
• Drug and alcohol abuse
While these are only a few of the many reasons out there, Dr. Croft concluded that the end result causes pain, suffering and guilt for those loved ones left behind. (Read Parents Surviving the Suicide of Their Child)
Suicide: A Personal Story
Our guest, Elaine, can attest to the reasons given by Dr. Croft. Her son Mark, chose to take his life 11 years ago when he was just 17. Between his unstable relationship with his biological father, trouble with this girlfriend, and moving around with family, life seemed to be too much for Mark to bear.
Elaine relived that fateful day and told us that Mark’s behavior did not seem the same. Looking back, she recounts how her son made an effort to spend quality family time…maybe a sign that he had already made that painful choice to commit suicide.
The Pain of Suicide for Those Left Behind
Even though it has been 11 years since she lost her son, the pain remains as if it were the day after. “An empty hole will always be in my heart,” laments Elaine.
She copes by helping others deal with their own loss and created a website, dedicated to the memory of her dear son, Mark. She now knows that life is too short to take for granted and hugs everyone she comes in contact with, not knowing if she will ever see them again.
Signs of Suicidal Thinking
Unfortunately for those suffering like Elaine and her family, it’s too late. To avoid this pain and premature loss, Dr. Croft suggested that parents look for these warning signs of suicidal thinking in their child:
• Depressed mood
• Not enjoying things anymore such as friends, TV, games, studying, etc.
• Change in sleep habits
• Change in appetite
• Change in ability to concentrate
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Decreased energy
• Talking about suicide
The last sign, talking about suicide, should be taken the most seriously. When your child experiences a loss such as breaking up with their boyfriend or girlfriend, the best thing you can do is talk them. Dr. Croft reminds us that parents carry a great deal of wisdom that should be shared with your child. Another important action is to empathize and acknowledge their pain. Sometimes brushing off the issue can result in tragedy and then its too late.
Watch the Show on “Surviving the Suicide of a Child”
Take a few minutes to watch the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV show “on-demand”. You can also find detailed information on suicide and suicide support here. At Healthyplace.com, we want to provide you with as much trusted information as possible to help you or your family members get through your difficult time.
Join us next Tuesday evening (5:30p PT, 7:30 CT, 8:30 ET) as we talk about sexual addiction. If you have a story to share, or you or someone you know is suffering from this disorder, you can contact me at producer AT healthyplace.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Tags: child suicide, commit suicide, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, Parenting, signs of suicidal thinking, talking about suicide, teen suicide
Posted in Parenting, TV Show, depression | No Comments »
Saturday, July 4th, 2009 by Christina Torres
Where do you turn? How do you cope when your child commits suicide?
The transformation from childhood into teenage years should be a memorable one. The progression from grade school to middle school, then to high school brings special moments such as school dances, track meets and new friends. However, some kids have different experiences. Pain from rejection, bullying, and disappointments consume some children and cause them to end their lives by committing suicide.
Suicide Prevention
While this is very extreme and quite tragic, there is a hopeful side. Most children or teens who commit suicide often suffer from a treatable disorder, such as depression (symptoms of depression in children).
On Tuesday’s HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show, we’ll delve into the subject of child suicide and how parents cope with the loss of their child.
Our guest, Elaine Davison, will take us through the story of losing her 17-year old son to suicide, and how she and her family are coping today without him. Join us as Elaine shares how her son dealt with rejection and disappointment in his life and how ultimately, he failed to get the necessary help and treatment that may have saved his life.
As always, HealthyPlace Medical Director, Dr. Harry Croft and our guest, Elaine, will be here to answer any questions you have on surviving this tragedy. We’ll also give you the warning signs of child depression and suicide to look out for in your own children. (There are also many articles available on HealthyPlace on child and teenage suicide.)
Send us your comments, stories, or concerns on this topic to producer AT healthyplace.com.
You can watch the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show live on our website every Tuesday evening at 5:30p PST, 7:30 CST, 8:30 EST. See you then.
Tags: child depression, child psychology, commits suicide, committing suicide, healthyplace tv, mental health, Parenting, symptoms depression children, teen suicide
Posted in Coming Shows, Parenting, depression | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 by Christina Torres
Parenting is a tough job. Parenting a child with a mental illness is unusually tough, as we learned from Tuesday evening’s HealthyPlace TV Show.
Diagnosing Mental Illness in Children
HealthyPlace.com Medical Director, Dr. Harry Croft, related that diagnosing psychiatric disorders in children can be difficult because children often act out for many different reasons, such as teething or sibling rivalry or stressful family situations, not just because they have a mental health problem.
And while children do not come with instruction manuals, Dr. Croft says there are warning signs of child psychological problems to look out for:
• Inability to socialize with others
• Crying inappropriately
• Anxious or angry for no “real” reason
The debate on how early a child can be diagnosed with some psychiatric disorders is ongoing. One thing Dr. Croft would like viewers to remember is that anything that gets in the way of child’s development should be carefully monitored.
If your child has experienced any of the psychiatric symptoms we talked about on Tuesday’s show, a good first step is to see the pediatrician for a comprehensive evaluation and then discuss treatment based on results. Many times, psychiatric medication is not the only method of treatment. Therapy and counseling can be very effective in treating child psychological disorders.
Accepting Your Child’s Mental Illness
It’s challenging for parents to accept that their child has psychiatric disorder like bipolar disorder. Many blame themselves for their child’s mental illness or are blamed by others, including family members, for lack of parenting skills, which is not the case. Science has shown that for most, a combination of genetics, biology and life experiences is the cause of mental illness.
How A Child’s Mental Illness Impacts Parents
Our guest, Cheryl Murphy, has struggled with 2 generations of children in her own family, who have mood disorders. Three of four have been diagnosed with childhood bipolar disorder and depression. And at the young age of 4, her biological grandson, who she adopted, was diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar Disorder.
Over the years, with suicide watches, substance abuse and uncontrollable fits of rage in her children and grandchildren, Cheryl faced a strained marriage and financial stress caused by the inability to hold down a job (she was always being called away to care for her children). Feeling alone in her situation and depressed, she scoured the web and came across the Depression and Bipolar Disorder Alliance (DBSA) which she says “saved her life.” Now the president of the Southern Nevada chapter of DBSA, Cheryl provides support and education for other parents struggling with their children’s behavior disorders.
Additional Information on Parenting A Child with a Mental Illness
If you would like to know more about parenting a child with a mental illness or any other mental health issues, HealthyPlace.com serves as an abundant resource of mental illness conditions.
As for not getting a chance to watch the show, not to worry, you can catch this episode, as well as others, by choosing the “On-Demand” option on HealthyPlace TV Show player here.
Thanks for watching! See you next week when we’ll be talking about living with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)!
Tags: bipolar disorder, child psychology, child with mental illness, children, children's behavior, dbsa, depression, diagnosing mental illness in children, healthyplace tv, mental health, mood disorders, Parenting, parenting skills
Posted in Parenting, TV Show, bipolar disorder, depression | 1 Comment »
Sunday, April 19th, 2009 by jnowitz
Great advances have been made in the treatment of depression . The advent of SSRI’s like Prozac continue to change the lives of millions. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of depression sufferers do not respond to antidepressant medication and modern psychotherapy either completely or partially and are still affected by sadness, disinterest in activities, and sometimes suicide.
If you are suffering from treatment-resistant depression (read Dr. Croft’s blog post), it can seem like a tunnel without an ending. How do you know what goals to even set for your treatment? For anyone suffering from depression, the goals should be the same: end the symptoms. During the live HealthyPlace TV show, airing Tuesday April 22nd at 7:30 PM CST/ 8:30 PM ET, Dr. Harry Croft, HealthyPlace.com’s Medical Director, will share several treatment tips for those who haven’t responded to the standard depression treatments. (You might also want to read The Gold Standard for Treating Depression - authoritative information on all aspects of depression treatment.
Our guest will be sharing her true story of surviving depression (a very treatment-resistant form). You will be able to participate during the live show by asking our guest and Dr. Croft questions through the chat screen next to the show player.
We will also be discussing the use of ECT in treatment-resistant depression . For those suffering from this form of severe depression, ECT (or electroconvulsive therapy) has shown a remarkable ability to immediately resolve many symptoms of tough to treat depression. Many people often misunderstand ECT and associate it with its much less scientific predecessors.
During the second half of the show, you will be able to ask Dr. Croft any mental health question. You can also submit your questions ahead of time by emailing me (producer AT heatlhyplace.com ). If you would like to share your personal mental health story, please create a video (post it on youtube) and email us the link. We might even air it during our live show. For more information about how the HealthyPlace TV show works you can click here.
Thank you for making the HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show a great success and helping those suffering in silence with your participation. As always, I look forward to reading all your emails and comments.  HealthyPlace TV airs live Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Central/ 8:30 PM Eastern on HealthyPlace.com.
Tags: antidepressants, depression medications, depression treatment, ect, healthyplace tv, treatment-resistant depression
Posted in Coming Shows, depression | 2 Comments »
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