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Substance Dependence Is a Disease Not a Weakness In Character!

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Joan Landino in Disorders, Mental Health Care, Uncategorized Leave a comment

 

What is a “Drug”?

The human animal has sought out drugs for thousands of years. As far as we know, since Homo Sapiens first appeared on the planet! In highly developed ancient cultures, psychoactive plants played important economic and religious roles. There is evidence that humans have always overused, misused or abused substances. Remember humans, like other animals, do not live by logic alone. We, like other sentient beings, are pleasure-seeking animals who enjoy impressing each other.

In the broadest sense a drug can be defined as “any chemical entity or mixture of entities, after administration of which alters biological function and possible structure”. I include food in this definition although the World Health Organization (WHO) omits “those substances” required for the maintenance of normal health, i.e. food. In fact, some processed foods have the same exact amount of sugar-fat and salt that in combination increases our own endorphins. Sometimes, okay… often times I have strong opinions, so besides including food as a drug (since there are several foods which have been abused throughout history, i.e. plants and spices), I will also be grouping alcohol and drugs together because alcohol is a drug. Saying alcohol and drugs would be redundant. Currently alcohol and nicotine are by far the most abused drugs. They contribute to more overall health problems, increased health care costs, and alcohol produces wide spread damage to our bodies whereas nicotine seems to have more specific areas of damage.

 

The Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Although I enjoy red wine, I feel compelled as a health care provider to let you know that alcohol, when taken in, travels throughout the body (including the blood stream). However, it does not distribute much into fatty tissue – therefore a 180 pound ‘lean’ person will have a lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) than a 180 pound ‘fat’ person, even though they both drank the same amount. Chronic alcohol abuse/dependence does more widespread damage to our bodies systems including the brain, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and the immune system. It also puts us at an increased risk of some cancers. So remember if you do drink, do so in moderation and make sure you are boosting your immune system and taking thiamine, folic acid, and a multivitamin!

 

The Myth Concerning Alcohol Dependence

There is a myth that alcohol dependent people are not productive members of society. It can take a long time for the accumulative effects of drug misuse to damage the bodies. Ninety-five percent of alcohol dependent individuals are employed, married, and not distinguishable from the general population by any socioeconomic factors! On the down side, alcohol is the # 1 drug associated with violence (cocaine running a close second), as well as the # 1 drug associated with suicide. As I mentioned in episode 7: “Substance Abuse”, a combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medication) have been found to be the most common drugs found in the blood stream of “murder suicide” cases.

 

Knowledge About Substance Abuse Relapse

Substance abuse/dependence relapse happens frequently and can happen to anyone! Knowledge about the possible causes and ‘triggers’ of a relapse may help to avoid this, or at least decrease the severity of it. NOTE: According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, RELAPSE RATES can be comparable to RELAPSE of other common ‘MEDICAL’ diseases i.e. Addiction relapse (30-70%) can be compared to Type 1 Diabetes (30-50%), Hypertension (50-70%), or Asthma (50-70%)! Substance addiction/dependence SHOULD be treated like any other disease, with relapse indicating the need for renewed interventions.

 

Substance Abuse: Nicotine

The # 1 cause of death in the U.S. is cardiovascular disease and the # 1 cause of cardiovascular disease is cigarettes! Nicotine is a biphasic drug, i.e. at low doses it is a stimulant – at higher doses it has a depressant effect. Nicotine’s ‘calming’ effects seem to be the main reason for its use. Health damage from cigarette smoking in 1990 cost the U.S. economy approximately 72 billion dollars – can you imagine what the cost is today?

Western Europeans discovered tobacco when they saw Native Americans in the New World smoking dried tobacco leaves. A bit of history – from the times of Columbus until about 1860, tobacco, like many other drugs, has widely been thought to be a panacea for medical problems. Acting with almost as much speed as cyanide, nicotine is one of the most toxic drugs known in existence. In humans, 60mg of nicotine is a lethal dose and death follows within a few months. A cigar contains enough nicotine for 2 lethal doses (I made a mistake on my video), but with the way a cigar is smoked, not all the nicotine is delivered to the smoker or absorbed in a short enough period of time to kill a person. Remember, inhalation is an extremely effective drug delivering system, with ninety percent of inhaled nicotine being absorbed. Smoking one cigarette delivers approximately 1mg of nicotine intravenously.

 

How Do I Know If I’m Addicted?

Tolerance and withdrawal – but even if you don’t feel you have these symptoms you may be overusing a substance and causing damage to your body. Interesting note, cocaine initially has weight loss effects, though long-term use increases prolactin levels eventually causing Gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in men). Cocaine also has a kindling effect, i.e. with repeated use of the drug you may actually lower your brain seizure threshold, thereby causing a seizure!

 

Opiates: A Quick Look

Opiates – I didn’t want to spend too much time on opiates because the current treatment has become more widely available with maintenance, i.e. suboxone or methadone – both of which have demonstrated decreased cravings. Many health care providers and individuals who suffer from the disease of substance abuse/dependence believe (but not always) that there may be an underlying untreated medical or psychiatric condition or disease present, i.e. endocrine, neurological, gastroenterological, cardiovascular or psychological among others. Of note, long-term opiate/opioid use, whether medically or misused can cause low testosterone – ouch! Also of note, you ‘learn’ to be addicted to opiates because most often it takes 2-3 times of using to produce euphoria. The two most dangerous detoxes which should be medically supervised (alcohol and the anti-anxiety benzodiazepines i.e. Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, etc.) are both legal substances!!

During the psychedelic revelation in the 1960’s in Europe and from coast to coast in the U.S., humans unwittingly gave scientists free clinical trials as they used themselves as laboratory animals. I for one thank all of you for sparing those animals!

 

A Positive Light On Ketamine

In Russia, where there was no psychedelic revolution in the 1960’s, the use of Ketamine to experiment with altered states of consciousness, specifically for working through personal issues, parallels the use of Ketamine in sanctioned experimental psychotherapies. Controlled clinical trials of Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy have demonstrated Ketamine’s significantly superior efficacy over standard psychiatric treatments for alcoholism. Russian psychiatric researchers report success, defined as abstinence for more than one year, in over sixty-five percent of Ketamine Psychedelic Therapy (KPT) groups compared with twenty-four percent rate of success among conventional treatment control groups. Since 1985 more than one thousand cases of alcoholism have been treated with the Ketamine-psychotherapeutic method. Ketamine may promise to be a powerful tool in Russia for alcoholism, where as you know, Ketamine is currently under research for psychiatric disorders in the US, especially depression.

So remember, substance dependence is a disease not a weakness in character! There’s an old saying among those of us who have worked with psychiatry and treated individuals with co-occurring substance dependence… in every other aspect of medicine when one becomes symptomatic we offer more care, yet when the substance abuse/dependent individual becomes symptomatic (i.e. relapses), we offer LESS care!

 

The Most Positive Outcomes According to The Smithers Institute Were Seen With Supportive Family Involvement.

 

Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts for family members of substance abusers during the recovery process. These may help to prevent a possible relapse.

 

DO remember that alcohol and other drug abuse is a disease – not a disgrace.

 

DON’T blame yourself: You didn’t cause it, you can’t control it, you can’t cure it.

 

DO allow the chemically dependent person to feel the consequences of his or her own actions. Stop making excuses for drunken or drugged behavior.

 

DON’T try to control the chemical use. Don’t search for drugs or alcohol and don’t throw them out. The person will just get more, and you’ll still have the problem.

 

DO stop denying the problem. If you accept it you can begin to deal with the problem realistically.

 

DON’T play roles like martyr, caretaker, savior, victim or villain. Stop trying to protect the chemically dependent person – this only enables destructive behavior to continue.

 

DO get off the other person’s back. Stop nagging, scolding, pleading, managing and lecturing. It only gives the chemically dependent person an excuse to continue using alcohol or other drugs.

 

DON’T ever make idle threats.

 

DON’T treat the chemically dependent person as bad. He or she is sick, not bad. The strange behavior, including lying, is a result of the illness and is not directed at you personally.

 

DO try to get the focus on yourself. Try not to be so preoccupied and involved with the other person’s drinking/drugging behavior.

 

DON’T get caught up in the constant crises, but DO allow your love to show.

 

DO detach from the disease, but not the person.

 

DO offer support, understanding and encouragement in the recovery process. Try very hard to avoid unrealistic expectations.

 

DO learn all you can about chemical dependency, its effects on you and your family and what you can do about it. Attend the Smithers Family Education Workshop.

 

DO get professional guidance in this difficult period.

 

If you have any questions about dealing with a loved one’s substance abuse relapse, please to not hesitate to ASK JOAN!


Link Between Unemployment and Mental Illness

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Joan Landino in Depression, Disorders, Mental Health Care, Uncategorized 4 Comments

 

Mental health is a subject which has virtually become a household topic of late. Society as a whole seems concerned, on an increasing basis, about the cases of mental illness that continue to plague our twenty-first century world and with ongoing fears about continued global economic difficulties, these concerns are only deepening. The global economic crisis has had a significant impact on our employability; jobs are not as plentiful as they once were and people are starting to find their mental health is being significantly impacted as a result.

Is There a Connection Between Unemployment and Mental Illness?

In fact, there are a growing number of studies which indicate there is a startling link between mental illness and unemployment. Certainly, it should come as no surprise that the unemployed may struggle to maintain a positive mental outlook; finding a job can be stressful in a healthy economy, let alone in one that’s currently struggling. However, the impact goes beyond simply the individual. Communities and relationships both falter when the unemployment rate starts to climb, and self-esteem, life satisfaction, and sense of purpose in life all fall accordingly. There is also a perceived loss of control over what’s going to come next that can really have a significant impact on a person’s sense of mental well being.

 

Depression and Unemployment: The Vicious Cycle

When someone’s unemployed, they are four times as likely to be depressed as their employed peers. This, in turn, kicks off a vicious cycle; the person feels depressed and is encouraged to go out and try to stay active, but has no real want to do so. As a result, he or she tends to look at life as it is as a depressed, unemployed person and really begins a downward spiral as far as his or her self-esteem or sense of self-worth goes. There is an increased tendency to look at life through a sense of being incapable of doing things rather than being motivated to move on and grow towards new challenges.

 

How Gender Impacts The Link

Mental health and unemployment tends to cross genders as well, with men tending to be more negatively impacted if they are unemployed. This could be perhaps due to the gender-socialized role of men needing to be the “hunter-gatherer” of the family; as the chief breadwinners, men are expected to be able to provide for their family and when they’re not able to do so, they may view it as a failure as a man rather than a simple reflection of tough economic times. Women tend not to be as significantly impacted in terms of their mental health, and this is possibly due to them taking on a more nurturing role in the family unit, and perhaps more readily accepting of returning home rather than going to work.

 

Final Note…

Unemployment and mental health issues are inextricably linked, largely due to the social influence about the importance of being employed. We all need to survive; because of the capitalist society in which we live, we very much need jobs. Not having one means not being able to provide for ourselves or our families; small wonder that this would have a significant impact on our mental health.

Questions about Mental Health? ASK JOAN.


Is Ketamine The Solution For Depression?

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Joan Landino in Depression, Medication, Treatment, Uncategorized Leave a comment

“In the 1976 film, Family Plot, Alfred Hitchcock depicted a kidnap victim

sedated with a little-known drug called ketamine. Once again, the cultural

productions of man acted as a barometer of the social times.. . .” (Siegal,

1978, p. 132).

 

The World Health Organization estimates that 121 million people suffer from some form of depression. Unfortunately, only about 25 percent of those have access to treatment in the form of drug therapy. Even those who have been prescribed Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) don’t always have positive results. Why? They can take several weeks to kick in, if they even kick in at all. It’s reported that about 33 percent of people on drug therapy sense no improvement. You can see how a potential breakthrough in an acutely effective drug therapy could bring much needed aid to many people worldwide. Enter Ketamine, which is now thought to be the biggest breakthrough in a very long time. But if the drug is so promising, why are members of the medical community proceeding with caution?

 

The Rap on Ketamine

picture courtesy of drugfree.org

Ketamine, also known as “Kit Kat” and “Special K,” among other street monikers, is an illegal drug without the prescription of a medical doctor. Known as a hallucinogenic, it is closely associated with club or dance culture, which is either snorted (in powder form) or injected (in liquid form.) Those who become addicted chase the “high,” which is said to last about two hours. The body is said to build a quick tolerance to the drug, causing users to consistently up their dosage. It’s at this point that many users become addicted causing the adverse effects to the body and mind often associated with other illicit drugs.

 

 

Your Body on Ketamine

photo courtesy of guardian.co.uk

 

In general, small doses of ketamine produce an unsteady or intoxicated state with lack of coordination, although some subjects report an excitability comparable to that induced by cocaine. Moderate doses produce analgesia and anesthesia (Siegal, 1978). In high doses, ketamine may produce convulsions and seizures and is known to possess similar local anesthetic properties to procaine (Hirota & Lambert, 1996).

 

The Pro Argument

 

The drug is currently approved by the FDA as an injected anesthetic.With the growing practice more recently among emergency departments of using analgesic and anesthetic compounds that previously had been administered primarily by anesthesia departments, ketamine’s popularity is again on the increase. The most beneficial properties of ketamine use in emergency surgical care are the analgesia and amnesia it confers intensely enough to allow for otherwise painful or distressing procedures such as burn dressing changes, bone marrow biopsies, laceration repair and dental work. But further testing revealed that the effects of the drug might prove far more beneficial to those individuals who get no relief from SSRIs. When used now, SSRIs are said to raise serotonin levels. At one point it was thought that low serotonin levels alone were responsible for depression. However, it has now been documented that depression may also stem from damage to the brain cells responsible for mood. Ketamine has been known to repair the neurons associated with these cells, thus lifting an individual’s mood.

 

Caution For Ketamine

 

Members of the medical community caution that this treatment could only be a short-term option.Concerns about ketamine’s adverse psychopharmacologic actions have limited its use in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). But because the ideal duration of induced seizure activity in ECT is limited and specific, ketamine, which is less prone to truncate a seizure event, was examined and is for some patients an alternative treatment to methohexital, a barbiturate general anesthetic (Rasmussen et al., 1996). Aside from the body building a strong tolerance, there is a risk to both the kidneys and bladders of chronic users, though, some agree that a short-term, controlled dose of Ketamine just might do the trick.

 

History of Ketamine Use

 

The Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Tel Aviv University, assessed the use of ketamine as a pre-intubation anesthetic for wounded soldiers in field treatment settings.Ketamine was distributed to air medical rescue teams and trained reserve army volunteers among various medical specialties. Treaters were instructed to administer ketamine intravenously when a non-anesthetic attempt failed. Intubation was indicated for 161 air-evacuated patients; twenty-nine of which were given ketamine after a routine intubation attempt failed. Intubation was successful in 19 of the 29 patients, all 29 of whom had failed the initial attempt to induce intubation because of tonic muscle contractions or agitation. Anatomical damage rendered ketamine augmented intubation attempts unsuccessful in the remaining ten patients (Cofrit et al., 1997). Ketamine is estimated to have been administered medically wipe than twelve thousand times throughout the developing world. A Loma Linda University School of Medical survey of 172 missionary physicians in rural hospitals indicated that 55 respondents had treated with ketamine. Death or serious complications were rare, indicating a high margin of safety even allowing for the scientific and statistical limitations of the survey data. These results underscore some of the advantages for the continued use of ketamine in less technologically sophisticated and less controlled medical settings (Green et al., 1996).

Keep an eye out for my next blog article about Substance Dependence!

I mention Ketamine in a positive light!

 

What side of the argument are you on? Is Ketamine the solution?

 

 

Questions about Mental Health? ASK JOAN!

 


8 Must-Follow Mental Health Influencers on Twitter

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Joan Landino in Mental Health Care, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Twitter has become an increasingly popular resource for information of all kinds. With the rapid growth of social media, influencers in different fields, even mental health, have been popping up left and right. In the mental health industry, there are many professionals and organizations who take to tweeting for sharing unique and important information. It’s simple to take a peek at your Twitter feed once or twice a day and find mind-boggling facts from the simple 140 character limit. Personally, Twitter has become a go-to for myself and many others I know in keeping up with the latest mental health news and trends. However, it is difficult to sift through all the “know-it-all” tweeters out there and find who really knows their stuff. You may recognize some of the following list from my retweets and mentions on my very own Twitter page, here are just some of my favorite mental health influencers on Twitter…(in no particular order).

 

#1 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: PsychCentral, @PsychCentral

PsychCentral’s tweets link mostly to their amazing website where you will find information on all things mental health including Q&A, Blogs, Quizzes and even a Community page. With over 35,000 twitter followers, PsychCentral is a must-follow for anyone interested in psychology, mental illness and even dating and love advice. The have over 180+ support groups located within their web page, with commentary by different therapists and other mental health professionals. PsychCentral tweets mostly blog article content while also engaging their followers with Q&A interaction.

 

#2 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: National Institute of Mental Health, @NIMHgov

The National Institute of Mental Health tweets to over 300,000 followers on Twitter about various mental health topics. As a scientific organization dedicated specifically to mental health research, the NIMH’s resources are very valuable to anyone interested in the field. I enjoy their tweets because they make sure to stay engaged with other mental health professionals with retweets and replies while keeping their followers updated on the latest research in the mental health industry. A must-follow for accurate information!

 

#3 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: Time To Change, @timetochange

One of my main focuses as a Mental Health professional is to end the stigma of mental illness. When taking the time to write about mental health stigma history and other related topics, it’s always refreshing to see organizations on social networks taking the time to do the same. Time To Change, an England based organization is focused on “ending mental health discrimination” and inspires it’s audience of over 25,000 followers. Their website is full of tips and advice on how to talk about mental health and ways to get involved. Their blog stories are must-reads with information about depression and reactions to the latest mental health news and trends. It’s great to see tweets from @timetochange asking for follower’s reactions to events along with with questions like “In your experience, what are the best ways friends can help support someone who might have a mental health problem?”. Their hashtag #timetotalk is a great motivator for others to ask mental health questions all across the Twitter community.

 

#4 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: CAMH Foundation, @endstigma

The Centre For Addiction and Mental Health influences it’s 9,000 followers with it’s message to transform health care. Their website is filled with inspiring personal stories that really pull on the heart strings. Primarily located in Canada, the CAMH Foundation is concerned with changing the lives of those with mental illness and addiction. Follow them to stay up to date on latest events, speeches and seminars along with engagement with many followers and helpful mental illness information.

#5 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: Mental Health America, @MentalHealthAm

Mental Health America, out of Virginia influences over 12,000 followers with information on mental illness and substance use. Working as advocates for quality behavioral health services, Mental Health America uses Twitter as an outlet to inspire others to work for a change in the health care system. With retweets of popular mental health news posts from valuable resources such as @HuffPostEdu and @USAToday this organization works towards the education of others for a healthy and humane society. I am always eager to look at the information tweeted by Mental Health America and I can promise you will be too!

 

#6 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: Katie Cadigan, @whenmedicine

As the director of PBS’ “When Medicine Got It Wrong”, Katie Cadigan knows about fighting for better mental health care and research. Follow her for great retweets about interesting mental health care topics from all different types of resources. She constantly engages with her 5,000 followers and her tweets are always positive and understandable, like mental health professionals should!

 

#7 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: Mental Health Social, @MentalHealthSoc

Ran by Colin Spencer Wood, Mental Health Social is a growing community on twitter with a following of over 15,000! Wood, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1999 developed this free network in order to create a safe and understanding community for mental illness. The site and community has since been acquired by PsychCentral and has become even larger since it’s beginning. Since the transition most of @MentalHealthSoc’s tweets are blog posts and information from one of our other favorite Twitter users, @PsychCentral. However, it is still beneficial to follow and join this community in order to have a support system for any type of mental health issue.

#8 Mental Health Influencer on Twitter: Grey Thinking, @greythinking

Grey Thinking is a MUST follow on Twitter. With over 100,000 followers and counting, this influencer gives unique commentary on every mental health issue including eating disorders, anxiety, depression and psychotherapy. They give followers great information from retweets and their very own blog posts. What I like most about Grey Thinking is the mix of biological, psychological, and sociological information they tweet on a daily basis. It’s interesting to see the type of engagement they get from followers also, proving that they have really formed a community around “Grey Thinking”.

 

Who do you follow?

Social media outlets such as Twitter have become such a popular form of community that it is hard to ignore their impact on mental health. If you are interested in the field of mental health or are in the need of information on a specific mental illness, take the time to follow and stay updated with these mental health influencers on Twitter. However, if you have any questions or concerns related to mental health do not hesitate to ASK.

Click Here To Follow Joan Landino Says on Twitter!

 

Ask Joan Landino a Mental Health Question!

 

 


Vegan Friendly Charities To Help In 2013

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Joan Landino in Uncategorized, Vegan Leave a comment

 

As the New Year begins, it may be on your list of resolutions to get involved with a charity close to your heart. There are many charities out there that are important to making valuable changes in our world. As a vegan myself, I encourage individuals to consider helping charities whose missions’ revolve around inspiring change and evolution of vegan living, including animal rights and rescue. Charities such as those listed below have all made a difference in the way our society views and treats animals, but we still have a long way to go. So take a minute to get involved and you can make a significant difference in 2013.

 

 

Vegan Friendly Charity #1: Farm Sanctuary, @farmsanctuary

Farm Sanctuary is a cause that is very close to my heart. I encourage everyone to check out their website and Facebook page and you will be amazed as their photos pull on your heart string. The mission of Farm Sanctuary as stated on their website is “To protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals and promote compassionate vegan living”. Founded in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has been combating the abuses of factory farming and helping to spread awareness and a new understanding of farm animals and their needs. Their “Adopt-A-Farm-Animal Project” is a wonderful cause that allows individuals to adopt an animal that resides at the Farm Sanctuary who has been rescued from situations of cruelty, abuse and neglect. You can stay in touch with your animal and you are encouraged to come and visit your special friend. I am a part of the “Friends of Hilda Club” which is another great cause sponsored by Farm Sanctuary. Named after Hilda, the very first animal rescued by the organization, a lamb whom was tossed for dead. Donating to this cause helps support the critical rescue, advocacy and education of the work that Farm Sanctuary does on behalf of farm animals.

 

 

Vegan Friendly Charity #2: PCRM, @PCRM

 

Another charity that I am involved in, Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine is a great cause. PCRM promotes preventive medicine through programs such as reforms of federal nutrition policies, clinical research programs for diabetes and the PCRM Cancer Project. Supporting this cause also helps the victory of animals in preventing animal testing and healthy living for all species.

 

Vegan Friendly Charity #3: The Gentle Barn, @gentlebarn

Recently featured on the “Ellen Degeneres Show” this animal friendly charity’s mission according to their website is “to rescue, rehabilitate and give sanctuary to abused animals. Through the interaction with our animals people learn reverence for all life.” You can actually visit the Gentle Barn and interact with the rescued animals while eating delicious vegan treats. The Gentle Barn works with children from inner-city homes and schools along with mental-health facilities and foster homes to educate them on deserved rights and freedom. They focus on teaching children kindness, compassion and empathy for all living things. The Gentle Barn website promotes a “plant-based diet” with great information on vegan living. Get involved by volunteering, donating or sponsoring.

 

Vegan Friendly Charity #4: Vegan Outreach, @veganoutreach

This organization works to expose the cruelty to animals through distribution of illustrated booklets. These booklets are featured as PDF’s on their website and are very informational and show the truth behind animal cruelty and promote a vegan lifestyle. The organization distributes these booklets to schools, groups and animal advocacy organizations. You can get involved with this cause by going to their site and downloading their free PDFs and sharing them with others to spread the word!

 

Vegan Friendly Charity #5: Animals & Society, @onlineasi

According to their website, Animals & Society’s sole mission is that it “develops knowledge in the field of human-animal studies, supports practice to address the relation between animal cruelty and other violence and promotes action to protect animals through the adoption of ethical, compassionate public policy.” This is an institute that takes the time to educate others using courses on human-animal studies. By visiting their website, you can find a calendar full of events to educate individuals on the importance of animal rights. You can also Join ASI and Donate to the cause to take action!

 

Do you know any Veg-Friendly Charities that are making a difference?

 


Exploring “The Protein Myth” of Vegan Diets

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Joan Landino in Uncategorized, Vegan Leave a comment

 

Vegan diets consist of no food that is made up of animal substances. Since vegans do not consume any sort of meat, many individuals think that they are not getting enough protein in their diet. However this is a myth. When thinking about a vegan diet and protein, there are some things that should be considered.

 

Plant Based Forms Of Protein Are Enough

Many vegetables are excellent forms of protein. Broccoli, carrots and cucumbers are all sources of complete protein. By consuming these items daily, vegans can get an adequate amount of protein that they need. It is not necessary to take a multivitamin or consume an animal product to get protein into a vegan’s daily diet.

 

The Amount Of Protein Needed Is Less Than Most People Think

Many individuals have the wrong idea that a lot of protein is needed in a person’s daily diet. This is far from the truth. No more than 11% of our daily diet needs to be made of from protein. In fact, getting only 2.5% of protein in our daily diet is sufficient. This small amount of protein needed can easily be eaten in just one meal or can be spread out in snacks and meals throughout the day.

 

Vegans Will Not Suffer Ill Effects From Eating Just Plant Based Protein

Many individuals have the wrong idea that vegans aren’t as healthy as those that eat protein from animals. In reality, if vegans have a well-balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, their health can actually exceed those who consume a diet filled with meat. Even though meat does contain a lot of protein, it does also contain unhealthy things such as fat that is harmful to your health.

 

Simply Just a Myth?

The myth of individuals that practice this type of diet of are not getting enough protein is simply a myth. Vegans can get all of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that they need by eating the right amount of items. You do not need to consume meat to fuel your body with the right foods it needs to function properly. If you are considering trying a vegan diet and whether or not you will be able to get enough protein you should remember that.

 

Final Note From Joan…

The average American diet that includes meat & dairy often results in too much protein which leads to many health problems such as kidney disease, osteoporosis, & cancers-among others. Recently more athletes & body builders are introducing more plant based foods as well….So remember to eat a variety of grains, vegetables, fruit& legumes(beans-peas-lentils)…Enjoy!!

 

 

ASK JOAN!

If you have any questions about a healthful Vegan diet for you or any of your family members please ask!

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Plants can provide all the protein that you need. Vegetables such as potatoes and carrots are excellent food choices.
  • The amount of protein needed each day is a lot less than most individual’s think it is. In many cases, only 2.5% of your diet needs to be made up of protein.
  • Plant based proteins are actually better for you than traditional meat based proteins that tend to have a lot of fats and other unhealthy components.

 

(top photo courtesy of ”gobblegreen.com”)


Mental Health Stigma In The Workplace

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Joan Landino in Mental Health Care, Mental Illness Stigmas, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Despite all the advances in psychiatry and behavioral medicine that have led to the ability of people with significant mental illness to lead rich and full lives as contributing members of society, many people still face the stigma associated with mental illness in the workplace. The history of mental health stigma is overwhelmingly filled with conceptions of misdiagnosis as well as other disturbing facts. Stigma presents itself as employers’ reservations about hiring people with mental illness and employees reluctant to disclose that they have mental health issues. These barriers result in costs to the employer in increased taxes to pay for Federal disability payments and lost productivity due to employees trying to struggle with depression, anxiety, and other behavioral health issues.

 

The Myths that Support the Stigma Associated with Mental Health Issues

Even though mental health organizations have run public information campaigns to educate people about mental illness and the advances in treatment, many employers still believe myths associated with mental illness. Some of the myths that support stigma include the following:

  • People with mental illness lack the ability to function and meet the demands of the work environment
  • People with mental health issues are dangerous to themselves and others.
  • People with psychiatric conditions behave in an unpredictable manner that is disruptive to the workplace.
  • Working is not healthy for people with mental health conditions.

The Many Costs of Stigma

Often people who experience the symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders are reluctant to take advantage of Employee Assistance Programs or the mental health benefits associated with their employer sponsored insurance programs. A study discussed in an editorial in the journal Occupational Medicine found that the majority of workers only disclose their mental health issues in a time of crisis because of their fear that their employer would act punitively once he or she knew about the employee’s condition. The delay in treatment can lead to the untreated symptoms becoming much more severe than if treatment was initiated earlier. Additionally, employees who are struggling with untreated mental health conditions are less productive than they usually are, which cause a loss to the business.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

  • Despite the fact that modern mental health intervention allows people with psychiatric disorders to function normally, mental health stigma still exists in the workplace.
  • This stigma is supported by widely held misconceptions about mental illness.
  • Stigma leads to financial losses for businesses and unnecessary suffering for those who are trying to cope with untreated psychiatric symptoms.

 

Read more of Joan’s articles: The History of Mental Health Stigma and An Introduction To Mental Health Stigma.

Questions? Ask Joan!


Joan Landino Says Episode 6 - “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.)”

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Joan Landino in Uncategorized, Videos Comments Off

In episode 6 of her video series “Joan Landino Says,” Joan discusses the origin of PTSD as well as treatments for those experience symptoms.


Mental Health Stigma: A Look Into The History

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Joan Landino in Disorders, Mental Illness Stigmas, Uncategorized 4 Comments

The following is an excerpt from….

“Stigma Of Mental Illness Continues To Impede Early Diagnosis And Treatment Of Affective Illness In The United States”

written by Landino, Roy and Buckley

(Read the entire article here)

 

The Oxford-Unabridged Dictionary defines “stigma” as a mark of “infamy, disgrace, or reproach”; in Middle English — a “brand”; derived from Latin — “tattoo, indicating slave or criminal status”; originating ultimately from stizein, the Greek word for “a recognizable sign made by burning or cutting a part of the skin of a less valued member of society with an aim of distinguishing him/her from the rest of the members” (14).
With the advancement of Christianity, the word stigmata, through a most ironic derivation (i.e. the physical disfigurement of one who was to be emulated rather than shunned, someone in the Biblical account who shunned no one), nonetheless came to reference a physical condition, an overt recognizable mark or disfigurement, as the blisters on the palms of the hands and feet — the “Christ’s spot” (15,16).
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter (17) is a cautionary tale for modern readers of society’s lingering propensity, perhaps indeed an inalienable compulsion to “mark” the social pariah, in the case of Hester Prinn quite literally a scarlet insignia inviting scorn for her divorce from normative morality:

Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter


But Hester Prynne, with a mind of native courage and activity, and for so long a period not merely estranged, but outlawed, from society, had habituated herself to such latitude of speculation as was altogether foreign to the clergyman. She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness. . . . The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers,—stern and wild ones,—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss.

Second World War Jews not only were tattooed with serial numbers, but also were made to wear yellow armbands to identify their devalued heritage and social status (18). Within the Nazi concentration camps, homosexual Jews additionally were marked with pink armbands to signify their undesirable sexual identity (19). Countless similar examples litter the historical record of human existence from the seqer-ankh of ancient Egypt (20), to punishments for adultery and other challenges to Sharia law that still are observed in parts of the Arab world (21).
Stigmatization of the mentally ill continues a long history of selective isolation of persons whom society considers flawed by a discernable characteristic of physical appearance or behavior, characteristics curiously that may be celebrated in other social settings (22,23). Stigmatization deprives victims of mental illness their full measure of human dignity and participation in wider society (13,24) by undermining social support and compromising opportunity for treatment. And it does so by individual and institutional discrimination resulting from misconceptions (25), prejudicial stereotypes (26) and negative public and professional attitudes about mental illness (27).
Widely shared prejudicial attitudes about schizophrenia, alcoholism and other substance dependence disorders continue to stigmatize victims of those illnesses (28). And though such negative attitudes may be somewhat less widely held by psychiatric care providers, studies indicate significant negativism among health care professionals, including many with advanced training in the care of psychiatric illness (29-32).
Many among the general public assume that persons with psychotic disorders are unpredictable and incapable of being managed, even by the best efforts of the health care system, and therefore are considered a threat to the social order and to public safety (33). Persons suffering from substance abuse/dependence disorders suffer the additional widely held presumption, shared as well by many who provide treatment to this client population, that patients with these diagnoses, in whole or in part, whether for lack of character, or willpower, or basic social skills to cope with the routine challenges of adult life have brought affliction upon themselves (2,13,34).
Society encourages and reinforces stigmatization through a host of mechanisms. The film media, whether unwitting, or knowingly feeding, and profiting from the societal compulsion to stereotype and ostracize selected groups, encourages stigmatization by the dramatization of psychiatric illness through distorted and exaggerated (35) and thereby presumably more “interesting” and salable depictions of mental illness (36). Print media similarly select as featured coverage psychiatric incidents that reinforce the most egregious, the most titillating, and ultimately, the most marketable product for their business (35), yet also the most damaging to the image and overall understanding of psychiatric illness. Public judgment is thereby directed subjectively at the symptoms of mental illness, magnifying and overemphasizing the disparity between normative behavior and the aberrant actions of the mentally ill, inciting the very fear and prejudice that reinforces stigmatization of persons who have scant opportunity to challenge neither the veracity of the depictions nor the morality of the process (37). Entertainment television exerts a pernicious influence on children, who develop an understanding of the world unthinkingly from their social context, which increasingly includes passive participation in confabulated realities transmitted through television and computer screens that portray stigmatizing constructs of mental illness (16,24,38-40).


Stigmatization of mental illness may be understood to confound care of the mentally ill by two distinct processes. First and foremost, the stigma of mental illness prevents care seeking among the psychiatric population; and secondly, it interferes with the rational treatment of mental illness when mental illness when it presents to the medical community, often resulting in prejudicial treatment and ineffectual care.

Click here to read more of this article “Stigma of Mental Illness Continue To Impede Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Affective Illness In The United States”


Medical Food – A Different Way of Treating Mood Disorders

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Joan Landino in Uncategorized Comments Off

I started out skeptical regarding the pamphlets that were brought in to our office about medical food (Deplin) as an augmenting treatment for depression. Deplin’s active ingredient is L-methylfolate, which is the most bio-available form of B9 (folic acid). The pamphlets sat for a while, but after looking in a Nursing Herbal Drug Handbook for a client, in order to review his herb to drug interactions, I came across folic acid and its effects on depression, migraines and constipation. Now that caught my attention because that is exactly what he was complaining of. After further research we decided to add Deplin to his current antidepressant therapy, and within three weeks of going to his primary care prescriber, the prescriber called me and asked, “What is it that you prescribed that ‘cured’ his depression, migraines and constipation?”

After that first case, I began using Deplin routinely. After taking a thorough mental health history, including all family risk factors for the partial inability to absorb folic acid fully, the most common being mood disorders, heart disease, stroke, alcoholism/substance dependence, miscarriage, learning disabilities, congenital anomalies, migraine, constipation and dementia, I would discuss medical food and its potential benefits. Our bodies have to chemically change or convert folic acid to L-methylfolate, which is the only form of B9 that crosses the blood-brain barrier. It also comes in other brand names to target medical, neurological, and psychiatric conditions such as Cerafolin, Cerafolin NAC, Metanx and NEEVO DHA.

To make it even easier, which you know I love, there happens to be a simple laboratory test to confirm it. The lab test is called the MTHFR DNA Analysis. MTHFR stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which is an enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism. Remember, enzymes are needed to do “the work” inside of our body. The MTHFR gene affects how a person’s body processes homocysteine – an amino acid in our blood, which is mostly acquired from eating meat. High homocysteine levels are associated with low levels of B6, B12, B9 and Kidney disease. Although misunderstood, there is a link between high homocysteine levels and Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and the formation of blood clots. Dozens of mutations in the MTHFR gene have been identified over the last two decades. The present lab test identifies if you have one of the more common mutations i.e.: C677T and A1298C, which may be contributing to treatment resistant depression among many other health conditions already mentioned. People with a double mutation of the gene C677T or a single mutation in both the C677T/A1298C genes are at a higher risk of increased homocysteine levels. Increased homocysteine levels places a person at a higher risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, miscarriages, pre-eclampsia (toxemia), neural tube defect (NTD), Tetralogy of Fallot ( “blue baby syndrome”), congenital heart disease and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate.

Furthermore, there are multiple studies supporting these mutations that are contributing factors in several neurological and psychiatric disorders, especially depression among adults, showing a correlation between high homocysteine levels and a significant interference with neurotransmitter synthesis pathways such as serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine.

Deplin, as well as other forms/combination medical food used in our clinical practice, has demonstrated positive outcomes even with normal lab results. The NAC portion of Cerefolin has further shown positive effects for those suffering from Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Cystic Fibrosis. It has been suggested that in the future high homocysteine levels may be a predictor of major depressive disorders.


DNA Typing and its Medicinal Use for Adverse Drug Reactions

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Joan Landino in Disorders, Medication, Uncategorized Comments Off

Wow, it only took about a month to write my 1st blog! First, I had to find out what a blog was from someone under the age of 25! As my clients know, that while I enjoy talking about myself, it’s their session and this blog really is for you. So with that said, I give you my first post.

What’s DNA?

DNA; It’s one of the most sought after topics since the 1980’s. America’s favorite TV shows all reference it, but exactly what is it? DNA is used to put humans in jail, to release humans from jail and, sorry boys; to tell if you really are that guy…I mean dad. So why can’t DNA be expanded and used in medicine in order to avoid or even prevent ADR (adverse drug reactions)? Well it can, and I do it all the time!

Adverse Drug Reactions

It is estimated that ADR’s from prescribed medication attribute to more than 100,000 deaths and 8 million hospitalizations a year, secondary to deficient, poor, or null metabolizes. This not only complicates the treatment while in the hospital, but for the client an ADR, it represents an added burden on their existing disease, worsening of symptoms by the medication(s), resulting in frustration, poor compliance, and fear of taking more medicine. These clients are then often ‘labeled’ hypochondriacs.

A Genetic Marker

DNA can be thought of as a genetic marker, mainly because everyone’s characteristics of DNA are inherited and individualized, but also because different people can have different types of markers (polymorphisms). This ability alone to analyze human variations represents an overwhelming hurdle in the progress towards safely individualizing everyone’s medication. In medicine, we evaluate specific liver pathways – ie; the cytochrome P450 enzyme systems – because this represents a major part of the human body’s detoxification systems. More specifically 3 genes are evaluated, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6.

Why DNA Typing?

Hundreds of medications are metabolized through the CYP450 system in the liver. Depending on the clients specific metabolic capacity, client (A) may get a standard dose and do well; client (B) may have no response, and client (C) may have a positive response though short lived and experience an ADR within a few weeks/months. Lastly, client D) may experience a life threatening ADR such as an increase in depressive symptoms with suicidal ideations. DNA guided medicine gets your client on their road to recovery more quickly. Personalized pharmacology is consistent with the best quality of care in any aspect of medicine. DNA typing is not only performed in Psychiatry. The DNA guided medications is particularly relevant to the management of cardiac, cancer, pain, diabetes, epilepsy and GI disorders. As several medications in the treatment of these disorders utilize the CYP450 systems. At this time, Plavix, a commonly prescribed cardiac medication, currently carries a black box warning recommending the testing. Of Note, our DNA in each of our human cells is packaged compactly and efficiently in our chromosomes. The DNA in a single human cell if stretched would be approximately 2 yards long!!

Interested in learning more about DNA testing? Go To: www.genomas.com