Insights & More

The Link Between Depression and Pain

By Christine Lin, Epoch Times

NEW YORK—Mind and matter are like the chicken and the egg—and pain, both emotional and physical, is no different. Healers and scientists have long known that mental factors and physical symptoms are inextricably intertwined.

A study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine in 2004 found that two-thirds of patients being treated for depression also reported physical pain such as frequent headaches, back pain, joint pain, and abdominal pain.

“Physical pain and depression have a deeper biological connection than simple cause and effect; the neurotransmitters that influence both pain and mood are serotonin and norepinephrine,” reads a 2004 National Institutes of Health report. “Dysregulation of these transmitters is linked to both depression and pain.”

While trouble with neurotransmitters play a huge role in both depression and pain, the story doesn’t end there.

Since the 1950s, doctors and drug companies have touted pillular anti-depressants as the go-to method for treating depression and certain cases of pain. In the process, patients were forced to counter side effects associated with these drugs with more drugs while pharmaceutical companies reaped the profits. Now, patients and health care providers alike are turning to other, lasting, and more intuitive ways to address the psychosomatic factors contributing to the twin distresses of pain and depression.

The Integrated Being

For 5,000 years, Chinese medicine has treated human health holistically. Its foundational philosophy says that a human being exists on the spiritual, emotional, and physical levels simultaneously, and that no one facet of human health can be fully understood without examining the others. Furthermore, people do not exist in a vacuum; they are also members of their community and the universe. Thus, when practiced fully, Chinese medicine integrates concepts from many fields that are today specialized and separate.

Chinese medicine believes that physical symptoms have their root causes in mental and emotional states that manifest in blockages of qi, which can be loosely translated as “life energy.” Likewise, since qi is the conduit for all human functioning, mental, emotional, and physical dysfunction can be treated by manipulating qi. On this framework sprang traditional Chinese healing methods such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qigong, just to name a few modalities commonly known to the West.

According to Dr. Jingduan Yang, a Chinese medicine doctor and psychiatrist practicing at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, a deficiency in yang qi or an excess in yin qi often manifests as depression. The same qi imbalances will affect other areas of functioning and present itself as pain.

Modern research is coming close to similar understandings of this complex relationship. The Scandinavian Journal of Pain in 2011 attempted to explain the connection this way:

“First, catastrophizing plays a central role in models of both pain and depression and hence might form an important link between them,” researchers wrote. “Second, emotion regulation is important in both depression and pain since they both can be viewed as significant emotional stressors.”

Dual Acting Treatments

Pain and depression often go hand in hand—sometimes the same traumatic experience triggers both, and the two conditions exacerbate each other.

Neuropathic pain, as opposed to common muscular aches and arthritic pain, derives from dysfunctions in the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system. Trauma causes disproportionate electrical activity in the nerves, and sufferers of chronic neuropathic conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) experience normal touch or the slightest heat as pain.

Acupuncture acts on correcting the qi blockages that cause such pain and when used correctly can reduce the hypersensitivity associated with neuropathic pain. Used as a complementary treatment to conventional modalities, it can increase the rate of recovery while reducing stress. Since it works on the person’s qi, and qi regulates emotion, effective acupuncture boosts mood, too.

Another alternative treatment that acts on both the body and the brain is ketamine infusion. Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that, when administered by a qualified physician or anesthesiologist, acts on the nervous system to dampen excessive pain signals.
“It stops the transmission of pain from the body to the spine and to the brain, and gives the system the chance to reboot,” said Dr. Glen Z. Brooks, a New York anesthesiologist who offers ketamine treatments.

In cases of depression, ketamine promotes the growth of the synapses and lets the brain heal itself, reversing the structural causes of depression, according to Brooks.

The ketamine dosage and treatment plan for depression patients and pain patients are different, and must be customized to the person’s body weight, and so should be thought of as separate treatments, but patients with related conditions often see improvements in their symptoms.

via The Link Between Depression and Pain » The Epoch Times

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When Panic Attacks

By Rosemary Byfield
Epoch Times

A tightness in the chest, a cold creeping rush enveloping the body, sweaty palms, palpitations, a racing heart. A feeling like one is dying. These are the symptoms of a panic attack.

TV presenter Anna Williamson is known as the bright and bubbly face of the ITV children’s show, Toonattik, and entertainment reporter on Daybreak. Yet, five years ago behind the “smiley” façade, Anna was suffering.

“It’s like you’re having a heart attack,” says Anna describing her panic attacks. “I didn’t identify what was happening to me, I just remember feeling so desperately unhappy and I didn’t know why.”

It was the most desolate, lonely time of her life. Anna knew she was fortunate to have a “fantastic” job and was also surrounded by close friends and family. So why did she feel like her life was “imploding”?

Away from the cameras she was troubled in her private life and embarrassed to admit to those close to her she wasn’t coping. Anna put pressure on herself to feel happier. The panic attacks worsened.

“Like a rabbit in the headlights you want to be anywhere else than where you are,” Anna says.

“It was so awful that I feared having a panic attack again. The fear of a panic attack created a panic attack. So I got locked in a cycle, where I thought: ‘I never want to feel like that again.’”

About 1 in 10 people will have severe anxiety or phobias at some point in their lives. However, most people with these problems never ask for treatment, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

‘Life changing’ therapy

Defeated, Anna took time off work, and despite the stigma, sought therapy. She felt the “tight elastic band” of emotions inside her start to unwind.

“I found counselling absolutely life changing.”

Tears came as the therapist asked questions that allowed Anna to pinpoint what was bothering her.

“It was so liberating. I remember walking out of that office an hour and half later knowing that I was going to be ok, because I had found someone who understands me,” Anna says.

Two sessions a week of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for three weeks helped Anna get back to work. CBT, which is available on the NHS, is a talking therapy that helps people to recognise and change habitual thinking patterns causing anxiety.

Every session was “more about self-discovery, more unburdening and unravelling of things that were going on in my head.”

Anna worked through the jumbled mess in her mind, filing it away with the help of CBT and, combined with anti-anxiety medication, felt better and better about herself. She also found a deep sense of relaxation using self-hypnosis.

Anna became a huge advocate of talking therapies and trained as a counsellor. She regularly volunteers taking calls from children on the free helpline Childline.

Online peer support

Recently, Anna is supporting another cause close to her heart: Elefriends.org.uk, a newly relaunched mental health online peer support platform.

“Anybody, you, me, can go on and just talk. It’s for like-minded people who are, perhaps, having a bad day,” says Anna, who explains that with the option to be anonymous, the forum is a safe place to share feelings and opinions about mental health problems.

“Maybe you can identify with someone,” Anna says.

Started on Facebook, Elefriends outgrew the limit of 5,000 friends. Mind, the mental health charity, secured Social Action Funding allowing Elefriends to expand to an unlimited platform. Thousands more people can now access the popular support network.

More than four out of five people feel that talking about their mental health problems helps, according to Mind.

President of Mind and the voice of the Elephant animations used on Elefriends, Stephen Fry said in a statement: “If you have a mental health problem, talking to someone who’s had a similar experience can be an absolute lifeline.”

Twenty per cent of people have to wait more than a year for talking therapies on the NHS. A Mind survey revealed that almost four out of five people who have accessed on- or offline peer support networks have found at least one kind of peer support effective.

One forum user, Sam, 31, who suffered depression for more than ten years, was signed off work for two months following bereavement, his mother being ill and a difficult time at work. A former colleague recommended he join Elefriends.

“No one will naively tell you to ‘get over it’ or be patronisingly over-concerned. You get empathy rather than sympathy and the support is mutual, which can help give you perspective and explore new ways of managing your mental health,” said Sam in a statement.

Another member, Katie, 31, has battled over the years with depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsions and self-harm. She wanted to use her experiences to help others, but found to her surprise that she got so much more support back from the community itself.

Anna’s wish

People may be concerned: Will they be employable if they speak out about their mental health problems?

For Anna, through confronting her demons, and going public has only helped her career.

“I’ve had more work since I’ve got to know myself better and corrected any errors in myself and I’m a much better TV presenter as a result of it,”

Anna hopes her story can inspire others.

“If one person identifies with my story, and takes heart and comfort in that, that’s the right reason for me to speak out about it.”

via When Panic Attacks » The Epoch Times

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In the Company of Horses

By Chani Blue
Epoch Times

When talking psychotherapy or emotional counselling most people conjure up images of reclining on a studded leather couch talking with a psychologist. But therapy need not always take this form, which to some can be uncomfortable and confronting. Traditional “talk-based” forms of counselling are effective, but there is another alternative method becoming more widely accepted, which is also an evidence-based approach: Equine Assisted Therapy EAT.

The presence of animals

Incorporating animals in the process of self-discovery and emotional healing may seem very left-field compared to conventional approaches, but there has been much evidence that suggests that an animal-led approach is successful in psycho-intervention.

We are all familiar with the concept of using domesticated animals in hospitals and hospices to brighten a patient’s day. It is also well accepted that patting an animal can reduce blood pressure and help to lower a patient’s guard; a dog or cat can help patients feel at ease during treatment and consultation with a doctor.

Therapy involving horses was first used in Europe in the 1800s. Since then horses have played a role in helping people to overcome a wide variety of personal problems like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sleep disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder—common among war veterans. Equine Therapy is also being used to treat children with autism or behavioural problems and children with a history of abuse.

Michelle Rookley, an Equine facilitator therapist and employee of Chiron Programs in Tasmania’s Huon Valley says that the horse-assisted sessions are relaxed and informal.

“From observations, I feel people are drawn to this therapy because it is not clinical. The sessions are in a natural setting, it is not a pressured environment. The focus is not on the person as a ‘patient’,” she said.

Ms Rookley also has experience working as a nutritionist and she incorporates this knowledge into her horse-led therapy sessions to assist people affected by eating disorders.

Ms Rookley says that after spending time with the horses people often comment that they are feeling more positive, more empowered and more confident.

“We believe that horses have a power which is uniquely transformative. They can teach us compassion, respect, humility, patience and gratitude,” she said.

The horses’ place in the arena of healing

EAT is not horse riding. It is a personalised therapy session conducted by a trained horse specialist, a licensed health councillor, and a small herd of horses—specially trained to be calm and docile.

Different countries have set up different models for conducting EAT, and so there are slight differences in the way a session is conducted.

Australia, a typical session may be conducted as follows: the patient will be guided to undertaking groundwork with the horses such as leading them along an obstacle course or brushing them.

When the session with the horses finishes the participant is invited to verbalise arising thoughts and feelings. The Equine Assisted Therapy Facilitator brings attention to the themes being raised. Through discussion and self-reflection the patient may become aware of negative notions or thought-patterns, which may lead to a holistic change.

“Why horses?” you may be asking. Horses are highly responsive animals, which naturally “group” together, and are therefore sensitive to the feelings and body language of their herd. When around humans they are expert body language readers and can pick up on intentions and attitudes in a non-judgmental way. Through observing interactions between the participants and the horses, the therapist can gain insight into behaviour patterns and mental obstacles that the participant may not be aware of.

Ms Rookley has witnessed this curious experience firsthand. “Quite often the horses are reflecting a person’s inner issues and mental-emotional health, though sometimes not in obvious ways. In a group scenario people often connect to horses which reflect their personality—providing insight,” she said.

Everyone can benefit

EAT is not just for people in need of psychotherapy. This approach is also being used by people in the corporate sector to build on life skills such as leadership, self-confidence, motivation and being more open and sensitive to their peers.

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is another approach within the same field of philosophy. In this approach, through close contact with horses, children and adolescence learn about themselves and the importance of positive, socially acceptable behaviour. This therapy has proven to be useful with children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), aggression and anti-social behaviour.

Ms Rookley has assisted a large variety of people in her community through EAT. She has helped children who are not coping with peer situations, people who are experiencing grief and others who are suffering from eating disorders, to name a few.

During an EAT session a participant is placed in the role of being a leader and clear communicator to guide the horse—without being domineering or spooking it. Through this learning, Ms Rookley believes that EAT can play a positive role in resetting healthy personal boundaries when re-building family relationships.

“EAT can be beneficial for families who are seeking to re-story their patterns of interaction. This therapy is a part of rediscovering self and others and the world that we live, in a healthy way,” she said.

Anyone can try Equine Assisted Therapy or Learning as no previous experience or horse-handling skills are required. People of all ages and fitness levels are welcome to take part; all you need is a willingness to connect with horses and an open mind.

via In the Company of Horses » The Epoch Times

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Five Things You Should Be Doing Every Morning

By Nick Livermore
Eco18.com

We all hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what you should be thinking is this: the beginning of your day sets the tempo for the next 24 hours. With that in mind, we identify five ways to get up and get your day going on the right note.

Don’t Snooze

Yes, it is hard. But don’t hit that snooze button. Your body will never really return to that deep, restful state unless you have another hour to spare. The good news? It gets easier with time. The first three days are the hardest, and then you will start to find that you really do enjoy having a few minutes to spare.

Get Hydrated

Drinking a glass of water should be the first thing you do. Not only do our bodies become dehydrated over night, but a glass of water will help your metabolism get going.

Eat Breakfast

Eating a solid breakfast is just about the best way to set the tempo for the rest of your day. Healthy foods are proven to help your brain operate more efficiently and lessen the chance of eating unhealthy foods throughout the remainder of the day.

The beginning of your day sets the tempo for the next 24 hours.

Dress Well

What does this have to do with health and the body, you may ask. Everything, I say! Because when we look good, we feel better about ourselves. Dressing well also constitutes grooming well, don’t forget.

Me Time

Taking five minutes (90 seconds will even do the trick) to think about the day that lies ahead will help you to accomplish what is demanded of you. Conjure the following:
– What you aim to accomplish today
– What you are thankful for
– One good deed you can carry out today

That’s it. If you begin your morning this way, you are destined for a great day!

Eco18 is a collective of creative-writing individuals from different backgrounds with a common goal—to live a healthier, more natural lifestyle. Their combined expertise, humor, and opinions explore green and sustainable in a practical, fun way. www.eco18.com

via Five Things You Should Be Doing Every Morning | Environment & Health | Health | Epoch Times

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