mental health

Suicide: Passive Versus Active Suicidal Ideation

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Passive Versus Active Suicidal Ideation

By: Dyami Efroimson

Experiencing suicidal thoughts is an exhausting experience that many experience on a day to day basis. The consistent pondering of, preoccupation with, and desire to commit suicide is describe using the term suicidal ideation. This concept can be divided into categories; passive suicidal ideation and active suicidal ideation.

Active suicidal ideation involves not only contemplating suicide but devising a plan to do that one intends to follow through on. One who is experiencing this may discuss in detail how they would commit suicide if they were to do so. It is not simple a fleeting thought about ending your life, it is the deep desire and intent to kill yourself. Treatment for active suicidal ideation typically includes hospitalization in an attempt to prevent the individual from inflicting harm on themselves. During this time they will meet with psychiatrists and therapist that will evaluate the severity of their suicidal ideation and how to move forward with treatment. It is important for them to have a support system that can be by their side as they learn to love life again.

Passive suicidal ideation includes having no motivation to continue living and often experience intrusive thoughts about ending their life, but do not actually have a plan to do so. However, if gone untreated, these thoughts can progress into active suicidal ideation. The main difference between passive and active suicidal ideation is the intent; with passive there is not intent to commit suicide, with active there is. If one is experiencing these thoughts, the best way to move forward is to be evaluated by a mental health professional and take each day that you stay alive as a tiny victory.

Suicidal ideation is a spectrum. It can range from simply questioning what it would be like to die, to devising a step by step plan as to how you are going to end your life. Regardless of where on the spectrum one’s ideation falls, it is important to seek help to find the source of why these suicidal thoughts are occurring, whether it be a mental illness or a particular event in your life that triggered it.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

What’s the Difference Between Passive and Active Suicidal Thoughts?
What Is Passive Suicidal Ideation?

https://www.theswaddle.com/suicidal-ideation-exists-on-a-spectrum-and-might-involve-no-plans-to-die

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33351435

ADHD in Women and Girls                                         

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

By: Nicole Sanchez

ADHD In Women and Girls  By: Nicole Sanchez

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered a chronic disorder and is known to impact the individual in many aspects of their life including interpersonal relationships, academic and professional achievements, and daily functioning. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD can lead to lowered self-esteem and social function in children when not appropriately treated. Adults with ADHD may experience poor self-worth, sensitivity towards criticism, and increased self-criticism possibly stemming from higher levels of criticism throughout life.

Women and girls experience the same general symptoms as boys and men, but the way they express the symptoms can appear different. This difference in expression has historically been one of the reasons girls and women are underdiagnosed. Often when diagnosing, clinicians look for the male model of ADHD symptoms that focuses on impulsiveness. It is important to note that girls and women often demonstrate symptoms of inattention, overly sociable behavior, forgetfulness, talkativeness, or even difficulties with time management.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that is able to help individuals struggling with ADHD manage their problems by changing the way they think and behave. This treatment tries to reconstruct how someone feels about a situation, which would in turn potentially change their behavior and mitigate these ADHD symptoms. Often the therapist works with the parent of an ADHd child to help them improve his or her behavior.

If you or someone you know is having mental health difficulties and/ or experiencing symptoms of ADHD, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our offices at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

https://www.columbiadoctors.org/news/adhd-different-women

https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/ss/slideshow-adhd-women-girls

Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation

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Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation

Amelia Amen

               Efforts to quit smoking can be a challenging process for individuals who have developed a dependency on nicotine. When an individual tries to remove smoking from their daily routine, they may be prone to experiencing withdrawals. Such withdrawals include irritability, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a strong craving for nicotine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the U.S and often causes diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

               Hypnosis has been found to be a successful technique which aids in smoking cessation and other harmful behaviors. Hypnosis focuses on reducing and changing negative habits and developing self-control over certain emotions and behavior. It can be a source of treatment for helping the smoker remove many unwanted behaviors and habits. In the case of nicotine addiction, hypnosis is used to diminish the craving within the mind. Hypnosis targets the parts of our minds that can be the root cause of the motivation to smoke. The desire to smoke is often triggered by stress and anxiety, finishing a meal, going to a social event, driving, boredom, and more. Hypnosis is a collaborative process between the therapist and patient. Hypnosis only works when the patient wants to learn it. Eventually, the therapist teaches the patient how to achieve a state of hypnosis so they will be able to substitute positive messages for the prior negative ones which will help achieve their goal to stop smoking.

               When a therapist performs hypnosis, he or she will guide the individual into a meditative state. Within this state of mind, the therapist may compare the odor of cigarette smoke to an unpleasant one such as truck exhaust. Another suggestion a therapist may make is that smoking will do nothing but poison your body, and how you should protect your body from such poisons. Our methods were taught to us by Dr. Herbert Spiegel of Columbia University, he is well known for his smoking cessation hypnosis technique. One of the goals of hypnosis is to help the patient become receptive of new ideas and thoughts about smoking. Although hypnosis is an effective way to aid smoking cessation, it is important to keep in mind that it will be most effective with continuous sessions along with the commitment of quitting.

If you or someone you know is seeking hypnosis to stop smoking or other negative behaviors that are troubling you, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Psychotherapy & Psychiatric Services. Contact our Manhattan, NY or Paramus, NJ offices respectively at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com

Source:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/index.htm#:~:text=Cigarette%20smoking%20remains%20the%20leading,death%20in%20the%20United%20States.

Addiction: Alcoholism

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Addiction: Alcoholism

By Isabella Favuzza

American society deems alcoholic beverages such as cocktails a social normality, but many walk the fine line between social drinking and alcoholism. Whether you are drinking to socialize, conform, enhance, or cope you may find yourself unable to control the alcohol cravings. Loved ones may describe you as bad tempered or irritable and you may find yourself yearning for that next sip, regardless of the occasion. Many alcoholics are unaware when they cross that fine line; most don’t remember/feel the change.

Alcoholism is a burdensome journey that should never be traveled alone. Asking for help is the first and most challenging step for alcoholics due to guilt, shame, etc. Therapy provides the appropriate and essential tools to aid struggling alcoholics to cope with these anguishing feelings of resentment, anger, and sorrow. Throughout the course of therapy, a psychologist will help alcoholics identify drinking behavior/patterns, identify risk factors, set goals, think positively, provide intensive intervention/care, and routinely monitor the progress. Therapy is designed to construct a recovery plan that enables alcoholics to recover from drinking, regain control of their livelihood, thrive at work, and connect with loved ones. Ultimately, the alcoholic benefits from therapy by regaining control and reestablishing a healthy relationship with friends and family.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Insomnia & The Digital Age  

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment
Insomnia & The Digital Age  By: Nicole Sanchez

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which one may find it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both, even if one has ample time for restful sleep. With insomnia one may experience disruptions that impair the quality of one’s sleep which in turn may cause sleepiness during the day. Short term insomnia, may occur as a result of stress or may be due to certain changes in one’s schedule or environment. Short term insomnia can last for a few days or weeks. Chronic or long-term insomnia occurs at least 3 nights a week, persists longer than 3 months, and does not have another health issue that could be a root cause. Furthermore, due to technological advancements and the rise in media, there has been a particular increase in insomnia among individuals. Digital activity, especially increased screen time, disturbs a person’s sleep quality because screens emit blue light which suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that induces sleepiness. Viewing overstimulating content before bedtime also makes it more difficult to fall asleep, thus, reducing the time that’s usually reserved for sleep.   

Chronic insomnia affects around 15 to 35 percent of adults, so it’s critical to focus on reducing the symptoms and allowing individuals to improve their sleep quality. Researchers believe cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) to be the most successful initial treatment for chronic insomnia. Through CBT-I individuals learn to reconstruct the feelings, thoughts and behaviors that are causing insomnia. Hypnotherapy is a method that can be used to help those suffering with insomnia as it helps to induce sleep and places individuals into a relaxed, trance-like state so they can let go of any anxiety.

If you or someone you know is having mental health difficulties and/ or insomnia, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our offices at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia-symptoms-and-causes

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12119-insomnia

Somatic Therapy

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Somatic Therapy

By: Amelia Amen

When an individual goes through a traumatic experience, the trauma they experienced may often remain in their body. Somatic therapy is a rising form of therapy that allows individuals to engage in a mind-body connection in order to minimize any arousals of stress. The practice of somatic therapy involves acknowledging how stress and trauma are experienced in the body, then following with engaging in body techniques such as dancing, body scans, etc. The re-occurring feeling of trauma being stored in the body is the result of the nervous system remaining in survival mode, leading to high levels of cortisol being continually released. Cortisol is one of the leading hormones that increases stress levels in the body. Incorporating somatic therapy with CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a gentle approach to managing the body’s stored trauma. Somatic therapy can benefit individuals with PTSD, anxiety, depression, coping with grief, experiencing chronic illness or pain, sexual dysfunction, addiction, insecurities, abuse, and more.

Types of Somatic Therapies

  • Hakomi Method: Encouraging the growth of an individual by using mindfulness and experimental practices. It is a holistic approach that focuses on increasing our internal awareness
  • Grounding: Connecting the body to the earth. The individual will use sensory skills to feel energy from the ground to their feet. This is to embody and experience the present moment.
  • Titration & Pendulation: Slowing down and portioning the recollection of trauma to reduce immediate emotional and physiological responses. Pendulation, moving back and forth between feelings, is needed to achieve titration in order to make sensations of stress more manageable.
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): The process of moving your eyes in a specific direction while discussing or embodying traumatic memories. The goal of EMDR therapy is to encourage the brain to process any discomforting experiences and memories. 
  • Resourcing: A therapist will have an individual recall a precious memory or resources that are attached to positive and calming feelings. An example of this could be reminding oneself of a location or person in which they find happiness.

Some benefits that may be a result of somatic therapy include self-regulation in the nervous system, increase in resilience and re-empowerment, developing bodily awareness, and releasing tension along with other positive results. It is important to remember that somatic therapy is not meant to be in replacement of CBT. When experiencing emotions stemming from anxiety, trauma, or depression, it is beneficial to attend talk therapy sessions as a primary source of mental health care, with somatic therapy being only an addition. The goal of somatic therapy is to find relief in your mind and body’s negative sensations to produce more calming and comforting feelings.

If you or someone you know is seeking therapy please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Psychotherapy & Psychiatric Services. Contact our Manhattan, NY or Paramus, NJ offices respectively at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com

Sources: https://psychcentral.com/blo

Motivation: How to Complete your To-Do List in the Midst of a Depressive Episode

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Motivation: How to Complete your To-Do List in the Midst of a Depressive Episode

By, Dyami Efroimson

A major symptom of depression that can make life difficult for those experiencing it is the loss of motivation. Activities one may have enjoyed in the past, no longer bring joy and everyday responsibilities feel impossible to accomplish.  

What Causes This?

With depression, there is a severe lack of dopamine which is responsible for the rewarding feeling we get when we complete at task. This chemical imbalance in conjunction with other factors like lifestyle choices, genetic predisposition, and medication causes a decrease in one’s motivation. The thought of doing any activity can feel overwhelming, causing those struggling with depression to be unable to push themselves to complete even simple tasks.

How does one deal with this lack of motivation?

The key thing is: be patient with yourself. Do not beat yourself up for not being able to do seemingly “easy” tasks. Break the task making you feel overwhelmed into smaller parts that seem a little more doable. For example, if you’re having trouble getting out of bed, start with just sitting up if you are lying down. Or if you need to clean your room, just focus on picking up one piece of clothing off the ground, then another, then another, until you have no clothes left to pick up. By breaking your projects down into simpler tasks, the larger items on your to-do list become a little more manageable. As you complete these bite-sized tasks, your motivation will slowly make its way back as you build healthy habits, and your to-do list will get smaller and smaller.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Depression Motivation: A Brief Guide

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Being the Child of a Narcissistic Parent

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Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Being the Child of a Narcissistic Parent

By, Dyami Efroimson

                Narcissistic Personality Disorder is characterized by having an inflated sense of importance. Those that have this disorder crave attention and admiration from those around them and have an obsession with others agreeing with their convictions. If these people feel as though they are not receiving this validation, they can be unpredictable in their reactions, sometimes lashing out at the people around them. Having narcissistic parents can result in an unstable household that leads to harmful personality traits in developing children. Some of these traits include

  1. Fawn Effect: This act of befriending and appeasing a perceived threat is also known as people pleasing and can manifest in children going along with whatever they believe will make their parents happy out of fear of retaliation. From this, their lives may begin to revolve around the happiness of others.
  2. Poor self-esteem: Because narcissistic parents desire to have the spotlight on them at all times, they may tear down their children and play off of their insecurities to then build themselves up, leading to their children holding a low opinion of themselves.
  3. Inability to set boundaries: After being trained to consider their parents wants and needs before everything, children of narcissistic parents can have trouble setting boundaries and doing what is best for themselves without feeling guilty.

                Although these traits can make transitioning into adulthood incredibly difficult for these children, it is possible for them to break out of these ingrained processes through therapy and can lead a healthy and happy life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with having a narcissistic parent or with their mental health please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Sources:

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-deal-with-a-narcissistic-parent-7373070

The Impact of Growing Up With A Narcissistic Parent

Depression During The Holidays

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Depression during the Holidays

By: Diane Ulloa

Social isolation is one of the biggest predictors of depression and social media has made it so you can watch all your friends and family celebrate from thousands of miles away. According to the American Psychological Association around 38% of people surveyed said their stress unfortunately increased during the holiday season which can lead to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. It is very common to experience depression or anxiety during the holiday season due to the loss of a family member. Stress also accompanies buying gifts, alongside with social anxiety that comes with extended family reunions. People battling with anxiety or depression can feel overwhelmed when they are met with the unrealistic expectations of the holiday season and with financial burdens that may come during this time.

To combat these obstacles, which get in the way of family fun, one can set realistic expectations of the holiday parties, and realistic expectations of one’s own self. You can do this by taking these steps:

  1. Pace yourself: Do not take on more responsibilities than you can handle and this can also be for food and drinking.
  2. Live and enjoy the present: don’t set yourself up for disappointment by comparing the good ol’ days of the past with the present.
  3. Try to find holiday activities that won’t strain your pockets: going on a drive to look at the beautiful lights in a nearby neighborhood, window shopping, and watching good holiday movies.
  4. Make time for yourself, and make time to take your mental health into account. Surrounding yourself with caring people that can understand your daily battles can be very beneficial.
  5. Be careful not to overspend: overspending can lead to depression or anxiety later on down the road.
  6. If you are lonely, try volunteering time to help others, this could be volunteering at your local place of worship or perhaps at a homeless shelter.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or has seasonal depression please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Sources: https://www.webmd.com/depression/holiday-depression-stress

Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder: Similarities and Differences

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder: Similarities and Differences

By: Diane Ulloa
Bulimia as categorized by the DSM V under bulimia nervosa is a diagnosis assigned to individuals who recurrently overeat and use inappropriate measures to prevent weight gain afterwards, such as purging, fasting or exercising excessively. A criterion would include, “Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications; fasting or excessive exercise” (National Library of Medicine).
There are 5 criterion for binge eating disorder that include:

  1. Eating in a discrete period of time (within 2 hour periods), an amount of food that is larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances. A feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating. . Eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.
  2. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications; fasting or excessive exercise
  3. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.
  4. Self-evaluation is unjustifiably influenced by body shape and weight.
  5. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa.

Both have the shared behavior of binge eating food, but what is binge eating? When someone cannot control their eating and they eat much more food than they would normally eat in one sitting often to the point of major discomfort. Oftentimes binging happens when one is not hungry and many report binge eating home alone, or at night when no one is up or around to see them. People may binge eat as a coping mechanism when they are stressed, anxious, bored, or experiencing any other negative emotion. For those struggling with bulimia, binging and then purging can be a way of coping with those negative emotions. For someone who struggles with binge eating disorder, binging can also be a way to self-soothe or distract in the presence of very difficult emotions. Many people who engage in these behaviors have feelings of social isolation and anxiety, and many have reported feeling hopeless and helpless.
What’s the difference? The main difference is that bulimia nervosa is characterized by purging after binge eating. While everyone has very different reasons and experiences, often those who struggle with bulimia also struggle with gaining weight and often have a distorted body image. As opposed to those with binge eating disorders who may feel uncomfortable in their bodies, but do not have as strong preoccupation with their body image, or weight, as those with bulimia.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Sources:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 20, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Bulimia Nervosa Comparison. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t16/
Berkman ND, Brownley KA, Peat CM, et al. Management and Outcomes of Binge-Eating Disorder [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2015 Dec. (Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 160.) Table 1, DSM-IV and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for binge-eating disorder. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK338301/table/introduction.t1/

https://www.centralcoasttreatmentcenter.com/blog-1/bulimia-v-binge-eating-disorder