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Caregiver Stress: Common Signs

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment
Caregiver Stress: Common Signs

By :Mercedes Renter

Are you a caretaker who is experiencing an overload of stress due to the emotional and physical strain of care giving? Do you feel like you are experiencing caregiver syndrome, a state of emotional, mental, or physical exhaustion that can affect the ability to give care? There are a few signs if you are experiencing caregiver stress which includes:

  • Feeling overwhelmed / constantly worried / tired too often
  • Getting too much or not enough sleep
  • Gaining/ losing weight
  • Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
  • Becoming easily irritated or angry
  • Having frequent headaches, bodily pain or other physical problems
  • abusing alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications

The extent of the care should not discourage you if you feel this should be “easy work”. There is no fixed solution to this feeling of stress but there are treatment options available including:

  • Accept Help
  • Focus on what you are able to provide
  • Set realistic goals
  • Get Connected
  • Join a Support Group
  • See your doctor/ seek therapist

Care giving can be rewarding as well as overwhelming. Due to stress being centered on being a care giver, there tends to be a lack of care provided for the care givers. Do not feel you should not be accepting help while trying to provide help. Any individual must care for themselves before caring for a loved one. As the stress becomes continuous it can cause physical and mental health problems for the care giver.

If you or someone you know is struggling with caregiver stress contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrics, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Psychotherapy & Psychatric 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://counselingpsychotherapynjny.com

References: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/caregiver-stress/art-20044784

Vaping’s Effect on Weight Loss

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

    By: Kassandra Lora

    E-cigarettes were first introduced into society around the early 2000’s.  Although they existed around that time they were not widely used especially not by young adults. In 2015 the company JUUL created a newer more eye-catching version of e-cigarettes. This caught the attention of many young adults and thus has increased the number of young adults using e-cigarettes.

    When JUUL became popular in 2015 many of the young adults who were smoking it were not aware that JUUL pods contained nicotine. According to an article written in the Psychology Today magazine, 1 cart, or pod, that is placed inside the JUUL contains the same amount of nicotine as 1 pack of cigarettes.

                How does vaping affect someone’s weight? As stated previously, vaping contains nicotine, a highly addictive chemical. According to the article in the Psychology Today magazine, some effects of nicotine include:

    • Cutting craving for sweets
    • Increased metabolism
    • Decreased Snacking
    • Reduced weight

                Since many or almost all of the JUUL pods or carts are available in fruity and sweet flavors, individuals may substitute a craving for a cake or an unhealthy meal for a few puffs of a JUUL. This habit will cause many to begin to substitute a JUUL puff for a meal resulting in an increase in weight loss. In another study titled, Weight Concerns and Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Among Young Adults, it was mentioned how “someone suffering from anorexia or binge eating is more likely to use vaping as a way to control food intake.” This substitution of vaping instead of having a meal may eventually become an addiction or something that is difficult to control.

                If you or someone you know is struggling with a vaping 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 is located in Paramus, NJ and Manhattan. Call (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com.

    Sources: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-antidepressant-diet/201905/vaping-is-not-the-way-lose-weight

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29843377/

    Image source: : https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/01/9328587/how-to-quit juul

                                                                                                                                                                 

    Anorexia and Amenorrhea: How Anorexia can be the Reason for Losing your Period

    GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

    By: Sanjita Ekhelikar

    Eating disorders are ruthless mental illnesses which severely impact on one’s mental and physical well-being. One such eating disorder is Anorexia Nervosa. This ailment is characterized by a severely distorted body image, a fear of gaining weight, extreme starvation and restriction of food intake, and a very low body weight. This deprivation of food and nutrients can have detrimental effects to the body. Anorexia Nervosa is primarily prevalent among younger females, although impacting males as well. One side effect of this eating disorder in females is amenorrhea, or losing one’s menstrual cycle.

    Amenorrhea can be classified into two forms: primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea occurs when a female does not begin her menstrual cycle by sixteen years of age. Secondary amenorrhea, loss of the menstrual cycle after it has already begun, is prevalent in many females with anorexia nervosa. The loss of one’s period can be attributed to low body weight, extreme amounts of exercise, and greater stress levels. The loss of such a regulated bodily cycle in a female’s body is dangerous, and can indicate the severity of and impairment caused by anorexia nervosa.

    If amenorrhea and the underlying causes of its occurrence are not addressed, women are at risk of becoming infertile. In addition, the levels of estrogen decrease in the female body, leading to the development of pre-menopausal symptoms including loss of sleep, night sweats, and irritable moods. Finally, amenorrhea and the resulting reduction in estrogen can deplete amounts of calcium, thus making bones brittle and more susceptible to breakage. This can even occur in younger women with anorexia who are struggling through amenorrhea.

    It is imperative that one seeks treatment if they are struggling with Anorexia Nervosa, and especially if one is also experiencing amenorrhea. Therapy and medication can be of assistance in overcoming this disorder, and in restoring one’s menstrual and mental well-being.

    If you or someone you know is dealing with Anorexia Nervosa and/or amenorrhea, please contact our psychotherapy/psychiatry 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/.