Mental Health

Dear @cupcake-sprinkle , what you wrote sounded like you were experiencing the physical (headache, neck tension), psychological (angry, anxious, irritable, depressed) and cognitive (not think properly, not concentrate, cannot think) symptoms from stress and being on tablets & pills did not seem to make them go away. I can sense that dread as you wondered if you would ever get your old self back.

To begin with, speak to a professional who will spend time to explore what's causing the stress and provide you with a proper diagnosis before discussing the next step.

Identify the core causes.
If it's the hormone therapy, I would check my levels and consult a women's health specialist.
If there has been ongoing anxiety and stress, I would check in with a mental health counsellor or psychotherapist to learn relaxation, deep breathing, reframing mindset.
If the psychosomatic phenomenon requires temporary usage of medication, I will be cautious with diazepam or zolpidem use, and will prefer to discuss with the psychiatrist before using pregabalin and amitriptyline. SSRI or SNRI or Brintellix will be more suitable.

Do remember that we are ultimately still in charge of our bodies and how we want to look after ourselves. Take a moment, breathe and slow down. You can do this. 
O_O
If you wish to know more, visit https://otium-mindhealth.com  

Dear @Baby_elephant , I appreciate your candidness in sharing your mental health journey and treatment experiences. My heart goes out to you knowing you have chosen to stay strong despite being diagnosed in your teens. 

Psychiatric medication does have a place in managing the anxiety, panic and depressive symptoms. However the evidence for talking therapy or psychotherapy in these conditions is stronger, and coupled with judicious use of medication therapy may have a more enduring positive effect and outcome. 

Psychiatric medication are prescribed and their usage should be monitored closely by your psychiatrist. You may be required to give blood sample and do an electrocardiography (ECG) to check your heart, kidney, liver and blood status. I trust that you will be looked after by your doctor and monitored for weight changes, metabolic syndrome and any abnormal movements. 

The combination that you posted, comprises of 
2 antidepressants: Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Paroxetine; 
2 mood-stabilizing antipsychotics: Risperidone and Quetiapine; 
1 mood-stabilizer: Lamotrigine; 
3 sedative-hypnotics: Zopiclone (sleep), Xanax (alprazolam) and Clonotril (clonazepam). 
Each is effective in its own way, and whenever there is a need to combine, it may be necessarily done so in a safe manner to ensure the conditions are controlled.
Do keep track of the dose and timing and use a pill box or timer reminder and not to adjust on your own without the doctor's knowledge.
Do communicate openly with the doctor in each follow-up visit to review the medication. 

All the best. 
O_O
 

Dear @kory_herzog ,
That's a constant thought everyone else may share, especially after the pandemic.

At different timepoints of our lives, we may find ourselves struggling with different challenges for example,
as a student trying to keep up with school,
as a young adult trying to get a new job,
as a young parent trying to make ends meet for the new family,
as an older adult trying to keep health going...
But we know we will always walk out well. We just need time and patience.

If it's a short-lived moment of uncertainty, fear and stress, let's learn to take a breather, slow down our pace, and think to ourselves for a moment in our headspace that:
it is OK to not have everything to be OK,
it is OK to take breaks,
it is OK to not score always,
it is OK to let slip a chance because a better one will come...
Stop been too hard on ourselves. Learn to let go of things we cannot control.
Take up a hobby. Take time to exercise. Take a moment to call your loved one.

If the anxiety, tension, fear and mood do not seem to go away, and dark thoughts keep coming in over a long period of time, please speak with a mental health professional, counsellor or see a doctor. You may be experiencing mental health problem and early treatment is most effective. Check out https://otium-mindhealth.com for more tips.

Stay positive.
O_O 

Dear @jaimie-schaefer-phd ,
Thank you for your disclosure and I trust that you have a trusted psychiatrist who is journeying with you on this mental health recovery. 

Bipolar Mood Disorder often goes undiagnosed or gets diagnosed late owing to frequent initial presentation as "depression" and sufferers go through long periods of difficulties before they finally could access appropriate correct treatment.  Those of us who experienced "mania" may have a problem coming to terms with the condition, and the fact that medication is very effective and that we will have to stay on medication for a minimum of 2 to 5 years. 

This is because after the initial response, the medication continues to help our brains achieve remission and positive change to prevent the next occurrence or relapse. The truth is that each untreated episode will get longer and more problematic for the sufferer and family members, and chance of remission and recovery may get lower. 

Therefore, all my patients with Bipolar Disorder with history of psychotic relapse stay on their lowest-dose maintenance medication and continue to remain well. They resume their life goals and managed their doctor's visits and medication.  

I sincerely hope that you continue to have open communication with your doctor. 
Stay well. Should you wish to know more, visit https://otium-mindhealth.com  
O_O 

Hello! I appreciate how you’re thinking of your family whilst struggling through the pandemic. They must be important to you. 

You must have had some shared memories that are significant to your family & you. In order to stay positive, you might find solace in remembering these unique experiences.

It’s helpful also to share with them that you’re struggling so they can support you in ways that may not have occurred to you but could come up for them.

Finally, in order to stay positive mentally, it helps to keep good personal physical health. Drink plenty of water, and sleep well. 

If you would like to take the conversation further with me, you may contact me via my personal coaching website: www.jadelifeandwellness.com as many clients share the same struggles as you with me.

Hello! I appreciate how on top of all the stress you must be facing from the pandemic, you’re considering how to take care of others, like the elderly. 

Engaging them in conversations so they understand what is happening helps to reduce misinformation and help them understand the changes going on. 

They too experience mental and physical stress. In fact the concept of mortality and debilitating mental illness is top most on their minds, compared to many younger people.

As to your second question about breaking bad news, it’s important to have open conversations even if they’re difficult. It’s also important to monitor them closely as they cope with this bad news after. Other than focusing on what is said, there is also the unsaid, and other than focusing on their actions, also watch for things they’re neglecting to do.

A trained life coach could be helpful in motivating the elderly and their caregivers like yourself in getting though the pandemic. 

If you would like to take the conversation further with me, you may contact me via my life coaching website: www.jadelifeandwellness.com as many clients share similar struggles as you’ve shared, with me.

It’s probably safe to say Covid-19 has affected all of our mental health! 

Some signs might be feelings ranging from overt anger and sadness to quieter feelings of losing interest in career, relationships and life in general. Those feelings of languishing are cumulative and can have damaging effects to ourselves and those around us. 

Some physical signs might range from behavioural outbursts out of anger and sadness, resulting in verbal and physical conflict, to quieter actions indicating resentment- like a failure to show up for work or in relationships. Those quieter actions- like failure to groom or putting on excessive weight, can be cumulative and have long term effects.

Regardless it’s wonderful that you’re asking these questions. A trained life coach could be helpful in motivating you and helping you become a better version of yourself.

If you would like to take the conversation further with me, you may contact me via my life coaching website: www.jadelifeandwellness.com as many clients share the same struggles as you have, with me.

Hello! I appreciate how you have an awareness that your altered sleep and drinking habits might be due to pandemic fatigue and that something could be done about it if you choose to.

I agree being isolated at home without the freedom to travel causes stress. I empathise with how you feel.

Although you could hold out a little longer to take action to become a better version of yourself, it’s also good to live in the present and make those positive alterations right now. That’s one of the pillars of mindful living. 

A trained life coach could be helpful in motivating you to achieve your goals, and collaborating with you to plot your actions against accountability. 

If you would like to take the conversation further with me, you may contact me via my life coaching website: www.jadelifeandwellness.com as many clients share the same struggles you have, with me.

Hello! I’m sorry that your son is grieving, on top of stress at varying levels from the pandemic and school work. It must be hard for him to deal with death of a schoolmate, both at such a young age.

Every child is unique, and I appreciate how you’re looking out for him as a parent. Some children need more time to process bad news, as well as to formulate awareness of the impact on their own actions. Left unchecked it could have an impact on other aspects of his life including school work, relationships with others, even years later. Post-traumatic psychological stress can take time to manifest and take time to heal. Pay more attention to him, to what he says and more importantly what he doesn’t say, what he does and also what he is neglecting to do. 

A trained life coach could be helpful in speaking with him and keeping you in the loop. However if he requires therapy or psychiatric help, then this needs to be escalated. It’s difficult for me to be sure where he is at the moment. 

If you or your child would like to take the conversation further with me, you may contact me via my life coaching website: www.jadelifeandwellness.com I have other clients share about with coping with death, with me.

Hello! I appreciate how on top of all the stress from the pandemic, your daughter also has to cope with school stress from PSLE 2022. It must be hard for her as she needs to manage not just their own expectations but those of others.

For her own expectations, it’s good to encourage students to be curious and learn, so they don’t hate school. Rewarding effort is more important than focusing on grades. 

For school and parental expectations, it’s important to encourage two-way conversations so the child can benefit. After all, as the goal is the child’s education and welfare, unrealistic expectations for each child would be reduced. Every child is unique. Your daughter has many special traits that only you and her Teachers would be able to harness to motivate her. 

I agree it is of concern that she is keeping herself isolated.

A trained life coach could be helpful in motivating her and keeping you in the loop.

If you would like to take the conversation further with me, you may contact me via my life coaching website: www.jadelifeandwellness.com as many clients share the same struggles as you do, with me.

Hello! I appreciate how on top of all the stress from the pandemic, students also have to cope with school stress. They need to manage not just their own expectations but those of others.

For their own expectations, it’s good to encourage students to be curious and learn, so they don’t hate school. Rewarding effort is more important than focusing on grades.

For school and parental expectations, it’s important to encourage two-way conversations so the child can benefit. If both sides agree the goal is the child’s education and welfare, unrealistic expectations for each child would be reduced. Every child is unique. 

For external factors including other classmates’ parents and competition amongst various parties, the priority shouldn’t be on managing them. You can only manage your own expectations as the adult, and try to nurture the child.

If you would like to take the conversation further with me, you may contact me via my personal coaching website: www.jadelifeandwellness.com as many clients share the same struggles as you do, with me.

Dear @catarina-mayer If you are feeling extremely stressed your sleep might be disrupted. You might wish to do some breathing exercises or engage in relaxation therapy to reduce your stress. If you feel that you are feeling extremely anxious, mood constantly low and sleep remains poor, you might wish to consult a doctor.