Alabama Psychiatry and Counseling

10/13/2023

Hug a pet, save a life! 🐶 🤗

Researchers from the University of New Mexico have shared that the physical and mental health benefits of pet ownership are plenty! These include:

✅ Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.

✅ People with dogs have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. One study even found that when people with borderline hypertension adopted dogs from a shelter, their blood pressure declined significantly within five months.

✅ Playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.

✅ Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets.

✅ Heart attack patients with dogs survive longer than those without.

✅ Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.

So let’s take a moment today and everyday to hug and thank our furry friends!

Happy Friday, everyone! ☀️

06/22/2023

Late diagnosis ADHD or misdiagnosis can cause a lifetime of unnecessary pain. This is especially true for women as women are often socialized to mask symptoms.

Rosemarie Manfredi, a neuropsychologist based in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, explained how ADHD symptoms can present more subtly in girls and women. "They are more likely to have symptoms of the inattentive type of ADHD, rather than the hyperactive/impulsive type. As a result, their symptoms are more internal than externally observable to others. Their symptoms may not become evident until the environmental demands begin to exceed their ability to cope with and compensate for their areas of difficulty."

Women are more likely to experience mood and anxiety symptoms in addition to ADHD because of their hormonal patterns, Manfredi said, and ADHD symptoms are often attributed to these conditions instead.

If you feel like you have difficulty focusing, have been told you have poor decision making or impulsivity, and life circumstances are too overwhelming, you may have ADHD. A diagnosis by a professional may help you find the relief and support you need.
https://www.newsweek.com/women-late-adhd-diagnoses-1792599

ADHD is not limited to "naughty boys" but that stereotype leads to misdiagnosis or late detection for many. Two women tell Newsweek how this shaped their lives.

06/19/2023

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recently expressed concern about mental health information on YouTube and TikTok.

At the APA's Annual Meeting, researchers from the University of Texas at Galveston urged health care professionals to develop accurate information and share on YouTube, TikTok and other online platforms. They looked at the quality of content on Dissociative Identity Disorder and found a large volume of inaccurate or poor quality or framed results.

New research released today at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting examined the quality of content in YouTube and TikTok videos on dissociative identity disorder and found novel results.

06/16/2023

Happy Feel Good Friday! Did you notice how listening to music makes you feel good? There is a good reason for this and it lies in the brain!

Listening to music boosts the brain’s production of the hormone dopamine. Music is processed directly by the amygdala, which is the part of the brain involved in mood and emotions. This increased dopamine production helps relieve feelings of anxiety and depression, eases pain and elevates your mood.

Research has shown that listening to music is also heart healthy - blood flows more easily when music is played, which can reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increase serotonin and endorphin levels in the blood. Wow!

So get your boogie on! Here is a playlist for you to enjoy this weekend:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX1g0iEXLFycr?si=7ecd8f1cfa954607

Enjoy!

06/15/2023

The number of ADHD diagnoses are rising across the world, and so are prescriptions of medications. According to the National Health Interview Survey, ADHD diagnosis among children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 alone in the past 20 years have increased from 6.1% to 10.2% in the US. That is a staggering increase, in the millions.

Newer research at the University of Cambridge has validated what many psychiatrists and psychologists have known to be true in observations of patients - ADHD not only impacts focus, but emotions. This raises hopes for new and improved treatments as well as provides more understanding of ADHD patients.

You can find out more about this research here: https://theconversation.com/adhd-inattention-and-hyperactivity-have-been-the-focus-of-research-but-emotional-problems-may-be-the-missing-link-207279

Cognitive behavioural therapy is effective in treating problems of self-control and low mood. This should be offered to patients with ADHD, in conjunction with psychiatry. If you or your child is seeking support for ADHD, please feel free to contact our office for an appointment. Once you have met with our psychiatrist and it is deemed appropriate, we can tailor a treatment plan that includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Contact us today by calling 205-440-6292.

Happy Thursday!

06/14/2023

The Alabama Department of Mental Health recently launched the No Shame Su***de Prevention Campaign, addressing the stigma surrounding su***de and mental illness. The campaign speaks not about judgment but rather of hope.

The campaign also features the National Su***de and Crisis Lifeline number, 988. If you or a someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the Crisis Lifeline number, 988, today.

Our team at Alabama Psychiatry and Counseling are here to help should you require care. Book an appointment today by calling our office at 205-440-6292.

***deprevention

The Alabama Department of Mental Health introduces the “No Shame” Su***de Prevention campaign, addressing the stigma surrounding su***de and mental illness. ...

06/14/2023

Good morning! Although today is rainy, a reminder that brighter days are ahead. Did you know exposure to sunshine has tremendous health benefits due to the release of the hormone serotonin in your brain? Serotonin is associated with boosting your mood and prompting feelings of calms and focus. Incidentally, Serotonin is also the first S in SSRI medications.

Take advantage of a natural source of serotonin by getting some sunlight everyday, weather permitting.

Please be stay safe outside. Happy Wednesday!