10 Common Therapy Myths

Top 10 Therapy Myths according to the Huffington Post

ONE

MYTH: Therapy Is Like Having A Paid Friend

FACT: There is huge difference between a therapist and your best friend. “There’s a myth that you pay someone to be nice to you and care for you — what I tell my clients is that you pay for time and expertise and the caring is free,” says Noah Rubinstein, founder and CEO of therapist directory GoodTherapy.org. Rubinstein adds, therapists are trained to avoid dual relationships and can’t see their clients outside of the office.

TWO

MYTH: Therapy Means You’re ‘Crazy’

FACT: Most people are raised to be independent and solve problems on their own. “Seeking help is not a sign of weakness and the truth is, we all suffer and getting help doesn’t mean you’re ‘crazy,’” Rubinstein says. He also adds that people at some point in time will go through periods of depression, hurt or feeling worried and mainstream media often has misconceptions of what a patient or client looks like. “Most people who go to therapists are ordinary everyday people. They don’t have manic episodes or are hospitalized — and I wouldn’t call this ‘crazy’ either,” he says.

THREE

MYTH: Therapy Is Endless

FACT: No, therapy isn’t a never-ending session that will take over your life. “A lot of people are afraid that if they go to therapy it will go on and on,” Rubinstein says. Depending on the type of therapist you see, therapists are trained to create a target plan of treatment. “Some people may never heal in this lifetime but for most people, the average therapy course is three or four months,” he says.

FOUR

MYTH: Therapy Will Cost A Fortune

FACT: Yes, seeing a therapist often can get expensive. Rubinstein suggests looking at your insurance providers to see if you can get benefits — relying solely on paying out of your own pocket can get costly. But he also advises a holistic view. “When you think about price, what’s the cost of not doing therapy? Your job performance?” he says. Think about how your distress many conflict with your work or relationship and then make a decision about pricing.

FIVE

MYTH: Therapists Will Blame You And Shame You

FACT: “This is something that comes directly out of Dr. Phil. Therapists are portrayed like Dr. Phil and he blames, shames and confronts his clients — this is not how therapy works,” Rubinstein says. Good therapy is about compassion, he adds, and is intended to let the client experience their own emotional breakthroughs at their own pace.

SIX

MYTH: Medication Is Just As Effective As Therapy

FACT: Rubinstein says that not all problems can be fixed with medication. “The medical model assumes that most psychological problems are caused by biochemistry, rather than viewing biochemical changes as a symptom, and can overlook the experience of losing jobs, divorce, deaths in the family etc.,” he says. Emotional stress, he notes, cannot be solved with just medication, and people relying solely on pills should look at their options for one-on-one therapy.

SEVEN

MYTH: Therapy Is Passive

FACT: Rubinstein says many people also think therapy is passive. Just think about all the scenes in movies or television shows where a therapist does nothing but nod his or her head. “Therapists are taught active listening skills and are trained to understand the client’s struggles,” he says.

EIGHT

MYTH: Therapy Is All Happy Thoughts

FACT: ‘Think happy thoughts…think happy thoughts.’ Yes, but not always. “Many new clients expect their therapist to change their perspective and convince them they should be happy. But therapy doesn’t work by thinking happy thoughts, In order to become happy, a person needs to face the parts of them that aren’t,” he says. Working with a client one-on-one, therapists are able to go through a person’s painful past and give them hope for a peaceful future.

NINE

MYTH: There’s Nothing You Can Do About The Past

FACT: There’s always an assumption that therapy is about moving forward and never looking back. “When we do this, our past still haunts us. Good therapy allows people to go to those places where they have been wounded and burned and resolve these feelings,” he says.

TEN

MYTH: Therapy Will Make Your Painful Problems Worse

FACT: Yes, you will go back into the past and yes, it may bring up some bad memories. But don’t be afraid. “Good therapists guide their clients through painful experiences, but in a way that is safe and not overwhelming.”

Seroquel Fact Sheet

First off, I want to thank all of you who have shared with my your experiences with Seroquel or other psychiatric medications! You have been an amazing help and source of support! I owe you all and I send each of you hugs and kisses! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I realized while I was responding to some of your amazing comments this morning that I haven’t fully explained what this drug is, aside from the side effects of weight gain. I would like to make a little Seroquel fact sheet so a better understanding of the drug can be formed.

Quetiapine

Pronounced: kwi-TY-a-peen

Drug Type: Atypical antipsychotic

Drug Maker: AstraZeneca

Brand Names: Seroquel, Xeroquel, Ketipinor

Patent: Expired

Generic Names: Quepin, Ketipinor

Dosage: XR and non. 25mg, 50mg, 100mg, 200mg, 300mg and 400mg

Approved treatment for: Schizophrenia, Bipolar and as an add on to treat depression

Off Label Use: OCD, BPD, PTSD, Autism, alcoholism, depression, Tourette’s syndrome, and as a sedative for anxiety and sleep disorders

Off Label Use Resulting in Trouble for AstraZeneca: aggression, Alzheimer’s, anger management, anxiety, ADHD, dementia, depression, bipolar maintenance, mood disorder, PTSD, and sleeplessness

Pharamacology: a dopamine, serotonin, and adrenergic antagonist, and a potent antihistamine with clinically negligible anticholinergic properties. Quetiapine binds strongly to serotonin receptors. Theoretically allows for normal physiological surges of dopamine to elicit normal effects in areas such as the nigrostriatal and tuberoinfundibular pathways

Common Adverse Effects: somnolence(aka: sleepiness), sluggishness, fatigue, dry mouth, sore throat, dizziness, abdominal pain, upset stomach, head rush/dizzy spells, inflammation or swelling of the sinuses or pharynx, increased appetite, and weight gain

Other Adverse Effects: Tardive dyskinesia, cataracts (although no clear correlation has been demonstrated, the drug makers still suggest having users eyes tested every 6 months), may lower seizure threshold, Quetiapine mono treatment increases risk of death

Facts About Certain Adverse Effects: Tardive dyskinesia- 3.9% (atypical in comparison to 5.5% on typical antipsychcotics) weight gain- can cause more weight gain then some atypicals (such as olanzapine or risperidone) but less than others (such as chlorpromazine and sertindole). Quetiapine mono treatment increases risk of death relative to other analyzed treatments

Controversy: Fatalities resulting in drug cocktails that included Quetiapine, 10,000 lawsuits for effects ranging from slurred speech to chronic insomnia and death

Discontinuation: Should be discontinued gradually with consideration from doctor

Withdrawal Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, excessive sweating, dyskinesia, rapid heart rate, nervousness, dizziness, headache, excessive non-stop crying, and anxiety

Overdose: Result only in sedation, hypotension and tachycardia, but cardiac arrythmia, coma and death have occurred in adults.

Oh drug ads….

Sources:

http://www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/Seroquel.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetiapine

https://www.rxisk.org/Research/DrugInformation.aspx?DrugID=4220&ProductDrugID=116805&ProductName=Seroquel%20XR

 

Daisy Award

I have been nominated by The Mirth of Despair! Thank you so much for the nomination!

Rules:

1. Thank your nominator and link back to them.

2. Copy and paste the award picture into your blog post.

3. Share 7 unusual things about yourself.

4. Nominate fellow bloggers and let them know!

7 Unusual Things

1. I use my sense of smell the same way someone would use their sense of touch. For some reason I need to smell everything. It helps me figure out what I should think about it. This may sound like something everyone does and I’m sure they do, people have just pointed out to that I do this more.

2. If something is $49.99 I’ll buy it but if it’s $50 I wont.

3. I think I look dumb with long finger nails so this encourages me to keep biting them.

4. I have difficulty remembering most things over a long period of time but I am very good at remembering directions.

5. I’m getting two pay checks next week because my old work still owes me and my new work is starting to pay me!

6. On Canada Day, Michael and I saw two strange flickering lights in the sky. They seemed to be on a pretty straight path so this led us to believe that while it could easily be a Chinese paper lantern it actually has to be aliens

7. I’m a face toucher. I’m constantly touching my face.

Nomination

“You Know You’re Borderline When…”

We’re all Mad Inhere

Random Things About Me :)

My Dad said to me a few days ago, “Can’t you shut it off?” Can’t I shut off my constant need to immerse myself in the shit of the world? No, but I can take a little break! thebipolarplace posted a few interesting things about him and I can’t think of nothing I love more than talking about myself!

My favourite type of popsicle!

I have 4 cats, 2 at my parents house who I grew up with and two with my partner and I (Phoenix, Duchess, Omen and Vonnegut).

My favourite colours are black, red and purple.

I love rainbows.

As much as I love men, or my man, kissing girls is wicked awesome!

When I was 13 years old I wrote a 148 pages story that was a massive rip off of Harry Potter.

I’ve had two rabbits throughout my life, Rebecca and Kit.

I drink alcohol because I want too but I don’t drink a lot, casually mostly. 

I started smoking cigarettes when I was 14 years old and quit at 21.

I have never broken a bone (knock on wood). 

I am the oldest of 4 girls (23, 20, 18, 14).

My favourite number is 12.

I sing.

My favourite food is pickles!

I am pro polygamy as long as, like with every relationship, all adults consent.

I was raised mainstream Mormon but left the Church emotionally around 2002 and physically in 2007. 

I have only ever tried 2 illegal drugs in my life, pot and MDMA, and used to take prescription meds for the hell of it. 

I played soccer and ran cross country when I was younger.

I look more my Mom. 

I think that’s it for now!!!!

If you want to know more ask BUT you need to tell me 2 things about yourself in return!

I’m Going to Tell the Truth!

I went over myths of mental illness and it only makes sense to go over the facts. It is through education that we can stop the stigma that surrounds mental illness and also addictions.

Who is affected?

• Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
• 20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
• Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures.
• Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.
• About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (or “manic depression”).

How common is it?

• Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population.
• Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.
• Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.
• Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.
• The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.

What causes it?

• A complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors causes mental illnesses.
• Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.
• Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to acceptance in the community.
• Mental illnesses can be treated effectively.

What is the economic cost?

• The economic cost of mental illnesses in Canada for the health care system was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion in 1998 – $4.7 billion in care, and $3.2 billion in disability and early death.
• An additional $6.3 billion was spent on uninsured mental health services and time off work for depression and distress that was not treated by the health care system.
• In 1999, 3.8% of all admissions in general hospitals (1.5 million hospital days) were due to anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, major depression, personality disorders, eating disorders and suicidal behavior.

(Canadian Mental Health Association, 2002)

Youth

• It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
• Today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode.
• The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.
• Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities.
• Mental illness is increasingly threatening the lives of our children; with Canada’s youth suicide rate the third highest in the industrialized world.
• Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.
• Schizophrenia is youth’s greatest disabler as it strikes most often in the 16 to 30 year age group, affecting an estimated one person in 100.
• Surpassed only by injuries, mental disorders in youth are ranked as the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada.

• In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.

(Canadian Mental Health Association, 2002)

Addictions

• About 20% of people with a mental disorder have a co-occurring substance use problem.
• 1 in 10 Canadians 15 years of age and over report symptoms consistent with alcohol or illicit drug dependence.
• 3.8% of adults in Ontario are classified as having moderate or severe gambling problems.
• Young people age 15-24 are more likely to report mental illness and/or substance use disorders than other age groups.
• Overall, men were 2.6 times more likely than women to meet the criteria for substance dependence.  25% of male drinkers are high-risk drinkers compared to 9% of female drinkers.
• Tobacco is responsible for one-quarter of cancer deaths in Ontario.

(CAMH, 2002)

If you had a more negative view of mental illness and addictions does any of this change your opinion?