It is unfortunate that these drugs are called antidepressants. They can be used very effectively for many other symptoms and disorders. The list below gives some of the treatment options for the newest antidepressants. SSRI’s – Effexor XR(at 37.5-75mg), Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro Non-melancholic depression, OCD, PTSD, panic disorder, […]
WilmzBrewxs
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Medication has shown in studies to always be the first line treatment for moderate to severe depression. For mild to moderate depression therapy can be beneficial. Therapy and healthy stress management (especially aerobic exercise) combined with medication can often make a dramatic difference in the outcome of treatment. Three types […]
Depression is not a feeling, but an actual change of activity in the brain that can be measured and seen on a PET scan As many as 25% of women and 15% of men will be clinically depressed at some time in their life Because depression is usually expressed in […]
Brain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are changed when stress overload occurs. Antidepressants restore the balance of neurotransmitters. They lower them if too high and raise them if too low. A point to note: SSRI’s only help serotonin levels. Many stress disorders also need norepinephrine/dopamine readjusted for full […]
When ‘stress overload? meets the person that is prone to worry, trouble is inevitable. If this condition goes on for over six months and is serious enough to cause multiple symptoms, it is “Generalized Anxiety Disorder” or GAD. Milder or briefer episodes are referred to as Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety. […]
The Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, SSRI’s, remain the number one choice for the treatment of OCD. All people with OCD have some abnormalities of the brain neuromodulator serotonin – some are high and others are low. Some types of OCD are effected by the brain modulators dopamine and/or norepinephrine. Frequently more […]
I always insist that my OCD patients listen to or read Brainlock, by Jeffrey Schwartz. The book not only explains effective cognitive behavioral techniques, but also teaches how to do “self talk.” This helps reduce OCD behavior. Schwartz and his UCLA colleagues also demonstrated that doing these techniques not only […]
Classic OCD starts with a thought, “what if?”. Obsessive thoughts lead to compulsive behaviors. The serotonin system in the brain is overactive. Medications that increase serotonin make OCD worse. Every medicine that significantly helps OCD is a Reuptake Inhibitor of serotonin, or SSRI. When an SSRI is taken initially, (within […]
? OCD is like the brain getting ‘stuck in gear? unable to shift to another thought • 2% to 3% of Americans, or 1 in 50 are affected by OCD • Onset of OCD is usually in adolescence or early adulthood • Studies show a gap of 17 years between […]
? Body dysmorphic disorder • Hypochondriasis • Anorexia nervosa/Bulimia • Tourettes syndrome • Tics • ADHD/ADD • Trichotillomania (hair pulling) • Pathological gambling • Addictions • Asperger’s