The Truth About Hypochondria

Have you ever known someone who was overly obsessed with their health and wellbeing? They continually went to the doctor for phantom illnesses? It is easy to categorize this type of person as a liar or someone who just wants attention, but more often than not they are legitimately suffering from hypochondria.

Hypochondria is a mental illness where someone will become obsessed with the idea that they have a severe health condition that is undiagnosed. This obsession leads to extreme anxiety about their health and the state of their body. A simple cold or even a sneeze can send this person into a frenzy. They often think that it is indicative of a much more serious bodily condition.

Hypochondria usually coincides with another disorder such as panic disorder, anxiety, OCD or depression. Sometimes this stems from a loss this person had of a loved one to a severe health condition, or it could be the result of them living through their own major illness or health condition. While many may think of this as just a quirky or obsessive character trait, it is a serious mental health behavior. It is unhelpful to assume this person is just grasping at attention instead of trying to help them get the treatment they need.

The symptoms of hypochondria are varied but follow a similar strain. Those struggling with hypochondria will be checking themselves for various illnesses and thinking of small ailments, such as a cough or a runny nose, as telling of a much more serious issue. They will often visit the doctor frequently or on the adverse, avoid the doctor altogether because they are nervous that they will actually learn about an ailment that they have.

 

While obsessing about their health, often hypochondriacs will check online about their health and possible symptoms to try to self-diagnose. The internet makes this condition even more dangerous. The anxiety that is birthed out of a hypochondriacs behavior will generally lead to actual physical issues, such as upset stomachs, as well.

Many who are struggling with hypochondria can often benefit from self-help treatment such as avoiding the internet or looking up potential symptoms, practicing stress-relieving techniques and even engaging actively in a hobby that they enjoy. For more severe conditions, it is essential to talk with a therapist about professional treatment such as medication or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Herrick Lipton is the CEO of New Horizon Counseling Center in New York and is also an advocate for mental health. For more information about Herrick or to get in touch with New Horizon Counseling Center for resources, please visit nhcc.us or call 718-845-2620.

What is Bipolar with Mood-Incongruent Psychosis?

Psychosis is at its core being unable to recognize what parts of the world around you are real and what is fake. Generally, psychosis is characterized by a gradual but eventual break from reality. While most commonly associated with schizophrenia, this type of behavior can also be found in people who struggle with bipolar disorder. Those with bipolar may suffer from the hallucinations or delusions that come from psychosis during either their manic or depressive phases, although it is more common during the manic stage.

It is not 100% known why those with bipolar disorder may have psychosis as well, but it could be related to a genetic trait, brain structure or a chemical imbalance. The symptoms of the psychosis can start with things like diminished performance in school or work, building lack of personal hygiene, more and more difficulty communicating or concentrating.

These symptoms can build into more serious ones such as limiting social contact, constant suspicion of those around them, lack of emotion, and anxiety. These symptoms all cumulate into hallucinations, delusions, incoherent thoughts or speech and a general lack of awareness. You may notice that this person uses rapid speech and often has unconnected and irrational thoughts. They lose track of their thoughts quickly and often will abruptly change subjects without notice.

Hallucinations are at their core, things that someone experience through any or all of their senses but is wholly unnoticeable by those around them. A delusion, however, is an unshakeable belief that they will hold about something that is untrue. These can be positive and great things they believe about themselves, such as they have these fantastic superpowers, or they can be more paranoid delusions such as someone is always following them or out to get them.

Mood-incongruent psychosis is when the hallucinations or delusions that a person is experiencing are not related to their current feelings or beliefs. These behaviors will seem entirely out of place and tend to be more severe than the ones that come along with mood-congruent psychosis.

Those suffering from bipolar with mood-incongruent psychosis will often be prescribed different types of medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics or mood stabilizers. Therapy will often consist of psychotherapy or electroconvulsive therapy.

Herrick Lipton is the CEO of New Horizon Counseling Center in New York and is also an advocate for mental health. For more information about Herrick or to get in touch with New Horizon Counseling Center for resources, please visit nhcc.us or call 718-845-2620.

 

Department of Education Seeks to Improve Mental Health

The Department of Education of Louisiana publicized that the state was lucky to receive a $9 million grant that was set to be directed on improving and expanding mental health services primarily to students. This aid is aimed at supporting healthy development. The funding was also aimed at preventing violence that originates from the youths. The donation was given through the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

 

Commenting on the Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education grant, the State Superintendent John White said that the education department is obliged to understand and meet the learning needs of every child to genuinely serve them all. Mr. John White also emphasized the understanding and improvement of the social and emotional needs of students. John White continued that Louisiana State has received an exciting opportunity to ensure that the learning, social, and emotional needs of all children across the State are taken care of, and the learning is propelled.

 

The Project AWARE looks forward to awarding Louisiana State with $1.8 million every year for the next five years. The Department of Education is set to partner with the Louisiana Department of Health with the aim of ensuring proper utilization of the funding in the bid to establish and equip a complete Louisiana School Mental Health Support Program. The programs will be targeting to increase awareness of mental health problems among the school-going children. The program also aims at offering customized training to equip school personnel on ways to detect and give an appropriate response to mental health challenges.

 

The aid come following a drastic increase in mental health problems among the school-aged youths that attend school from 6th to 12th grade across Louisiana. According to Dr. Janice Peterson, the mental health cases in 12th grade increased from 21.7% in the year 2014 to 24.7% in 2016.

 

The program is set to begin its services by prioritizing 34 most affected schools in Jefferson Parish, St. Bernard Parish, and the City of Monroe school systems. The listed schools were in the past identified by the state as struggling with the highest rates of out-of-school obedience. The same schools were asked to come up with plans on how they intend to improve every site and submit those plans during the 2018-19 school year.

 

Herrick Lipton – CEO of New Horizon Counseling Center

 

Herrick Lipton has always believed that behavioral health is incredibly important and should always be the focus of healthcare in communities. Empowering the individuals who struggle with behavioral issues, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities has always been Herrick’s passion because providing stability for those that have behavior health issues will ensure that they are able to live longer, healthier lives overall.

Herrick Lipton started at the New Horizons Counseling Center when he was just a teenager. He took on an administrative role initially because he felt compelled to contribute to the organization and be an advocate for those who struggle with mental illness. While in this role, he felt it necessary to reach out to members of the community and listen to their needs to help the New Horizons Counseling Center develop their mission and be able to help as many people as possible. Herrick soon took on more responsibilities such as financial director in addition to his other duties. After decades of serving as the administrative and financial director at New Horizon Counseling Center, Herrick Lipton became its Chief Executive Officer in 2013.

One of the first actions he took as CEO was to build a location in the New York City area that would be accessible to many people who would benefit from the services NHCC provides. Herrick Lipton worked with New York City government officials to build a welcoming space in Howard Beach that would not only be a suitable location, it would also be a storefront style building that would allow those that need help to be greeted without stigma or fear of judgement.

Throughout the years, Herrick has never lost sight of the programs that need to be started or the ones that should be rethought, restructured, and redesigned to better suit those that need them. The New Horizons Counseling Center covers a wide variety of different services for those with developmental disabilities, alcohol and substance abuse problems, mental illness of all ages, Alzheimer’s disease, and elder care. It’s important to Herrick and the rest of the staff at NHCC that each issue has its own program and every individual that walks through the doors will receive the best care possible.

In his current role as CEO, Herrick Lipton is in charge of operations of New Horizons Counseling Center, and the years since he took on this position the organizations has seen unprecedented growth in the often neglected industry of behavioral healthcare. This growth includes a 125% increase in clinical services offered by the center and an overhaul of existing business models for maximum efficiency and outreach. New Horizons Counseling Center was founded in response to massive cuts in social services for mentally ill people, and Herrick Lipton and NHCC staff continue to fight back against the lack of representation, resources, and ultimate rehabilitation that people deserve.

Herrick Lipton has created numerous new programs to make NHCC the most reliable and supportive resource for clients. He diversified the center to include a specialized suicide prevention program, the need for which is not only due to behavioral issues and substance abuse, but to the disappointing stigma that prevents people from reaching out for help at an early stage. He also founded and outlined NHCC’s Day Habilitation Without Walls for Adults with Developmental Disabilities. This program is emblematic of NHCC’s motto, “empowering individuals, strengthening communities,” because it focuses on teaching basic vocational and employment skill sets to people with developmental disabilities– and then helping them utilize these skills as active members of their local communities.

Although he’s made many strides in behavioral health and wellness, the largest and fastest-growing expansion project which Herrick Lipton has directed is NHCC’s care coordination and management program. This program provides the comprehensive and personalized guidance that people need to maintain their health not only day-to-day, but long term. The program’s “life coaches” offer support and insight for every aspect of life, from finding housing options for homeless clients to monitoring regular checkups to researching the most affordable local pharmacies.

The Current State of Mental Health Care on US College Campuses

Between 2009 and 2017, the number of college students needing mental health services increased by 30 percent while student enrollment increased by just 6 percent. This vast increase in the number of students needing mental health counseling has so overwhelmed university health services that students face long wait times just to talk to a therapist. Not surprisingly, many students drop out of universities because of mental health struggles.

 

Students clearly need help. The pressures of college life are harming their health. Bright students with great potential may feel they have no choice but to quit. No degree, job, or career path is worth going through stress and anxiety that causes students to become depressed, suffer crippling anxiety, and engage in harmful behaviors like self-harm. But students need degrees in order to pursue the opportunities that will lead to a fulfilling life later.

 

Stress-related illness underpins a large part of the problem. This can be seen from statistics that show student visits to mental health centers increases as the term goes on, often doubling a midterms approach, as shown in Time Magazine.

 

Many students find the challenges of university life are too much. Between heavy course loads, social and peer pressures, extracurricular activities, fear of disappointing parents, and financial struggles and student debt, college students carry a heavy burden of worry and sometimes difficult, if not impossible, expectations. These expectations may be self-imposed or external, but either way, they can lead to physical and mental breakdown when students run themselves ragged day in and day out to meet them. College, after all, is supposed to be a time of self-discovery. It’s supposed to be fun and provide students with new found freedom.

 

Anxiety and high expectations have always been part of the university world. The current epidemic of negative effects may stem from an increasingly competitive society and the expectations that every student needs a high degree that lands them a prestigious job. Pressure like that is tough for anyone to take. Throwing an 18-year-old into such an environment seems to ask for trouble.

 

Universities across the country are taking note. As noted in Time Magazine, institutions like the University of Pennsylvania are increasing funding for mental health services. Off-campus, private mental health providers are creating programs aimed at helping students cope with the pressures of college life.

 

The epidemic of stress-related anxiety and depression clearly indicates these measures are needed. Parents, too, should be aware of how stress and pressure are affecting their children. Having goals and ambitions is important but should never come at the expense of health.

 

Managing Workplace Anxiety

herrick lipton - anxiety

 

There’s no denying work can be stressful. For those of us who suffer from an anxiety disorder, each day can be a struggle to get out of bed, get dressed, and get to work on time. Those who are unsure of their talents and abilities may voluntarily miss out on opportunities that would put them ahead in their companies because they don’t know if they’d be able to fulfill the needs of the position. Public speaking and traveling can be difficult for most people to adjust to, but missing opportunities willingly can also exacerbate symptoms of anxiety disorders.

 

In order to mitigate the symptoms of anxiety disorders and manage anxiety in the workplace, it’s a good idea to be proactive every day so you can live a happy and healthy work life. It’s also important to realize that feeling anxious is a perfectly normal response to stress, but if it becomes overwhelming, that’s when you need to actively take steps to make positive changes for your overall wellbeing.

 

Be Self-Aware

Being self-aware means checking in on your own physical and emotional responses when feelings of anxiety arise. Be mindful of what exactly is causing your stress and try to see how you can make changes. Are you overwhelmed by unrealistic deadlines? Do you dread everyday responsibilities? Figure out whether or not you need to reorganize or if you’re procrastinating on projects. Don’t try and disregard your feelings because they won’t go away, in fact, they’ll probably intensify. Instead, try to pinpoint exactly what is causing the excessive stress.

 

Make time for yourself

When our plates are full and we feel like we have no time for ourselves, that’s when we especially need to carve out our day and make extra time. When we’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed, we’re less likely to exercise, but our bodies need it most at that time. Try hard to care for your mind and body by eating the right foods, getting enough sleep each night, and squeezing in some workout time.

 

Reach out to friends and family

Loved ones can be a source of guidance, wisdom, and support. More than likely, you have someone in your circle who is experiencing feelings of anxiety and a loss of control. If not, someone is going to have gone through it at some point in their past. Even if you don’t want to discuss this with friends and family, just knowing they are there for you can be a positive re-enforcement.

 

Seek help from a professional

There is no shame in asking for help if you aren’t managing your anxiety alone. If you’re struggling with an anxiety disorder and don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere, it’s best to seek out help in order to manage it effectively. A clinical psychologist will help you figure out not only where your stress is coming from, but how to deal with it so you can live a life that is not controlled by anxiety, but by yourself.

Spread the Positivity Virus

herrick lipton - positivity

 

Peer pressure is something adults tell children to watch out for. They are afraid because children are thought to be impressionable. Little do they know, the attitudes of their friends can affect them in similar ways. Your colleagues may not try to get you to engage in illegal behavior, but surrounding yourself with negative people may lead to negative feelings, and the same can be said with positivity. But why does this happen?

The culprit may be social cues. Most humans have the ability to sense a mood shift, based off of nonverbal cues. These can include posture, facial expression, and movement. Someone who is frowning is sad. Someone who can’t stop tapping their fingers is jittery. Someone with their arms crossed is closed off. There are hundreds of social cues humans subconsciously recognize.

Social cues are said to make up 55% of all communication. Before we learn our first words, we observe our family’s behavior and categorize behaviors by their intended effect. This means we can recognize the mood in any given situation without directly asking about it even before we begin school.

Obviously, social cues are a key to this puzzle, but how exactly do they fit in?

When someone does not adhere to social norms, they stick out like a sore thumb. Sometimes, there is an event which calls for celebration or one that calls for grief. However, sometimes a group’s mood can be a byproduct of one or two people’s attitude.

Daniel Goleman says that leaders influence their teams’ moods. A manager who angrily points out all of your mistakes can make you feel angry in return. A respectful boss will inspire respect from their employees. In your social group, there is almost always one particularly vocal friend (whether they are happy, sad, or any other emotion), who acts as the leader of the group. Everyone else tends to model their behavior around this centralized person.

There are circumstances where it is appropriate to experience negative emotions, but living a happy life is important to your mental health. Spending all of your time with negative people will ultimately lead you to feel more negative. Experiencing the world with positive people will allow you to enjoy more in life and lead to a deeper appreciation of all life has to offer.

Positivity can be spread as easily as a disease. Every positive word or action transfers this positivity to the next person. Surrounding yourself with positive people is the best and easiest way to live a fulfilling life.

So what are you waiting for? Go out into the world and find new people to share your positivity with. After all, your positivity is just as contagious and can make ripples in the world.

Learning to Live With Chronic Pain

chronic pain - herrick liptonDisorders that force the sufferer to live with chronic pain rarely receive the attention they deserve from the media. This past month, Lady Gaga had to postpone some of her tour dates due to her fibromyalgia. It seems that the illnesses that we are unable to explain, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, often receive little media attention. Fortunately, some celebrities like Lady Gaga will unabashedly shine a light on these disorders, forcing us to take a closer look at what these problems are and how to help those afflicted.

 

In the case of fibromyalgia, the pain is a result of overactive nerves, but the cause is largely unknown. It has been known to come about as a result of a traumatic event, stressful life events, or car accident, but it can also arise seemingly out of nowhere. What we do know is that an overwhelming amount of women are subjected to the disorder statistically, and there’s no cure that will solve the disorder.

 

Be honest with what you can and can’t handle

 

Having chronic pain will inevitably take a serious toll on your overall mental health, but it will also inadvertently pose a threat to your relationships. It can be difficult to not take your pain out on other people, so it’s best, to be honest with yourself and your loved ones about what you can and cannot put up with while dealing with the pain. If you have a friend or family member that constantly complains about their life, you may need to explain that that type of negativity is not something that you can handle in addition to your disorder. If they understand, they’ll be mindful of what they are willing to do for you. If they don’t understand, it might be time to distance yourself from them.

 

Find a way to relax

 

Chronic pain can make relaxation seem incredibly difficult, but it’s not impossible. Figure out a way to allow your mind and body to relax and stick to it. Try out yoga and practice deep breathing. The important thing is to remember to try and calm your muscles. Be mindful of how you feel before, during, and after the relaxation exercise, and if it works, keep it up!

 

Make sleep a priority by avoiding alcohol

 

Sleep issues and chronic pain pretty much go hand in hand, oddly enough, sleep issues and alcohol use also typically go together. Sleep is essential for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for those living with chronic pain. If you find yourself to be tired all the time and don’t get enough sleep, limit the amount of alcohol you drink to gain more control of your sleep schedule.

 

Get support

 

To deal with your disorder, you’re going to need a strong support system. Talk to your friends and family about what you’re going through and ask them for help when you need it. Another way to expand your support system is by attending support meetings for those living with chronic pain. It may seem awkward at first, but these meetings will help you gain connections with those who know exactly what you’re going through.

Everyday Tips to Help Control Anxiety

Everyone has experienced the overwhelming feeling of anxiety at one time or another. When you were in high school it may have been a big test that you stressed about the night before, or the day before start a new job. The anxious feelings you have before any big life event are felt by most people, however when you experience anxiety day after day, you should take steps to ease these feelings of helplessness and panic. Luckily, there are several things you can do each and every day to lessen the grip anxiety has on your life and gain more control of your emotions.

Write It Down

Try to figure out exactly what isJournaling making you feel anxious by writing down your thoughts in a journal. Journaling on a daily basis can improve your mental and physical health because it helps you define your internal thoughts and put them on paper. Write fast, and without worry about grammar, spelling, or fear that someone will find it and read it.

Limit Caffeine and Alcohol

Alcohol and coffee can both exacerbate the effects of anxiety. It doesn’t mean you have to cut them out either entirely, but use them both in moderation. Try not to have caffeine in the afternoon, as this can cause you to be up later than normal and affect your sleep schedule. Drinking too much alcohol in the evening can lead to a restless sleep. Although alcohol can put you to sleep, it’s not quality sleep that will have you feeling rested the next day.

exerciseExercise

We all know exercise has many health benefits, but it also dulls the intensity of anxiety. A good exercise regimen that includes a couple hours a week of moderate exercise can help you keep your anxiety in check as well as giving you a boost of energy and confidence.

Practice Good Breathing

Oftentimes when faced with stress, we will hold our breaths. When you feel very anxious, take a moment to focus on your breathing and take a few deep breaths. Try your best to bring your attention to your breathing and not think about anything else to give your mind a quick break and make sure you’re breathing properly. Deep breathing triggers a relaxation response, helping us to calm down and take a step back.

Try not to Dwell on the Past

Maybe you said or did something embarrassing or made a mistake. Try not to dwell on what has happened and definitely don’t let it keep you from enjoying the things you love. Chances are, the worry you have about a particular event is not even being thought of by those who witnessed it.

Why Sitting is Bad for Our Health

Sitting Everyone knows that there are health risks associated with smoking and drinking too much, but how about sitting? When it comes to seemingly innocent activities, sitting is near the top of the list, but sitting for too long is far worse than you think. If you’re working 9 to 5 at an office job, you’re probably sitting for about 8 hours a day – if not more. It’s not just people at a desk job though, even people that have more active jobs sit more than you think. Eating and watching tv are other activities that, chances are, you will be sitting for.

What’s the Big Deal?

1. Sitting is not really something our bodies are designed for. The angle at which at bodies sit puts undue pressure on your back, shoulders, and neck. Over time, sitting can hurt your posture and make you more susceptible to back injuries.

2. The main activities that come from sitting for long periods include watching television and working from a desk. If you’re main daily interaction with the outside world is through the internet or a television, this can put a damper on your social skills. It may become harder to make or keep friends and you’ll be more likely to develop feelings of depression and loneliness.

3. Sitting still burns an average of 56 calories an hour, however compared to walking and other forms of exercise, this is hardly enough to make a dent in your daily caloric intake. If you’re sedentary throughout the majority of the day, it’s very likely that you’ll become overweight or obese.

4. The chances that you will develop cancer or diabetes increase with a sedentary job or lifestyle. Your body may develop a reduced sensitivity to insulin because the body is not able to handle blood sugar as it should.WatchingTV

What Can You Do?

The potential results of sitting for too long are scary, but there are effective steps you can take to better your situation. If you do work at an office job, see if you can use a stand up desk or even a fitness ball to keep active throughout the day. If you must sit in an office chair, try to sit up straight and take multiple breaks throughout your day to move around. Getting up once an hour to get a drink of water will help you stay hydrated and get moving. Whenever you get home, it’s a good idea to keep active; moving directly from your work desk, to a car, to your couch is too sedentary.