Category: Blog Posts

Millions around the globe use a smartphone. Smartphones offer a variety of applications, but there is a new wave of apps that caught my attention – apps to help with mental illness. CNN.com posted an article – Smartphone Apps Become ‘Surrogate Therapist’ – which spoke about this supplemental psychotherapy. 

 

There is a wide array of apps for different mental health illnesses and disorders. Some apps offer mood tracking, positive reinforcement, depression and anxiety screening, goal strategies and much, much more. The cost for many of these applications are either free or just a few dollars. 

 

It is important to remember that if you suffer from any type of mental illness, these applications should never replace psychotherapy. They should only be used in addition to psychotherapy with a trained mental health care professional. 

I am interested in learning more about these applications. If you have tried any apps and have found them helpful, I would like to hear about them. Please leave a comment with your favorite smartphone app or send an email to info@kmarshack.com. 

 

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Children are asked this question from a young age. Would you ever imagine a child telling you they would like to be an alcoholic, obese, suicidal, or cancer victim? Hardly! It sounds preposterous. Sadly, many children might have these issues looming in their future. 

 

In the past, the blame for these issues was placed on the material or physical background of a child. For example, maybe they grew up in the ghetto or had a poor diet. There has now been a shift in understanding. Childhood trauma, including psychological trauma, has a major impact on the future success of a child. Divorced parents, a parent in prison, a mentally ill parent, or abuse are all factors that can cause emotional stress and trauma. (Read NYTimes.com article – The Psych Approach)

 

This doesn’t mean that if you were a child who experienced these types of traumatic events, you will automatically have the serious issues I mentioned above. The risk is just greater. What does this mean then for these children? They must get the assistance of a mental health care professional immediately. If help is sought out promptly, the child will be in a better position to gain the coping skills that are necessary for a successful future. Parents, there is no need to be ashamed if you need to get help for your child. Taking this step is showing love for your child and it will help them now and in the future. 

 

For more information, visit Parenting – Am I a Good Parent?

There are two sides to every coin and the same is true with ADHD. At times ADHD can produce pure brilliance and creativity, but at other times it can be a downfall. One challenge that is common with ADHD is difficulty with concentration and focus. 

 

For a individual with ADHD to improve the quality and quantity of focus and concentration, we must go back to the mind and body connection. The mind and body are in constant communication with one another. John Ratey, M.D., and author of the book, Spark, speaks about this connection and the impact it has on ADHD. Physical activity has been proven to increase dopamine and norepinephrine which are neurotransmitters in the brain. These brain chemicals have been shown to improve focus and attention. So, get moving!

 

Another tip to improve concentration is multitasking. Sydney Zentall, Ph.D., of Purdue University recommends doing one mindless activity while performing a more important task. An example would be to listen to music while reading. These intentional movements encourage the brain to focus on the most important task. Every person with ADHD is different, so this tip may not necessarily work for everyone. 

 

For more information on these concentration tips, visit ADDitude.com – When ADHD Kids Fidget: Better Focus Through Multitasking. 

It’s an understatement to say that Americans are stressed out. The reasons why people are so stressed today are almost too numerous to count. Stress is a serious danger to our society. Chronic stress leads to weight gain, heart problems, insomnia, depression, and strokes. 

 

Do not despair though! Stress can be controlled. Research is pointing to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a powerful tool to control stress. The first step in CBT is to note activities that put a strain on energy and time, trigger anger or anxiety, or precipitate a negative physical response such as a sour stomach or headache. Also note positive experiences, such as those that are mentally or physically refreshing or produce a sense of accomplishment. The next step is to attempt to shift the balance from stress producing to stress-reducing activities. 

 

In a nut shell, CBT works to identify the sources of stress, restructuring priorities, changing one’s response to stress, and finding methods for managing and reducing stress. By implementing this process, the goal is change the way you deal and respond to stress because stress is inevitable. After time, it becomes your new and automatic way of thinking!

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is most effective when you work with a specialist. Set up an appointment with a mental health care professional who uses CBT. Until then, visit Managing Stress to read about 8 specific methods to reducing stress. 

Nearly 1 in 13 Americans abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious. There are serious health problems that can arise. Drinking also increases the risk of death from automobile crashes as well as recreational and on-the-job injuries. Homicides and suicides are more likely to be committed by persons who have been drinking. Of course, alcoholism also has devastating effects on relationships with family, friends and coworkers.

Unfortunately, many turn to alcohol to help them cope with trauma. However, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and UNC Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies recently noted the connection between the heavy use of alcohol and the difficulty of recovering from a psychologically tragic event. They believe that heavy drinking rewires the brain.

NIAAA scientist Andrew Holmes, PhD, comments, “A history of heavy alcohol abuse could impair a critical mechanism for recovering from a trauma, and in doing so put people at greater risk for PTSD. The next step will be to test whether our preclinical findings translate to patients currently suffering from comorbid PTSD and alcohol abuse. If it does, then this could lead to new thinking about how we can better treat these serious medical conditions.” Understanding these issues can help in assisting individuals with alcohol problems and PTSD. For more details on this new research, read Heavy Drinking Rewires Brain, Increasing Susceptibility to Anxiety Problems.

If you are suffering from PTSD or battling alcohol abuse, I recommend you speak with your doctor and find a mental health care professional who can help you. For more information on confronting these issues, visit Alcoholism Recovery and Living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Even after a difficult divorce, many divorcees eventually remarry. A second marriage can be a success. In order for that to be the case, it is important to recognize that it will be a challenge and you must be willing to put in the work to make it work!

Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering remarriage:

• Prospective remarriage partners should build a relationship slowly, getting to know each other together and as individuals. Listen to family and friends who know who you are. They knew you when you were married before so their impressions are important. 

• Remember to use your second marriage to become a better partner yourself. Usually the opportunity for conflict and disappointment is increased in second marriages because the challenges are greater. So you need to learn to love the complexity. 

• You or your partner might still be grieving over the loss of your prior relationship. Vent your grief as a way to defuse anger. Take a joint exploration of your previous relationships and understand your history. If necessary consider seeking help from a marriage and family therapist.

For more information, visit Marriage Counseling – Maintaining a Strong Marriage. If children will be involved in the remarriage, read How Parents (and Stepparents) Can Help Their Children Adjust to Change.