Category: Blog Posts

SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder is a wintertime condition characterized by depression, exhaustion, lack of interest in people and regular activities. SAD is extremely common in the Pacific Northwest due to the lack of sunlight, shorter days, and overcast skies. This type of weather contribute to SAD symptoms. If SAD is left untreated, it will affect a person’s outlook and ability to function on a day-to-day level.

It’s encouraging to note that SAD can be treated! If you are suffering from this disorder, I recommend getting outside as much as possible even if it’s overcast. Regular exercise along with a healthy diet rich in Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids will also help. If the symptoms continue to persist, light therapy or antidepressants are recommended.

For more information on how to diagnosis depression and treat it, read more at my website or call my office to make an appointment.

Is the recent economic decline causing the stress level of Americans to increase? The answer is YES! According to the American Psychology Association’s Stress 2008 survey, almost half of Americans say their stress level is increasing due to the financial crisis and it’s primarily affecting woman. In June 2008, studies show that there are more suffering physical and emotional affects of stress than in 2007. Symptoms like fatigue, sleepless nights, headaches, depression, irritability, and lack of motivation are on the rise.

This is a major cause for concern. Many are coping with these symptoms with unhealthy habits such as overeating or skipping meals, indulging in alcohol, and smoking. More time is spent worrying about the financial situation rather than health. What can be done to prevent the increase of stress and its symptoms? I recommend shifting how you view problems, including the economic crisis. If you recognize that life is complex and problem filled, then when confronted with a situation you can face it as a quest for wisdom. Dig, assess, diagnose, and search to create workable situations. This will increase your self-worth and make you a little smarter along the way. Click here www.kmarshack.com/therapy/d_a_s/manage_stress.html to learn more about stress management.

More information on the survey is available at www.apahelpcenter.org.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a short-term therapy that has proven to be highly effective. It is helpful for a variety of different problems such as depression, low self-esteem, phobias, anxiety, and relationship dysfunction. What’s really impressive is that the results are long lasting!

Cognitive Behavior Therapy addresses the way that people think. The cognitive component works to change thinking patterns that keep a person from overcoming their fears. The behavior component seeks to change their pattern of reaction. The goal is to achieve a more constructive, solution-oriented thinking process.

If you are interesting in looking into Cognitive Behavior Therapy, please click on the link to view more information http://www.kmarshack.com/therapy/personal_growth/tiptherapy.html You can contact my office in Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington to learn how to locate a therapist that utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Depression is becoming more and more common place in American society. Instead of a normal case of “the blues”, a new CDC report finds 5.4 percent of Americans 12 years of age and older have dealt with depression. 80 percent of those who report that they are depressed state that it is affecting their daily functional level. Sadly, only 29 percent have said they’ve contacted a health care professional.

How do you know if you are suffering from depression? Most often you would be experiencing a combination of these symptoms for a period of at least two weeks:

1. Depressed mood on most days for most of each day. (Irritability may be prominent in children and adolescents)
2. Total or very noticeable loss of pleasure most of the time.
3. Significant increase or decrease in appetite, weight, or both.
4. Sleep disorders either insomnia or excessive sleepiness nearly every day.
5. Feelings of agitation or a sense of intense slowness.
6. Loss of energy and a daily sense of tiredness.
7. Sense of guilt and worthlessness nearly all the time.
8. Inability to concentrate occurring nearly every day.
9. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

It is important to remember that depression can be treated! If you would like more information on depression, I highly encourage you to click on the link http://www.kmarshack.com/therapy/d_a_s/overcome_depression.html to read more and get the help you are looking for. You are not alone!

Did you know that there are different kinds of ADHD? I recently wrote a blog post about SPECT, a brain scan which can be used to diagnosis these different types of ADHD. Most psychologists and psychiatrists diagnosis ADHD disorders based on a series of inattention and hyperactivity behaviors. However, Dr. Amen uses the SPECT brain scan in addition to behavioral observations to diagnosis patients.

The scan focuses on the areas of the brain that relate to attention, short-term memory, and forethought. Six different types of ADHD have been classified as a result of this new medical procedure:

* Type 1 — Classic ADHD. Symptoms such as short attention span, distractibility, disorganization, procrastination, poor internal supervision plus hyperactivity and impulsivity.
* Type 2 — Inattentive ADHD. Classic ADHD symptoms, but instead of hyperactivity, there is low energy.
* Type 3 — Overfocused ADHD. Classic ADHD symptoms as well as negative thoughts and behaviors, such as opposition and arguing.
* Type 4 — Temporal Lobe ADHD. Classic ADHD symptoms plus irritability, aggressiveness, and memory and learning problems.
* Type 5 — Limbic ADHD. Combines ADHD with depression and low energy and decreased motivation.
* Type 6 — The Ring of Fire. Cross between ADHD and bipolar disorder. Characterized by moodiness, aggressiveness, and anger.

Are you wondering if you have an accurate diagnosis? Would you like to learn more about ADHD? Read additional articles on ADHD on this website or contact my office.

Dr. John Gottman, professor of psychology, has written a truly informative book entitled, “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.” After years of research and scientific procedures to observe the habits of married couples, Dr. Gottman has created a practical guide for couples who want to achieve the greatest potential in their marriage. He uncovers the truth about the many myths of divorce and sheds light on the actual reasons why marriages are falling apart in today’s society. The book includes quizzes, questionnaires, checklists, and exercises to help couples cope with their differences and reenergize their relationship.

I highly recommend this book. I have attended Dr. Gottman’s seminars in Seattle, Washington and was impressed with his work. For more information on “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work”, click on the link: http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0609805797/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_prod_3_0