There are a variety of reasons why someone might engage in gaslighting behavior. Some people do it intentionally, as a way to manipulate or control others. Others may do it unconsciously, as a way to defend themselves or to avoid taking responsibility for their own actions. In some cases, people who engage in gaslighting may have a personality disorder, such as narcissistic personality disorder, which can involve manipulation and a lack of empathy for others.

Gaslighting is not a healthy or acceptable behavior, and it can have serious negative consequences for the person being gaslighted, as well as for the relationships and trust within a family or group. If you are experiencing gaslighting or other forms of manipulation, it’s important to seek support and to learn healthy ways of communicating and interacting with others.

One of the most famous examples of gaslighting is in the 1938 play “Gas Light” by Patrick Hamilton. In the play, a husband named Jack manipulates his wife, Bella, into believing that she is losing her mind. He does this by dimming the gaslights in their home, but denying that he is doing so when Bella brings it up. This causes Bella to doubt her own perception and memory, and she begins to believe that she is going mad.

The term “gaslighting” comes from this play, and it has been used in psychology and popular culture to refer to this type of emotional abuse. Gaslighting can happen in many different relationships, including romantic partnerships, family relationships, and even friendships. It can also happen in the workplace, with a boss or coworker manipulating an employee into doubting their abilities or value to the company.

The effects of gaslighting can be devastating for the victim. They may begin to doubt their own memories, beliefs, and perceptions, which can lead to feelings of confusion, anxiety, and low self-esteem. In severe cases, victims of gaslighting may develop mental health conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Gaslighting can occur for a variety of reasons. It is often a tactic used by someone who wants to gain power or control over another person. They may use gaslighting as a way to manipulate the other person into doubting their own perceptions and memories, which can make them more susceptible to the manipulator’s influence. In some cases, gaslighting may be a result of a person’s insecurities or lack of self-esteem. They may use gaslighting as a way to deflect blame or to avoid being held accountable for their actions.

Gaslighting can also occur in relationships where one person is abusive or controlling. The abuser may use gaslighting as a way to manipulate their victim and to maintain control over them.

It’s important to note that gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse, and it can have serious psychological consequences for the person being gaslighted. If you suspect that you or someone you know is being gaslighted, it’s important to seek support and help. If you or anyone you know is being gaslit or need help, please contact Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678 for our Mental-health related services. Our highly experienced team of mental health specialists are here to help you heal and assist with your mental-health related issues.

Written by: Dr. Lynda R. Fabbo

References

Sweet, P. L. (2019). The sociology of g-lighting. American Sociological Review, 84(5), 851-875.

Tormoen, M. (2019). G-lighting: How pathological labels can harm psychotherapy clients. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 0022167819864258.

HARRIS, D. M., & MACNEILL, D. N. (2021). Gaslighting 2: Victimhood and learned helplessness.

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The post Gaslighting: What it is and Why it occurs appeared first on Specialized Therapy.

Biological Factors:

Research has shown that several biological factors can contribute to suicidal behavior. Neuroimaging studies have identified differences in the brains of individuals who die by suicide, including altered activity in regions associated with emotion regulation and decision-making. Genetic factors may also play a role, as studies have identified a heritability component to suicidal behavior. Additionally, disruptions in the levels of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, have been linked to increased suicide risk.

Psychological Factors:

Psychological factors, such as mental illness, can significantly increase the risk of suicidal behavior. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are commonly associated with suicide risk. Trauma, including childhood abuse or neglect, can also increase the risk of suicidal behavior. Psychological factors may interact with biological factors to further increase the risk of suicide.

Environmental Factors:

Environmental factors, such as social and economic stressors, can contribute to suicidal behavior. Individuals who experience social isolation, financial hardship, or relationship problems may be more likely to consider suicide. Exposure to suicide, either through personal experience or media coverage, may also increase suicide risk. Access to lethal means, such as firearms, can further increase the risk of suicide.

As stated in the beginning, suicidal behavior is an extremely complex phenomenon that arises from the interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. While each individual’s experience with suicidal behavior is unique, understanding the underlying causes of suicide risk is essential to developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. By addressing biological, psychological, and environmental factors, we can work towards reducing the incidence of suicidal behavior and supporting individuals who are at risk.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicidal tendencies, suicidal behavior, chronic mental illness like depression, anxiety, delusional episodes, etc., neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol addiction, brain trauma, cognitive deficiency, or undergoing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, please contact Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678 or The Functional Medicine Center for Personalized Care, LLC (www.FxMedCenters.com) at 201-880-8247 for our Integrative Mind-Body Health services which can greatly help you with holistic mind-body healing.

References:

Jollant F, Lawrence NS, Giampietro V, et al. Orbitofrontal cortex response to angry faces in men with histories of suicide attempts. Am J Psychiatry. 2008;165(6):740-748.

McGuffin P, Marusic A, Farmer A. What can psychiatric genetics offer suicidology? Crisis. 2001;22(2):61-64.Mann JJ. Neurobiology of suicidal behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003;4(10):819-828.

Hawton K, Saunders KE, O’Connor RC. Self-harm and suicide in adolescents. Lancet. 2012;379(9834):2373-2382.

Glenn CR, Kleiman EM, Cha CB, et al. Understanding suicide risk within the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework: A meta-analytic review. Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(1):65-88.

Hjelmeland H, Dieserud G, Dyregrov K, et al. Psychological autopsy studies as diagnostic tools: Are they methodologically flawed? Death Stud. 2012;36(7):605-626.

Stack S. Media impacts on suicide: A quantitative review of 293 findings. Soc Sci Q. 2005;86(2):452-474.

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The post Understanding the Complex Causes of Suicidal Behavior appeared first on Specialized Therapy.

The workplace can be a source of stress for many employees. Deadlines, performance evaluations, conflicts with colleagues, and other work-related stressors can take a toll on mental health. The American Psychological Association reports that workplace stress costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars annually in lost productivity and healthcare costs.

Therefore, it’s important for employers to recognize the impact of workplace stress on their employees’ mental health and take steps to reduce stressors. This can include offering mental health resources, such as an employee assistance program (EAP) or access to mental health professionals. It can also mean creating a workplace culture that prioritizes mental health, such as offering flexible work arrangements, promoting work-life balance, and encouraging employees to take breaks and prioritize self-care.

Strategies for Improving Mental Well-being in the Workplace

Both employers and employees can take steps to improve mental well-being in the workplace. Here are some strategies to consider:

Promote open communication: Encourage open communication between employees and management. Employees should feel comfortable talking to their supervisors about any mental health concerns they have, without fear of negative consequences. Employers can create a safe and supportive environment for employees to discuss mental health concerns by providing resources and training on mental health issues.

Encourage self-care: Encourage employees to prioritize self-care, such as taking breaks, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities they enjoy outside of work. Employers can provide resources and support for employees to practice self-care, such as offering mental health days or wellness programs.

Create a positive work environment: A positive work environment can go a long way in improving mental well-being. Employers can create a positive work environment by fostering a sense of community and teamwork, recognizing employee achievements, and providing opportunities for growth and development.

Provide mental health resources: Employers can offer mental health resources, such as an employee assistance program (EAP) or access to mental health professionals. This can provide employees with the support they need to manage work-related stressors and other mental health concerns.

Encourage work-life balance: Encourage employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance by offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or flexible hours. This can help employees manage their workload and prioritize their mental health.

Reduce stigma: Reduce stigma surrounding mental health by educating employees about mental health issues and encouraging open communication. Employers can provide training on mental health issues and promote mental health awareness campaigns.

Mental health is a critical component of overall health and well-being, and it’s important for employers and employees to prioritize mental health in the workplace. Employers can take steps to reduce workplace stressors, promote mental health resources, and create a positive work environment. Employees can prioritize self-care, communicate openly with their supervisors, and seek out mental health resources when needed. By working together, employers and employees can improve mental well-being in the workplace and create a healthier, more productive workforce.

The post The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace first appeared on Specialized Therapy.

The post The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace appeared first on Specialized Therapy.

What are Psychoactive Hallucinogens?

Psychoactive compounds or psychedelics are known to induce hyper-realistic hallucinations. The “trip” however, is more than just a random high. Research suggests that hallucinogens like Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, DMT, and LSD can rearrange and rewire neural pathways. Brain mapping images of individuals on psychedelics clearly show the brain light up like never seen before. Distinct regions of the brain which do not necessarily work together, are seen to operate in coordination with one another under the influence of psychedelics. In fact, psychoactive compounds are experiencing somewhat of a renaissance today, and more and more people in the field of science are asking: could it be possible to treat mental illness with these compounds?

To answer that question, we need to define psychedelics first. Psychedelic substances are defined as “classic serotonergic hallucinogens” as they directly interact with the 5-HT system, primarily acting as 5-HT2A receptor agonists. However, the mechanism of action is way more complex than previously thought, and they also bind to 5HT1A, 5HT2B, 5HT2C, 5HT6, and 5HT7 receptors with variegated neurological, physiological, and psychological implications.

What effect do these psychoactive compounds have on the brain?

5-HT receptors are associated with the release of neurotransmitters like Serotonin, Dopamine, Acetylcholine, etc., that tremendously affect mood, behavior, libido, sleep patterns, and sensory modulations. Consequently, functional imaging studies show that psychedelics massively increase the processing of sensory information and induce altered integration of sensory perceptions. This creates a novel experience for the user. However, psychedelics alter information processing systems within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical feedback loops. LSD and psilocybin enhance overall interaction between sensory and somatomotor brain networks while decreasing communication among associative brain regions, including large-scale brain networks (such as the Default Mode Network). In fact, LSD, Psilocybin, and DMT vastly increase functional connectivity between the thalamus and sensory-somatomotor cortical regions.

One of the signature features of psychedelics is an alteration in visual perception. These have repeatedly been associated with a reduction in α oscillations, particularly over posterior parieto-occipital brain areas. This suggests that psychoactive compounds greatly enhance the excitability of the visual pathway. However, the most fascinating fact about psychedelics is that they are capable of permanently changing/rewiring neural connectivity and creating novel neural connections which can massively affect/alter behavior permanently. Could this somehow help people with mental illness?

Treating mental illness with psychoactive hallucinogens

Data from double-blinded clinical studies suggest that Psilocybin, commonly found in magic mushrooms, greatly reduces cluster headaches, anxiety, anorexia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and substance abuse. However, people with chronic mental illness almost often tend to suffer from neurological or psychological loops they fail to break away from. Since psychedelics are capable of creating novel connections between neurons in the brain and can rewire the neural network, the patients could break away from ruminating and destructive thought processes.

Psychedelics like DMT, Psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD can enhance associative learning, a cognitive function that is greatly impaired by neuropsychiatric disorders like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that psychedelics like LSD, DMT, and Psilocybin can greatly assuage symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder, PTSD, major depression, suicidal behavior, chronic anxiety, panic attacks, schizophrenia, and chronic insomnia. Some studies suggest that Psilocybin could even help patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease regain brain function. Lisuride, a non-hallucinogenic structural analog of LSD, exhibits antidepressant properties in several clinical studies. MDMA has been shown to have a significantly positive effect on PTSD patients. Overall, the pattern among numerous clinical studies is quite obvious. They all report that psychedelics in general can massively decrease the symptoms associated with mental health problems in the participating population.

In 2023, we are getting closer every day to when psychedelics could soon be approved by the FDA. Oregon has already approved the use of psilocybin starting January 1st, 2023. It is only a matter of time before the general population can legally explore the healing potentials of psychoactive compounds. However, the secret to success is micro-dosing.

Meanwhile, if you or anyone you know is suffering from mental illness, neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol addiction, brain trauma, cognitive deficiency, or undergoing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, please contact Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678 or The Functional Medicine Center for Personalized Care, LLC (www.FxMedCenters.com) at 201-880-8247 for our Integrative Mind-Body Health services which can greatly help you with holistic mind-body healing.

Reference:

Carhart-Harris RL, Goodwin GM. The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Oct;42(11):2105-2113. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.84. Epub 2017 Apr 26. PMID: 28443617; PMCID: PMC5603818.

De Gregorio D, Aguilar-Valles A, Preller KH, Heifets BD, Hibicke M, Mitchell J, Gobbi G. Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine. J Neurosci. 2021 Feb 3;41(5):891-900. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1659-20.2020. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33257322; PMCID: PMC7880300.

Fuentes JJ, Fonseca F, Elices M, Farré M, Torrens M. Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Jan 21;10:943. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00943. PMID: 32038315; PMCID: PMC6985449.

Vargas MV, Meyer R, Avanes AA, Rus M, Olson DE. Psychedelics and Other Psychoplastogens for Treating Mental Illness. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Oct 4;12:727117. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.727117. PMID: 34671279; PMCID: PMC8520991.

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Although Ketamine’s antidepressant mechanism of action is still being thoroughly studied, it is an antagonist of the glutamate receptor subtype that is widely expressed in the central nervous system. (CNS). In addition, it also serves as the mTORC1 pathway activator. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor or NMDAR is a G-protein coupled receptor, and it plays crucial roles in synaptic plasticity and memory formation within the brain. mTORC1 pathway is responsible for translational processes that regulate cell growth and proliferation.

Ketamine has recently shown promising research in the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, and substance abuse disorder. Due to its euphoric, dissociative, and hallucinogenic properties, ketamine abuse has led to its strict regulation and availability. However, in several clinical trials, Ketamine is largely effective in patients with treatment-resistant depression. In fact, Ketamine seems to work within 40 minutes of administration, and sub-anesthetic dosage can slowly help patients in therapy recover from severe symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Most studies agree that Ketamine has curative anti-depressive properties when administered in sub-anesthetic doses.

Although Ketamine could induce manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder, case studies and open-label trials suggest that Ketamine when administered non-intravenously can be safe and effective for treating bipolar disorder. Additionally, studies also found that Ketamine treatment has a massive impact on suicidal ideation. Patients with suicidal thoughts were administered sub-anesthetic doses, and effects were observed within 4 hours of treatment. The single dose of Ketamine largely decreased suicidal ideation among the patients while also reducing suicidal tendencies for up to a week. However, long-term efficacy is yet to be determined. Overall, Ketamine has been shown to generate anti-suicidal thought processes irrespective of its anti-depressive properties, which itself is a significant breakthrough!

Besides having a significant curative impact on depression, suicidal behavior, and bipolar disorder; Ketamine was also studied for its impact on social anxiety disorder and general anxiety disorder. Six studies that used Ketamine on their patients found that Ketamine when administered at certain doses greatly reduced general anxiety and social anxiety among the participating patients. Surprisingly, patients who initially responded to Ketamine treatment continued to be in remission even after three months of the initial treatment with some help from maintenance treatment. However, the treatment also found that higher doses (1mg/kg) of Ketamine had the most anxiolytic effect although this could induce drug dependency.

A few studies conducted among USA military personnel and other PTSD patients also show promising results. Ketamine largely exhibited relief from PTSD episodes and physical symptoms in a majority of the participants. Additionally, sub-anesthetic doses were also seen to have a promising impact on people with OCD.

While psychedelics have already made a comeback in 2023, it is only a matter of time before FDA-approved treatment approaches with Ketamine and other psychoactive substances become a reality. When it comes to Ketamine, under sub-anesthetic doses, the drug undeniably has curative effects on several mental health disorders.

if you or anyone you know is suffering from mental illness, neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol addiction, brain trauma, cognitive deficiency, or undergoing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, please contact Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678 or The Functional Medicine Center for Personalized Care, LLC (www.FxMedCenters.com) at 201-880-8247 for our Integrative Mind-Body Health services which can greatly help you with holistic mind-body healing.

References:

De Gregorio D, Aguilar-Valles A, Preller KH, Heifets BD, Hibicke M, Mitchell J, Gobbi G. Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and K. J Neurosci. 2021 Feb 3;41(5):891-900. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1659-20.2020. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33257322; PMCID: PMC7880300.

Mandal S, Sinha VK, Goyal N. Efficacy of therapy in the treatment of depression. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019 Sep-Oct;61(5):480-485. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_484_18. PMID: 31579184; PMCID: PMC6767816.

Walsh Z, Mollaahmetoglu OM, Rootman J, Golsof S, Keeler J, Marsh B, Nutt DJ, Morgan CJA. K for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review. BJPsych Open. 2021 Dec 23;8(1):e19. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2021.1061. Erratum in: BJPsych Open. 2022 Jan 18;8(1):e29. PMID: 35048815; PMCID: PMC8715255.

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Well.. I’m here to tell you that if you don’t take care of yourself, things will only get harder and more difficult. The process is essential to our overall wellbeing and the overall wellbeing of our relationships, work, etc. Though it is helpful anytime, Self care works much better when it is proactive rather than reactive. The 45 minute therapy session each week is great start but it is equally important to make sure you are follow through on the changes in your daily life in the other 23 hours out of the day.

How to make time for self care:

1. Prioritize yourself & set a schedule
2. Start with smaller increments of time 10-15 minutes
3. Start with smaller, more managable goals
4. Pick friends who will help hold you accountable
5. Journal/track changes

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and wondering how to take care of oneself properly, please reach out today. We look forward to helping you!

Make an appointment: https://www.specializedtherapy.com/make-an-appointment/

The post Self care is… first appeared on Specialized Therapy.

The post Self care is… appeared first on Specialized Therapy.

• The limits and rules we set for ourselves and within relationships, to protect our well-being
• Knowing our limits in a given situation, knowing what’s acceptable to us,  and what isn’t
• Knowing our values
• Having self-respect, meaning acknowledging our needs, not just another person’s
• Having respect for others, not being self-serving
• Being assertive, saying no without ambiguity

Why are Personal Boundaries important?

• They are a safeguard to overextending yourself.
• They are a self-care practice. 
• They define roles in relationships. 
• They communicate acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in relationships.
• They are parameters for knowing what to expect in relationships. 
• They are a way that you ask people to show up by upholding your needs.
• They are a way to create clarity. 
• They are a way to feel safe. 

How do I know what my Personal Boundaries are and how do I set them?

• Define them
• Examine experiences and notice where boundaries are lacking
• Connect to the intuitive voice (the feelings, sensations in your body, such as feeling pressure in your chest)

Quick Exercise

1. Think about a past, present, or future experience. Example: How do you feel when you think about, say, seeing an old friend?
2. Does your chest tighten? (Think about your feelings, sensations in your body, thoughts)
3. Is there a feeling of resentment leading up to it? (“Ugh I don’t want to go” could be a related thought)
4. How about during the meeting? Do you feel energized, calm, nourished, or depleted, guarded, and limited?

Types of Boundaries

Physical Boundaries

• The amount of personal space, physical contact, that is most comfortable for you and your preferred timing for physical contact
• Your overall comfort with verbal comments on your appearance, sexuality, etc.
• Your overall comfort with sharing your personal space (apartment, bedroom, office, etc.) with others (including friends, partners, colleagues, etc.), sharing personal digital passwords, etc. 

Mental/Emotional Boundaries

• Your overall comfort with sharing your personal thoughts, opinions, and beliefs with others without changing them to match those of another or insisting that others change to match yours
• Your ability to choose which personal thoughts, opinions, and beliefs, you share with others without feeling it necessary to overshare or attempting to insist that they overshare

Resource Boundaries

• Your ability to exercise choice around where and how your time is spent, avoiding any tendency toward people pleasing, etc. and to allow others to have a similar choice
• Your ability to negate personal responsibility for others’ emotions, avoiding the tendency to play the role of “fixer” or to make others responsible for your emotions
• Your ability to limit the amount of time spent on venting problems on the part of either person

Examples:

Physical: Friend makes jokes about other people’s weight

Change needed: You want them to stop

Mental/Emotional: A friend often emotionally dumps about her ex-boyfriend

Change needed: You want a more reciprocal relationship

Resource: Friend insists on a venue closer to their house than to your dwelling

Change needed: You want to meet at a more fair location for consideration of your driving time

Identify the specific commonly crossed boundaries to identify changes you would like to see. Use the following prompts:

My physical self feels uncomfortable/unsafe when _____________ (friend makes comments about my appearance)

To create space for my physical self to feel more comfortable/safe, I_________ (I will no longer be around people who do this)

My mental/emotional self feels uncomfortable/unsafe when _____________ (my family member makes comments about my new health choices)

To create space for my mental/emotional  self to feel more comfortable/safe, I_________ (I will no longer defend, argue about my personal health choices)

My resources feel  uncomfortable/unsafe when _____________ (my cousin call me at all hours to talk)

To create space for my resources to feel more comfortable/safe, I_________ (I will no longer take those calls)

References:

LePera, Nicole. How to do the Work; Recognize your patterns, heal from your past, and create your self: New York, HarperCollins, 2021

Tawwab, Nedra Glover. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A guide to reclaiming yourself: New York, TarcherPerigee, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021

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Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine have recently discovered that sleeping for less than 4.5 hours a night and more than 6.5 hours a night, accompanied by poor sleep quality, can gradually attribute to cognitive decline. However, cognitive decline is not the only major concern for a sleep-deprived individual.

Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can substantially intensify amygdala reactivity to negative emotional stimuli. Amygdala is a complex part of the limbic system that processes emotions such as fear and aggression. In addition, the amygdala plays a pivotal role in decision-making and reward processing.

Amplified activity in the Amygdala makes the sleep-deprived individuals feel negative emotions more strongly while also intensifying an individual’s reactions. Sleep-deprived individuals are more prone to irritability, emotional volatility, anxiety, aggression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide completion. Additionally, sleep deprivation can severely impair the activity of the salience-detection network (amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, and anterior insula), resulting in the inability to accurately interpret visceral emotions and facial expressions on other people. For instance, even a simple harmless glance could be misperceived as a judgmental rejection. Disruption in the salience-detection network results in altered social behavior, mood disorders and can even reduce self-awareness.

Sleep deprivation also severely disrupts the dopaminergic system. Dopamine is associated with the reward center of the brain and just one night of sleeplessness can reduce the availability of D2 and D3 receptors with varying adverse consequences. Changes in dopamine receptors have been associated with impulsiveness and severe inability in decision-making.

Chronic sleep deprivation or insomnia may also result in depression. Several longitudinal studies clearly show that chronic insomnia and alterations in sleep patterns increase the likelihood of depression.

Sleep deprivation can lead to the accumulation of adenosine; a neurotransmitter secreted by astrocytes, a type of glial cell in the brain. This increased build-up of adenosine in the cortex and basal forebrain can sometimes induce a transient mood-altering effect that lasts for up to 48 hours. Although adenosine is certainly necessary for the normal functions of the brain, overproduction and prolonged extracellular accumulation may result in chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and organ damage. This may not only lead to brain fog, but also may attribute to further worsening of adverse impulses and negative emotions. Chronic sleep deprivation thus intensifies negative feelings, induces mood disorders, and can result in reduced self-awareness.

Sleep deprivation can also make you overthink certain memory events of the past and can even alter your memory of negative experiences. The result is sometimes a modified and yet empathically fueled recount of a previous experience that your brain considers accurate. However, in reality, the situation may not even be as bad as you think! This could be a result of disruption in synaptic and memory consolidation attributed to impaired hippocampal cAMP and mTOR signaling. Nonetheless, if you are sleep-deprived, it is time to seek help!

If you or anyone you know may be suffering from sleep disorders or any other mental and physical health concerns, please contact The Functional Medicine Center for Personalized Care, LLC (www.FxMedCenters.com) at 201-880-8247 or Specialized Therapy Associates at 201-488-6678

Ishtiak Ahmed Chowdhury

References:

1. Krause AJ, Simon EB, Mander BA, et al. The sleep-deprived human brain. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2017;18(7):404-418. doi:10.1038/nrn.2017.55

1. Al-Abri MA. Sleep Deprivation and Depression: A bi-directional association. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2015;15(1):e4-e6

3. Havekes R, Abel T. The tired hippocampus: the molecular impact of sleep deprivation on hippocampal function. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2017;44:13-19. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2017.02.005

4. Borea PA, Gessi S, Merighi S, Vincenzi F, Varani K. Pathological overproduction: the bad side of adenosine. Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(13):1945-1960. doi:10.1111/bph.1376

5.  Website: Melatonin: Is it safe for treating insomnia? (specializedtherapy.com)

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What’s hiding in your food? It is a question that has boggled the mind for generations. What was once simply a glance at an easy-to-read list of ingredients has become complex thanks to the addition of food additives. Food additives, despite their widespread use, are detrimental to the health of most people when consumed in the long term. Despite the growing body of research showing that food additives cause more harm than good in many situations, many countries continue to allow them to be used in the food supply. This includes things like artificial sweeteners, preservatives, flavor enhancers, and artificial colors and dyes. Let’s take a look into some of these categories and how they might be affecting your health and the health of your loved ones. 

Food additives are used to improve the taste, texture, color, smell, nutritional value, and shelf life of foods. These all sound like great benefits, right? Wrong! Many of these additives are detrimental to the microbiota that lives within our digestive system. These microbes are responsible for several essential functions including maintaining the integrity and health of the lining of the GI tract, maintaining a healthy immune system, synthesizing hormones, regulating blood sugar, and even protecting against heart disease — our #1 killer in both men and women in the United States.

Artificial sweeteners, also known to some as non-nutritive sweeteners, are one of the most common food additives. They are present in foods marketed for weight loss or as being sugar-free options for those with conditions such as diabetes. They are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar when compared gram for gram. They were once thought to be a healthier option as they were providing all of the taste without the calories or blood sugar spike. This, we now know, is not true. They have actually been shown to impair glucose tolerance when used consistently over time. 

One animal model showed that an 11-week exposure to either saccharin (Sweet N Low), sucralose (Splenda), or aspartame (Equal), was associated with impaired glucose control following this trial. This change in glucose control is a detrimental side effect, especially in those who are looking to use these products as a way to control their blood sugars. Similarly, researchers demonstrated that 8 weeks of exposure to artificial sweeteners equating to 2-3 diet sodas per day disturbed the gut microbiota and resulted in impaired insulin tolerance in rats. What does this mean for us as humans? Drinking diet drinks or sodas regularly may impair the gut microbiome to the point that insulin is not optimally tolerated resulting in issues with blood sugar, weight gain, inflammation, and even conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

What is a better option for artificial sweeteners? Using natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, and date sugar in moderation have more benefits nutritionally as well as at the biochemical level in the body. These are derived from naturally occurring whole foods and are much easier for the body to process. Stevia is derived from the Stevia plant, but often contains other sugar alcohols, starches, and natural flavors. A recently published study also demonstrated that Stevia, although derived from a natural source, may still disrupt health-promoting intestinal flora. Aim to eat sugars in their whole and natural forms where they are packed with fiber and other vitamins and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables. 

Flavor enhancers are used to magnify the flavor of foods and ingredients to make them stronger and more appealing to the consumer. Monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG, is a common flavor enhancer and is used largely in packaged and processed foods such as broths and flavoring mixes, boullions, and especially in Asian-inspired cooking and dishes. The presence of MSG in the standard American diet (SAD) along with the added fats in processed and packaged foods has shown to be a detriment to the health of those consuming these types of food products. 

MSG increases the savory taste effect of fats in the foods leading to an increased craving and biological want for these foods. Long-term consumption of foods containing MSG can alter a person’s sensitivity to a hormone called leptin. Leptin is the hormone that tells the brain “I’m full”. If sensitivity to this hormone is lost, overeating is bound to happen, and following that weight gain and lifestyle diseases that come along with it. Through its mechanism of action within the body, MSG also increases inflammation, impairs glucose tolerance, increases insulin secretion, and can lead to issues with the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, liver, and more. It’s best to steer clear of this additive by limiting processed and packaged foods as much as possible. Choose only packed and processed foods when needed and look for a shortlist of ingredients, all of which you can pronounce/ identify! 

Another major category of food additives is artificial colors (AFCs). Artificial colors are prevalent in almost all processed foods in the United States. They are found in cereals, soups, slices of bread, pickles, coffee creamers — everywhere! There is even one specific dye, Citrus Red #2, that is used specifically to color the skins of oranges. That’s right — they’re even in your fruits! They are heavily used in packaged foods marketed to children as the colors are more appealing to children as well as the parents. Are these artificial colors really that dangerous or are we ok to keep buying the kid’s favorite fruit loops cereal? 

Research has shown that artificial colors and dyes have detrimental effects on both children and adults. They have been shown to alter the gut microbiome and are correlated with issues such as IBS, ADD, ADHD, and more. The link between artificial food colors and gastrointestinal and neurological side effects goes back to the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some common reactions to food colors and dyes can be both allergic (immediate and deadly in nature), and non-allergic hypersensitivity (delayed reaction, non-life-threatening). The link between gut health and the effects of AFCs is somewhat of a ‘chicken or egg’ situation meaning that it is unclear still if the dyes are causing issues with the health of the GI or if weakened integrity of the gut lining allows dyes through and into the bloodstream where they cause immune reactions resulting in negative signs and symptoms. 

One study reported that children who were administered antibiotics early in infancy were significantly more likely to have ADHD-type symptoms than those children in the control group. As we know, antibiotics are great at killing off any bad or unwanted bacteria in the gut. Unfortunately, they also kill off the beneficial bacteria that produce things like neurotransmitters and short-chain fatty acids, absorb vitamins and minerals, and even synthesize some vitamins. 

This is why it is so important to eat a whole foods diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, and lean meats. This way of eating allows for the microbiome to flourish. Good bacteria feed off of prebiotic fiber found in plant foods. If we take care of these good bacteria, they take care of us! They regulate our hormones including serotonin, melatonin, and insulin. They also play a major role in our immune system — keeping us strong and healthy. And lastly, they aid in weight management and reducing the risks associated with being overweight such as diabetes and heart disease. 

Making the switch to a whole foods diet can be daunting, but it will lead you to a longer, healthier, and happier life! If you are looking to make some changes but don’t know where to start, we are here to help! Contact us to get started on your path to wellness today! Together we can find what’s hiding in your food!

If you have mental or physical concerns contact specialized therapy at 201-488-6678 and contact The Functional Medicine centers for Personalized Care, LLC www.FxMedCenters.com at 201-880-8247.

References

Banerjee, A., Mukherjee, S., & Maji, B. K. (2021). Worldwide flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate combined with high lipid diet provokes metabolic alterations and systemic anomalies: An overview. Toxicology reports, 8, 938–961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.04.009

Gultekin, F., Oner, M. E., Savas, H. B., & Dogan, B. (2019). Food additives and microbiota. Northern Clinics of Istanbul, 7(2), 192–200. https://doi.org/10.14744/nci.2019.92499

Pepino M. Y. (2015). Metabolic effects of non-nutritive sweeteners. Physiology & behavior, 152(Pt B), 450–455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.06.024

Rinninella, E., Cintoni, M., Raoul, P., Gasbarrini, A., & Mele, M. C. (2020). Food Additives, Gut Microbiota, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Hidden Track. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(23), 8816. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph172388169

Stevens, L. J., Kuczek, T., Burgess, J. R., Stochelski, M. A., Arnold, L. E., & Galland, L. (2013). Mechanisms of behavioral, atopic, and other reactions to artificial food colors in children. Nutrition reviews, 71(5), 268–281. https://doi.org/10.1111/nure.12023

The post What’s hiding in your food? The Dangers of Food additives first appeared on Specialized Therapy.

The post What’s hiding in your food? The Dangers of Food additives appeared first on Specialized Therapy.

When friends break up, life might seem hard. I am not talking about a romantic breakup. In this post I want to focus on a different kind of breakup; when friendships end. Sometimes friendships end with a big falling out. Sometimes it’s more gradual; life gets in the way and friends slowly drift apart – what used to be hanging out all the time shifts to “we should hang out sometime!” or even just birthday messages on social media, if that.

No matter how the breakup happens, the ending of a friendship hurts! We want and expect to keep our friendships for life. It’s jarring when we no longer have that friend to share that perfect joke with, go to THAT concert with, or tell secrets to.

When coping with the loss of a friendship it is important to view it for what it is – a loss! Just as with any other loss it is natural to experience grief and go through feelings of anger, sadness, missing them, and questioning things you could have or should have done differently. It is important to take care of yourself in the same ways you would any other loss: use social and family support, self-care, and self-compassion. Try to get away from the “what-ifs” and use the experience to understand yourself better. Why did you react a certain way? If it happened again, how would you like to see yourself behave? What did you learn was important to you and what is best left behind?

The ending of a friendship can also be a good time to reflect on the quality of the relationship – was it healthy, unhealthy, or somewhere in between? This is an opportunity to be introspective and focus on the relationship with yourself and others in your life. Do you need to apologize to anyone? Improve communication? Spend more quality time with others? Have better boundaries? Were you proud of yourself for certain qualities that you could do more of in the future?

Don’t discount the importance of taking the time you need to feel your feelings, evaluate what is important to you and how you want to move forward in your other relationships. Self-care will make us ready to be better friends and form more solid, long-lasting friendships in the future.

Call STA  201-488-6678 if you want to learn how to deal with the changes life throws at you and learn to become a better friend to those around you.  Together we can help you deal with any breakup you might deal with.

The post What to Do When Friends “Breakup” first appeared on Specialized Therapy.

The post What to Do When Friends “Breakup” appeared first on Specialized Therapy.