Greetings!
| In
this issue... |
 |
|
|
| Does the Change of Seasons Make You SAD? |
 |
For many of us, fall is officially upon us. In the
Northeast, a chill is in the air and the days are
getting shorter and shorter. As the initial excitement
of the change of seasons wears off and the cold,
dreary days outnumber the ones filled with sunshine,
nearly half a million Americans will experience a type
of winter depression known as Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD). |
What Causes SAD?
SAD is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the
hypothalamus of the brain. It is believed that due to
the shortening of the daytime hours and the lack of
sunlight, SAD
sufferers produce increased levels of the sleep
hormone Melatonin, which in turn results in depressed
moods. The severity of symptoms of SAD
can vary drastically from person to person. Some
people experience only mild discomfort (commonly
called the winter blues) while others become
completely debilitated.
Symptoms
- Development and reoccurrence of symptoms
beginning between September and November and
lasting until March or April
- Sleep problems including increased fatigue,
difficulty staying awake, and unrefreshing sleep
- Lethargy
- Carbohydrate cravings, sometimes with
associated weight gain
- Decreased libido
- Anxiety
- Aversion to social contact
- Depression
- Mood changes
Treatments
Light Therapy: Many people with SAD
find
relief from light therapy alone. While going out in the
sun might help those with the winter blues, a
high-intensity light box designed specifically to treat
SAD
is usually required. These boxes contain bulbs that
are at least ten times more intense than ordinary
lights. Light therapy should be done on a daily basis
from the time the first symptoms appear until the
time they abate. Consult with your doctor about the
proper intensity and shop around online to find the
appropriate light box for you.
Antidepressants: Although many
types of
antidepressants have proven useless in treating SAD,
non-sedative SSRIs have been effective.
Antidepressants should be used in conjunction with
light therapy because, while they help treat the
depressive symptoms, they do not address the
increase in melatonin.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is
useful
when combined with either or both light therapy and
antidepressants because it can help sufferers cope
with their illness.
Exposure to Natural Sunlight: On
sunny
days, try to get outside and soak in some rays. The
more exposure SAD sufferers can get to direct
sunlight, the better.
What to Do If You Suspect You Have
SAD
Contact your primary care physician to discuss
treatment options. Research has shown light therapy
treatment to be effective within three to four days
so the sooner you address your symptoms, the
sooner you can start getting some relief!
Top
of newsletter |
| Tips To Avoid Holiday Overeating |
|
Soon the invitations to holiday gatherings will begin
to arrive and with their arrival the good intentions of
eating sensibly. Most of us find it difficult to resist
the culinary temptations offered during the season.
The tendency to overeat at parties is so common
that we may even be resigned to the fact that it has
to be that way. Not necessarily! Some simple
planning ahead may be the key to eating reasonably
at these events and still enjoying the festivities. Try
these tips before heading out to the get-together.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and help
you feel less hungry.
- Don’t skip meals during the day or you will set
yourself up to overeat.
- Get some exercise during the day. It will help
suppress your appetite.
- Eat a healthy high-fiber snack at home before
heading out. Don't arrive starving.
- Allow yourself to indulge in small amounts of one
or two of your favorite foods.
- Pay attention to what you are putting in your
mouth. If you don’t really enjoy it, don’t eat it.
- Stand next to a healthy offering of vegetables or
other nutritious dishes and make sure to sample
it.
- Slow down and really enjoy the taste. Resist the
urge to scarf it down.
- Don't deprive yourself, but make sure you are
enjoying the food.
- Choose beverages with reasonable
calories.
- Enjoy the company of family and
friends, not
just the food.
- Concentrate on the
conversations.
- Take a walk and get some
fresh air. This
may reduce your cravings.
- Forgive yourself if you do overindulge, you
will do better next time.
Top
of newsletter
|
| Dear Dr. B.: My Husband is Having an Affair |
|
Dear Dr. B.:
I am the mother of two very young children and have
been married for eight years. Over the past year, I
suspected that my husband was having an affair.
Every time I brought it up, he denied it and said I
was paranoid and ridiculous. Even when I found some
evidence (phone calls, emails, etc.) he said I was
insecure and that it was a friend of his who is
married and they were just joking, etc. I didn't
believe him, but then I started to second guess
myself - thinking maybe I was paranoid and feeling
very insecure. Three weeks ago, I got a phone call
from a woman who said she has been seeing my
husband for almost two years and that I should know
that he is lying to both of us, as he told her he was
going to leave me for her. She said she is through
with him and I can have him, but that she wanted
me to know what is going on behind my back. When I
confronted my husband he finally admitted it and
apologized up and down. He says he is sorry and
wants to work it out, but I don't think I can ever
trust him again. I am worried about being alone,
especially with two
small children and I don't work, but I know that
shouldn't be a reason to stay. I keep thinking about
how bad he made me feel and how much he lied.
What do you think?
- CW
Dear CW;
Your letter illustrates all too well the ways in which
an affair can undermine a marriage. The feelings of
betrayal and rejection that come from knowing your
spouse has become involved with another person are
difficult enough to bear. However, another layer of
betrayal can occur when like your husband, the
unfaithful spouse attempts to cover things up.
Instead of admitting to his infidelity, your husband
compounded the harm, by continuing to lie and even
worse, by implying that you were the one with the
problem. Consequently, for many people in your
situation, the
cover-up can feel even more hurtful
than the affair itself.
It must have been very painful to receive that call
from your husband's girlfriend. Knowing that your
husband wasn't the one to end the affair, you have
every right now to question his sincerity and level of
motivation. Unfortunately, it is going to take time for
you to determine whether he is truly willing and able
to repair his relationship with you.
All that being said, an affair does not have to mean
the end of a marriage. I have worked with many
couples who have repaired and even strengthened
their relationships following the discovery of an
extra-marital relationship. Doing so requires hard
work and
a high level of commitment from both parties.
Although it may not seem possible to you now,
forgiveness and the restoration of trust can occur,
but only if the unfaithful spouse takes full
responsibility for the damage he or she has done.
Janis A. Spring, a longtime colleague of mine, has
written "After the Affair", a book that offers a very
positive model for repairing marriages after infidelity.
It may not be preferable to remain in an abusive or
highly dysfunctional relationship simply because there
are children involved. However, the fact that you
have
children is a very good reason for you and your
husband to work hard at saving the marriage. Your
children are likely to be better off if you can repair
the relationship. I recommend that you find a mental
health professional with experience in marital therapy
to help the two of you rebuild trust and restore
intimacy.
Dr. Richard Bedrosian is a clinical psychologist,
president and founder of MySelfHelp.com, Associate
in Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts
Medical School, and author of “Treating Family of
Origin Problems: A Cognitive Approach”.
Send your
questions for Dr. B. to
info@myselfhelp.com. You will remain anonymous if
your question is printed in an upcoming newsletter.
We regret that we cannot answer every question we
receive.
Top
of newsletter
|
| CBS News is Looking for People to Interview |
|
Erica Zolberg, a producer for CBS News, is producing
a story about compulsive shopping. If you have used
the MySelfHelp.com Compulsive Shopping program
and now have your shopping under some degree of
control, she would welcome the chance to speak to
you about your experiences (you can choose to
remain anonymous). Please contact us at info@myselfhelp.com and we will give you her
contact information.
Top
of newsletter |
| Calendar of Upcoming Events |
|
16th Annual Renfrew Center Foundation
Conference for Professionals
November 9-12
Philadelphia, PA
"Enhancing Treatment with Internet Self-Help
Programs"
Workshop presented by Dr.
Richard Bedrosian
Annual Renfrew Center
Foundation Conference for Professionals
Sunday, Nov. 12
NEDA Leadership Dinner Fundraising
Event
Emceed by Al Roker and honoring
CNN’s Paula Zahn, Clear Channel Communications VP
Joel Delmonico, Doug Bunnell, PhD, and Nell Lanman.
American Idol Runner Up Katharine McPhee will
perform.
November 29, 2006
Essex House,
Manhattan, NY
For information and tickets contact 212-752-4770 or
email: neda@lincoln21.com.
Top
of newsletter |
|
| Be
Sure to Receive Future Newsletters: Add Us to Your Address
Book |
|
|
To be sure that your ISP recognizes MySelfHelp.com as a
trusted and reputable site, please add info@MySelfHelp.com
to your address book and trusted/approved sender list.
Top
of newsletter |
| |
|
|
MySelfHelp.com Joins with HealthMedia |
|
Ted Dacko, CEO and President of HealthMedia
MySelfHelp.com is pleased to announce that we have
formally become part of HealthMedia, Inc., the global
leader in the online delivery of behavior change
interventions for wellness, disease management,
medication compliance, and behavioral health. Under
the new structure, MySelfHelp will continue to
provide our programs directly to individuals and
organizations and to support our growing member
community, which will benefit from increased service
levels.
HealthMedia delivers online solutions to leading
companies, health plans, behavioral health
organizations, and pharmaceutical companies
throughout the world.
HealthMedia programs help
individuals improve their health behaviors related to
issues such as obesity, stress, smoking, nutrition,
chronic illness, and specific conditions such as
diabetes, back pain, and hypertension.
“We have great respect for HealthMedia’s
programming and the tremendous
outcomes their participants have achieved through
the wellness, disease management, and medication
compliance programs," said Dr. Richard Bedrosian,
president and founder of MySelfHelp.com. "The spirit,
values, and
constructs that power the MySelfHelp interventions
are consistent with those at HealthMedia. We are
thrilled to become a core component of their
programming.”
"Diseases such as obesity, diabetes and tobacco
addiction are frequently marked by insomnia,
depression and anxiety, making it critical that a
health care provider offer both physical and mental
health programs," said Ted Dacko, president and CEO
of HealthMedia. "HealthMedia’s aggressive growth,
depth of experience, and expanded offerings make us the source for online behavior change
interventions across the entire care management
continuum—health plans, employers, pharmaceutical
companies, and behavioral health organizations,”
Learn More About HealthMedia |
|
