Month: June 2014

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Lindner Center of HOPE Social Worker To Provide Presentation on Stress and the Family System
At Twelfth Evening with the Expert Talk

Mason, OH – On Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at the Mason Community Center from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Michael O’Hearn, MSW, LISW-S, Clinical Director, Lindner Center of HOPE Center for Stress Related Disorders will present Stress and the family system. The presentation is open to the public and is offered at no charge. During this presentation, attendees will be educated on the basics of family systems theory, on how stress impacts immune functioning, how stress affects family system functioning and how to cope for stress reduction.

This presentation is the twelfth in a series being offered as part of Lindner Center of HOPE’s five-year anniversary educational outreach. Lindner Center of HOPE has partnered with the City of Mason to offer a free special educational speakers series to members of the public. The series, “Evening with the Experts: Expert discussion of mental health, addictions and mental wellness with Lindner Center of HOPE clinicians” takes place the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mason Community Center. The series began August 14, 2013 and continues through August 13, 2014. Details about the schedule can be found at lindnercenterofhope.org/experts.

Lindner Center of HOPE’s mission includes education about mental health issues, while the City of Mason’s mission includes facilitating wellness.

Lindner Center of HOPE provides excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults and adolescents, intensive outpatient program for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

Contact:

Jennifer Pierson
Lindner Center of HOPE
(513) 536 -0316
[email protected]

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Mason, OH – On Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at the Mason Community Center from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Michael O’Hearn, MSW, LISW-S, Clinical Director, Lindner Center of HOPE Center for Stress Related Disorders will present Stress and the family system. The presentation is open to the public and is offered at no charge. During this presentation, attendees will be educated on the basics of family systems theory, on how stress impacts immune functioning, how stress affects family system functioning and how to cope for stress reduction.

This presentation is the twelfth in a series being offered as part of Lindner Center of HOPE’s five-year anniversary educational outreach. Lindner Center of HOPE has partnered with the City of Mason to offer a free special educational speakers series to members of the public. The series, “Evening with the Experts: Expert discussion of mental health, addictions and mental wellness with Lindner Center of HOPE clinicians” takes place the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mason Community Center. The series began August 14, 2013 and continues through August 13, 2014. Details about the schedule can be found at lindnercenterofhope.org/experts.

Lindner Center of HOPE’s mission includes education about mental health issues, while the City of Mason’s mission includes facilitating wellness.

Lindner Center of HOPE provides excellent, patient-centered, scientifically-advanced care for individuals suffering with mental illness. A state-of-the-science, mental health center and charter member of the National Network of Depression Centers, the Center provides psychiatric hospitalization and partial hospitalization for individuals age 12-years-old and older, outpatient services for all ages, diagnostic and short-term residential services for adults and adolescents, intensive outpatient program for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders for adults and research. The Center is enhanced by its partnership with UC Health as its clinicians are ranked among the best providers locally, nationally and internationally. Together Lindner Center of HOPE and UC Health offer a true system of mental health care in the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country. The Center is also affiliated with the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine.

Contact:

Jennifer Pierson
Lindner Center of HOPE
(513) 536 -0316
[email protected]

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Millions of individuals live each day in fear – not of an actual physical threat, but imaginary dangers, remembered trauma, inanimate objects, or something as simple as walking outside their front door.

The most common psychiatric illnesses today are anxiety disorders.  Estimates place the number of affected Americans at up to 40 million. At least 18% of adults and 13% of children suffer from some type of anxiety disorder in a given year.

The Nature of Anxiety Disorders

We all experience brief moments of anxiety during stress.  In order to be considered an actual disorder, anxiety symptoms must be intense and frequent.

Mental health professionals recognize six different types of anxiety disorders:

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder – continual disturbing thoughts and/or the need to perform ritualistic behaviors;
  • Generalized anxiety disorder – excessive, unrealistic worry or tension without apparent cause;
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder – frightening thoughts and memories after a traumatic event, often with emotional numbing;
  • Social anxiety disorder – overwhelming self-consciousness or phobia about being in social situations;
  • Panic disorder – sudden feelings of terror, often with incapacitating physical symptoms;
  • Specific phobias – intense fears of specific situations or objects.

Excessive fears or feelings of dread are common to all types of anxiety disorders.

Common Symptoms

While clusters of symptoms vary with the type of anxiety disorder, individuals with severe anxiety may experience:

  • Persistent feelings of panic, fear, or dread;
  • Obsessive thoughts;
  • Ritualistic, compulsive behaviors;
  • Flashbacks to traumatic experiences;
  • Feelings of losing control;
  • Frequent nightmares;
    • Intense fears in public situation;
    • Intense fears of certain objects or activities;
    • Physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, heart palpitations, nausea, muscle tension, dizziness, or dry mouth.

Causes and Risk Factors

Many factors may influence the development of an anxiety disorder.  They include genetic tendencies as well as such environmental factors as repeated exposure to stressful events or one major traumatic event. Even certain medications, including antihistamines, oral contraceptives, and insulin, have been found to trigger anxiety.  As with most mental illnesses, anxiety disorders appear to develop from an interaction of many medical, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.

Anxiety disorders can affect anyone and often occur in conjunction with other physical and mental illnesses. Women are diagnosed with anxiety disorders more frequently than men.  No differences in prevalence have been noted across races or cultures.

Anxiety Treatment

Treatment of anxiety can greatly reduce or eliminate symptoms in most individuals.  Primary treatments for most anxiety disorders include medication and psychotherapy.  Treatment can usually be provided on an outpatient basis, although brief residential or inpatient treatment is sometimes needed, depending upon the individual’s unique needs.

Medications used to treat anxiety disorders include a variety of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the preferred type of psychotherapy for severe anxiety.  Through therapy, patients learn to recognize unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors associated with their anxiety and to change both faulty thinking patterns and their reactions to “trigger” situations.

In addition to medication and psychotherapy, treatment may include relaxation therapy, changes in diet and lifestyle, and education on the illness for both patients and their families.

While anxiety disorders cannot be prevented, people can often reduce symptoms by limiting caffeine consumption, avoiding over-stimulating medications or supplements, and seeking immediate support or counseling after a traumatic experience.

Through proper treatment and symptom management, millions of individuals affected by anxiety disorders can lead fulfilling lives again.