Overdose Warning Issued For Anti-Anxiety Meds

Anxiety issues are something we cover frequently. We know how common and crippling they can be and how people have found comfort through certain prescription medications. Well, last month some of those products came under fire due a drastic increase in the amount of overdoses they’ve been causing. Just like opioids; the initial intent behind these drugs is good, but they can also easily become habit-forming and abused.

Interestingly, painkillers and anti-anxiety meds do have somewhat of an intertwined connection. Research gathered by DrugAbuse.com showed that over the past three years, 23 percent of the people who died from opioid overdoses also tested positive for benzodiazepines (which include anxiety and insomnia drugs like Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin). There is also the alarming stat of 14 million “benzo” prescriptions last year, which is double the amount from a decade ago.

Naturally this is making the conversation shift when it comes to prescription regulations. Though the opioid epidemic is receiving a large share of news coverage (as it properly should), benzo abuse has yet to hit the mainstream radar. That may soon change, according to a new article on TheFix.com.

Several prominent researchers and scientists are speaking out about benzo abuse, hoping to avoid a widespread catastrophe like what has been seen with the opioid crisis. Dr. Anna Lembke, an addiction specialist at Stanford University, urged Fix readers to start spreading the word about the potential dangers of anti-anxiety meds.

“We have this whole infrastructure set up now to prevent overprescribing of opioids and address the need for addiction treatment,” she explained on the site. “We need to start making benzos part of that. What we’re seeing is just like what happened with opioids in the 1990s. It really does begin with overprescribing.”

Other advocates have spoken out in support of benzodiazepines, illustrating that they have shown true success when it comes to anxiety and insomnia problems. But almost everyone agrees that they should be used as short-term solutions and not an ongoing prescription that is constantly being refilled.

And the fact that they are quite easy to attain worries people like Dr. Lembke.

“When taken in combination with painkillers or illicit narcotics, benzodiazepines can increase the likelihood of a fatal overdose as much as tenfold,” she added. “With heightened public awareness of the nation’s opioid epidemic, state and local officials should really insist that these anti-anxiety meds start sharing some of the scrutiny.”

‘YouTube’ Becomes Outlet For Mental Health Struggles

The modern age is certainly upon us and with that, are dozens of new outlets for people to share their feelings and find support. One interesting avenue is the video sharing social network, YouTube. With billions of users and clips on every topic imaginable, the site has become a haven for self-expression. And that includes those who deal with mental health struggles, such as anxiety and depression. In fact, some of the world’s most successful YouTubers have gained notoriety for their honest vlog confessionals.

The digital news site Engadget covered this trend recently, in an insightful article that profiled the public issues of YouTube’s top talent. Elle Mills, a popular vlogger with 1.4 million subscribers, recently opened up about the ongoing pressures in her life and how it has been affecting her mental state.

“My life just changed so fast,” she explained in the biographical video. “My anxiety and depression keeps getting worse and worse. This [online fame] is all I ever wanted, and why the f**k am I so freaking unhappy? It doesn’t make any sense. It’s so stupid. It is so stupid.”

Other major stars on the channel, such as Casey Neistat and PewDiePie, have also recorded long confessionals detailing their mental health struggles. Interestingly it’s these types of clips that have  proven to be their most viral, reaching millions upon millions of viewers across the globe.

The article goes on to detail how success on a social network like YouTube can actually contribute to some of these issues. As people become more popular, the pressure often increases to deliver quick, compelling clips (all without a regular salaried paycheck). There are also concerns when it comes to video comments. We are all aware of “internet trolls.” And the more popular someone becomes online, the more likely they are to be the subject of hateful language. This, in turn, can lead to depression and serious self-esteem issues.

YouTube the company (which happens to be part of Google) is aware of the problem and is starting to take proactive steps to help users detailing their struggles online. Efforts are currently underway to provide video creators with mental health services and at company-funded events like VidCon, there will now be on site support groups.

While we fully support people turning to the web as a therapeutic support system, we also encourage them to explore in-person treatment options. If you or someone you are close to is expressing dark feelings online, now is the time to seek out help.

Hot Weather May Impact Anxiety Levels

If you live near our facility in Woodland Hills, then you’ve certainly been experience an excruciating California heat wave this July. Temperatures have hit triple digits for consecutive days, which can not only be physically daunting but create emotional issues as well. In fact, recent research has shown that warm weather can actually trigger the symptoms of anxiety.

The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology helped put this research together, which we found to be particularly interesting. One common trait relates to panic attacks. Traditionally, these types of anxiety episodes occur when someone is overwhelmed or upset. The physical manifestations include things like profuse sweating, shaking, shortness of breath and feeling faint. Sound familiar? Of course, because intense heat triggers those types of feelings as well.

“Summer can be especially anxiety-producing for those who have experienced panic attacks in the past,” psychotherapist Ellen Yom told the site, The Insider. “When your body becomes too hot, you may experience symptoms similar to those of an anxiety disorder. If you do not take care of yourself when the weather is hot, you may find your anxiety symptoms escalating.”

Scorching heat can also “fool the brain,” according to psychiatrist Carlene MacMillan. Heart rates and breathing are most certainly impacted by warm weather. In these instances, those prone to anxiety may believe in their mind that these are the symptoms of a panic attack (instead of traditional heat exhaustion). Increased humidity has also been shown to limit concentration levels, creating stress and uneasiness for sensitive people.

And let’s not forget another big issue that coincides with a hot summer: Lack of Sleep. Balmy nights (similar to what we experienced earlier this month) can certainly make it uncomfortable when you are trying to get eight hours of rest. This too can have a serious physical and emotional toll. Oregon professor Dr. Alfred Lewy, who was also interviewed for the article, said that hot nights with no sleep can affect mental health and even trigger depression.

“The body’s natural clock, it’s circadian rhythms, are misaligning in summer,” he explained. “Instead of cueing to dawn, the longer daylight is causing some vulnerable people to cue to dusk. Cueing to dusk shortens the typical body clock and delays a person’s sleep-wake cycle. This mismatch may be triggering depression.”

Of course, there are ways to combat these issues. Recommendations to avoid “summer anxiety” include staying indoors (whenever possible), following the body’s natural cues, eating a good diet and staying hydrated.

Online Dating May Impact Mental Health

In today’s day and age, online dating has become the norm. And why shouldn’t it be? Finding new ways to find love and support is certainly something society should welcome. But it should be noted that certain negative trends have been associated with digital dating too, particularly when it comes to mental health and self-esteem.

Let’s face it, dating in itself can be difficult for one’s ego. There is always that fear of rejection, the potential love games that come into play and the anxieties of trying impress a new mate. But could romance sites and apps be making those experiences even worse? That is what a new study provided by The American Psychological Association is saying.

Using 2016 info that polled 1,044 women and 273 men, researchers found that online daters can often experience anguish and low self worth. Certain specific data pointed to the popular app Tinder.

“We found that being actively involved with Tinder, regardless of the user’s gender, was associated with body dissatisfaction, body shame, body monitoring, internalization of societal expectations of beauty, comparing oneself physically to others, and reliance on media for information on appearance and attractiveness,” study co-author Jessica Strübel, PhD told the site. “Tinder users reported having lower levels of satisfaction with their faces and bodies and having lower levels of self-worth than the men and women who did not use Tinder.”

Women were the primary focus of the research, but the results most certainly carried over to men. Being rejected by a suitor online was also shown to lead to deep anguish. Plus, negative trolling comments and the general fast-paced denials that can happen in these scenarios makes the situation even worse. And let’s keep in mind that an app like Tinder is accessed by over 50 million active users.

The other noteworthy component to come out of the study was the link between dating apps and tech addiction. This too can have a serious impact on mental health; leading to isolation, lost work and problems on the homefront. CNN Health went on to add a stat that claimed that 15% of the singles on Match.com admitted to being dependent on their devices.

And this type of behavior can have serious repercussions. “People who self-described as having really addictive-style behaviors toward the Internet and cellphones scored much higher on depression and anxiety scales,” psychology professor Alejandro Lleras told CNN.

These are all important factors to keep in mind, especially if you find yourself continually drawn to web devices. If any of these symptoms sound or feel familiar to you, reach out and let us know how we can help.

Exposing The Truth About Social Anxiety

This week, we’re tipping our hat to The Huffington Post. The famed news site, which is read by millions, put a very important story on its homepage. And sadly, this is a story that is all too often missed by the mainstream media. We are talking about Social Anxiety and the very real phobias that impact a large percentage of people in this country.

The HuffPo headline reads: Social Anxiety Doesn’t Get The Attention It Deserves. And that couldn’t ring more true. First we get the surprising stat. Did you know that over 15 million Americans suffer from this issue? And, for the most part, they suffer in silence.

Several case studies were used throughout the article, highlighting everyday people who find “simple tasks” excruciating. Sophie Trapani, for example, would convulse and literally shut down whenever she would have to speak in front of people. This led to her losing work, shying away from friends and even distancing herself from her family. In truth, it all becomes a vicious cycle where people get stuck in isolation.

Common fears include being judged, being rejected by peers or being confronted by dangerous people. These may not all be “rational” to the everyday person, but they are daily reality for those suffering from fear. Social anxiety can also overlap with other issues, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression or panic attacks. Worse yet, people afflicted by this are often labeled as “shy” and not taken seriously.

The article goes on to highlight the enablers of the modern world and how, in today’s day and age, it is much easier to retreat and not face your problems. Social media and the web, for example, can allow people to hide even more and go undiagnosed.

We understand that this is a very serious issue and actually have treatment options for people suffering from this affliction. The most important thing a person can do, is recognize the symptoms of social anxiety. And it is just as important for a person’s network of family and friends to acknowledge it too and, perhaps, step in if help is needed.

“It is rather easy for those who do not understand or experience the condition to ignore or marginalize the disorder,” clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly told HuffPo. “As a result, those who suffer from social anxiety often feel as if they are outcasts ― as if they do not measure up. A therapist or psychiatrist can help you work through the worst of it.”

We couldn’t agree more and are happy to help anyone suffering from this take the first step to wellness.