Stress Archives - Freedom Psychiatry

Your morning alarm blares from the night stand next to as you scramble to turn it off. It’s the beginning of a new day and immediately your mind races with thoughts of meetings, deadlines, and “to-dos”. Notifications from Twitter, Facebook, and your E-mail come flooding in only to add to your tension.

It’s only 6am and you’re overwhelmed…sound familiar?

For many people, this routine is normal.

Thanks to technology and our inability to disconnect, it feels like there’s no break from stress. We’ve come to accept stress as
part of our culture. In fact, some people wear it like a badge of pride because stressed out people are successful, hard-working people-right?

Maybe. But, you don’t have to let stress lead you down the path to exhaustion and mental burnout in order to be successful. Even though stress might seem harmless, it can have a big impact on your health and wellness.

Some stress is good stress.

Stress has been a part of life since the dawn of time-literally! Our human ancestors developed the fight-or-flight response for safety. They used it to escape danger or fight off predators. It was, as the name suggested, associated with survival situations where you could fight or flight.

We all still have the fight or flight response. It’s part of what keeps us safe from dangers even today. It’s through the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, the ‘fight or flight’ response has rapid effects on multiple bodily systems. Increased heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, sweat, and loss of focus are just a few physical symptoms.

These symptoms are usually temporary and sometimes essential for our wellbeing. What if you accidentally walked into a cross walk and a car zoomed by? You might experience all of the physical symptoms because of the hormone release, but you jumped back (without thinking) because of your flight-or-fight response. This type of temporary stress is normal and is not considered an illness.

How much stress is too much?

When your stress response becomes prolonged (or chronic), it has a much different effect on your body. Consequently, long-term stress can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Chronic stress has been linked to increased heart rate, high blood pressure,forgetfulness, weight gain, and a variety of other negative conditions. Unfortunately, people who experience long-term stress are more likely to experience increased anxiety and depression. Stress can impact the way you deal with emotions and behaviors.

PTSD and Stress

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur in people who’ve experience a traumatic event. PTSD can cause stress, anxiety, and the build up of many other physical and mental health conditions.

One small exposure to trauma can lead to PTSD.

Something that might seem like a “small trauma” to one person could lead to PTSD in another. This is why it’s essential to receive a personal evaluation so you can get on the road to wellness.

Dr. Madaram is here to help you navigate life’s challenges. He takes a holistic approach to healing that will help you manage stress in your life. Call today!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in those who’ve experienced trauma, a dramatic situation, or dangerous event. It’s natural to feel scared, shocked, and anxious after a traumatic event. In fact, the body’s ‘flight-or-flight’ response is meant to protect a person from harm.

There’s a wide range of reaction to trauma.

A lot of people recover from trauma naturally but, for those who don’t, PTSD might develop. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misconceptions surrounding PTSD and those who suffer. Here’s what you need to know.

Time Heals All

Trauma Trauma can linger for decades beyond the initial experience. It can interfere with your daily life and growth. For some, untreated trauma can become part of their identity over the years. Someone with symptoms of PTSD should not rely on time as a healing mechanism.

Only The Weak Develop PTSD

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Though it’s unknown why some people develop PTSD and other don’t, inner strength has nothing to do with it. PTSD is a disorder that should be treated by a qualified professional.

I Should Be Able To Control This Alone

Wrong! This type of thinking adds to the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. You wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor for a broken ankle, and you shouldn’t hesitate to get help for PTSD either.

Certain groups are more reluctant to reach out than others-especially men. No one should suffer alone. Dr. Madaram is a member of the military himself. He has a special interest in military personnel and veterans who suffer with depression, anxiety, PTSD and other disorders that interfere with their lives.

Technology is commonly a top gift for the holidays- especially for our youth. Popular iPads, phones, computers, and video games made their way under trees across America this holiday season but research shows they could be doing more harm than good.

A recent National Institutes of Health study found in early testing significant differences in brain chemistry for kids who had at least seven hours of screen time a day compared to kids who used screens less. It’s time to address the issue of screen time in your family and develop a healthy relationship technology in the new year with these tips.

Limit Screen Time

According to CBS News, “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding screen time other than video chatting for children younger than 18 months. For children between 2 to 5 years old, the group recommends limiting screen time to one hour per day with “high-quality programs.”

Try to find constructive ways to occupy your child’s down time. Coloring, building blocks, and imaginative play are all great ways to keep children entertained. Too much screen time can rob our child of beneficial growth, communication and social skills developed through play.

Make Technology Rules

This is especially useful for teens. Use the new year as an opportunity to create guidelines and house rules about technology. No phones at the dinner table can help strengthen family relationships and
connection.

Unplug one hour before bed to help decrease anxiety and depression triggers social media platforms can have on teens. This rule can also create a healthy sleep routine.

Focus On High Quality Use

Since completely eliminating screen time in 2019 is likely unrealistic, focus on quality screen time. When your children plug in, make sure screen time is useful. Some cartoons with elements like rapid screen changes and flashing colors can overstimulate children. Overstimulation can contribute to conditions like ADHD. Stick to highly-rated educational apps and shows that encourage growth and development.

Above all, don’t ignore the importance of mental wellness for children in the new year and beyond. Give your child a fresh start with an appointment with Dr. Madaram. Freedom Psychiatry offers convenient weekend appointments and accepts insurance.

The holidays can be a time of grief and sadness for those suffering from loss. Grief can be encompassing. It can come in overwhelming waves that make it difficult to cope. With the sights and sounds of holiday cheer all around, how can someone suffering from grief find relief?

Understanding Grief

Grief is a natural, emotional reaction to loss or change. It can cause you to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, depressed or angry. Grief can leave you stunned and left wondering if you’ll ever recognize your life again. The truth is, healing is a journey that doesn’t happen overnight.

To start, be kind to yourself.

Let yourself feel.

Label your emotions and don’t believe you have to “feel” a certain way. Accepting and acknowledging the pain is better than constant avoidance Give yourself permission to grieve.

Find Support on Your Healing Journey

Another essential element to healing is finding the right support system. Don’t be afraid to reach out when you feel lonely. Don’t put your emotional needs on the back burner. Sometimes, you might have to reach out because friends and family members might feel uncomfortable talking about your grief. They might think that you don’t want to talk about it. Even on the hardest days, remember that grief is a part of healing.

Be sure to set boundaries.

Caving into pressure or pretending to be “OK” can make your pain and grief even worse. Avoidance can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drug or alcohol use. One of the best ways to deal with grief is to seek the help of a mental health professional.

Dr. Madaram at Freedom Psychiatry believes that everyone has the strength to overcome challenges. Sometimes he needs to help you find it. In fact, sometimes he believes his role is showing you the way to find it yourself.

This holiday season, remember that the best gift you can give yourself is to be kind and true to yourself. Commit to living life as the best version of YOU possible. Be kind to yourself as you adjust to loss and deal with grief. We’re here for you! Give us as call today 919-802-1417

The holidays are known as the most wonderful time of the year!

A time meant for relaxing and spending time with the people you love. However, in reality, the holidays are filled with stress of all varieties. Many of us are out of our daily routines and overloaded with sugar and other holiday treats. Add to that the stress of gift giving, decorating, entertaining and it’s no wonder people develop holiday burnout.

Here are some ways you can stay healthy, happy and enjoy the holidays more this year…

Say “NO”

Don’t be afraid to say “no” so you don’t overcommit. There’s a lot of stress associated with holidays from attending events to buying everyone a gift. Overcommitment in these areas of your life can lead to burnout. Instead of attending the entire party, try staying for an hour. If finances are a strain, give gifts of love and gratitude that don’t cost a penny.

Maintain Routines

Long nights, poor diets, and lack of exercise can really impact your mental health and mood. Focus on staying grounded in your healthy routines. Overeating, drinking, and excess sugar this time of year can all affect your mood. Be mindful and enjoy the holidays responsibly.

Prioritize

Society puts a lot of pressure on us this time of year! There are so many things we are supposed to do this holiday season that might not be part of what you actually want to do. Forget about decorating, baking, and caroling if they don’t make you happy. Prioritize your health and happiness. Make a “to do” list and create a plan that allows you to tackle a little each day.

Most importantly, slow down and take it all in. Don’t give into the pressures of stress and perfection we see this time of year. If you need help finding mental or emotional freedom for you or a loved one, Dr. Madaram can help create a wellness plan for you.

Social Anxiety is hard to deal with anytime of year, but the holidays can add extra stress to the disorder.

Holiday parties increase the pressure to socialize….what will people think?

Overcrowded rooms, theaters, and malls can trigger panic…. what if something bad happens?

The list goes on and on. And, to those who suffer, social anxiety can build to more than just being shy or nervous. Social Anxiety Disorder affects more than 15 million adults in the US alone. Luckily, there are some ways you can get out this holiday season without letting your anxiety set in.

Find Support

Consider bringing a friend or loved one along for support. Large gatherings are a staple of the season. Ask a trusted person to join you who understands your difficulty in socializing. Their emotional support can help ease your anxiety by providing a buffer if things get difficult.

Pinpoint Your Anxiety

Think about what’s actually making you anxious. Is it a certain person? A place? A scenario? If you can pinpoint the source of your anxiety, you can create small, attainable goals. Don’t take on too much at once. Instead of committing to the entire party, make it a goal to stay for an hour.

Build Your Confidence

Often times, people with social anxiety worry a lot about what other people think. Are they judging me? …..What if I embarrass myself in front of everyone? Try erasing negative thoughts by building your self-confidence. Do something for YOU as an act of self-care. Remember to love yourself, first.

As with any disorder, there are so many levels of severity. Sometimes, social anxiety can lead to withdraw and other life-changing symptoms.

If you or a loved one struggles from social or any form of anxiety, Dr. Madaram is here to help you create a path to wellness. Don’t let another holiday season go by! Call Today

Is stress just a normal part of life? After all, doesn’t everyone experience it to some degree?

Stress in modern-day society seems to be just as common as the cup of morning coffee. Whether you chalk it up to a looming deadline at work or upcoming big event, stress can have an impact on your overall health in many ways.

What is Stress?

Stress is how the brain and body respond to demands. In life, there are demands we face daily. Work, physical activity, school, life events…even trauma. Stress grows and continues to build overtime.

You might notice that you are more on-edge….or sleeping less? How about your mood swings and rising anxiety levels?

It is important to pay attention to how you deal with minor (and major) stress events so that you know when to seek help. Many mental health disorders can lead to other chronic diseases. If you answer “Yes” to any of the questions below, it might be time to get help with managing your stress.

1. You develop new physical symptoms.

Different people may feel stress in different ways. For example, some people experience headaches while others can’t sleep. Digestive problems are also common for people with stress-related disorders. When you start to notice chronic, physical symptoms develop as a result of your stress…it’s time to get professional help.

2. You become obsessive and/or compulsive.

Stress can make some feel like they’ve lost control. In an effort to regain control of one’s thoughts, anxiety, and overall health, you might develop start to develop obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are involuntary thoughts, or impulses that occur repetitively in your mind. Compulsions are behaviors or routines that make you feel driven to act out again and again. This type of behavior is commonly known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. It can interfere with your daily quality of life.

3. You are scarred by a traumatic event.

PTSD and trauma can leave you with psychological injury that can be shattering… and prevent you from functioning… or living a rewarding life, even if there’s no injury that you can see. Traumatic experiences so terrible, so painful, so utterly shocking and terrifying…that thoughts of it and the memories come back and make you feel like it’s happening again. Over and over. And when that happens, it can drive you to do things you wouldn’t normally do. It can severely interfere with your life.

4. Your energy levels drop.

When you are stressed, many systems in your body are affected including your nervous system. Your body might shift its energy resources to fight off perceived threats developed by anxiety. You might experience an change in hormones or a spike in blood pressure. All of these factors can leave you feeling tired, exhausted, and overwhelmed.

5. You develop unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Abusing prescription medication, drinking in access, spending too much, or sleeping too much (or too little) are just a few red flags. Stress-related disorders can have a BIG impact on your overall health and wellness. This is why it’s imperative that you seek treatment at the earliest sign of a problem.

Dr. Madaram’s perspective is that everyone has the strength to overcome challenges. Sometimes he needs to help you find it. In fact, sometimes he believes his role is showing you the way to find it yourself.

Let’s Talk Today!

Have you ever experienced something traumatic? An event so incredibly frightening or distressing that its shaken you to your core?

Maybe you’ve served in military combat or survived cancer…or a car crash…

Whatever the cause, trauma is real.

Psychological (or emotional trauma) can change the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you react. Trauma can rewire your brain and present challenges in your daily life. It can leave you feeling broken and depressed. People are not impacted by trauma in the same way. However, there are a few things we know about changes in the brain from trauma.

The Wounds You Can’t See

In some cases, the physical scars of trauma are lifelong, visible reminders. On the other hand, emotional trauma is about what’s happening inside your brain. These scars aren’t always visible, but they are very real.

Trauma: Your Thoughts

Trauma can rewire the way a person thinks. One area associated with thinking is the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It contributes to our rational thought process, problem-solving abilities, and sense of empathy and compassion. It helps us think clearly, make decisions, and create awareness of ourselves and others.

Trauma: Your Emotions

The Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) is partly responsible for regulating our emotions. A non-traumatized brain is able to manage challenging thoughts without being overwhelmed or consumed by them. Trauma affects our emotional regulation abilities.

Trauma: Your Fears

Lastly, the amygdala is another very important part of the brain that’s often affected by trauma. It helps us detect threats and manage reactions. The amygdala in a traumatized brain is active often causing fear, stress, and panic in unwarranted situations.

Hope and Healing

Approximately 50 percent of the population will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Remember, everyone experiences trauma differently. Trauma is not a competition. It is a very personal experience. For that reason, trauma can look completely different from one individual to another.

Everyone has different triggers and levels of stress caused by trauma. Some people will develop PTSD and some won’t. It’s important to remember, in a world full of comparison, that we should not compare our traumas. Feeling guilty because “it was nearly as bad as…” is not part of the healing process.

Your trauma is uniquely yours. It hurts YOU because it is real. Allow yourself to feel…to grieve.

What matters most is healing. Dr. Madaram’s perspective is that everyone has the strength to overcome challenges. Sometimes he needs to help you find it. In fact, sometimes he believes his role is showing you the way to find it yourself.

But, you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s Talk

Has anyone ever told you to “look at the big picture” in life?

Goodness, completion, and restoration are all part of the big picture. It’s the optimal state. Looking at the big picture is exactly what we do at Freedom Psychiatry.

Holistic Psychiatry is about looking at each person wholly. It’s about helping patients thrive by integrating their mind, body, and emotions. It’s about looking at the big picture instead of just one’s psychiatric symptoms.

How Does It Work?

When we address the whole person, we try to identify the obstacle(s) preventing them from thriving. It’s about finding the root cause of your psychiatric symptoms that might be effecting you physically and emotionally as well. We provide a warm and inviting environment for our patients. We care about finding solutions to get to the root of the problem.

It’s not just about covering it up as a short term solution. Holistic Psychiatry is much more! It’s about restoration in life. Restoring a patient’s thoughts, emotions, and body because they are all connected.

Mental vs. Emotional Health

Mental and emotional health are connected, but they are not interchangeable. Recognizing the difference between the two can help people better understand our holistic approach.

Scientifically speaking, mental health is often defined by a person’s behaviors related to the brain. Mental illnesses are actually caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. They can be hereditary or caused by other factors. Mental illnesses should be treated just as you’d treat any physical illness.

Our mental health is an essential part of our overall, holistic health.

On the other hand, emotions are an instinctive, natural state of mind. They’re a result of our circumstances, mood, and other factors that affect the way we feel. Many times negative emotions or feelings develop through trauma, difficult life situations, or unhealthy stress.

It’s hard to tell the differences between mental and emotional health issues which is why we’re here to help create mental and emotional freedom for your entire family.

Holistic Healing

If you or a loved one is suffering from unhealthy stress, trauma, anxiety, depression or any other mental or emotional health illness, we’re here for you. A more fulfilling and rewarding life awaits!