Children’s Mental Health

Numerous types of metabolic disorders exist in the contemporary world. While some are relatively minor, others are major and can be life threatening. The moment you notice symptoms of any metabolic disorder, it is prudent to visit your doctor to have it attended to before it escalates into something dangerous.

The primary cause of metabolic conditions is a malfunction in the body’s metabolism. In some instances, though, metabolism disorders arise from inadequate chemical reactions. Below are some of the main metabolic disorders:

• Obesity

Obesity can be brought about by a plethora of factors. Among these factors are metabolic problems. There are diseases which have been confirmed to be a trigger factor for obesity. Some of those diseases are thyroid disorders among others. Individuals who have a low basal metabolic rate tend to be fatter than their counterparts who have high metabolic rates.

• Hyperthyroidism

This is another major metabolic disorder characterized by too much hormone being produced by the thyroid. The thyroid is located in the area front of the larynx and is a key gland for metabolism. It is the organ responsible for the production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, the two thyroid hormones critical to body metabolism of fats, emotional heats as well as heat. If these hormones are produced in excess, the result is the triggering of an entire series of metabolic disorders that is capable of producing serious or less serious damage to an individual’s health.

• Hypothyroidism

This is a condition brought about when the thyroid produces insufficient thyroid hormones. It is also a major cause of the occurrence of goiter. Goiter is brought about when there is an increase in the size of the thyroid. The increase is seen in the appearance of a bulge on the front side of the neck. The proper weight of the thyroid gland is usually about 20-30 grams. The weight of an enlarged thyroid gland can be as serious as one kilogram. This can easily become one of the leading causes of difficulty in breathing as well as swallowing.

If left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause cretinism. Cretinism is a physical condition which is characterized by poor physical and mental development. Other characteristic physical symptoms may include waxy skin, belly and speech problems.

Low thyroid hormones can also be a cause of other far-reaching conditions including myxedema coma. This condition is preceded by characteristic symptoms including hypotension, slow breathing, extremely dry skin, and hyposensitivity to cold.

• Diabetes

This is a metabolic disorder characterized by excess sugar in the blood and urine. Diabetes is of two types.

– Diabetes insipidus which is a result of the lack of vasopressin hormone.

– Diabetes mellitus which is as a result of the alteration in sugar metabolism.

Diabetes mellitus is further subdivided into:

– Insulin dependent diabetes type 1. This is a disease that is most prevalent in children and youths. Its characteristic is the deficiency of insulin in the blood. Resulting from a pancreas which produces too little insulin.

– Non-insulin dependent diabetes (type II). This condition, on the other hand, is prevalent in individuals aged 40 and above. Here, the cells find it difficult to absorb insulin from the blood. This may happen even with a normal insulin production by the pancreas. The evolution of this type of diabetes is much slower than that of juvenile diabetes.

The above are some of the metabolic disorders that are prevalent among humans in the modern world. If you fall victim to any of them, be fast in opting for medical solutions before it’s too late.

Each year, the nation celebrates Red Ribbon Week. However, many people aren’t quite sure what it is, or how it got started. Red Ribbon Week is a campaign dedicated to bringing awareness to drug, alcohol, and violence prevention. It is observed during October each year in the United States. It is the largest, and oldest, drug prevention program in the country.

Red Ribbon Week’s Origins

In 1988, the National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Week in partnership with President and First Lady Reagan. Red ribbons began showing up in 1985, in response to the murder of Special Agent Enrique Camarena. Camarena was a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) Agent, who was kidnapped, brutally tortured and killed by the drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico in 1985. He joined the DEA to make a difference, and his death angered parents and children across the country.

Red Badges

In honor of Camarena’s memory and the work he did to rid the country of illegal drugs, Camerena’s childhood friend, Henry Lozano and Congressman Duncan Hunter created “Camarena Club”. They began wearing red satin ribbons to show their opposition to drugs. The symbol spread across the country. Soon, parents who were sick of the destruction caused by alcohol and drugs joined them. They formed coalitions, coalitions that adopted the symbol of Camarena’s memory, the red satin ribbon.

Red Ribbon Week Today

Today, Red Ribbon Week is celebrated during the last week of October each year. It is a way for schools, businesses, and families to educate their youth and get them to participate in drug prevention activities. Red Ribbon Week activities reach millions of people each year. Wearing red ribbons during the month of October represents a pledge to live drug free and honors the sacrifice of Special Agent Camarena and others who have lost their lives fighting against drugs.

From Red Ribbon Week photo contests to Red Ribbon Week-themed essays, schools take part each year in a big way, and parents are always encouraged to participate. Businesses often hand out Red Ribbons, and employees wear them to show their support. Rallies are often planned in cities, and even in the nation’s capital to bring awareness to this important subject.

Now, even the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can earn a DEA Red Ribbon Patch.

See what your community is doing this year to commemorate Red Ribbon Week, and make sure to wear your ribbon.

Over 16.1 million people in the United States suffer from depression. For some, it is mild. There are other people who suffer from persistent depressive disorder (PDD), which continues for at least two years. Some people become depressed after serious life events such as chronic illness, the death of a loved one, or the end of a relationship or a marriage. There are others who become depressed due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. There are several symptoms that are related to a major depressive episode.

Feelings of Sadness

Everyone feels sad at one time or another, however, if your sadness persists and doesn’t seem to go away, you could be suffering from depression. Feelings of emptiness is also a symptom.

Feelings of Hopelessness

If you once felt hope about your life and your future and suddenly you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness, you could be suffering from depression.

Lack of Interest in Activities that Once Caused Pleasure

If you once had hobbies and activities that you enjoyed and suddenly, you don’t find pleasure in any of them, you could be suffering from depression. For example, if you once looked forward to your Saturday afternoon basketball game and suddenly you would rather stay home, depression could be the underlying reason. Also, if you once enjoyed sex and suddenly you have no sex drive at all, you could be suffering from depression.

Lack of Energy

Lack of energy is a common symptom of depression. If you suddenly have no energy and you feel tired all the time, it could be that you are working too hard and spreading yourself too thin, however, it could be a sign of depression. If you find that you are sleeping several more hours each day than usual or that you would rather be sleeping than doing anything else, you could be suffering from depression or PDD.

Insomnia

While fatigue and sleeping more is a symptom depression, insomnia is as well. If you have trouble sleeping at night even though you are tired, you could be suffering from depression.

Changes in Appetite

Changes in appetite is a sign of depression. For some people, they lose their appetite, resulting in a weight loss. There are some people who overeat when they are suffering from depression which results in weight gain. If you notice changes in your appetite, it is a warning sign.

Irritability

If you were once a happy, easy going person and suddenly you find that you are irritable, it could be a sign of depression. There are some cases when irritability is caused by other issues, such as stress and lack of sleep, however, if you find that you are feeling irritable often, you could be suffering from depression.

Persistent Physical Symptoms

There are cases where depression can manifest itself in physical symptoms. There are people who suffer from depression who complain of frequent headaches, digestive disorders, and pain that have no medical explanations. While depression manifesting itself as physical symptoms is rare, it does happen.

Cognitive Problems

Depression can result in cognitive problems such as difficulty concentrating, difficulty making decisions and short-term memory loss. Since these problems are signs of other health problems, depression can be difficult to diagnose if these are the only symptoms.

Thoughts of Suicide

Thoughts of suicide are the most danger

ous symptom of depression. Many depressed people who think about committing suicide eventually attempt it.

Depression is a very serious illness. It can result in physical ailments and in more severe cases, death. Fortunately, through regular visits with a mental health professional and with medication, depression can be treated.

Millions of everyday Americans suffer from depression in one form or another. A milder form of depression known as persistent depression disorder – once referred to as dysthymia – is characterized by sadness, anger, guilty feelings, and a general loss of hope.

Persistent depression disorder affects over one percent of the total U.S. population and encompasses more than 3 million American adults. Only about three out of five adults suffering from persistent depression disorder are receiving any kind of mental health or medical treatment whatsoever.

If left untreated, persistent depression disorder could devolve into more serious conditions like major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder affects more 6 persistent of the United States’ adult population making it the leading cause of disability for adults under age 45. Major depressive disorder is marked by persistent, profound sadness and loss of interest in many activities that sufferers previously drew pleasure from.

A general feeling of apathy, discontentment, and comorbid (co-occuring) anxiety are not usual symptoms for sufferers of major depressive disorder to experience while in the throes of the disorder.

Some lesser known symptoms of major depressive disorder are weight gain or extreme weight loss and a diminished appetite. Sufferers might also experience agitation and social isolation.

It’s not uncommon for a sufferer to want to withdraw from friends and even close family members because of feelings of guilt or feelings that their presence is somehow unwanted or “bad” for those around them.

Low-energy levels, issues concentrating, self-esteem issues, and problems falling or staying asleep (insomnia) can characterize both persistent depression disorder and major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder is sometimes called unipolar depression (as opposed to bipolar depression in which the suffer oscillates between being manic and depressed) and requires a medical diagnosis from a qualified medical professional.

According to the experts there are many different shades of major depressive disorder that can be diagnosed and treated by mental health experts. These include: seasonal affective disorder (common), psychotic depression (less common), post-partum depression (very common), melancholic depression (common), and catatonic depression (less common).

Melancholic depression can be characterized by feelings of guilt, sadness, and hypersomnia or oversleeping. Negative thinking patterns, feelings of disappointment and social withdrawal are characteristic of seasonal affective disorder and melancholic depression alike.

Morbid thoughts and feelings of lethargy or a general decreased energy level might also be accompanying symptoms for sufferers of either melancholic depression or seasonal affective disorder. So, can anything be done?

A doctor may ask you a standard set of questions to determine whether you might suffer from depression in addition to drawing blood and checking for any irregular medical conditions that might mimic or cause the symptoms of depression, according to WebMD. Because you may show different manifestations of depression (e.g., weight gain versus loss or apathy versus irritation) it’s important to consult with a mental health professional or your general practitioner and ask for a depression screening.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one possible means of treating your depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy takes the view that a depression sufferer’s mood is partly or entirely attributable to maladaptive thoughts. Negative thoughts, thoughts that exacerbate feelings of low self-esteem (“I’m really no good anyway” or “they wouldn’t miss me if I didn’t show up to the party” or “nobody really appreciates me in the end”), and skewed perceptions of the past are common.

Psychotherapy is another route that depression sufferers have taken to tackle the underlying issues of their depression. Antidepressant medications can also be used as a complement to cognitive behavioral therapy or as a standalone treatment for depression among adults.