The Impact Of Psychotherapy On Athletes With CNS Injuries

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Suffering from an injury to your central nervous system or CNS is life-changing. The consequences are even more pronounced when you’re an athlete because of how important sports are to you. After all, physical movement is a big part of your life, whether you play competitively or not.

Unfortunately, most brain and spinal cord damages are irreversible. Doctors, researchers, and scientists are always hard at work finding ways to restore lost functions. But currently, there are no known cures for severe CNS injuries yet. Some regimes can handle mild symptoms and prevent further damage, but that’s the limit of physical therapy for now.

It’s not easy to accept this truth. After all, it carries a lot of weight and implications. And because of that, athletes who suffer from those damages develop psychological concerns. Even if it’s not a complete cure, psychotherapy can help you in your journey to get back up again. It’s not going to be a smooth ride. But with your therapist’s guidance and your perseverance, you can process your situation healthily.

The Mental And Emotional Toll Of CNS Injuries On Athletes

Damage to the brain or spinal cord range from mild and temporary symptoms to severe and permanent effects. To name a few, these include 

  • the loss of sight or sensation, 
  • impaired mental ability, 
  • lack of coordination, 
  • memory loss, and 
  • paralysis. 

And every single one dictates a halt in an athlete’s career or capability to play.

For those who experience severe and permanent effects, it may feel like the end of the world. After all, losing something you’re so accustomed to is already traumatic on its own. But to lose your career or hobby makes the experience even more painful. This experience often causes

  • depression, 
  • anxiety, 
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 
  • a feeling of isolation, or 
  • identity loss.

Those who suffer through mild or temporary symptoms don’t get off scot-free either. CNS injuries still cause damage to some fundamental body functions, no matter how severe they are. Along with depression, anxiety, and other psychological conditions, you may also constantly feel stress from the fear of injuring yourself again. In addition, you may develop self-esteem issues, hypervigilance, extreme distress, and aversion toward what caused your injury.

The emotional toll is also substantial when you experience CNS damage. It becomes even heavier when it severely affects your participation in sports. Athletes often go through the five stages of grief when they get injured: 

  1. denial, 
  2. anger, 
  3. bargaining, 
  4. depression, and 
  5. acceptance. 

They don’t necessarily appear in order, and you may jump between them. Generally, athletes go through these stages because of the emotional and mental impact they experience from the trauma.

Moreover, your condition may lead you to develop mood disorders and anger issues. It may also cause you to close off and withdraw or bottle up your feelings of hatred. But either way, the negative effect of CNS injuries on athletes is immense.

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The Role Of Psychotherapy In Getting Back Up

Athletes who suffer from CNS injuries may develop a sense of powerlessness over their situation. Often, they may feel like they’ve lost control and are frustrated by their lack of options. That is an extremely tough spot to be in, especially if you start to think you’re stuck forever. Therapy can help you work your way out of that headspace.

Your therapist will guide you through the process of accepting your situation. They’ll talk to you about your injury, experience, and emotions about those things. It may overwhelm and frustrate you, but it’s a crucial step in your journey toward acceptance. After all, you can’t move forward healthily without coming to terms with your experience.

Along with talking about your injury, they’ll also pay attention to its effects on you. In particular, your therapist will help you address some mental and emotional concerns you may have developed. They’ll also help you acknowledge your emotions and address them. After all, ignoring how you feel will only be detrimental to your journey forward. 

Overwhelming thoughts regarding your injury may engulf your mind and heart. But your therapist can help you sort through them all. They may recommend you join support groups to allow you to connect with others who share the same situation. Activities like this can aid you in shifting your energy toward acceptance and healing.

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Moving Forward With Self-Advocacy

Having brain or spinal cord damage will bring changes to your life. It may be a simple routine change if you have mild and temporary symptoms. It may also be more significant shifts like relearning skills if you suffer from more severe and long-term effects. Sadly, it can also be depending on somebody else for daily tasks. But whatever the changes may be, you need to accept and adapt to them.

New personal needs, interests, and other factors may arise with these adjustments in your life. And to address those, your therapist will introduce you to the concept of self-advocacy. They’ll help you understand yourself, as well as your strengths and weaknesses. In addition, they’ll guide you in discovering and setting realistic personal goals you want to achieve.

Additionally, therapy will help you learn how to express yourself. With that skill, you’ll be able to communicate your wants and needs both to yourself and to other people. All these factors will support you in moving forward healthily toward the next chapter of your life.

To Wrap Up

It’s challenging for athletes to suffer from injuries, especially severe types, like brain and spinal cord damage. And it’s not just about the physical damage. Often, these injuries take a heavy toll on their emotional and mental well-being too.

Most of the time, it’s difficult for an athlete with CNS damage to accept their situation. Not only do these injuries cause physical limitations, but they also entail the loss of a beloved hobby, or sometimes, livelihood. It becomes easy to get stuck feeling helpless and powerless. However, therapy can support you to emerge above that kind of headspace.

Your therapist will help you understand and address both your situation and your feelings about it. They’ll support you in processing those things so that you can come to terms with your new reality. Therapy will guide you in learning how to express yourself, goals, thoughts, and emotions clearly.

It’s not going to be easy, but this is all for you and your well-being. Always remember, your therapist will be right beside you every step of the way.

How Does Occupational Therapy Help Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is the most common disability that affects children’s motor abilities. According to the CDC, about one in 345 children is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. While there is no cure, these individuals can remain healthy and active through various treatment options. One of the most integral parts of cerebral palsy treatment is occupational therapy.

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is an interventional treatment focused on improving motor skills, balance, and coordination in children with cerebral palsy. It enhances their independence and hones their potential. Through practical activities in OT, they can perform daily tasks confidently and become productive members of the community.

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Cerebral palsy causes a wide range of motor impairments, from stiffness to uncontrollable spastic movements. It has different types, so occupational therapists must tailor their treatment plans to the child’s specific needs.

An occupational therapist will assess the child’s motor, cognitive, and developmental skills. After determining the patient’s strengths and weaknesses, they will create an individualized program. This plan aims to improve the areas that will help the child reach functional independence.

What Do Children Do In Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy aims to enhance functional abilities. In simpler terms, OT develops the day-to-day skills required for a child to perform confidently and comfortably. Some activities include:

    • brushing their teeth
    • using silverware
    • turning a doorknob
    • dressing up
    • reading and writing
    • painting, drawing, and coloring
    • moving around with mobility aids

By enabling children to do these simple tasks, they are encouraged to interact with their environment and function as independently as possible. These empower them to:

    • accomplish self-care and grooming tasks
    • create and maintain manageable routines
    • effectively use adaptive tools
    • interact with others
    • behave in socially appropriate manners

What Are The Benefits Of Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy activities are practical and personalized. As a result, children acquire skill sets that will be useful to them throughout their entire lives. These practices teach and reinforce short-term and long-term skills, such as:

    • completing basic tasks
    • improving bodily control
    • breaking down physical and psychological barriers that would hinder them from participating in society and exploring their passions and careers
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The primary benefits of occupational therapy are:

    1. performing daily tasks and routines independently,
    2. improving motor and coordination skills so they can move more easily,
    3. developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills,
    4. learning interpersonal skills, so they can freely interact with others, and
    5. encouraging social integration.

Children with severe cerebral palsy could also benefit from the use of assistive devices. In these cases, occupational therapy would teach children how to use specialized tools, such as:

    • rotating desks,
    • equipment that shifts them from a lying to sitting position,
    • computerized environmental control systems,
    • specialized chairs for proper eating and breathing, and
    • computers with pre-programmed language.

Parents can benefit from occupational therapy, as well. Therapists can counsel parents. They will suggest some activities they can do at home to support their children and optimize their skills. Parents can also receive tips on how to handle and teach their kids. They are encouraged to participate in the child’s treatment actively. Through occupational therapy, parents would find value in understanding how they can assist their children.

Occupational therapy addresses a person’s physical, sensory, visual, and social difficulties. It improves a child’s functioning in these areas. By developing their skills, children are encouraged to be more independent and enhance their self-esteem.

How Can You Find A Good Occupational Therapist?

The easiest way to find an occupational therapist would be through referrals from your primary healthcare provider. However, you must consider certain factors to ensure you get the best possible therapist, such as background, credentials, cost, and insurance.

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You can conduct a simple check on the therapist through the Internet. Scheduling an appointment and asking them in person is also possible. You would want a therapist with significant experience in dealing with children with cerebral palsy. Make sure that they don’t possess false credentials or a history of malpractice.

In addition, occupational therapy can be expensive. So if you’re operating on a budget, make sure that the costs align with that. You can also check if your insurance covers them. If not, consider applying for legal compensations that could offer financial assistance, granted that you meet the criteria and requirements.

But undoubtedly, the most crucial factor is how they are with your child. If you notice anything off about the therapist, listen to your gut. Also, listen to your child and do not dismiss their discomfort. It’s essential to find an occupational therapist you can trust—someone who will treat your child with kindness and patience.

What Are The Effects Of Occupational Therapy For Children With Cerebral Palsy?

Children can absorb new information and pick up new skills faster than adults. It’s attributed to the plasticity of their brains. However, neuroplasticity decreases with age. That’s why early intervention is advisable for children with cerebral palsy. By addressing the child’s needs early on, they can learn and progress easier and quicker and retain these life skills as they grow older.

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Occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy promotes neuroplasticity, creating new neural connections and rewiring functions affected by brain damage. Optimizing neuroplasticity lies in repetitive practice. The goal of occupational therapy is to practice an activity or a specific movement so much that it becomes second nature to them.

Given these benefits, children with cerebral palsy need to undergo occupational therapy. Their brains are flexible enough, making it much easier for them to acquire new long-term skills, which would help build and increase their self-confidence and further optimize their functioning, independence, and potential. Finally, this would lead to a sense of belonging within their community and society as a whole.

Just because cerebral palsy is incurable doesn’t mean that children with the condition can’t and shouldn’t thrive in their environment. Have courage and patience. These, when coupled with therapy, can help children with cerebral palsy grow into healthy and happy individuals.

 

Counseling Cancer Clients

Counseling Cancer Clients

How does counseling clients with cancer help? Cancer counseling services organized through support groups or an employee assistance program offer cancer patients, caregivers, and families strategies to manage emotions and help improve their quality of life. Your treatment center provides support. Read more in this article about how professionals could help clients with new cancer cases and their caregivers deal with it.

Diagnosis

According to experts from the national cancer institute, neurological conditions significantly affect the brain. The slightest disturbance in a neuronal connection can cause severe damage. And it can ultimately cause significant lifestyle changes. Some may even result in severe mental and psychological problems.

 

Emojis

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Similarly, getting a cancer diagnosis and treatment might be one of the most challenging experiences you can have in this lifetime. It might make you feel isolated, sad, and in full pain. Finding out that you have a cancer diagnosis will make you feel the worst and heaviest emotions, such as fear, depression, and anxiety. And this doesn’t yet account for how the actual disease symptoms will affect you.

However, remember that there are various possibilities of treatment available. Take chemotherapy treatments, for example. Having a healthy coping mechanism and a better outlook toward your treatment is needed to foster hope and overcome cancer diagnosis, and one effective strategy is going to counseling. It can help you replace fear with hope.

In this article, we’ll take a look at how the private practice of cancer counseling can significantly improve their mental health. Cancer clients or family members or family and friends with cancer should read this article before they get into any psychotropic medications.

Managing Anxiety

You are likely to experience depression and anxiety after getting diagnosed with cancer at the hospital. Mental health issues occur as you worry about the future of your relationships, education, loved ones like family and friends, and plans. For example, perhaps you want to get that promotion at work or you want to expand your education by pursuing a master’s degree. The stress that you feel can trigger depression and anxiety and even make you require mental health services from psychologists or other mental health professionals.

This can help manage stress and provide family counseling methods to a cancer survivor dealing with mental health issues. Having an open dialogue or talk about patients’ disease, stressors and triggers (e.g., cancer treatments, anxiety oncology social workers, mental illness, family members, chemotherapy treatment sessions, etc.) with mental health professionals and doctors will help patients cope with personal issues, psychological distress, and other common concerns. Counseling people with cancer will help you adapt to your treatment medication resources and address any concerns that are affecting your mental health, especially for cancer clients or patients.

Cope With Depression

There’s a possibility that your diagnosis of cancer centers on a depressing experience. While getting treated at a hospital, you’ll feel that everything was taken from you and nothing is normal anymore. With all of these emotions unattended, it’s not a surprise that many cancer patients can go through episodes of depression. And that’s the thing that requires immediate relief.

There are many ways how depression can affect your life and make your experience with cancer more difficult. This may include:

  • Hampered adjustment with your disease treatment at the hospital or at home
  • Compromised determination to have a successful treatment
  • Possible friction in your relationships
  • Negative effects on your general and normal outlook in life because of the disease

Counseling for cancer can help with depression. Your counselor can walk you through the heavy emotions you’re experiencing.

Address Relationship Issues During Their Treatment

Cancer will not only affect you as a person but also your current and future relationships. While some relationships may flourish, others won’t.

Married patients with cancer or those who are in long-term relationships can be affected by the disease. After the diagnosis, they may feel hopeless, depressed, and anxious. Counseling cancer patients affects your relationship with your family and your children. This is also where having licensed counselors cover for people with cancer is very beneficial.

Here are some ways individual counseling or group work counseling might help with your relationship with loved ones and other services:

  • Communicating Better

Family counseling helps you communicate better with the people you care about. Talk about your feelings and let your loved ones know what you feel. This builds firmer relationships, fosters hope, and reduces fear.

Poor communication and education will only lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary stress.

  • Changing Of Roles

Lung cancer, breast cancer (which is really common for women), and other types may change your roles in your relationships. If you are the breadwinner of your family, you must come to terms with stepping out of that role while getting co-pay for treatment. This kind of sudden shift, especially because of disease symptoms, may be confusing at first, but your counselor will facilitate this process.

  • Addressing Intimacy Issues Between Partners

Loved ones, particularly couples, might have issues related to sexual health. Cancer treatment may take a toll on a person’s physical well-being, which might cause problems with intimacy.

Counselors will provide you with a safe place where you and your partner can discuss these issues. They can also provide suggestions on maintaining intimacy with each other or managing any sex-related side-effects of the techniques and medicines that aim to treat your disease and symptoms.

 

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Increase Your Self-Awareness

Cancer treatment is a long and arduous journey, and patients need all their strength to finish the life-threatening journey strong. Having solid mental health is one key to making your counseling today successful.

Counseling offers group support or group counseling to increase your self-awareness among group members. Being mindful of your mood, feelings thought processes, and behavior is helpful when dealing with your thoughts and emotions. Patient education and research can help here.

You can analyze your thoughts if you have a strong sense of self-awareness. It enables you to identify thought processes that are harmful and self-destructive.

Self-awareness helps to develop healthy coping mechanisms and break bad habits that affect your mental health. As you become more self-aware, you can manage your stress properly and identify your triggers and stressors.

Your counselor may suggest activities to increase your self-awareness and offer support, such as:

Apart from the physical toll of cancer itself and the treatments, you might also experience mental strain similar to the mental strain people with neurologic conditions are susceptible to.

Why Cancer Counseling

Remember that doing individual counseling today with the right counselor when people deal with anxiety, insurance company-related, or any mental health issue is always an option. Suffering from conditions such as depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions on top of a pre-existing condition, be it cancer or others will only be to your survived cancer care.

 

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For cancer, statistics show a higher mortality rate among those who have mental health disorders. Psychological stress could worsen the condition of people with cancer. Thus, good care is needed.

Keep your mental health stable as it can greatly affect your diagnosis and treatment. Seek a trained professional or an oncology social worker to help cope with your anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns and let some of your daily life’s heavy burden go. Focus on having a clearer mindset and dedicate all of your energy to getting better.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the simple tips that can help cancer survivors and patients?

  2. What are some realistic objectives for cancer therapy?

  3. In tackling a cancer diagnosis, what are the stages that cancer patients go through?

  4. Why do cancer patients require an emotional support system?

  5. How is a cancer patient affected psychologically and mentally?
  6. How is cancer managed?
  7. What are the types of cancer?
  8. Are there new techniques for managing cancer? What are some of the most commonly used techniques?
  9. Do family members of cancer patients need counseling? Why?
  10. What are the primary objectives of a cancer patient?
  11. What is the best counseling for cancer patients?
  12. How do you deal with cancer patients?
  13. What psychological support is there for patients with cancer?
  14. How do I support someone with cancer?
  15. Why is counseling important for cancer patients?

Neurological Physical Therapy

What is neurological physical therapy? How is it different from other therapies? Learn, understand, and talk more about neurological physical therapy here.

neurological physical therapy benefits

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Finding coping and support systems for people with neurological trauma, which affects the brain and spinal cord, can be difficult. Just look at the possible effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for example. Suddenly, you have a disability that can be extremely frightening and confusing at the start. You may also wonder how this condition can affect your quality of life, your daily life, and your personal and professional relationships. This is where physical therapy for neurological trauma can be helpful. This also where a neurologic clinical specialist can help you.

How is neurological physical therapy for injuries done?

Treatment and neurological physical therapy (or physical therapy for neurological trauma) for people with stroke or spinal injury, for instance, requires a holistic approach. It all starts with a physical therapy evaluation. This comprehensive evaluation will look at your medical history and where you’re at, so to speak. Medications and surgical procedures are known as primary medical treatments in addressing neurological diseases. Counseling and therapies (physical therapy and other types of therapy) may also go hand in hand to provide reliable psychosocial treatment. You may receive help to improve your balance and gait training and avoid lung problems and heart problems. After your initial evaluation, your neurologic clinical specialist can recommend treatment. Some may also acquire both physical and occupational therapy for faster healing and recovery period.

Your neurologic clinical specialist can help you with that. Here are some effective counseling and psychotherapy types for patients with neurological problems:

Individual, Private, Or One-To-One Counseling

Individual counseling involves private and one-to-one support from a counselor or licensed therapist. This support may be in the form of effective listening about personal worries and concerns. Counseling is different from neurological physical therapy as the former involves merely interacting through conversations, while neurological physical therapy entails the use of exercises and other certain activities of treatment that addresses movement problems and motor control.

People with a neurological disorder or a neurological injury can safely express their concerns about their condition since individual counseling provide extensive communication of emotions and opinions.

Your neurologic clinical specialist or therapist may let you:

  • Determine what concerns your cognition
  • Adapt solutions for your primary bothers (example, neurological)
  • Adjust your lifestyle as a coping mechanism for your neurological condition
  • Figure out how to fix relationship problems in work and family despite the neurological condition

Individual counseling may also act as a preliminary step in getting psychosocial help. Apart from one-on-one counseling, the counselor may also provide options that enable you to undergo couple, family, or group therapy.  Individual neurological physical therapy can provide more personal therapeutic sessions for spinal cord injury, glaucoma, stroke, and other neurological health problems. It is a specialized type of physical therapy where the neurological aspect is emphasized.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy (not an aspect of physical therapy) that helps patients understand and identify thought patterns. It can help determine why your neurological condition (or any type of condition)  is linked to your worries and how you can keep them from affecting your mood in the process.

Overall, cognitive behavioral therapy allows patients with neurological illnesses to reframe their unwanted thoughts to a reshaped and more positive outlook. With its overall effectivity as a method in psychology, it has been used to manage:

  • Uncontrollable stress
  • Depression and Anxiety
  • Insomnia and sleep problems
  • Prevailing addictions and unwanted behavior (these may lead to more severe neurological problems)

According to American Physical Therapy Association, neurological physical therapy is more effective when done in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy. Doing this therapy while being able to talk freely through CBT allows the patient to be more determined to heal. Thus, physical therapy for trauma becomes more potent as well, especially with the guidance of your neurologic clinical specialist.

Family Therapy

Therapy - neurological therapy benefits

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More than a personal concern, neurological disorders may affect your family. Apart from sharing the financial burden, managing routines with a family member with a physical or neurological disability can be stressful and taxing.

To help eliminate fear and encourage collaboration within the household, seeking a family counselor is a good option. A therapist in this field allows each family member to express their concerns, thoughts, and opinions about the situation and create solutions in the process.

Also, discussing the long-term effects of neurological problems with your child can be upsetting and challenging. A family counselor, in collaboration with your neurologic clinical specialist, can help you in gaining a better understanding of what is going on with your kids. They can also help the kids to express their thoughts and emotions about their condition. Pediatric physical therapy is only part of the large umbrella of therapies needed for faster recovery. Therapy for neurological problems can work in conjunction with other types of therapy. Hence, neurological therapy plus family therapy works tremendously.

Support Groups

Apart from individual first visit treatments like neurological therapy, having support groups can certainly alleviate many other health problems caused by physical or neurological trauma.

Support groups allow people experiencing the same neurological condition to meet and talk about everyone’s concerns, emotions, or coping mechanisms. Support groups can assist individuals with neurologic conditions since they can help people manage their emotions and medication side effects.

Support groups may be available for people who have neurological and other medical conditions like:

  • Brain tumor
  • Stroke
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Cushing’s Disease
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Frontotemporal Dementia
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries and Spinal Cord Injuries

Parents, relatives, and caregivers of these patients may also join support groups. It is a sharing session wherein people talk about relationship issues, effective support, and even how to deal with fears in the family that have resulted from their neurological problems. Neurological therapy is more effective when done together with group therapy and other forms of therapy.

Participants may opt to meet in person or via online media since tele-counseling and telehealth have become relatively common for psychosocial assistance. Regardless of the medium, there is no strict attendance in most support groups.

Therapy - Neurological physical therapy - physical and neurological therapy

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Treating Neurological And Physical Problems

Treating both psychological and physical illnesses are extremely important for holistic rehabilitation. People who suffer from neurologic injury and diseases must receive individualized treatment interventions, including surgery, counseling, and therapies.

Depending on the emotional symptoms of their neurological problems, these individuals may experience depression and anxiety. Additionally, there are many benefits of counseling and working with a neurological physical therapist for patients with neurologic problems. Seeking a counselor may let you and your family:

  • Learn how to cope and function when diagnosed with a physical disability
  • Manage forms of anxiety and depression
  • Develop coping mechanisms against the recurring symptoms
  • Manage emotions from experiencing great daily living changes
  • Eliminate fear and worries from affecting one’s mood

But it will only be beneficial if you have the ability to search for the right therapist or counselor. Be sure you check a counselor’s background, reviews, and overall success as a health professional to verify whether they are the best fit for you or your family. Choosing a good counselor for neurological physical therapy would not only result in many functions of overall quality and more engaging follow-ups in the long run, but it will also ultimately save time and money by avoiding needless professional adjustments.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What entails neurological physical therapy or neuroscience physical therapy?

  2. What are the most common neurological illnesses that physical therapists are capable of managing?

  3. How relevant is neuroscience to physiotherapy or physical therapy?

  4. How can one distinguish a neurological physiotherapist from a physiotherapist?
  5. What is the typical treatment plan of a neurological patient?
  6. What can a physical therapist do to help one’s central nervous system?
  7. What kinds of central nervous system disorders can a physiotherapist manage?
  8. Can physical therapy treatments worsen CNS pain?
  9. What are the most common warning signs that physiotherapy should be stopped?
  10. What are signs that the treatment is working
  11. What is neural physical therapy?
  12. What does a neuro physiotherapist do?
  13. What is the most common treatment for neurological conditions?
  14. What are some neurological treatments?
  15. What is the difference between neurophysical therapy and physical therapy?

Frequently Asked Questions  About Anxiety Beta Blockers

Dealing with mental health issues requires a lot of effort. As experts suggest, you should be able to focus on self-care and self-awareness. Thus, it would be best to work on activities to improve your physical, emotional, and mental strength. These particular things include getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, drinking enough water, exercising regularly, and so on.

However, despite the effort you put into these healthy lifestyles, there are still some instances that you won’t control your emotional and mental dilemma. Sometimes, even if you try to vent it out and discuss it often, there is no use as it does not change anything. And despite all your efforts in keeping a positive thought, you somehow end up thinking too much about your coping strategies.

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With the severity of your anxiety, you usually experience physical manifestations. With that, you often deal with issues like difficulty breathing, muscle pain, palpitations, and some heart-related health problems. That is where beta-blockers come in. Usually, your doctor prescribes the medication to help you out on your anxiety symptoms struggle. So with these frequently asked questions below, let us understand more about beta-blockers and learn their impact on mental health, particularly anxiety.

What are Beta Blockers?

Beta blockers are a type of medication that work by blocking the effects of the hormone adrenaline on the body’s beta receptors. Adrenaline is a hormone the body released to respond to stress or other stimuli, and it can cause various symptoms you can experience physically, such as increased heart rate, sweating, and tremors. By blocking the effects of adrenaline on the beta receptors, beta blockers can help to reduce these physical symptoms.

Beta blockers are primarily used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), heart failure, and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). However, they are also sometimes prescribed off-label for other conditions, such as anxiety.

How do beta blockers help with anxiety?

Beta blockers can help with anxiety by reducing the physical symptoms of anxiety. When people experience anxiety, the body releases adrenaline and other stress hormones, which can cause various physical symptoms such as sweating, tremors, and rapid heart rate. These physical symptoms can then increase feelings of anxiety, creating a cycle that can be difficult to break.

Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on the body’s beta receptors, including the beta-1 receptors in the heart. This can lead to a reduction in heart rate, blood pressure, and other physical symptoms of anxiety. By reducing these physical symptoms, beta blockers can help to break the cycle of anxiety and create a sense of calm.

Beta blockers can be especially helpful for people with certain types of anxiety, such as performance anxiety or social anxiety, where physical symptoms like sweating or trembling can be particularly distressing. However, it’s important to note that beta blockers do not treat the underlying psychological causes of anxiety and are not considered a first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. They may be used in combination with other therapies, such as talk therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy, to address both the physical and psychological aspects of anxiety.

Potential Side Effects and Risks of Beta Blockers

While beta blockers are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can have potential side effects and risks, especially if not taken as prescribed. Here are some of the potential side effects and risks associated with beta blockers:

  1. Fatigue: Beta blockers can cause feelings of tiredness or fatigue, which can be especially noticeable during the first few weeks of treatment.
  2. Dizziness: Some people may experience dizziness or lightheadedness when taking beta blockers, especially when standing up quickly.
  3. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Beta blockers can sometimes cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
  4. Depression: In rare cases, beta blockers may worsen symptoms of depression or other mental health conditions.
  5. Interactions with other medications: Beta blockers can interact with other medications, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements, so it’s important to tell your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking.
  6. Rebound hypertension: If beta blockers are stopped abruptly, they can cause rebound hypertension (a sudden increase in blood pressure), so it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for tapering off the medication.
  7. Allergic reactions: Although rare, some people may experience an allergic reaction to beta blockers, which can cause symptoms such as hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any side effects or have concerns about taking beta blockers. They can help you weigh the potential benefits and risks of the medication and make an informed decision about whether beta blockers are the right choice for you.

Which beta-blocker is best for anxiety? 

The most common and often prescribed medication by medical experts to help with anxiety are the two beta-blockers, namely propranolol and atenolol.

These medicines are beneficial as they manage to slow down fast heartbeats or also known as arrhythmias. It also helps with lowering down high blood pressure or hypertension. But note that they do not cure these specific problems and only help to control them.

 How many beta-blockers should I take for anxiety? 

Your doctor may prescribe you to take a 20 to 40 mg dose of propranolol as needed. Sometimes, it could be an hour before a stressful situation. During this time, you may experience a heart rate decrease, which relaxes you. If necessary, they can also allow you to combine it with alprazolam or imipramine since it won’t have an adverse effect on your overall health. You’ll likely notice results the first time you take anxiety beta-blockers.

 Can you take beta-blockers every day for anxiety? 

Propranolol, an anxiety beta-blocker, is generally safe to take even for a long time, provided that your doctor prescribes it. Taking it to prevent migraines or control a heart condition makes it work best in the long term. If it is for anxiety, it tends to be okay as well since there do not seem to be any lasting damaging effects on your overall health if it gets taken for several months or years.

However, despite its proven clinical safety, you should still consider looking for other options. If possible, try not to engage with medication for too long and manage your symptoms naturally. That way, your mind and body won’t have to rely on the pills forever.

 What is the alternative to taking beta-blockers? 

Yes. A promising alternative to propranolol is angina or AF. You can also use any other drugs such as verapamil or diltiazem as substitutes as long as they can slow the heart rate. You must never stop taking your prescription beta-blockers or change it without consulting or speaking to your doctor about it.

Note that sudden changes with your medication can have an impact on your mind and body. It is best to note the changes that might occur once you switch on your medications.

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 Can you eat beta-blockers with bananas? 

At certain times, yes, you can eat bananas even when taking beta-blockers. However, excess amount of potassium can lead to kidney failure and inconsistent heart rhythm. Thus, your doctor may advise and recommend that you restrict your consumption of bananas while you are prescribed to take a beta-blocker. The limitation goes with other high-potassium foods, including tomato, papaya, kale, and avocado.

 How long can you stay on beta-blockers? 

Propranolol is usually taken short-term for anxiety medication. That is because its main purpose is to help with physical symptoms. It reduces heart rate and blood pressure, which improves blood flow and eases the workload on your heart. Though there has never been an issue with taking it for too long, you still need to consult your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking it for an extended period. Remember, it’s best to take the beta blocker only for as long as you need it.

 What are the long-term side effects of beta-blockers? 

Though there is not much to worry about taking beta-blockers for an extended period, they can still bring some possible side effects when taken in very high doses. Beta-blockers can potentially slow the heart rate too much and worsen heart failure. It can also produce wheezing and sometimes worsens lung disease. High doses of the medication can also cause lightheadedness caused by a drop in blood pressure.

In some unfortunate situations, beta-blockers can cause a series of health conditions such as poor blood circulation, fatigue, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, weight gain, and even sexual dysfunction. Thus, it would help if you were careful in taking beta-blockers for the long-term.

 Is it safe to exercise on beta-blockers?

Taking small doses of beta-blockers daily helps with anxiety. Incorporating medication with exercise is safe and is recommended by most doctors. That is due to all the physical activity benefits to the heart, lungs, muscles, and brain.

 Is it better to take beta-blockers at night? 

People who take beta-blockers, on average, experience lower blood pressure while sleeping. There is better blood pressure control when taking their medication at night. Also, most medical experts recommend and specify to take medications at night due to possible side effects that can occur. But before changing medication schedules, it is significantly important to talk to a health care provider about the prescription’s ideal time.

 Why do beta-blockers make you so tired? 

Taking beta-blockers is used to drop your heart rate. When that happens, the amount of blood that the heart is pumping can also drop. Thus, the condition creates symptoms of fatigue, drowsiness, lethargy, and so on. With that possible side effect, health care providers suggest medication to be taken at night. That way, patients can allow the body to experience the side effects while they sleep.

 What is the most commonly prescribed beta blocker? 

Health care providers are commonly prescribing beta-blockers such as metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate.

Perhaps that is due to its benefits. Beta-blocker used to treat angina or chest pain, high blood pressure, and heart failure. It also aids in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems.

 Which beta-blocker has the least amount of side effects? 

Bisoprolol or metoprolol succinate are beta-blockers that provide the maximum effect with the minimum amount of adverse effects. That is because cardioselective don’t affect beta-2 receptors in the lungs and blood vessels, as they were only designed to block only the heart cells’ beta-1 receptors. Thus, these are safe for people with lung disorders.

 Can you lose weight while on beta-blockers? 

Unfortunately, weight gain is more likely to be expected with patients taking older beta-blockers, such as metoprolol and atenolol. There are lower physical activity levels in their day-to-day lives. Therefore, patients need to keep a food diary for two weeks and track everything they drink and eat.

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 Is there a natural beta blocker? 

Yes. Some herbs, foods, and dietary supplements can act as natural beta-blockers since they contain vitamins and minerals that help lower blood pressure naturally. These include food with antioxidants, amino acids, Omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, and magnesium.

 What does it feel to be on beta-blockers?

Beta-blockers slow your heart rate, which often gives you a tired feeling. Sometimes you may not notice the physical symptoms, but it can cause lightheadedness, weight gain, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms. Beta-blockers can also decrease your sex drive and can cause poor circulation.

 

Benefits Of Counseling For Mental Health

More frequent than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, mental disorders affect over 450 million people worldwide and mental and emotional health problems can be life-threatening, if only indirectly. Now counseling comes in. Are there benefits from counseling for mental health? Can anyone try it? How does it work? Let’s discuss more in this article.

 

counseling

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Counseling For Mental Health

What entails counseling for mental health?

We often hear from a mental health counselor that when we need help, we have to reach out and seek professional help for overall wellness. Regardless of the substance abuse or mental illnesses that we are facing, we must try and seek the help that we need. According to licensed mental health counselors, this is especially important when we are facing a mental health crisis.

What is mental health counseling? Why is counseling beneficial for mental health?

A mental health condition can manifest itself through symptoms such as restlessness, low self-esteem, behavioral disorder, substance abuse, anger issues, anxiety, hallucinations, depression, and more. Many of these symptoms, licensed mental health counselor agree, can mean many different mental health issues, which is why we must get ourselves by seeking mental health services. A mental illness begins manifesting in 50 percent of patients by the age of 14 and 75 percent of patients by the age of 25. It is different for everyone, like how different it is for military veterans versus those who reside in a calm community. According to research done by national institutes with certified counselors and psychologists, and published by the World Health Organization (WHO), a child can already have an undiagnosed mental health condition as early as ten years old. This knowledge has helped mental health professionals use their career more to help others.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Because it is undiagnosed, psychological illnesses mean that it is also untreated and needs medication management. For example, someone with an eating disorder can be evaluated by a licensed mental health counselor and may include social workers and family therapists in formulating effective treatment strategies to help the client and family members as well as to better understand the psychological illness. Mental health counselors work to provide support, monitor clients, develop stress management ways, and of course, with mental health counseling.

counselors work to assist with stress management

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Counseling For Mental Health

Mental Health Symptoms

Sadly, some of these mental health symptoms among children or adolescents can come off as just being a “phase,” which also becomes another reason people have their mental illness left undiagnosed and untreated. Luckily, some people are fortunate enough to have an opportunity to get the mental health services like behavioral therapy, talk therapy, psychotherapy, or counseling services that they need.

Counseling Helps/Counseling Benefits For Mental Health

Now, let us look into how a mental health counselor can help. As early as the 1880s, there were various types of mental health professionals tasked with handling certain mental health challenges. However, treatment plans involving the person-centered approach only started in the 1940s. Counseling for mental health by a licensed professional clinical counselor is one of the most common forms of talk therapy today and can be accessed through private practice, in group sessions, through charities, or through outpatient mental health.

Counseling For Mental Health

The truth is that mental health counselors can help with a lot of different things. Although mental health counseling can be a success for someone with a mental illness,  it is used for a much wider spectrum of issues by other mental health professionals as well, including relationship counseling (relationship issues), marriage counseling, family counseling, behavioral therapy, crisis intervention, mental health and substance abuse, Long term physical illnesses, Grief counseling, mental counseling after rape or sexual assault. The mental health counselor can work hand in hand with the patient’s primary care doctor or clinical social worker.

If you have a mental illness that you may need to talk about or specific problems you need help to face or overcome, you must get the appropriate mental health counselor that you need.

It’s important to find mental health counselors held at high regard in their career practice. This means they provide quality services, the kind of care you need and deserve. Such is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics requires of professional counselors in their occupational outlook handbook for those in the human services field, particularly the licensure requirements. There, Labor Statistics detail that professional counselors need to pass their state’s licensing board exam to demonstrate their critical thinking and interpersonal skills. They must also abide by other resources and licensing requirements, such as continuing education and training.

These standards vary depending on the state and specialization. For example, the requirement for an assistant professor is not the same as those in social services. It will also vary depending on where a counselor practices or completes their education and training. All the same, they must demonstrate their knowledge and education to show that they can care for the well being of families or specific populations within a community.

mental health counselor with clients

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Counseling For Mental Health

Apps And Websites on where to find a licensed professional counselor

Many mental health websites and apps have been made to help people get the mental health help they may need if counseling or therapy is not readily available. Mental Health America is among these websites.

So again, how do mental health counselors help? One of the biggest things that they can offer is to provide an open space with someone who does not judge or prejudice – only to simply establish positive personal relationships. Just knowing that you can find a professional counselor with whom you can freely speak your mind and be equipped with good listening skills is truly a relief. In the long term, healthy behaviors and personal development will start showing. And this is how counselors work – they develop therapeutic techniques to assist clients and foster health, positivity, well being, and great interpersonal relationships.

Mental Health Counselor

You will not expect your mental health counselor to talk much during counseling sessions because it is your time to talk and express yourself. Still, you will be expecting these licensed counselors or therapists to create prompts regarding health conditions perhaps, or they might try to move the conversation along when the flow starts becoming slower. What is good with the mental health counselor is that he does not express his own opinions on what is happening in their patients’ lives, even despite having a master’s degree. He will try to be as objective as possible to provide you with the counseling advice that you need without it coming across as him attacking you in any way.

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Counseling For Mental Health

Counseling sessions may be difficult. During your counseling sessions or behavioral therapy sessions, you will have to open up to your mental health professional about things that you are afraid to talk about, like abuse or trauma, but you have to remember that your mental health counselor is there to listen to you and not judge you. The point is for you to open up and relieve yourself of the emotions and feelings you keep pent up inside.

Although some counseling sessions may be easier than others, a professional clinical counselor once said that it is good to remember that the goal here is to help you recover from the issues you face. There should be a level of consistency that goes into these counseling sessions. This should not be a one-time thing or something that you would do when the going gets tough. These counseling sessions should be taken seriously, and if you do put in the work, there will come a time when the complete healing you dream of becomes a reality. The mental health counselor is significantly relevant.

Conclusion – Counseling For Mental Health

Although there are different reasons for therapy and counseling, we must understand that deciding to go through a counseling program is also a step towards giving yourself the freedom and happiness you deserve. Remember that there is nothing wrong with therapy and counseling. Like I said, if you need help, go out and seek it.

The internet is a good avenue to find support online. You can join reputable support groups.

FAQs On Counseling For Mental Health

  1. What are some essential concepts of mental health care?
  2. How significant (or insignificant) does counseling have on mental health?
  3. What is the job of a mental health expert (social workers, mental health counselors, etc.)?
  4. How do you achieve optimal mental hygiene?
  5. What are the different forms of counseling?
  6. What are the conditions that mental health experts can manage?
  7. What are the objectives of this type of counseling?
  8. What is the role of mental health counseling?
  9. What is the difference between a mental health counselor and a therapist?
  10. What is the first line of treatment for an emotional or mental health problem?
  11. What is mental health counseling?
  12. What is the role of the counselor in mental health?
  13. Who needs mental health counseling?
  14. What are the 3 types of counseling?
  15. What are counseling and its purpose?

 

Family Issues Triggered Depression And Bad Eating Habits

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I married really young. My age then was only nineteen and I thought that I have met my knight in shining armor. The words are “I thought.” You see, I grew up in a broken family. My father is a pathological liar, womanizer, and gambling addict. I mean, what kind of woman can live with a man who is all sorts of the dark? Back then, I blamed my mom for leaving my dad. It is only now that I realize why she had to do it.

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Self-Improvement And Self-Discovery During Quarantine

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Last February 2020, I weighed almost 190 kilos. I am a shorty at 5 feet four inches and super thick. In my mind back then, I didn’t care if my body was round and large. I was huge, super big, but because I had a husband who loved me, I let myself go. “His love is enough,” I gave myself that reasoning, but it all fell apart.

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Lose Weight, Feel Great

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The 2017 Weight Loss Workshop motivated me to start losing weight. I mean, it was not just the workshop which pushed me to trim down. Three things happened to me that forced this transformation. First, my health was dwindling. Second, I had to be charged more for a seat because I would not fit. Lastly, my boyfriend of three years left me for a woman who was 50 kilos lighter. These life experiences hurt me to the core, and I said, NO MORE. I WILL LOSE WEIGHT. IT’S TIME TO SHOW THEM WHO IS BOSS.

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Pandemic: We Are All Experiencing Emotional Pain

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It is not supposed to be normal, but now, it is a regular thing. We are in lockdown, and we have to self-soothe. Everyone is experiencing all sorts of pain, and the emotional kind is tough to ignore. Young kids and teenagers follow what they see from adults. So if a parent will react accordingly about the COVID-19 pandemic, then, the children will also be calm.

Continue reading Pandemic: We Are All Experiencing Emotional Pain