#long-term health condition

[tyhi]

im so angry and sad i feel like im gonna be sick

[polyolefinprince]

Hello Are you interested being my sugar baby I’ll pay you $500 twice in a week let me know if you are interested ❤️❤️❤️

Yeah! Here's a link to send me the money!

[drunkonschadenfreude]

working my way into half a panic attack over the slighest bit of discomfort. yippee!!

[milomilesmib]

Shout out to everyone with chronic conditions that are really just mild inconveniences (me)

[icewindandboringhorror]

A very interesting cloud formation!

[anintelligentoctopus]

Fucking annoying how narrow the criteria are for qualifying for free nhs prescriptions based on health condition

[mythicalcoolkid]

All of the things that would be "awkward" for me to do around extended family are really not because of me or anything about the thing itself, but entirely about how my parents stopped telling anyone major information about me after like fifth grade

Like I can't bring have disability aids with me NOT because health stuff is weird but because it's much weirder that I have in fact had significant health problems since I can remember and have been disabled since, generously, 17 (more accurately 11 or 12) and my parents didn't tell anyone. I can't officially come out NOT because people would be weird about it (they would but I don't care) but because that would necessitate admitting that I've been living socially as male for going on ten years now and my parents never said anything and had me just. Pretend I wasn't. Like it's so funny now that I've had so many huge life changes that I CAN'T talk about it because the inevitable follow-up is "wait. This has been going on HOW long...?"

[bioaccumulation]

I dont want to go to grad school i dont want to get a job i just want to live my life in a fun city and have gay sex

[pochapal]

back in my "seething about being on sick leave" era again

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

In turn, Randall squeezed her hand back, as he drew in a deep breath. Despite his best efforts, clinging to the notion that his parents would at the very least be understanding once everything was laid out on the table for them, seeing that Emily really meant him no harm and that they truly were in love, there was no denying that growing cold pit in the bottom of his stomach, worsened only by her suggestion. A part of him sort of wanted to (however lamely) protest, instead suggest they save it for another day, and just enjoy themselves for now...

...he knew, in his heart, she was right. They would have to tell them at some point, and it was better to do it now rather than later; Randall had never been one keen to lie to his parents, and he knew the guilt of keeping such a massive secret from them would eat him up from the inside out. Thus, it was just better to get it out of the way-for both his and Emily's ease of mind.

"You're right," he sighed, as he brought her closer, wrapping his arm around her as he nodded, "They...they do deserve to know. I'll, uh...I'll give them a call in a little while, tell 'em when I'll be home, and that you'll be with me. We'll...we'll tell them together."

He punctuated this with another loving kiss, this one pressed to her cheek as he reassured her, "It'll be alright, Emily."

[asingingpenguin]

I am going to scream. Please make other clinicians stop insisting clients use person first language with themselves.

[thesaltyace]

"I hope you feel better soon"

Yeah me too but I'm way more worried about long covid and permanent damage to my organs.

[takeyourcyanide]

they were already incredibly suspicious to me, every last one of those supposed “professionals.” i think I’m more suspicious than I ever was now - somehow that was possible. I’m even more apprehensive, perhaps even fearful.

solidarity between people who want to take psychiatric meds to function and those who don’t.

What’s important is that we both have autonomy, informed consent and safe access to treatments we want, and to not be forced, coerced or pressured into those we don’t.

[drdemonprince]

The data does not support the assumption that all burned out people can “recover.” And when we fully appreciate what burnout signals in the body, and where it comes from on a social, economic, and psychological level, it should become clear to us that there’s nothing beneficial in returning to an unsustainable status quo. 

The term “burned out” is sometimes used to simply mean “stressed” or “tired,” and many organizations benefit from framing the condition in such light terms. Short-term, casual burnout (like you might get after one particularly stressful work deadline, or following final exams) has a positive prognosis: within three months of enjoying a reduced workload and increased time for rest and leisure, 80% of mildly burned-out workers are able to make a full return to their jobs. 

But there’s a lot of unanswered questions lurking behind this happy statistic. For instance, how many workers in this economy actually have the ability to take three months off work to focus on burnout recovery? What happens if a mildly burnt-out person does not get that rest, and has to keep toiling away as more deadlines pile up? And what is the point of returning to work if the job is going to remain as grueling and uncontrollable as it was when it first burned the worker out? 

Burnout that is not treated swiftly can become far more severe. Clinical psychologist and burnout expert Arno van Dam writes that when left unattended (or forcibly pushed through), mild burnout can metastasize into clinical burnout, which the International Classification of Diseases defines as feelings of energy depletion, increased mental distance, and a reduced sense of personal agency. Clinically burned-out people are not only tired, they also feel detached from other people and no longer in control of their lives, in other words.

Unfortunately, clinical burnout has quite a dismal trajectory. Multiple studies by van Dam and others have found that clinical burnout sufferers may require a year or more of rest following treatment before they can feel better, and that some of burnout’s lingering effects don’t go away easily, if at all. 

In one study conducted by Anita Eskildsen, for example, burnout sufferers continued to show memory and processing speed declines one year after burnout. Their cognitive processing skills improved slightly since seeking treatment, but the experience of having been burnt out had still left them operating significantly below their non-burned-out peers or their prior self, with no signs of bouncing back. 

It took two years for subjects in one of van Dam’s studies to return to “normal” levels of involvement and competence at work. following an incident of clinical burnout. However, even after a multi-year recovery period they still performed worse than the non-burned-out control group on a cognitive task designed to test their planning and preparation abilities. Though they no longer qualified as clinically burned out, former burnout sufferers still reported greater exhaustion, fatigue, depression, and distress than controls.

In his review of the scientific literature, van Dam reports that anywhere from 25% to 50% of clinical burnout sufferers do not make a full recovery even four years after their illness. Studies generally find that burnout sufferers make most of their mental and physical health gains in the first year after treatment, but continue to underperform on neuropsychological tests for many years afterward, compared to control subjects who were never burned out. 

People who have experienced burnout report worse memories, slower reaction times, less attentiveness, lower motivation, greater exhaustion, reduced work capability, and more negative health symptoms, long after their period of overwork has stopped. It’s as if burnout sufferers have fallen off their previous life trajectory, and cannot ever climb fully back up. 

And that’s just among the people who receive some kind of treatment for their burnout and have the opportunity to rest. I found one study that followed burned-out teachers for seven years and reported over 14% of them remained highly burnt-out the entire time. These teachers continued feeling depersonalized, emotionally drained, ineffective, dizzy, sick to their stomachs, and desperate to leave their jobs for the better part of a decade. But they kept working in spite of it (or more likely, from a lack of other options), lowering their odds of ever healing all the while. 

Van Dam observes that clinical burnout patients tend to suffer from an excess of perseverance, rather than the opposite: “Patients with clinical burnout…report that they ignored stress symptoms for several years,” he writes. “Living a stressful life was a normal condition for them. Some were not even aware of the stressfulness of their lives, until they collapsed.”

Instead of seeking help for workplace problems or reducing their workload, as most people do, clinical burnout sufferers typically push themselves through unpleasant circumstances and avoid asking for help. They’re also less likely to give up when placed under frustrating circumstances, instead throttling the gas in hopes that their problems can be fixed with extra effort. They become hyperactive, unable to rest or enjoy holidays, their bodies wired to treat work as the solution to every problem. It is only after living at this unrelenting pace for years that they tumble into severe burnout. 

Among both masked Autistics and overworked employees, the people most likely to reach catastrophic, body-breaking levels of burnout are the people most primed to ignore their own physical boundaries for as long as possible. Clinical burnout sufferers work far past the point that virtually anyone else would ask for help, take a break, or stop caring about their work.

And when viewed from this perspective, we can see burnout as the saving grace of the compulsive workaholic — and the path to liberation for the masked disabled person who has nearly killed themselves trying to pass as a diligent worker bee. 

I wrote about the latest data on burnout "recovery," and the similarities and differences between Autistic burnout and conventional clinical burnout. The full piece is free to read or have narrated to you in the Substack app at drdevonprice.substack.com

[newinsightsbehavioralhealth]

Deprescribing: A Thoughtful Approach to Medication Management

In mental health care, medications can play a crucial role in managing symptoms, improving quality of life, and helping individuals regain control over their mental well-being. However, there are times when reducing or discontinuing certain medications becomes necessary to maintain overall health. This process, known as deprescribing, is a carefully planned approach to reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be beneficial or may even cause harm. At New Insights Behavioral Health, we understand the importance of a balanced approach to medication management, and deprescribing is a key component of optimizing treatment for long-term health and well-being.

What is Deprescribing?

Deprescribing is the process of tapering, reducing, or discontinuing medications, particularly those that may no longer be necessary or could be contributing to side effects or other health risks. This approach is especially important for individuals who have been on long-term medications for mental health conditions and are either experiencing side effects or no longer require the same level of intervention.

Deprescribing is not about abruptly stopping medication but rather involves a gradual, well-monitored process under the guidance of a healthcare professional. The goal is to achieve the best possible health outcomes for each individual by reducing unnecessary medication use, minimizing side effects, and maintaining stability in mental health.

Why is Deprescribing Important?

While medications can be highly effective for managing mental health conditions, long-term use of certain drugs can sometimes lead to complications or diminish in effectiveness over time. Deprescribing becomes important for several reasons:

Minimizing Side Effects: Some medications, particularly those used for long periods, may cause side effects that interfere with daily functioning or quality of life. Deprescribing helps to reduce these unwanted side effects, which can include weight gain, fatigue, dizziness, or cognitive impairment.

Preventing Drug Interactions: As individuals age or develop other medical conditions, the risk of drug interactions increases. Multiple medications may interact in ways that reduce their effectiveness or increase the risk of adverse reactions. Deprescribing can help reduce the complexity of a medication regimen, lowering the chances of harmful interactions.

Enhancing Long-Term Health: Some medications, while effective in the short term, may not be ideal for long-term use due to potential health risks, such as liver damage, kidney issues, or heart complications. Deprescribing focuses on finding the right balance between managing mental health conditions and preserving physical health.

Optimizing Treatment: As mental health conditions evolve, so too should the treatment approach. Deprescribing allows healthcare providers to reassess the current medication plan and determine whether it is still the best option for the individual. In some cases, therapy or lifestyle changes may replace the need for medication.

Empowering Individuals: Deprescribing can empower individuals to take an active role in their healthcare. By working closely with their healthcare providers, they can make informed decisions about their treatment plan, including when it might be time to reduce or discontinue certain medications.

How Deprescribing Works

Deprescribing is a careful, individualized process that requires collaboration between the individual, their healthcare provider, and sometimes a pharmacist. Here’s how the deprescribing process typically works:

1. Comprehensive Medication Review

The first step in deprescribing is a thorough review of the individual’s current medications, including those used for mental health and any other medical conditions. This review looks at:

The duration of use for each medication

The effectiveness of the medication

Any side effects or interactions

The individual’s overall health status

The goal is to determine which medications may no longer be necessary or beneficial and identify potential candidates for deprescribing.

2. Assessment of Mental Health Stability

Before beginning the deprescribing process, it is crucial to assess the individual’s mental health stability. For individuals with conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, careful monitoring is essential to ensure that reducing or discontinuing medication does not lead to a relapse or worsening of symptoms.

3. Gradual Reduction

Deprescribing typically involves gradually reducing the dose of a medication rather than stopping it abruptly. This tapering approach helps the body adjust to lower levels of the medication and reduces the risk of withdrawal symptoms or a sudden return of symptoms.

For example, medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines often require a slow, stepwise reduction over several weeks or months to minimize the risk of withdrawal effects or symptom relapse.

4. Ongoing Monitoring and Support

Throughout the deprescribing process, regular check-ins with a healthcare provider are essential. Monitoring allows the provider to assess how well the individual is tolerating the reduction in medication and whether any adjustments need to be made. It also provides an opportunity to address any concerns or symptoms that may arise.

At New Insights Behavioral Health, we provide ongoing support during the deprescribing process, offering therapy and counseling to help individuals manage any emotional or psychological challenges that may come up during this transition.

5. Transition to Alternative Treatments

In some cases, as medications are reduced or discontinued, alternative treatments may be introduced to help manage mental health symptoms. These treatments may include:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT):A structured form of talk therapy that helps individuals change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Practices that promote emotional regulation and stress management, reducing the need for medication.

Lifestyle Modifications: Incorporating exercise, nutrition, sleep hygiene, and social support into daily life can enhance mental health and reduce reliance on medications.

How New Insights Behavioral Health Can Help

At New Insights Behavioral Health, we take a thoughtful and personalized approach to deprescribing. We understand that managing mental health involves finding the right balance between medications, therapy, and other treatments, and we are here to guide you through every step of the process.

Individualized Care Plans: Every client receives a comprehensive assessment, and our team works closely with you to create a deprescribing plan that prioritizes your mental and physical health.

Holistic Approach: We provide therapy, counseling, and alternative treatments to support mental health during and after the deprescribing process.

Close Monitoring: Our team offers ongoing support, with regular check-ins to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan.

Collaboration: We work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to ensure that all aspects of your health are considered, ensuring a safe and effective deprescribing process.

Deprescribing is a valuable part of managing long-term mental health, offering a way to reduce unnecessary medication use and optimize overall well-being. At New Insights Behavioral Health, we believe in a balanced approach to care, and our team is dedicated to helping clients navigate the deprescribing process with confidence and support. If you are interested in learning more about how deprescribing could benefit your health, contact us today to schedule a consultation.

[trendynewsnow]

Long-Term Health Benefits of Early Life Sugar Rationing: A Study

Impact of Early Sugar Rationing on Long-Term Health A recent study has revealed that individuals who were subjected to limited sugar intake in their early years are significantly less likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure later in life. This groundbreaking research, published on Thursday in the journal Science, leveraged a unique historical context in the United Kingdom during World…