Tag Archives: depression

Social media: friend or foe?

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Love social media‘em or hate ‘em, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are here to stay. Most of us know those people who just can’t bear to be off social media for a day, but is social media such a bad thing for everyone?
While many articles focus on the negatives of social media — bullying, fear of missing out, obsessive behaviors or relationship conflict — psychologists and counselors also feel that social network sites (SNS), when used with the right motivation, can provide benefits to a subset of patients with mental issues. Estimates show that by 2016 the world will have nearly 2.13 billion social network users, and mental health care providers are becoming more mindful of the impact.
“The studies regarding the benefits and disadvantages of social media are conflicting because there are so many variables,” says Dana Ingram, LCSW, psychotherapist at SIU School of Medicine. She says that in the past, she didn’t often consider social media’s influence on her client’s issues. But, with more than 73% of adults using SNS, “it’s always in the back of my mind now.”
Thumbs Up“The power of the ‘Like’ button is amazing,” says Ingram. “Positive feedback on any type of SNS can really help increase self-esteem and confidence.” Many with social or general anxiety issues use SNS to build a sense of social capital and self-esteem. “It’s a safe, self-protective way to practice social skills and get feedback. By watching others and their interactions and responses, they can learn how to phrase things to sound supportive with little risk of embarrassment, giving them a little boost of self-confidence.”
Ingram also shares these benefits of social media:

  • Connects those going through similar life experiences or illnesses
  • Eases anxiety
  • Provides social support
  • Provides distraction from illness or problems
  • Inspires creativity
  • Connects friends and family who are not in close proximity
  • Connects people of similar interests

Connection can be especially important for those who are dealing with a newly diagnosed disease or the effects of the disease and treatment. Dr. Patricia Fank, who specializes in behavioral and psychosocial oncology, works with many of these patients. “Online social networks can help people who are looking for a way to keep friends and family apprised of their journey with an illness without having to tell the story numerous times,” she says.
“If the motivation to use social media is based on positive interaction that decreases feelings of anxiety and inadequacy rather than provoking it, then you’ll have positive results,” Dr. Fank says. “If the motivation is negative, the results will be as well.”
*names have been changed
Statistics gathered from to statista.com and Pewresearch.com.
Adapted from Social Media: Friend or Foe?
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

Feeling SAD?

Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Having a hard time getting up and moving when your alarm clock beeps on these cold, dark mornings? Do you find yourself craving a mid-day nap or early bedtime a little bit more lately? Are you longing for grandma’s mash potatoes and mac ‘n’ cheese?
If you answered yes to these questions, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as the winter blues.
sadSAD is a depressive disorder subtype that occurs most often during the winter months but subsides in the spring/summer. The main symptoms usually include increased sleep, increased desire to eat (especially carbohydrates), weight gain (probably from eating all the carbohydratesJ), irritability or other mood changes, and decreased energy, fatigue or sluggishness. People who suffer from depression year-round can also develop SAD in the winter, and “a significant percentage of the population who don’t suffer from clinical depression also report some of the symptoms of SAD during this time of year,” SIU School of Medicine counselor Jill Koester says.
“If your symptoms are disruptive to your normal life, psychotherapy may be able to help you recognize activity changes or steps to decrease or combat your symptoms, and sometimes taking medications during these months can help,” Koester says.
The Dos and Don’ts of SAD:
Don’t: Rely on sleep to help. While it’s tempting to cuddle up under those soft, warm blankets in the winter, increasing sleep too much can lead to discomfort, inability to complete needed activities and weight gain.
Do: Koester recommends planning activities in the evening if you tend to retreat to bed too early. Pack your lunch for the next day, plan a game night with the family or do a few chores each night before bed.

Don’t: Give in to the carbohydrate cravings.
Do:  Work on strategies to combat cravings and ward off possible weight gain. Pack healthy snacks for daytime cravings. Stay active:  join a gym or designate a specific space in your home for exercise. Many malls or large indoor areas allow indoor walking for free.

Don’t : Isolate yourself.
Do:  Reach out to friends or family and let them know how you’re feeling. You might find someone who feels the same and can offer support and company. Schedule activities even when the desire to do so isn’t there – remaining social will help keep your mood elevated.

sad sunDon’t: Retreat indoors. While the cause of SAD is not certain, it seems that the reduced level of sunlight in these fall/winter months cause the onset. Reduction in sunlight can cause a decrease in serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that affects mood and causes depression.
Do: Get out into the light. Morning sun exposure and light lamps have been shown to be beneficial for individuals with SAD. Stepping out for 15-20 minutes during the day or even having windows to let the sun in can help. If it’s not too cold, take activities outside as much as possible.
Copyright © SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois

The toll of depression

Our thoughts are with the family of legendary comedian Robin Williams. Depression is a serious medical illness affecting more than 14 million American adults every year, but the condition is treatable and help is available.
Businessman Thinking on StepsSuicide is linked with people who have a history of depression or other mental illness or have been hospitalized for psychiatric problems. Unemployment and increased stressors such as isolation, a change in marital status or loss of a loved one often intensify the depression.
According to SIU psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, suicide or threatened suicide is considered a psychiatric emergency and always should be taken seriously. “Often people with suicidal ideas are reluctant to seek treatment because of the stigma involved in having a mental illness in this culture,” Dr. Bennett says. “Family members will not do a disservice to someone who is stating they want to commit suicide by bringing them to an emergency room if they are concerned enough about the presence of suicidal thoughts, or if the person has past history of suicide attempts.”
Dr. Bennett recommends anyone with suicidal thoughts, severe depression or other psychiatric symptoms be seen by their primary care physician or a mental health counselor, who may refer them to a psychiatrist for further evaluation and treatment.
For about 30 percent of people suffering from moderate depression, medication doesn’t work. For them, a promising new therapy has the potential to reduce or eliminate their symptoms: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This non-invasive, non-systemic treatment uses focused, electromagnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain. To read more about how this therapy is helping patients handle severe depression. http://www.siumed.edu/pubs/aspects/W10/s3.pdf
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255; operators are available 24/7.