Passing the Torch

With a huge sigh of relief, I pass the torch onto the next lucky lady! Today marks the last day of my appointment scheduling duties for work...and I couldn't be more relieved! It has definitely been a mammoth project. I've enjoyed it for the most part, but with changes in staffing, shifts, and responsibility, it was definitely time to donate this project to someone else...more available during "regular business hours." Congrats to S.V. on her "promotion" to scheduler! Much luck to her (she'll do great). I start this next chapter with plans for an updated pharmacy, improved supply maintenance and alterations to the basic department layout. Big changes ahead....can't wait! Here's to the next chapter!

Wishing you all peace, love, & happiness!

Psych Series #8

Psych Series #8: Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure (PNES)

Recently we have noticed an increase in the number of medical emergencies we are responding to at work for "seizure activity." A friend said to me the other day, "How can there be so many people having seizures in one facility? In my entire life, I've only known one person who had a seizure, yet you are seeing these girls have them on an almost daily basis!!" In response, I have chosen to bring you all some general information on epileptic and non-epileptic seizure disorders. Happy reading!

What is a seizure? In general a seizure is "a temporary loss of control, often with abnormal movements, unconsciousness, or both." Epileptic seizures are caused by "a sudden, abnormal electrical discharge from the brain." Other causes of seizures can include brain injury, alcohol withdrawal, extremely high fever, lead poisoning, infections involving the brain, brain tumors, or withdrawal from certain medications.

Epileptic Seizures

• Can be caused by any process that disrupts the stability of the neuronal cell membrane.
• Involves 3 classifications - genetic, acquired, or idiopathic.
  
• Seizures are also classified according to age of onset, cause, area of origin in the brain, EEG abnormalities, and clinical symptoms during seizure activity.

Types of Seizures in Epilepsy

1. Partial - focal or local

• Motor activity or involuntary movements are generally limited to an upper extremity, entire limb, and/or one side of the face.
• Sensory phenomena may develop such as numbness or tingling to the affected area.
• Autonomic system stimulation results in epigastric sensations, pallor, sweating, "goose bumps", rapid heart beat, and rapid breathing.
• May produce an "aura" such as a strange noise, smell, or visual disturbances.
• May exhibit "automatisms" or automatic behaviors such as lip-smacking, chewing, patting a part of the body, or picking at clothing.

2. Generalized

• Lead to a loss of consciousness.
• May be convulsive or nonconvulsive.
• Manifestations involve both hemispheres of the brain.
• Include: Absence, Myoclonic - sudden, uncontrolled jerking movements, Clonic - rhythmic muscular contraction and relaxation, Tonic - an abrupt increase in muscle tone and contraction, Tonic-Clonic, Atonic - total loss of muscle tone.

Psychogenic (non-epileptic) Seizures

• May resemble epileptic seizures, but do not involve abnormal electrical discharges in the brain.
• Are stress-related or "emotional."
• Are frequently misdiagnosed.
• Patients may exhibit different movements with each seizure.

Diagnosis

• EEG (electroencephalogram) with video monitoring - recording a patient for several hours to several days until seizure activity occurs.

Causes

• Emotional, stress-induced, and can result from traumatic psychological experiences.

Treatment

• Because PNES is a psychiatric condition, treatment mainly involves mental health professionals rather than a neurologist.
• Some treatments include:
• Psychotherapy
• Stress-reduction techniques like relaxation and biofeedback training
• Personal support to help with coping during treatment

So, if you or a loved one suffer from seizures and antiepileptic medications don't seem to help control them, evaluation for PNES may be indicated. Please remember, PNES are real seizures. Though they stem from emotional or stress-related issues, they are not "faked" events. Individuals with PNES need the same TLC and understanding we provide for epileptic patients.

As always, I wish you peace, love, and happiness this Spring!

• 
  

Life's Little Instructions

Sing in the shower
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated
Watch a sunrise at least once a year
Leave the toilet seat in the down position
Never refuse homemade brownies
Strive for excellence, not perfection
Plant a tree on your birthday
Learn 3 clean jokes

Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full
Compliment 3 people every day
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them
Leave everything a little better than you found it
Keep it simple
Thing big thoughts but relish small pleasures
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know

Floss your teeth
Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it
Be forgiving of yourself and others
Overtip breakfast waitresses
Say "thank you" a lot
Say "please" a lot
Avoid negative people
Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards

Wear polished shoes
Remember other people's birthdays
Commit yourself to constant improvement
Carry jumper cables in your trunk
Have a firm handshake
Send lots of Valentine cards. Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
Look people in the eye
Be the first to say, "Hello"

Use the good silver
Return all things you borrow
Make new friends but cherish the old ones
Keep secrets
Sing in a choir
Plant flowers every spring
Have a dog
Always accept an outstretched hand

Stop blaming others
Take responsibility for every area of your life
Wave at kids on school buses
Be there when people need you
Feed a stranger's expired parking meter
Don't expect life to be fair
Never underestimate the power of love

Drink champagne for no reason at all
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation
Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake"
Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know"
Compliment even small improvements
Keep your promises (no matter what)
Marry only for love
Rekindle old friendships
Count your blessings
Call your mother

~H.J. Brown, Jr.

Psych Series #7

Psych Series #7: Addiction - Drama

Do you find yourself drawn to crises, panic, worry? Do you find yourself getting caught up in other people's drama over and over? Do you ever feel like you need to rescue others involved in dramatic situations? You may be addicted to drama.

We most often hear about addiction when talking about substances such as alcohol or illicit drugs. Other common addictions include gambling, sex, work, exercise, or eating disorders. Not as commonly discussed is the "high" some people get from being involved in dramatic situations. That's right, people can be addicted to just about anything, even drama!

What is addiction or addictive behavior?
"Any activity, substance, or behavior that has become the major focus of a person's life to the exclusion of other activities, or that has begun to harm the individual or others physically, mentally, or socially is considered an addictive behavior."

Addictive behaviors often bring about a sense of euphoria and may produce beta-endorphins, giving a person that sense of "high". A person involved in addictive behaviors may actually develop an addiction to his or her own brain chemicals.

So, how can you tell if a behavior is just a bad habit or an addiction? Here are some common characteristics of addictive behaviors:

• Obsession (constantly thinking about) with an object, activity, or substance.
• Engaging in the behavior even when it causes harm
• Compulsively engaging in the activity or behavior
• Withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of the activity (irritability, craving, restlessness, or depression).
• Loss of control over when, how long, or how much he/she will continue the behavior.
• Denial that problems are resulting from he/her engagement in the behavior.
• Hiding the behavior from family and close friends
• "Blackouts" while engaging in behavior
• Depression
• Low self esteem
• Anxiety if he/she does not feel in control of his/her environment
• Family history of psychological or physical abuse

Now that we have defined the general characteristics of addictive behaviors...let's look specifically at addiction to drama!

Signs & Symptoms

• Experiencing one crisis or challenging situation after another, year after year
• Overreacting to stressful situations - panic, worry, anger
• Feeling powerless over life circumstances
• Blaming others/ not taking responsibility for his/her own life choices
• Retelling a story over and over to anyone who will listen
• Feeling the need to take care of or "rescue" others in dramatic situations
• Excessively gossiping about others' misfortunes

Why do people create drama? With any unhealthy behavior, there is a payoff. This is the sense of "high" previously noted. Common payoffs from creating drama include a sense of love, attention, safety, and security. Yet, these payoffs are often fleeting and short-lived. Once the drama stops, those feelings decrease. This promotes the vicious cycle of creating more and more drama to sustain that overall sense of well-being.

Tired of the cycle? Ready to make some healthy changes? Well, here are some ways to change your beliefs and behaviors to develop a healthier way to gain love, attention, safety & security. First, try to identify what the underlying need is....insight into what drives the behavior will help identify ways to change that behavior pattern. Other options include:

• Remember your strengths and skills
• Focus on solutions, not the problem
• Breathe and process your emotions instead of overreacting
• Take responsibility for your actions instead of blaming others
• Look for lessons/gifts in each situation
• Avoid retelling a story over and over again
• Find ways to keep a positive attitude during difficult times
• Move beyond the "victim" mentality
• Live in the present, let go of the past
• Enjoy the richness of peace and stillness
• Participate in calming mind/body practices such as yoga
• Avoid gossiping
• Stay out of others' business

Hope this helps you drama kings and queens out there to take a new approach to getting your needs met!

Peace, Love, and Happiness!

Bringing Me Down

Everyday, always the same
I hear your name and it cuts through me like a chainsaw
And I fall back into that simple fool that you once knew

And just as soon as I let you back in
Seems I'm reminded of all of this again

I can't believe that I let you walk all over me
And I can't believe that you had such a hold on me
Bringing me down, you're bringing me down
You're bringing me down

How much more will it take until I break and I drive that stake
Right into that thing that you call your heart
Hell it's fallen apart and I don't think it worked right from the start

Just as soon as I let you back in
Seems I'm reminded of all of this again

I can't believe that I let you walk all over me
And I can't believe that you had such a hold on me
Bringing me down, you're bringing me down

You're bringing me down, down, down
Bringing me down, you're bringing me down
You're bringing me down, down, down

Bringin' me down, bringin' me down
Bringin' me down, bringin' me down

I can't believe that I let you walk all over me
And I can't believe that you had such a hold on me

And I can't believe that I let you walk all over me
And I can't believe that you're still bringing me, bringing me down

You're bringing me, bringin' me down
Bringin' me down, bringin' me down!

~ Drowning Pool

Funnies from the Sarcastic

Ah, some refreshing sarcasm from my favorite Someecards! Thanks to B.R. for introducing me to the marvelous cache of sarcastic fodder!

Peace, Love, Happiness, and Humor!

Prison vs. Work

IN PRISON...you spend the majority of your time in an 8x10 cell.
AT WORK...you spend the majority of your time in a 6x8 cubicle.

IN PRISON...you get three meals a day.
AT WORK...you only get a break for one meal and you pay for it.

IN PRISON...you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK...you get more work for good behavior.

IN PRISON...the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK...you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself.

IN PRISON...you can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK...you get fired for watching TV and playing games.

IN PRISON...you get your own toilet.
AT WORK...you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat.

IN PRISON...they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK...you can't even speak to your family.

IN PRISON...the taxpayers pay all expenses with no work required.
AT WORK...you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.

IN PRISON...you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.
AT WORK...you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.

IN PRISON...you must deal with sadistic wardens.
AT WORK...they are called managers.

No wonder recidivism rates are high! Hope this brings some smiles to all you out there in cubicle-land!

Peace, Love, and Happiness!