Cyndi Turner's Blog, page 23
August 23, 2017
NCAD: No need to whisper, as attendees embrace talk about moderate drinking
Check out an article written about the presentation given by Cyndi Turner and Craig James entitled, “Shhh! Let’s Talk About Moderation for Mild Alcohol Use Disorders”at the National Conference on Addiction Disorders (NCAD).
July 20, 2017
Alternatives for Addiction Treatment: If AA Isn’t for You, Try SMART
Check out Cyndi’s most recent article in GoodTherapy.org entitled Alternatives for Addiction Treatment: If AA Isn’t for You, Try SMART
Has the DSM Failed?
Check out Dr. Anand’s article in the inaugural edition of World Journal of Psychiatry and MentalHealth Research entitled, Has the DSM Failed?
July 6, 2017
Substance Addiction: 5 Myths (and Truths) About Relapse Prevention
Check out Cyndi’s most recent article on GoodTherapy.org entitled, Substance Addiction: 5 Myths (and Truths) About Relapse Prevention.
June 23, 2017
Nobody Wants A Dyke Daughter
In celebration of LGBT Pride Month, a brave teenage shares her story about coming out to her Dad and offers tips to parents:
Nobody Wants A Dyke Daughter
That was basically what my father said when I told him I’m gay. He did use somewhat nicer words, but his message was clear: nobody wants a queer child.
But it’s not like I wanted to be gay. If you had asked me when I was seven what I wanted to be, I would have said I wanted to be what my mom or dad did for a living. If you asked me when I was twelve, the thing I secretly wanted to be most was to be straight.
Neither sexuality nor gender identity is a choice. Many queer people agonize for long periods of time thinking that they choose their sexuality. Many uniformed people think this and some religions even say it is a sin. No amount of effort or wishing will make a person straight or cis-gendered. Parents of a possible or confirmed LGBT child: do not blame your children for being gay. They did not choose it and would most likely prefer not to be queer.
The rates of suicide are four times greater for LGBT teenagers. And kids whose family rejects them for being gay are eight and a half times more likely to attempt suicide. http://www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/facts-about-suicide So parents: would you rather a gay child or a dead child?
These are some tips I would give parents:
Do not force your kid out of the closet.
My father had already asked me if I was gay and I always denied because I wasn’t ready. It is important to come out to yourself fully before others. If you accept yourself and are comfortable with yourself, then anyone who is not accepting will have much less power and ability to impact you negatively.
Do not make it about you.
It is terrifying to come out, so be proud of anyone that does it. You are not getting proposed to, so try not to be self-centered or and ass about it.
Think before you talk.
What you say will permanently affect your relationship with you and your child, so be considerate and don’t say anything that you will regret. Remember that anything you say will most likely echo in their minds for years to come. Your words are permanent. Whatever you say will not go away. Think of if you want them to hold on to any negativity you say.
Just tell them you love them and accept them.
If you can’t find the words to say this, consider buying a pride flag. You have no idea how much this will mean to them. All queer people simply just want acceptance.
Me and my Dad worked things out. He apologized a couple of days later for how he handled things. Once he stopped thinking about how my homosexuality would affect him and focused on our relationship, things got back to normal. We still have not said anything to the rest of our family. The holidays with my conservative relatives will be interesting…
June 14, 2017
Making summer Plans? Be Sure to Include Summer Sobriety Plans
When we think of summer we often think of relaxation, days off from work, and time with friends and family. However, staying sober or continuing your moderation management plan through the summer months can be a challenge, even for those in long term recovery. Summer is often associated with pool parties, cook-outs, live music, and vacations by the pool. These can all be extremely risky situations for someone trying to stay sober or adhere to their moderation management plan for alcohol use.
Keep in mind, all of your hard work can be compromised with just one slip-up. It is important to remember the benefits of staying sober in the summer and continue with your goal of sobriety or moderation, if appropriate.
Tips to Stay Sober During the Summer:
Know your limits and assess the level of risk in situations. Set a time limit for how long you plan to stay at a get-together with “easy outs” and a prepared excuse for leaving without having to feel obligated to stay and party for hours.
Stick to the buddy plan. Make sure you have someone attend parties or events with you that knows your moderation management plan or knows you are in recovery. Someone such as a close friend, a sponsor, or a spouse can help keep you accountable and offer an out when things get too tough in risky situations.
Go online and explore non-alcoholic refreshing cocktails, such as cucumber mint water or watermelon lemonade.
Try out a new outdoor hobby like hiking, fishing, paddle boarding or even whitewater rafting. Getting outside in the fresh air and exercising can be exhilarating in the summer and having more daylight in the day frees up more time to get outside.
Try using technology to your advantage. Explore sober apps on your phone such as such as Sober Grid, Squirrel Recovery, In The Rooms, Cassava, Mood 24/7, Personal Zen, Also, you can set timers or alerts during events to remind you of your goals.
Angie Harris, MA, MSW, is a therapist with Insight Into Action Therapy. She enjoys helping people learn new tools to find balance in their lives. Angie is a Smart Recovery ® facilitator and practices Harm Reduction and Moderation Management for Alcohol Use. She has worked in the field of addiction treatment in both outpatient and inpatient treatment settings and is a resource in treatment consultation. She provides individual, family and group therapy at the practice. If you are interested in seeking services, give her a call at (703) 646-7664, ext 10 or email her at aharris@insightactiontherapy.com . If you are unsure if drinking is a problem in our life take the quiz here .
June 5, 2017
Alcohol and Trauma: Drinking as a Way to Cope with the Past
Check out Cyndi’s most recent article on GoodTherapy.org entitled, Alcohol and Trauma: Drinking as a Way to Cope with the Past.
May 23, 2017
Why EMDR for Therapy?
With so many options for therapy, why EMDR? Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that incorporates protocols to help clients to reprocess emotionally activated memories into appropriate memory networks by connecting with adaptive information.
A client presents with a trauma that is causing intrusive thoughts and disruptive emotions. The therapist will conduct bilateral stimulation (i.e. rapid eye movements, alternate tapping, etc.) while the client is thinking about that memory. The stimulation will help the disturbing memory integrate with other more adaptive memories. This process may take several rounds of stimulation during a session. Several sessions may be needed to fully integrate a memory. When the memory is fully integrated, that client will have a neutral or positive emotion when thinking of that initial disturbing memory.
So, again, why EMDR?
EMDR integrates many psychological theories including psychodynamic, behavioral approaches, and cognitive behavioral theory. In terms of psychodynamic theory, EMDR clients search their memory banks, which may include retrieving childhood memories. During the stimulation, memories that may have been in the subconscious mind are quickly brought to the conscious mind and reprocessed. In addition, EMDR incorporates the idea of “blocking beliefs,” which are very similar to defense mechanisms in that they prevent the client from reaching uncomfortable emotions.
Behavioral theories are based on the learning by association. Individuals learn how to behave based on triggers or responses. Often, individuals seeking therapy are conditioned to respond to a stimulus due to a traumatic situation. Some behaviorists choose to treat that response with exposure to the trigger in an effort to minimize the response. EMDR uses a similar theory in that the client is asked to think about the traumatic incident. However, with EMDR, the client is asked to hold on to that memory for a short time, whereas other behavioral theories require that the client be exposed to the trauma for a significant amount of time.
Finally, EMDR borrows theories from cognitive behavioral therapy in that the clients focus on the negative and positive conceptions of themselves. The client works to change the negative and fully engage in the positive self-concept. These are just three examples of the theories incorporated into EMDR.
Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of EMDR. Much of the EMDR research has studied clients suffering from PTSD, particularly veterans. However, studies proving the efficacy of EMDR have been conducted on clients struggling with addictions, excessive grief, developmental traumas, sexual dysfunction, and dissociative disorders, to name a few. In addition, the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense have cited EMDR as an approved therapy. Finally, in order to maintain continuity among providers and ensure ethical practices, the EDMR International Association (EMDRIA) was created. More information can be found at emdria.org.
EMDR follows very specific protocols. While many psychotherapies allow for differing therapeutic interventions at various times, EMDR has a specific list of information to be gathered, questions to be asked, and actions to be conducted. In addition, protocols are in place for specific instances, such as dissociative disorders or addictions. These protocols have been studied, reviewed, and edited based on clinical observations, anecdotal information, and research studies. This regimented set of instructions allows for continuity among treatment providers and can yield results in less time than other traditional therapies.
While the specific brain mechanisms at work during EMDR are not fully understood, the results are outstanding. EMDR is a psychotherapy approach that has been helping clients struggling with traumas, addictions, personality disorders, and other mental health issues for three decades. For the reasons listed above, and many others, I have decided to embark on the road to becoming a certified EMDR therapist.
In order to obtain certification, therapists must be independently licensed, participate in numerous EMDRIA approved trainings, and attain individual and group supervision hours. Generally, EMDR certification is a 1-2 year process. I have completed the basic training, and have been utilizing EMDR therapy with clients.
If you, or someone that you love, has been unable to find healing from a trauma, please consider EMDR. Additional information can be found at the following web sites:
https://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/francine-shapiro-emdr
The final link is to an interview with Francine Shapiro, PhD, who is the originator and creator of EMDR.
The information in this article was obtained from: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, 2nd Ed., (2001), by Francine Shapiro, PhD.
Tara Soligan is a Licensed Professional Counselor with Insight Into Action Therapy. She has decided to pursue EMDR certification with the hopes of incorporating EMDR into her eclectic therapeutic style to help clients struggling with addictions, traumas, and anxiety. For more information, you can reach Tara at tsoligan@insightactiontherapy.com, or 703-646-7664×5.
April 25, 2017
Anxiety or ADHD – Which Disorder Do I Have?
For many patients and doctors, these can two disorders can be the hardest to distinguish from one another. After all, both can affect concentration, make people distractible and forgetful, and result in impulsive or rash decisions that can sometimes have bad consequences. Anxiety and ADHD also make many people feel uncomfortably energized or “keyed up.”
Unfortunately, the Internet—where many turn to for answers—has not proven very helpful for the public. Most sites just tend to reproduce lists from the DSM-5®, the manual that mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists refer to for diagnosing disorders. This can be similarly confusing for many to digest. In addition, there are several subtypes of ADHD, as well as many different anxiety disorders. As a result, many patients often find themselves overwhelmed with the labels themselves, or convinced that they meet the criteria for the diagnosis. This sometimes even creates more anxiety!
It also seems that once the label has been given, it seems to stick. The potentially unsafe consequence is that, if you actually have anxiety, and you are prescribed stimulants for ADHD (such as Adderall® or Ritalin®), it can make anxiety symptoms worse.
Ideally, the best way to discern the two diagnoses is a carefully taken history from the patient. Some brief patient questionnaires can be helpful (such as the Becks Anxiety Inventory® or the Adult ADHD Self Report scale®). The gold standard is psychological testing to help accurately pinpoint specific symptoms. However, because it can take time to administer and score, testing is usually done after a tentative diagnosis has been made and treatment has already been started.
In my own approach to this, I usually try to look for anxiety first. Anxiety is more common and is usually much more uncomfortable for the patient. If anxiety is properly treated, it can also help clear the air diagnostically. When a patient is less worried, anxious or tense, they can simply concentrate a lot better. Then, I will ask the patient: “What’s still there?” It is also usually safer to start anti anxiety medications first as, unlike stimulants for ADHD, they do not potentially worsen anxiety or complicate the picture.
Other pointers include the fact that ADHD is sometimes more noticeable to others than the patient such as employers, teachers and family. Conversely, anxiety is always more troublesome for the patient. Both can, of course, affect school grades, work performance, and relationships.
The most common cause of distractibility and inattention that we see in clinical practice is usually worrying, also known as ruminations. This is when a person finds himself so consumed in analyzing a seemingly unsolvable issue that their thinking circulates back to the same topic over and over again. As a result they can lose sight of the task at hand.
Treatment itself can also be informative. This is where the patient’s response to medication can either help confirm or cast doubt on the diagnosis made. For example, most patients will usually tell you when the ADHD medications, which can be quite short acting in duration, wear off and how they notice their disorganized and haphazard decision-making returning by the end of the day.
For many, anxiety does not just mean poor concentration. It can manifest in very disabling ways such as physical symptoms (elevated heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath), muscle tension or even panic attacks (sudden onset intense anxiety). ADHD is never usually that intrusive or uncomfortable. In addition, many patients with anxiety will complain of co-existing depressive symptoms that can affect interest in things or concentration. This again is less common with ADHD.
Nothing will ever substitute a candid conversation with your clinician about your symptoms. This will hopefully uncover patterns, causes, and consequences. The good news is that both disorders are actually quite treatable once the appropriate medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes are made.
Dr. Anand is a psychiatrist with Insight Into Action Therapy. He is available immediately for one-hour evaluations and half hour medication monitoring appointments. He will not rush your diagnosis or treatment. You can reach Dr. Anand at 703-646-7664 extension 12 or sanand@insightactiontherapy.com
April 21, 2017
Women and Alcohol: Why the Effects of Drinking Hit Harder, Faster
Check out Cyndi’s most recent article on GoodTherapy.org entitled, Women and Alcohol: Why the Effects of Drinking Hit Harder, Faster.
