TresSugar

Group Therapy: Depression Is Impacting My Relationship

Tres Community — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 02:00:01 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I worry about my mental health, and it's been taking a toll on my relationship. Has anyone had to deal with depression while in a relationship? How did you cope? Or has anyone been on the other side and had a family member or significant other with depression/other mental health issues? How do you maintain your relationship and your sanity?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Christophe Decarnin Leaves Balmain: A Look at How He Reinvented the House

Noria Morales — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:42:16 PDT

Short, tight, sexy, edgy. That pretty much sums up Christophe Decarnin's wildly successful design mantra during his five-year stint as head designer for Balmain. His collections helped reinvent the Parisian fashion house, ushering in a period of glamorously sharp-edged dressing that was part rock 'n' roll, part futuristic, and all provocative.
Regardless of the brand's success, WWD's report of Decarnin's splitting with Balmain comes as little surprise after rumors of mental health problems when the designer, following doctor's orders, missed his Fall 2011 show. A successor has not yet been named, so in the meantime, we're honoring Decarnin's transformative work at Balmain with a look of his work over the years. Click to see how Decarnin changed Balmain and our feelings about sharp-shouldered jackets.

8 Emotionally Unhealthy Things to Give Up For Lent

Colleen Barrett — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 07:00:37 PST

Whether you're Christian or not, Lent is good time to detox; literally if you partied for Mardi Gras, and figuratively, if you're everyone else. It's like God's Spring cleaning. A time to renew vows for lapsed New Year's resolutions if you will.

This year consider giving up some emotional baggage with these unhealthy behaviors and relationships.

Your ex: Well, only if you want to! Whether you're still seeing him or working up the courage to defriend him, make today an ending and a beginning.
Fakeness: Stop smiling when you don't mean it; your face will freeze that way. And nobody wants a permanent fake smile, because they put us in bad moods.
Toxic friends: If anyone in your life consistently makes you feel bad about yourself, sever the ties today. Here are eight ways to recognize toxic people in your life.
Mean-spirited gossip: Or maybe you've gotten a little toxic? We all have at some point. Promise not to start any hateful chatter - there are healthy ways to do it - and change the subject if someone else starts. Once you break the habit, you may find it's quite pleasant.
Snooping: Is your Internet snooping out of control? Snooping is like a drug, but it's not called Charlie Sheen. Still, once you start, you can't stop. Try anyway - even if it's just to see how long you'll last. You might be surprised.
Oversharing online: Posting your whole life on the Internet can feel like socializing, but it's gotten a bad rap. Ask yourself a few questions: what's your motivation? Who do you want to see it? Do you want a response? Is it TMI? In short, think before you post.
Dating "just nice" guys: We all want to date nice guys, but nice is not enough. Ditch your guilt, rally your self-confidence, and say, "No more Mr. Just Nice guy."
Your comfort zone: Start dating, stop dating, take a class, travel alone, or just change your daily routine - whatever! Most people find a piece of happiness on the outside.

Are you ditching anything that's bringing you down?

Antidepressant Use Up, Therapist Visits Down, New Study Says

Leta Shy — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 03:00:58 PST

Time on the psychiatrist's couch has long been viewed as a beneficial treatment for those with depression, but a new study has found that more patients are forgoing therapy sessions while antidepressant use has risen.

The report found that depression rates have risen significantly since 1987, and while the rate of antidepressant use boomed to 74 percent amount among depressed patients, up from 37 percent, those undergoing psychotherapy dropped from 71 percent to 60 percent.

The reason? While the researchers aren't completely sure, they theorize that both the new drug therapies available and the cost of a psychiatrist visit have something to do with it. Many insurance companies may cap psychiatrist visits - which can make regular therapy sessions unaffordable - but will cover generic or other cheaper medicinal options. In addition, an increase in advertising dollars for antidepressants means that patients are more knowledgeable about their drug options than psychotherapy.

The authors noted that while the results show that fewer depressed Americans are going without treatment, "the decline in psychotherapy raises the possibility that many depressed patients are not receiving optimal care."

Photo courtesy of AMC

Narcissism Is the New Normal, Removed From DSM

Annie Scudder — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:20:33 PST

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) defines narcissism as "a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy that begins in early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts." But not for long. The upcoming revision of the mental-health bible will drop the personality disorder.

This doesn't mean narcissism, a disorder with a diagnosis criteria that includes believing your every movement deserves a camera crew, is going away - the proliferation of reality stars promoting themselves and not their talents tells us that. Everyone has narcissistic traits, but today many mental-health professionals believe that it's not a disease, but rather "an evolutionary strategy that can be incredibly successful when it works." Reasonable self-promotion and entitlement will help you get ahead and overcome criticism, (although taking it to the extreme could hurt your dating life). And as more career women compete at the highest level, narcissism is no longer male dominated.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised. A 2008 study found that Facebook users are narcissistic, and who isn't on Facebook these days?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

DrSugar Schools Us on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

DrSugar — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:30:06 PST

DrSugar is in the house! This week she discusses the emotional impact of Winter.

With Winter around the corner (or perhaps rearing its ugly head already), I’m sure that a majority of FitSugar readers are experiencing cooler weather and shorter days. With this in mind, I thought a great topic to discuss this week is seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is cyclical and seasonal, meaning it comes and goes at the same time every year. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people who have seasonal affective disorder have symptoms that start in the Fall and continue into the Winter months. Less often, people suffer from seasonal affective disorder that causes depression in the Spring into the Summer months. Keep reading to learn more about it.

Tips For a Mental Health Day

Michele Bell — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:30:30 PDT

To many people, taking a mental health day means relaxing at the spa, sleeping in late, and watching movies on the couch. For me, it's quite the opposite. While all the above sounds quite nice, I get more peace of mind with fewer distractions on my mind so that often entails putting my body and brain to work. To get the benefits of a mental health day, I actually get busy and try to cross off some heavy to-dos on my checklist:

Write thank-you notes
Eat a good dessert and forget about the calories.
Clean out and donate your old closet items.
Make amends with an old foe.

Want to see the rest of my tips?

Time Change Might Put You in a Bad Mood

Annie Scudder — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:00:43 PDT

When we fall back an hour Sunday we might also descend into a grumpy mood. While we gain an extra hour of sleep, the time change messes with our internal clock, leading to poor sleep, decreased energy, and depression.

Dr. John Sharp, the author of The Emotional Calendar: Understanding Seasonal Influences and Milestones to Become Happier, More Fulfilled, and in Control of Your Life, says the key to seasonal happiness is embracing this time of year. He explains: "Instead of using the fact that it's dark out in the evening to hide under your covers wishing it was April, embrace the change and find autumnal things that make you happy, like getting cozy by the fireplace and eating soup."

You have two days to prepare. How will you embrace the darker, colder season?

What's the Deal With Cutting?

Annie Scudder — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:15:29 PDT

News that Demi Lovato entered rehab came as a surprise today. The 18-year-old Disney actress isn't going in for a cocaine bust, like former Disney star Lindsay Lohan, but rather to reportedly address her cutting issue. A source said: "She fought through eating disorders and has struggled with cutting. [She] is taking control by getting help."

As it's most broadly defined, self-injury disorder happens when someone intentionally injures his or her own body. Its occurrence is not limited by education, age, or gender, however, it's most common among adolescent girls and people with a history of abuse, other problems like OCD or an eating disorder, or those who grew up in a family that discouraged emotional expression. People who cut themselves do it to relieve pain and pressure, to challenge emotional numbness, and to feel pain on the outside and not just on the inside.

In addition to talking to someone you trust and getting professional help like Demi, there are some tips for dealing with urges to self-injure. Some include: running, screaming, or punching a pillow to relieve anger; squeezing ice cubes, taking a very cold shower, or chewing something spicy to help you safely feel less numb; or taking a bubble bath or practicing yoga to calm yourself.

Have you had any personal experience with cutting?

Kanye West on Suicide

TresSugar — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:00:09 PDT

“I contemplated suicide. I will not give up on life. There's so many people that will never get the chance to have their voice heard . . . I do it for them.”

-"Philanthropist of culture” (his words) and Twitterer extraordinaire (our words) confessed to contemplating suicide during the Los Angeles screening of Runaway, a short film he wrote, directed, and starred in.