I stopped avoiding.

And I feel great.

Now it’s time for some Saturday Sanity, and I hope by this time next week, I still feel just as great.

At Mental Health Notes, I shared survey findings about saving money on prescription medications, passed along advocacy alerts about Mental Health Parity and Medicaid regulations, showed you where to find information about headaches and brain tumors, highlighted Web sites about two interesting -ologies (color psychology and graphology), and, very simply, told you that water is good for your brain. And, this week at Mental Health Notes was extra special because we were visited by triple-boarded psychiatrist and award-winning author Doreen Orion!

Mental health was prevalent in the news this week. Mental Health America salutes the service of veterans and families as well as offers tips on how to boost workplace wellness, and researchers from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) presented information about new depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia treatments. In other research news, Dr. Rosalind Wright of Harvard Medical School and colleagues found that women who experience stress during their pregnancies may have babies who are predisposed to allergies and asthma, and a new study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders suggests that anorexic women who had childhood anxiety may experience more severe symptoms of the eating disorder.

And finally, what’s going on with the rest of the b5media Health & Wellness Channel? Grace at Kids Health Notes points to a UCLA study that suggests that pregnant women who use cell phones may have children with behavior problems. Kendra at A Hearty Life gives a glimpse into her struggles with stress and how it affects diabetes. Mary Emma at Alzheimer’s Notes offers 13 tips for caregivers to alleviate depression. Ruth at Eating Fabulous tells us about how celery and green pepper compound can prevent neuroinflammation.

That’s it for this week! If you have any Saturday Sanity-worthy news, send it my way for next Saturday!

All images courtesy of morgueFile.

Remember! You have until May 31, 2008 to enter the Mental Health Notes Birthday Giveaway, and forever to join the This Is Why I ROCK! series!

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: Keeping Up With Yesterday

Yipee! It’s the Health & Wellness Channel’s monthly theme day, and I’m super excited because not only am I finally hosting, but the theme is mental health in honor of May being Mental Health Month!

My fellow b5media bloggers have really pulled together and presented some great information this month, so grab a cup of coffee and settle in for some good readin’!

Over at Help My Hurt, Marijke Durning addresses Depression and Chronic Pain, and touches on the question of, “Which comes first, depression or chronic pain?”

Healthbolt gives us a first-hand look into depression via a Question and Answer session with a long-time sufferer. Diagnosis, triggers and treatments are all discussed in this exclusive interview.

At Alzheimer’s Notes, Mary Emma Allen discusses Depression – a Mental Health Concern for Caregivers and Alzheimer’s Patients. (Something I’ve experienced firsthand and can’t wait to read!)

With Stigma and Pride, Kristina Chew at Autism Vox reminds us that some of the past and present stigma cast upon autistic individuals is in part because of misconceptions not only of autism, but of mental illness.

Karen Lynch at Pink Ribbon Review points out that Breast Cancer Can Cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In her post she lists symptoms to watch for and links you to an assessment tool to see how far you’ve come in terms of personal growth and healing.

Weighting Line’s Hope Wilbanks gives us some insight on How To Deal With Depression And Weight Gain.

Over at Lively Women, Kristen King asks a very thought-provoking question – after she offers up some just as thought-provoking quotes – with In Honor Of Mental Health Awareness: Are You REALLY Happy?
Gabrielle Sedor at Fertility Notes nods in the direction of this year’s Mental Health Month theme, “Get Connected,” with Get Connected for Mental Health Month. Not only does she encourage us to get connected, but she offers resources to do so!

Gab is also now the blogger for Daily Tomorrow, and for that she offers up Is Going Green Good for Your Mental Health, or Just Making You Crazy? (You can bet I’ll be leaving a comment or two on that one!)

Grace Ibay reminds us of the importance of Building A Positive Self Image In Our Children at Kids Health Notes.

Health and Men’s Scott Wharton got a jump on all of us last week by rounding up FIVE of his mental health-related posts with Health And Men’s Best Of Mental Health.

Mark W. discusses Anger Turned Inwards at A Dozen Steps (something I’m really looking forward to reading, especially given that he explores mental health and alcoholism – over the past couple of years, I’ve become very interested and somewhat involved with mental health and addiction of any sort).

Angelique at Breaking the Mirror fills us in on mental health, medication, and eating disorders with Anorexia, Bulimia, Depression, Prozac – What You Should Know.

Breastfeeding 1-2-3’s Angela White takes a look at traditional anti-depressants and alternative treatments for depression in breastfeeding mothers with Breastfeeding, Mental Health, Anti-Depressants and Alternative Treatments.

Gloria Gamat over at Cancer Commentary talks about how mental health is a critical factor in the life of a cancer patient, thus it shouldn’t be ignored by healthcare professional and the patients and their families alike, with PTSD, Cancer Patients, Mental Health Month and Channel Theme Day.

And finally, at Diabetes Notes our very own Channel Editor Kendra James presents Depression Is An Independent Trigger For Type 2 Diabetes to inform us that depression is an independent factor for type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that depression alone, and not lifestyle factors like being overweight, can trigger Type 2 diabetes in adults 65 and older, a population with a high prevalence of diabetes and depression.

Kendra also writes A Hearty Life, and over there she tells us about Heart Disease And Depression/Anxiety: It Is Directly Related.

That’s all for now! Be sure to let each one of these awesome bloggers know how much you appreciate the time, effort, and research they dedicated to these posts!

Ken Jensen is currently rockin’ out in the This Is Why I ROCK! series here at Mental Health Notes. If you have a mental illness and are still living the life you love, head on over the the official announcement post and enter!

Post from: Blisstree

Join The Health & Wellness Channel In Recognizing Mental Health Month!