Is Guilt a Medical Condition?

Posted by michael on Apr 4, 2013 in Mental Health | 0 comments

Misconceptions of all sorts

Counselors continually hear the misunderstandings people have about relationships and capabilities, about life and  human development. Recently I was asked “Is guilt a medical condition that can run in a family?” The woman calling said both she and her sister have constantly experienced guilt throughout their life. Her mom and grandmother were no different.

Can Negative Emotions Actually Be A Medical Condition?

In Chinese Medicine, certain types mind set and emotions are characteristics of energy blockages or deficiencies in the body. The emotions of anger and anxiety can often be diminshed through herbs and acupuncture when the energy flow of the body is restored to its optimal state.

The western medical community primarily views negative emotions as a psychological condition. Medical communities do not conclude guilt a medical condition

Do Genetics Create Negative Emotions?

Science is realizing the old adage of genetics being a stagnant gene structure that is passed from one generation to the next is incorrect. However the life style choices and environmental conditions of past generations not only alters their levels of health, it can impact later generations. That being said, genetics is still not set in stone, it only implies a disposition to certain sensitivities and abnormalities. The rest is learned or influenced by current conditions. Does that make guilt a medical condition?

What does happen is we learn by example how to cope with different situations. The moment our nervous system develops, the body starts interpreting what feels good and what doesn’t. In the first few years our emotional response patterns develop. Our reasoning skills begin to form during the ages of 4 to 7.  Family learnings tend to be molded with certain generalizations and they may be inadaquate to help someone cope with everyday experiences or extreme situations

I have two friends. One speaks of Catholic guilt and the other Jewish guilt. Both have mothers and siblings who feel guilty. It seems like it runs in the family. But it is just as silly to assume religious groups are all from the same gene pool. Guilt requires certain belief systems to be in place and all beliefs are learned. Beliefs most certainly can be passed on from one generation to the next.

Not only is everyone in the family impacted by how the parents collectively see the world; how they process certain stresess and adversity is also shared with the next generation. If things are made personal, if there are beliefs limiting options or choice, if someone does not know how to forgive or let go of emotional discomfort, then they are stuck.

What is Guilt?

Guilt is feeling of blame for a particular outcome or experience. It requires some sense of having violated a percieved value. Since values are an internal constructions each of us holds in our own unique way, they are not universal; they are made up. Many people are trouble by defining guilt in this way, believing their morals are dependant on having a strong dose of guilt to keep them in check. That is a mispreception, as many people live health, productive and moral lives without any guilt at all.

Can the Process of Guilt be Changed?

Luckily how we process thought and emotions can be changed. Luckily, beliefs and values can be changed or modified to be more supportive of living a healthy life. So is guilt a medical condition?

There is an old saying “The apple doesn’t roll far from the tree.” It means children are like their parents, not because of the seeds, but because the are in close proximity to each other.

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Posted by michael on Apr 16, 2012 in Anxiety Help | 2 comments

Finding Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Medication versus Therapy

When seeking treatment for anxiety disorders such as OCD, GAD, or Social Anxiety, making sense of the overwhelming options available can be stressful. What is the best way to treat emotional or mental distress depends on personal preference, how one defines their disorder, what type of change they expect, social stigmas and financial concerns. These and other reasons will keep the majority of those suffering from anxiety disorders from ever seeking help. A high percentage of those getting treatment for Anxiety Disorders will not receive adequate help or finish their treatment.

Meditation for OCD

Posted by michael on Mar 25, 2012 in OCD | 0 comments

Can Meditation Help Combat OCD

Why would someone want to try meditation for OCD? After all, meditation has a bad rap. It’s often associated with new age mumbo jumbo and mysticism. It’s used by people who eat granola bars and drink wheat grass juice. The practice of meditation even conflicts with certain Christian beliefs.

This is unfortunate, since meditation is a legitimate form of relaxing the mind and body. It is a discipline of focused breath and slowing thoughts down. That makes meditation for OCD sufferers an appealing discipline to explore. While many are put off by anything categorized as alternative healing, it can be a helpful tool to achieve useful states of mind for those dealing with OCD and anxiety. And if there is one thing a racing mind or anxious body can use is extra relaxation.

Prescription Medications for OCD

Posted by michael on Mar 15, 2012 in OCD | 0 comments

Prescription medications for OCD include Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, BuSpar, Ativan and Zoloft

Use with caution

For treatment of anxiety disorders, including OCD, numerous antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications offer a broad-spectrum of choices and effectiveness.

The first specifically approved prescription medication for OCD treatment was the tricyclic antidepressant Anafranil. Since that time the SSRIs Prozac, Luvox,  Paxil,  Zoloft have been approved. Click here to check side effects of these medications

Maximizing Emotional Well Being

Posted by michael on Mar 7, 2012 in Mental Health | 0 comments

What Needs to Change So You Can Change

It’s no surprise the study of mental health is highly subjective. How to define or measure it has become a highly contested subject. The broad spectrum of symptoms have been referenced to as illnesses, disorders, genetic predispositions, unresolved traumatic events, inadequate coping skills, chemical imbalances, nutritional deficiencies and others. Diagnosis is often inaccurate or incomplete and the labels given for mental and emotional reactions often pigeon hole those affected into unsatisfying boxes.

FDA Warnings For Antidepressant Medications

Posted by michael on Feb 21, 2012 in Medication | 0 comments

“Black Box” FDA Warnings for Antidepressant Medications

The Ten Deadliest Prescription Medications

Posted by michael on Oct 28, 2011 in Medication | 2 comments

How Deadly Medications Reach the Market

The FDA recently released it’s report on the ten deadliest prescription medications and how many have died from taking these drugs. Since these are the deadliest prescription medications on the market, many wonder how the FDA could approve them.

There is a huge misunderstanding about the FDA’s role in approving medications, believing they are somehow involved in the testing process. They are not, they never have been; it is not their function and approval process is far from perfect The information used to make the decisions of allowing the sale of any prescription medication is primarily based on studies conducted or funded by pharmaceutical companies. While there are guidelines, the standards as to how these test must be conducted and what information must be reported is still left to the companies who stand to profit from these drugs.