What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which causes thinking and memory to become seriously impaired.

How common is alzheimer’s?
1 in 20 Canadians over age 65 is affected by Alzheimer's disease and more women are affected by the disease than men.

What are the symptoms?
• Memory loss that affects day-to-day function
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Problems with language
• Disorientation of time and place
• Poor or decreased judgment
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Misplacing things
• Changes in mood and behaviour
• Changes in personality
• Loss of initiative

People may think these symptoms are part of normal aging but they aren't. It is important to see a doctor when you notice any of these symptoms because they might be due to other condition that can mimic Alzheimer’s such as depression, drug interactions, a dietary deficiency of a vitamin or an infection. If you notice problems with memory in you or a family member don’t jump to conclusions about the cause because there are several possibilities that can explain the symptoms.

Causes
The cause of Alzheimer’s disease remains unknown but researchers believe it is caused by a combination of factors that muck up nerve cells in the brain so they don’t work properly. Current research is focusing on family history and genetics and the internal/external environment.

Researchers have discovered that Alzheimer's disease is:
• Not a part of normal aging
• Affects both men and women
• More common in people as they age -- most people with the disease are over 65
• Not caused by hardening of the arteries
• Not caused by stress

Diagnosis
At specialized centers, doctors can diagnose Alzheimer’s correctly up to 90 percent of the time.

Doctors use several tools to diagnose "probable" Alzheimer’s, including:
• questions about the person's general health, past medical problems, and ability to carry out daily activities;
• tests to measure memory, problem solving, attention, counting, and language;
• medical tests - such as tests of blood, urine, or spinal fluid; and brain scans.

Treatments
At present there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are medications and other approaches that can successfully help with some of the symptoms, delay the effects and improve quality of life, in some people. The good news is that researchers have made great strides and there are a number of drugs in clinical trials that act directly against the disease process. They’re even testing vaccines against the disease.

Living with Alzheimer's or a related disease can be challenging. Whether you have the disease or you are caring for someone who does, it is important to take steps to be as healthy as you can be. Research shows that there are many things that you can do to enhance health and quality of life when living with Alzheimer's disease including:

• Eating well
• Remaining active
• Staying connected with friends and family
• Keeping your brain active
• Taking charge of your own health
• Reducing your stress
• Finding help

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s

When you’re taking care of a loved one, you may forget to take good care of yourself. Your are at risk for caregiver burnout. Alzheimer’s is one of the most emotionally draining and traumatic conditions for both the individual and their family. It can be hard on your body and cause a lot of stress. A lot of caregivers have times when they feel tired and overwhelmed. In fact, caregivers themselves have a high risk of depression and other sickness. Those with little or no help from family and friends are at the highest risk.

When you need to, it may be necessary to reach out to others. Family members, friends, and neighbours may want to help. They need you to tell them what kind of help they can give. Try to make specific requests when you can. It may be hard to ask, but getting help when you need it may be beneficial. Your doctor should be part of your support network; they may see signs of depression or illness that you don't notice. Other health care team providers can also be invaluable for support, information and resources. Peer support groups and societies are available in some communities and help you know you’re not alone and not the only one going through the challenges the disease can bring.

More information

For further information about Alzheimer’s disease contact a community organization or your family doctor to find out about support and resources available in your community.

Related Websites:
Alzheimer’s Society of Canada

Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer’s Disease International

National Institute on Aging

Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange

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Aging and Retirement

Retirement can be a time of freedom and reward after a lengthy career of service. For many it’s a chance to get to things they’ve always wanted to and finally are able. Most people live active fulfilling lives in their retirement years. But it’s also a time of change that can catch some people off guard. At first the time away from work can be a relief, like an extended vacation. But retirement may mean a loss of your work role and authority, and you no longer have the routine of getting up and going in to the social atmosphere of most workplaces. With time you may feel unproductive with no purpose or contribution from yourself. Some people start to feel like they’ve gone from a somebody to a nobody without a job or work to help define them. And it’s easy to get isolated from social contacts. With time this can be unhealthy for your mental and physical health.

It’s best to think ahead and prepare for the changes. Before retiring think of activities you enjoy or find meaningful. Participating in these social activities before you retire can ease the transition and give you a network to tap in to later on if you choose. Find interests and activities that stimulate you and give you a sense of purpose and make you feel you’re contributing to the world in some way. And try to stay connected to social networks and community. For some people this is more time with family. For others it’s volunteer work, or involvement in their religious organizations. Some people feel they want to be productive by starting a new business, or contribute to the next generation with their time and experience.
Despite the ads for Freedom 65 describing retirement as the best time of your life, growing older is not something everyone looks forward to. As we age, we face many changes and sources of stress - we are not as strong as we used to be, illness is more of a problem, children move away from home, we retire from work, and we may become lonely.

These changes may contribute to an increased level of sadness and sometimes clinical depression. In Canada about 6% of the over-65 age group suffers mild to severe depression. Retirement and isolation also increases the risks for developing problems with alcohol.
Coping with all these changes is difficult, but it can be done, and your retirement years can become some of your best!

Dealing with retirement

Retirement can be a major source of stress because your job may have been a very important part of your life. This stress may be even greater if you have been forced to retire because of your employer's retirement policies. You may lose your sense of identity and feel worthless. You will probably miss the daily contact with friends from work.

However, retirement does not have to be a sad time, and there are things you can do to meet the challenges facing you, such as:

• Make a list of your abilities and skills. Your work experiences may help you succeed in a small business or do valuable volunteer work for a favourite charity.

• Renew your interest in the hobbies and activities you enjoy. You now have time to play - enjoy!

• If you can afford it, travel. There are probably places you have wanted to see all your life. The early years of your retirement can be the ideal time to become a nomad for a while.

• Stay socially connected in whatever way works for you.

• Review your finances and living costs for the peace of mind that you can sustain your living needs. Get help from someone to plan if needed.

Dealing with loneliness
Everyone needs some time alone, but being alone against your will is very painful. You risk losing your sense of purpose and self-worth. Being retired changes your social life but there are things to do to avoid loneliness:

• Stay active, and look for new social contacts. Most communities have a number of programs.

• Try to make friends with people of different ages. You may be pleasantly surprised to find how much you have in common!

• Spend time with grandchildren or other young family members.

• Volunteer to help part-time in a local school or day-care centre. Very young children can brighten up your life with their enthusiasm and energy.

• Learn to recognize and deal with the signs of depression. Your family doctor can refer you to a mental health professional for treatment if needed.

Staying Physically Healthy

The physical changes you undergo throughout your retirement years can also be a source of stress. Here are some things you can do to stay as physically active and fit as possible:

• Accommodate to your physical changes. Get the things that will help you - eyeglasses or hearing aids for example.

• Keep a positive attitude. Chances are you will still be able to do almost all the things you used to; you may just need to take a little more time and learn to pace yourself.

• See your family doctor or health and wellness providers regularly.

• Be careful about your medications, they may begin to affect you differently than before. Make sure your doctor and health care providers know about all your medications. Keep an up to date list in your wallet.

• Take responsibility for your own health. Do not hesitate to ask your health provider questions.

• Adopt a balanced nutritious diet, and try not to over-eat.

• Drink less alcohol. Your body will have more difficulty coping with it as you grow older.

• Regular exercise and physical activity can be both healthy and enjoyable like walking, swimming, dance classes etc.

Although your body and lifestyle are changing, your personality remains the same. You are still you! Remaining active and with a positive outlook can allow for many more years of enjoying life.

More information

For further information about retirement and aging contact a community organization, health care provider or your family doctor to find out about support and resources available in your community.

Related Web Sites:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Canadian Mental Health Association

Aging in Canada

Here to Help

mentalhealthminute.com

Interested in learning more about mental health?

Below are the topics and dates for our upcoming FREE
teleseminars. The sessions are 45-60min long. Anyone
may participate, including: consumers, educators,
providers, family members, and caregivers.

Space is limited! Please register as soon as possible.
To receive a free copy of the registration form please
contact us at: enette@sympatico.ca.

Please indicate which of the teleseminars you would
like to attend (You may register for all sessions).
Note: the teleseminars are hosted in different time
zones. Please note any changes required for the time
zone you are calling from – you may need to adjust
your call-in time ahead or back an hour or two,
depending on where you live. Anyone may call from any
time zone, during any session, for free.

Perinatal Mood Disorders: Wednesday September 5,
2007 (12:00pm, Mountain) Hosted by Ms. Connie
McKnight, National Executive Director National Network
for Mental Health, with Dr. Diane Meschino, Women's
College Hospital

Seniors’ Mental Health: Wednesday September 12,
2007 (12:00pm, Eastern) Hosted by Ms. Enette Pauzé,
Project Manager, with Ms. Faith Malach, Executive
Director Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health

Seasonal Depression: Monday September 17, 2007
(12:00 pm, Atlantic)Hosted by Ms. Enette Pauzé,
Project Manager, with Dr. Anthony Levitt, Sunnybrook
Health Sciences Centre

Addiction and Mental Health: Wednesday, September
26, 2007 (12:00pm, Eastern) Hosted by Dr. Thomas
Ungar, Project Director, with Mr. Wayne Skinner,
Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH)

Recordings of our previous teleseminars are now
available. Please click on the links below to hear
the presentations for each of the topics listed.

mentalhealthminute.com

Latest Recorded Teleseminars

Please listen to our latest Teleseminars:

Mood Disorders

Diet and Mental Health

Peer Support & Self Help

Mental Health in the Workplace

Partners in Recovery: How to speak to your care provider


mentalhealthminute.com

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition caused by a disorder of the brain's functioning. It can seriously disturb the way people think, feel and relate to others. People with schizophrenia are often misunderstood and blamed for their behaviour. It is important to understand that this is a medical disorder and it is not the person’s fault. It’s not due to lack of effort, intelligence, or anything a parent, family or friends did or didn’t say or do.

How common is schizophrenia?
About one person in 100 develops schizophrenia. Men and women are affected equally; however, men tend to have their first episode of schizophrenia in their late teens or early 20s. With women, it is usually a few years later.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of schizophrenia vary greatly from person to person, from mild to severe. A specialist is needed to make the diagnosis, especially because there is no such thing as a simple schizophrenia test.
Making it even harder to diagnose, schizophrenia often starts slowly. When the symptoms first appear, usually in adolescence or early adulthood, they may seem more confusing than serious.

In the early stages, people with schizophrenia may find themselves losing the ability to relax, concentrate or sleep. They may start to shut their friends and family out of their lives. Work or school begins to suffer; so does their personal appearance. During this time they may talk in ways that could be difficult to understand and they may start to perceive things in an unusual way.

Once it has taken hold, schizophrenia tends to come and go.

Other symptoms may include include:

•delusions (false beliefs that are not consistent with the person's culture, and have no basis in fact, maybe weird or paranoid)

•hallucinations (people hear, see, taste, smell or feel something that does not actually exist)

•disorganized thought (unconnected thoughts that make it impossible to communicate clearly with other people)

•disorganized mood (finding it hard to express feelings; feeling inappropriate or intense bursts of emotion; feeling empty of any emotions)

•disorganized behaviour (odd behavior or cannot complete everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing appropriately and preparing simple meals)

•changes in sensitivity (more sensitive and aware of other people; or withdrawn and seeming to pay no attention to others).
Causes

No single cause has been found for schizophrenia, although there is a clear genetic link.

Treatments
Treatment usually consists of medication and counseling. Antipsychotic medications are the main class of drugs used to treat schizophrenia. Psychotherapy can offer understanding, reassurance and suggestions for handling the emotional aspects of the disorder and providing less stressful living situations. Social supports for housing, finances and employment or daily activity are important for treatment and recovery. Families, friends and coworkers can benefit from education and support.

Recovery
It is impossible to predict how well a person will recover after the onset of the disorder. Some will recover almost totally. Some people will need medication and support for the rest of their lives.

More information

For further information about schizophrenia contact a community organization or your family doctor to find out about support and resources available in your community.

Websites:

National Network for Mental Health

Schizophrenia Society of Canada

Canadian Mental Health Association

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

mentalhealthminute.com

What is Psychosis?

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality due to an interruption in how the brain works. When people can't tell the difference between what is real and what is not, it is called a psychotic episode. A first episode of psychosis is often very frightening, confusing and distressing, particularly because it is an unfamiliar experience.

Sometimes psychosis emerges gradually over time, so that symptoms might be ignored in the early stages. Other times, symptoms appear suddenly and are very obvious to the individual and those around them. Symptoms vary from person to person and can change over time.

Who gets psychosis?
Psychosis can affect anyone; however, people with a family history of serious mental illness are at increased risk of developing psychosis.
Psychosis usually first appears in a person's late teens or early 20s. Approximately three out of every 100 people will have a psychotic episode in their lifetime. Psychosis occurs in men and women and across all cultures and socioeconomic groups.

A number of mental illnesses can include psychosis as a symptom, including schizophrenia

What are the symptoms of psychosis?

Symptoms of psychosis can vary from person to person and may change over time. Some common symptoms are:

•changes in thinking patterns (difficulty concentrating; loss of memory; disconnected thoughts)

•delusions (fixed, false beliefs that are not consistent with the person's culture, and have no basis in fact, sometimes weird or paranoid)

•hallucinations (people hear, see, taste, smell or feel something that does not actually exist)

•changes in mood (finding it hard to express feelings; feeling inappropriate or intense bursts of emotion; feeling empty of any emotions; depression)

•very disorganized behaviour (strange behaviours, or cannot complete everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing appropriately and preparing simple meals)

•thoughts of death or suicide

•feeling their thoughts have sped up or slowed down

•feeling preoccupied with unusual ideas

•belief that others can manipulate their thoughts; or that they can manipulate the thoughts of others

What causes psychosis?

There can be many causes for the brain to not work properly and start imagining things. Sometimes psychosis is secondary to a toxic substance like drugs, alcohol, supplements or medications. Sometimes it’s due to a medical disturbance like an infection, hormone abnormality, seizure disorder, or other medical illness. Sometimes it’s secondary to a severe mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder. Often it’s a primary psychosis due to reasons that we do not entirely know the cause of.

In some cases, we do not know what causes a first episode of psychosis. Current research shows that biological and genetic factors raise the risk of having psychosis. Brain chemistry may effect psychosis. What’s clear is that it’s not due to a person being weak, or unintelligent or anything they or their family did or didn’t do or say.

When psychosis occurs for the first time it is difficult to know the cause. Psychosis is associated with a number of medical conditions including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder and substance abuse, among others. Because the first episode of psychosis can signal a variety of conditions, it is important to seek a thorough medical assessment.

Can psychosis be treated?
Psychosis can be treated, and many people make a good recovery, especially if they get help early. Treatment usually consists of medication and counseling.
Throughout treatment, families can receive support and education during sessions with the treatment team.

Medication called antipsychotic medication is usually essential. It relieves symptoms of psychosis and may prevent further episodes of illness. With proper treatment, most people recover fully from the first episode of psychosis. For many, the first episode is also the last. Antipsychotic medications have many benefits, and as with all medication some risks and side effects. It’s important to discuss these with your care provider. And research and newer treatments are being developed.
Sometimes people with psychosis benefit from hospitalization for safety, support and stabilization at some point in their treatment and recovery path.

Recovery
Recovery from a first episode of psychosis varies from person to person. Sometimes symptoms go away quickly and people are able to resume their regular life right away. Other people may need several weeks or months to recover. Some people will need medication and support for the rest of their lives.

More information

For further information about psychosis contact a community organization or your family doctor to find out about support and resources available in your community.
Websites:

National Network for Mental Health

Schizophrenia Society of Canada

Canadian Mental Health Association

Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) in Melbourne, Australia

mentalhealthminute.com

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? (OCD)

What is obsessive compulsive disorder?

Everyone experiences concern and uneasiness from time to time. We may worry about a problem at work or school, about money, health, or if the Leafs are going to win the Stanley Cup. But if you can’t stop worrying and it’s interfering with your life you may be experiencing obsessions as part of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Sometimes you know the thing you’re worrying about is ridiculous and makes little sense, but it bothers you anyway. For example, someone with OCD may have a constant worry that they have left the stove on, or not locked the door, even though you know you had. Or maybe you have to repetitively check, clean or organize things way beyond what’s reasonable, but you feel compelled to anyhow. It often annoys people around you and can cause problems for you at work, or in your relationships.
When worries overwhelm someone, we call them "obsessions." Obsessions are uninvited thoughts that surface in the mind over and over again. People with OCD know their obsessions are unrealistic, but they can't get rid of them, they can't control them, and they can't ignore them.

To relieve the feelings of distress and anxiety, people with OCD often try to reduce their anxiety by acting out certain rituals, or compulsive behaviours, over and over again. These rituals may include repeated washing, checking and arranging things, and counting. Performing these actions give people only temporary relief from their anxiety.

Who suffers from OCD?
OCD afflicts about one adult in 40, making it twice as common as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and the fourth most common psychiatric disorder. OCD is believed to be a disorder that is related to family history and how someone’s brain works. OCD can occur in people of all ages, but it generally begins before age 40. Studies show that the disorder usually begins during adolescence or early childhood. It affects men and women equally.

How to treat OCD
While a complete cure for OCD is rare, specialized treatment can bring many people long-term relief from their symptoms.
Two effective treatments for OCD have been developed: medication and a type of psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Used together, these treatments can be effective.
Psychotherapy techniques used to combat OCD symptoms involve encouraging a person to stay in contact with the object or situation that forms the obsession, and to not perform the ritual to ease the pressure of that obsession. Depending on the intensity of the therapy, improvement may be seen within 2 or more months. Yes, the best thing to help is to purposely expose yourself to the feared thought or situation and not be allowed to engage in the compulsive safety activity that’s become an unnecessary compulsive habit. Technically therapists refer to this as “exposure and response prevention”.

Coping with OCD
With early diagnosis and the right treatment, people can avoid the suffering that comes with OCD. They also have a greater chance of avoiding depression and relationship problems that often exist with OCD. Families, friends and coworkers can benefit by understanding what’s going on in OCD. Family, friends and coworkers often get pulled in to someone’s OCD demands in an effort to try and be helpful. But before long they feel hostage to the OCD demands and can become resentful. It’s best if they don’t participate in another person’s OCD demands, even though the person with OCD may protest.

More information

For further information about OCD contact a community organization, health care provider or your family doctor to find out about support and resources available in your community.

Websites:

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Obsessive Compulsive Foundation

Anxieties.com

Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments

mentalhealthminute.com