Island Health: Behavioral Health Specialists

04/05/2022

03/12/2014

Missing sleep can have serious consequences for your health!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/12/02/no-youre-not-sleeping-enough-and-its-a-big-problem-15-scary-facts-in-new-natgeo-doc/?tid=sm_fb

"Every aspect of who you are as a human -- every capability is degraded, impaired, when you lose sleep."

20/11/2014

A new study shows that regular pot smoking shrinks brains!
http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/regular-pot-smokers-have-shrunken-brains-study-says/ar-AA7unyl?ocid=U146HDHP&pfr=1

Experimental mice have been telling us this for years, but pot-smoking humans didn't want to believe it could happen to them: Compared with a person who never smoked ma*****na, someone who uses ma*****na regularly has, on average, less gray matter in his orbital frontal cortex, a region that is a ke…

19/11/2014

Just came across this great article...

"Eat these foods to protect brain cells, improve your memory, and even reduce your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

Read more: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/best-brain-food/

Eat these foods to protect brain cells, improve your memory, and even reduce your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

13/11/2014

I'm so grateful to know some really amazing therapists and just as grateful that they share their wisdom with me. I was introduced to this video on empathy by Joanna Lawson - she practices in Iowa City. Please check it out - it will make you think...and hopefully feel.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=empathy+video&FORM=VIRE6 =detail&mid=40548622B1834D85D1D440548622B1834D85D1D4

12/11/2014

“A virus known to attack green algae in lakes and rivers can also infect human brains -- and it’s making dummies out of us. The virus, called ATCV-1, can impair cognitive activity, learning and memory, essentially making a person who has the virus less intelligent, researchers in the U.S. have found. Scientists said this is the first time the virus has been observed in people."

I wonder if anyone has explored the algae in our cisterns! Read more about this at

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/a-%e2%80%98stupidity%e2%80%99-virus-has-been-discovered/ar-AA7uBAt?ocid=U146HDHP

For the first time, scientists have found a virus known to attack green algae can also infect human brains.

11/11/2014

On this Veteran's Day - let's remember the service people who are living with PTSD.

http://maketheconnection.net/conditions/ptsd

Learn the signs and symptoms of PTSD. Hear stories from other Veterans. Find treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder.

11/11/2014

“There's a big downside to sleeping in on a Saturday.

If you normally sleep, say, 11 pm to 7 am on weekdays but 1 am to 11 am on weekends, you're essentially putting your brain through jetlag. It's the equivalent of shuttling back and forth between New York and California. And it's one reason why so many people end up feeling terrible on Monday mornings” To see more reasons check out the article!

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/why-youre-so-tired-on-monday-mornings/ar-AA7rSeH?ocid=U146HDHP

There's a big downside to sleeping in on a Saturday. If you normally sleep, say, 11 pm to 7 am on weekdays but 1 am to 11 am on weekends, you're essentially putting your brain through jetlag. It's the equivalent of shuttling back and forth between New York and California. And it's one reason why so…

10/11/2014

"The Huffington Post last fall found that 63 percent of smartphone users between the ages of 18 and 29 actually sleep with their phones or tablets in their beds.

In recent years, scientists have discovered that our chronic sleep deprivation is linked to these devices being allowed in our sleep space. A study published in the journal Nature last summer by Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, M.D., Ph.D., revealed how the artificial blue light emitted from electronic devices like cell phones, smartphones and tablets activates arousing neurons within the brain, preventing us from feeling sleepy."

Check out the link for more information.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/7-reasons-to-banish-your-phone-from-the-bedroom/ar-BBcPc5F?ocid=U146HDHP

You know your smartphone addiction has reached an entirely new level of unhealthy when you can't hit the pillow at night without it beside you.

06/11/2014

We are located in Havenisight...check out the map

06/11/2014

Social anxiety disorder prevents some 15 million Americans from leading normal social and romantic lives a recent survey by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports.
"Social anxiety disorder is when somebody has an intense, persistent and irrational fear of social or performance situations," Jerilyn Ross, the association's president and CEO, said.
"The condition causes people to avoid common, everyday situations and even other people for fear of being judged or criticized or humiliated or embarrassing themselves," Ross said.
Social anxiety disorder can interfere with daily routines and job performance, Ross noted. "It also makes it very difficult for people to develop friends and romantic partnerships."
The disorder can be effectively treated. Among the techniques that have been successful is cognitive behavior therapy, which helps people get a sense of control over their lives, Ross said.
For those of you who have, or know of someone with mild Social Anxiety Disorder, this article from Readers Digest may be helpful.
http://www.rd.com/slideshows/how-to-be-more-interesting/?obref=obinsite =slide3

Looking for easy tips on how to be the most interesting person in the room? With a little effort, your popularity will soar.