There is a growing public awareness of the importance of sleep to overall health and mental health. Reporting on health related issues continues to emphasis the importance of good sleep to so many aspects of our overall health. Research has demonstrated links to learning and memory, metabolism and weight, mood, and cardiovascular health.
Individuals may experience depressive symptoms during the winter when days are shorter and exposure to sunlight decreases. The exact mechanism that causes this occurrence of these symptoms is unknown, however there are several possible contributory factors with well-researched treatment approaches. Dr. Mogharreban reviews the use of light therapy as a treatment for those with mild symptoms of "winter blues" to individuals that may be experiencing more severe symptoms indicative of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Have you heard about Written Exposure Therapy (WET) yet? It’s a newer evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) for PTSD, recently added as a first line, trauma-focused treatment in the latest VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines. Last year I took the WET training taught by Dr. Brian Marx, one of the treatment originators. I must admit, I was skeptical about how it worked and whether it would be effective. Since the training, I have used it with 2 patients and now feel comfortable adding it to my PTSD toolbox.
I recently had the privilege and pleasure to speak with Dr. Edna Foa, the Senior author and creator of Prolonged Exposure therapy, and to correspond with Dr. Sheila Rauch the newest member of the team, about the updated Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD manual. I learned all about the new manual as well as some savory bits about relaxed breathing, imaginal exposure processing, and the future of PE treatment.
In the first part of this blog, I discussed the historical use and current trends in use of tobacco in the military population. This time around we're going to examine another widely-used and socially-sanctioned substance, caffeine. If tobacco is the spark to the battle weary individual, it is surely coffee or caffeine that is gas that feeds the ever-elusive energy flame