Drunkorexia

Drunkorexia is one of the latest trends in eating disorders. Like orthorexia, drunkorexia is not a medical or psychological diagnosis; you will not find this term in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. So what is drunkorexia? You might have a clue based on its name, but it is the combination of anorexic or bulimic eating disorder behaviors and alcoholic/binge drinking behaviors. The director of outpatient clinical services for the Renfrew Center, a nationally recognized eating disorder treatment facility, Dr. Douglas Bunnell explains: "Binge drinking is almost cool and hip, and losing weight and being thin is a cultural imperative for young women in America. Mixing both is not surprising, and it has reached a tipping point in terms of public awareness."

This kind of eating disorder is commonly seen in female college students, as participation in binge drinking continues to increase among this population. "Research shows that between 20 and 40 percent of women who suffer with bulimia also have a history of alcohol and/or drug problems. In one study, for example, 37.5 percent of bulimic individuals reported excessive alcohol use and 26.8 percent had a history of alcohol abuse or dependence" (Emax Health, Oct 2009). Another study was conducted in 2009 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and looked at the relationship between eating disorders and substance use in 13,000 women. What researchers found was that women who had an eating disorder were more likely to use substances than their counterparts without eating disorders. For more on this study, click here to access this article on Emax Health.com.

It is important to highlight drunkorexia-- according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 72 percent of women who are addicted to alcohol are also engaging in eating disorders. This is a very high number. Considering the health dangers of both alcoholism/binge drinking and eating disorders, the combination is very threatening. Health professionals need to be aware of this condition, as treatment is so essential to avoid the potentially fatal consequences of such behaviors. It is also helpful for people to be informed about drunkorexia, as we all might have family members, loved ones or others that we know who are possibly dealing with it. For more information, follow this LINK to read an article published in the NY Times last year on drunkorexia.

Time to Change the Clocks Again...

This Sunday, November 1, is a bittersweet day for many people. Sweet because we get one extra hour of sleep Saturday night, bitter because the days start getting shorter and darker earlier. Some people love this change- personally, it is not my favorite, but there are a lot worse things, that's for sure. Anyways, I often hear people saying how the shift around this time of the year has a pretty drastic impact on their mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression in which one's mood is affected by the changing of seasons and is often one possible explanation for this change in mood that people often express.

I recently read an article regarding new research findings for the treatment of SAD (click HERE to read it.). What researchers have found is that when treated for one year with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT in conjunction with light therapy, patients show a reduction in the recurrence of the depression, as compared with those who only received light therapy. Interesting for those of you who deal with SAD- receiving CBT looks like it is a crucial piece of treatment!

The Link Between Depression and Acne in Teens

A recent article in Time magazine, entitled Teen Acne and Depression: Can Mood Worsen Skin?, explores the relationship between a teenager's well-being/mood, and his or her skin. I have heard often and from many different people that stress and depression cause acne, but I have rarely seen articles or studies which highlight the relationship. While more research must be done, this article may be an interesting read for those of you who have teenagers with acne and/or depression, OR for those of you who may have once been a depressed teen, OR if you are a teenager currently experiencing depression or acne.

Teenagers and Depression

There was a study that was recently released that suggests teenagers who are depressed and do not receive help are at greater risk of developing serious mental illness later in life.  The implication is that teenagers experiencing depression greatly benefit from receiving treatment and face a reduced risk of developing more serious problems down the road. An article on BBC News that details this study can be found here.

In light of this news, it might be helpful to discuss the warning signs and symptoms of teenage depression, as it differs slightly in presentation from adult depression.  The following are symptoms to watch out for if you believe your teenager is depressed: 

**feelings of worthlessness                               

**tiredness, lack of energy, lethargic               

**sadness                                                              

**hopelessness                                                    

**frequent crying (more than is typical of your teen)

**losing interest/enjoyment in activities which use to be of interest/enjoyment

**social withdrawal (from friends and family members)

**changes in sleep habits and appetite

**difficulty with concentration

**suicidal thoughts or thoughts about dying

Here is a chart, courtesy of HelpGuide.org, which details the major differences between teenage and adult depression.  For more information on this topic, visit http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm.       

The difference between teenage and adult depression

Depression in teens can look very different from depression in adults. The following symptoms of depression are more common in teenagers than in their adult counterparts:

• Irritable or angry mood – As noted above, irritability, rather than sadness, is often the predominant mood in depressed teens. A depressed teenager may be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone to angry outbursts.
• Unexplained aches and pains - Depressed teens frequently complain about physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches. If a thorough physical exam does not reveal a medical cause, these aches and pains may indicate depression.
• Extreme sensitivity to criticism - Depressed teens are plagued by feelings of worthlessness, making them extremely vulnerable to criticism, rejection, and failure. This is a particular problem for “over-achievers.”
• Withdrawing from some, but not all people - While adults tend to isolate themselves when depressed, teenagers usually keep up at least some friendships. However, teens with depression may socialize less than before, pull away from their parents, or start hanging out with a different crowd.

If you’re unsure if an adolescent in your life is depressed or just “being a teenager,” consider how long the symptoms have been present, how severe they are, and how different the teen is acting from his or her usual self. While some “growing pains” are to be expected as teenagers grapple with the challenges of growing up, dramatic, long-lasting changes in personality, mood, or behavior are red flags of a deeper problem (www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm, 2009).