Physical Health

As everyone does, we need a complete physical examination at least once a year or more often if physical or mental symptoms increase significantly

There are many physical problems that themselves cause symptoms similar to psychiatric symptoms — among them:
• Thyroid and other endocrine gland disorders
  • There are two major systems that coordinate nearly every bodily function:

    Nervous system

    transmits messages by electro-chemical impulses to muscles and glands

    Endocrine system

    oddly shaped glands in widely separated regions of the body that transmit chemical messages (hormones) and can reach every cell in your body

    • The Thyroid is an endocrine gland in the neck
      • Hypo-thyroidism-- producing too few hormones
      • Hyper-thyroidism-- producing too many hormones
      • Either condition can cause psychiatric symptoms
      • A complete battery of thyroid tests including Total T4, Total T3, and TSH, must be a part of each complete physical exam

• Hypoglycemia
  • a disease where there are periodic drops in blood sugar below the normal level. It can cause or worsen psychiatric symptoms, such as:
    • Light-headedness
    • anxiety
    • trembling
    • feelings of unsteadiness
    • fellings of weakness
    • irritability
    • palpitations
  • For hypoglycemia, there are certain dietary and nutrition considerations (diet and nutrition are wellness tools)
• Hyperglycemia (Diabetes)
  • a disease where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, leaving the blood sugar levels too high. It can cause or worsen psychiatric symptoms, such as
    • excessive thirst and/or hunger
    • excessive urination
    • weakness and fatigue
    • nausea and vomiting
    • loss of feeling or numbness in hands and feet
    • blurred vision
    • absence of menses
    • abdominal pain
    • confusion
    • sores that heal slowly
  • For hyperglycemia, there are certain dietary and nutrition considerations (diet and nutrition are wellness tools)
• Some chronic physical diseases
• Head injuries
• Hormonal imbalance
• Yeast infections
• Medication side effects
• Allergies to food, mold, vapors, medicine
  • A food allergy could be contributing to your psychiatric symptoms

    depression fatigue Anxiety Irritability Weakness

    Dizziness Insomnia Mood Swings Headaches Panic

  • To find a food allergy, you must eliminate the suspected offender from your diet for five days. See how you have been feeling, the reintroduce the suspected food and then check your feelings again.
• Exposure to poisons(mercury, lead, etc.)
• Lack of adequate light in darker months - this is known as the 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' or 'SAD'

Physical Exam

• Bring with you to the physical examination:
  • Your medical history and that of your family, including all major illnesses and surgeries
  • A list of all your medications, vitamins, minerals, and healthcare preparations with dosage, reason for taking, and length of time taken
  • Report changes in:

    appetite thinking patterns anxiety weight sleep patterns

    concentration diet sexual interest nervousness loss of interest in pleasurable things

• Also report:

  headaches loss of balance periods of amnesia vision problems nausea or diarrhea fainting or dizziness double vision

  coordination changes weakness in arms or legs seizures numbness or tingling anywhere fever stressful life events any other unusual symptoms

Tips For Finding Good Health Care Professionals

• educate yourself
• ask health care organizations, friends, and current health care professionals for referrals
• interview professionals who might meet your needs before making long term commitments
• explore a variety of approaches, including safe, non-invasive alternatives
• This is a very personal task — don't get talked into working with someone you're not comfortable with
• Your team of health care professionals might include

  medical doctors allergists counselors chiropractors psychopharmacologists alternative practitioners

  psychiatrists pharmacists social workers nutritionists

  endocrinologists therapists osteopaths naturopaths homeopathic physicians occupational or massage therapists

• Cost and health care plans can be limiting factors
• We need to work together for health care reform

Information above taken from Wellness Recovery Action Planning workbook distributed by the Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council

Exercise:

• Starting an Exercise Program - The Right Time is Now

Online Resources:

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