The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition Jun/July/August 2018

www.theconnectionsnj.com Psychic • Spiritualist Clairvoyant Are you worried about love, business, family or health? Let me guide you through the challenging cycles of life. Martell is a professional with 30 years of experience. Can reunite loved ones, can & will help you where others have failed. All types of readings. Private and Confidential. 642 Valley Rd., Gillette NJ 07933 1308 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ Open 7 Days by Appointment Any Reading 1/2 Price with this ad 908-660-0100 Follow Us On Instagram to See Who’s Making Community “Connections”! @Connectionmag Sophia Chadda, D.D.S. Periodontics, Including Dental Implants DIPLOMATE, AMERICAN BOARD OF PERIODONTOLOGY Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology Assistant Professor of Periodontics, RSDM PERIODONTICS, INCLUDING DENTAL IMPLANTS • Specialized treatment of gum/ periodontal disease • Prevention • Dental Implants • Cosmetic gum treatment • Laser treatment • Regenerative treatment 41 Stonehouse Road Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908-626-0333 Visit us at: www.drsophiachadda.com OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT New Jersey Specialty Permit Number 5246 at “Dr. Sophia Chadda ” Chances are that you have a relation- ship with someone who has a psycho- logical or psychiatric disorder. It could be a family member, a friend, or a co- worker. You may know the diagnosis or suspect one. Equally likely, if you are not trained or educated on mental illness, you may share a common myth with many people regarding mental illnesses such as Depression, Anxiety, or BiPolar Disorder. Or, myths about neuro-biolog- ical disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) and Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It would be helpful for both you and the individual afflicted that you understand some of these myths so that you do not con- tribute to their angst with unrealistic expectations or intolerance. Myth: Individuals with depression can “snap out of it” by simply con- trolling their feelings and actions. While depression can be managed well with medication and cognitive behav- ioral therapy, it is not a “mind over mat- ter” process. Depression can be debili- tating and literally take over a person’s functioning. It can be very powerful and by telling an afflicted person to just “get out of bed and think positively that day” is not only difficult to impos- sible, it makes the person feel inade- quate and subsequently even more depressed. Myth: A person shouldn’t be depressed when they have such a good life, great marriage, financial- ly secure, beautiful children, and a great job. Sometimes, it may be difficult to under- stand how a person can be depressed when they have such a fortunate life-or even the perfect life. First of all, what looks like on the outside may not exactly be what is happening on the inside. But, even if it is the quintessen- tial life, clinical depression is insidious and can be solely driven by neuro-bio- logical factors occurring chemically in the brain. It is similar to an extremely conditioned athlete, who is in perfect shape muscularly as well as cardiovas- cular, but has a pulled hamstring. Even though they look perfect on the out- side, there is an internal, invisible bio- logical condition that is preventing them from performing. Myth: Panic attacks only occur due to some stressor or fear. Actually, panic attacks can occur as a direct result of a specific fear or stress- ful situation. However, they can also occur idiopathically, or without any known cause. It is easier to manage, or even prevent when there is a known cause, but sometimes they just occur. It is similar to motor tics often seen in chil- dren. Sometimes they are due to a spe- cific condition, sometimes due to stress, but other times they occur for no known reason. Myth: If my child can play video games for an hour, he must not have ADHD. Motivation and interest are extremely powerful as a compensatory skill for the inability to sustain attention due to ADHD. Sitting in a classroom, with visu- al and auditory distractions, and a potentially boring lesson make focus and concentration a real challenge for a youngster with ADHD. When they are engaged in a video game, watching a video, or reading a book, they are hyper-focusing, which enables them to exclude extraneous stimuli. You literally have to shake them to change their focus and concentration. Myth: Someone with Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can con- trol their obsessions and compul- sions if they had better self disci- pline. Although self-discipline is a part of the treatment plan for OCD, the fact is that their obsessions (repetitive thoughts) and compulsions (intense need to complete a behavior or behavioral sequence) are driven by neuro-biologi- cal forces. Would you be able to resist scratching a fresh mosquito bite? Or, could you use self-discipline to not feel cold if you were standing outside with- out a jacket in 4 degree temperature? It’s just not that easy. If you really want to help an individual who has a mental illness, understand- ing and tolerance needs to replace judgment and expectations. Educating yourself on the specific condition would also be most helpful to you, as well as the person afflicted. Dr. Michael Osit is a Licensed Psychologist prac- ticing in Warren, and author of The Train Keeps Leaving Without Me: A Guide to Happiness, Freedom, and Self Fulfillment (2016), and Gen- eration Text: Raising Well Adjusted Kids In An Age Of Instant Everything (2008). ATTACKING MYTHS - COMMON MISBELIEFS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS By: Dr. Michael Osit PAGE 30