What Is Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Xavia Malcolm

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a long-term pattern of irresponsible, impulsive or often criminal behaviors.

A person with ASPD is typically deceitful, manipulative or reckless. They consistently show no regard for the law, what is right or wrong, or the rights or feelings of others. Someone with ASPD generally has no guilt or remorse for the harm they have caused others.

Individuals with this disorder can also be very charming or charismatic, traits they often use to manipulate people.

Additional signs and symptoms of ASPD can include having a history of:

Lying persistently
Having poor or abusive relationships
Having difficulty sustaining long-term relationships
Not caring for the safety of others or oneself
Never accepting responsibility and blaming others for one’s problems
Failing to fulfill money, work or social duties
Repeatedly breaking the law
Abusing drugs or alcohol
Being irritable or aggressive

It is not known why some people develop antisocial personality disorder and others do not. Genetic factors and traumatic childhood experiences such as child abuse are believed to play a role. Men are more likely to develop the disorder than women.

Antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed by a mental health provider who conducts a psychological evaluation that explores behavior patterns, family history, relationship patterns, medical history as well as symptoms listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

If you or someone you know is exhibiting symptoms of ASPD, do not hesitate to get help. You can schedule an appointment with a mental health professional at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, by calling (718) 670-5562.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Dealing With Holiday Stress

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Flushing Hospital

During the holiday season, many of us struggle to complete an extensive list of tasks in what often feels like very little time. We run rampant decorating our homes, attending social gatherings, shopping for loved ones, volunteering, traveling or cooking. These activities are often added to our already busy schedules, which can make us feel overwhelmed.

Contrary to what we may think, these activities which should make us feel happy can actually increase our stress levels.

Although there are various factors such as unrealistic expectations or financial strain that contribute to holiday stress, finding ways to avoid stressors or minimize their effects is very important. If stress is not managed well, it can have a significantly negative impact on our health.

Mental health professionals at Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers five tips to help you cope with holiday stress and maintain good mental health:

Set realistic goals– Unrealistic goals often equal added pressure and expectations that cannot be met. If these goals are not met, they can lead to negative feelings such as inadequacy or hopelessness.
Know when to take a moment for yourself (Take a break) – We are often pulled in multiple directions during this time of the year. Know when to take a breather to decompress and clear your mind.
Communicate- The added pressures of the holidays are clearly overwhelming and one of the ways that people sometimes deal with this is to isolate themselves. This is not recommended; instead, reach out to loved ones or a trained mental health professional to communicate how you feel.
Do not neglect healthy habits– Taking good care of your health can help combat holiday stress. Moderating your food intake, fitting in a few minutes of exercise and getting adequate amounts of sleep can be profoundly beneficial for your health. Additionally, maintaining a healthy daily routine can help take your mind off holiday demands.
Ask for help- We live in a time where multitasking has become the norm but if you begin to feel overwhelmed, ask for help. Soliciting the help of friends or family can alleviate some of the holiday pressure. The holidays can also trigger depression; if you are experiencing symptoms of depression ask for help from loved ones or seek the assistance of a mental health professional.

The holiday season can be overwhelming; however, by applying these helpful tips you can take the steps needed to minimize stress and make this time of year more enjoyable. If you find that you continue to experience elevated levels of stress or symptoms of depression, it is recommended that you seek the help of mental health professional immediately.

To schedule an appointment with the Mental Health Clinic at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5562.

Understanding Depression

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Michael Hinck

Depression is a mood disorder that makes you feel constant sadness or lack of interest in life. It can affect how a person feels, thinks and behaves. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Those living with depression have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes may feel as if life isn’t worth living.

While everyone experiences feelings of sadness at some point in their life, those with clinical depression have prolonged periods of feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless. These feelings are not always tied to a specific incident and can last for many days to weeks. Depression can occur in children, adolescents and adults. Although someone can experience depression only once in their life, most who suffer with depression experience recurring episodes.

Some of the symptoms of depression include:

Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why.

There is no known singular cause for depression. Instead, health professionals point to a combination of contributing factors including a person’s brain structure and chemistry. Hormone and genetics are also believed to play a role.

Help is available for those with depression. A mental health professional can conduct an evaluation and outline a course of treatment based on the patient’s individual needs. Treatment may include:

Medications – These can include a combination of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic, anti-anxiety or stimulant medications
Psychotherapy – Talking to a mental health professional on a regular basis about your depression and other issues can help treat the symptoms.
Electroconvulsive therapy – This brain stimulation therapy passes electric currents through your brain to help your neurotransmitters work better.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation – This treatment uses a coil to send magnetic pulses through your brain to help stimulate nerve cells that regulate mood.

Some with depression may experience thoughts of hurting themselves or others. If someone you know is depressed and you think they may hurt themselves or attempt suicide, call 911immediately.

OCD and COVID-19

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Xavia Malcolm

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition that is characterized by unreasonable thoughts or obsessions that lead to repetitive behaviors(compulsions) such as excessive handwashing.

For many living with OCD, the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted their mental health.

The threat of being infected with the virus and potentially becoming ill have presented certain challenges and in some cases exacerbated symptoms.

Stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic may result in the worsening of the following OCD symptoms:

Fear of contamination (Being afraid to touch objects other people have touched, or being afraid to touch others)
Excessive hand washing or showering
Excessively cleaning household items or other objects
Compulsive hoarding
Persistent unwanted or intrusive thoughts
Constantly checking that nothing terrible has happened
Difficulty dealing with uncertainty

According to the International OCD Foundation, there are measures that those living with OCD can apply to help them navigate this challenging time; these include:

Give yourself permission to set a basic safety plan based on the recommendations of trusted health organizations, and do not add to it.
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after being outside or in public, before eating, after going to the bathroom, and after you’ve coughed/sneezed/blown your nose. If soap and water are not available to you, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
If you want to do more than this, pick a person to help you figure out what might be a reasonable and rational safety measure to take.
Remind yourself that no one can protect themselves “perfectly” from COVID-19, and no one expects you to. Times like these call for using your common sense instead of going to perfectionistic extremes.
Be mindful that your OCD may take advantage of COVID-19 fears by telling you that you might have infected someone or that you are going to infect someone in the future, whether accidentally or on purpose.
If you’re noticing these intrusive thoughts, or that you’re doing compulsions related to these thoughts, check in with your therapist and let them know how your symptoms might have changed. They can work with you to come up with new exposures and/or homework activities to help contain them.

If you are struggling with the symptoms of OCD or other mental health conditions please reach out to a mental health professional for assistance.

To schedule an appointment with a mental health professional at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5316.

Getting Help for Mental Health Issues is Nothing to be Ashamed Of

Posted on October 4, 2020 by Michael Hinck

Mental illness affects millions of Americans, yet not surprisingly, many of those who need help do not receive it. There are many reasons why – it could be due to limited availability of services, or a strong distrust of others, or those who are mentally ill might have such a sense of hopelessness that they do not seek care.

While all of these are factors as to why someone doesn’t seek support, perhaps the biggest single reason is a sense of fear and shame associated with admitting help is needed. This sense of shame is very common and it is only reinforced by society, which has attached stigmas to mental illness. The beliefs the public has about mental illness leads those who need help to avoid it so they are not labeled as “crazy” and have their condition negatively affect their personal relationships and career goals.

Getting society to overcome the stigmas associated with mental illness is the key to having more individuals come forward, but unfortunately negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common. These stigmas can lead to obvious and direct discrimination, such as someone making a negative remark about mental illness or it may be unintentional or subtle, such as someone avoiding an individual because they assume they could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to mental illness.

Those with mental illness should never be ashamed of their condition and here are some reasons why:

According to the World Health Organization, one out of four people will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives.
Shame is pretty much guaranteed to make things worse. Feelings of shame are proven to have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health
Mental illness is no one’s fault. No one asks to have a mental illness and it is definitely not a choice we make.
We’re not ashamed when our bodies get sick, so why should we be ashamed when our minds aren’t in top form.
There is no normal – our minds are complex things and no single brain is the same
Our mental health doesn’t define us. Don’t let your mental illness become who you are, it is just one aspect of you.

It’s time to speak out against the stigmas associated with mental illness and reframe the way we see it. Getting help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength.

Flushing Hospital advises anyone who feels they need help to get it. Don’t let the fear of being labeled with a mental illness prevent you from seeking help. Treatment can provide relief and help you in life.

To make an appointment at Flushing Hospital’s Outpatient Mental Health Center, please call 718-670-5522.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Xavia Malcolm

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) is a general term used to describe a set of disorders that are categorized by chronic self-grooming behaviors that result in damage to the body. The most common BFRBs include continuous nail-biting, compulsive hair pulling and skin picking. Other body-focused repetitive behaviors are compulsive nose-picking, teeth grinding, lip biting, knuckle cracking and scab picking.

The exact cause of BFRBs is unknown; however, it is believed that these behaviors are related to impulse control disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Unlike individuals with self- injury disorders, those with BFRBs typically do not intend to harm themselves and often make repeated attempts to reduce or stop the behaviors.

Body-focused repetitive behaviors are very difficult to control and in addition to causing physical harm to the body, can lead to severe emotional distress and the functional impairment of one’s life. Therefore, it is very important to manage BFRBs.

Management for BFRBs can include cognitive behavioral therapy, medication or doctor-recommended supplements such as N-acetylcysteine.

If you’re struggling with body-focused repetitive behaviors Flushing Hospital Medical Center can provide you with high-quality mental health services and support. To schedule an appointment at our outpatient psychiatry clinic, please call (718) 670-5562.

Mental Health Issues Affecting Young Adults

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Xavia Malcolm

Mental health issues are on the rise in adolescents and young adults (12-25 years of age) living in the United States. In research published by the American Psychological Association, it was reported that, “More U.S. adolescents and young adults in the late 2010s, versus the mid-2000s, experienced serious psychological distress, major depression or suicidal thoughts, and more attempted suicide.”

Experts believe the reason for the increase in mental health problems in young adults is due in part to an increase of digital media and electronic communication. Studies show that young adults are having less face-to face interactions and are spending less time with friends, neither of which are advantageous for mental health. Additionally, many young adults are feeling pressured to present a flawless physical appearance or a perfect life online. They often measure themselves against unrealistic and often fabricated ideals which can affect self-esteem.

It was also found that young adults are getting less sleep because too much time of their time is spent on electronic devices such as smartphones. Young adults tend to be late night screen addicts, as there is always a need to feel connected to electronic devices due to a fear of missing out. A study published in the Journal of Youth Studies showed that “1 in 5 young people regularly wake up in the night to send or check messages on social media.”

Sleep deprivation in young adults can take a toll on their mental health. A lack of sleep over time can affect mood and lead to mental health disorders such as depression.

There are steps that can be taken to minimize the negative effects digital media and electronic communication can have on mental health. They include:

Minimizing or setting time limits on screen time
Encouraging face-to-face social interactions
Taking breaks from social media
Putting devices on a “ Do Not Disturb” mode before going to bed
Monitoring and customizing social media feeds to minimize exposure to negative or harmful content
Building self-esteem

If someone you know is experiencing mental health problems, please encourage them to seek the assistance of mental health professional.

To schedule an appointment with a Mental Health Professional at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, call 718-670-5562.

Hoarding Disorder

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Xavia Malcolm

Hoarding disorder (HD) is a mental health condition characterized by the inability to part with or throw away items due to a perceived need to save them.

People diagnosed with HD accumulate an excessive amount of possessions regardless of value. Unlike collectors who collect specific types of items such as model cars, those who hoard acquire random items that are often useless or of little value to most people such as paper bags. This acquisition often results in disorganized piles of objects overcrowding living spaces. Some people who hoard may also begin to acquire living things such as animals, resulting in unsanitary living conditions.

Common reasons why people who hoard accumulate these possessions include:

Not wanting to be wasteful and believing items will be needed in the future
Feeling safe when surrounded by items
Holding on to items perceived to have emotional significance
Believing their items are unique

Symptoms of hoarding typically begin to present during an individual’s early teenage years, the average onset is 13 years old. As a person ages, symptoms often become more severe. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, symptoms can include:

Severe anxiety when attempting to discard items
Great difficulty categorizing or organizing possessions
Distress, such as feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed by possessions
Suspicion of other people touching items
Obsessive thoughts and actions: fear of running out of an item or of needing it in the future; checking the trash for accidentally discarded objects
Functional impairments, including loss of living space, social isolation, family or marital discord, financial difficulties, health hazards

Although the cause of hoarding disorder is unknown, there are several factors that put some at risk of developing this condition more than others. The risk factors include having a family history of HD, encountering stressful or traumatic life events, having an indecisive personality, receiving brain injuries or experiencing material deprivation such as childhood poverty.

Those living with hoarding disorder are often likely to have other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit /hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or alcohol use disorder.

People with hoarding disorder typically do not recognize hoarding as a problem; therefore, many do not seek the help they need. Hoarding disorder is often identified when individuals seek treatment for other mental health conditions or when loved ones or local health departments intervene.

Hoarding disorder is diagnosed by performing a psychological examination. The most common form of therapy used to treat hoarding disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy. This kind of therapy helps individuals to become aware of harmful thought and behavioral patterns, and develop new strategies to engage in healthier ways of thinking and behaving. Treatment of HD may also involve learning organizational and decision making skills, as well as medication therapy.

If you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms of hoarding disorder and would like to receive assistance from a mental health professional at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5562.

Social Anixety and Alcohol Abuse

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Joann Ariola

According to the Anxiety and Depression Society of America, about 20 percent of people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) also suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence.

Social anxiety is defined as a disorder that is triggered by social situations where your emotions may arise causing you to have difficulty talking to others, fear being unjustly judged by others, become self-conscious while in the company of others or get physically ill at the thought of attending a social event.

By consuming alcohol, you could possibly experience the illusion of reducing the symptoms of SAD, but it can also lead to an additional issue with alcohol dependence and abuse.

For some, alcohol and SAD are a dangerous combination; since alcohol may give you a false sense of calm when in social situations. Additionally, it can also you to delay your decision to seek treatment. It may also interfere with an existing treatment. While seeming to help quell the anxiety, alcohol can actually worsen the symptoms of SAD.

If you have been diagnosed with SAD and consume alcohol to ease the symptoms, you may experience the following:

Drinking more or longer than you intended
Have difficulty limiting your consumption of alcohol
Experience strong urges to drink
Continuing to drink even though your anxiety is increasing

When alcohol is over consumed, it can lead to worsening the symptoms of social anxiety as well as causing:

Morning hangovers
Dizziness
Nausea
Dehydration
Low blood sugar

Most anxiety disorders can be treated in similar ways. Some effective ways to calm your social anxiety are to sleep regularly, limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol consumed, eat a healthy diet, and implement relaxation methods such as taking deep breaths, keeping a journal, thinking positive thoughts, yoga, painting or listening to soothing music until the anxiety begins to dissipate.

If these methods are not effective, you may want to seek professional help. If you have uncontrolled social anxiety disorder and are compensating with alcohol, you may want to speak with a mental health and addiction specialist at . Call to schedule an appointment.

Caring For A Loved One With Mental Illness

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Joann Ariola

mental illness, caregiver, depression, bi-polar, panic disorder, anxiety, obessive compulsive disorder, depression

Clinical diagnosis for mental illness such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression can be difficult. It is especially difficult when it is a loved one that is experiencing these conditions.

When a loved one has mental illness, family members can often feel emotions of embarrassment, anger, worry, self-blame or grief. Parents, specifically, can feel powerless over the disease and at a loss for what the best course of treatment for their child.

The focus becomes the person with mental illness, but studies have shown that it is just as important to maintain your own health while caring for a person with mental illness.

Some ways to maintain your health while being a caretaker are:

Maintain relationships with other family members
Seek professional support for yourself and your family
Participate in groups and family sessions with your loved one
Make time for yourself
Ask for help to lighten your responsibilities
Address one issue as a time to avoid burnout

As the caregiver, you are the tie that keeps everything together. The more educated you are about the disease your loved one is facing and the time you set aside for yourself will be what helps you navigate the obstacles.

If your loved one has mental illness and you are seeking professional help as a caregiver, call the Mental Health Center at Flushing Hospital Medical Center at 718-670-5562 to schedule an appointment.

For more information for caring for a loved one with mental illness, visit American Phychological Association .