High-Functioning Anxiety Disorder

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

High-functioning anxiety is a subset of generalized anxiety disorder that often goes unnoticed or undiagnosed. It occurs when a person has anxiety symptoms, but rather than retreating from situations or interactions, they work hard to face their fears and are skilled at covering up symptoms.

There are many emotional and physical symptoms of high-functioning anxiety disorder, including:

Emotional symptoms
- Fear of criticism or significant self-criticism
- Fear of looking inadequate or foolish to others
- Feeling on the edge or on the verge of losing control
- Feeling a sense of impending doom
- Experiencing significant stress
Physical symptoms
- Excessive sweating
- Feeling off-balance or lightheaded
- Headaches or migraines
- Intestinal discomforts, such as diarrhea or ulcers
- Muscle tension
- Racing heart rate
- Tired, jelly-like legs
- Sleep disturbances
- Tingling or numbness in toes or fingers

The intensity of these symptoms varies depending on a person’s level of functioning. People with high-functioning anxiety can appear to be:

Perfectionists
Punctual, or always early
Highly organized
Overachievers
Detail-oriented
Proactive

However, they often internally struggle with:

Overthinking/overanalyzing
The fear of disappointing or angering others
Self-doubt
Obsessively double-checking details
Racing thoughts
The inability to relax

There are many treatments available for high-functioning anxiety, including:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Solutions-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
Deep-breathing exercises
Medication

To learn more about our outpatient mental health services at Flushing Hospital Medical Center or to schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

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.

Healthy Aging Month

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

September is recognized as healthy aging month. The observation was created to encourage people to focus on their health and take steps to help them face the challenges that come with aging.

As we age, we become aware of changes in our mental and physical health, and changes in our social needs. You can take charge of your well-being by taking steps to age with a healthy mind and body. Flushing Hospital Medical Center would like to offer these tips to help boost your health as you age:

Get moving
- It is important to consult your doctor before exercising. Start slow, know your limitations, and modify activities if needed
- Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activities each week
Maintain a healthy diet
Eat proper portion sizes
Avoid excess processed foods
Stay hydrated
Stay socially active
- Stay in touch with friends and family
- Try doing something new that interests you
Balance your body and mind
- Keep a positive attitude
- Keep your mind active by reading or doing puzzles
- Keep your body active with yoga and stretches
Be proactive
- Receive regular checkups, physicals, and medical tests when needed
- Take vitamins, supplements, and medications as prescribed or needed

Healthy aging month is a time to celebrate life and the positive aspects of growing older. Healthy living is healthy aging. Developing and maintaining healthy aging practices throughout your life contributes to greater resilience and opportunities to thrive as we age. Making small changes in your daily life can help you live longer and better.

If you have questions about any medical issues that may arise as you age, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

Back to School Anxiety

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

A new school year is fast approaching. And with it comes lots of excitement, but it can also cause anxiety for children.

Starting a new school or being away from parents can cause much anxiety in children. That anxiety fades for most children as the year progresses. But for others, it doesn’t. Here are some examples of behaviors that may indicate your child is continuing to struggle with anxiety:

Continually seeking reassurance or asking repeated, worried questions despite receiving an answer

Tantrums when separating from parents or caregivers before going to school
Increased complaints of experiencing headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue in the absence of an illness
A significant change in their sleep pattern, such as taking an hour to fall asleep, or waking you up with worries during the night when they might typically sleep well
Difficulty getting along with family members or friends
Avoidance of normal activities in and outside of school

Here are some tips to help ease back-to-school anxiety:

Approach anxiety instead of avoiding it
Practice school routines
Model behavior you’d like to see
Ensure they are getting enough sleep
Check-in with stress levels
Talk to school mental health professionals
Blend back to school with fun activities so the transition is less sudden

To learn more about our outpatient mental health services or to schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

Dementia

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Dementia is a general term that represents a group of diseases and illnesses that cause the loss of cognitive functioning to the point that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.

Cognitive changes they may experience include:

Memory loss, usually noticed by someone else
Problems communicating or finding words
Trouble with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
Problems with reasoning or problem-solving
Trouble performing complex tasks
Trouble with planning and organizing
Poor coordination and control of movements
Confusion and disorientation

Some people with dementia can’t control their emotions, and they may also have psychological changes, such as:

Personality changes
Depression
Anxiety
Agitation
Inappropriate behavior
Hallucinations

Dementia is caused by damage to your brain, affecting its nerve cells and destroying the brain’s ability to communicate with its various areas. Dementia can also result from blocked blood flow to your brain, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain tissue dies.

Progressive dementias get worse over time. Types of dementias that worsen and aren’t reversible include:

Alzheimer’s disease (the most common cause of dementia)
Vascular dementia
Lewy body dementia
Frontotemporal dementia
Mixed dementia

Other disorders linked to dementia include:

Huntington’s disease
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Parkinson’s disease

Some causes of dementia-like symptoms can be reversed with treatment including:

Infections and immune disorders
Metabolic or endocrine problems
Low levels of certain nutrients
Medicine side effects
Subdural bleeding
Brain tumors
Normal-pressure hydrocephalus

Many risk factors can contribute to dementia, including:

Age
Family history

A healthcare provider must recognize the pattern of loss of skills and function to be able to diagnose the cause of dementia. No single test can diagnose dementia, therefore, a series of tests may be conducted to determine a diagnosis. These tests include:

Cognitive and neuropsychological tests
Neurological evaluation
Brain scans
- CT or MRI
- PET scans
Laboratory tests
Psychiatric evaluation

Most types of dementia can’t be cured, but there are ways to manage your symptoms including:

Medications
Therapies

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with dementia, you can receive treatment from a neurologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Art Therapy

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Art therapy is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative processes, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Art therapy is facilitated by a clinician with a master’s-level or higher degree trained in art and therapy who helps patients interpret, express, and resolve their emotions and thoughts. Art therapy uses integrative methods and engages the mind, body, and spirit in ways distinct from verbal articulation alone.

During a session, an art therapist works with clients to understand what is causing them distress. Then the art therapist guides the client to create art that addresses the cause of their issue. During a session, art therapists will:

Describe the goal of art therapy
Explain that clients don’t have to think of themselves as creative or artistic to benefit
Help the client choose and use a medium, such as drawing, sculpture, collage, or painting
Guide the client through expressing themselves through art, usually by asking questions
Discuss the results of both the work of art and what the client felt
Plan for another session or for the client to work on their own

Art therapists work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in diverse settings, including:

Hospitals
Schools
Veteran’s clinics
Private practice
Psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities
Community clinics
Crisis centers
Forensic institutions
Senior communities

There is growing evidence that art therapy helps conditions that relate to mood, such as anxiety and depression, trauma, low self-esteem, and similar disorders. It is also effective for people with a serious health condition, such as cancer, and for people working to develop effective coping skills, including prison inmates. Art therapy can also help people who are experiencing physical pain during hospitalization. Evidence also shows that it can be effective for post-traumatic stress disorder.

To find out more about our outpatient mental health services or to schedule a virtual appointment, call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or call (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. It is important to understand what Alzheimer’s is and what steps you can use to take care of your brain.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common type of dementia. It causes a slow decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Age is the biggest risk factor for the disease, followed by sex and family history.

Dementia is not a specific disease, but an overall term that describes a group of symptoms like memory loss and the loss of other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life, caused by physical changes in the brain.

Different types of dementia include:

Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
Frontotempotal Dementia
Huntington’s Disease
Korsakoff Syndrome

There are many signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia, here are 10 early signs and symptoms:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life
Challenges in planning or solving problems
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Confusion with time and place
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
New problems with words in speaking or writing
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
Decreased or poor judgment
Withdrawal from work or social activities
Changes in mood and personality

Even though there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other types of dementia, there are many preventative measures you can take to care for your brain.

Here are five ways to care for your brain:

Breaking a sweat: regular cardiovascular exercise elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Several studies have found an association between physical activity and reduced risk of cognitive decline.
Fueling up right: Eat a healthy and balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruit to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Although research on diet and cognitive function is limited, certain diets like Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), may help.
Catching some ZZZs: Not getting enough sleep due to conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea may result in problems with memory and thinking.
Taking care of your mental health: Some studies have linked a history of depression with an increased risk of cognitive decline. Seek medical treatment if you have experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, or any other mental health concerns. Also, try to manage stress.
Stumping yourself: Challenge and activate your mind. Try building a piece of furniture. Complete a jigsaw puzzle. Do something artistic. Play a strategy game. Challenging your mind may have short- and long-term benefits for your brain.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, you can receive treatment from a neurologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Men’s Health Month

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Father’s Day isn’t the only celebration for men in the month of June. Men’s Health Month is also observed. Men’s Health Month is an observance to raise awareness of preventable health problems, encourage early detection and treatment of disease, and improve overall well-being among men.

As part of its celebration of Men’s Health Month, Flushing Hospital Medical Center is sharing a few men’s health statistics and facts to consider:

Men are more than likely to be uninsured and significantly less likely than women to see a doctor or report symptoms to a healthcare provider.
Men, on average, die almost five years earlier than women as the overall mortality rate is 41% higher for men than women as men lead the death rate for cancer, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
Only 60% of men go to the doctor for a yearly, routine check-up, and 40% won’t see a doctor until something is seriously wrong.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13.2% of men aged 18 and over are in fair or poor health.
Men are more likely to put their health at risk by smoking, drinking alcohol, and making other unhealthy life choices.
One in two men are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the United States. A man is 2 to 3 times more likely to get prostate cancer if his father, brother, or son had it. Talk to your doctor about having your PSA and DRE levels checked.
Erectile dysfunction affects nearly 30 million men of all ages across the United States. If you are having problems, see a urologist to make sure it’s not an early warning sign of something more serious, like heart disease, high blood pressure or high blood sugar.

Men’s Health Month doesn’t just encourage men to take care of their physical health, but their mental and emotional health as well. Men also lead the death rate for suicide.

Here are a few men’s mental health statistics and facts:

31% of men suffer from depression in their lifetime.
9% of men have daily feelings of depression or anxiety.
Only 25% of men talk to a mental health professional.
Only 33% take medication for their mental health problems.

Here are some preventative measures that you can take:

Choose a primary care provider and go regularly.
Get screening tests based on your age and family history.
Eat healthy to prevent or manage chronic conditions.
Get and stay active.
Manage stress and seek a mental health professional if one is needed.

If you are experiencing any medical problems, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.

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.

Maintaining Sobriety in The New Year

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Joann Ariola

Maintaining sobriety in the New Year is a common resolution for those who are overcoming alcohol addiction. As with other resolutions, maintaining this goal can be difficult as there are many challenging obstacles you can encounter.

Resisting the temptation to drink at social gatherings is often one of several difficulties you may face. However, there are measures you can take to avoid relapse and maintain your sobriety while socializing. Creating a plan ahead of time to avoid temptations and triggers is one of your best defenses against jeopardizing your sobriety.

When creating a plan, these are some factors you may want to consider:

On-call sober friend/sponsor – Choose a person you trust to call if you are experiencing the desire to drink.
Alcohol alternatives – Bring or ask the host to have non-alcoholic beverages available.
Eat a sweet – If an urge to drink hits you, eat or drink something sweet. Since alcohol is a sugar, eating a sweet can satisfy the part of the brain that triggers the need for alcohol.
Bring a Friend – Ask a sober friend to accompany you to the party for moral support.
Get rest – Take some time to nap, meditate or just to remain quiet. It’s best to try and relieve stress before going to a gathering.
Work on your response – Not everyone knows you are in recovery. They may ask you if you’d like a drink. A response that works well is, “I have plans early in the morning tomorrow or I’m driving tonight.”
Pick and choose your events wisely – If you are invited to an event where there will be excessive amounts of alcohol served, remember you have the right to decline the invitation. Many recovery groups organize non-alcoholic mixers and sober holiday events.
Limit time with triggers – If you know your “drinking buddy” is going to be at an event you are attending, you can limit the time you spend with them and surround yourself with people who are aware of your sobriety or “safe-zones.”
Be honest – Honesty just may be the best policy. If you are honest with the people around you, they can help support you in maintaining sobriety.

While alcoholic beverages may be served at events, keep in mind that social gatherings are not only about drinking. You can have an exciting time while staying sober.

The road to recovery can be difficult but it is one that you do not have to travel alone. Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Addiction Services Division provides support and treatment for alcohol and chemical dependence through our Inpatient Chemical Dependence Unit and Reflections Outpatient Program. Our highly trained staff utilizes a medical and holistic approach in helping our patients to address addiction and the impact it has on their lives. These approaches help patients to build coping skills so they can better reflect and focus on their goals. To schedule a consultation, please call 718-670-5087.

Employee Spotlight – Tracy M. Norris, LCSW

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Joann Ariola

Meet Tracy M. Norris, LCSW. Tracy is a dedicated social worker, doctoral student and Clinical Manager at the Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s (FHMC) Mental Health Clinic.

As Clinical Manager, Tracy’s daily responsibilities are many. Whether overseeing patient care, staffing, medication trouble shooting, communicating with administrators or providing direct consults for patients Tracy’s days are eventful.

Tracy considers every day to be her best day. No matter the challenge or accomplishment she is focused on the patient by always striving to improve patient care and overall satisfaction.

“When you know that your patients are healthy, happy and safe, you have a sense of pride and personal fulfillment” is how Tracy describes what pleases her most about the work she does.

Tracy does not keep her dedication to mental health tethered to inside the hospital. She maintains a rigorous community outreach schedule bringing her knowledge to the surrounding community and schools in Flushing.

She hosts community workshops on various topics including, but not limited to:

Internet Safety
Satellite Babies
Mental Health 101
Anger and Rage Management in Adolescents
Parenting a pre-teen
Cyber-Bullying

“Outreach is a way of putting a human face on a mental health issue that may be culturally stigmatized causing people to not want to reach out for help.” “I feel that if I can influence a child or help a parent to connect with their child, I have made a difference,“ stated Tracy.

To Tracy M. Norris, life is about meaning. Her work and her patients as well as being part of the social work team at Flushing Hospital Medical Center are her greatest motivation. She states, “They are a good reason to jump out of bed every day!”