My extensive personal experience with addictive people provides me with real knowledge. Also, my own healthy state at 86 is a testimony.It cannot possibly be coincindence that all the many addictive people i have observed always become bipolar after years of drug use.Any powerful mind altering drug whether heroin, methadone, speed, cocaine, so called antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc. eventually always cause a bipolar condition. In addition, i have personally seen many elderly friends become victims of panic attacks, depression. anxiety , etc. after taking nutrition draining drugs such as lipitor or thiazide.I hope and pray any and all elderly will heed my advice to eat very very carefully using good food as good medicine and relying on daily real pure maple syrup and olive oil to fight inflammation.; also to stay away from meds and supplements if at all possible. As to psychiatry, i do not know whato think r say except that the many psychiatrists who have treated friends now dead always prescribed harmful substances.I do not know that all of them do this, but the ones I have observed alway s did. God bless you all.
Important addendum- Good food is good medicine. it is especially important to eliminate all white sugar, all fructose, and all sodas from daily consumption.Eating mostly home grown and or organic berries, fruits, and veggies every day is very healing physically. Also, everyone needs at least one or more whole eggs and lots of whole milk every day.Wild caught cod and salmon should be eaten at least once a week.All meats even prime beef are healthy if eaten in smal amounts about twice a week.Real true pure maple syrup ahould be eaten daily. it is like delicious medicine because it is avery powerful but totally harmless inflammation fighter. Extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar are also very healing as are garlic and onions.Supplements are not very helpful and some are even harmful. Real nutrition from real food heals, protects, and strenghthens us mentally and physically.Even more importantly, avoiding ever taking any nutrition draining and or brain altering substances can protect and preserve mental and physical health.
I am 86, strong, mentally and physically healthy, med free, and pain free. I am very blessed. However, i have experienced a lot of problems with addictive people. All people who take mind altering drugs whether legal and or illegal on a long term basis always ultimately become bipolar. There may be other factors such as those you explain. However, most mental illness is caused by long term drug use and or severe malnutrition.Many elderly nowadays take statins and or strong diuretics. Statins interfere with the processing of nutrients in the body thus causing malnutrition. Diuretics wash nutrients such as potassium and B12 out of the body. The result of all this is severe malnutrition and nervous system damage.Some dementia is caused by head injuries. However, the primary cause of dementia in the elderly is statin use, diuretic use, or both.
i've had a lifelong mental illness now with the revised diagnosis schizoaffective disorder. i found your article on understanding mental illness in seniors very helpful.
There are nutritional and life-trauma causes for mental ills, too...in fact, imho, most mental ills, are "spiritual crises" and/or nutritional deficiencies. B-vitamins are critical for neurological health and balance. So are a full array of trace minerals. But to get it right, patients need tested...and few Docs do this, yet. That said, there are herbals and supplements which can really help, too...such as: --- Rhodiola Rosea, which has been used for hundreds of years, to help stabilize/balance all the neurotransmitters, it seems. --- GABA [gamma aminobenzoic acid], which acts like a "gatekeeper" for the emotions which can flood up from the lower brain, into the upper brain; it moderates how much emotions can get through, to more normal....so this can help with anxiety, mania, maybe depression too. --- St. John's Wort helps with depression, very nicely, even some cases of very serious depression. Some feel the good effects as soon as a few days; others need a couple weeks for their body to respond. Please find a good alternative health care practitioner, who knows the best ways to use these. These DO have effect on the balance of neurotransmitters; one can get the same kind of flat-affect by taking too much, as they can using psych drugs. Beware of anyone who tells you anything like: This is safe because it's natural; god grew it; etc. They are disgraceful snake-oil salesmen doing a huge disservice to natural medicine and people suckering for that line.
I currently have an uncle (nearly 91) who has major mental health issues, including mania, possible hallucinations, paranoia, etc. His family is really not in a "healthy state" either and my 91 year-old aunt has dementia (possibly beginning of Alzheimer's).
No one is really looking out for their major health needs. I have tried to encourage one of their sons to do this, but because he has been physically and verbally abused for years, he can't seem to comprehend the depth of his parents' needs and is afraid to visit them in their home. At one point my cousin did attempt to become their guardian, but when he could not get any doctors information from his dad (needs 2 doctors to declare his parents incompetent), he gave up trying.
I have no idea where to turn to for getting them help. In the past I have contacted the police (when my uncle kept saying people were breaking into his house and vehicle), I have contacted Adult Protective Services/Social Services, and have even spoken to an Elder Care lawyer. Since I have no legal authority to assist them, I'm at a loss as to what I can do.
In the past 2 months, my uncle has cancelled doctor appointments at the VA clinic (was supposed to get a head CT scan and see his psychologist), has backed his vehicle into a tree damaging the tail lights and the window, has lost his house keys which resulted in my aunt falling on their porch while helping him look for the keys (she ended up in the ER), has been loosing weight (is now down to 135 lbs.), and claims he can't sleep at night. He's also trying to be the primary caregiver for his wife.
What can a distant relative do? I believe both my aunt and uncle need at least in-home care or possibly nursing care in a facility. I believe the fact that my uncle is a WW II Veteran would qualify him and my aunt for some VA benefits for their care (neither of them have much income, no real savings or investments, and are probably in debt due to giving away money or having it taken from them).
If anyone has any solid ideas, please let me know. Thanks so much.
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Understanding Mental Health Issues in Seniors
What diploma mill did you get your MD in psychiatry from?
That said, there are herbals and supplements which can really help, too...such as:
--- Rhodiola Rosea, which has been used for hundreds of years, to help stabilize/balance all the neurotransmitters, it seems.
--- GABA [gamma aminobenzoic acid], which acts like a "gatekeeper" for the emotions which can flood up from the lower brain, into the upper brain; it moderates how much emotions can get through, to more normal....so this can help with anxiety, mania, maybe depression too.
--- St. John's Wort helps with depression, very nicely, even some cases of very serious depression. Some feel the good effects as soon as a few days; others need a couple weeks for their body to respond.
Please find a good alternative health care practitioner, who knows the best ways to use these. These DO have effect on the balance of neurotransmitters; one can get the same kind of flat-affect by taking too much, as they can using psych drugs.
Beware of anyone who tells you anything like: This is safe because it's natural; god grew it; etc. They are disgraceful snake-oil salesmen doing a huge disservice to natural medicine and people suckering for that line.
No one is really looking out for their major health needs. I have tried to encourage one of their sons to do this, but because he has been physically and verbally abused for years, he can't seem to comprehend the depth of his parents' needs and is afraid to visit them in their home. At one point my cousin did attempt to become their guardian, but when he could not get any doctors information from his dad (needs 2 doctors to declare his parents incompetent), he gave up trying.
I have no idea where to turn to for getting them help. In the past I have contacted the police (when my uncle kept saying people were breaking into his house and vehicle), I have contacted Adult Protective Services/Social Services, and have even spoken to an Elder Care lawyer. Since I have no legal authority to assist them, I'm at a loss as to what I can do.
In the past 2 months, my uncle has cancelled doctor appointments at the VA clinic (was supposed to get a head CT scan and see his psychologist), has backed his vehicle into a tree damaging the tail lights and the window, has lost his house keys which resulted in my aunt falling on their porch while helping him look for the keys (she ended up in the ER), has been loosing weight (is now down to 135 lbs.), and claims he can't sleep at night. He's also trying to be the primary caregiver for his wife.
What can a distant relative do? I believe both my aunt and uncle need at least in-home care or possibly nursing care in a facility. I believe the fact that my uncle is a WW II Veteran would qualify him and my aunt for some VA benefits for their care (neither of them have much income, no real savings or investments, and are probably in debt due to giving away money or having it taken from them).
If anyone has any solid ideas, please let me know. Thanks so much.