Scientists Create Neurons From Blood Samples

A team of stem cell researchers, led by Mick Bhatia, director of the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, have discovered that they can convert adult human blood cells into adult sensory neurons.  In other words, they developed a way to take blood samples and turn them into central nervous system and peripheral nervous system neurons.

The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.  It integrates information it receives from, and coordinates and influences the activity of, all parts of the body and it contains the majority of the nervous system.

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the part of the nervous system that consists of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord. The main function of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the limbs and organs, essentially serving as a communication relay going back and forth between the brain and the extremities. It is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

It is no secret that understanding pain and how to treat it is complex and limited and, until now, scientists have been unable to obtain a piece of a patient’s neural system to learn more.  According to Bhatia,

"We can actually take a patient's blood sample, as routinely performed in a doctor's office, and with it we can produce one million sensory neurons, that make up the peripheral nerves in short order with this new approach. We can also make central nervous system cells, as the blood to neural conversion technology we developed creates neural stem cells during the process of conversion."

In addition, the researchers tested their process using both fresh blood and cryopreserved blood. “Since blood samples are taken and frozen with many clinical trials, this allows them […] to go back and explore questions around pain or neuropathy to run tests on neurons created from blood samples of patients taken in past clinical trials where responses and outcomes have already been recorded."

Consequently, this new perspective will allow researchers to study neurological diseases and improve treatments. It could mean blood tests might one day predict prognoses of certain diseases long before symptoms arise.  This could also mean the discovery of new medications that more effectively treat pain.  In other words, there may come a day when there is no more need for opioids to merely numb pain, which in turn reduces drug dependency.

"You don't want to feel sleepy or unaware, you just want your pain to go away. But, up until now, no one's had the ability and required technology to actually test different drugs to find something that targets the peripheral nervous system and not the central nervous system in a patient specific, or personalized manner."

Therefore, this research not only leads to a better understanding of neurological diseases, but also leads us to more effective, and less harmful, individualized treatment as well as the ability to prevent or delay the onset of neurological problems.

Blood to feeling: Scientists turn adult human blood cells into neurons

© www.mentalhealthblog.com

What Does Your Facebook Status Say About You?

Research from Brunel University in London suggests that people who post frequent status updates relating to their romantic partner or accomplishments are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem.  Facebook appears to be a means to obtain the social inclusion and acceptance certain individuals long for.

The researchers surveyed 555 Facebook users to examine personality traits (extroversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness) as well as explore motivation behind postings. Researchers also studied their degree of self-esteem and narcissism.

The research found:

• People with low self-esteem more frequently posted status updates about their current romantic partner.

• Narcissists more frequently updated about their achievements, which was motivated by their need for attention and validation from the Facebook community. These updates also received a greater number of 'likes' and comments, indicating that narcissists' boasting may be reinforced by the attention they crave. 

• Narcissists also wrote more status updates about their diet and exercise routine, suggesting that they use Facebook to broadcast the effort they put into their physical appearance. 

• Conscientiousness was associated with writing more updates about one's children.

Obviously there is no surprise that Facebook activity reflects one’s personality, however, certain behaviours that are typically not that well tolerated may be rewarded and encouraged when status updates receive more attention via “likes” and “comments”.

For example, many “Facebook friends” may feel obliged to support incessant bragging because others, when in reality they generally find the behaviour nauseating.  This would only perpetuate further narcissistic behaviour.  The same could be said of those relentless “woe is me” status updates or the daily profile picture changes etc.

On the other hand, people that tend to post less frequently could receive less “likes” and “comments”, which could lead to social exclusion and lowered self-esteem.  In other words, Facebook may build up less well-adjusted individuals and break down the stability and security of others.

It would be interesting to see research on the “friends” that respond to such status updates, such as their likeability, personality traits and their own behaviour in the Facebook world.

It might be time to examine our own Facebook activity…

Facebook status updates reveal low self-esteem and narcissism

© www.mentalhealthblog.com

7 reasons I speak up about mental health

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I grew up with a perception of mental health that was skewed in the way I assume it is for a lot of people. I thought you had to be really crazy to see a therapist. I believed that you either did or you didn’t have a mental illness and it didn’t occur to me that it’s really a spectrum that everyone is on. I reckoned that I probably knew a few people with some kind of “mild” mental illness, but didn’t know that one in four Americans struggles with a mental illness in any given year (NAMI). 

Boy, was I wrong about a lot of things. But I didn’t know that until I sought treatment myself and had years of experience in the therapeutic environment. As my progress with mental health increased, I also took classes on psychology in order to better understand what was going on both with myself and with others. And here I am, running a blog about the very topic that I so deeply misunderstood when I was younger.

So what changed for me to go from a stigmatized and uninformed perception to being a voice for the mentally ill? There are a few major factors.

1. I was so confused and even hurt by the mental health system that I didn’t want anyone else to have to navigate it alone and uninformed. I am empathetic and I truly just want to make this process easier for even just one person. 

2. I heard the stories of others. Whether through reading, classes or conversations, I learned about other people with struggles similar to my own. I realized that I am not alone and that when I speak up for myself, I am also standing up for a whole invisible community.

3. I realized that the mentally ill are underrepresented in society at large. Because there is so much stigma, people don’t always speak up. But silence will not change things and I feel like it’s the right path for me to be vocal about this topic. 

4. I was sick of hiding who I am. Trying to keep up a front of everything being okay was exhausting and just made me feel even worse. While I had a lot of fear about being open, everyone who is close to me now knows that I struggle with mental illness and have (eventually) been great in their responses.

5. I want to do my duty as a citizen. They say that when letters and phone calls are being made to politicians, they estimate that each person speaking up represents over 1000 people who feel the same way. I want to bring another 1000 people’s struggles to attention.

6. I want to live in a world where I can say I have a mental illness the same way others can say they have diabetes or a broken leg. I don’t want a negative, judgmental, uninformed and awkward response. I want the same courtesy and sympathy that is given to those with physical illnesses.

7. I don’t want my mental health issues to be meaningless. These are the cards I have been dealt and I choose to play them in a way that can bring hope and healing to others. 

I acknowledge that it’s a difficult topic to speak about and that not everyone wants to do so. I didn’t either, for a long time. That changed and now this is a large part of who I am.

But you don’t have to create a whole blog to be a part of the conversation. Even a single post on your blog draws attention to the topic. Today is Mental Health Month Blog Day, sponsored by the American Psychological Association. If you submit your post about mental health here today, it will be added to a list along with other people’s posts. Even if you don’t submit anything, check it out to see other people’s contributions. The more informed you are, the better you will be able to address the topic of mental health both personally and publicly.

Why do you speak up about mental health? Or what stops you from doing so? Join the discussion in the comments.

Taking risks in therapy

   

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We all have something that we don’t like to talk about. While therapy is an appropriate setting to explore these issues, we sometimes hold back on certain things — even in that context — out of fear. “Will I sound crazy?” “Will I be believed?” “What will my therapist think of me?” “What are the consequences of saying this?” “Will my therapist think less of me?“ These questions and more prevent us from being completely open in our treatment. 

But if you never take risks, you won’t progress when it comes to those issues. In fact, they may become worse as feelings of shame, embarrassment, guilt, hostility and unworthiness fester inside of you. The fact that you won’t talk about the topic becomes an issue in and of itself. 

The first obstacle you need to pass is trusting your therapist. You can read more about that here. In short, developing a strong therapeutic alliance in a safe relationship allow you to be more open. Keep in mind the ways in which your therapist has been trustworthy in the past. If you remind yourself of these things, opening up might not seem quite as impossible.

Still, even with trust, it can be hard to explore certain topics. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to talk about a series of events that happened a few years ago. I had been seeing the same therapist I’m seeing now at the time these things happened and my irrational fear was that I’d remember things wrong and become discredited. But I have yet to find a way around those fears. So what could I do?

It got to a point where my only options seemed to be to keep quiet and never heal or to take a risk and see what happened. After years of deliberation, I decided to just go for it and see what would happen. For me, that meant telling the story regardless of my fears. So I did. 

I was not prepared for how well that went. At first, I addressed my concerns about how he might remember things differently than I did. I asked my therapist to not go back and read his notes from the time in question and he agreed to follow my request. This removed a lot of pressure. 

It’s going to take a while to get through everything. And that’s okay. Breaking the larger story into smaller segments allows me to do a little each week. This way I get insight into each part, which helps me understand the larger context at play. While the content is very difficult and, at times, triggering, I’m feeling better about myself and am more realistic about my role in those events.

Jumping in is not always the solution, but I’m pretty sure that at this point in the post, you have a specific issue or situation in mind. Test the waters. See what happens. Be honest about your concerns. You can discuss them before you get to the actual content. But when you’re ready, opening up despite fear can be extremely healing. I know it has been for me.

What risks have you taken in therapy? How did it work out? Tell us about it in the comments.

Rule of Thumb: Getting Involved

In some ways college students are more connected than ever. Social media has provided multiple methods of staying in touch with friends and sharing information and content. Gaming has also provided a venue of being connected with others and having fun at the same time.

But in other ways many students are not connected at all, and they struggle with "face-time" that is real and not just virtual. Many living environments are both heavily wired and private; if one chooses one may isolate for huge chunks of time and "communicate" widely, yet not actually interact with anyone at all. This is a recipe for diminishing mental health.

So here is a rule of thumb to protect against that deterioration: at least twice a week, get involved in something that takes you out of your living environment, puts you in physical contact with others, and has nothing to do with class, work, or partying. This simple strategy incorporates crucial skill sets which, once learned, will benefit you for a lifetime. The skills also promote good mental health and are also related to retention and academic success.

So what kinds of things can you do? Most students had interests and hobbies in middle and high school, but they may have drifted from them in the excitement of starting college. Consider returning to them, or perhaps be more adventurous and take up new ones. Psychologists believe that learning new skills every five years or so is actually protective of brain health, so it will be good for you on that score as well. On most campuses there are dozens if not hundreds of student organizations, covering topics such as sport, politics or advocacy, environmental awareness, outdoor recreation, art, and so on. If you can't find one that suits you, start your own. You can also see some ideas on this list. There is really no excuse not to try something.

On the other hand, there is no need to get over-involved, as this can lead to meaningless activity and burnout. Trying new activities also does not have to lead to long-term commitment. Simply try some and if they don't feel like a good fit, move on and try another. Frankly, what you pick does not matter. What matters is that you pick something in the first place, and that you expand your skills and relationships. This is part of the recipe for feeling satisfied and in good emotional health, and generally your grades will improve too. That's hard to beat!

5 techniques for the moment you are overwhelmed

We all have those moments where we are hit with something overwhelming. Whether it be an argument, a panic attack or a piece of bad news, our gut reactions aren’t always the most helpful. That’s why it’s important to have coping strategies for those first few moments. Try one of these techniques the next time you need to stay calm while dealing with a big emotion.

1. Use breathing techniques

There’s a breathing trick I have been using lately to help calm down and refocus. First, you close your eyes. Feel everything that’s inside you and pick a word that best describes your emotions. Now, forget about that while you breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts and breathe out for eight counts, thinking only of your breath (or, if you’re like me, the counting). Do this three times, then check inside again and label your emotion. You should be seeing at least some improvement. Keep doing this as many times as you feel necessary.

  

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2. Accept the situation

There are things we simply cannot change. They happen and we have to deal with them. Instead of thinking thoughts like, “This can’t be happening!” or “That’s completely wrong!”, try just accepting it. Your outrage is not going to change the situation. Accepting is not the same as agreeing. Accepting means facing reality for what it is instead of delving into your own pathology. By trying to make something different than what it is, you are wasting your time and mental resources. Make the decision to accept whatever happened and then see how you can have a helpful reaction.

3. Take a break

There are some situations that have to be dealt with immediately, but often you don’t actually have to respond at once. When you are overwhelmed, step aside from the incident until you can gather yourself. You can tell the others involved that you need a moment, but you can also take a timeout without letting on why. Just go to the bathroom or say that you need to check that you turned off the stove. Anything is helpful. Another trick for smaller breaks is to have a drink with you. When you need a moment, just take a sip. It’s amazing how big of a difference a few seconds can make.

4. Ask for help

If someone else is in a position to be helpful, just ask. If it’s difficult for you, it’s often difficult for someone else, too. They’ll understand and do what they can. You can call a sister and vent, go out on the town with a friend or simply ask your therapist to hand you a tissue. Feeling alone in a situation can make it so much worse, so showing yourself that you are loved and cared for can be very calming.

5. Express yourself

Sometimes, feelings demand action. Some of the options that occur to us are healthy; some are not. Pause to make sure your action is appropriate before you act. Punching a wall might sound therapeutic, but you can hurt yourself and/or the wall.  You could hit a pillow a few times instead. If appropriate, you could also respectfully state out loud what you are feeling and experiencing. If you don’t have the option of expressing yourself in the moment, make a mental note of how you will do it later. This could be journaling, exercising or talking to your therapist, for instance. Knowing that you have an outlet later can help you better focus in the moment.

What do you do in the moments you are overwhelmed? Give your own tips in the comments.

Mental health myths: Intelligence

Sometimes, I take the opportunity to discuss mental health myths and the truths behind them. There is so much misinformation out there and we all need to do our part to help others see the truth about mental illness. This time, I’m talking about intelligence.

Myth: People with mental illnesses are less intelligent.

Fact: Mental illnesses, learning disorders and intellectual disabilities are not the same thing.

   

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While psychologists diagnose mental illnesses, learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities, they are not the same thing. What we commonly refer to as “mental illness” generally means the emotional disorders, with symptoms such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and so on. These are what I talk about most of the time on this blog. They don’t, however, have anything to do with how intelligent you are.

Learning disorders are when you have a problem with your cognition that leaves you on unequal footing with your peers when it comes to your capacity to learn. These include, for instance, dyslexia, math disability and, depending on who you ask, ADHD. These are caused by the way your brain processes information. But they still aren’t a measure of how intelligent you are, just the way you learn and what you struggle with.

Intellectual disabilities are about intelligence. While the actual diagnostic criteria are a little more complicated, they are generally considered to be associated with an IQ of 70 or lower. Since the average IQ is 100 (more or less), this puts someone with an intellectual disability at a serious disadvantage. For comparison, above average intelligence is generally considered 110 and higher. That means that the difference between average and gifted is smaller than that of average and intellectually disabled. An intellectual disability therefore means that you have very real struggles in your day-to-day functioning. 

So how do they all relate? 

• Mental illness is not correlated with IQ.

• You can have a learning disorder without having an intellectual disability.

• Intellectual disabilities and learning disorders can influence each other, but one is not a measure of the other.

Think of the whole “crazy genius” archetype, if nothing else. There have been enough people with extraordinary intelligence and a mental illness for that idea to even exist. Anecdotally, some of the smartest people I’ve met have struggled with some form of mental illness or even a learning disorder. People considered intelligent are just as likely to have a mental illness as those who are less intelligent. 

Intelligence is also not measured perfectly by IQ testing. Artistic aptitude, for instance, is not measured on standardized tests. Neither are your ability to build something with your hands or your social intelligence. The truth is, intelligence comes in many forms. And here another archetype comes into place: the idiot savant. There are people who struggle with overall intelligence, but are geniuses in a specific area. These individuals can have just as much to offer as anyone else, just in a very specific way.

Whether someone has a mental illness, a learning disorder, an intellectual disability or none of these at all, everyone deserves respect. Don’t treat others as if you assume they are “stupid.” Differences in intelligence are a part of human existence, just like race, sexuality, religion, physical illnesses and so on. And remember that emotional disorders have nothing to do with intelligence. They happen to the best of us.

What has your experience been with mental illness and intelligence? Share your stories in the comments.