Spring 2010 Newsletter

Community Member Forum

If I were to try to sum up the benefit I have received by being a Hanbleceya client, two words come to my mind: mental freedom. I came to Hanbleceya a broken man that had no concept of peace or independence. The fact that I truly consider myself free today is a testimony to the benefit possible for adults with mental illness, or dual diagnosis.

When I first joined Hanbleceya, I didn’t know what to expect, but my family and I wanted help. I figured I would stay for a few months, maybe learn a thing or two about my condition, then discharge as pretty much the same person, with the same life that I had been living for years. Little did I know that I would find a new, healthier way of living and that my family would come together and work together like never before. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth every moment.

Hanbleceya has provided me with numerous tools to deal with my depression, anxiety, schizoaffective disorder and addiction. These tools have been key factors in my recovery process. Not only have I found recovery from these conditions through the support of the staff, I have also found much of it from the community as a whole; clients and staff alike. I have been supported by my fellow peers through advice and feedback in groups, by spending time together and socializing outside of groups, by using a confrontation structure in a caring and appropriate way, and finally, by being able to relate to other members of the Hanbleceya community. I am the president of the Leadership Group, which is a small, select group of clients who meet once a month to provide mentoring for other clients, while upholding and spreading the culture of Hanbleceya throughout the community. This is what I truly recognize as being the integral component in my recovery, helping and supporting other clients in need. Giving back is where the culture of Hanbleceya shines and is a big part of how recovery should ideally work.

Today, I continue to improve on a daily basis. Without Hanbleceya, I don’t know where I would be or what condition I would be in; I do know, however, that it would not compare to the peaceful and humble life I now live every day. The journey continues but I am forever thankful for a treatment facility such as Hanbleceya as well as the staff and clients that I have met and worked with along the way. For that, I am truly grateful.

Mike A., a member of the Hanbleceya community since 2005

Chemical Dependency Corner

Recovery from addiction begins with nutrition. Over stimulation, from the abuse of any psychoactive drug, exhausts brain cells and depletes the brain’s neurotransmitters found in the pleasure and reward system. Dopamine, associated with the feeling of euphoria and serotonin, associated with the feeling of "well being," are especially taxed. This process leaves the sufferer feeling dysphoric, lethargic and depressed. The addict finds difficultly seeking pleasure in healthy ways and their life seems boring and dull. It appears to the addict that chemical use, or high-risk behavior, is the only way he or she is to gain pleasure. This sets in motion the terrible cycle we call addiction. It significantly increases the chance of relapse, even when the addict has an honest desire to abstain. Moreover, the more the brain is exposed to the drug, the more the brain changes, strengthening the addiction.

The brain’s pleasure chemicals, or neurotransmitters, can only be replaced through one process: the consumption of amino acids. There is an amino acid that is known to specifically replenish neurotransmitters in the pleasure/reward system. This neurotransmitter is called L-Tyrosine, or the "antidepressant" amino acid. It is naturally found in whole foods such as turkey, chicken, fish, avocados and many vegetables and nuts. It has been proven that large amounts of sugar and caffeine inhibit the absorption of this amino acid.

Hanbleceya’s meal planning program ensures maximum intake of L-Tyrosine, without blocking its absorption, by imposing limits on caffeine intake and limiting sugar and starches. Building on the physiological repair of the brain with nutrition, Hanbleceya’s Addictions Group replaces old coping mechanisms with new ones. This group is designed to specifically target addiction-related issues while helping each member of the group identify and change self-defeating thinking and behavior while improving interpersonal relationships. As cohesion forms, bonds are made which result in personal growth and self-efficacy. This increase in self-worth and self-confidence decreases the need or desire for chemical use. As insight develops, each client is educated, through our Addiction and Alcoholism Education Class, on addiction-related issues such as relapse prevention, the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol, how to expedite brain repair through nutrition and supplements such as Omega-3 essential fatty acids, exercise, meditation, stress management and how to successfully treat the uncomfortable symptoms of Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome.

Concurrently, each client actively participates in his or her 12-Step program. Through the processes of engaging with a sponsor and taking the 12 Steps, selecting and participating in a home group, and obtaining a service commitment, our clients learn to take responsibility for their own recovery. While actively participating in this recovery process, each client learns how to “branch out” and build a sober support group while continuing to grow through a spiritual program of action. Confidence builds and the client learns how to establish and build upon relationships while maintaining emotional and physical sobriety. Each component of our Chemical Dependency Program is individually monitored by a Chemical Dependency Counselor in weekly Case Management Meetings. This ensures that our clients remain active in their recovery program to provide the best chance of achieving permanent sobriety and sound mental health.

Jeff Klein, Director of Milieu Operations, a member of the Hanbleceya Community since 2005

Choosing a Dual Diagnosis Facility

The term dual diagnosis is used to describe the comorbid condition of a person suffering from both a mental illness as well as a substance abuse problem. The number of facilities that profess to treat these conditions is mind-boggling and the cost of these programs can range from very reasonable to very expensive.

So how does one determine what the best choice is for themselves for their loved one?

First of all, it is important to understand that there are basically two types of dual diagnosis facilities: those that treat chemical dependency as the primary disorder and those that treat psychiatric issues as the primary disorder (like Hanbleceya, for instance). Oftentimes confusion exists as to which disorder is primary, which creates a corresponding problem for many families. Drug abuse, including alcohol and prescription drugs, can produce symptoms which resemble mental illness and subsequently make it difficult to differentiate between substance-induced psychiatric symptoms and a pre-existing mental health condition.

For a number of reasons, it can seem an easier choice to send a loved one who displays both psychiatric symptoms and substance abuse to a facility that specializes in drug abuse treatment, rather than one that primarily treats mental illness. Many substance abuse treatment facilities promote a short-term stay, such as 30 – 90 days, which may be appealing compared to the months or year’s psychiatric treatment may indicate. Because of fear and the effects of stigma, some families find it easier emotionally to focus on the substance abuse rather than the psychiatric symptoms. Lastly, substance abuse treatment facilities exist in abundance compared to those that specialize in mental illness treatment.

The LA area has numerous reputable programs such as The Pat Moore Foundation, NTS, Creative Care, Milestones Ranch, and Promises. Overall, it has been estimated that as many as 1000 programs currently exist in LA area. The cost of these programs can range from $6,000 to more than $50,000 for a month. While most of these programs are adept at treating addiction, they are typically not equipped to treat severe and persistent mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Choosing a drug/alcohol program may be the right choice if your loved one doesn’t appear to have primary psychiatric symptoms. However, once sustained abstinence has been obtained, if psychiatric symptoms surface or persist, then you may want to seriously consider investigating treatment at a facility that specializes in psychiatric conditions. It’s very common for drug/alcohol programs to misdiagnose or miss an existing psychiatric condition because sometimes the condition can be masked by the substance abuse. It is generally no fault of the facility because it’s only after a period of abstinence that we can truly ascertain whether a mental illness exists.

If it’s clear your loved-one suffers from a psychiatric condition then it’s generally best to coordinate treatment with a facility that specializes in this area even if the substance abuse issue appears to be the primary condition at the time. For some psychiatric-based programs like Hanbleceya, a 1-3 week substance abstinence period can be sufficient prior to an approved admission. By pursuing this avenue, a family can save many thousands of dollars, in essence bypassing the expensive drug/alcohol treatment for the needed and indicated psychiatric treatment. Before making this decision, however, make sure the psychiatric program you consider has a comprehensive drug/alcohol track or sub-program that truly treats the dual diagnosis.

Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a devastating brain disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million American adults, or 1.1 percent of the population age 18 and older. Schizophrenia interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. The first signs of schizophrenia typically emerge in the teenage years or twenties. Most people with schizophrenia suffer chronically or episodically throughout their lives, and are often stigmatised by lack of public understanding about the disease.

The symptoms of schizophrenia are generally divided into three categories, including positive, disorganized and negative symptoms.

Positive Symptoms, or "psychotic" symptoms, include delusions and hallucinations because the patient has lost touch with reality in certain important ways. "Positive" as used here does not mean "good." Rather, it refers to having overt symptoms that should not be there.

Disorganized Symptoms include confused thinking and speech, and behavior that does not make sense. For example, people with schizophrenia sometimes have trouble communicating in coherent sentences or carrying on conversations with others; move more slowly, repeat rhythmic gestures or make movements such as walking in circles or pacing; and have difficulty making sense of everyday sights, sounds and feelings.

Negative Symptoms include emotional flatness or lack of expression, an inability to start and follow through with activities, speech that is brief and lacks content, and a lack of pleasure or interest in life. "Negative" does not, therefore, refer to a person's attitude, but to a lack of certain characteristics that should be there.

What are the causes of schizophrenia?

Scientists still do not know the specific causes of schizophrenia, but research has shown that the brains of people with schizophrenia are different, as a group, from the brains of people without the illness. Like many other medical illnesses such as cancer or diabetes, schizophrenia seems to be caused by a combination of problems including genetic vulnerability and environmental factors that occur during a person's development.

How is schizophrenia treated?

While there is no cure for schizophrenia, it is a highly treatable and manageable illness.

Hospitalization

People who experience acute symptoms of schizophrenia may require intensive treatment including hospitalization. Hospitalization is necessary to treat severe delusions or hallucinations, serious suicidal thoughts, inability to care for oneself, or severe problems with drugs or alcohol.

Medication

The primary medications for schizophrenia are called anti-psychotics. Anti-psychotics help relieve the positive symptoms of schizophrenia by helping to correct an imbalance in the chemicals that enable brain cells to communicate with each other. As with drug treatments for other physical illnesses, many patients with severe mental illnesses may need to try several different anti-psychotic medications before they find the one, or the combination of medications, that works best for them.

Conventional anti-psychotics were introduced in the 1950’s. These include chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), and others. New “atypical” anti-psychotics, such as risperidone (Risperdal) and clozapine (Clozaril) may be better at relieving the negative symptoms of the illness. Current treatment guidelines recommend using one of the atypical anti-psychotics other than clozapine as a first line treatment for newly diagnosed patients. For people already taking a conventional anti-psychotic medication that is working well, a change to an atypical may not be the best option. People thinking of changing their medication should always consult with their doctor and work together to develop the most safe and effective treatment plan possible.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Research shows that people with schizophrenia who attend structured psychosocial rehabilitation programs and continue with their medical treatment manage their illness best.

reprinted with permission from NAMI San Diego, www.namisandiego.org

Interesting facts…..about schizophrenia

..A person with schizophrenia does not have a “split personality”

..Almost all people with schizophrenia are not dangerous or violent towards others when they are receiving treatment

..About 75% of patients developed schizophrenia between the ages of 15-25

..Fish oils may stop or slow psychosis in people suffering from schizophrenia

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Sources:
₁2010 National Health Observances, National Health Information Center, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
₁SAMHSA @ mentalhealth.samhsa.gov