BayWellness Winter 2012 : Page 3

I T M AY B E M ORE THAN J UST THE W INTER B LUES CXjk n`ek\i `e E\n A\ij\p j\\d\[ \e[c\jj%N\\og\i`\eZ\[Xi\Zfi[eldY\i f]cfe^^iXp[Xpjn`k_Zfc[k\dg\iXkli\j Xe[ cfkj f] jefn Xe[ `Z\% DXep f] lj nflc[jXp`knXjÈ[\gi\jj`e^%É=fijfd\f] lj#`kXZklXccpnXj% J\XjfeXc X]]\Zk`m\ [`jfi[\i `j X kil\ d\[`ZXc Zfe[`k`fe ljlXccp j\\e `e Xi\Xj n_\i\k_\i\Xi\cfe^#jlec\jjn`ek\ijYlk \m\e`eE\nA\ij\p#n_\ek_\Xdflekf] [Xpc`^_k [\Zi\Xj\j Xe[ k_\ k\dg\iXkli\ [ifgjflk[ffij#jfd\g\fgc\\og\i`\eZ\ k_\]\\c`e^jf]jX[e\jj#c\k_Xi^p#Xgg\k`k\ Z_Xe^\j# n\`^_k ^X`e# dff[`e\jj# cXZb f] ZfeZ\ekiXk`fe#Xe[jfZ`Xcn`k_[iXnXck_Xk j`^eXcj\XjfeXcX]]\Zk`m\[`jfi[\i% 9fXi[Z\ik`Ô\[gjpZ_`Xki`jkEXe[`k_X Bi`j_eXdj\kkp#D%;%jXpjk_Xkj\XjfeXcX]$ ]\Zk`m\[`jfi[\i&#1f;XcjfZXcc\[J8; `jXkpg\ f][\gi\jj`fek_XkfZZlijXkk_\jXd\k`d\ \m\ipp\Xi%È@]pfl&#1e;i\c`b\dfjkg\fgc\n`k_ j\XjfeXc X]]\Zk`m\ [`jfi[\i# pfli jpdg$ kfdj jkXik `e k_\ ]Xcc Xe[ dXp Zfek`el\ `ekfk_\n`ek\idfek_j#jXgg`e^pfli\e$ \i^pXe[dXb`e^pfl]\\cdff[p#ÉjXpj;i% Bi`j_eXdj\kkp% @]pflXci\X[p\og\i`\eZ\[\gi\jj`fe [`jfi[\ij#pfldXpY\dfi\gife\kfj\X$ jfeXcX]]\Zk`m\[`jfi[\i% È;fe&#1e;kYilj_f]]k_Xkp\Xicp]\\c`e^Xj j`dgcpXZXj\f]k_\n`ek\iYcl\j#jXpj;i% Bi`j_eXdj\kkp% ÈK_\i\ Xi\ m\ip \]]\Zk`m\ k_\iXg`\j ]fi j\XjfeXc X]]\Zk`m\ [`jfi[\i# `eZcl[`e^ c`^_k k_\iXgp &#1f;g_fkfk_\iXgp # gjpZ_fk_\iXgp# Xe[ d\[`ZXk`fej% <o\iZ`j\ Xe[ jlggc\d\ekj jlZ_ Xj M`kXd`e ; ZXe XcjfY\\]]\Zk`m\`eÔ^_k`e^J8;%8[[i\jj$ `e^ k_\ gifYc\d \Xicp `e k_\ j\Xjfe ZXe _\cgpflb\\gpflidff[jk\X[pk_ifl^_$ flkk_\p\Xi%É C`^_k k_\iXgp `j \]]\Zk`m\ Xe[ \Xjp# jXpj ;i% Bi`j_eXdj\kkp% ÈG_fkfk_\iXgp cXdgj Xi\ XmX`cXYc\ n`k_ ('#''' clo% Aljk jg\e[k_`ikpd`elk\j`e]ifekf]k_\cXdg \XZ_ dfie`e^ n_`c\ pfl i\X[ k_\ gXg\i Xe[ _Xm\ pfli Zf]]\\% K_\ cXdg d`d`Zj c`^_k ]ifd k_\ jle% ;feËk lj\ `k Xk e`^_k k_fl^_#n_`Z_nflc[k_ifnf]]pflijc\\g gXkk\ie%É 8ek`$[\gi\jjXekj ZXe Xcjf Y\ _\cg$ ]lc% ÈG\fgc\ n_f i\^lcXicp \og\i`\eZ\ j\XjfeXc X]]\Zk`m\ [`jfi[\i befn k_\ jpdgkfdj#É Zfek`el\j ;i% Bi`j_eXdj\kkp% ÈK_\j\ gXk`\ekj [f m\ip n\cc jkXik`e^ fe d\[`ZXk`fe`ek_\]Xcc#Zfek`el`e^k_ifl^_ k_\n`ek\i#Xe[k_\e\Xj`e^f]]Xjn`ek\i n`e[j[fne%É ]\\c_fg\c\jj#k_`ebXYflkjl`Z`[\#fiXi\ `eZi\Xj`e^cpklie`e^kfXcZf_fc]fiZfd]fik fii\cXoXk`fe%É K_\ ZXlj\ f] j\XjfeXc X]]\Zk`m\ [`j$ fi[\ii\dX`ejlebefneYlkX]\njg\Z`ÔZ ]XZkfijdXpZfd\`ekfgcXp`eZcl[`e^pfli Z`iZX[`Xe i_pk_d &#1f;fi Yf[p shnamse ZcfZb 2 pfli Yf[pËj a Kri tty ith c\m\c f] k_\ eXkliXc _fidfe\d\cXkfe`e# n_`Z_gcXpjXifc\`e jc\\g gXkk\iej Xe[ dff[2Xe[j\ifkfe`e c\m\cj#Xe\lifkiXejd`k$ k\i k_Xk X]]\Zkj dff[ Xe[ Xe[ n_fj\c\m\c`ek_\Yf[pZXeY\i\[lZ\[Yp cXZbf]jlec`^_k% DXb\XeXggf`ekd\ekn`k_pfli[fZ$ kfikf[`jZljjpflijpdgkfdj%N`k_ki\Xk$ d\ek#j\XjfeXcX]]\Zk`m\[`jfi[\i`jjfd\$ k_`e^n\ZXeXcc^\kk_ifl^_Xjn\Zflek [fnek_\[Xpjlek`cn`ek\iËj\e[% Nan d .D. , -W HEN TO S EE Y OUR D OCTOR @kËj efidXc kf _Xm\ jfd\ [Xpj n_\e pfl]\\c[fne#\jg\Z`Xccp[li`e^X[i\Xip n`ek\i%9lk`]pfl]\\c[fne]fi[XpjXkX k`d\Xe[ZXeËkj\\dkf^\kdfk`mXk\[kf [fk_\XZk`m`k`\jpflefidXccp\eafp#j\\ pfli[fZkfi#;i%Bi`j_eXdj\kkpZfeZcl[\j% ÈK_`j`j\jg\Z`Xccp`dgfikXek`]pflijc\\g gXkk\iejXe[Xgg\k`k\_Xm\Z_Xe^\[#`]pfl FOCUS ON THE HEALTH CARE EXPERT: Veronica Jensen, MSN, APNC A psychiatric nurse practitioner, Veronica Jensen, MSN, APNC, graduated from the University of Medi-cine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “Nursing is almost a second career for me,” says Jensen. “I come from a family of lawyers and it had never really occurred to me to do anything else. I was a criminal justice-political science major, law school bound, and in the middle of it, I just changed my mind. Some friends were in nursing school and they suggest-ed I might like nursing. From that point on, it was full steam ahead. The opportunities in nursing are vast, and you see the difference you make to your patients right away.” Jensen expects to complete a doctoral program in nursing this spring. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Bay Behavioral Health, Jens-HQZRUNVZLWKPDQ\FOLHQWVZKRDUHH[SHULHQFLQJGLIÀFXOWLHVDVDUHVXOW RIWRGD\·VGLIÀFXOWHFRQRPLFFOLPDWH “Many of my patients have recently experienced a job loss, they DUHXQGHUÀQDQFLDOVWUDLQ&#0f;DQGWKH\PD\EHORVLQJWKHLUKRPHWKURXJK foreclosure. They are feeling hopeless and distraught.” Known as adjustment disorder or situational depression, these feel-ings are triggered by major life changes and are usually short-term, lasting between three and six months. Unlike major depression, an ad-justment disorder generally goes away once a person has adapted to the situation. In addition to job loss, adjustment disorder can be triggered by the end of a marriage or relationship, the death of a loved one, developing a serious illness, hav-ing an accident, being the victim of a crime, or even OLYLQJWKURXJKDQDWXUDOGLVDVWHUVXFKDVDÁRRGRUKXU -ricane. A person with adjustment disorder develops emotional and/or behavioral symptoms as a reaction to the stressful event. “Job loss triggers adjustment disorder because so many of us are validated by our jobs and our profession-DOVWDWXVDQGZKHQWKDWLVWDNHQDZD\ZHIHHOGHÁDWHG&#0f;µ VD\V-HQVHQ´:HORVHRXUFRQÀGHQFHDQGEHJLQWRKDYH feelings of worthlessness, which can spiral downwards into depression if unrecognized or untreated.” Jensen works with her patients to help them through this transi-tional phase. “I try to give them a sense of universality and hope. This is a time to explore other options, like job training, career change, and tapping into family and friends for support.” Self care is important in overcoming adjustment disorders, says Jensen. “People should follow a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, eating well and not becoming dependent on alcohol or illegal substanc-es. An individual may not be ready to get into a new job search right away. Counseling gives them time to regroup, practice interview skills and prepare to go back into the job market.” To make an appointment, call 732-324-5199. :LQWHU¶ Bay Wellness 3

FOCUS ON THE HEALTH CARE EXPERT:

Veronica Jensen

A psychiatric nurse practitioner, Veronica Jensen, MSN, APNC, graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “Nursing is almost a second career for me,” says Jensen. “I come from a family of lawyers and it had never really occurred to me to do anything else. I was a criminal justice-political science major, law school bound, and in the middle of it, I just changed my mind. Some friends were in nursing school and they suggested I might like nursing. From that point on, it was full steam ahead. The opportunities in nursing are vast, and you see the difference you make to your patients right away.” Jensen expects to complete a doctoral program in nursing this spring. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Bay Behavioral Health, Jens- en works with many clients who are experiencing difficulties as a result of today's difficult economic climate. “Many of my patients have recently experienced a job loss, they are under financial strain,and they may be losing their home through foreclosure. They are feeling hopeless and distraught.” Known as adjustment disorder or situational depression, these feelings are triggered by major life changes and are usually short-term, lasting between three and six months. Unlike major depression, an adjustment disorder generally goes away once a person has adapted to the situation. In addition to job loss, adjustment disorder can be triggered by the end of a marriage or relationship, the death of a loved one, developing a serious illness, having an accident, being the victim of a crime, or even living through a natural disaster such as a flood or hurricane. A person with adjustment disorder develops emotional and/or behavioral symptoms as a reaction to the stressful event. “Job loss triggers adjustment disorder because so many of us are validated by our jobs and our professional status and when that is taken away we feel deflated," says Jensen."We lose our confidence and begin to have feelings of worthlessness, which can spiral downwards into depression if unrecognized or untreated.” Jensen works with her patients to help them through this transitional phase. “I try to give them a sense of universality and hope. This is a time to explore other options, like job training, career change, and tapping into family and friends for support.” Self care is important in overcoming adjustment disorders, says Jensen. “People should follow a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, eating well and not becoming dependent on alcohol or illegal substances. An individual may not be ready to get into a new job search right away. Counseling gives them time to regroup, practice interview skills and prepare to go back into the job market.” To make an appointment, call 732-324-5199.

IT MAY BE MORE THAN JUST THE WINTER BLUES

Nanditha Krishnamsetty

Last winter in New Jersey seemed endless. We experienced a record number of long gray days with cold temperatures and lots of snow and ice. Many of us would say it was "depressing." For some of us, it actually was. Seasonal affective disorder is a true medical condition usually seen in areas where there are long, sunless winters but even in New Jersey, when the amount of daylight decreases and the temperature drops outdoors, some people experience the feelings of sadness, lethargy, appetite changes, weight gain, moodiness, lack of concentration, and social withdrawal that signal seasonal affective disorder. Board certified psychiatrist Nanditha Krishnamsetty, M.D. says that seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. "If you're like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody," says Dr. Krishnamsetty. If you already experience depression disorders, you may be more prone to seasonal affective disorder. "Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the winter blues," says Dr. Krishnamsetty. "There are very effective therapies for seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy, and medications. Exercise and supplements such as Vitamin D can also be effective in fighting SAD. Addressing the problem early in the season can help you keep your mood steady throughout the year." Light therapy is effective and easy, says Dr. Krishnamsetty. "Phototherapy lamps are available with 10,000 lux. Just spend thirty minutes in front of the lamp each morning while you read the paper and have your coffee. The lamp mimics light from the sun. Don't use it at night though, which would throw off your sleep pattern." Anti-depressants can also be helpful. "People who regularly experience seasonal affective disorder know the symptoms," continues Dr. Krishnamsetty. "These patients do very well starting on medication in the fall, continuing through the winter, and then easing off as winter Winds Down". "WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR It's normal to have some days when you feel down, especially during a dreary winter. But if you feel down for days at a time and can't seem to get motivated to do the activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor, Dr. Krishnamsetty concludes. "This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or are increasingly turning to alcohol for comfort or relaxation." The cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown but a few specific factors may come into play including your circadian rhythm (or body clock); your body's level of the natural hormone melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood; and serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter that affects mood and whose level in the body can be reduced by lack of sunlight. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms. With treatment, seasonal affective disorder is something we can all get through as we count down the days until winter's end.

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