text:
"You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod." So sang Patti Page on a hit record in 1957. And while the lyric may have been corny even then, to this day it expresses something genuine about those who develop an attachment to this singular American place. But falling in love and building a lasting relationship are two different things, and that's where architect John DaSilva comes in. DaSilva is the design principal of Chatham, Mass.–based Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders (PSD). "Most of our clients are either people looking toward retirement or younger families building second homes," he says. Because virtually all of them live elsewhere—at least until their house on the Cape is complete—DaSilva and his partners, Peter and Aaron Polhemus, have raised the process of designing and building for remote owners to a fine art.
The approach starts with the company's fundamental structure. "We consider ourselves to be a high-design architecture firm that is also a craft-oriented construction firm," says DaSilva, who spent 10 years in the office of renowned architect Cesar Pelli before moving to the Cape in 1998. "We've developed an integrated service." With PSD as the single point of contact, "the owner doesn't have to be a referee or a go-between among the various players," he says. Each PSD job includes an architectural project manager, a construction engineer (similar to a conventional project manager), and a field manager (equivalent to a site superintendent). Unlike companies that offer design primarily as a convenience, PSD specifies no point at which the architect hands off to the construction crew and steps into the background. That continuity is vital for clients who may visit the job site only occasionally, DaSilva says, and results in "better control, better coordination, and better results."
"At any one time we probably have 20 projects in design or construction, ranging from big, elaborate houses to modest additions and renovations," DaSilva says. "Right now, I can think of only one client who's not remote." Because remote can mean as close as Boston or as far as Hong Kong, he says, "we've developed pretty sophisticated communication tools." Each client can access project documents in a dedicated, password-protected space on the PSD website. "Meeting minutes, PDF drawings, photos, change orders, progress payments, invoices … you name it," DaSilva says. "Whatever documents are associated with the project are visible there."
With the firm's minority of local clients, weekly meetings are the rule. To get the equivalent face time with remote clients, DaSilva says, "we do video conferencing. Sometimes we use Skype, sometimes we use GoToMeeting." Skype's initially sketchy video performance has improved since its debut, DaSilva notes. And while it's still not perfect, the view it provides of clients' expressions and body language yields important emotional cues that are lost in phone and email conversations. GoToMeeting offers the complementary capability of displaying a live document, so DaSilva can sketch out ideas just as he would in a face-to-face meeting. "It allows joint control of the cursor," he adds, so clients can put their hands—virtually—on the drawing, too.
Product selection is a potential schedule-wrecker, even when an architect can shop with clients in their own hometown. To keep the process on track, PSD uses both its website and the construction management software program BuilderTREND, which can be configured to send clients a reminder when a selection deadline is approaching. For materials best sourced close to the jobsite, such as stone, DaSilva says, "You may have to do all that virtually, so we'll talk to clients from the stone yard, send them digital pictures, be their eyes and ears. We rely on very good communication to avoid surprises."
The trusting relationship that results can be equally important after a project is complete, especially for owners whose cherished summer home stands far away and empty much of the year. "The other thing that's a little different about us is that we offer home maintenance," DaSilva says, "not for anyone, but for our clients." When the firm's one-year warranty runs out, he says, "we're still the ones who know their house the best, so it's only logical that we change their screens or check on their house after a storm." The service isn't a profit center for the company, but the good will it engenders among homeowners—and in their social circles—translates into repeat business and referrals.
As an architect, however, DaSilva's most important role is as a liaison between clients and their new community. "They've spent time here, and they know why they love it," he says, but there are still subtleties he can help them navigate. "Is it on the beach or on the top of a bluff? Is it in the village or on the woods? Is it in a dynamic village or a sleepy village? An east-facing, high-sea beach or a north-facing bay beach? All of those things imply different responses." DaSilva's depth of understanding gives him broad latitude in meeting his clients' aspirations for life on the Cape.
"There are characteristics that carry through most of our work: wood frame, shingles, gray or painted wood, brick and stone, divided-light windows. But there's quite a lot of diversity here," says DaSilva, who samples from the Cape's iconic building types to produce work that is grounded in both its place and its time. "I do the best I can to relate to the land and surroundings, without slavishly reproducing the past," he says. The process involves PSD clients in Cape Cod architecture as an ongoing proposition—and the Cape itself as a living community—while preserving what they fell in love with in the first place. CH


text:
Junior Gillespie wrote:
> Yes, it has integrated CSU with RJ-45 on back. I've been told though
> that you can't simulate it on those with the other port. I hope I can
> but haven't found how to.
You can hook two T1s back-to-back with a crossover cable, as long as you
configure one of them to provide clock.
Chad R. Larson (CRL22) chad at eldocomp dot com
Eldorado Computing, Inc. 602-604-3100
5353 North 16th Street, Suite 400
Phoenix, Arizona 85016-3228
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subset: commoncrawl


text: I was amused and somewhat unsettled when I heard of Kaggle, a company with a novel approach to data analysis. As I understand it, Kaggle is a middleman between companies that have large amounts of data and are looking for certain kinds of analysis and the people or companies that can provide that analysis. But with a twist.


text:
Anxiety disordersObsessive-compulsive disorder; Panic disorder; Phobias; Post-traumatic stress disorder
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Phobic disorders, such as agoraphobia and social phobia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Separation anxiety disorder
Risk Factors
Risk factors for anxiety disorders depend in part on the specific disorder. General risk factors include:
- Gender. With the exception of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), women have twice the risk for most anxiety disorders as men.
- Age. Phobias, OCD, and separation anxiety typically show up early in childhood, while social phobia and panic disorder often develop during the teen years.
- Traumatic Events. Traumatic events can trigger anxiety disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Medical Conditions. Although causal relationships have not been established, certain medical conditions have been associated with increased risk of panic disorder. They include migraines, obstructive sleep apnea, mitral valve prolapse, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and premenstrual syndrome.
The standard approach to treating most anxiety disorders is a combination of talk therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and an antidepressant medication. Other types of medications (benzodiazepines, azapirones, beta blockers, or atypical antipsychotics) may also be prescribed. A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, adequate rest, and good nutrition can also help to reduce the impact of anxiety.
Drug Approval
In 2012, the FDA approved a generic version of citalopram (Celexa).
PTSD and Military Personnel
In 2012, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report calling for improved access to care and more effective treatment for soldiers and veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the IOM, PTSD affects between 13 – 20% of U.S. military service members who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001.
Fear and stress reactions are essential for human survival. They enable people to pursue important goals and to respond appropriately to danger. In a healthy individual, the stress response (fight or flight) is provoked by a genuine threat or challenge and is used as a spur for appropriate action.
An anxiety disorder, however, involves an excessive or inappropriate state of arousal characterized by feelings of apprehension, uncertainty, or fear. The word is derived from the Latin, angere, which means to choke or strangle. The anxiety response is often not triggered by an externalthreat or danger. Nevertheless it can still paralyze the individual into inaction or withdrawal. An anxiety disorder persists, while an appropriate response to a threat resolves, once the threat is removed.
Anxiety disorders are classified according to the severity and duration of their symptoms and specific behavioral characteristics. Types of anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Separation anxiety disorder (which is almost always seen in children)
GAD and panic disorder are the most common. Anxiety disorders are usually caused by a combination of psychological, physical, and genetic factors, and treatment is, in general, very effective.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder. It affects about 5% of Americans over the course of their lifetimes. It is characterized by:
- A more-or-less constant state of worry and anxiety, which is out of proportion to the level of actual stress or threat in one's life.
- The anxietyoccurs on most daysduring a period ofmore than 6 months despite the lack of an obvious or specific stressor. (It worsens with stress, however.)
- Patients with GAD may experience physical symptoms (such as gastrointestinal complaints) in addition to, or even in place of, mental worries.
- People with GAD tend to be unsure of themselves, overly perfectionist, and conforming.
Given these conditions, a diagnosis of GAD is confirmed if three or more of the following symptoms are present (only one for children) on most days for 6 months:
- Being on edge or very restless
- Feeling tired
- Having difficulty with concentration
- Being irritable
- Having muscle tension
- Experiencing disturbed sleep
Symptoms can cause significant distress and impair normal functioning. To be classified as GAD, they should not be due to a medical condition, another mood disorder, or psychosis. GAD rarely occurs by itself. It typically occurs along with another type of anxiety disorder, depression, or substance abuse.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by periodic attacks of anxiety or terror (panic attacks). Panic attacks usually last 15 - 30 minutes, although residual effects can persist much longer.
Panic attacks can occur in nearly every anxiety disorder, not just panic disorder. In other anxiety disorders, however, there is always a cue or specific trigger for the attack. A diagnosis of panic disorder is made under the following conditions:
- A person experiences at least two recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.
- For at least a month following the attacks, the person fears that another will occur.
Symptoms of a Panic Attack. During a panic attack a person feels intense fear or discomfortand experiences atleast four or more of the following symptoms:
- Rapid heart beat
- Sweating
- Shakiness
- Shortness of breath
- A choking feeling or a feeling of being smothered
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Feelings of unreality
- Numbness
- Either hot flashes or chills
- Chest pain
- A fear of dying
- A fear of going insane
Women may be more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea, and feelings of being smothered. Men may be more likely than women to have sweating and abdominal pain. Panic attacks that include only one or two symptoms, such as dizziness and heart pounding, are known as limited-symptom attacks. These may be either residual symptoms after a major panic attack or precursors to full-blown attacks.
Frequency of Panic Attacks. Frequency of attacks can vary widely. Some people have frequent attacks (for example, every week) that occur for months; others may have clusters of daily attacks followed by weeks or months of remission.
Triggers of Panic Attacks. Panic attacks may occur spontaneously or in response to a particular situation. Recalling or re-experiencing even harmless circumstances that accompanied an earlier attack may trigger subsequent panic attacks.
Phobic Disorders
Phobias, manifested by overwhelming and irrational fears, are common. In most cases, people can avoid or at least endure phobic situations, but in some cases, as with agoraphobia, the anxiety associated with the feared object or situation can be incapacitating.
Agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is described as fear of being in public places or open areas. (The term comes from the Greek word agora, meaning outdoor marketplace.) In its severest form, agoraphobia is characterized by a paralyzing terror of being in places or situations from which the patient feels there is neither escape nor accessible help in case of an attack. Consequently, people with agoraphobia confine themselves to places in which they feel safe, usually at home. The patient with agoraphobia often makes complicated plans in order to avoid confronting feared situations and places.
Social Phobia. Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is the fear of being publicly scrutinized and humiliated and is manifested by extreme shyness and discomfort in social settings. This phobia often leads people to avoid social situations and is not due to a physical or mental problem (such as stuttering, acne, or personality disorders).
The associated symptoms vary in intensity, ranging from mild and tolerable anxiety to a full-blown panic attack. (Unlike a panic attack, however, social phobia is always directly related to a social situation.) Symptoms include sweating, shortness of breath, pounding heart, dry mouth, and tremor.
The disorder may be further categorized as generalized or specific social phobia:
- Generalized social phobia is the fear of being humiliated in front of other people during nearly all social situations. People with this subtype are the most socially impaired and also the most likely to seek treatment.
- Specific social phobia usually involves a phobic response to a specific event. Performance anxiety ("stage fright") is the most common specific social phobia and occurs when a person must perform in public. These patients usually feel comfortable in informal social situations.
Children with social anxiety develop symptoms in settings that include their peers, not just adults, and these symptoms may include tantrums, blushing, or not being able to speak to unfamiliar people. These children are often able to have normal social relationships with familiar people, however.
Specific Phobias. Specific phobias (formerly simple phobias) are an irrational fear of specific objects or situations. Specific phobias are very common. Most cases are mild and not significant enough to require treatment.
The most common specific phobias are fear of animals (usually spiders, snakes, or mice), flying (pterygophobia), heights (acrophobia), water, injections, public transportation, confined spaces (claustrophobia), dentists (odontiatophobia), storms, tunnels, and bridges.
When confronting the object or situation, the phobic person experiences panicky feelings, sweating, avoidance behavior, difficulty breathing, and a rapid heartbeat. Most phobic adults are aware of the irrationality of their fear, and many endure intense anxiety rather than disclose their disorder.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition marked by unwanted intrusive and repeated thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions):
- Obsessions are recurrent or persistent mental images, thoughts, or ideas. The obsessive thoughts or images can range from mundane worries about whether one has locked a door to bizarre and frightening fantasies of behaving violently toward a loved one.
- Compulsive behaviors are repetitive, rigid, and self-directed routines that are intended to prevent the manifestation of an associated obsession. Such compulsive acts might include repetitive checking for locked doors or unlit stove burners or calls to loved ones at frequent intervals to be sure they are safe. Some people are compelled to wash their hands every few minutes or to spend inordinate amounts of time cleaning their surroundings in order to subdue the fear of contagion.
A critical feature in this disorder is an inflated sense of responsibility, in which the patient's thoughts center on possible dangers and an urgent need to do something about them. Over half of patients with OCD have obsessive thoughts without the ritualistic compulsive behavior. Although they recognize that the obsessive thoughts and ritualized behavior patterns are senseless and excessive, they cannot stop them. OCD often accompanies depression or other anxiety disorders. Some patients find that their symptoms subside over time, while others experience a worsening of symptoms.
Symptoms in children may be mistaken for behavioral problems (taking too long to do homework because of perfectionism, refusing to perform a chore because of fear of germs). Children do not usually recognize that their obsessions or compulsions are excessive.
Associated Obsessive Disorders. Certain other disorders that may be part of, or strongly associated with, the OCD spectrum include:
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). In BDD, people are obsessed with the belief that they are ugly, or part of their body is abnormally shaped.
- Hypochondriasis. People who are hypochondriacs have an excessive fear of having a serious disease.
- Anorexia nervosa. OCD frequently accompanies this eating disorder, where the compulsive behavior focuses on food restriction and thinness.
- Trichotillomania. People with trichotillomania continually pull their hair, leaving bald patches.
- Tourette syndrome. Symptoms of Tourette syndrome include jerky movements, tics, and uncontrollably uttering obscene words.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality. OCD should not be confused with obsessive-compulsive personality, which defines certain character traits (being a perfectionist, excessively conscientious, morally rigid, or preoccupied with rules and order). These traits do not necessarily occur in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe, persistent emotional reaction to a traumatic event that severely impairs one's life. It is classified as an anxiety disorder because of its symptoms. Not every traumatic event leads to PTSD, however. There are two criteria that must be present to qualify for a diagnosis of PTSD:
- The patient must have directly experienced, witnessed, or learned of a life-threatening or seriously injurious event.
- The patient's response is intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Children may behave with agitation or with disorganized behavior.
Triggering Events. PTSD is triggered by violent or traumatic events that are usually outside the normal range of human experience. War is a prime example. There is some evidence that events most likely to trigger PTSD are those that involve deliberate and destructive behavior (such as murder orrape) and those that are prolonged or physically challenging. Such events include, but are not limited to, experiencing or witnessing sexual assaults, accidents, military combat, natural disasters (such as earthquakes), or unexpected deaths of loved ones. PTSD may also occur in people who have serious illness and receive aggressive treatments or who have close family members or friends with such conditions.
Symptoms of PTSD. There are three basic sets of symptoms associated with PTSD. They may begin immediately after the event or can develop up to a year afterward:
- Re-experiencing. In such cases, patients persistently re-experience the trauma in at least one of the following ways: in recurrent images, thoughts, flashbacks, dreams, or feelings of distress at situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Children may engage in play, in which traumatic events are enacted repeatedly.
- Avoidance. Patients may avoid reminders of the event, such as thoughts, people, or any other factors that trigger recollection. They tend to have an emotional numbness, a sense of being in a daze or of losing contact with their own identity or even external reality. They may be unable to remember important aspects of the event.
- Increased Arousal. This includes symptoms of anxiety or heightened awareness of danger (sleeplessness, irritability, being easily startled, or becoming overly vigilant to unknown dangers).
To further qualify for a diagnosis of PTSD, patients must have at least one symptom in the re-experiencing category, three avoidance symptoms, and two arousal symptoms. Symptoms are chronic (3 months or more). Symptoms should also not be associated with alcohol, medications, or drugs and should not be intensifications of a pre-existing psychological disorder.
Acute Stress Disorder. In a syndrome called acute stress disorder, symptoms of PTSD occur within 2 days to 4 weeks after the traumatic event. Most people with acute stress disorder go on to develop PTSD.
Long-Term Outlook. The long-term impact of a traumatic event is uncertain. PTSD may cause physical changes in the brain, and in some cases the disorder can last a lifetime.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder almost always occurs in children. It is suspected in children who are excessively anxious about separation from important family members or from home. For a diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder, the child should also exhibit at least three of the following symptoms for at least 4 weeks:
- Extreme distress from either anticipating or actually being away from home or being separated from a parent or other loved one
- Extreme worry about losing or about possible harm befalling a loved one
- Intense worry about getting lost, being kidnapped, or otherwise separated from loved ones
- Frequent refusal to go to school or to sleep away from home
- Physical symptoms such as headache, stomach ache, or even vomiting, when faced with separation from loved ones
Separation anxiety often disappears as the child grows older, but if not addressed, it may lead to panic disorder, agoraphobia, or combinations of anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are most likely caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Most people with these disorders seem to have a biological vulnerability to stress, making them more susceptible to environmental stimuli than the rest of the population.
Biochemical Factors
Studies suggest that an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) may contribute to anxiety disorders. The neurotransmitters targeted in anxiety disorders are gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine. Serotonin appears to be specifically important in feelings of well being, and deficiencies are highly related to anxiety and depression. Stress hormones such as cortisol also play a role.
Brain Structure Factors
Studies using imaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have helped to identify different areas of the brain associated with anxiety responses.
In particular, research has focused on changes in the amygdala, which is sometimes referred to as the "fear center." This part of the brain regulates fear, memory, and emotion and coordinates these resources with heart rate, blood pressure, and other physical responses to stressful events. Some evidence suggests that the amygdala in people with anxiety disorders is highly sensitive to new or unfamiliar situations and reacts with a high stress response.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the anxiety disorder most strongly associated with specific brain dysfunction. For example, abnormalities in a specific pathway of nerves have been linked to OCD, attention deficit disorder, and Tourette syndrome. The symptoms of the three disorders are similar and they often occur together.
Several imaging studies have reported less volume in the hippocampus in people with post-traumatic stress disorder. This important region is related to emotion and memory storage.
Genetic Factors
Up to 50% of people with panic disorder and 40% of patients with generalized anxiety (GAD) have close relatives with the disorder.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is also strongly related to a family history of the disorder. Close relatives of people with OCD are up to 9 times more likely to develop OCD themselves. Researchers are making progress in identifying specific genetic factors that might contribute to an inherited risk. Of particular interest are genes that regulate the neurotransmitters associated with serotonin and glutamate.
Risk Factors
Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions in the United States.
General Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders
Gender. With the exception of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), women have twice the risk for anxiety disorders as men.
Age. Phobias, OCD and separation anxiety tend to show up early in childhood, while social phobia and panic disorder are often diagnosed during the teen years. Studies suggest that 3 - 5% of children and adolescents have some anxiety disorder. Children and adolescents who have an anxiety disorder are at risk of later developing other anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse.
Personality Factors. Children's personalities may indicate higher or lower risk for future anxiety disorders. For example, research suggests that extremely shy children and those likely to be the target of bullies are at higher risk for developing anxiety disorders later in life. Children who cannot tolerate uncertainty tend to be worriers, a major predictor of generalized anxiety. In fact, such traits may be biologically based and due to a hypersensitive amygdala -- the "fear center" in the brain.
Family History and Dynamics. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. Genetic factors may play a role in some cases, but family dynamics and psychological influences are also often at work. Several studies show a strong correlation between a parent's fears and those of the offspring. Although an inherited trait may be present, some researchers believe that many children can "learn" fears and phobias, just by observing a parent or loved one's phobic or fearful reaction to an event.
Social Factors. Several studies have reported a significant increase in anxiety levels in children and college students in recent decades. In several studies, anxiety was associated with a lack of social connections and a sense of a more threatening environment. It also appears that more socially alienated populations have higher levels of anxiety. For example, a study of Mexican adults living in California reported that native-born Mexican Americans were three times more likely to have anxiety disorders (and even more likely to be depressed) as those who had recently immigrated to the U.S. The longer the immigrants lived in the U.S., the greater their risk for psychiatric problems. Traditional Mexican cultural and social ties seemed to protect recently arrived immigrants from mental illness.
Traumatic Events. Traumatic events may trigger anxiety disorders, especially in individuals who are susceptible to them because of psychological, genetic, or biochemical factors. The clearest example is post-traumatic stress disorder, which is often experienced by war survivors and veterans. Specific traumatic events in childhood, particularly those that threaten family integrity, such as spousal or child abuse, can also lead to other anxiety and emotional disorders. Some types of specific phobias, for instance of spiders or snakes, may be triggered and perpetuated after a single traumatic exposure.
Medical Conditions. Although causal relationships have not been established, certain medical conditions have been associated with increased risk of panic disorder. They include migraines, obstructive sleep apnea, mitral valve prolapse, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and premenstrual syndrome.
Specific Risk Factors for Generalized Anxiety (GAD)
GAD affects about 1 - 5% of Americans in the course of their lives and is more common in women than in men. It is the most common anxiety disorder among the elderly. GAD usually begins in childhood and often becomes a chronic ailment, particularly when left untreated. Depression commonly accompanies this anxiety disorder, and depression in adolescence may be a strong predictor of GAD in adulthood.
Specific Risk Factors for Panic Disorder
Panic disorder usually first occurs either in late adolescence or when adults are in their mid-30s. Women have about twice the risk for panic disorder as men. Panic attacks are very common after menopause. The effects of pregnancy on panic disorder appear to be mixed. It seems to improve the condition in some women and worsen it in others.
Specific Risk Factors for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder occurs equally in men and women, and it affects about 2 - 3% of people over a lifespan. Most cases of OCD first develop in childhood or adolescence, although the disorder can occur throughout the lifespan.
Specific Risk Factors for Social Phobias
Social anxiety disorder usually develops during the early teenage years. Women are more likely to develop social anxiety disorder than men, although equal numbers of men and women seek treatment for it. Most people seeking treatment have had symptoms for at least 10 years.
Specific Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Traumatic events are the main risk factor for PTSD, but some people can go through such events and not experience PTSD. Studies estimate that 6 - 30% or more of trauma survivors develop PTSD, with children and young people being among those at the high end of the range. Women have the twice the risk of PTSD as men.
Exposure to war and combat greatly increases the risk for PTSD. According to the Institute of Medicine, between 13 – 20% of U.S. military service members who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan may have PTSD.
Researchers are trying to determine factors that might increase vulnerability to catastrophic events and put people at risk for develop PTSD. Some studies report the following may be risk factors:
- Pre-existing emotional disorder. People are at higher risk for PTSD if they have a history of an emotional disorder, particularly depression, before a traumatic event.
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- A family history of anxiety
- A history of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or abuse within the family
- An early separation from parents
- Lack of social support and poverty
- Sleep disorders. Insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness even within a month after a traumatic event are important predictors for the development of PTSD. One specific sleep disorder -- sleep apnea -- may intensify symptoms of PTSD, including sleeplessness and nightmares. Sleep apnea occurs when tissues in the upper throat (or airway) collapse at intervals during sleep, thereby blocking the passage of air. Sleep apnea has also been associated with a risk for panic disorder. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #65: Sleep apnea.]
All types of anxiety disorders can be very debilitating and seriously affect a person's quality of life.
Accompanying Mental Health Conditions
Depression. Depression is very common in people with an anxiety disorder, and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two conditions. Both can have symptoms of anxiety, agitation, insomnia, and poor concentration. The combination of depression and anxiety is a major risk factor for both substance abuse and suicide.
Bipolar Disorder. Symptoms of panic disorder are very common in people with bipolar disorder. Furthermore, anxiety worsens bipolar disorder.
Substance Abuse. People who have anxiety disorders, depression, or bipolar disorder are at high risk for alcoholism, smoking, and other forms of addiction, which may be a form of self-medication. Patients with PTSD, which is often accompanied by pain, have increased risk for opioid pill addiction.
Eating Disorders. Many people with anxiety disorders have eating disorders, and the reverse is also true. It is not clear if anxiety disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), cause eating disorders, increase susceptibility to them, or share common biologic causes.
Increased Risk for Suicide
Panic disorders and PTSD are associated with increased risk for suicidal thoughts. Social phobias and OCD also increase the risk of suicide. If a person has an anxiety disorder and a mood disorders (such as depression), the risk for suicide is even higher. [For more information on suicide risks and prevention, see In-Depth Report #8: Depression.]
Effects on Work, School, and Relationships
Anxiety disorders can have negative effects on work and relationships.
Physical Effects of Anxiety Disorders in Adults
Anxiety disorders are associated with many different physical illnesses.
Heart Disease. Anxiety has been associated with several heart risk factors, including unhealthy cholesterol levels, thicker blood vessels, and high blood pressure. Both anxiety and depression have been associated with a poorer response to treatment in heart patients, including a worse outcome after heart surgery. The role of anxiety disorders in triggering serious cardiac events remains unclear.
Gastrointestinal Disorders. Anxiety frequently accompanies gastrointestinal conditions, particularly irritable bowel syndrome.
Pain. Chronic pain and muscle tension are common in people with anxiety disorders. Both tension and migraine headaches are associated with anxiety disorders.
Respiratory Problems. Studies report an association between anxiety in patients with obstructive lung conditions (such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis) and more frequent relapses.
Obesity. Anxiety disorders may lead to obesity, and the reverse may also be true.
Allergic Conditions. Anxiety disorders are associated with numerous allergic conditions including hay fever, eczema, hives, food allergies, and conjunctivitis.
Other Conditions. People with obsessive-compulsive disorders can experience skin problems from excessive washing, injuries from repetitive physical acts, and hair loss from repeated hair pulling (behavior known as trichotillomania).
Physical Effects of Anxiety Disorders in Children
Children with anxiety disorders often suffer from recurrent stomach aches. Anxiety is associated with a higher risk for sleep disorders in children, such as frequent nightmares, restless legs syndrome, and bruxism (the grinding and gnashing of the teeth during sleep).
Because anxiety accompanies so many medical conditions, some serious, it is extremely important for the doctor to uncover any medical problems or medications that might underlie or be masked by an anxiety attack. The doctor will perform a physical examination and ask about the patient's medical and personal history.
The patient should describe any occurrence of anxiety disorders or depression in the family and mention any other contributing factors, such as excessive caffeine use, recent life changes, or stressful events.
It is very important to be honest with your doctor about all conditions, including excessive drinking, substance abuse, or other psychological or mood states that might contribute to, or result from, the anxiety disorder.
Diagnosing children with an anxiety disorder can be very difficult, since anxiety often results in disruptive behaviors that overlap with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or oppositional disorder. Other conditions with symptoms similar to anxiety disorders include pervasive developmental disorders such as Asperger syndrome, learning disabilities, bipolar disorder, and depression. Many children have anxiety disorder and a co-occurring condition, which should be treated along with anxiety.
Other Conditions with Similar Symptoms
People with anxiety disorders are more likely to see a family doctor before a mental health specialist, since their symptoms are often physical. Symptoms can include muscle tension, trembling, twitching, aching, soreness, cold and clammy hands, dry mouth, sweating, nausea or diarrhea, or urinary frequency. Anxiety attacks can mimic or accompany nearly every acute disorder of the heart or lungs, including heart attacks and angina (chest pain). In fact, nearly all individuals with panic disorders are convinced that their symptoms are physical and possibly life-threatening.
Heart Problems. Some patients who enter the emergency room with chest pain, and who have a low-to-moderate risk for a heart attack, are actually suffering from panic attacks. It is often difficult even for specialists to distinguish between heart conditions and a panic attack:
- Women who are having an actual heart attack or acute heart problem are much more likely to be misdiagnosed as having an anxiety attack than are men with similar symptoms.
- Mitral valve prolapse, a common and usually mild heart problem, may have symptoms that are nearly identical to those of panic disorder. The two conditions, in fact, frequently occur together.
- People with a heart-rhythm disturbance called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia have many of the same symptoms as those with panic attacks.
Asthma. Asthma attacks and panic attacks have similar symptoms and can also coexist.
Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) can cause many of the same symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
Other Medical Conditions. Anxiety-like symptoms are seen in many other medical problems, including hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), recurrent pulmonary emboli, and adrenal-gland tumors. Women can also experience intense anxiety attacks with hot flashes during menopause.
Medication Side Effects. Many drugs, including some for high blood pressure, diabetes, and thyroid disorders, can produce symptoms of anxiety. Withdrawal from certain drugs, often those used to treat sleep disorders or anxiety, can also precipitate anxiety reactions.
Substance Abuse. People with anxiety disorders often drink alcohol or abuse drugs in order to conceal or eliminate symptoms, but substance abuse and dependency can also cause anxiety. In addition, withdrawal from alcohol can produce physiologic symptoms similar to panic attacks. Clinicians often have difficulty determining whether alcoholism or anxiety is the primary disorder. Overuse of caffeine or abuse of amphetamines can cause symptoms resembling a panic attack.
Screening Tests
Clinicians use various screening tests to determine the causes, type, severity, and frequency of anxiety. Such tests include the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Social Phobia Inventory, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale.
The standard approach to treating most anxiety disorders is a combination of talk therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and an antidepressant medication. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is typically the first choice, with the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine (Effexor, generic) being an alternative. If patients do not respond to these drugs, tricyclic antidepressants may be helpful. Benzodiazepines may be recommended for patients who are not helped by antidepressants or who need help rapidly (antidepressants take several weeks to be effective). A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, adequate rest, and good nutrition can also help to reduce the impact of anxiety.
Treatment Options for Specific Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorder
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other Non-Drug Therapies
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and buspirone are helpful but have varying side effects. Investigational drugs include pregabalin and other anticonvulsants.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy or anxiety management therapy. Anxiety management therapy involves education, relaxation training, and exposure to anxiety-provoking stimuli but does not include cognitive restructuring.
Panic Attacks
SSRIs are treatment of choice. If patients do not respond to SSRIs, short-term treatment with a benzodiazepine may be used, or patients may switch to another type of antidepressant such as venlafaxine or tricyclics.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, provided in 12 - 16 sessions over 3 - 4 months, focuses on recreating fear symptoms and helping patients change their response to them.
Social Anxiety Disorder
SSRIs or venlafaxine are first-line drug treatments. Benzodiazepines may help patients who do not respond to these antidepressants. Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are being investigated.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help improve symptoms after 6 - 12 weeks.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
SSRIs are the first choice for adults. Clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) is an alternative for adult patients who do not respond to SSRIs. For children, SSRIs do not seem to work as well for OCD as for other types of anxiety disorders.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the first treatment choice for children. For adults, either CBT or drug therapy may be offered as initial treatment. CBT techniques focus on exposure and response prevention (ERP).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Antidepressants, particularly SSRIs (sertraline and paroxetine approved for PTSD). An atypical antipsychotic may be added to an antidepressant for patients who do not respond to a SSRI alone.
Trauma-focused psychological treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
Note: For anxiety disorders in adults, the most effective treatments are usually combinations of drugs and CBT techniques. For children, CBT is usually the first treatment.
Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine (Effexor, generic), are the primary first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. For patients who are not helped by these drugs or who need help rapidly, benzodiazepines may be prescribed, either alone or in combination with an antidepressant. Other types of antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants, may also be used to treat patients with severe or chronic forms of anxiety disorders.
Drug therapies for anxiety disorders work best in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy or some other form of psychotherapy.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac, generic), sertraline (Zoloft, generic), paroxetine (Paxil, generic), fluvoxamine (Luvox, generic), citalopram (Celexa, generic), and escitalopram (Lexapro, generic).
SSRIs can cause agitation, nausea, and diarrhea. Sexual dysfunction, including lowered sex drive, is a common side effect of many antidepressants as is weight gain. Elderly people taking these drugs should take the lowest effective dose possible, and those with heart problems should be monitored closely.
Antidepressants may raise the risk for suicidality (suicidal thoughts and behavior) in young people, particularly those ages 18 - 24. Both adults and children who are treated with SSRIs should be carefully monitored for any worsening of depressive symptoms or changes in behavior. This is especially important during the first few months of antidepressant treatment.
Paroxetine has been linked to heart-related birth defects whenused during the first trimester of pregnancy. It should not be taken by women who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. Other SSRIs are generally considered safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Still, women who are pregnant or who are considering becoming pregnant should discuss the potential risks of these drugs with their doctors.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs are known as dual action inhibitors because they work on two neurotransmitters -- norepinephrine and serotonin. Venlafaxine (Effexor. generic) is an SNRI that is approved for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is approved for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Both of these SNRIs are approvedfor adults but not for children
As with many SSRIs, venlafaxine impairs sexual function. Venlafaxine can increase blood pressure and heart rate and should be used with caution in patients with high blood pressure or heart disease. Some patients report severe withdrawal symptoms, including dizziness and nausea. This drug has a serious risk for overdose. Venlafaxine should not be taken during the last trimester of pregnancy because the drug can cause complications in newborn infants. A chemically related drug, desvelafaxine (Pristiq), is approved for treatment of depression has not yet been approved for treatment of anxiety.
Duloxetine's side effects are generally mild and include dry mouth, nausea, and sleepiness. Patients with narrow-angle glaucoma or patients with liver or kidney diseases should not take duloxetine. Because duloxetine can cause liver damage, patients who drink large quantities of alcoholic beverages should not take it.
Tricyclic Antidepressants. Tricyclics are an older type of antidepressant. Tricyclics used for treatment of anxiety disorder include imipramine (Tofranil and generic, for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder), nortriptyline (Pamelor and generic, for panic disorder), desipramine (Norpramin and generic, for panic disorder), and clomipramine (Anafranil and generic, for obsessive compulsive disorder). Clomipramine is approved specifically for OCD, but because of its severe side effects it is usually used only if SSRIs have failed to help.
Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) include sleep disturbance, abrupt reduction in blood pressure upon standing, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and mental disturbance. Elderly patients and those with a history of seizures, cardiac problems, closed-angle glaucoma, and urinary retention or obstruction should be closely supervised when taking tricyclics.
[For more information on antidepressant medications, see In-Depth Report #08: Depression.]
Benzodiazepines are effective medications for most anxiety disorders and have been the standard of treatment for years. However, their longterm daily useis associated with a risk for dependency and abuse. Therefore, they have been replaced in most cases by SSRIs and other newer antidepressants.
For anxiety disorders, benzodiazepines are most often used to treat panic disorder, and are sometimes used for social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. These drugs include alprazolam (Xanax, generic), clonazepam (Klonopin, generic), and lorazepam (Ativan, generic).
Benzodiazepines can have many side effects, which are generally associated with chronic use. The most common are daytime drowsiness and a hung-over feeling. In rare cases, they can cause agitation. They may worsen respiratory problems. Benzodiazepines are potentially dangerous when used in combination with alcohol. Overdoses can be serious, although they are very rarely fatal.
Older people are more susceptible to side effects and should usually start at half the dose prescribed for younger people. These drugs increase the risk of falling, which can increase the risk for hip fracture in older people. Also of concern are studies showing a high risk of automobile accidents in people who take benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines taken during pregnancy are associated with birth defects (such as cleft palate), and they should not be used by pregnant women or by nursing mothers.
Loss of Effectiveness and Dependence. Eventually these drugs can lose their effectiveness with continued use at the same dosage. As a result, patients may want to increase their dosage to prevent anxiety. This causes dependency, which can occur after taking these drugs for several weeks.
Withdrawal and its Treatments. Withdrawal symptoms can be very severe, even in people who rapidly discontinue benzodiazepines after taking them for only 4 weeks. Symptoms include sleep disturbance and anxiety, which can develop within hours or days after stopping the medication. Some patients experience stomach distress, sweating, and insomnia, which can last 1 - 3 weeks. The longer the drugs are taken and the higher their dose, the more severe these symptoms can become. Tapering off gradually is the best approach to stop taking these drugs. Certain medications (such as anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants, and buspirone) may also help with withdrawal.
Azapirones (Buspirone)
Azapirones, such as buspirone (BuSpar, generic), act on serotonin receptors called 5-HT(1A). Buspirone appears to work as well as a benzodiazepine for treating generalized anxiety disorder. It usually takes several days to weeks for the drug to be fully effective. It is not useful against panic attacks.
Buspirone tends to have less pronounced side effects than benzodiazepines and no withdrawal effects, even when the drug is discontinued quickly. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea. Buspirone should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Unlike the benzodiazepines, buspirone is not addictive, even with long-term use, so it may be particularly helpful for the patient whose anxiety disorder coexists with alcoholism or drug abuse.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers, including propranolol (Inderal, generic) and atenolol (Tenormin, generic), block the nerves that stimulate the heart to beat faster. They affect only the physiologic symptoms of anxiety (particularly rapid heart rate) and are most helpful for phobias, particularly performance anxiety. They may be taken before entering a situation where anxiety symptoms tend to occur. Beta blockers are less effective for other forms of anxiety.
Atypical Antipsychotics
Atypical antipsychotics are mostly used for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. They may sometimes be used for treating severe cases of OCD or PTSD. However, atypical antipsychotics (particularly olanzapine) can have severe side effects. These include weight gain and increased high blood sugar levels, which can increase the risk for diabetes. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #47: Schizophrenia.]
Anticonvulsants (Antiseizure Drugs)
Pregabalin (Lyrica) and gabapentin (Neurontin, generic) are drugs used to treat seizures and other conditions. Researchers are investigating whether these drugs may be useful for certain anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder and general anxiety disorder. Their exact role in the treatment of anxiety disorders is not clear, however.
Psychotherapy and Other Treatments
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
The goal of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is to regain control of reactions to stress and stimuli, thus reducing the feeling of helplessness that often accompanies anxiety disorders. CBT works on the principle that the thoughts that produce and maintain anxiety can be recognized and altered using various techniques that change behavioral responses and eliminate the anxiety reaction.
CBT and medication are each effective alone but many studies have shown that a combination of CBT and medication works best for treating anxiety disorders. Combination CBT and medication is particularly effective for children and adolescents. Evidence clearly supports the combination approach's benefits for treating pediatric cases of generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, social phobia, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Studies suggest that CBT is also helpful for patients who have additional conditions, such as depression, a second anxiety disorder, or alcohol dependency. (It may take longer to achieve a successful outcome in such cases, however.)
Both individual and group treatments work well. However, people with social phobia may do better in individual sessions.
Anxiety disorders are chronic and recurrence is common, even after successful short-term therapy. Some patients with anxiety disorders may require long-term or intensive therapy of at least a year or 50 sessions. Medications, then, are also generally recommended for most patients.
Basic Cognitive Therapy Techniques. Treatment usually takes about 12 - 20 weeks. The essential goal of cognitive therapy is to understand the realities of an anxiety-provoking situation and to respond to reality with new actions based on reasonable expectations.
- First, the patient must learn how to recognize anxious reactions and thoughts as they occur. One way of accomplishing this is by keeping a daily diary that reports the occurrences of anxiety attacks and any thoughts and events associated with them. A patient with OCD, for instance, may record repetitive thoughts.
- These entrenched and automatic reactions and thoughts must be challenged and understood. Using the OCD example, one approach is to record and play back the words of the repetitive thoughts, overexposing the patient to the thoughts and reducing their effect. For patients with generalized anxiety disorder, CBT targets their intolerance of uncertainty and helps them develop methods to cope with it.
- Patients are usually given behavioral homework assignments to help them change their reactions. For example, a person with generalized social phobia may be asked to buy an item and then return it the next day. Aspatients perform these actions, they learn to recognizefears and thoughts triggered by similar events and to understand that these fears are unrealistic.
- As the patient continues with self-observation, they begin to perceive the false assumptions that underlie the anxiety. For example, patients with OCD may learn to recognize that their heightened sense of responsibility for preventing harm in non-threatening situations is neither necessary noruseful.
- At that point, the patient can begin substituting new ways of coping with the feared objects and situations.
Systematic Desensitization. Systematic desensitization is a specific technique that breaks the link between the anxiety-provoking stimulus and the anxiety response. This treatment requires the patient to gradually confront the object of fear. There are three main elements to the process:
- Relaxation training
- A list composed by the patient that prioritizes anxiety-inducing situations by degree of fear
- The desensitization procedure itself, confronting each item on the list, starting with the least stressful
This treatment is especially effective for simple phobias, social phobias, agoraphobia, and post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Exposure and Response Treatment. Exposure treatment purposefully generates anxiety by exposing the patient repeatedly to the feared object or situation, either literally or using imagination and visualization. It uses the most fearful stimulus first. (This differs from the desensitization process because it does not involve relaxation or a gradual approach to the source of anxiety.)
Exposure treatments are usually known as either flooding or graduated exposure:
- Flooding exposes the person to the anxiety-producing stimulus for as long as 1 - 2 hours.
- Graduated exposure gives the patient a greater degree of control over the length and frequency of exposures.
In both cases, the patient experiences the anxiety over and over until the stimulating event eventually loses its effect. Combining exposure with standard cognitive therapy may be particularly beneficial. This approach has helped certain patients in most anxiety disorder categories, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
Modeling Treatment. Phobias can often be treated successfully with modeling treatment:
- The therapy typically uses an actor who approaches an anxiety-producing object or engages in a fear-provoking activity that is similar to the patient's specific problem. Either a live or videotaped situation may be used, although the live model is considered to be more effective.
- The patient observes this event and tries to learn how to behave in a comparable manner.
Other Forms of Psychotherapy
Other forms of psychotherapy -- commonly called emotion-based psychotherapy (EBT), psychodynamic therapy, or "talk" therapy --deal more with the roots of anxiety and usually, although not always, require longer treatments. All work is done during the sessions. Some research indicates that such therapies might be more useful for generalized anxiety, which may require more sustained work to process and recover from early traumas and fears. Studies suggest that although emotion-based psychotherapies are not as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating panic disorders, patients tend to stay longer in EBT than in CBT. Some doctors recommend adding elements of EBT to the usual CBT and medication treatments.
Relaxation Training and Related Therapies
Relaxation Training. Relaxation techniques use muscle relaxation and mental visualization to help focus attention towards a calming feeling. Some people find meditation helpful.
Breathing Retraining. Breathing retraining techniques may help reduce the physical effects of anxiety. For example, hyperventilation is one of the primary physical manifestations of panic disorders. This involves rapid, tense breathing, resulting in chest pain, dizziness, tingling of the mouth and fingers, muscle cramps, and even fainting. By practicing measured, controlled breathing at the onset of a panic attack, patients may be able to prevent full attacks.
Biofeedback. Biofeedback uses special sensors that allow patients to recognize anxiety states by changes in specific physical functions, such as changes in pulse rate, skin temperatures, and muscle tone. Eventually they learn to modify these changes, which in turn helps relieve anxiety. While commonly used, there are not many rigorous studies showing that biofeedback helps patients reduce or eliminate their symptoms over the long term.
Psychological Therapies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Several types of psychological treatments have been designed specifically for treating patients with PTSD. These approaches include a special type of CBT known as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT), and a psychotherapy treatment called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
With TFCBT, patients are taught stress management skills. The therapist helps the patient develop a narrative (verbal, written, or artistic) about the traumatic event. Patients may be exposed to reminders about the trauma and are taught how to cope with future reminders. Through the process, the patient learns how to reprocess their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
With EMDR, the patient focuses on remembering the traumatic experience while visually following the rhythmic movement of the therapist's fingers. The patient recounts to the therapist what memories have been provoked during the exercise. EMDR may help patients recall details and sensations that they had blocked out. Through this breakthrough, patients learn how to regain emotional control.
Researchers are investigating other forms of treatment for PTSD including yoga, acupuncture, and animal-assisted therapy.
Herbs and Supplements
Generally, manufacturers of herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not need FDA approval to sell their products. Just like a drug, herbs and supplements can affect the body's chemistry, and therefore have the potential to produce side effects that may be harmful. There have been a number of reported cases of serious and even lethal side effects from herbal products. Always check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies or dietary supplements.
Some studies suggest that the dietary supplement inositol may have benefits for panic disorder and, possibly, obsessive compulsive disorder. Inositol is part of the vitamin B complex.
Some patients use aromatherapy as a relaxation aid. Aromatherapy is in general safe, but some plant extracts in these formulas have been linked to skin allergies.
There is no evidence supporting the efficacy of valerian, St. John's wort, or passionflower for treatment of anxiety. The herbal remedy kava has been associated with liver problems and should not be used. Kava can also interact dangerously with medications that are metabolized by the liver.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical approach that involves implanting in the brain a small device similar to a pacemaker. In 2009, the FDA approved a deep brain stimulation device (Reclaim) for treatment of chronic, severe, and disabling obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). This is the first medical device approved for treatment of OCD.
The device is similar to other DBS devices used for treating movement disorders like Parkinson's disease. It uses four electrodes that are surgically implanted into the brain and connected by wires to a small generator that is implanted near the abdomen or collar bone. The generator delivers precisely controlled electrical pulses to target specific areas of the brain.
Another brain stimulation approach, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), does not involve surgery or implantation. It uses an external machine to generate high frequency magnetic pulses to target and stimulate areas of the brain. TMS is also being studied as a possible treatment for OCD.
A surgical technique called cingulotomy involves interrupting the cingulate gyrus, a bundle of nerve fibers in the front of the brain. It is sometimes used as a last resort for patients with severe OCD.
- www.nimh.nih.gov -- National Institute of Mental Health
- www.adaa.org -- Anxiety Disorders Association of America
- www.nami.org -- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- www.psych.org -- The American Psychiatric Association
- www.apa.org -- The American Psychological Association
- www.istss.org -- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- www.ncptsd.va.gov -- National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
- www.aacap.org -- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- www.ocfoundation.org -- International OCD Foundation
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Advanced Studyec
Related Informationec
Review Date: 3/11/2013�
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.


text:
It's been three years since Leighton Meester's been on The Superficial in a bikini, so to commemorate this momentous occasion, I took the liberty of slapping all the butt shots into one gallery. It's what Leighton would've wanted. "Please help perverts find us on the Internet," her cheeks are practically saying through a complex system of clenches and crack shots. Also, something about me being the legendary StarChild who mustn't let anything stop me from plunging his sword between two pale, jiggling magical boulders for the sake of the universe and how that will completely stand up in court. I should probably hear them out.
Photos: GADE/AKM-GSI


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Cage Warriors 41 will air on the Fight Network in Canada on April 24th !
http://www.cagewarriors.com/article.php?id=577Fight Network announced today that it has acquired the English-language broadcast rights for CAGE WARRIORS FC to air up to 8 events live in 2011
"We are thrilled to be able to offer Cage Warriors events to our viewers and it helps reiterate our commitment to bringing more live events to the Canadian market," said Chad Midgley, VP of Programming & Production of Fight Network. "If you look at the history of Cage Warriors and the calibre of fights they have presented, our viewers will be delighted with the promotion."


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Morrissey to work on new album under new record deal
Listten to Morrissey on iHeartRadio
Morrissey is returning to music.
"The Los Angeles Times" says the former Smiths frontman has a new record deal, and plans to return to the studio soon to begin work on his next album. The upcoming disc, which is expected later this year, will be his first release since 2009's Years of Refusal.
Details on the contract haven't been announced, but a rep for the singer says Morrissey inked a "multi-album deal" with Harvest Records.
And Morrissey even though he's signed on with a new label, the rocker hasn't changed his attitude about the music industry.
In a Q-and-A earlier this month on the Morrissey fan site "True To You," he said radio stations won't play his music, and that it's "generally assumed" that the top spots on the chart "are 'bought' by the major labels." He added that he doesn't "believe for an instant" that the pop stars who are constantly on TV and in magazines "are remotely popular."
Photo Credit Getty Images


text: How to Thinking of starting a business? Here's what you're up against Add to ... The Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 7:53AM EST Last updated Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 7:53AM EST Hiring the right people for the job and forming meaningful partnerships are just some of the challenges confronting small business owners today, say experts Watch More Video: The challenges of running a global business What makes an entrepreneur tick? What's been your biggest failure? What young entrepreneurs do in their spare time How would you spend $5-million? The Globe's first Small Business Summit Comments Share via email Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on LinkedIn Print More Related to this Story Video: Bernier weighs in on calls to freeze EI rates Video: What are the Feds doing to help small businesses? Video: The Globe's first Small Business Summit


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Do Guys Find Shy Girls Attractive?
A real guy shares: what men really think of shy ladies.
-Hunt Ethridge
Did your New Year's Eve involve a Snuggie? Would you rather read a book than go to a party? Do you find yourself observing more often than interacting? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a shy girl.
In a world peppered with Gagas, Snookies and Chelseas, sometimes it can feel like brash, extroverted women are all that are out there. They get most of the press, they seem to do okay with the menfolk and they seem to be boogieing through life. However there are just as many, if not more women who wouldn't want to trade places with them if their lives depended on it. And if it's hard for outgoing aggressive girls to meet someone, it can be downright herculean for shy girls.
But rest assured all you lovely laconic lasses! Shy girls have tons of qualities that guys find super attractive! So don't go changing yourself in a misguided attempt to become what you think men want. You've already got the goods!


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Hmmmmm. This reminds me of an expressive drawing class i had in school. One of the students was the Aerospace Engineering teacher at the university and a personal friend to the drawing intsructor. Over the course of the semester i saw him really struggle with the various assignments we had. Now, let me tell you that this class was by far one of the best art classes I had ever taken. My teacher, who is the head of the pictorial department, is a wealth of knowledge, technique, and experience and I am greatful for what I learned in this class. Unfortunately, all the interesting, challenging assignments in the world couldnt get him to think outside the box. He just couldnt let go and let the creativity take over and it showed. Long story short. Nope, you can't teach creativity. I used to think you could but after that class, I really saw how it is something you either have or you don't. Some people are really good at numbers, or learning languages and others are creative.
There is a certain amount of change that can be done in brain dominance though. I remember when I first started teaching I took a brain dominance test that showed my brain worked in the left of center. This meant that I was slightly left brain dominant and an analytical thinker. Several years later I took a similar test, and it showed me off the scale to the right. I don't know how much credence to put in these tests being and educator, but interesting fun anyway.


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Last week-ends' Elections in the Czech Republic ended in deadlock: the right-wing Civic Democrats came first, but they are finding it very hard to form a coalition, with the two left-wing parties winning exactly half the seats in the lower house. Meanwhile, neighboring Slovakia is gearing up for early elections in a weeks' time. Czechs and Slovaks spent 80 years together, as part of the same state, and Czech politics are still keenly observed in Slovakia. So what lessons will be drawn in Bratislava from the stalemate in Prague? Radio Prague speaks to Milan Nic, the Slovakia based NGO, the Pontis Foundation.Listen to the report:
ListenReal Audio
Swedish Police have closed down one of the biggest file-sharing websites on the net, dealing a huge blow to internet users who download music, films and games, for free. Three people were detained in several raids across the country. It is being claimed that powerful US lobby groups, forced the hand of the Swedish authorities. The justice minister is under fire, and so too it seems is the Swedish government's website, which has been subject to attacks over the internet. Radio Sweden reports.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski has vowed zero tolerance of anti-Semitism, as he received the chief rabbi who was attacked in the streets of Warsaw. After the meeting, Rabbi Michael Schudrich said he was pleased that the president was taking the incident seriously. But he linked the aggression against him, to the appointment of far right politicians in the Polish government. Radio Polonia reports.
Berlin's famous "Love Parade" has moved to Bucharest. The capital city recently played host to Gay Fest 2006. The event included concerts, film screenings and parties. The parade took a rather unexpected turn, when a few hundred Christians came to disrupt the event. Radio Romania International reports.
The World Cup football which kicked off on June 9, will draw hundreds of thousands of football aficionados from around the planet. Here is a piece for football fans who were lucky enough to bag tickets for the event, and who do not know Germany nor the Germans very well. Deutsche Welle has this humorous Postcard.
Who does not have a soft spot for cows? The Masai love them, the Hindus worship them, Andy Warhol drew them. So why not use them to make people happy and raise money for charity? That's the idea of cow parade, the world's largest art event which has been exhibiting life sized cows in cities like London, Tokyo, New York and Barcelona for the last few years. The concept has now come to Paris. Radio France International reports.
This webpage receives support from the European Union


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Experts researching password cracking warn that the programs used by hackers are getting smarter and smarter. In fact, a team of scientists at Carnegie Mellon University was able to come with a program that makes easy work of even long, complicated passwords.
Ashwini Rao and her colleagues say that using familiar sentence patterns like street addresses and email addresses in your passwords make them even easier to get around.
They suggest the key to password protection is using bad spelling and poor grammar. Most hackers use programs that search through correctly spelled and phrased words and put them in various combinations. Intentional misspelling or oddly combined sentences can prevent them from getting through to your information. So instead of a password like "Ilovemy3cats," consider something like "kahdz_3meL0zzes!"


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Bookmark this site
FAIRFIELD, CA -- Jelly Belly Candy Co. will feature front-of-package nutrition labeling on its most popular products beginning this fall.
The new front label will highlight such information as calories and fat content, making it easier for consumers make informed nutritional choices. Jelly Belly beans contain four calories each, with about 140 calories per 40g. serving. They contain no fat, peanuts, dairy or gluten, and are OU Kosher certified.
"Front-of-package labeling is the future of our industry and Jelly Belly Candy Co. is committed to being an early adopter of this movement," said Bob Simpson, president and chief operating officer of Jelly Belly and chairman of the National Confectioners Association.


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The Vandal
Theater review by David Cote. Flea Theater. By Hamish Linklater. Dir. Jim Simpson. With Deirdre O'Connell, Noah Robbins, Zach Grenier. 1hr 10mins. No intermission.
There's a reason why the vast majority of plays (from Aeschylus onward) are peopled by family members, spouses or old friends: backstory. "Remember that time…" is narratively more felicitous than "Hello, person I have never met; let us spend this scene together." So extra credit goes to Hamish Linklater, whose playwriting debut,The Vandal, throws together three strangers on a cold night in Kingston, New York, forcing them to reveal themselves through small talk, evasions and little giveaways. That we follow their getting to know each other with growing interest is a sign of Linklater's savvy way with dialogue, and his ability to shimmy around plot expectations. It also doesn't hurt to have three of New York's finest actors and director Jim Simpson's steady hand.
Like its author (last seen Off Broadway in The School for Lies), The Vandal is slender and wiry, with a sense of humor that registers improbably between grave and goofy. The 70-minute piece opens at a bus stop late at night, where Woman (O'Connell) waits for a ride, bundled up against the chill of the night. Into this solitary lady's orbit wanders Boy (Robbins), who blithely invades her personal space (interior and exterior) with probing questions about what she had been doing at a nearby hospital. This scene might have quickly devolved into a writing-class rip-off of The Zoo Story, but Linklater keeps the banter relatively comic. By the time he cajoles his new acquaintance into buying him beer at a nearby shop, you have fallen for both drifting souls, despite the whiff of danger.
In said liquor store, a dour proprietor (Grenier) proceeds to grill and delay the Woman (okay, her name is Margaret; Linklater's use of archetypal character names is the one annoyance). Turns out she has a credit card that a nurse friend lent her; and we shortly discover that her husband died of cancer. The store owner then throws a curve by revealing his connection to the kid on the bench. To synopsize more would be to ruin the play's elegant, supernatural twist. The Vandal is like a good short story, one that gets to its reality-shifting denouement swiftly and neatly, before you've had time to guess what it is.—David Cote
Follow David Cote on Twitter: @davidcote
|Venue name:
|The Flea Theater
41 White St
New York
|Cross street:
|between Franklin Pl and Church St
|Subway: A, C, E, J, Z, N, Q, R, 6 to Canal St; 1 to Franklin St
|Event phone:


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The Husker men's basketball facilities are among the nation's best, as the program moved into the Hendricks Training Complex in October of 2011. Husker players have the Neal and Jamie Hawks Players Lounge, which includes over 400' of televisions, a plasma video wall, a custom couch, pool table and kitchen area, as well as an expansive sound system. The Husker looker room features 20 wooden lockers with built-in iPads, a Terrazzo flooring display, individualized displays and A/V jacks so players can play their own music throughout the facility. The locker room also features hot and cold tanks, as well as a shower area with three sprinkler heads and built in speakers to listen to music.
Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications


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Walter Johnson is a true legend of baseball, considered one of the most dominating players in history. His fastball was devastating, and responsible for many of his records. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 as one of the first five players inducted, who were later referred to as the "five immortals". This silver bar is the fifth release in the Elemental Baseball Greats series, and unusually, is made in two different versions by using different baseball cards on the reverse of the bar.
The baseball cards are from the famed T-206 series issued by 16 different brands produced by American Tobacco. The cards are very sought after today due to their rarity and full colour printing.
The obverse of this bar mimics the cigarette packaging that the T-206 cards were contained in.
The reverse of the bar has a sepia-toned photograph of Walter Johnson throwing a pitch. The right side of the bar contains one of two different baseball cards issued in the T-206 series of cards. All of the bars are numbered, and with a limited mintage of only 1909 total Walter Johnson versions these are sure to be a real baseball lover's collector item.
This bar comes in a numbered acrylic case, packaged within a true-to-era sealed cigarette case.
Please note that there are two different versions of this bar, and we are unable to guarantee which item you will receive. We are also unable to honour requests for a specific version.
|United States
|Brilliant uncirculated
|United States
|Elemetal Baseball Series - 5 Subjects - OPM Metals - .999 Fine Silver - 1 Troy Ounce - Minted in the U.S.A.
|A sepia photo of Walter Johnson throwing a pitch with one of two different T-206 baseball cards inset on the right side and the words "Elemetal Limited xx/1909 -Walter Johnson-"


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Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom
Grades 2-5
If you thought Justin had a worrisome and difficult third-grade year, just wait until you read about his summer at Camp GoldenBrook.
After third-grade, Justin is determined to stop worrying so much - until he finds out he's going to a camp that is probably going to kill him - if his flip-flops don't do the job first.
Fans of Alvin Ho or the Wimpy Kid series will love Justin's humorous attempts at bravery, and find Justin to be a welcome friend.
Find this book on our shelves.
More books by Rachel Vail.
Read the first book in the Justin Case series.
Other series about kids like Justin:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Greg Kinney
Alvin Ho by Lenore Look
Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
Mason Dixon by Claudia Mills
Stand-alone books you may enjoy:
Herbert's Wormhole by Peter Nelson
The Thing about Georgie by Lisa Graff
Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin


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La Opinion de Granada, one of Spain's prominent newspapers, devoted a place to a news item published in The Independent on September 27th, 2008. The item, which noted Mr. Adnan Oktar's views that there is no evolution and thus no one can bring an evidence as to evolution happened, was published with the title "A Turk Offers 7.3 Billion to the One Who Proves Darwin's Theory." The lines in the forefront was as such:
Turkish Creationist Adnan Oktar challenged Darwinists by offering 10 trillion Turkish Liras (6.2 billion Euros or 7.3 billion dolars) to the scientist who brings a single transitional form fossil that proves evolution.
The English Independent newspaper notes that 52 year-old Adnan Oktar, aka Harun Yahya, is a loud critic of the structure he calls "Darwinist Dictatorship" and a very popular person in his home country.
The author states that there are no fossils that support the Darwinist theories. Mr. Oktar acquired fame when his 800-page glorious book called the Atlas of Creation, in which he claimed living beings have not evolved, spread throughout the world
He said that Richard Dawkins could not bring any fossils that support Darwinism.
Mr. Oktar also defended English Biologist Michael Reiss, the education director of the Academy of Monarch, who was sacked in the beginning of this month after he told that science teachers have to consider Creation as a world view. Mr. Oktar reclaims this as "the firm proof of the panic Darwinists experience."


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Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president of Mount Saint Mary College and
Mary Madden, President and CEO of the Hudson Valley Federal Credit
Union with the design for the new Mount Saint Mary College credit
Mount Saint Mary College has partnered with Hudson Valley
Federal Credit Union (HVFCU) to offer a Visa Platinum credit card
exclusively for MSMC Alumni. Alumni who live, work, worship, or
attend school in Dutchess, Ulster, Orange or Putnam Counties in New
York—or who are related to a current HVFCU member—are eligible to
apply for the card.
By carrying your MSMC Visa from HVFCU, you not only show your
school pride as you use it, you're also enriching the MSMC Annual
Fund—a donation is made to the Fund with each card issued. The
Mount's Annual Fund ensures that financial resources are available
for the college's greatest needs, including scholarships, programs,
technology and athletics. Every donation counts and each MSMC
branded HVFCU Visa Platinum credit card opened will help the
success of the Fund.
Show your school pride while also getting all the great benefits
of an HVFCU Visa, including the option of a low rate card or one
that offers reward points or cash back.
For more information on how to get your MSMC Visa Platinum
credit card from HVFCU, visit hvfcu.org/msmc, stop by one of
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A representative from the Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
will also be following up with you in the next few weeks to see if
you would like to take advantage of this benefit.
Don't wait - show your pride for Mount Saint Mary College and
get your card today!
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Friday, October 21, 2011
Boo Scrabble Tile Necklace
29 comments:
- mtashie said...
Cute and cute again!! Love it! Thanks for sharing!
- October 21, 2011 at 10:05 AM
- Katie said...
So cute!!
New follower from the Blog Hop!
I'd love for you to stop by my blog and follow back if you like.
Katie @ Glamorous without the guilt
- October 21, 2011 at 10:35 AM
- Baye said...
Love this! If I ever see Scrabble at the second hand store, I'll have to grab it for you. Must keep the Creative Princess in supplies!
- October 21, 2011 at 12:41 PM
- TwinsWithTots said...
Oh I am going to love th ideas fro mthis site!!!
Hi there and glad to find you and be a new follower! Hope u will chk us out too and folow...have a great wekeend
cathy from www.twinswithtots.blogspot.com
- October 21, 2011 at 3:52 PM
- Screaming Sardine said...
Terri -
This is so cute! I bet your granddaughters will each want one, too. Better get more Bs! :)
Tracy Screaming Sardine
- October 21, 2011 at 5:44 PM
- Jeri Lynne said...
What a great idea! Gonna have to try it! Stopping by from FTLOB Weekend Wander, hoping you have a terrifically crafty weekend!
- October 21, 2011 at 6:52 PM
- Linda said...
Great idea!!! Just love the way your creative mind thinks and puts things together
- October 22, 2011 at 6:44 AM
- Jill said...
How lovely! The colourful ribbons look great with the letters!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
- October 23, 2011 at 9:19 PM
- Kimberly said...
Super awesome!
- October 23, 2011 at 9:59 PM
- Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...
Very cute idea! I am now your newest follower via the creative bloggers hop. I hope you will follow me, too! Blessings to you!
- October 23, 2011 at 10:37 PM
- Ashley said...
way cute girl!!! I love it:) so perfect for a little halloween spirit!
- October 24, 2011 at 6:21 PM
- AmieAnn said...
Sooo cute! Love the scrabble tiles! Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party.. can't wait to see what you share next!
Hope you stop by and enter my current and up coming 500 follower giveaways @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2011/10/quicksilver-creations-giveaway.html
- October 26, 2011 at 5:10 AM
- J's mom said...
I love this. Please link it to my linky party & anything else you have to share. Thanks, Peggy.
- October 26, 2011 at 11:13 AM
- Tonia @ TheGunnySack.com said...
Super cute idea! I love the use of Scrabble Tiles! Thanks for sharing this at What's In The Gunny Sack!
- October 26, 2011 at 11:55 AM
- Ann said...
Adorable use of the tiles. They are so versitile!!The color of the ribbons are cute too.
- October 26, 2011 at 12:47 PM
- Anne said...
That's so cute!
- October 26, 2011 at 8:32 PM
- Katie said...
Super unique and adorable!
- October 27, 2011 at 8:02 AM
- Stephanie said...
Cute idea! Great way to use scrabble tiles!
- October 27, 2011 at 8:50 AM
- Jamie said...
Very cute idea. I would love for you to link this up to More the Merrier Monday. It starts every Sunday night and lasts through Wednesday. http://diyhshp.blogspot.com
- October 27, 2011 at 9:07 AM
- Mindie Hilton said...
Love your necklace. If you like, you can share it at my ongoing Fall linky, you can find it on my right side bar with a button link. Have a happy Halloween.
- October 27, 2011 at 9:35 AM
- Deborah Kay at The Paint Splash said...
Love this! I'm going to see if I can find extra letters, can't mess up the actual game lol. Blessings, Debbie
- October 28, 2011 at 12:09 PM
- Kaitlin Saenz said...
Really cute! I'm hosting a Fabulous Fall party over at Not So Simple Housewife and I'd love for you to link this up! We are celebrating Fall and giving me and everybody else some great inspiration. We are looking for crafts, decor, food, and more! I'd love for you to add this and any other fall posts you may have!
Kaitlin-The Not So SImple Housewife
- October 28, 2011 at 4:40 PM
- Kara @ Mine for the Making said...
Very cute idea. I love crafting with scrabble pieces. Great idea. Visiting from TT&J :) I would love for you to link this up to my fashion party! It's called DIY Diva Thursdays and we party Th-M every week. Hope to see you!
- October 29, 2011 at 4:04 AM
- Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...
I'm currently addicted to scrabble tiles! Thank you for sharing and linking to Wicked Awesome Wednesday!
- October 29, 2011 at 6:13 AM
- The Answer Is Chocolate said...
It's perfect! Thanks for sharing it at this week's BFF Open House link party.
- October 29, 2011 at 9:42 AM
- Sommer said...
Oh this is too cute! I have never made any jewelry. I think I would totally wear one lol. Please come link this to my VIP party this weekend http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/10/vip-party-34.html and have a Happy Halloween!
- October 29, 2011 at 11:34 AM
- Erin O'Riordan said...
Very cute. Happy Halloween!
- October 30, 2011 at 1:57 PM
- michele said...
so cute!
found your post via tipjunkie. come visit anytime and follow if you like what you see!
- November 1, 2011 at 11:59 AM
- Jilly said...
This is too cute work you done on pumpkin. I have never made any jewelry on this way. It is really awesome and great and new work on this weekend.
bulk first aid kit
- November 1, 2011 at 11:09 PM


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Results 1 to 4 of 4
25th February 2012 11:06 AM #1
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
- Location
- Posts
- 2
undiagnosed pregnancy or am I crazy?
November 24th was my last full on period lasted for 9 days, usually last 9-10 days on average, I haven't had an irregular period I ovulate on a 28-31 day cycle. Anyway I had sex with my hubby for the days following my period Dec 4th -10th, this would have been in my ovulation window. My next period was due on Dec 26th it was light there only when I wiped with brown spotting as well and medium flow for 2 days lasted a total of 5 days. In January my period was due on the 25th/26th it never arrived but I experienced really bad cramping with no bleeding off and on all through the days that my period would have been with some brown spotting at the end when my period would have ended, it is now february I have not seen my period i'm late, but having sex with my hubby I have bleeding within hours of having sex or sometimes directly after, I had sex on monday feb 20th and tuesday I past a clot at about 2am with no other bleeding once it came out. also with no pain.
My breast felt heavy and swollen in January, little nausea when I woke up in the morning with no vomitting, but I was fine once I started to move about. I have done three HPTs all negative, and I have been to my gyno they did a urine test negative, did an ultrasound and apart from some lining built up nothing else showed on my ultrasound.
However two weeks after the ultrasound On february 21st I had a spicy dinner and within 2 hrs I felt like my right side was on fire, in the same spot I felt obvious movement as well as like a rolling feeling inside that was not gas, as I passed none and I did not need to use the bathroom. I later went to pee and a clot was there when I wiped no other bleeding followed. My question am I being paranoid or is it possible I am pregnant? I still haven't seen my period.
I have had on and off brown spotting, some mucus type discharge as well, my breasts were huge but not sore, nipples have also darkened some what and the movement I feel in my stomach continues, I usually feel this when i'm laying down rarely when standing but sometimes. back pain off and on but not severe and some mild cramping feelings. Please help I feel like i'm losing it, i've never been pregnant before and when I tell my gyno that I feel movement in my stomach she says its gas related and looks at me like i've lost it.
any info will help me or anything I can ask my doc to test for as well will help.
25th February 2012 12:24 PM #2
Welcome TristansS to the forum. It certainly sounds like things have not been normal for you from November last year. How long is it since you've had a pregnancy test? The reason I ask is that sometimes the test doesn't pick up the pregnancy if it is very early (and the same with ultrasound). When was the last time you saw your doctor?
25th February 2012 08:29 PM #3
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- Feb 2012
- Location
- Posts
- 2
HEY.. ty for replying
My last doctors visit was on february 7th, ultrasound was done on feb 9th, the movements i started feeling those more prominent this week beginning on the 20th ... i have spoken with my doctor by phone but haven't seen her in person, she doesn't think i have anything to worry about and has prescribed me Medroxyprogesterone for the lining build up that showed on the ultrasound. I haven't began taking it as yet just in case I am pregnant. my last pee test was on the 7th as well.
8th March 2012 07:07 AM #4
I apologise I missed your post. If you are still experiencing unusual symptoms - it might be worth doing another home pregnancy test (it would save you a trip into your doctor) and if you are pregnant it should show positive. Another option is to see another doctor or midwife for a second opinion.