Jill Prouty

On motherhood, mental illness, and the importance of memory
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  • Tag: mental health

    • Nature vs Nurture

      Posted at 7:07 pm by jillprouty7, on February 10, 2019
      photo of man in raising baby under blue sky

      Photo by Studio 7042 on Pexels.com

      I recently watched Three Identical Strangers, an award-winning documentary from director Tim Wardle, on CNN. The film explores questions of nature vs. nurture and medical ethics, as told through the incredible story of three men separated at birth: Edward Galland, David Kellman and Robert Shafran.

      The film is fascinating: Triplets separated at birth and adopted by families of different socioeconomic backgrounds living within 100 miles of each other as part of a secret study conducted by psychoanalyst Peter Neubauer. Neubauer’s team made periodic visits with the families under the guise of a general child development study. No one told the adoptive parents their children had identical siblings.

      The triplets accidental discovery of each other at age 19 was stunning and my favorite part of the film. The three became very close; however, the film hints that all three struggled with mental health issues, which ultimately led to Eddie’s suicide in 1995.

      This is where the film lost me. Family members give their take on Eddie’s suicide. Some say he was the most sensitive of the triplets, which sounds plausible enough. But then some family members mention Eddie’s adoptive father, and how he was strict as compared to the other brothers’ fathers. No abuse was even hinted at – just that Eddie’s father had a lot of rules in his home. So some family members posit that nurture was to blame for Eddie’s suicide.

      apartment architecture blue sky building

      Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

      I don’t think it’s that simple. All three struggled with mental health. The film doesn’t go into any details, but the remaining brothers wonder whether their biological mother suffered from mental illness. Eddie was 34 when he died. A grown man, not a depressed teenager living under the thumb of an overbearing father. I don’t think there is enough evidence to make any conclusions other than the biological. The results of the study have been sealed until 2066, although they have released some data, albeit heavily redacted, to the families.

      There is no doubt, at least in my mind, that the unnecessary separation of the tripets DID cause psychological harm. I think that fact is more relevant than the style of parenting they received from their adoptive families. What do you think?

      Posted in blog | 5 Comments | Tagged adoption, mental health, mental illness, multiples, nature vs nurture, parenting, suicide, three identical strangers, triplets
    • More Time, Memories

      Posted at 7:15 pm by jillprouty7, on December 31, 2018

      When people say they want more time, they often mean they want to make more memories doing the things that make them happy.

      photo of woman using her laptop

      Photo by Bruce Mars on Pexels.com

      That’s a tall order for a lot of us. Work, work, work, and family demands (not the fun kind) often get in the way of memory making moments, but all is not lost. Today being New Year’s Eve it seems like a good time to start thinking about what we’d like to change in our lives. Try asking yourself the following questions:

      When am I happy?

      • Family time.
      • Feeling fit & strong.   
      • Spending time outdoors.

      When am I not happy?

      • Bogged down with to-do lists.
      • Family is over-scheduled.
      • Work space a mess.

      Could money change any of this? If so, how much?

      • Hire handy-man, lawn/landscape maintenance(?)
      • Closet organizers

      Would waking up a half hour earlier help?

      • Bill paying, emailing, etc.
      • Quiet time for myself.
      • Less rushed.

      Now think about how you can prioritize activities each day so that you spend more time doing the things that make you happy. Unsure of where to start? Turn off the TV, cell phone, and any other time-sucking gadgets and see what happens…

      Happy New Year!!!

      Posted in blog, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged family, free time, me time, memories, mental health, new year, time management, unplug, unplugged
    • Get Out of Your Head

      Posted at 7:00 pm by jillprouty7, on July 29, 2018
      cold alcohol drink glass

      Photo by Tookapic on Pexels.com

      A recent study published in The BMJ reports that deaths related to cirrhosis increased 65% from 1999-2016. Cirrhosis, irreversible scarring of the liver, has many causes, including alcohol consumption, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis. Cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer and liver failure, both of which can be fatal.

      It caused me to think back on what Dr. Sanjay Gupta said on Anderson Cooper’s Special Town Hall: Finding Hope, Battling America’s Suicide Crisis. Gupta said that life expectancy as a whole in the United States had plateaued and dropped over the last couple of years. The most common causes of premature death for the middle-aged white working class population were liver cirrhosis, typically due to alcoholism, opioid overdose and suicide – the “deaths of despair.”

      dawn dusk forest grass

      Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com

      I think most people have felt despair at one time or another, but how we deal with it can make or break us. I used to deal with stress by overeating. Some people turn to alcohol. But those “fixes” are temporary and eventually leave a person feeling worse than they did to begin with. When I began my weight loss journey in early 2014, I discovered vigorous exercise to be a powerful antidepressant. The higher the intensity, the more feel-good staying power. Spin classes were especially effective.

      Despite being a self-avowed “non-runner,” I decided to give running a try with the goal of completing a half marathon in 2015. For a long time I listened to music while I ran, creating playlists that motivated me to get out there and get it done. On the occasions when my phone wasn’t charged, my runs were pure drudgery. Then a month or so ago I had a late-night run in with a creep outside of my favorite grocery store which caught me totally off guard. As a result, I decided to give up listening to music on my runs so that I could be more aware of my surroundings. I became almost hyper-aware of the sounds around me – the chipmunk in the leaves, the birds in the trees, the rhythm of my footsteps. To my surprise, what I once considered drudgery became my calm. I was able to “get out of my head” and just be. It’s a glorious feeling.

      I’m not suggesting that running, or any kind of exercise, alone is the cure for all that ills us; but it can play an important role in one’s overall plan to getting and staying well, both physically and mentally.

      For more about the mental health benefits of running, I recommend Scott Douglas’ new book, Running is My Therapy: Relieve Stress and Anxiety, Right Depression, Ditch Bad Habits, and Live Happier (The Experiment, 2018).

      Posted in blog, books, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged alcoholism, anxiety relief, cirrhosis, depression, despair, fatty liver, fitness, happiness, mental health, mental illness, obesity, running, stress, stress relief
    • What Makes Me Happy

      Posted at 9:04 pm by jillprouty7, on July 9, 2018

      After a glorious 4th of July week, I’ve been reflecting on what made me so happy about it. I’ve come up with my recipe for happiness –

      Time with family:

      I love doing things as a family. Sometimes it’s going to see a new movie together on a Sunday night when the theater is mostly empty. Sometimes it’s getting everyone in the pool on a sunny afternoon. I also love one-on-one time when I can really connect with people. This past Friday night my husband and I went, sans kids, to Line Creek Brewing Co. where we enjoyed drinks with friends. Saturday night my youngest son and I went to see Hairspray at The Legacy Theatre. It was a fantastic show, by the way. Go see it! Then Sunday night my oldest and I went to the Georgia Aquarium together and did the “Behind the Seas” tour. It’s Monday morning and I’m still giddy from the weekend!

      IMG_20180708_194629055
      Whale Shark in Ocean Voyager tank.

      Time outdoors:

      Even though the weather was somewhat sketchy this weekend, I was able to get lots of pool time in. Weather permitting, I spend time outdoors every day. Weekdays I often use my lunch hour to go for a walk or run. Getting outdoors for an hour mid-day recharges me for the afternoon. It also helps me clear my head. I’m looking forward to our biennial trip to Maine when we spend a week on a quiet lake and only go inside to sleep.

      Physical fitness:

      I love being physically fit. I invested in my health in 2014 when I started Weight Watchers and began attending classes at the gym on a regular basis. I love the feeling of accomplishment at the end of an hour long Spin class or a long run. Bad ass is what I call it. It makes me feel alive in a way nothing else can. Late Sunday morning my husband and I went on an four mile run. It was cloudy and there was a nice breeze. Because of the cooperative weather, we stretched it another half mile.

      IMG_20180505_095845795_HDR
      Tri-Cities 10K Race

      Creative time:

      Doing what I’m doing right now. Writing. Thinking. It feels good. I wish I could do it more.

      Learning:

      Listening to NPR in the car. Reading a good book. Attending a lecture or workshop. Decatur Book Festival is around the corner!

      What makes you happy?

      Posted in blog, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged family, happiness, learning, mental health, outdoors, outside, physical fitness, reading, self help
    • Suicide on the Rise, Why?

      Posted at 4:10 am by jillprouty7, on June 9, 2018
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      Photo by Julie Viken on Pexels.com

      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report today showing a 30% increase in U.S. suicide rates since 1999. The deaths this week of designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain put an exclamation point on the issue. What exactly is going on?

      The CDC made a point to distinguish the many reasons for suicide. Although suicide is typically understood to be associated with a known mental illness, many happen without warning – 54%. The report found that these people had other issues including relationship problems, health problems, financial problems, or some other crisis that precipitated the event.

      I’m not convinced you can completely separate the two. A crisis in someone’s life can be a trigger for depression, which is a mental illness; but, I think the point is that 54% of the time a suicide happens without any warning. Which brings me to the next point: guns. According to the report, guns were the most common method for suicide, used by almost half of the people who died. Suicide tends to be a rash decision, a brief moment of utter despair that will pass given enough time. Not having immediate access to a lethal weapon can give a desperate person time to call someone. We must find common ground between the Second Amendment and the health and safety of our loved ones.

      My mother’s suicide was the type resulting from a known mental illness for which she was seeking treatment, major depression. She is proof that knowing about the illness and getting every treatment available doesn’t guarantee survival. The typical treatment for depression is SSRI therapy (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, etc.), which has shown to be ineffective for many. SSRI’s have been available for 30+ years now. Perhaps this report highlights the ineffectiveness of the SSRI revolution?

      I’ve blogged about the recent trials being done using psilocybin “magic” mushrooms, LSD, and other psychedelic drugs for the treatment of depression and other mental illnesses that are showing great results. The back to back (to back) news this week highlights that FDA approval of these drugs can’t come soon enough.

      Posted in blog, books, drug therapies, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged Anthony Bourdain, antidepressants, CDC, depression, Kate Spade, mental health, mental illness, psilocybin, psychedelics, SSRI, suicide
    • How to Change Your Mind

      Posted at 4:43 am by jillprouty7, on June 6, 2018

      pollan

      Imagine being able break from from the destructive thinking that characterizes major depression and other mental illnesses. A brain re-set in a single therapy session with a lasting power of up to six months. In How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence (Penguin, 2018), Michael Pollan likens the depressed human brain as being a snow covered mountain with well-worn ski tracks on it. After a while, the tracks deepen and the skier is trapped skiing the same slope over and over again. What if a psychedelic “trip” produced by ingesting psilocybin mushrooms or LSD could flatten the entire slope, causing the overused tracks to disappear, freeing the skier to create new paths? Research into the therapy-guided use of these substances is showing promise for sufferers of mental illness, including cases where patients have been resistant to traditional treatments including the use of SSRI’s. FDA approval for the therapeutic use of several psychedelic substances could come as early as 2021. This is exciting news for sufferers of psychic pain as well as their families.

      The key to the success of this kind of treatment, according to Pollan as well as researchers, is that the substance is taken in the presence of a trained therapist who serves as a guide during the experience. Another key feature is the “mystical experience” many patients report afterward that causes them to feel differently about themselves and the world around them.

      grey small mushroom on brown soil

      Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

      In his book, Pollan tries LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and the crystallized venom of the Sonoran Desert toad. He has what qualifies as a mystical experience after inhaling the vapor of “the toad,” leading him to ask the question: Was what he experienced real or just a drug-induced hallucination?

      Does it matter?

      Posted in blog, books, drug therapies | 3 Comments | Tagged book reviews, depression, major depression, mental health, mental illness, psilocybin, psychedelic drug therapy, psychedelics
    • Barefoot Therapy

      Posted at 3:52 pm by jillprouty7, on April 30, 2018

      pexels-photo-105776.jpegI was intrigued when I read about the benefits of walking barefoot in Blue Dreams: the Science and the Story of the Drugs That Changed Our Minds by Lauren Slater (Little, Brown, 2018). I did a little research and discovered there is actually a term for barefoot therapy – “earthing” – and it’s all the rage. (Even Gwyneth Paltrow swears by it!)

      Earthing stems from the idea that as modern life takes us further away from nature, we are losing out on the health benefits our planet has to offer. In short, earthing is putting our bodies back in direct contact with the earth whether it be soil, sand, or water.

      It may sound hippy-dippy, but a handful of small studies have found that going barefoot appears to provide some general health benefits including better sleep and reduced stress, although I have doubts about some of the more radical claims of curing disease.

      My son, who suffers from general anxiety, likes to go for walks in the backyard at least twice a day because, he says, “It makes me feel better.” He typically wears flip-flops on his jaunts, but there is no doubt that being outside is where he feels his best.

      I worked outside this past weekend and went barefoot as much as possible. Was it the sunshine or was it the exchange of electrons from being in direct contact with the soil that made me feel so good?

      Posted in blog, books, Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged anxiety, barefoot, earthing, mental health, nature, stress management
    • Exercise as therapy

      Posted at 4:06 am by jillprouty7, on October 11, 2016

      Over the past two years I’ve become somewhat of a fitness enthusiast. While exercise, combined with a healthy diet, has helped me lose over 100 pounds (see my profile at Weight Watchers), the greatest benefit has been an improved sense of well-being.

      img_20160910_180855While SSRI’s (often combined with psychotherapy) are often the first line of defense in the treatment of depression, exercise can also be effective for mild to moderate depression – especially in combination with the former. Exercise may even play a vital role in prevention the disease. For those with a personal or family history of depression, this ought to make you sit up and take notice.

      Experts have known for many years that exercise enhances the action of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals thought to produce the “runner’s high.” Another theory is that exercise stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which may directly improve mood.

      How often or intensely you need to exercise to reap the benefits is not clear, but for general health, most experts advise getting thirty minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Think brisk walking. (Remember to check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program!)

      img_20160915_113531280Personally, I prefer more vigorous exercise, especially on those days when life presents challenges. A good workout clears my head and I’m better able to relax afterward. When I’m having a tough day, I can’t wait to get to the gym or head out for a run.

      The benefits of exercise are endless. I think I’m just “better” as a whole. Better able to handle stress, better able to accomplish tasks, better and more attentive to my family.

      Check out this illustration of your body on exercise at Bright Side.

       

       

       

      Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged depression, exercise, fitness, mental health, weight loss, weight watchers, well-being
    • Recent Posts

      • Nature vs Nurture
      • More Time, Memories
      • Get Out of Your Head
      • Blueberrying – A Family Tradition
      • What Makes Me Happy
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