Valentine's Day

My wonderful husband and I went to dinner Saturday night at this really nice steak house called Savanah Chophouse in Laguna. Great steak, shrimp scampi and wine of course!!

My baby donkey and me:

Depression

In class last night, we explored some different models for understanding depression. Rather than trying to develop a unified conceptualization of melancholia that integrates the processes of oral incorporation and superego formation into a single depressive formulation, clinical investigators from three independent strands of psychoanalytic thought have recently differentiated two very different types of depression, based partly on Freud’s identification of these two fundamental mechanisms.

Thus, these psychoanalytic theorists differentiate between:

a depression focused primarily on interpersonal issues such as dependency, helplessness, and feelings of loss and abandonment (“the shadow of the object fell upon the ego” “the object loss was transformed into an ego loss”)-new loss or disappointment triggers resurgence of grief.

a depression derived from a harsh, punitive superego: a depression focused primarily on self-criticism, concerns about self-worth, and feelings of failure and guilt over aggression shown to loved ones - Anger turned inward (”the ego debases itself and rages against itself”)

The psychoanalytic theory states that depression stems all the way back to childhood and is largely due to the relationship between the child and their main caregiver.

Burn out

I have to say, guys, I'm getting a bit burnt out.
I work full time from 8am to 4pm and go to school full time (4 classes) - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights until 9pm.
Weekends and weeknights that I don't have school are spent studying, cleaning, errands, etc. ugggg
And now, I was informed that I have to attend a stoopid work meeting this Saturday - this is seriously cutting into my study time!!!
With finals quickly approaching, I need some suggestions on how to fix/reduce/conquer burn out!!

On a good note, I'm 1/3 finished with this semester, so it'll only hurt for a while longer. Then, I go into summer session I, and will probably only take 1 or two classes (a much needed break).
Practicum starts next fall, and I'm trying to decide which ones to list as my "preferred" sites. There is one location at the school, doing psychological testing on other students - mostly from the Southern Cali Art Institute (this one should be interesting). The other two I'm looking at deal with Adolescents and their families. I would be doing testing and some crisis intervention stuff, maybe some group therapy, etc. One of these sites works with Juvenile offenders; the other with foster kids. Both are conveniently located in Orange County.

So, we'll see what happens. Whew - I feel better already just venting a little! I really wish I could get more sleep though! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Out of the Closet

It's official! Initial suspicions of this love affair are now confirmed......

Don't send a lame Valentine's Day eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Bodonkey Tonight?

Don't forget about Smokkee's Bodonkey tonight!!
Register now for big fun and prizes!!!!

Bodog launches the Bodog Poker Blogger Tournament Series.
Every Tuesday @ 9:05ET February 5th thru June 3rd.
The top 18 finishers at the end of the series will compete in the Tournament of Champions and donkeypunch each other on Tuesday, June 10th for the Mucho Grande Prize.

1st place TOC finisher wins a 12k *WSOP Main Event Prize Package with Team Bodog!

2nd place TOC finisher will receive T$540
3rd place TOC finisher will receive T$379
4th place TOC finisher will receive T$270
5th place TOC finisher will receive T$109

All you have to do is register and compete in the Bodog Poker Blogger Tournament Series Challenge.



Unfortunately, I cannot participate tonight. I'll be in class learning about this:

• DSM-IV-TR Psychotic Disorder Criteria - More fun with Psychosis!
  
• Biological Model
  
• Stress-Diathesis/Vulnerability Model
  
• A brief look at communication theory and psychosis
  
• Interpersonal dynamic theory & psychosis
  
• “What color is your paranoia?”
  
• Use of dynamic, family, and symptom function information in case formulation
  
• Differential Diagnosis and Case Formulation practice
  

Help for headaches

I found this article on the APA website and thought I'd share.

I have migraines on a pretty regular basis, and the advice at the bottom of the article, along with regular massages, definitely helps!

Massage for migraines surprisingly effective
The Sacramento Bee, Calif. - February 03, 2008


Migraines hurt.
While symptoms vary from person to person, the pain associated with these headaches is always unpleasant. But there is hope for those who've given up on their own coping strategies, and it's literally within arm's reach.

Studies have shown that massage therapy can relieve or prevent pain connected with migraines, though it doesn't replace the need for medication and help from a doctor, experts say.
Migraines can be reduced in frequency by regular massage sessions, which decrease anxiety, heart rate and amounts of the stress hormone cortisol, according to the International Journal of Neuroscience.

Headache expert and neurologist Dr. Audrey L. Halpern of Rye, N.Y., says massage should be concentrated around the upper neck and shoulder regions.
The neck is important because it is connected to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis, a group of neurons centered in the brain stem that extend into the upper cervical spinal cord, i.e. the upper neck. Communication between these neurons and other neurons in the neck that mediate control of the neck, may be the underlying reason that migraines can cause neck pain and that neck pain can prompt migraines.

"The two most common acute migraine triggers are stress and neck muscle spasms," Halpern says, noting that full-body massage also can help by reducing stress and boosting levels of serotonin.

That's where AJ Sanchez comes in. A certified massage therapist at the Healing Touch Chiropractic in Sacramento, Sanchez suggests a preventive measure for migraine sufferers: Stay hydrated, and find a plan that works best for you.

"Massage methods should be done on an individual basis," Halpern says. "Some find it helpful, but (others) can have their migraines triggered by manipulation of the neck."
In addition, the many complications that go along with migraines -- for instance, food allergies -- should all be addressed, notes chiropractor Darrick Lawson, owner of the Healing Touch Chiropractic.

For those who aren't yet willing to spend $100-plus for a massage, Sanchez recommends some work to do at home. Feel a headache coming on? You may be able to prevent it from turning into a migraine by trying these simple massage techniques:

Hand reflexology: By pinching your fingers together, apply pressure to the web between your pointer finger and thumb and work the tenderness out for three to five minutes on each hand. This should take down the headache a few notches. Feel around this area for little curves under the skin, indicators of dehydration.

Foot reflexology: Sit down and put your bare foot on a tennis ball. Apply pressure while moving your foot around on the ball. Focus for 10 to 15 seconds on sore spots, then switch feet.

Light traction on the spine: Consult a professional to learn how to do this properly, then ask a family member or friend to try this method on you. Lying on your back, have them place a soft rolled terrycloth towel on the base of your skull before applying gentle traction from the C7 vertebra (the most protruding vertebra in the neck) up to the skull. Use 30-second traction intervals for five minutes total.
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.