Category Archives: What is

What is Cannabis (Marijuana) Withdrawal?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Cannabis

Marijuana withdrawal.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Is there really such a thing as Marijuana Withdrawal?

Marijuana withdrawal is real and a lot more common than many people think. Among heavy marijuana smokers who enter residential treatment up to 95% experience very real symptoms of marijuana withdrawal. This set of symptoms is so significant that it was included in the new DSM-5 under the name Cannabis Withdrawal (F12.288.)

Cannabis covers a number of preparations made from the Cannabis Sativa plant including Marijuana, Hashish, and Hash Oil. There are hundreds of different chemicals in the cannabis plant, though current thinking is that the primary psychoactive chemical is THC (tetahydrocanibinoid.)

When we say withdrawal many people think of severe physical symptoms the way someone might experience withdrawal from Heroin. The symptoms of cannabis withdrawal while more subtle than that can be very problematic.

Back in the 1960s the thinking was that there were no withdrawal symptoms from marijuana. Some people still think that. One difference then to now is that the levels of THC are higher now. There are also a much larger number of people smoking marijuana on a regular daily basis.

SAMHSA published a treatment guide titled “Brief Counseling for Marijuana Dependence” based on studies of people who voluntarily requested treatment for a Marijuana Use Disorder. One of their conclusions was that people who experience this problem smoked marijuana 28 days a month or more. In other words, daily smoking is much more likely to result in a use disorder and withdrawal disorder than the occasional one-time user.

Cannabis Withdrawal, according to the DSM-5, is only diagnosed if you have a moderate to severe cannabis use disorder. This requires smoking most days for two months or more. Symptoms customarily start 24 to 72 hours after you last smoked. Symptom peak at one week and most are gone by two weeks. Sleep problems may continue for 30 days or more.

Cannabis withdrawal can also occur when people reduce their consumption of cannabis even when they do not completely stop. Family members or others living with the heavy weed smoker may recognize the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal before the smoker does.

In Cannabis Withdrawal seven signs or symptoms have been described as significant enough that they are common features of withdrawal from Marijuana and or other forms of Cannabis. Each of these symptoms might better be called a category of symptoms. For example, emotional issues list three possible emotions and physical symptoms list seven. To get diagnosed with Cannabis withdrawal you need to have one of the signs or symptoms from 3 or more of the categories.

The seven signs or symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawal.

1. Negative, Grouchy emotions during marijuana withdrawal.

Irritability, anger, or aggression are common during marijuana withdrawal.

2. High Anxiety during marijuana withdrawal.

During withdrawal from marijuana, people can become nervous, anxious, or fearful.  It is common for marijuana smokers to conclude that marijuana was helping them control anxiety and return to smoking before the withdrawal is completed.

3. Messed up sleep during marijuana withdrawal.

During the initial withdrawal from marijuana, you may experience difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or you may have bad disturbing dreams. This initial period of poor sleep might also be followed by a period of rebound sleep during which you will experience an increased need for sleep.

4. You may lose your appetite during marijuana withdrawal.

Early in the withdrawal from marijuana you may lose your appetite or even lose some weight. This period of poor appetite may be followed by a rebound of hunger.

5. Restlessness accompanies withdrawal from cannabis.

6. Depressed mood is common during marijuana withdrawals.

This is one of the more common symptoms of giving up almost all drugs. Regular users get close to their drug of choice. Most miss the drug and the related rituals when they stop. Many become depressed or grieve for the loss of the drug’s companionship.

7. Physical symptoms can accompany Marijuana withdrawal.

Symptoms commonly reported during marijuana withdrawal include abdominal pain, shakiness, tremors, sweating, fever, chills, and headache.

These signs or symptoms need to happen during the first 3 weeks of abstinence otherwise we begin to look for other possible causes. Many marijuana smokers are using other drugs which obscure the signs of cannabis withdrawal.

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs, AOD professionals, and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is an Alcohol Use Disorder?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Liquor

Alcoholic beverages.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

How is Alcohol Use Disorder different from Alcoholism?

Used to be a time when doctors treated medical issues, Therapists treated mental illness, Social services treated poverty-related issues, and – well – no one exactly wanted to do anything with drug addicts and alcoholics. Times are changing.

Turns out that no matter where you are and who you work with there is a good chance that people around you are being affected by chemicals, alcohol in particular, long before they reach the “alcoholic” or “Chemically Dependent” stage.

In Drug and Alcohol counseling we used to spend a lot of time debating what made you an alcoholic or addict. Turns out the lines are fuzzy. One estimate is that 90% of alcoholics have full-time jobs. Some people do not drink that often. Half the adult U. S. population did not drink in the last thirty days.

Even if you only drink once a year, say for New Year, if you have gotten into fights while drinking, gotten DUI’s several times, then your only drink once a year is not of much import. If when you drink, bad things happen, then you have an Alcohol Use Disorder. The DSM uses the expression “Problematic Pattern of Alcohol Use.”

What we discovered was that it was not so much what you drink or when you drink that matters when it comes to Alcohol Use Disorders, it is what happens when you drink that is significant.

The Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder.

The new DSM-5 has switched to the use of the term “Alcohol Use Disorder” to indicate someone whose use of alcohol is causing them problems whether they are “Alcoholic” or not and lists 11 criteria for Alcohol Use being a problem. Here is my plain language version of those Criteria.

  1. Once you start drinking you drink more than you planned on and/ or keep drinking longer than planned.
  2. You keep trying to cut down on your drinking. In other Alcoholism texts, this is also described as efforts to control your drinking or to quit drinking. See, people do not try to cut down, control, or quit drinking unless it is a problem.
  3. Drinking eats up a lot of your time.
  4. You have cravings for alcohol when you are not drinking.
  5. Drinking gets in the way of work, school, home life, or recreation. A real Alcoholic cuts out this other stuff so they can concentrate on their drinking.
  6. You know that when you drink bad stuff happens but you keep drinking anyway.
  7. You start cutting out other parts of your life to spend more time drinking.
  8. You try to get away with drinking even when you know it makes the situation dangerous.
  9. You keep drinking even though you now realize it is causing you problems.
  10. Your body starts building up tolerance. (See post “What is Tolerance” in the “What is” section.)
  11. You experience “withdrawal” when you stop drinking and the blood alcohol level starts dropping. (See post “What is Withdrawal” in the “What is” section.)

These problems with Alcohol can come in mild, moderate or severe. Mild Alcohol Use Disorder would have 2-3 of these symptoms, Moderate has 4-5 symptoms and severe has 6 or more.

If you or someone you know is exhibiting these symptoms think about treatment and or self-help groups. The sooner Alcohol Use Disorder gets treated the better the life prognosis. While sooner is better it is never too late to get treatment for an alcohol use disorder as long as you are alive.

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs, AOD professionals, and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is a Specific Phobia?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

What is

What is a Specific Phobia?
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

There are lots of things you might be afraid of.

Most Specific Phobias are easy to recognize when you see them. If you have one of these fears you may even wonder how this could get called a mental illness. The key, as far as diagnosing them goes, is that people with a specific phobia are far more afraid of the thing, object, or situation than the real danger might objectively warrant. But if you experience this particular fear there is no such thing as being objective about it.

About twenty-eight to thirty million Americans are believed to suffer from a specific phobia. This number may be low as some people can arrange their life to avoid ever having to experience the thing that scares them. If your job never requires flying that phobia may not come up.

Adults can tell you that this or that scares them. Children usually exhibit their fear through their behavior. The child may cry, scream, have a tantrum, freeze up, or be clingy. For all age groups we expect this very specific fear or phobia to have lasted for a while, customarily six months or more. This particular “thing” almost always triggers the same fear.

The list of things that get diagnosed using the DSM is lengthy and even this list is likely not totally inclusive. See Coding below for the new improved ICD-10 list.

Coding Specific Phobia.

Specific phobia used to all be coded in the DSM-4 as 300.29 now in the DSM-5 with the ICD-10 numbers the “objects” which could be things, animals, or situations, all get classified. Here is the list

F40.218 Animals as in snakes, mice, etc.

F40.228 Nature, storms, water, heights, etc.

F40.230 Medical, blood

F40.231 Medical, injections

F40.232 Medical, other procedures

F40.233 Injuries

F40.248 Situations, enclosed spaces, elevators, planes, etc.

F40.298 Other stuff, choking, vomiting, in children – cartoon characters or loud noises

Yes, it is possible for someone to have more than one specific phobia. If you do, the profession should list all the codes and “objects” that cause you significant anxiety. In clinician jargon, this is “stacking up” or listing multiple diagnoses. Specific phobia also often coexists with other disorders such as Depression, Anxiety, and OCD. There are rules in the DSM to tell clinicians, which disorder to diagnose, when to diagnose several disorders, and when to only diagnose one.

Seventy-five percent of those with Specific Phobia are afraid of more than one thing. The majority of all those with Specific Phobia have 3 or more fears that merit diagnoses. Typically these fears get stronger the closer you get to the thing that triggers your phobia. Just thinking about it can be a trigger. For example, people who need to fly but have a specific phobia of flying will begin to get anxious in the days before the flight every time they think about having to fly.

The treatment of choice for Specific phobias is systematic desensitization.

For some with specific phobia, the symptoms can be every bit as severe as those who experience panic attacks or panic disorder. See the “What is” posts on both of these for more on these topics.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5, some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

com.

What is Drug Withdrawal?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Drugs.

Drugs.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

You’re more likely to have a drug withdrawal than you might think.

When people think of drug withdrawal the picture they see is the one of classic heroin withdrawal. Someone coming off heroin or other opiates does some “kicking” both drug wise and legs-wise. They also have diarrhea and “goosebumps.” Because opiates are pain relievers during withdrawals people can experience high levels of pain.

That dramatic type of withdrawal is not the only kind you might have. Each drug you might take can have some effects when the level in your body, principally in your bloodstream, begins to drop.

Drug Withdrawal Defined.

Drug withdrawal is an identifiable illness or syndrome that happens when someone stops taking a drug or reduces the amount they are using significantly. The symptoms begin when the level of a drug in the blood drops. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and each drug has its own pattern of withdrawal symptoms. An alternative name for withdrawal is Abstinence Syndrome.

In the early stages of drug use, withdrawal symptoms may be minimal and go unnoticed. Once the body has adjusted to having that drug present and made adaptations the symptoms become more pronounced. Symptoms may not be entirely physical. For some drugs the primary withdrawal symptoms are psychological.

Withdrawal symptoms make it harder to stop using drugs.

The more severe the withdrawal symptoms the more likely the user is to pick that drug back up to reduce those symptoms. A withdrawal symptom of drugs taken to reduce anxiety, prescribed or self-medicated ones, is an increase in anxiety. People who smoke marijuana to reduce anxiety report that the anxiety gets really bad after they discontinue smoking it. This results in a return to marijuana use.

Getting rid of withdrawal symptoms is a strong motivator to resume drug use again.

The DSM-5 lists withdrawal effects for eight of the eleven classes of substances.

I find it interesting that some drugs such as Inhalants and Hallucinogens have no withdrawal symptoms specified. We also have only one diagnosis and F code for the group of drugs, Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Drugs. Withdrawal from these drugs can be different with different drugs. Stimulant Withdrawal is separated and has one code for Cocaine and another for Amphetamines and other stimulants. These DSM-5 codes are a rough sketch. For the full details consult the DSM-5 text. Also, note that there are well-defined withdrawal criteria for Cannabis (Marijuana) and Caffeine.

Alcohol Withdrawal (F10.239 or F10.232)

Caffeine Withdrawal (F15.93)

Cannabis (Marijuana) Withdrawal (F12.288)

Opioid Withdrawal (F11.23)

Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic Withdrawal (F13.239, F13.232)

Stimulant Withdrawal

Amphetamine or other stimulant (F15.23)

Cocaine Withdrawal (F14.23)

Tobacco Withdrawal (F17.203)

Other (or Unknown) Substance Withdrawal (F19.239)

For more on drugs and recovery see:

Drug Use, Abuse, and Addiction      Recovery

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs, AOD professionals and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Bulimia Nervosa? (Was 307.51 now F50.2)

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

What is

What is Bulimia Nervosa? (Was 307.51 now F50.2)
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

When eating and avoiding weight gain collide.

Bulimia Nervosa, Bulimia for short, is one of the feeding and eating disorders and is diagnosed about 4 times more often than Anorexia Nervosa according to the DSM-5. For the full description consult the DSM-5, what follows is my simple language version of this disorder and my experiences in seeing clients with these issues.

Women are ten times as likely to receive this diagnosis as men. Bulimia has three defining characteristics, “pigging out” and extreme measures to make up for that episode of excessive calorie intake as well as self-esteem or self-worth that is excessively based on weight and body type. These three characteristics make Bulimia sort of like Anorexia Nervosa on the one hand and Binge Eating Disorder on the other.

Pigging out is more than just liking to eat.

What makes the pigging-out or “binge eating” different in this disorder is the feeling of loss of control. In Bulimia, the client will eat far more than would be normal and do this in a relatively short time. The official definition sets this time limit more or less at 2 hours.

So binge eating is not snacking all day or having a big appetite. It is a loss of control over how much they eat and once they start the eating run it goes on until something interrupts the binge. Some have described these loss-of-control episodes as “spacing out” or dissociating. What they binge on can be very individual and can vary from episode to episode.

This loss of control is very similar to what we see in Substance Use Disorders. Turns out that about 30 % of those with Bulimia also develop a substance use disorder. Mostly this will be alcohol which is readily and legally available and can temporarily dissolve the guilt that comes from overeating. The other common drug of choice among many people with Bulimia is a stimulant use disorder. Start off on the “Jenny-Crank” diet to lose weight and you too may develop a Stimulant Use Disorder.

Once the guilt sets in you try to undo the binge.

A characteristic of Bulimia is the use of unhealthy ways of offsetting the excess calories consumed on the binge.  Those with Bulimia may force themselves to vomit to get rid of the over-full feeling and to lose weight. They also can try laxatives, water pills (diuretics), and extreme episodes of fasting. Those fasts by the way often end with another binge.

In Bulimia, self-worth is based on weight.

All this pigging-out style overeating and then trying to make up by extreme measures is hard on the self-esteem and self-confidence. Those with Bulimia base their self-esteem and self-worth on their weight and or body. So when they put on weight, they feel bad about themselves.

Bulimia is not something that just happens during Thanksgiving week.

To be defined as Bulimia we expect this person’s dance with overeating to go on for say three months or more and they will probably be binging at least once per week. In Bulimia the revolving pattern is binge, feel bad about yourself, and then do the extreme measures to keep the weight off. The recurring story the person with Bulimia tells themselves is that if they were just thinner they would feel better about themselves and others would like them more. Unfortunately, the only way to discharge the anxiety around food is with another binge and purge.

Which eating disorder is which?

Bulimia is separated from Anorexia mostly by the person’s body weight. In Anorexia they weigh significantly less than they should and are trying to stay that way or lose even more. In Bulimia, the person weighs about normal or even a little beyond but they are defiantly not obese. In Bulimia, the main difference is that they binge and then feel they have to do extreme measures to compensate. In Binge Eating Disorder there is still the binging and the feeling bad but no compensating behaviors.

For more on this and related topics see – Feeding and Eating Disorders.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5, some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Caffeine Withdrawal?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

What is

What is caffeine withdrawal?
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

You can get sick when you stop caffeine.

There are five distinct symptoms that people often develop when they suddenly stop taking in caffeine, and yes those symptoms can get severe enough that the person reports they are sick. Caffeine withdrawal is extremely common. About 70% of those who try to permanently stop consuming caffeine experiencing this illness.

Caffeine is used more commonly than any other psychoactive drug. By psychoactive we are talking about a drug that changes the way you think, feel, and behave. Increasingly counselors in the substance use disorder field are looking at commonly used drugs like tobacco and caffeine and their impact on the client’s recovery from alcohol and other drugs.

Absolutely your body can get used to having caffeine in your system and there are physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop using caffeine. This problem is severe enough that in the DSM-5 it is a specific diagnosis Caffeine Withdrawal (F15.93.)

Caffeine use is more common than one might think. It is not just adults who are using caffeine and experiencing caffeine withdrawal. The DSM-5 reports that 85% of U. S. adults and CHILDREN use caffeine daily.

Drug and alcohol texts (Maisto, Galizio & Connors, 2015) report that worldwide 90% of the population uses caffeine. Aside from adults, the group receiving the highest daily dose are young preschool children. Caffeine is commonly found in sodas and energy drinks, both favored beverages among the very young. One has to wonder how this universal use of caffeine is affecting children’s thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Caffeine withdrawal sneaks up on you.

Many people are surprised when they experience caffeine withdrawal. The most likely times to have this disorder are when there is a sudden change in your routine. Weekends, vacation times, hospitalizations, travel, all are potential caffeine withdrawal experiences.

Caffeine withdrawal starts twelve to twenty-four hours after your last dose. The worst of the symptoms peak one or two days after you stop taking in the caffeine. Headaches from caffeine withdrawal have been reported up to three weeks after the last dose.

You do not have to be a daily or heavy caffeine consumer to experience caffeine withdrawal, though the more caffeine you take in each day the more likely you are to experience caffeine withdrawal. More important than your daily intake in the equation is how regularly you use caffeine and the suddenness of your stopping.

People experiencing caffeine withdrawal are likely to misattribute their symptoms and think it is the flu or another illness. The result is those withdrawing from caffeine use a lot more pain relievers than normal.

How do you know you have caffeine withdrawal?

To receive this diagnosis you need to have 60% or three of five of the possible symptoms, though each person may have a different group of symptoms. The hard part sometimes is to be sure all of these symptoms are the result of caffeine withdrawal and not some other issue.

One way to be sure your problem is caffeine withdrawal is to take in some more caffeine. That should work in an hour or less.

What are the five symptoms of caffeine withdrawal?

  1. Headaches
  2. Tired, fatigue, or drowsiness.
  3. Bad mood, unhappy, depressed, irritable. As a side note, people who consume a lot of caffeine can become very anxious.
  4. Concentration or attention issues.
  5. Is this a virus? Caffeine withdrawal can include muscle pain, nausea, and even vomiting that are characteristic of the flu.

As with all the other things that make it into the DSM, Caffeine intoxication only gets diagnosed if it interferes with your work, school, relationship with family and friends, causes you excessive discomfort, or makes you give up things you used to like to do. You also should not blame it on not having your coffee if this is better explained by another mental illness or the effects of another drug.

Terms and their meaning can differ with the profession using them. The literature from the Rehab or AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) field may be very different from that in the mental health field. There is still a large gap between recovery programs, AOD professionals and the terms and descriptions used in the DSM.

FYI, these “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

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What is Anorexia Nervosa (307.1, F50.01 or F50.02)

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

What is

What is Anorexia Nervosa (307.1, F50.01 or F50.02)
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Anorexia is an eating disorder that is about more than food.

Anorexia Nervosa, Anorexia for short, is one of the Feeding and Eating Disorders that are officially recognized as a mental disorder in the DSM-5. Anorexia has recognized “subtypes.” Like that of many other mental health disorders, these subtypes may over time change enough that a person might get several different diagnoses during their life.

There have been several prominent people who have suffered from Anorexia and death is a possible outcome of this disease. This disorder affects women about ten times as often as it does men. Researchers and writers have compared this disorder to OCD and addiction. Similar pathways in the brain may be affected in all these conditions. More information on the alteration of the brain’s functioning in these disorders is likely to become available in the future.

The big three Anorexia symptoms.

There are three significant symptoms that professionals look for in diagnosing Anorexia. These include how the person with Anorexia sees their body, similar to the distortions we see in Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Also on the symptoms list is how the client feels about their body weight and lastly comes the result of this distorted body image and their altered feelings about body weight. This post as other posts on counselorssoapbox.com is my simplified, common language description. For the full text check out the DSM-5 by the APA.

People with Anorexia think they are fat even when the mirror disagrees.

It is common for those with Anorexia to report they dislike themselves because they are “fat” or overweight. They will persist in believing they are fat even when told by their doctor or other professional that their body weight falls below the minimum needed for health.

When asked about their weight they will often report that they need to lose a few pounds even when they are experiencing medical issues from malnutrition.

Some may only report that one part of their body is too large or misshapen. The solution to this oversized body part in their mind is extreme weight loss.

In Anorexia weight gain is more feared than death.

Someone who has Anorexia will demonstrate an extreme fear of gaining weight. They continue to assert that if they eat they will become “fat” and will go to extreme lengths to avoid weight gain.

A dislike of the self because of this distorted view of their body is common. Even when they know that this self-view is unrealistic they can’t seem to shake the belief that if they could just lose some more weight than they would be acceptable,

Using more calories than you take in is the continual goal.

Someone with Anorexia will attempt to reduce the calories taken in each day below the amount they need to maintain a normal weight. This is done not simply to prevent weight gain but to result in a loss of weight. This is nothing like typical dieting where the goal is to maintain a healthy weight. The goal here, presumably, is to continue to lose weight even when they are already thinner than a healthy weight.

Because of the two criteria above the person with Anorexia continues to think of themselves as fat and to fear any weight gain no matter how low the body weight may go.

In children or young adults, this may manifest more as a failure to grow and put on weight during the growing years rather than a measurable loss of weight.

There are two recognized types of Anorexia, although this may change over time.

Restricting type Anorexia.

In this condition, the person avoids taking in calories as much as possible. They may avoid eating around others, say they are full or not feeling well, or otherwise try to avoid even a minimal amount of calories.

Binge eating and purging type Anorexia.

In this subtype of Anorexia Nervosa, the person with Anorexia may give in to the look or taste of food and eat. When they do this it is like the alcoholic who just relapsed. Any food in sight is fair game. But as soon as they have eaten, they are overcome with an intense fear of weight gain and guilt. At this point, they will use extraordinary efforts to get rid of the unwanted calories.

These compensatory efforts may include purging, self-induced vomiting, or the use of laxatives to produce intense diarrhea. Some will resort to strenuous exercise in an effort to atone for the eating binge.

The primary distinction between Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa is that the person with Bulimia looks like they have a normal body weight. They may even be a few pounds over and they eat well, just they use the compensatory methods to avoid weight gain.  Those purging binges can damage their health. In Anorexia the risk is that the damage to health may be more rapid and may result in death. More on Bulimia Nervosa in an upcoming What is. post

Risk factors for developing Anorexia include having currently or in the past had an Anxiety disorder, as well as cultures, occupations, or activities that emphasize being thin.

FYI these recent “What is” posts are based on the new DSM-5, some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. The descriptions are largely my own plain language versions.

For more on this and related topics see – Feeding and Eating Disorders.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What are Alcohol-Related Disorders?

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By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Licensed Counselor.

Liquor

Alcoholic beverages.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com

Alcoholism is not the only problem alcohol causes.

Most of the time when people think of the problems that could be caused by alcohol they think of the “chronic” alcoholic. A lot of what people “know” about alcohol-related issues turns out to be untrue.

Most people who have the problem we used to call Alcoholism, and are now calling a moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, have full-time jobs. About 90% of those who are dependent on alcohol physically or mentally work full-time. They may have trouble keeping those jobs but they can go on getting and changing jobs for a long time.

Someone does not have to be an alcoholic or even have an Alcohol Use Disorder to experience an alcohol-related problem. If a surgeon shows up drunk to do your heart surgery, do you really care if this is the only time it happened? A pilot flying drunk even once is one time too many.

Because alcohol disinhibits and impairs coordination people do things when drunk they might not do when sober. They also fail to do things they should, like stop for an oncoming car. You will find a number of other posts at counselorssoapbox.com on the problems drugs, alcohol, and mental illness cause. The “What is.” This series of posts includes a number of posts on this topic and more will be published soon. If you want to see those other posts the best way is to subscribe or follow counselorssoapbox.com

Here is the short list of 5 problems that together make up the Alcohol-Related Disorders. This is based on the new DSM-5 but it parallels other classification systems and ways of thinking about Alcohol-Related problems.

Alcohol Use Disorder (F10.10 or 10.20.)

This used to get divided into Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence, then we started looking at the difference between physical dependence, psychological dependence, alcoholism, and Chemical Dependency and the lines got blurry depending on who was describing the problem. Now we think if when you drink you have a problem, you have an alcohol use disorder, which can come in mild, moderate, or severe. More on Alcohol Use Disorder in an upcoming post.

Alcohol Intoxication (F10.129, 10.229, or 10.929.)

This is not funny the way some entertainers portray it. When drunk, people can get distorted thinking. Being intoxicated increases the risk you will do something you would not do sober. Drunk people hurt themselves and others, both directly on purpose and in unintended ways. You only need to drive drunk once if you kill someone, and you have destroyed their life and yours. This, when you drink it is a problem, qualifies as an Alcohol Use Disorder.

It is also possible to drink enough to die if you run that blood alcohol level up high enough and fast enough.

Alcohol Withdrawal (F10.239 or F10.232.)

A well-kept secret is that you can die detoxing off alcohol, especially in combination with other drugs in your bloodstream. The experience of a hangover is so common that you will find lots of online hangover remedies. (Hint here, only not drinking and lots of time after drinking have been proven to treat hangovers.)

Alcohol withdrawal gets treated medically sometimes and in detox facilities a lot. Facilities that treat alcohol withdrawal are the busiest substance abuse treatment facilities there are.

Other Alcohol-Induced Disorders (lots of codes depending on what the alcohol induces.)

Sometimes things that look like a mental illness are caused by prolonged drinking. This can be a lifetime of prolonged drinking or just a single run. Contrary to popular opinion it is not necessary to make people sober up and get thirty days or any other period of time sober before assessing or treating them for other problems. It just takes a lot more effort and skill on the staff’s part.

Unspecified Alcohol-Related Disorder F10.99.)

This gets used when a clinician thinks that Alcohol may be the cause of or may have contributed to your problem but you do not have symptoms that match any of the other diagnoses close enough to get that other label. Yes, I know that these labels can be somewhat subjective. Despite the best efforts to create very precise categories for issues, there are some problems that just do not fit the existing categories. Still, Professionals need some sort of label for what they are treating, and not every client fits these labels exactly.

Those are the five Alcohol-Related disorders. More on this and related topics coming up in the “What is” series of counselorssoapbox.com blog posts.

FYI. These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5; some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel

What is Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia.)

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By David Joel Miller.

What is

What is Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia.)
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia.) Was 300.23 now F40.10.

Social Anxiety Disorder sometimes called Social Phobia is far more common and debilitating here in the United States than is generally recognized. The most recent estimates are that in excess of seven percent or over 22 million Americans have Social Anxiety Disorder. The U.S rate runs 3 to 6 times the rate reported in other countries.

Fully three-fourths of those who will revive this diagnosis first have symptoms during childhood from the fourth to the tenth grade. This results in significantly lower graduation rates by those with Social Anxiety Disorder. Lifetime someone with Social Anxiety Disorder is more likely to be lower-income and socioeconomic status.

The rates of Social Anxiety Disorder are highest among those who are single, unmarried, or divorced. The disorder may be severe when young and single, become milder when the person is married, and reemerge when they are divorced. The typical person with this disorder waits from fifteen to twenty years before seeking treatment.

The symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder.

People with Social Anxiety Disorder become extremely, excessively, anxious when they will be in social situations where they may be judged or evaluated by others. While you are only required to be anxious in one social situation to be diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder most people with this condition are anxious in many situations.

Someone with Social Anxiety Disorder will report that they can’t relax around others. They may hide achievements that would get them noticed, avoid attention, avoid eating in front of others, and when in social situations they will listen instead of speak.

Other ways this disorder will manifest include, avoid confrontations, preferring to work alone, being afraid to ask questions, avoiding social gatherings, parties, etc. They will underachieve to avoid attention, may drop out of school, or not apply for a job or promotion.

Performance Anxiety is a special case of Social Anxiety Disorder.

People who are in the public eye are at extra risk for Social Anxiety Disorder. Many people are afraid of public speaking, this will not count towards Social Anxiety Disorder if you do not normally need to speak in public. But if your job requires public speaking, or being on stage and when you do this you become extremely anxious then that would be considered a case of Social Anxiety Disorder.

Children with Social Anxiety Disorder.

For children, we do not count situations in which they become anxious in front of adults. Children who develop the disorder also need to be excessively anxious in front of their peers.

Children may try to avoid social anxiety by crying excessively, having tantrums, being clingy, or going mute.

With Social Anxiety Disorder you can run or suffer.

Most people with Social Anxiety Disorder will go to great lengths to avoid social interactions. Some attempt to stay at home with parents well into adulthood convinced that they simply can’t venture out around strangers. They may settle for living in poverty, staying in abusive or dysfunctional relationships rather than attempt to move outside their residence.

Social Anxiety Disorder is neither brief nor temporary.

When we talk about Social Anxiety Disorder we are expecting a problem that is ongoing not a brief temporary fear of a social situation. Typically this has lasted for six months or more. Though clinicians are encouraged to use some judgment here. If you come in asking for help after only five months and three weeks you should get the help despite it being less than six months. In this disorder, the fear also should be far more severe than the situation would merit. If the danger is real and severe, this is not Social Anxiety Disorder.

Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder.

Treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder can be very effective if the client can get to the treatment. One promising development has been the use of distance counseling over the internet for those too anxious to travel to the counselor’s office. Treatment has been effective both in reducing the Anxiety symptoms and in shortening the duration of the disorder.

There are other things that kind of look like Social Anxiety Disorder.

Professionals need to look at a bunch of other things and make sure that they are not sticking this diagnosis on someone when another diagnosis would fit better. The DSM-5 lists fifteen things that need to be ruled out before deciding on Social Anxiety Disorder. At the top of that list? Social Anxiety Disorder needs to be more severe and cause way more problems than just normal shyness.

As with the other things we are calling a mental illness, Social Anxiety Disorder needs to interfere with your ability to work or go to school, your relationships, your enjoyable activities or cause you personal distress. Otherwise, you may have the issues but you will not get the diagnosis if this is a preference, not a problem. If the only time this happens is when under the influence of drugs or medicines or because of some other physical or medical problem this fear needs to be more than your situation would warrant. These other issue needs treating first, then if you still have symptoms you could get the Social Anxiety diagnosis.

FYI These “What is” sometimes “What are” posts are my efforts to explain terms commonly used in Mental Health, Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Psychology, Life Coaching, and related disciplines in a plain language way. Many are based on the new DSM-5, some of the older posts were based on the DSM-IV-TR, both published by the APA. For the more technical versions please consult the DSM or other appropriate references.

Staying connected with David Joel Miller

Seven David Joel Miller Books are available now!

My newest book is now available. It was my opportunity to try on a new genre. I’ve been working on this book for several years, but now seem like the right time to publish it.

Story Bureau.

Story Bureau is a thrilling Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic adventure in the Surviving the Apocalypse series.

Baldwin struggles to survive life in a post-apocalyptic world where the government controls everything.

As society collapses and his family gets plunged into poverty, Baldwin takes a job in the capital city, working for a government agency called the Story Bureau. He discovers the Story Bureau is not a benign news outlet but a sinister government plot to manipulate society.

Bumps on the Road of Life. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, low motivation, or addiction, you can recover. Bumps on the Road of Life is the story of how people get off track and how to get your life out of the ditch.

Dark Family Secrets: Doris wants to get her life back, but small-town prejudice could shatter her dreams.

Casino Robbery Arthur Mitchell escapes the trauma of watching his girlfriend die. But the killers know he’s a witness and want him dead.

Planned Accidents  The second Arthur Mitchell and Plutus mystery.

Letters from the Dead: The third in the Arthur Mitchell mystery series.

What would you do if you found a letter to a detective describing a crime and you knew the writer and detective were dead, and you could be next?

Sasquatch. Three things about us, you should know. One, we have seen the past. Two, we’re trapped there. Three, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to our own time.

For these and my upcoming books; please visit my Author Page – David Joel Miller

Want the latest blog posts as they publish? Subscribe to this blog.

For videos, see: Counselorssoapbox YouTube Video Channel