Diagnosing Grief as a Mental Illness

Most people at some point in their lives are going to deal with various forms of grief and bereavement. Family members, friends, pets, and other tragic events are naturally going to occur, and bereavement is a normal process that follows. The American Psychiatric Association recently made a change on the diagnosis of grief and how it relates to mental illness.

Psychiatry has historically shied away from classifying grief a mental disorder. Now this change could give psychiatrists such as Joseph Franzetti, MD, earlier access to grieving patients.

About Joseph Franzetti, MD

Joseph Franzetti has over 25 years of experience in psychiatry and has helped thousands of patients improve their quality of life.  He provides psychiatric assessment, treatment and rehabilitation care to Arizonans in the greater phoenix area. As a specialized psychiatrist, Joseph Franzetti works to prevent, eliminate and reduce any symptoms related to mental illness or disorder.

Controlling Anger

Joseph Franzetti,MD, is a psychiatrist who specializes in different areas of psychology. One of his specialties is helping people work on anger management skills. As human beings anger is a normal emotion to feel on occasion. We all become upset with other peoples behavior towards us, but some people are unable to let the emotion of anger stop at just a feeling. Some people express their anger as rage or lash out, allowing the emotion to cause physical or emotional harm on the people around them. If you or someone you know has anger management issues Joseph Franzetti, MD, is available to teach anger management skills in order to help control the urge to take the emotion of anger to an unhealthy level. Here are some tips to help start controlling your anger management problem.

Breathe

It is helpful when a spurt of anger takes over your mind to stop, relax and breathe. When you become angry with someone or about a situation take some deep breathes from your diaphragm. While taking these deep breaths it may help to imagine a relaxing place or think of a calming word. It is also highly recommended that people prone to anxiety and anger practice yoga in their free time. Yoga is a great way to learn to breathe, relax and release the stress that may be causing the issues of your anger.

Change the Way You Think

People who experience anger management issues often use profanity to describe their inner thoughts. It is helpful to start changing the words you use to express your emotions. Many people who experience extreme anger often do not think rationally and they over react to every situation that does not go according to plan. When negative situation occur it is helpful to change the words you use to describe them. Instead of cursing, tell yourself that the situation is frustrating, but it is not the end of the world. Use the breathing technique and change your outlook on situations. Allowing negative situations to enrage you will not fix the situation; it will only stress you out more and make the situation worse.

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What Causes Dementia

Dr. Joseph Franzetti, practices Correctional Medicine and Psychiatry. One of his specialties is geriatrics, which is caring for the elder with mental disorders. Dr. Joseph Franzetti is committed to his patients and is also committed to providing people with education about his specialties. Dementia is a mental disorder that people begin to see signs of later in life. Does someone you know seem to be showing signs of dementia? Are you wondering what may have caused dementia to strike a loved one? Well here is some helpful information about the geriatric condition that affects many people in the elder community.

What Causes Dementia?

There are several situations that could cause dementia:

• Diseases that cause degeneration or loss of nerve cells in the brain such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's.
• Diseases that affect blood vessels, such as stroke, which can cause a disorder known as multi-infarct dementia.
• Toxic reactions, like excessive alcohol or drug use.
• Nutritional deficiencies, like vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.
• Infections that affect the brain and spinal cord, such as AIDS dementia complex and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
• Certain types of hydrocephalus, an accumulation of fluid in the brain that can result from developmental abnormalities, infections, injury, or brain tumors.
• Head injury -- either a single severe head injury or chronic smaller injuries that often occur from boxing.
• Illnesses other than in the brain, such as kidney, liver, and lung diseases, can all lead to dementia.

Alzheimer's disease causes 50% to 60% of all dementias. But researchers have found that two nervous diseases, which were originally incorrectly diagnosed as Alzheimer's, are emerging as major causes of dementia: Lewy body disease and Pick's disease.

To read the full article click here: Dementia

Signs of Depression

JosephFranzetti specializes in many different areas of psychology. One form of the field he helps patients with is depression. People who are depressed often feel helpless. Many people tend to go through the motions of life, but have issues with sleeping, eating, concentration, and other daily activities. Some people may not even realize depression is the reason for their onset of emotions, pain and lack of sleep. The area of depression Joseph Franzetti helps with his for the elder community (geriatric), and many may suffer depression as they get older because of losing loved ones or due to the fact that they are drawing closer to the end of life. Here are some symptoms Joseph Franzetti has provided from the National Institute of Mental Health. 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of depression may include the following:

•   Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions

•   Fatigue and decreased energy

•   Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness

•   Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism

•   Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping

•   Irritability, restlessness

•   Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex

•   Overeating or appetite loss

•   Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

•   Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings

 Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

When it is properly diagnosed and treated, more than eighty percent of those suffering from depression recover and return to their normal lives. Please contact Joseph Franzetti, MD, at (602) 285-5550 for more information or an appointment to discuss your heath needs.

What Is Geriatric Psychology?

Joseph Franzetti, MD practices Correctional Medicine and Psychiatry. One of his specialties is geriatrics, which is caring for the elder with mental disorders. Joseph Franzetti is committed to his patients and is also committed to providing people with education about his specialties. Maybe you are wondering what falls into the category of geriatric psychiatry, or maybe you think an elder adult in your life may need to seek treatment. Here is some information about what geriatric psychiatry is for those of you seeking information.

WHAT IS A GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRIST?

A geriatric psychiatrist is a medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders that may occur in older adults. These disorders include, but are not limited to, dementia, depression, anxiety, and late-life schizophrenia.

Older adults have special physical, emotional, and social needs. Understanding this, the geriatric psychiatrist takes a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment, including listening and responding to the concerns of the older adult, helping families, and when necessary, working with other health care professionals to develop effective approaches to treatment. Co-existing medical illnesses, medications, family issues, social concerns, and environmental issues are integrated into a comprehensive program of care.

WHO SEES A GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRIST?

Older adults with a variety of concerns see a geriatric psychiatrist. These concerns include difficulty coping with change, stress, death, depression, memory problems, family history of dementia, anxiety, or agitation associated with dementia or poor sleep. Sometimes emotional problems occur for the first time in older adults who suffer with chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, or other medical disorders. The geriatric psychiatrist offers valuable help to older adults who are coping with changes in health and function.

Because the geriatric psychiatrist also understands the family’s role in caring for the patient, the doctor educates the family about the nature of the illness and how they can best cope, and may include referral to other appropriate services.

To read more click here: The Role of the Geriatric Psychiatrist