What Does Anxiety Have to Do With Bones?

If you suffer from a substance use disorder and anxiety disorder, you may want to pay extra attention to your bone health. 

New research found that highly anxious women had higher risks for low bone density, breaks and fractures – and lower levels of vitamin D, which is associated with an increased fracture risk. 

Based on an analysis of nearly 200 postmenopausal Italian women, the findings build upon previous research that links anxiety to an increased risk for heart disease and gastrointestinal problems.

"Our findings are quite surprising because an association between anxiety levels and bone health was not reported before," said study author Dr. Antonino Catalano.

So how does anxiety impact bone health? Researchers noted the negative effects of stress hormones on bone status and the fact that anxious women are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking cigarettes or eating a poor diet, which weaken bones. 

The researchers also noted that an estimated 33 percent of women will suffer from an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lives and 7 percent of the world's population suffers from anxiety disorders.

More About Women and Anxiety Disorders 

Did you know that from the time a girl reaches puberty until about age 50, she is twice as likely to have an anxiety disorder than a man, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). To blame: brain chemistry, hormonal fluctuations, and in general how women cope with stress, say researchers. There’s also evidence that early life adversity, including childhood sexual or physical abuse, predisposes women to anxiety disorders later in life. 

Help for Addiction and Anxiety

Are you or someone you love self-medicating to alleviate the symptoms of an anxiety disorder? Rising Roads Recovery is dedicated to helping women who are struggling with alcohol use disorder and/or a co-occurring mental disorder. Our treatment center was created to inspire women to thrive in recovery. To learn more, call today: 866-746-1558.

Must-Have Health Screenings For Women

Not to put something else on your long list of recovery to-dos, but part of living a sober life is living a healthy life – and that means taking care to schedule a few exams that are essential to a woman’s health. Take a look at the list below and make it a short-term goal to get these screenings: 

• Cholesterol: If you're 20 or older, the National Institutes of Health recommends having your cholesterol measured at least once every five years. If you're at risk for heart disease or stroke, you may need to be tested more frequently. Ask your healthcare provider.
• Pap smears: The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force ( USPSTF) recommends screening for cervical cancer in women age 21 to 65 years with Pap smear every 3 years or, for women age 30 to 65 years who want to lengthen the screening interval, screening with a combination of cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing every 5 years. 
• Mammograms: There is much discussion about when and how often women should have a mammogram, which screens for breast cancer. The USPSTF recommends that women age 50 to 74 have a mammogram every two years. The American Cancer Society, however, suggests that women get annual screenings at age 45, and a biannual mammogram at age 55. If you have a family history of breast cancer, or other risk factors, talk to your healthcare professional.
• Bone density screening: Women should start getting screened for osteoporosis with a bone density test at age 65. Those with risk factors for osteoporosis should be screened earlier. Again, talk to your doctor about what’s right for you since certain abused substances, including alcohol and opioids, are study-proven to reduce bone density. 
• Blood glucose tests: Starting around age 45, women should get a blood glucose test every three years to check for diabetes or prediabetes. Alcohol abuse can lower the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which can up your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, however, so talk to your doctor about the best plan for you. 
• Dental checkup: Addiction can wreak havoc on your oral health so it’s a good habit to make good dental health part of your recovery. All adult women need twice-yearly dental checkups, which include cleaning and examining the teeth, along with X-rays to spot early signs of decay and any other problems.

Take Back Your Health

At Rising Roads, our staff is here to help women put their physical and mental health first. To learn more about our psychiatric consultations and addiction treatment services, call us today: 866-746-1558.

Unexpected Perks of Post-Rehab for Moms

Being a mom is hard and being a mom while trying to stay sober is even harder. Yet even your most challenging day parenting while sober is likely a hundred times better than parenting while abusing alcohol or drugs. For one, being sober means being present in your child’s life – so you can pat yourself on the back for that. What’ s more, what you’ve learned in rehab – lessons like self-care, anger management, time management, stress management, communication – will help you to be a better you and a better mom. 

Read on for some more unexpected perks of post-rehab for moms:

• More quality time. Whether in the form of a family dinner or potluck get-together, spending time with loved ones will take on a whole new importance once you’re sober. 
• New hobbies and interests. Now that you’re in recovery and no longer spend hours using or thinking about using, you’ll have extra time to reignite your passions and participate in activities you loved prior to your addiction. Or, you may choose to use your newly found time to test your hand at new interests and/or hobbies. 
• Increased energy. Especially if diet and exercise is a part of your overall recovery plan, you’ll likely notice that you have a lot more energy now – energy well spent playing and spending time with your kids.
• Greater appreciation. Many moms find greater meaning in everyday simple activities post-rehab – whether reading a bedtime story to your child or doing homework together. After all, another valuable rehab lesson is learning to live in the moment and find joy in your day to day.
• Setting a good example. By working to get sober you’ve already taken a giant step toward being a positive role model. And you can take this further by staying sober and using your own experience to teach your child about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.  

Rehab for Women
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction is the best gift you can give to your family. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our rehab services for women, call today: 866-746-1558. 

May is Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Month and it’s the perfect time to check in with yourself to make sure you’re taking good care of your own mental and emotional well-being. 

This year’s theme, Fitness #4Mind4Body, is designed to educate individuals how eating healthy foods, gut health, managing stress, exercising and getting enough sleep can go a long way in preventing the onset or worsening of mental health conditions.

As part of the month-long celebration, Mental Health America (MHA) is challenging individuals to make small changes to create big gains for their health and wellbeing. Here are a few to consider:

• Skip or limit processed, fried and sugary foods. A diet that regularly includes these kinds of foods can increase the risk of developing depression by as much as 60 percent, according to MHA. And, in fact, yet another study showed that 1/3 of participants with depression experienced full relief of their symptoms after improving their diet. 
• Fit in fitness. Just one hour of exercise a week is related to lower levels of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, according to MHA. Try 10 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity at a time, 15 times a week, to reach the recommended amount. 
• Add prebiotics to your diet. There’s a strong link between mental health problems and gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea. This is because anxiety and depression can cause changes in the gut microbiome. Prebiotics are great for the gut and include asparagus, bananas (especially if they aren’t quite ripe), garlic, onions, or jicama, tomatoes, apples, berries and mangos.
• Make shut-eye a priority. Sleep is fundamental to a healthy mind and body – and, in fact, sleep problems affect 50% to 80% of people under the care of a psychiatrist, compared with 10% to 18% of adults in the general U.S. population, according to MHA. A must-do sleep tip: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day (including weekends) to keep your body’s natural rhythms running on schedule.
• Control stress. Learning to manage stress can be a small change with big results on your physical and mental health. Try meditating. Just 10-20 minutes of quiet reflection may ease chronic stress and/or increase your tolerance to it. Listen to music, relax or just think of pleasant things (or nothing at all).

Take Back Your Mental Health

Perhaps the best way you can celebrate Mental Health Month is to seek help if you or someone you love is struggling with a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder. At Rising Roads, our staff is here to help you take your physical and mental health back. To learn more about our psychiatric consultations, call us today: 866-746-1558.