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.

Take a Cue from This Mental Health Day Email

Madalyn Parker, a web developer at Olark Live Chat, e-mailed work to tell her coworkers, “I’m taking today and tomorrow to focus on my mental health. Hopefully I’ll be back next week refreshed and back to 100%.”

CEO Ben Congleton responded: “I just wanted to personally thank you for sending e-mails like this. Every time you do, I use it as a reminder of the importance of using sick days for mental health – I can’t believe this is not standard practice at all organizations. You are an example to us all, and help cut through the stigma so we can bring our whole selves to work.”

Parker’s tweet, which showed this refreshing e-mail exchange, has since been liked by more than 40,000 people and retweeted close to 15,000 times, according to People.com. 

Perhaps, we should all take a cue from Madalyn and mind our mental health – and this is especially important if you’re in recovery from a co-occurring addiction and mental illness. In fact, those with a substance use disorder are twice as likely as the general population to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders, notes the National Institute on Drug Abuse. And many of these co-occurring disorders predate the start of drug or alcohol use.

3 Smart Habits for Mental Health

Start your morning right. What you do first thing in the a.m. can help set your mood for the rest of the day. So try to meditate, read a motivational quote, write down your daily goals, go for a long walk, listen to music, or whatever helps you become more mindful of your mental health. 

Go outside and exercise. Spending time in nature – especially when that time is spent exercising – can ease anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. What’s more, the color green (found on trees, grass, plants) has been study-proven to make exercise easier. 

Count your blessings. Gratitude is an important part of addiction recovery – I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “have an attitude of gratitude” – and it’s also essential for staying optimistic. And the best part, it literally takes one second. Try it: Take a moment each day to feel thankful – for the warm sun, for the fresh fruit at the farmer’s market, for the friendship of other women in recovery with you. 

Ask About Our Psychiatric Consultations

At Rising Roads, our staff is here to help you take your physical and mental health back. To learn more, call us today: 866-746-1558.

[Depression Research] Can “Good Bacteria” in Yogurt Help?

Depression is one of the most common behavioral health issues. It affects nearly seven percent of the adult population and women have a much greater risk of being diagnosed with the condition. Regardless of socioeconomic status or race, women are twice as likely to experience a serious episode of depression at least once in their lifetime.

While it is relatively common, it is highly treatable using a combination of evidence-based and holistic therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, prescription medications and lifestyle modifications.

And, researchers may have discovered yet another treatment for depression. Yogurt.

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine explored the link between the microbiome of the gut and depression to better understand how your diet can impact your mental health.

To conduct this study, the scientists observed mice who were exhibiting symptoms of stress and depression.

"When you're stressed, you increase your chance of being depressed, and that's been known for a long, long time," said lead researcher, Alban Gaultier, PhD. "So the question that we wanted to ask is, does the microbiome participate in depression?"

They found that their exposure to a stressful environment actually changed the landscape of “good bacteria” in their intestinal tracts – resulting in lower levels of Lactobacillus.

To correct this imbalance, the researchers fed the mice a diet rich in the probiotic which is commonly found in live cultures of yogurt. The results were astounding.

After the levels of Lactobacillus returned to normal, the researchers were able to reverse their symptoms of depression.

"The big hope for this kind of research is that we won't need to bother with complex drugs and side effects when we can just play with the microbiome," explained Gaultier." It would be magical just to change your diet, to change the bacteria you take, and fix your health - and your mood."

As a next step, Gaultier and his team plan to study the effects of probiotic therapies as part of a clinical trial with patients experiencing the symptoms of depression.

While many more studies are needed to confirm these results, the initial findings from this study are certainly very promising.

Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders in Women

Given that individuals struggling with addiction are twice as likely to suffer from mood disorders (commonly referred to as a dual-diagnosis), we firmly believe in the value of treating the whole woman. That's why many women who participate in our transitional residential care program benefit from receiving a psychiatric consultation as part of the recovery process.

If you are dealing with a substance abuse issue and a behavioral health issue, like depression, please give us a call at (866) 746-1558. At Rising Roads Recovery, we’re here to help you.