Blog /May 2011
ABC's 'Private Practice' Storyline Takes on Depression and the Elderly
Like every Thursday night at 10pm I tuned into one of my favorite juicy medical dramas “Private Practice.” Charlotte and Cooper were finally getting married and I was not going to miss the nuptials. Wedding bells aside, another storyline caught my attention in this episode titled “Something Old, Something New.” It was something real that, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, affects 6.5 million senior Americans -- depression.
Here’s the storyline:
Naomi visits her patient Marian, an elderly woman residing in assistant living. Normally Marian dresses nice, but during this visit Naomi notices something different. Marian’s hair is uncombed and she’s wearing frumpy clothes. The curtains are drawn and her mood is low. I mean really low. She’s lonely. Her husband of 50 years died some years ago and her Scrabble buddy recently passed away. Dr. Fife, who is relentlessly pursuing Naomi’s love, sits in on the session. He also notices Marian’s behavior and tells her nonchalantly she’s depressed and a neurosurgeon could “zap the sadness out” with an operating procedure called anterior singulotomy. This entails the surgeon operating on the part of the brain that causes depression.
Dr. Fife’s disregard for Marian’s feelings irked me. He tells her a surgeon can “zap” away her sadness as if her mind is some kind of arcade game. She passes on the surgery and counseling. Dr. Fife is not a psychologist but his insensitivity reminded me of one of the reasons why some people who need therapy don’t go. People want to be treated humanely when they seek help. Opening up to friends and family about your mental health condition isn’t easy, let alone a stranger. Dr. Fife just saw Marian’s problem as something that could be resolved with a knife, but he missed the whole picture. He didn’t recognize her feelings and that she deserved respect. This is evident in a scene where he’s discussing her condition with other doctors who disagree with pushing her into the procedure. “That’s the depression talking, clouding her judgment and making her incapable of an informed decision,“ Dr. Fife said about Marian’s objection to the surgery. Thank goodness for the psychologist Sheldon who checked him, “Depression doesn’t necessarily make someone incompetent.” I would add that her suffering with a mental health condition doesn’t justify in taking away her power.
The episode packed a lot of issues into one storyline: Surgical treatment versus counseling for depression, doctor insensitivity, patient rights and their voice. I especially liked how the show addressed elderly depression and seniors sometimes feeling a loss of control over their lives once they become dependent. I imagine that’s difficult when you’ve spent most of your life as an adult and people younger than you are trying to help. “You want me to talk to some stranger half my age and tell him I’m sad and listen to him try to put things in a perspective he doesn’t have?!” Marian responded when Naomi recommended counseling. Well, Marian didn’t get the surgery or therapy. In a true Hollywood ending, Dr. Fife actually opened his ears and became her confidant. Hopefully their heart to heart will encourage her to sit down with a therapist. Marian just needed to be heard, like many of of us do.
Smoothie Recipes for a Healthy Body and Healthier Mind
I already know what you're thinking.
"Healthy smoothies have exotic ingredients like flax and wheatgrass. And flax and wheatgrass taste like feet. No thanks."
But friends, I am here to tell you that thinking is all a myth! I too was once a skeptic, but after tasting some delicious samples at a nutrition workshop presented by Buckelew Programs at CASRA last week, I have been enlightened.
In fact, I'm a genuine, born-again "Ohmigod-green-smoothies-are-awesome!" girl.
Before we get into the recipes for healthy deliciousness, did you know that:
- Vitamins A, C, and E boost our immune system, prevent heart attacks and cancer, and keep or skin and body looking and feeling young
- Lycopene protects our skin from sun damage, prevents certain cancers, and lowers blood pressure
- Fiber detoxifies our system, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, eases constipation, helps us lose weight, and aids with headaches and migraines
- B-vitamins regulate our moodiness and stress levels
- Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and keep our skin looking young
- Potassium keeps our nervous system healthy as well as boosts metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates
- Enzymes help our body digest nutrients in the food we eat
And guess what? Green smoothies contain ALL these items in one glass. Yay!
What makes these smoothies great is that they all have spinach, and we know the power of spinach. However, we also know it can taste bitter, so by adding your choice of fruit here and there, as well as some agave syrup as needed, you can get a sweet treat that also packs a bunch of nutrients.
Now pick your favorite recipe below and get to blending!
Basic Green Smoothie
1 large banana, ripe
1-2 cups fruit, frozen
1-2 handfuls of spinach (or 3-5 stems kale or swiss chard)
1½ -2 cups water (or juice, herb tea, or ice)
Blend all ingredients and enjoy!
Berry Greens Smoothie
1 large banana, ripe
1 cup blueberries, frozen
½ cup strawberries, frozen
5 oz spinach, fresh
1½ cups pure water
Pour water in first. Then place the banana closest to the blade with the rest of ingredients on top. Blend until smooth. Serves 1-2.
Tropical Greens Smoothie
1 large banana, ripe
¾ cup pineapple, fresh or canned
8 oz spinach, fresh
1 cup mango, frozen
4 ice cubes
1 cup pure water
Pour water in first. Then place the banana closest to the blade with the rest of ingredients on top. Blend until smooth. Serves 1-2.
Purple Chocolate Smoothie
1 large banana, ripe
5-8 oz spinach, fresh
2 dates, pitted
1 cup blueberries, frozen
1 tablespoon cacao, powdered
5 ice cubes
Pour water in first. Then blend the banana, spinach, and dates with the water. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Serves 1-2.
Spinach Green Smoothie
1 large banana, ripe
1 cup mango, frozen
½ cup strawberries, frozen
5 oz spinach, fresh
1½ cups pure water
Pour water in first. Then place the banana closest to the blade with the rest of ingredients on top. Blend until smooth. Serves 1-2.
Spinach Fig Smoothie
4 figs, tops removed and quartered
1 frozen banana
¾ cup blueberries, frozen
5 oz spinach, fresh
1 cup pure water
Pour water in first. Then place the figs closes to the blade with the rest of the ingredients on top. Blend until smooth. Serves 1-2.
Eating Your Way to Wellness
It's probably not groundbreaking news that what you put in your body affects your physical health.
But did you know that people with mental health challenges are more susceptible to certain physical conditions than the general public?
In a session at the spring California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies, or CASRA, conference last week, Kathy Lee of Buckelew Programs shared some rather sobering statistics with audience members, including:
- Individuals with chronic depression are 60% more likely to be obese than those with no history
- Individuals with a history of anxiety are 30% more likely to be obese than those who have not had a diagnosis of anxiety
- Those with both mental illness and diabetes have more severe symptoms of both diseases
- Anxiety disorders correspond to a 74% increased risk of cardiovascular events
- Major depressive disorder is a risk factor in the development of heart attacks
- People with both major depression and diabetes are 1.5-2 times more likely to have 3+ risk factors than non-depressed diabetes patients
Needless to say, this information got my attention. Lee then went on to note some facts specifically related to cancer, including:
- Cancer is the second most common cause of death in people with schizophrenia after suicide
- Individuals with schizophrenia have a risk for cancer death that is 50% higher than that of the general population
The main takeaway from all these studies, of course, is that the central health problem plaguing people with mental illness is one that is also plagues the general population. And that problem is food.
Now after hearing all this, you may feel even more depressed, which I certainly did at first. But folks, there's good news! Food is an entirely controllable variable, and when used properly, can prevent and even reverse much of the above problems.
And this is extra important for folks with mental health challenges, because we are more prone to making poor lifestyle choices, thereby making it harder to control blood sugar levels. When we make positive food choices, not only do we avoid physical ailments, but we think more clearly, have greater confidence, and possess a more positive outlook towards ourselves and the world.
So, now that we have this information, what do we do? How can we change our diet in a cost-conscious manner and still get all the nutrients we need?
To start, Lee shared five simple steps to overcoming resistance to dietary change. We should make the process and its presentation:
- Fun. By making food preparation and cooking an enjoyable activity, you are more likely to do it.
- Colorful. A strong and diverse visual display will make your plate of healthy foods more inviting. If you consistently eat only brown items (frozen meals, breads, fried foods), will you really be excited for mealtime?
- Delicious. Obviously you need to like what you're eating. If you try to force yourself to eat something disgusting, you won’t be able to sustain your efforts, and your attempts will ultimately backfire.
- Beautiful. Again, a visually appealing plate full of fresh fruits and vegetables (think lots of greens and berries, which are striking blue, black, red, and pink colors) makes healthy eating a lot more inviting.
- Adventurous. Think of every meal as a learning experience and an opportunity to try something that you — or no one else — has ever tried before!
And while most fad diets touted by celebrity endorsements and infomercials are scams that don't provide results and often deprive the body of essential nutrients, a few effective approaches for improving wellness through food include the Mediterranean (or Sonoma) Diet, Meals for Health, and Food Education for People with Serious Psychiatric Disabilities: An Evidence-Based Curriculum.
Be sure to also check out the Healthy Eating Pyramid to help guide your food choices and Green for Life to learn more about green smoothies.
Interested in some easy and healthy recipes to get started? Be sure to check out these green smoothie recipes.
