Public Spark

Yesterday’s blog described actors and entertainers who have suffered from depression. Today’s list includes artists, athletes and musicians. 42% of artists and 35% of composers are believed to suffer high rates of depression.

ARTISTS

• Claude Monet

  He is a French impressionist painter of “Water Lilies,” “Haystacks,” “Woman with a Parasol.” Monet entered a depressive episode after the death of his wife, Alice Hoschede.

• Georgia O’Keeffe

  She is a prominent American artist, famous for her paintings of flowers, skulls, landscapes, and skyscrapers. She became depressed and was hospitalized after discovering her husband’s affair.

Last year I wrote a blog about what depression is and the possible treatments is. This week will focus on famous people who have or had depression and treatments that have worked for them. Today’s blog describes some actors and entertainers who have suffered from depression.

• Mike Wallace

  He is a news journalist and correspondent of TV show “60 Minutes.” He was diagnosed with clinical depression in 1984 and had a series of severe depressive episodes. Mike Wallace attributed recovery to therapy and antidepressant medications.

Wildfire Safety:

• Report hazardous conditions that may cause a wildfire.

• Teach family members how to use the fire extinguisher.

• Keep matches out of the reach of children.

• Install a smoke detector on each level of your home and make sure batters are changed at least 2 times a year.

• Regularly clean roofs and gutters.

• Inspect and clean chimneys at least twice a year.

• Buy a ladder that is long enough to reach your roof.

In June, I wrote a blog on how to prepare for an earthquake. Today’s blog will be on what to do during and after an earthquake.

What to do during an earthquake:

American Red Cross and other emergency preparedness agencies recommend what is called Drop, Cover, and Hold on when an earthquake strikes. If you are in bed, it is best to stay in bed, hold on and protect your head with a pillow. If you are outdoors, you need to find a clear spot away from dangers such as buildings, powerlines, trees. Once you have done so, you need to drop to the ground. If you are in a car, slow down and drive to a clear place. Stay in the car until the shaking subsides.

Emergencies are unpredictable, but there are steps to ensure that you are well prepared.

It is important to make a plan

• Talk with your family about establishing a family meeting place and an out-of-town contact. Carry phone numbers and addresses of all potential meeting places. A family friend was in the middle of the Kobe, Japan earthquake. The phone lines were down and family did not hear from her for a day. Fortunately, she had known of an out-of-town contact and walked over there and was able to reestablish contact with her family.

Breast cancer is a serious condition and can be life-threatening, but there are ways of reducing the risk of getting breast cancer.

• Maintain a healthy weight

  Excess fatty tissue is a source of circulating estrogen in your body and breast cancer is linked to how much estrogen you are exposed too in your lifetime. Regular exercise, as well as limiting fat in your diet can help maintain a healthy weight. Eating cruciferous (cabbage-family) vegetables regularly can provide protective phytonutrients. Also 2 grams of fish oil or eating fish, which contains high omega-3 fatty acid can significantly reduce your risk of getting breast cancer.

TREATMENTS

Treatment of breast cancer will typically involve surgery followed by a combination of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation. Treatments however do vary depending on the patient and depending on the stage of cancer.

• Surgery

  Lumpectomy-removal of cancerous tumor and possibility removal of lymph nodes

  Mastectomy-removal of whole breast

• Chemotherapy

  Medicines that interfere with cancer growth and division, intended to reduce and kill tumors.

• Radiation Therapy

  X-rays or high energy rays applied to the tumor and surrounding areas to destroy cancer cells.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Last year, I wrote a blog about a dear friend whom I lost to breast cancer. There are also a set of links with general information, support group information, as well as recommended books. This year, I will do a three part series on what breast cancer is, early treatment options and ways to detect breast cancer available for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer is a group of abnormal cells that form in the breast. There are a variety of different types of Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society lists these types in more detail.

There are many reasons as to why people fear of being alone. There are also a variety of therapies available to help overcome this fear. Each specialized therapy should only be done by licensed professionals (ex. licensed clinician, social workers, therapists, etc.)

Autophobia is the fear of being alone. It may also be called isolaphobia or monophobia. Some of the symptom include the following:

• sweating

• dry mouth

• shaking violently

• inability to think clearly

• cannot breathe properly

• experience anxiety attacks

• nausea and sickness

• heart beats fast

• fear that you may die at any point

• becoming mad or losing control

There may be many causes of autophobia

• Association with a bad experience

  As a child, parents locked you up in a room for long hours of penalization.