Ask Dr. Bita, Montreal Psychologist

Understanding ANGER # 2

According to recent studies, anger is a healthy emotion that can be motivating and mobilizing if well understood, dealt with it immediately and  channeled to the right direction in individuals without an anger problem. Now how is this for people with an anger problem?

 According to study by the University of Colorado, people with anger management issues have a dysfunctional thought process when angry. As such, research suggests that such people require different methods to manage their anger. When faced with a mentally challenging situation, a normal individual will ideally embrace his anger to deal with the situation (without aggression), and ultimately store the memory as processed information. Contrarily, anger mismanagement will cause the individual to think illogically; the same research recommends that such people should not act in anger. Instead, they should wait for their mood to be relaxed before they attempt to analyze the situation. In turn, this allows the brain to store the memory as processed information, leaving the person less prone to aggression the next time he is angry.

For more information on how to manage your ANGER join our upcoming group

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By Erwin Paydar Blogger at Clinique Dr. Bita

         Contrary to popular belief, anger is not a negative or unhealthy emotion and suppressing anger is psychologically unhealthy. But rather what we do with an anger could be unhealthy and maladaptive. When a person suppresses his anger, he is merely saving it for later, since his thought processes are stored in memory. Often, such people accumulate so much anger that they resort to verbal and physical aggression due to the anxiety that accompanies it. In these cases, there is no logical thought process and the person experiencing the anger is deemed unstable, or in need of counseling.

       According to research done by Stanford University, while people generally prefer pleasant emotions over negative ones, they actually prefer to experience anger when faced with a mentally challenging situation. The researchers explain that anger improves and quickens the brain’s ability to logically and analytically process information, assuming this anger has not been accumulated. Coincidentally, the human brain has a tendency to categorize the memories it stores, and to recur old memories when experience the same state of mind. For example, some memories can be categorized as happy or sad memories; however, the brain needs to understand the memory it stores, in order to classify it. As such, when a person suppresses his anger, the brain memorizes the situation, and deems it as an unresolved memory. Thus, next time this person experiences anger, this unresolved memory will recur, accompanied by anxiety. Therefore, the thought process and course of actions that occur after an accumulation of anger are illogical because the thought processes that were needed in the past recur along with the thought process needed in the present, due to the brain’s association of anger with previous situations that required anger. In other words, when a person gets mad about a mentally challenging issue and processes and deals with it at a time as it happens, the brain will function with optimal performance. Based on a study done by the University of Santa Barbara, the logical thought process that comes from anger leads to better decision taking, assuming once again, that anger has not been accumulated.

Now is this also true for people with an anger problem? More to come…

For more information on the upcoming Montreal Anger Management Groups

Contact Dr. Bita 514-999-2482, info@drbita.com

By Erwin Paydar, Blogger at Clinique Dr. Bita

Moms with Depression

Have you ever wondered how mother’s (or primary care giver’s) mental health can affect children’s development? Studies show that children of depressed mothers are more likely then other children to develop behavioral problems as they get older.
The potential explanation could be that a mom with depression is not able to provide the stimulation that the child needs and is less likely to engage in social activities with her child. A more recent study followed 438 Australian mothers and their children from infancy until the age of 5 years old. Their findings indeed support that at risk children (i.e.; children of mothers with depression) were 4 times as likely to develop depression, anxiety, withdrawn behavior and aggression. They also found that spending half a day in daycare significantly reduced the risk of these behavioral and psychological problems. Apparently, when children are away for at least a few hours per day, every body gets a break.  The mom with depression gets a break and can be more receptive towards her child after its return from daycare, the child gets a break from mom’s depressive symptoms and gets a chance for social stimulation and interaction with peers.
So moms, do not feel guilty in feeling the need for a break. A break is healthy not only for you but also for your developing children. Take the time to pamper yourself and recharge your batteries, while babies are not around. Motherhood is not easy but it can be a joyful and pleasant experience if you have the energy.

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Teenage Depression and Anxiety: The impact of parenting

According to a recent research by the University of Glasgow and the Medical Research Council (May 2011), children’s perception of how they are parented is a major predictor of their future mental health.

Researchers reported that among 11 year-old children that felt both neglected and controlled by their parents when tested again at age 15, they were much more likely to have developed psychiatric problems, which included anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD), depression, and behavioral disorders. In addition,  conduct disorders such as antisocial and violent behavior and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were also much more prominent among this group.

Obviously, parenting is not the only contributing factor to teenage mental health issues. Nonetheless, parenting is a big and important job, which unfortunately, does not require prior training or certification. However, taking parenting classes shows to be extremely helpful for young parents and also for parents of teenagers. It is inspiring to see that more and more parents are taking advantage of these learning opportunities to ensure a healthier future for their children.

These classes are offered by various psychologists in Montreal and could be found either online or just contact them directly to find out if they offer these services. For more information contact Clinique Dr. Bita at info@drbita.com or call 514-999-2482

Emotional Focused Therapy (E.F.T.)

“In essence, E.F.T. helps individuals understand their emotional experience(s) so that they can move  forward and feel more integrated. The process of Focusing is used so that clients can just be with their internal experience in order to use it for information. For instance, the ability to fully experience sadness helps one to grieve important losses. It can also help someone create boundaries after having been hurt/taken advantage of, etc. The experience of fear, anger and self-criticalness are also often worked with in order to help clients feel happy with life and less stuck, in general.”, explains Dr. Rick Parker, a Westmount Psychologist at Clinique Dr. Bita.

To know more about E.F.T. or to work with a Montreal psychologist specializing in E.F.T., you can contact Clinique Dr. Bita at 514- 508-1422 or email info@drbita.com

Clinique Dr. Bita

HOW TO FIND THE  TOP 10 MONTREAL PSYCHOLOGIST?

When choosing a psychologist, first you want to know about their credentials, academic and clinical background, and their expertise in relation to your presenting problem.This information is usually found in their websites, since, luckily, we are living in a world with virtual features and most of professionals do have a website.
Once making a selection based on their credential, the next important factor is the relationship with the psychologist once you have started the sessions. Ask yourself: Do I feel comfortable with him/her? Do I feel understood? Do I feel that my psychologist is confident / competent?
It is also important to discuss theses concerns with your psychologist and give yourself sufficient time to decide whether or not you are comfortable with him/her, as it is not uncommon for us to have a different impression than our first one when encountering new people in our life.

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Montreal Psychologist: Erectile Dysfunction and Performance Anxiety

Facts that can solve or reduce performance anxiety in men: Many men with erectile dysfunction and performance anxiety are concerned about their penis size and and the inability to sexually satisfy their partners. Men may be surprised to know that while they are concerned about their “size”, their partners actually think that they are just fine. A 2006 study showed that while only 55% of men reported being satisfied with their penis size, 85% of women reported satisfaction with their partner’s “size”. This is due to the fact that most sensitive parts of a woman are on the outside of her body and the first 3-4 inches of her vagina. The average erect penis is over 5 inches and thus additional length may not influence female sexual satisfaction; however, it matters when it comes to the condom size!
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