Carolina Family Counseling

Depression in an age of trouble..

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:05:00 -0400

Trouble, trouble everywhere! Wherever we look it seems that people, communities, and nations are in trouble. You may be thinking, "what does he mean by trouble?" What I mean by trouble is the absence of peace joined with the threat of constant violence and stress. It seems everyday there is some tragedy or terrorist event in the news which can cause many to despair. The days in which we live are times like the author Charles Dickens described, "it was the worst of times it was the best of times."(A tale of Two Cities)

Many of my friends and family members struggle with the problem of depression and the on going effects it has on relationships, physical health and our emotions. Many people suffer from depression and may not know it or the signs of depression.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of depression may include the following:

Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Fatigue and decreased energy
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
Irritability, restlessness
Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
Overeating or appetite loss
Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

I believe the most important thing in dealing with depression is to recognize it can happen to you. We all have down days when something doesn't go our way or we face some disappointment. Depression is an on going disorder that will not go away by itself or when our circumstance change for the better.
Take some time to talk with a good friend, make exercise a daily routine in your day, and find time for laughter and joy always. If you struggle in any of these areas of your life, check with your doctor because you might be suffering from depression and treatment is vital to feeling better. Remember, depression can happen to anyone and it won't go away by itself.

As men age, we face many physical challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:35:00 -0400

As men grow older our energy level can drop and our physical strength can be challenged. Please check out a new product that may help in many areas where older men have limited options. Take a few minutes to read about a new product to help older men regain that which age physical problem can take away. thanks http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1378141

Mini-Course on Personal Healing, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:14:00 -0400

Here is the mini-course on Personal Healing, This mini-course in based on chapter of the book, "A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Personal healing." Written by Dr. James G. Mackey Part 1. There will be more video to come. thanks

a mini-course on new book coming soon.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:53:00 -0400

I hope you will be interested in a new mini-course on my book, " A practical and spiritual guide to personal healing". I have taught this book before but this is the first time I have offered a FREE mini-course online. This mini-course will be a video presentation via YouTube. I hope you will subscribe or bookmark this blog in order to view it and take notes. This mini-course will be in three parts or presentations. As in all of my classes many students have questions regarding their concerns or problems. I will be happy to address your questions by email. You can email your questions to through this blog site. I will post this mini-course this week. I hope you will be blessed and experience healing. thanks

Could you be suffering from PTSD?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 May 2011 20:49:00 -0400

Most people think of PTSD ( post traumatic stress disorder) as something that only battle harden soldiers live with. The fact is anyone can suffer from PTSD, it just takes the right circumstances and stressors. In light of recent tornado's and floods in the United States, and earthquakes in Japan there is a high percentage of people suffering from PTSD. You may be suffering from it right now and not know it or what the symptoms are. If you have experienced a life changing disaster or accident you could have all the signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Listed below are some diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

Traumatic Stressor: A person has been exposed to a traumatic event such as tornado,earthquake,war.
Re-experiencing: The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in the persons life.It could be experienced in dreams,thoughts, images,and by acting out of ones feelings.
Avoidance and numbing: Persistent avoidance of anything associated with the trauma and a numbing feeling whenever one is feeling or thinking about the trauma.
Hyperarousah: Persistent symptoms of increased arousal as indicated by not being able to fall asleep, outbursts of anger, startle response.

If you are experiencing any of these diagnostic criteria you could be suffering from PTSD. Please check with your doctor and let them determine if you have PTSD. It is important not to ignore these symptoms because they can only get worse. There is effective treatment plans for PTSD , but only if you seek diagnosis and treatment.

Living with Chronic illness

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 May 2011 22:12:00 -0400

One issue that many families live with every day is having a loved one coping with a chronic illness. I was diagnosed a year ago with Chronic leukemia or what is often called CLL. Since that time I have seen my oncologist each month for blood tests and to see if anything has changed in my physical condition. I must admit for the most part I have felt good until the last four months. I have noticed changes in how I feel and noticed a decrease in my energy levels. I have also noticed increase pain in my joints and muscles especially in the morning hours. Perhaps you are living with a chronic illness or cancer, if so I hope to address some of the issue of living with such a condition in future blog posts.
I believe from my own experience it is important to stay connected to your spiritual community and keep up to date with new developments in the treatment of your condition. Also I recommend keeping a journal in which you can record a day by day account of your condition and how you feel. Keeping a Journal is vital in helping you and your doctor determine changes and possible problems that might develop and could be overlooked. Keeping a journal will help you track over time changes which could be forgotten or assumed to be normal. If you experience major changes in how you feel or pains you haven't felt before please contact your doctor as soon as possible.usually there is an reason for pain and changes in your energy level, don't ignore these symtoms. Remember to take care of yourself and get the rest you need. God bless.

Time to reconnect

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:07:00 -0400

Greeting to all, it has been a while since I have been on my blog. Life changes and moving to a new location and new Church setting has kept me from sharing with others. I hope my readers will understand and I promise to address vital issues in my new posts. In some ways I feel like I have returned home after a long journey, hope to share about what all that means in coming posts. Thanks for reading and God Bless.

Panic attacks and anxiety driven life styles.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 8 Feb 2006 14:03:00 -0500

Our cultural standard is one of constant activity and busyness in peoples lives. More than anything else we live by the standard of a work ethic which sees us more as machines than human beings. To make things worse , thousands of American and people throughout the world suffer from panic/anxiety attacks which can range from mild to serve and may require hospitalize. There are many reasons for these attacks but under the surface of them all is the emotion of fear.

The symptoms of a panic attack

raging heartbeat
difficulty breathing, feeling as though you 'can't get enough air
terror that is almost paralyzing
nervous, shaking, stress
heart palpitation, feeling of dread
dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea
trembling, sweating, shaking
choking, chest pains, distress
fear, fright, afraid, anxious
hot flashes, or sudden chills
tingling in fingers or toes (pains and needles')
fearful that you're going to go crazy or are about to die

In any given year, about 1/3 of American adults have at least one painstaking; most of these adults never develop repeated panic attacks. This startling data means that anxiety attacks and panic disorder are the mistakenly emotional disorder and is more common than depression, bipolardisorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, ADHD, phobias, alcohol abuse or depression.Anxiety and panic disorder also has the lowest rates - about 21% - forseeking help and finding it. Sadly these numbers are on the rise every day.

There is one key factor that makes the difference between those who fully eliminate panic attacks from their lives and those who do not. The key ingredient is not medication, lifestyle changes, or relaxation exercises. It is when the individual no longer fears the thought of having a panic attack. This may seem like a simplified and obvious observation but give it careful consideration. The one thing that has you searching for a solution to anxiety and panic attacks this very moment is the fear of having another one. After a person experiences a panic attack for the first time, the experience can be so impacting that it leaves a strong imprint on the persons psyche. This imprint generates a cycle or loop of anxiety (see diagram) whereby the person develops an unhealthy fear of having another panic attack. People can spend anywhere from months to years caught in this repetitive cycle of anxiety.

What can you do?

There are many different treatment options, everything from anxiety treatment programs, guided imagery,progressive relaxation,hypnosis, Anxiety counseling and of course the medical drug treatments. The most important factor is not to allow such attacks to continue without seeking proffessional help.Panic attacks masquerade as a variety of medical disorders.

Panic attacks mimic some medical conditions almost completely, causing years of misdiagnosis. These are hypoglycemia, complex partial seizures, drug effects, heart arrhythmia and hyperventilation syndrome. Panic partly mimics others: angina, asthma, irritable bowel, colitis, vertigo, mitral valve prolapse, post concussion syndrome, hypertension, postural hypotenuses, and Italy hernia. Almost everyone who panics believes they have a serious physical illness, and go from doctor to doctor for several years as symptoms shift. Yet panic is easily diagnosed by professionals experienced in panic.

Anxiety attack statistics

Approximately 2.4 million Americans suffer from Anxiety Panic disorder this means is that panic attacks are a major concern for a large part of the population. There are many trips to the emergency Room because panic attacks are thought to be heart related 7.2% of all adults, or 1 in 15, have a panic disorder which is a primary part of their disorder, (NIH, 1993). In any given year, about 1/3 of American adults have at least one panic attack; most of these adults never develop repeated panic attacks. This startling data means that a phobia/panic disorder is the most common emotional disorder, more common than alcohol abuse or depression. Phobia/panic disorder also has the lowest rates for seeking help and finding it, about 22%. Phobia is the most common and the most hidden condition at the same time.

We, at Carolina Family Counseling, invite you to take your time and call us about comprehensive information we have gathered regarding anxiety attacks and panic attacks over the years so you can make an informed decision as to the best course of treatment that would best fit you. We are located at 4801 E. Independence Tower, Charlotte, NC and our phone number is (704)-734-3440. Thank you.

Carolina Family Counseling and Hypnosis Services

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 23:20:00 -0500

Dr. James G. Mackey
Director of Carolina Family Counseling ,Located in Charlotte North Carolina. CFC seeks to provide the best mental health to our clients by offering understanding, compassion , and empowerment toward reaching or changing their lives and state of mind.
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noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:27:00 -0500

In this brief but informational audio learn why counseling can help you and how hypnotherapy can help you over come barriers in your life.

Migraine Headaches are Increasing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 14:56:00 -0500

Increase in Migraine headaches
A 47 year old man wakes up one morning with a severe headache that will not go away. It starts in his neck and radiates to the top of his head. The pain continues to get stronger with each passing day. Finally he goes to the doctor for treatment only to be given painkillers and migraine meds. He suffers for four months and has 3 MRI's which find nothing to be causing the pain. After four months of headaches that could only be described as "Killer pain" with no relief he receives a medication to break the pain cycles, called "Frova." This is a medication like the prescription drug Immitrex , which attack pain at its source. This case is a classic case in which stress, anger, and Toxic emotions finally were made know through intense pain. Common mmedical treatments include simple analgesic(aspirin), avoidance of stress, or antidepressants therapy the increase of margarine and cluster headaches it is time to seek serious therapy for stress alienation and management of future problems. In my practice I have found that Hypnotherapy works wonders to help individuals release stress from their bodies and mind. This allow them to work and live without the damaging effects of toxic stress and emotions.