Dr Kathryn Seifert is one of the leading experts in the fields of violence assessment and violence prevention.
Why did Adam Lanza, Aaron Alexis, and Andres Breivik, commit these acts of shocking violence? To find out, read on. Many of these violent events could have been predicted and prevented if someone had seen the warning signs and intervened before it was too late.
Dr. Kathryn Seifert, a forensic psychologist, brings her distinctive perspective to research into the minds of violent criminals. Through her 30 years of research into the causes of sexual abuse, drug addiction, murder, terrorism, gangs, domestic abuse, rape, and other violent crimes, read here to learn the key childhood, family, and skill factors causing young people to grow up to become violent adults. Learn how to prevent youth and adult acts of violence.
Dr. Seifert specializes in the prevention of acts of violence, and the assessment, and treatment of individuals who are at risk for violence. Frequently called upon by national television networks to discuss violence prevention and mental health issues, Dr. Seifert has interviewed on Understanding and preventing violence on Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN, the Huffington Post Live, Discovery ID, Fox News, and CBC in Canada. She has appeared on numerous radio shows and local television programs.
Salisbury University provided research on the accuracy of the CARE-2 Assessment in identifying those at risk for violence and creating a risk reduction plan. Dr. Seifert is also the author of the AVRRT™, which enables professionals to provide risk reductions for mentally ill and autistic males, 15–40, and the F-Risk™ or Flashpoint Risk Reduction Model™ which is a Violence Risk Reduction Planning Tool for Chronically Violent Offenders aged 18+.
As an expert contributor for Psychology Today, Dr. Seifert authors the Stop The Cycle | Psychology Today, which has amassed over 1 Million reads. Interviews demonstrating her expertise in violence prevention appeared on The Daily Beast and Yahoo News, the Washington Post, Hartford Courant, and the Baltimore Sun. She has become the “go-to” source for news outlets covering incidents of multi-victim violence. Dr. Seifert also appeared in the second season of the television documentary series on LME entitled Killer Kids, providing expert analysis on a case of horrific violence committed by young people.
Health experts say mental health will be a priority in 2021 – 47abc (wmdt.com)
47 ABC – As we start the new year and vaccinations continue to roll out. Health professionals are warning that mental health needs to be a priority in 2021.
Dr. Kathy Seifert, a renowned expert in psychology, says that compared to a year ago people’s mental health rates are up. Those who were not struggling with mental health may now be because of the pandemic. While those who were already may have more severe cases.
“So people are really stressed and if you tend to be anxious or depressed it may make it worse for you and getting out and talking to someone to make you feel better is really a good idea,” Dr. Seifert said.
Those we spoke to say overall, they’ve noticed a change in both family and friends.
“I would say they’re a little bit more down than they were a year ago,” Charlrae Brown said. “Everybody’s afraid of going out there and somehow catching ‘it’ so you always want to be very careful. So I think there is a little bit of anxiety out there.”
“I definitely feel like the mental health issues aren’t going to go away if not probably rise,” Vicente Hernandez said.
That’s why experts say it’s important for people to reach out to loved ones and friends if they are struggling. But also just to check-in.
“Tell somebody that you’re feeling anxious and get ideas on how to make it better,”
Dr. Seifert said.
Looking forward, Dr. Seifert believes that as more people get vaccinated and we return
to a sense of normalcy that the structure will help curb the rising mental health rates.
“It’s going to be, I’m hoping, a supportive environment for people to move back into,”
Dr. Seifert said.
Dr. Seifert says for those struggling to cope with their mental health, there are some things you can do. She recommends doing deep breathing exercises to help reduce stress levels.
As well as keeping a journal where you write down what you’re thankful for each day.
Dr. Kathy Seifert book, 5 Secrets to Help You Solve Problems and Relax This book is a guided self-help journal and is available at Amazon, itunes, Barnes and Noble and many other print and ebook retailers. Thousands of people have found Dr. Seifert’s books, lectures and assessments to be extremely helpful. In this book you will find the steps for making changes, how to not spend too much energy on minor problems, relaxation techniques, and more.
Stress is a colossal problem and solving problems can help anyone reduce everyday stress. This guided journal takes you step by step through a process to look at what is bothering you and improving your life. Combine this journal with one of Dr. Seifert’s best-selling guided imagery, relaxation MP3’s, “Relax,” “Pathways to Inner Peace,” or “Healing from Loss.”
This is a combination that is sure to make your life more relaxing and easier to manage.
Dr. Kathryn Seifert – YouTube
When the war in our mind ends, peace emerges.
Violence can be prevented.
Find Out How!
Dr. Kathy Seifert- Forensic Psychologist on reading signals in people – Sports to the Max with Mike Max – Omny.fm
Mindfulness: Yogic Pathways for Stress Relief, Meditation Music for Breathing Exercises & Mindful Thinking by Self Improvement Consort on Apple Music
Mental illness, violence and guns – YouTube
What is a chemical imbalance ~ depression
Many people believe that mental illness is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, with one survey finding that about 80 percent believe that depression is due to some sort of chemical imbalance. While the true causes of mental illness are likely much more complex, some have advocated for talking about mental illness this way to reduce stigma. If we talk about mental illness as if it were a “brain disease” and refer primarily to its biological causes, then people would be less likely to believe that mental illness is caused by a weakness of character. Mental illness would not be the fault of an individual, but rather, their biology.
However, this well-intentioned way of framing mental illness can backfire. One study found that talking about mental illness as if it were a brain disease and due to purely biological causes, rather than something that is due to psychosocial causes like childhood trauma, can lead people to treat those who suffer from mental illness more harshly. This may be because the “brain disease” framing conveys that people who have mental illness are physically distinct, which can lead to a sense of othering. If someone is perceived as having different biology than us,
it might be harder to have empathy for them because we do not see them as like us. This framing may also be damaging for the people suffering from mental illnesses, making them think it is unlikely that they will recover. One study found that when people were told their depression was caused by a chemical imbalance, they showed more pessimism about recovering. The “chemical imbalance” framing tacitly suggests that mental illness is permanent – “wired” into someone’s brain, instead of something that can potentially improve through treatment.
It has become increasingly common to refer to mental illnesses, as well as developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, as examples of “neurodiversity.” The term neurodiversity initially rose to prominence in online groups of autistic individuals, and is often strongly associated with autism spectrum disorder. However, it has since grown to become a way of describing a range of mental illnesses and developmental disorders, such as dyslexia, ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more.
The basic tenets of neurodiversity are that there is no “normal” human brain, that there are differences, not disorders, and that there are, in many cases, positive aspects to having a variety of brains that function differently. Advocates for neurodiversity commonly draw parallels with homosexuality, which was previously described as a disorder by the American Psychological Association until 1973, but is now viewed by many as a part of normal human variation.
The idea of neurodiversity is not without its critics. Some have suggested that it may commodify and romanticize difference, while ignoring the suffering of those who are not high-functioning and do not have exceptional talents that come with their neurodivergence. Others have accused it of being anti-treatment and anti-cure.
There is little research about the effectiveness of this framing. However, early research is promising: one study found that those who know about neurodiversity tend to view autism as more of a positive identity. No research, to my knowledge, has looked at this framing in the context of mental illnesses like depression or anxiety. So, while there’s not yet enough evidence to make any strong claims about whether the “neurodiversity” frame works, it is a valiant effort to try to reframe the all-too-common and harmful tendency to talk about mental illness as if it were a “brain disease.”
As a wide body of psychological literature indicates, words matter, and the words we choose to use can powerfully influence how people think. If we choose the right words to frame difference, we can help fight stigma and potentially make the world more accommodating for the neurodiversity that exists within and all around us.
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Doctors don’t completely understand the causes of bipolar disorder. But they’ve gained a greater understanding in recent years of the bipolar spectrum, which includes the elated highs of mania to the lows of major depression, along with various mood states between these two extremes.
Bipolar disorder seems to often run in families and there appears to be a genetic part to this mood disorder. There is also growing evidence that environment and lifestyle issues have an effect on the disorder’s severity. Stressful life events — or alcohol or drug abuse — can make bipolar disorder more difficult to treat.
The Brain and Bipolar Disorder
Experts believe bipolar disorder is partly caused by an underlying problem with specific brain circuits and the functioning of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Three brain chemicals — noradrenaline (norepinephrine), serotonin, and dopamine — are involved in both brain and bodily functions.
Noradrenaline and serotonin have been consistently linked to psychiatric mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. Nerve pathways within areas of the brain that regulate pleasure and emotional reward are regulated by dopamine. Disruption of circuits that communicate using dopamine in other brain areas appears connected to psychosis and schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder characterized by distortions in reality and illogical thought patterns and behaviors.
The brain chemical serotonin is connected to many body functions such as sleep, wakefulness, eating, sexual activity, impulsivity, learning, and memory. Researchers believe that abnormal functioning of brain circuits that involve serotonin as a chemical messenger contribute to mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder).
Is Bipolar Disorder Genetic?
Many studies of bipolar patients and their relatives have shown that bipolar disorder sometimes runs in families. Perhaps the most convincing data come from twin studies. In studies of identical twins, scientists report that if one identical twin has bipolar disorder, the other twin has a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder than another sibling in the family. Researchers conclude that the lifetime chance of an identical twin (of a bipolar twin) to also develop bipolar disorder is about 40% to 70%.
In more studies at Johns Hopkins University, researchers interviewed all first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder and concluded that bipolar II disorder was the most common affective disorder in both family sets. The researchers found that 40% of the 47 first-degree relatives of the bipolar II patients also had bipolar II disorder; 22% of the 219 first-degree relatives of the bipolar I patients had bipolar II disorder. However, among patients with bipolar II, researchers found only one relative with bipolar I disorder. They concluded that bipolar II is the most prevalent diagnosis of relatives in both bipolar I and bipolar II families.
Studies at Stanford University that explored the genetic connection of bipolar disorder found that children with one biological parent with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder have an increased likelihood of getting bipolar disorder. In this study, researchers reported that 51% of the bipolar offspring had a psychiatric disorder, most commonly major depression, dysthymia (low-grade, chronic depression), bipolar disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Interestingly, the bipolar parents in the study who had a childhood history of ADHD were more likely to have children with bipolar disorder rather than ADHD.
In other findings, researchers report that first-degree relatives of a person diagnosed with bipolar I or II disorder are at an increased risk for major depression when compared to first-degree relatives of those with no history of bipolar disorder. Scientific findings also show that the lifetime risk of affective disorders in relatives with family members who have bipolar disorder increases, depending on the number of diagnosed relatives.
What Role Does Environment and Lifestyle Play in Bipolar Disorder?
Along with a genetic link to bipolar disorder, research shows that children of bipolar parents are often surrounded by significant environmental stressors. That may include living with a parent who has a tendency toward mood swings, alcohol or substance abuse, financial and sexual indiscretions, and hospitalizations. Although most children of a bipolar parent will not develop bipolar disorder, some children of bipolar parents may develop a different psychiatric disorder such as ADHD, major depression, schizophrenia, or substance abuse.
Environmental stressors also play a role in triggering bipolar episodes in those who are genetically predisposed. For example, children growing up in bipolar families may live with a parent who lacks control of moods or emotions. Some children may live with constant verbal or even physical abuse if the bipolar parent is not medicated or is using alcohol or drugs.
Can Lack of Sleep Worsen the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
Some findings show that people with bipolar disorder have a genetic predisposition to sleep-wake cycle problems that may trigger symptoms of depression and mania.
The problem for those with bipolar disorder, however, is that sleep loss may lead to a mood episode such as mania (elation) in some patients. Worrying about losing sleep can increase anxiety, thus worsening the bipolar mood disorder altogether. Once a sleep-deprived person with bipolar disorder goes into the manic state, the need for sleep decreases even more.
In one study, researchers interviewed 39 bipolar patients with primarily manic or depressed episodes to determine the presence of social rhythm disruptions during the two months prior to the onset of the mood. (A social rhythm disruption is a disturbance in daily routines such as sleeping, eating, exercising, or interacting with other people, which in turn could affect patterns of brain activity tied to mood regulation.)
When comparing the results with volunteers in the control group, researchers concluded that most people with bipolar disorder experience at least one social rhythm disruption prior to a major mood episode. In addition, the researchers found that social rhythm disruption affected more bipolar patients with mania than the patients with depression. Their findings concluded that 65% of the patients with bipolar disorder had at least one disruption in their daily rhythm in the eight weeks before the onset of a manic episode.
Diet and emotional well-being
Diet is such an important component of mental health that it has inspired an entire field of medicine called nutritional psychiatry. Mind-body medicine specialist Eva Selhub, MD has written a superb summary of what nutritional psychiatry is and what it means for you right here on this blog, and it’s worth reading.
What it boils down to is that what we eat matters for every aspect of our health, but especially our mental health. Several recent research analyses looking at multiple studies support that there is a link between what one eats and our risk of depression, specifically. One analysis concluded:
“A dietary pattern characterized by a high intake of fruit (your brain needs to be fed
100mg of sugar daily,) vegetables, whole grain, fish, olive oil, low-fat dairy and antioxidants and low intakes of animal foods was apparently associated with a decreased risk of depression. However, don’t forget to include your good fat omega 3 fatty acids. A dietary pattern characterized by a high consumption of red and/or processed meat, refined grains, sweets, high-fat dairy products, butter, potatoes and high-fat gravy, and low intakes of fruits and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of depression.”
Which comes first? Poor diet or depression?
One could argue that, well, being depressed makes us more likely to eat unhealthy foods. This is true, so we should ask what came first, the diet or the depression? Researchers have addressed this question, thankfully. Another large analysis looked only at prospective studies, meaning, they looked at baseline diet and then calculated the risk of study volunteers going on to develop depression.
Researchers found that a healthy diet (the Mediterranean diet as an example) was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing depressive symptoms. So, how should I counsel my patients on diet? There are several healthy options that can be used as a guide. One that comes up again and again is the Mediterranean diet. Another wonderful resource for folks is the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health website with an introductory guide to healthy diet.
Bottom-line to Depression
Thinking yourself back to good mental health and learning to live with depression (selfish outlook on life.). That’s the best way to get your Happy Life Back. Thus climbing yourself out of that helpless feeling (the deep dark hole you can’t seemingly get out of without falling deeper in.) Positive Affirmations is what got me off Lexapro when I had severe depression back in 2006 was the one to three rule. When you think of one negative thing about your life. Punish yourself by trying to come up with three positive three things about your life. Two of the best things about your life is you woke up this morning and someone always has it worse off than you do.