Evelyn Wenzel LCSW, CAP will join Dr. Heidi Napolitano’s office

January 11, 2010 in General Topics by Evelyn Wenzel

In a surprising move, Evelyn Wenzel, LCSW, CAP will join Dr. Heidi Napolitano’s practice in January. Dr. Napolitano is considered one of the best psychiatrists in Orlando and is definately well loved by her clients. Evelyn brings strong clinical skills and the ability to perform drug and alcohol assessments, as well as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder evaluations.

The office provides comprehensive psychiatric, psychological and counseling services for children, adolescents, and adults. Nutritional counseling, hypnotherapy, and accupuncture services are also available.

Dr. Napolitano and associates are located at 7600 Conroy Windermere Rd. Suite 203, Orlando. FL 32835.
The office number is (407) 704-1461 and the fax number is (407) 704-1501.

For more information, e-mail Evelyn at evwenzel@aol.com

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Casting Call for the A&E hit “Obsessed”

December 18, 2009 in Depression & Anxiety by Evelyn Wenzel

Do you suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Do finances or lack of insurance prevent you from getting therapy? Well, the casting director of A&E is looking for people with OCD in the Orlando area to be on their intervention show “Obsessed”.  For twelve weeks you will receive therapy multiple times per week free, though you will be videotaped. 18 of the 22 people who participated in last seasons show showed marked improvement and all agreed that it was a positive experience.

If you would like to be interviewed for the show, contact Evelyn Wenzel, LCSW, CAP for more information (407) 375-1214.

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Depression During Holiday Season Should be Taken Seriously

December 8, 2009 in Depression & Anxiety by Evelyn Wenzel

For many people, “Happy Holidays” and “Merry Christmas” don’t esist.  , Whether they are lonely and without family, grief-stricken from a recent loss, associate the holidays with bad memories, many people’s depression deepens or they begin their annual depression associated with the holidays.

There are many ways to combat this depression. Increasing exercise, looking to see if there are nutritional issues, engaging in social interactions with safe people, and taking dietary supplements are just a few ways to help improve your outlook.

Depression is a serious disorder, though there are many uninformed people who believe that someone can decide not to be depressed and they simply won’t be. Depression involves complicated neurochemical issues in the brain and won’t be resolved by simply “bucking up”.

In a November 2009 edition of Dr. Amen’s (a man famous for helping nonbiology majors understand the functions of the brain through brain scanning) newsletter stated that depression increased the risk of death as much as smoking. It also indicated that in studies on cancer patients, that those who were depressed had a 39% higher death rate than those patients without cancer.

Again, depression is very treatable and no one should have to suffer from this debilitating disorder. Cognitive therapy, medication, and addunjtive therapies all can help people live depression free.

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A&E Show “Obsessed” contacts Evelyn Wenzel

November 24, 2009 in General Topics by Evelyn Wenzel

Imagine my surprise when the casting director, Maria Skeels called me. She asked me if I had watched the A & E show Obsessed, which I hadn’t. Ms. Skeels explained that they were looking for cognitive behavioral therapists in Orlando and several other cities. At first I wondered if this was a joke of some kind. However, she gave me her number to call once I had looked over the web site and decided if I would like to be considered for the show.

 

When everyone advised me to go for it, I accepted the challenge and sent the Casting Director my biography. Although I haven’t heard from the show yet- perhaps they will select another city?- I eagerly await the time when I receive a call for a video interview;.

What an amazing adventure it would be to be selected as a therapist for “Obsessed”.

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“Lie to Me” features Multiple Personality (Dissociative Identity Disorder)

October 2, 2009 in Dissociative Identity Disorder by Evelyn Wenzel

The hit television series premiered its second season with a show dealing with a multiple personality (known now as dissociative identity disorder). She comes to the clinic because the police do not believe she witnessed a murder and wants someone to investigate. As the plot unfolds, it becomes apparent that the young woman switches (goes from one alter to another one)between two primary personalities, though a two additional ones reveal themselves at the end.

For the most part, the writer deals with the controversial mental health health issue of multiple personality in an informative and respectful manner. The different personalities are shown to be distinct from the other ones and the male personality is introduced as “the protector”, which indeed is his function. The writer comments that the alter is “one dimensional”, but never explained what that meant. The control in which the main personality handles a particularly frightening and extremely threatening situation without switching to an alter that was created to handle such fear and anxiety was totally unrealistic. However the positive information given about dissociative identity disorder overall was not sensationalized and gave viewers a good grasp on the issues multiple personalities deal with. It is hoped that other shows will follow this trend and continue to represent this very distressing disorder with respect.

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Acute Stress Disorder: What do we know?

September 28, 2009 in Depression & Anxiety by Evelyn Wenzel

Acute Stress Disorder was introduced into the mental health community with the publication of the DSM-IV. Upon first examination of the symptoms for Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), the criteria seem very similar to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The two major differences between ASD and PTSD seem to be one of duration and the emphasis on emotional numbing and dissociation. Indeed, if a person is assessed immediately following a traumatic stressor, a diagnosis of ASD will be assigned. However if the symptoms persist beyond a month, then the diagnosis becomes PTSD. It is interesting how intertwined the two diagnoses are.

Following a serious car accident, severe dog bite, assault, and other traumatic events, Acute Stress is used to describe how a person initially responds to that trauma. Unlike PTSD, how to treat ASD has not been throughly researched. It is knows that many people with ASD will recover without any treatment. However, some research indicates that 80% of those people receiving an ASD diagnosis will develop PTSD within 6 months. How to reduce the likelihood of someone developing PTSD has been the debate. Frequently the traumatized individual receives treatment along a PTSD protocol. But this has been shown to be ineffective and possibly re-traumatizing. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) was used to treat the September 11, 2001 responders, thinking that it was the most effective intervention available. CISD, in the long run, did not prove itself as a viable intervention.

It is true that in many disasters, war, and mass crises, effective interventions are not as needed as food, shelter, and safety. But what is an effective way to deal with the traumatized assault victim, the survivor of a car accident, or witness to a school shooting? Are there ways to make the following days easier for them? Why don’t PTSD interventions work when so many ASD suffers will later suffer from PTSD? It may be too early yet to know all the answers about ASD since it has only been around as a diagnosis since 1994. Recent research seems to show that cognitive behavioral interventions are having positive outcomes.

For a more complete discussion on Acute Stress Disorder see Briere, J. (2006) Principles of Trauma Therapy. (pp 165-183) London: Sage Publications.

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A Brief Guide for Parents about Self-Injury

September 8, 2009 in Self Injury by Evelyn Wenzel

girlwithparentsSelf-injurious behavior is any time someone deliberately damages their body without conscience intent of suicide. Even though it is about feeling better, not dying; self-injury should be taken seriously. Teens that self-injury use it as a coping mechanism to deal with and gain quick relief from painful emotions. Below are several characteristics of self-injurers. Of course, few self-injurers will exhibit all these characteristics.

 

  • Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants in warm weather
  • Cuts or burns on the arms or legs – sometimes scratches
  • Difficulty identifying and expressing feelings
  • Have trouble self-soothing when emotionally distressed
  • Perfectionism
  • Hypersensitive to rejection
  • Lack impulse control

 

Often parents don’t know what to do or say when they are confronted with a child who self-harms. They may experience a wide range of emotions including: shock, anger, sadness, and guilt. Some blame themselves for the child’s behavior.

 

What Should Parents Do and Say

● Address the issue - don’t pretend it isn’t happening.

● Speak calmly

● Validate your child’s feelings

● You might ask:  “How does self-injury help you to feel better?” or “What can I do differently that you would find supportive?”

●If your child doesn’t want to talk about it, you might say, “I’ll be here when you are ready to talk”.

 

What Is Not Helpful to Do or Say

● DON’T get into a POWER STRUGGLE. You can’t control your child’s behavior.

● Don’t demand and threaten that they stop hurting themselves this instant!

● Don’t punish them.

● Don’t lecture or yell.  Getting angry doesn’t help the situation.

● Don’t say things like, “Are you crazy?” or “I know how you feel.”

 

How are suicide and self-injury different?

Suicidal behavior and self-injury are not the same thing. With a suicide attempt, the individual is hopeless, has given up on life, and sees this act as the only option. Self-injurious behavior is about feeling better and is one of several possibly ways people  respond to stress and overwhelming emotions.

 

However, self-injurious behavior must be considered serious and is best addressed by a professional counselor.

 

Self-injury information was provided by Evelyn Wenzel, LCSW, CAP.  www.evelynwenzel.com  You may contact her at (407)375-1214 or evwenzel@aol.com

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Depression: Learning to Fight the “Beast”

August 31, 2009 in Depression & Anxiety by Evelyn Wenzel

Depressed? Lonely? Feeling like you could sit in a chair and let the world go by? One of the best books that I have read on the topic of depression is Depression: Challenge the beast within you. . . and win. When it comes to books written for depressed people, this book is unique. The pages are filled with pertinent pictures with little text. This is great because when you are really depressed, it is difficult to focus and concentrate. Understanding this, the author breaks the information down into easily read and understood sections.

This book teaches the depressed person how to fight against the “beast”. The pictures do such a good job illustrating depression, “the beast”, that the image of the beast remains long after the book is finished. This book is a must have if you have ever struggled with depression!

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Understanding the “Voice” of Self-Injury

August 25, 2009 in Self Injury by Evelyn Wenzel

Self-injurious behavior has a voice and it speaks of the underlying pain that is buried deep inside. It communicates the emotional pain that can only be represented by physical marks. Sometimes self-harm speaks such loud internal critical self-talk that punishment must ensue and the self-injurer cuts. Perhaps self-injury functions the most frequently as a way to regulate moods. The anxiety and confusion that has built up like an internal combustion engine must be qualmed and the self-injury harms him/herself to bring relief, relaxation, and a sense of calm.

 

There are several other functions that self-injury serves. When the person feels deadened to the world around him/her and emotionally numb, self-harm helps him/her feel alive. The blood seems to bring peace and a certainty of aliveness. It seems to ground the person back to reality. Oddly enough, self-injury can be a way people self-soothe. Once they have burned or cut themselves, they use great care to tend to their injury. It may be the only instance where they pay attention to their needs.  Self-injury can also be used to dissociate, transporting the person to a place where they no longer feel the intense emotions that seem daunting.

 

Sometimes their may be one or more of these functions that self-injury plays. Knowing the function self-injury has in the life of the self-injurer is important for treatment considerations. Understanding the importance of this coping method in the self-injurers life is vital to designing an individual treatment program unique to that person. Developing a voice to communicate without self-injury is always one important aspect of therapy.

 

To learn more about self-injurious behavior, contact Evelyn Wenzel, MSW, LCSW, CAP.

 

 

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5 Tips to Reduce Teen’s Back to School Stress

June 23, 2009 in General Topics by Evelyn Wenzel

Summer brings respite from the pressures of high school, but the stress of the new school year is just around the corner.  School life includes the pressure to academically excel, the fear of not being accepted by peers or attractive to members of the opposite sex, living up to the unrealistic standards of Madison Avenue, body-image issues, discovering strengths and coping with weaknesses, and the list goes on.  School is much more than the three R’s, and while we teach our children skills to help them academically succeed, too often they learn to cope with their other pressures on their own – which often leads to foolish and destructive behaviors – from taking drugs to developing eating orders.  .     

 

While some of these choices and coping mechanisms are best addressed by a professional, the following are some practical tips for teens to follow that may help them have a less stressful time in school:    

 

  1. Engage in positive self-talk. How you think really does dictate how you feel and act.
  2. Exercise - yes, it really helps. Even if you are not an athlete, a gym membership may be perfect. (It is a good place to socialize, too.)
  3. Reduce your caffeine. Starbucks and Red Bull may be popular, but they can increase anxiety levels. 
  4. Don’t hate the body you were born with, but look for creative ways to change clothing or hair styles that will encourage you to like yourself.
  5. Make a commitment to eating healthier. Reduce those carbohydrates!

 

 

Written by Evelyn Wenzel, LCSW, CAP 

5728 Major Blvd., Suite 267

Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 375-1214

Note: you may copy this article, but you must give credit to the author.

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