Remote Control Treatment for Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD?

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• Remote Control Treatment for Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD?
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Remote Control Treatment for Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD?

Many mental health disorders, including illnesses like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are linked to abnormal levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Imagine treating these life-disruptive illnesses with tiny nanoparticles inserted directly into your adrenal glands and operated with a remote control. While that sounds like the stuff of science-fiction, such a treatment may be in reach, say researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Located atop the kidneys, the adrenal glands are a key player in mental health, engaging in continuous two-way interaction with the brain via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Researchers recently worked with rodents to better understand the connection.

Here’s how it worked in the study:

• Scientists created nanoparticles made of magnetite
• The nanoparticles were injected directly into the adrenal glands of rats
• Researchers remotely activated the nanoparticles with a magnetic field to cause them to heat up
• Heat stimulates certain ion channels that control the flow of calcium into the adrenal glands, thus triggering the production and release of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline

This study and projects to follow will help scientists understand more precisely how the body operates and lead to new ways of applying this knowledge to improve mental health. While treatment of mental disorders using remotely controlled nanoparticles is quite likely a long way off, that scientists are seeking to better understand the brain and body is encouraging.

Source:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2020). Researchers achieve remote control of hormone release. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200417212933.htm

Related Articles Dealing with Mental Illness Treatment

• Types of Mental Health Treatment
• 8 Types of Mental Health Medications, Drugs
• Psychiatric Medications Treatment
• Types of Behavioral and Mental Health Services You May Need
• Questions for Your Mental Health Doctor
• What Depression Treatments Are Available Today?
• Depression and Anxiety Treatment
• PTSD Treatments: PTSD Therapy, PTSD Medications Can Help
• How Do You Know if a Mental Health Treatment Really Works?

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: What have you found to be helpful in your own mental health treatment? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

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The After-Effects of Rape: Instagram Live

When it comes to rape, nobody escapes unharmed. Our guest, Liz, was raped twice as a teenager. Later, she would get involved in a sexually abusive relationship, thinking that kind of behavior was normal. Liz drowned her pain with drugs and alcohol and developed an eating disorder. She thought there was something wrong with her, not realizing there was something wrong with the things being done to her.

Join us Thursday, August 6, at 4p ET / 3 CT, on the HealthyPlace Instagram channel. Liz will share her story and struggles. Guest therapist, Dr. Heidi Green, will provide insights into dealing with the after-effects of rape.  Your comments and questions for our guests are always welcomed.

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From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• We Can Only Heal When We're Ready
• 5 Tips to Help Your Child Cope with Autistic Meltdowns
• Speaking on Behalf of Someone with Mental Illness
• Psychiatric Medical Consensus: Importance Over Patient Opinion
• Healthy Boundary or Manipulation? How to Tell the Difference
• Dental Anxiety: Feeling Anxious Over the Dentist, Procedures
• More on the Importance of Empathy
• Can Fitness Trackers Worsen Eating Disorder Behaviors?
• Embrace Change to Build Self-Esteem

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. 6 Dos and Don'ts for Dating Someone with Disordered Eating
2. You Can't Resist Anxiety to Reduce Anxiety
3. Afraid to Fly? Try These Tricks

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"The only person you are destined to be become is the person you decide to be."

Read more mental health quotes.

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