what’s inside the zebra’s mind? - the ehlers danlos ...€¦ · what’s inside the zebra’s...

WHAT’S INSIDE THE ZEBRA’S

MIND? JUNIOR ZEBRAS

ANDREA BULBENA CABRE M.D., M.SC.

ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI

EHLERS DANLOS SYNDROME…

A dermatologist from Denmark called Edward Ehlers described a patient with hyper-extensible skin and with greater mobility laxity and multiple bruises back in 1901. At the same, Henri-Alexandre Danlos, a French dermatologist, described similar cases in 1908. Both cases were presented concurrently at the “Société Parisienne de Vénérologie et Dermatologie” in Paris and were included as disorders of the connective tissue giving the name to the disorders of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

WHY THIS DIFFICULT NAME?

WHAT ABOUT…? •  FEELING WORRIED •  FEELING BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR TUMMY •  HEADACHES OR STOMACHACHES •  NERVOUSNESS •  TROUBLE CONCENTRATING •  IRRITABILITY •  FEELING LIKE LOSING CONTROL •  DIFFICULTY BRETHING •  PALPITATIONS (HEART BEATING FAST) •  AVOIDING CROWDS •  UNABLE TO SPEAK •  FEELING EXTREMELY AFRAID OF SOMETHING

WHAT IS ANXIETY? 1.  Anxiety is NORMAL: (i.e. before a test, rollercoaster):

feeling tense, nervous uneasy…. 2.  Fight /Flight/Freeze response: it helps us prepare for real

danger.

HOWEVER… THIS “ALARM” CAN BE EASILY TRIGGERED

SOMETHING “FEELS DANGEROUS OR THREATENING” (i.e. separating from your parents, meeting new friends….)

1.  Screen/scan place or situation •  Normal: increased attention •  Abnormal: increased sensitivity, anticipation

2.  Physical and mental reaction •  Normal: tachycardia, sudoration, tension,

nervousness •  Abnormal: panic, phobia, severe anxiety

3.  Prevention •  Normal: feeling worried, being afraid •  Abnormal: avoidant behavior, excessive

worry

ANXIETY PROCESS

EDS & ANXIETY •  Patients with EDS are often

diagnosed with anxiety and sometimes with depression as well.

•  This “anxiety” is often characterized not only by worries but also by many bodi ly complains. EDS patients are very sensitive to the environment and their own body processes

•  However, this does not mean that everyone with EDS have anxiety.

ANXIETY PROCESS

The three parts of anxiety: thoughts (what we say to ourselves); physical feelings (how our body responds); and behaviors (what we do or our actions)

BE A DETECTIVE AND IDENTIFY YOUR SYMPTOMS

WHAT TO DO IF I FEEL ANXIOUS

•  TALK TO YOUR PARENTS ABOUT IT •  EXERCISE AND STRETCHING MAY HELP YOU

FEEL BETTER AS WELL AS YOGA AND PILATES.

•  RELAXATION TECHNIQUES (BREATHING) •  IF IT INTERFERES WITH YOUR FUNCTIONING

GET PROFESSIONAL HELP •  DON’T BE ASHAMED, ANXIETY IS VERY

COMMON!!!!

BRETAHING EXERCISES

THANK YOU!!!