In light of the recent tragedy in Arizona, I thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the more commonly known mental health diagnoses. I noticed that people in the media are very cavalier about calling the shooter, Jared Loughner, “crazy”. Although many of us use this term lightly (I sometimes prefer to shorten it to “cray-cray”), there are a lot of people out there that have some form of a mental illness. Some people can manage their symptoms with medication and/or psychotherapy (it's highly recommended for those taking psychotropic medication to use it in conjunction with psychotherapy), while others need more in-depth treatment such as hospitalization or institutionalization as well as medication and therapy.
The DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) provides diagnostic codes that encompass mental health diagnoses, personality disorders, intellectual functioning, environmental factors and global funtioning. I'm just going to focus on the better-known diagnoses, as there are a great number of misconceptions about them. For example, I had a client who told me they must be bi-polar because sometimes they're happy and fine and other times they're angry and sad. After going through a checklist of symptoms, it turns out they were just moody.
The following descriptions were pulled from the WebMD website:
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: (GAD) is characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry. People with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster and can't stop worrying about health, money, family, work, or school. In people with GAD, the worry often is unrealistic or out of proportion for the situation. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear, and dread. Eventually, the anxiety so dominates the person's thinking that it interferes with daily functioning, including work, school, social activities, and relationships.
Panic Disorder: a serious condition that strikes without reason or warning. Symptoms of panic disorder include sudden attacks of fear and nervousness, as well as physical symptoms such as sweating and a racing heart. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation, which often is not threatening. Over time, a person with panic disorder develops a constant fear of having another panic attack, which can affect daily functioning and general quality of life.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: (PTSD) once called shell shock or battle fatigue syndrome, is a serious condition that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic or terrifying event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened. PTSD is a lasting consequence of traumatic ordeals that cause intense fear, helplessness, or horror, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, an accident, war, or natural disaster. Families of victims can also develop post-traumatic stress disorder, as can emergency personnel and rescue workers. Most people who experience a traumatic event will have reactions that may include shock, anger, nervousness, fear, and even guilt. These reactions are common; and for most people, they go away over time. For a person with PTSD, however, these feelings continue and even increase, becoming so strong that they keep the person from living a normal life. People with PTSD have symptoms for longer than one month and cannot function as well as before the event occurred.
Mood Disorders
Bipolar I: (pronounced "bipolar one" and also known as manic-depressive disorder or manic depression) A person affected by bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her life. A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated mood, accompanied by abnormal behavior that disrupts life. Most people with bipolar I disorder also suffer from episodes of depression. Often, there is a pattern of cycling between mania and depression. This is where the term "manic depression" comes from. In between episodes of mania and depression, many people with bipolar I disorder can live normal lives.
Bipolar II: similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling between high and low over time.
However, in bipolar II disorder, the "up" moods never reach full-on mania. The less-intense elevated moods in bipolar II disorder are called hypomanic episodes, or hypomania. A person affected by bipolar II disorder has had at least one hypomanic episode in life. Most people with bipolar II disorder also suffer from episodes of depression. This is where the term "manic depression" comes from. In between episodes of hypomania and depression, many people with bipolar II disorder live normal lives.Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by extreme changes in mood, from mania to depression. It can lead to risky behavior, damaged relationships and careers, and even suicidal tendencies if it's not treated.
The primary symptoms of bipolar disorder are dramatic and unpredictable mood swings. The illness has two (bi) strongly contrasting phases (polar).
1) bipolar mania or hypo-mania- euphoria or irritability
- excessive talk; racing thoughts
- inflated self-esteem
- unusual energy; less need for sleep
- impulsiveness, a reckless pursuit of gratification (shopping sprees, impetuous travel, more and sometimes promiscuous sex, high-risk business investments, fast driving)
- depressed mood and low self-esteem
- low energy levels and apathy
- sadness, loneliness, helplessness, guilt
- slow speech, fatigue, and poor coordination
- insomnia or oversleeping
- suicidal thoughts and feelings
- poor concentration
- lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Depression: Most people have felt sad or depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But when feelings of intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- last for days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally, your depression may be something more than sadness. It may very well be clinical depression -- a treatable medical condition.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with depressive illnesses do not all experience the same symptoms. How severe they are, how frequent, and how long they last will vary. It depends on the individual and his or her particular illness. Here are common symptoms people with depression experience:
- 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
- no pleasure left in life any more
- 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
Schizophrenia
http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/default.htm
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. People with schizophrenia -- the most chronic and disabling of the major mental illnesses -- often have problems functioning in society, at work, at school, and in relationships. Schizophrenia can leave its sufferer frightened and withdrawn. It is a life-long disease that cannot be cured, but usually can be controlled with proper treatment.
Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia is not a split personality. Schizophrenia is a psychosis, a type of mental illness in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. At times, people with psychotic disorders lose touch with reality. The world may seem like a jumble of confusing thoughts, images, and sounds. The behavior of people with schizophrenia may be very strange and even shocking. A sudden change in personality and behavior, which occurs when people lose touch with reality, is called a psychotic episode.
Schizophrenia varies in severity from person to person. Some people have only one psychotic episode while others have many episodes during a lifetime but lead relatively normal lives between episodes. Schizophrenia symptoms seem to worsen and improve in cycles known as relapses and remissions.
Personality Disorders
There are 10 personality disorders listed in the DSM-IV. However, I'm just going to focus on the two that are referenced most frequently.
Borderline Personality Disorder: a mental illness that causes intense mood swings, impulsive behaviors, and severe problems with relationships and self-worth. People with this disorder often have other problems such as depression, eating disorders, or substance abuse. Most of the time, signs of the disorder first appear in childhood. But problems often don't start until early adulthood. Treatment can be very hard, and getting better can take years. This is because problems with emotions and behaviors are hard to improve. But treatment may work better than experts used to think. Most people with severe symptoms get better over time.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: one of a group of conditions called dramatic personality disorders. People with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image. Narcissistic personality disorder is further characterized by an abnormal love of self, an exaggerated sense of superiority and importance, and a preoccupation with success and power. However, these attitudes and behaviors do not reflect true self-confidence. Instead, the attitudes conceal a deep sense of insecurity and a fragile self-esteem.
Clearly, I personally do not know anything about Jared Loughner other than what has been reported by the media but it appears that he is a deeply disturbed young man. However, his actions do not represent the actions of all people with a mental illness, even those who need institutionalization. Many people are able to function within society and manage their symptoms and do not act out in violent and aggressive ways.
I know this seems like a lot of information, but this is just the tip of the iceberg! There are many things I left out so if you would like more information, please click on the links included on this page. You can also contact a mental health professional or your doctor if you have any further questions or are concerned about your own or a loved one's mental health.
No comments:
Post a Comment