Psychosis: A Misunderstood Illness

Mental Health Awareness Month

MAY 2017

Welcome back to the Blog all Readers, Followers & Visitors!

We are in the midst of a heavy duty discussion about mental health.  We've been using our Journals as a way to take notes about what we have been learning here on the Blog, as well as take notes about what is actually going on with each of us personally.

Mental Health is a very important area of our lives.  It is vital that our well being physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally be in top shape.  The very reason that we get up each day should be so that we may live our lives to the best of our ability with as little stress and strain as possible.  That sounds really nice right?  Yes, it does!  Is it possible?  Yes, it is!

Let's use our Journals as therapy

Right at this moment, while you are here on the Blog, just take a moment to breathe.  Breathe in then breathe out... inhale, then exhale.  Feel your breath, and notice whether you are tense or not.  If you feel tension anywhere in your body, please take a moment now to notice where the tension is and write it down in your Journal.  Then repeat the breathing process and notice whether the tension in your body is decreasing or not.  If it is not decreasing, stretch both your arms out to your sides, then pull your arms in.  Repeat this process and make a note of how your body feels.  Stretch your arms to your back, and then pull your arms back to your sides -- straight out.  Then do the same with your arms moving them from your sides to the front of your body.  Notice how the muscles in your back respond.  Move your head from left to right, then from front to back.  Repeat two more times.  Now back to breathing ~ Breathe in then breathe out... inhale, then exhale.  Feel your breath, and notice whether you are tense or not.  Make notes in your journal of the areas in your body where you feel tension.  Work on those areas of your body to loosen them up.

Do Arm Stretches

to loosen up

We can work on the arm stretches and leg stretches to loosen up our bodies so that we minimize the stress build up that happens with each of us every day without us being aware of it.  Remember to roll your head around to the left then to the right to loosen up.  Stretch your back by bending your upper body to the right, then to the left...then backwards, then forwards.  Make notes in your Journal daily of how you feel after your breathing exercises and stretches.

Our Journal will open up areas of discovery about ourselves that we had not thought about.  The main thing that we each want to do now is get ready to write about our topic for today.

Take Notes about today's area of mental health . . . 

Psychosis

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a condition defined by a group of illnesses that disrupt the functioning of the brain to the point where normal functioning in everyday life becomes almost impossible.  Someone experiencing an episode of psychosis is called psychotic.  A psychotic person will lose contact with reality.

Question for you:  Do you know anyone who has lost contact with reality?

What are the symptoms of psychosis?

Delusions:  An idea or belief that someone believes is real but is contrary to reality.  For example; a person experiencing delusions may think that they are an important figure like Jesus Christ – these are called delusions of grandeur.

Hallucinations:  A false sensory perception.  A person experiencing hallucinations may hear, feel, see, taste or smell something that is not there.  Commonly, they will hear an external voice(s) that no one else can hear.

Confused thinking:  Everyday thoughts become confused and sentences may be unclear or hard to understand. Thought can speed up or slow down making following a conversation and remembering things difficult.

Changed feelings:  How you feel can change for no particular reason.  You may feel odd and cut off from the rest of the world.  Mood swings are also common and you may go from massive highs to massive lows.  You may seem to feel less emotion, or show less emotion to those around you.

Changed behaviour:  You may be extremely active or have difficulty getting the energy to do things, laugh when things don’t seem funny, or become angry or upset without any cause.

What are the types of psychotic illnesses?

Schizophrenia:  A complex mental illness with those diagnosed with it experiencing an array of psychotic symptoms.  Contrary to popular belief, a schizophrenic person does not have a ‘split personality’.

Bipolar disorder:  A mental illness categorised by extreme moods being either very high or very low known as mania. These episodes of extreme moods can lead to psychosis.

Drug induced psychosis:  Caused by drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, magic mushrooms, LSD and ecstasy etc. The psychotic episode lasts until the effects of the drugs wear off (hours or days).

Brief reactive psychosis: Psychotic symptoms lasting less than a month and due to a stressful life event.

Psychotic depression: Sometimes depression can become so intense and severe that it results in psychotic symptoms.

What are the causes of psychosis?

Although the exact causes are not yet fully understood, it is likely that psychosis is hereditary.  Environmental factors like drugs and stress, among others, may also play a role in one developing a psychotic illness.

How is it diagnosed?

There’s no specific test for psychosis.  A healthcare professional will determine whether a person is psychotic depending on the symptoms they exude.  Generally, a doctor will perform other tests to rule out another condition.

What treatments are available?

With a psychotic episode early intervention is key and may reduce the length of the psychotic episode.  Treatments usually involve medication, education about the illness, counselling, support from family, friends and community, avoiding drugs and reducing levels of stress.

Key points to remember:

• There is a stigma surrounding mental illness but 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness during their lifetime.

• Psychotic people are often misconstrued as being unpredictable and dangerous but they often only pose a threat to themselves.

• If you know someone that is experiencing a psychotic episode it is important that you offer them as much help as you can so they can get better.

• A psychotic episode can happen to anyone, regardless of age, sex, culture or location.

• A psychotic episode can be very scary and confusing and should be treated with understanding and not criticised or laughed at.

I sure hope you have enjoyed this educational Blog Session about Psychosis.  We'll see you back here for our next exciting Blog Session about mental health, and don't forget to bring your Journal along!

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

©Copyright - René Allen - MAY 2017 - All Rights Reserved

 

Narcissistic personality disorder

May 2017 ~ Mental Health Awareness Month

Good Afternoon all Blog Readers, Followers and Visitors to our Blog where we have been discussing Mental Health.  If you are here for the first time, we are happy to have you with us!

During the month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, we are discussing various mental health conditions and issues that may affect you or someone you know.  We write in our Journals, Diaries and/or Notebooks daily to keep up with our own personal thoughts and activities, as well as take notes on the information from the Blog here.

You are able to go back to any previous Blog Session here by scrolling down, or clicking on any of the links in the "Blog Archive" which is located here on the Blog in the far right-hand column. 

Just get comfortable, and if you have a Journal or Diary, please pull it out and get ready to take notes about the Narcissistic Personality Disorder that you or someone you know may possibly be dealing with.

We'll start off by talking about exactly what the medical condition of having a narcissistic personality disorder consists of . . .

Narcissistic personality disorder

Medical condition

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) ~ is a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of self and a deep need for praise and attention from others.

Unless you know exactly what narcissists do and can identify them, you’ll never know they’re ruining your life.  But you’ll always feel it, like a poison running through your entire body.

Unlike other abusers, narcissists work behind the scenes and never in the open.  They emotionally threaten and scare you into doing what they want.  They use fear, guilt, and shame to weaken you and force you under their control.

Narcissist at work
(controlling & overbearing)
Overbearing:  unpleasantly or arrogantly domineering;
often trying to control the behavior of other people in an annoying or unwanted way;
domineering; dictatorial; haughtily or rudely arrogant. 

Narcissist at work

Do you know someone who makes you feel like this?  If so, you know that awful feeling doesn’t go away after the abuse: it could possibly cripple you for the rest of your life if you let it.

What’s worse is that anything can trigger that feeling at any time, and re-open those old wounds again.

It could be a parent, a boss, a coworker, a friend, a sibling, or a spouse.  What makes narcissists so dangerous is that they are usually the people closest to you.  They "hide in plain sight", so you don't even know they are hurting you.

If you get involved with or are involved with a narcissist, you probably won't realize what is happening right away.  Just all of a sudden you lack confidence, feel horrible about yourself and can't do anything right, and it will feel like there is no hope of getting away.

It is not rare either, it is happening all the time.  You've probably been, or currently are, a victim to a narcissistic person.

Keep these signs in mind so that you can recognize a narcissist . . .

1)  A narcissist doesn’t care about you, only cares about themselves and deliberately makes you feel bad about yourself.

2)  There are no exceptions.  Narcissists cannot tolerate others feeling good—they only feel good when you feel bad.

3)  They make disturbing threats and scare you to death because it makes them feel powerful and in control.  Your problems aren’t important—you’re just a landfill for them to dump their problems.

4)  They even like it: it makes them feel good to hurt you. And they won’t stop until you’re a dried husk crawling on the floor.

NOTE:  You may be wondering if only intimate relationships apply when it comes to narcissists, but the truth is narcissists can be anyone.  A friend, coworker or even a family member may have this disorder.  But no matter who they are, they always make you feel bad about yourself.  That’s their greatest weapon—undermining your self-confidence.  But the way they do it is so subtle that most people miss it.

Do You Know or Live With a Narcissist?  Find Out in our next Blog Session by Learning all 16 Signs of a Narcissist

Until next time, be sure to Journal your thoughts and maintain your calm.

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

©Copyright - René Allen - MAY 2017 - All Rights Reserved

Clinical Depression & other forms of Depression

May 2017

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

We're back to discuss more about mental health.  We were talking about Bipolar disorders and the Bipolar Spectrum  in our last Blog Session, as well as eight (8) Depression Manifestations.

We have been receiving good feedback and comments from the Readers here and the Followers by Email.  You too, are encouraged to share your thoughts, comments and any questions you may have by adding your input in the "Comments Section" of this Blog at the end of each Blog post.  You may view all comments by clicking on the link that displays the number of comments.  Please G+1 this Blog if you like what you find here.  If you are a Google user, please feel free to add me to your Circle!  All Blog posts are available for viewing by clicking on any of the links in the "Blog Archive" in the far right column.

Today we are going to continue with our mental health discussion and talk about a few other areas in relation to mental health.  First, the chart that we displayed in our Blog Session from a couple of days ago ~ Bipolar Syndrome Types. . .

The Bipolar Syndrome Types listed in the above chart:

1.  Bipolar with HYPER (extreme) mania 

      There may or may not be much depression.

2.  Bipolar Type 2 with (HYPO) not extreme mania

      but usually more significant depression.

3.  Rapid Cycling with frequent cycling up & down

      more than 4 times per year, or even ultra rapid cycling

      several times within a day.

4.  Mixed States

      Both manic and depressed at the same time.

5.  Cyclothymic Disorder "bipolar light"

      Hypo-mania and mild depression.

If you believe you may be bipolar or have a bipolar disorder, please do not hesitate to get help.  Talk about how you are feeling with your friends and family members.  Don't forget to get a Journal and/or a Diary to chronicle your feelings, thoughts and emotions.  To find out if you fit into any of the five categories listed, please check with your doctor.

Some of the other topics that we are going to focus on today are the areas of Clinical Depression & other forms of Depression.  Depression comes in many forms, and the information that follows may help you to identify what type of depression you may be dealing with, or someone you know may be dealing with . . .

Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is a serious type of depression that is characterized by loss of interest and pleasure in activities and a consistently depressed state that lasts at least two weeks, according to Mayo Clinic.  Clinical depression interferes with aspects of daily living, such as work and relationships.

Clinical Depression

[Photo Credit:  Katarzyna Bialasiewicz iStock Getty Images]

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

Symptoms of clinical depression, also known as major depression, include fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, a 5 percent increase or decrease of weight in a month, suicidal thoughts and lower than usual concentration, states WebMD. Other symptoms include too much or too little sleep and restlessness. Clinical depression is commonly treated with either antidepressants, talk therapy, psychotherapy or a combination of all three.

Mild to Moderate Depression

Symptoms which are typical of mild to moderate depression include:

• Depressed mood
• Low energy
• Sleep difficulties
• Anxiety
• Changes in appetite
• Problems with concentration
• Low tolerance for stress
• Irritability

Psychologist Jerry Kennard further distinguishes the difference between mild and moderate by describing mild depression as a depression in which day-to-day functioning is a struggle, but the person is rarely affected in any significant way.

People with mild depression can get by without medication and will find that their symptoms get better in time even without treatment.

Moderate depression, has a greater chance of affecting a person in his/her daily life.  A person with moderate depression may neglect his/her personal hygiene and generally look as miserable as he/she feels.  When a person exhibits this degree of depression, it becomes more likely that treatment with an antidepressant or perhaps psychotherapy or counseling will be necessary.

Severe depression

Once depression becomes severe, Kennard notes, a person basically ceases to function beyond the most basic activities.  A person with severe depression will exhibit such symptoms as:

• More severe depressed mood
• Slowed speech or movements
• Agitation
• Extreme memory and concentration problems
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Significant weight loss or gain
• Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Strong thoughts of suicide
• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

In some cases, severe depression might also involve psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.

Severe depression is, in a nutshell, depression which is more disabling and dangerous to the person who is going through it and requires prompt professional assistance in order for the person to deal with it.

Herbal remedies would not be wise in such a case when time is of the essence in order to prevent the person from harming himself or herself and/or others.

Please Note:  When psychosis occurs alongside depression, it is called psychotic depression.

Who Will Develop Psychotic Depression?

It is estimated that about three percent to 11 percent of all people will experience severe depression during their lifetime. Of those who experience severe clinical depression, about 10 percent to 15 percent will develop psychotic depression. It is, however, impossible to predict the exact people who might be prone to psychotic depression, as not enough is known about the condition's causes. In addition, the definitions and measurement tools for depression are always changing, meaning that these statistics are always shifting.

From what we know now, some of the factors that may make you more prone to depression, in general, include:

• Having a parent or sibling with depression.  A propensity toward depression, especially severe depression, tends to run in families.  If you have a parent or sibling who has had depression, you are more likely to develop it yourself.

We'll talk more about psychotic depression in our next Blog Session.  We'll get into what is believed to cause psychotic depression, and what are the symptoms?

Until we meet again back here on the Blog, remember that your Journals/Diaries should be put to good use during the month of May.  You'll be glad you took the time to write out your feelings, emotions, activities, and thoughts.  Be sure to also make a note in your journal about your Research on the topic of Mental Health.  Add the Sites you visit to get further information on the areas of mental health that interest you.  Use your Journal as a Reference for the information that is important to you.

Hoping that today's Blog Session gave you something to think about for Mental Health Awareness Month . . .

Hmmm ~ Lots to think about . . .

See you next time back here on the Blog dear Friends!

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

©Copyright - René Allen - MAY 2017 - All Rights Reserved

  

This is the month of MAY 2017

 ~ Mental Health Awareness Month ~

Greetings everyone ~ Now that we have entered into the month of May, we should all be aware that this is Mental Health Awareness Month.  This is a good time to take notice of your mental health and the mental health of those in your family, those you may work with, and those who are around you.  Now is a good time to become involved in discussions about mental health.  You never know who may be around you that is crying out for help silently.

Do you recognize any of the following symptoms in yourself or others? . . .

1.  Changes in energy levels or sleep patterns?

2.  Frequent thoughts of death or suicide?

3.  Loss of interest or pleasure in activities?

4.  Noticeable restlessness or irritability?

5.  Difficulties with concentration or decision making?

6.  Changes in appetite, eating habits or weight?

7.  Feeling sad, empty, hopeless, worthless, or guilty?

If so, then you may want to utilize Mental Health Screening Tools.

Taking a mental health screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.

Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And, remember recovery is possible.

There are guidelines for use of the Mental Health Screening Tool, and if you are unsure of which Screen to take, you can follow the guidelines to determine which Screening Tool would work best for you . . .

DEPRESSION ~ is for individuals who are feeling overwhelming sadness.

ANXIETY ~ will help if you feel that worry and fear affect your day to day life.

Bipolar ~ is for individuals who have mood swings - or unusual or extreme shifts in mood and energy.

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) ~ is for those who are bothered by a traumatic life event.

Alcohol or Substance Use ~ will help determine if your use of alcohol or drugs is an area to address.

Psychosis ~ is for young people (age 12-35) who feel like their brain is playing tricks on them (seeing, hearing or believing things that don't seem real or quite right)

Eating Disorder ~ can help explore eating related concerns that have an impact on your physical health and overall well-being.

There are also the following areas that can be explored . . .

The Youth Screen ~ is for young people (age 11-17) who are concerned that their emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

The Parent Screen ~ is for parents of young people to determine if their child’s emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

Work Health Survey ~ is a screen to explore how healthy or unhealthy your work environment is.  (NOTE:  This Screen is in testing phase and every screen taken helps Mental Health American "MHA" to better understand mental health in the workplace).

You can visit the Mental Health America Website to find out how to take a Screen.

If you have any comments, thoughts, questions, suggestions, or would like to leave further information about Mental Health, feel free to leave your comments here on the Blog.

As always, I'm looking forward to having you back here in our next Blog Session for further topics of discussion and more about mental health.  In the meantime, be kind to one another.

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

©Copyright - René Allen - MAY 2017 - All Rights Reserved