Compulsive Hoarding - How Is It Different From Messy And Disorganized?

Compulsive hoarding is a spreading disease but how can you know if you have a disease or are just messy and disorganized. After all organization does not come naturally to everyone but must be learned by most. But there is a big difference between messy and disorganized and compulsive hoarding.

A compulsive hoarder will acquire and save items that they think have value and importance. Normally people displaying compulsive hoarding characteristics also have some other related condition like obsessive-compulsive disorder, dementia, or Alzheimer's. Of course the hoarding can manifest by itself as well. Typically researchers recognize it as being part of an OCD disorder. Most hoarders display compulsive behavior like ordering and counting. They tend to be perfectionists and indecisive.

The signs of compulsive hoarding go well beyond a messy home. Normally they cannot limit or control what they are collecting but go on gathering these things. They will go on shopping and even check through garbage around the neighborhood for more. They often like to inspect and count their collections and they can even display behavior known as trichotillomania which is abnormal grooming behavior. This is nail biting, compulsive hair pulling, or skin picking.

The real illness is not just the clutter in their homes but rather how they look at and think about their stuff. Normally this is based around fear. The fear of running out of something or of throwing it away and needing it in the future. There may also be an excessive emotional attachment to the items which is part of the reason they like to pile them up to keep them in sight rather than storing them away.

Hoarders have great difficulty throwing any thing away for fear it is the wrong decision. For this reason, they keep everything. They avoid the decision to throw it away to avoid the anxiety and torment that they would experience by doing any other action. Their is also a control element at work. Keeping the items gives them control over it and their lives.

Clutter in the hoarders home is only a symptom and clutter does not mean, in and of itself, that someone is a compulsive hoarder. You have to look at the entire picture to make that determination. You also need to look at the whole picture to be able to help them. To decide if they need some organizational skills or outright therapy to be able to handle their lives.

Why I Believe That Extremely Intelligent People Slip Into Psychological Paranoia So Easily

It is widely known by psychologist that extremely smart people of very high intelligence often have a psychological condition of paranoia. Have you ever wondered why this is? I've read some information on this, and I'm not sure I really enjoy the commentary, or buy into all the research reports. However, I do have some theories of my own which I'd like to spend a few moments and discuss with you.

You see, it appears to me that the reason that very intelligent people slip into a psychological paranoia situations so easily is because they have excellent memories, and see things and relate them with other things, instances and circumstances at a more robust pace, and due to the speed of their brain, find themselves exhibiting a new brainwaves as this occurs. In other words, in simplification; let's just say that they get the déjà vu sensation 10 times as fast as the average person.

Also, folks that are well-versed in many topics and subjects know a little bit about everything, and when they are talking and discussing things in various categories, they have explored every nook and cranny of those topics completely previously. Therefore anything that someone says, or comes up with, they have most likely heard before, or had even thought of themselves. You can see how this could initiate and trigger a paranoia episode.

People that are too smart, and I'm assuming you're "not" one of them if you're reading this article, don't have this problem, so they can't relate, at least not as easily. That's okay, many people don't understand, and I suppose that many psychologists who are not very intelligent, and perhaps have far too much schooling for their own good, don't understand the psychological triggers, or the way that these high-powered brains are able to process information.

The faster a brain processes information, and thinks and reasons, the more things it is able to think about, often simultaneously, and therefore it makes connections all over the place. Some of them are relatively simple connections, that regular people also make, including you, or those that aren't quite as smart. In fact, there might be some point whereas someone with an IQ of 150 or above may have had every single thought that a person of 100 IQ could ever possibly have.

In other words, whatever the person with the hundred IQ says, the person with the higher IQ has already thoroughly explored that information. Therefore, as a conversation progresses, the person with the higher IQ will lead the conversation, and the person with a lesser IQ will attempt to keep up and say things which are either common knowledge, or might make them look smart. Unfortunately, in doing this, it adds to the paranoia challenge of the "intellectual being" because it's as if all that information is nothing more than a replay - and they reason "how did they know" what I'm thinking, is this a trick?

I hope I've explained this to you, however you may not understand it, because not everyone seems to be able to grasp this concept, my thinking is; that is because they're unable. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Temperament Therapy - How Is Your Temperament?

Temperament Therapy is a form of counseling that is not the traditional way of dealing with psychology. This form of therapy often works faster and helps patients more because a counselor will try to immediately identify what the problem is, and then use techniques to relieve the patient emotionally rather than spend time trying to find more hidden problems.

First to understand what Temperament Therapy is, one needs to define the term Temperament. The temperament of a human is who he or she really is. Humans are not limited strictly to a genetic makeup. The way each individual reacts to others, to situations and to the environment around them shows an inherent Temperament value. To understand this, one has to first believe that humans are created by God. Therefore there is a certain degree of humanity, emotion and instinct that is already in each individual when they are born.

Just because humans are born with a certain Temperament or blend does not mean that they are stuck to a certain behavior. Many factors influence a Temperament over time and would determine certain personality outcomes in a person's life.

Environment plays a part in Temperament as well. For example, the best child in the world can be hardened if brought up in violent neighborhood. But a weaker child could also be made stronger in the same environment if he decides to better himself in spite of his environment. Also, God Himself can change a person by His mighty works in their life.

Temperament Therapy is a special blend of ministry and psychology where a counselor needs to use the skills of a psychologist, but then minister to the patient through coaching techniques. The counselor would need to identify the problem immediately and assist the person with trying to find out what really matters in his life.

God has a plan for each creation of His, and sometimes their own personal desires conflict with His plan and they need a little reminder to seek out what is really important in life, not just what they think may be important to them for whatever reason.

When considering therapy, Temperament may indeed have a lot to offer counselors in terms of discovering the true problems in life and being able to treat them rather than always digging deeper for more conflicts and the reasons for conflict.

It may be more beneficial to accept an issue in life as that, rather than searching for why that issue exists, or what led up to it. People who seek Temperament Therapy are often helped greatly, at a much faster rate than by those who seek psychiatry therapy.

Borderline Personality Disorder Test

Borderline Personality Disorder known as BPD is a type of mental illness which is considered to be quite serious. It is characterized by instability in behavior, moods, interpersonal relations and self-image. Family and work life, long term planning and awareness of one's individual identity is usually affected by this instability. People with BPD often find it difficult to regulate their emotions. Though this disorder is not as popular as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, it does affect 2 percent of the adult population, mainly young women. The rate of self-harm without having the intention of suicide is high in such cases. In some cases patients suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder also tend to commit suicide. Among patients hospitalized for psychiatric problems, patients with BPD make 20 percent. Over time many improve with help and are able to lead useful lives eventually.

While people suffering from bipolar disorder or depression tend to display continued state of mood for a longer period, people suffering from BPD may undergo severe outbreaks of anger, anxiety and depression lasting for a few hours or maximum a day. These may have associations with series of aggression which is impulsive, such as alcohol or drug abuse and injury to self. Lack of self esteem is also common amongst patients suffering from BPD. They may feel mistreated unfairly, empty, or even bored at times. These symptoms are most severe when people having Borderline Personality Disorder feel that they do not have social support and are isolated.

The social relationships of people having BPD have highly unstable patterns. There is a change in their attitude towards their friends, family and loved ones, from love and great admiration to dislike and intense anger. BPD often appears with other psychiatric problems such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, and other disorders. BPD is caused by the abnormal functioning of the Lymbic area of the brain controlling emotions. It may involve neurotransmitters such as dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

A borderline personality disorder test is an evaluation used for diagnosing borderline personality disorder. A mental health professional administers the borderline personality disorder test. The test usually comprises of a series of questions or statements which the patient has to answer accordingly. If five or more symptoms are identified through the patient's answers then the diagnosis follow accordingly.

Some of the questions covered in the test are check for reactions to abandonment, relationship issues, instability, questions pertaining to self esteem and self image, questions that try to find out more about the self destructive behavior of the individual or patient, questions on suicidal thoughts and behavior, or self injurious behavior, questions pertaining to feelings, especially feelings of emptiness and difficulty in controlling emotions especially anger and ones revolving around paranoia and loss of reality.

There are a number of websites having border personality disorder test which can help you determine whether someone you care about may have the symptoms of BPD. Once you have administered the test you can then discuss the results with a mental health professional to help with diagnosis and treatment of BPD. The causes, symptoms, signs are generally covered by the borderline personality disorder test. Treatment along with the steps you can take by yourself to fight this condition should be recommended by qualified doctors only.

There have been improvements in the treatments for BPD in the past few years. Individual and group psychotherapy have produced positive results for many patients. A new treatment termed dialectical behavior therapy known as DBT, is a psychosocial treatment that is usually recommended for BPD and seems to be promising. Depending on the specific symptoms the patient has, medications may be prescribed.

Take A Bipolar Test To Find Out If You Have This Problem

In the absence of research and development many medical ailments were earlier treated as incurable mammoths. Bipolar Disorder is one among them.

Earlier the individuals suffering with this kind of disorder was often regarded as a 'very moody person' or in extreme cases the family wrote them off saying that they have become insane. Later on the scientists made us realize that this disorder is a - Manic Depression, also known by the name of - Bipolar Disorder.

Though this disease is not new, along with the name many other things regarding this disease are quite new like the help we can lend to such patients. As its effects can be very wide spread and deadly, the treatment is as crucial.

This ailment is too dangerous as its patients can also become suicidal. Here are some important features of this ailment:

1. The bipolar disorder is illustrated by the extreme mood changes that is the person acts manically euphoric and/or extremely depressed. Hence it is also called as the manic-depressive illness.

2. The mood fluctuations in such patients can go to any extremes with in any period of time that is hours, days and/or months.

3. This ailment can take place right from the late teenage stage and continue until death. However, there have also been cases where the ailment started right from the childhood and got delayed up to the adult years.

4. While mood swings happen with all of us now and then, very few actually experience the radical changes that can be characterized as bipolar disorder. In such cases the patients' day-to-day life and relationships are also significantly affected. Their academics, occupation, interaction with others all happen differently.

In case you want to check if you are afflicted with the unfortunate situation, read through the symptoms & signs of the disease carefully:

Signs & Symptoms in the Depressive Phase

1. Pessimistic - the patient cry for hours together

2. Feeling of hopelessness

3. Low self esteem

4. Diminished libido

5. Progressive decrease in the energy level and the day to day activities

6. Apathetic

7. Anti-social

8. Cognitive difficulties

9. Always anxious and irritable

10. Changes in weight that is unusual weight gain or loss

11. Either oversleeping or insomnia

12. Drug abuse or alcohol abuse

13. Suicidal ideations

Signs & Symptoms in the Manic Phase

1. Extremely euphoric

2. Aggressive

3. Impulsive, irresponsibly wild

4. Excessively adventurous & involved in activities which are quite threatening to life like drugs, sex, excessive spending, violence, etc.

5. Insomniac

6. Flight of ideas

7. Exceedingly talkative

8. Very outgoing

9. Self-centered

10. At times have hallucinations or delusions

11. Easily distracted, restless

12. Patients have no idea as to the problems their behavior is creating

In case you suspect to have any of these symptoms and your abnormal behavior is causing problems in the errands, its time that you must seek professional help in order to lead a normal life again.

While there are numerous tests that are able to differentiate the bipolar patient from the unremarkable sad and/or brisk individuals, as such there is no specific test available to define bipolar patient. The primary reason for this is that the symptoms & signs of bipolar disorder are pretty similar to several other mental aberrations such as substance abuse disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia, or borderline personally disorder.

However, the physicians have drafted a battery of tests that can identify the potential patients of bipolar disorder. The basic tests used by the professionals are as follows:

1. Medical Examinations

With this type of examination the doctor is able to assess the patient as to what are his/her probable grounds of mood swings.

2. Oral & Written Psychiatric Questionnaire and/or Evaluations

Well researched and designed by the psychiatrists for years together, these questionnaires often yield very accurate details.

3. Family History

When the bipolar disorder is there a person's blood relation, he/she is quite a prospective patient of the disease.

4. Medical History

Here the doctor checks on the medications that you have taken in the past as certain medicines can trigger bipolar disorder and the mood swings in the individual.

5. Interviewing the family members

The doctor interviews the family to scratch out each every minute detail of the patient's behavior. Being the first witness of the changes in the individual, these are a very important excerpt for the doctor to cure the patient of bipolar disorder.

6. Mood Swing Episodes

While all above mentioned test create quite a profound ground for the doctor to understand the ailment of an individual, it becomes rather difficult to cure the person when he/she is not able to understand that they are ill. Hence, it becomes imperative to the doctor to trace the absolute & careful history regarding the patient's mood swings. As compared to the normal people, the people suffering with such an ailment while in the mania stage can be extremely happy for at least 4 consecutive days at a stretch. They get distracted quite easily, they are very talkative, and have a high flight of ideas.

7. Depression Episodes

The ones who have repetitive episodes of depression are often suspected to have the bipolar disorder. Such patients show a very positive response to the immediate treatment but the episodes remain constant and the frequent relapses make the situation rather worst. By and by, they stop responding to the anti-depressant treatment being given to them.

In case this sort of ailment is diagnosed in its early stage, it can be controlled effectively with a combination of the psychopharmacologic medications & psychotherapy. Besides the treatment, a very strong & constant emotional support from the family & friends is indeed imperative for the patients suffering with bipolar disorder.

Make sure that you choose the apt medical professional and/or real friend in need to help you through the struggle. Help nowadays is also available just a click away on the World Wide Web or the internet. Many institutions now have established their websites for self of such individuals.

Remember, one who is suspected of any mental disorder is considered innocent until & unless he/she is examined & diagnosed by some legitimate doctor.

Latent Homosexuality: Paranoid Delusions Rage and Anxiety

The discussion on latent homosexuality found its way into the public arena when the July 26 edition of MSNBC hyped Ann Coulter's interview with host Donny Deutsch, which she said of former President Bill Clinton exhibts "some sort of latent homosexuality." When Coulter was asked by the host if she was indeed calling Clinton a "latent homosexual," Coulter replied, "Yeah." "The level of rampant promiscuity by Clinton does show some level of latent homosexuality." In support of her assessment, of Clinton, Coulter mentioned "passages" she had memorized from the Starr Report resulting from the investigation into the Monica Lewinsky controversy.

Latent homosexuality is an erotic tendency toward members of the same sex which is not consciously experienced or expressed in overt action. The term was originally proposed by Sigmund Freud. According to Freud, "latent" or "unconscious" homosexuality which derived from failure of the defense of repression and and sublimation permit or threaten emergence into consciousness of homosexual impulses, which give rise to conflict manifested in the appearance of symptoms. These symptoms include fear of being homosexual, dreams with manifest and "latent" homosexual content, conscious homosexual fantasies and impulses, homosexual panic, disturbance in heterosexual functioning, and passive-submissive responses to other males.

The Freudian position on latent homosexuality is summarized in this quotation by Karl Abraham: "In normal individuals the homosexual component of the sexual instinct undergoes sublimation. Between men, feelings of unity and friendship become divested of all sexuality. The man of normal feeling is repelled by any physical contact implying tenderness with another of his own sex. ...Alcohol suspends these feelings. When they are drinking, men will fall upon one another's necks and kiss each other ... when sober, the same men will term such conduct effeminate. ... The homosexual components which have been repressed and sublimated by the influences of education become unmistakably evident under the influence of alcohol."

In keeping with this train of thoughts, it is not unusual for individuals who exhibit characteristics of latent homosexuality often find themselves drawn to ultra-masculine professions, such as policeman and fireman; to name a few. Many professional sports also serve as a magnet for latent homosexuals, especially the more violent and aggressive sports. The two sports boxing and wresting latent homosexuality is quite evident. And where many of the features involved in the act of intercourse between two lovers are present in the ring. For example, in both boxing and wrestling the participant hug, embrace, stroke the opponent's sweaty and scantly-covered body like any couple engaged in sexual activities. Many psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists postulate the theory that both the boxer and the wrestler experience profound rage and guilt for their exhibitionist conduct, and for giving in to their homosexual desires. Therefore, each participant is highly-motivated to punish each other, sometime ending in death, for gratifying the unconscious homosexual desire to embrace and make love to another man.

However, the term, latent homosexuality, as commonly used in clinical practice assumes psychological characteristics. It is important to stress that the term is not used in reference to overt homosexual who attempts to suppress his homosexuality and tries to lead a heterosexual life, it applies only to heterosexuals. Many writers and some researchers have questioned the validity of latent homosexuality on both theoretical and clinical grounds. Others have expressed the opinions that latent homosexuality has been a convenient psychopathological "catch-all" category in which many types pathology are assigned, often, with little or no relationship to homosexuality.

Many who questioned the term "latent homosexuality" were indeed skeptical of the "latency" concept. In an effort to put this concern to rest a group of scientific researchers headed by Irving Bieber published their conclusion in 1963 titled; Homosexuality. A Psychoanalytic Study: By Irving Bieber, et al. This study was very broad and extensive. Bieber and his associated proved beyond doubts that the "latency" concept was an appropriate criteria by which latent homosexuality is usually diagnosed.

However, more than four decades after the Bieber's study was published skeptism about the vilidity of latent homosexuality is generating lively discussions in the public arena. The gladiators at the Freudian gate should know that help is on the way. A modern day version of Bieber and associates in the form of three psychologist: H. E. Adams, L. W. Wright, Jr., and B. A. Lohr, who conducted an experiment to test Freud's hypothesis. The conclusion was published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology 105 (1996), under the title, "Is Homophobia Associates with Homosexual Arousal?" The finding of this study concluded that those who exhabited the most hostile and negative attitudes towards homosexuals demonstrated the hightest level of sexual arousal when exposed to homosexual pornography. In others words, their homophobia was a "reaction formation" designed to protect them from their own internal homosexual desires.

Paranoid Delusions Since the publication of Freud's analysis of the Schreber case in 1911 psychotherapists and psychoanalysts have accepted the theory that there is a strong connection between latent homosexuality and paranoid delusions. Freud provided a skillful exposition of the theory that paranoid delusions represent various means in which the paranoid individual denies his latent homosexual desires. Freud theory had been confirmed repeatedly in many clinical studies of every researcher who worked with paranoid clients. An intense homosexual conflict is always present in the male paranoiac and is clearly obvious in the individual's history and clinical material in the early stage of the illness.

Homophobia

Hostility and discrimination against homosexual individuals are well-documented facts. Too often these negative attitudes end in verbal and physical acts of violence against homosexual individuals. In fact, upward of 90% of homosexual men and lesbians report being the subject of verbal abuse and threats, and better than one-third are survivors of violent attacks related to their homosexuality. These attitudes and behaviors toward homosexuals are labeled homophobia. Homophobia is defined as terror of being in close quarters with homosexual men and women, and an irrational fear, hatred, and intolerance by heterosexual individuals of homosexual men and lesbians.

Psychoanalysts use the concept of repressed or latent homosexuality to explain the emotional malaise and irrational attitudes exhibited by individuals who feel guilty about their erotic interests and struggle to deny and repress homosexual impulses. In fact, when these individuals are placed in a situation that threatens to excite their own unwanted homosexual thoughts, they may overreact with panic, anger, or even murderous rage. To better understand this rage I direct the reader to what happened on Jenny Jones show. On March 06, 1995, Scott Amedure (who's openly gay) appeared with Jonathan Schmitz on Jenny Jones talk show. Amedure revealed that he had a secret affection for Schmitz. Schmitz was not flattered, rather, he felt embarrassed and humiliated; off camera Schmitz expressed anger and rage. Three days after the show Schmitz purchased a shotgun. He drove to Amedure's trailer and shot him twice through the heart, killing him.

It is commonly agreed among most researchers that anxiety about homosexuality typically does not occur in individuals who are same-sex oriented, but usually involves individuals who are ostensibly heterosexual and have difficulty coming to term with their homosexual feelings and impulses.

Adams, H.E., Wright, L.W., and Lohr, B.A., Is Homophobia Associated with Homosexual Arousal?" Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105 (1996): 440-445.

Bieber, Irving, et al. Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study: Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 32:111-114.

5 Types of Dissociative Disorders

There is a term for the progression of dissociation called the Dissociative Continuum. The presence of this continuum is now widely accepted by those psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers who are familiar with dissociative states. Let's take a look at this together. I will present them from least to greatest - in terms of the dissociation only. In no way am I minimizing the impact of any of the disorders.

I. Psycogenic Amnesia

[Definition]: A sudden inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to merely explain away by normal forgetfulness and is not associated with an organic mental disorder (like Alzheimer's Disease).

Psychogenic amnesia:

o Localized - where all memory is loss that occurred in a specific period of time.

o Selective - where some, but not all memory is loss of events that occurred during a specific period of time.

o Generalized - where memory of important events that occurred over the course of life is loss.

o Continuous - where all memory is loss for the entire past and the memory loss continues into the present. Psychogenic Amnesia is the most common form of dissociative disorders and appears to be caused by either blunt trauma to the head or as response to an immediate traumatic event.

II. Psychogenic Fugue

[Definition]: A sudden act of traveling far away from home or place of work, and having no recall of doing so or why. Many assume a new identity or personality trait completely uncharacteristic of the 'norm'.

Research has shown that this new identity is usual really 'free-loving' and less inhabited than the 'normal' identity. This dissociative disorder does not include those moments when we all drive from point A to point B without recalling the road or things around us. Those occurrences fit better in the Psychogenic Amnesia category. It appears that people who suffer from psychogenic fugue states have no memory of the actions and experiences done while the 'free-loving' personality is present.

III. Depersonalization Disorder

[Definition]: The chronic experience of a profound loss of sense of self, of feeling unreal - as if in a dream. The experience of feeling like your are completely outside of yourself.

People who have depersonalization disorder have memories that feel like dreams that sometimes cannot be recognized as real or fantasy. They can easily tell themselves that certain real life experiences didn't happen because they [the memories] feel like dreams. Because of the ability of the person who has depersonalization disorder to mentally step outside of self, past memories can be seen as occurring to someone else. The onset of this disorder is abrupt; however recover can be very slow.

IV. Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS)

[Definition]: This is a bit of a 'catch all' category for any dissociative behavior that doesn't fit solidly in the definition of the other categories. There is still marked dysfunction in memory, identity and consciousness.

V. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (formally known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD))

[Definition]: The presence of at least two distinct personalities within the body of one person.

People with DID typically display symptoms of other categories of dissociation. People tell of loss time, amnesia, profound feelings of being outside of self, and hearing internal dialogs that are not those of the primary identity. DID is a chronic, but allegedly treatable disorder. This dissociative disorder holds the most societal stigma than the others and if often mistaken for Schizophrenia - a disorder that can be controlled with drug therapy.

From everything that I have read thus far, there are no medications specific to treating DID. Drugs are given to assist with symptoms of things like insomnia, depression, and anxiety; however these drugs cannot address the disorder itself.

Mental Nursing Assessment

Mental nursing assessment is required to know about the emotional feelings of the patient. It also measures the cognitive functioning of the patient. The nurse will ask questions and do the examination for finding the mental health of the patient. The nurse will evaluate the patient by assessing the mood, memory, behavior, reasoning, ability and thinking of the patient so that he/she will know how far the patient can express him/herself. Sometimes, the mental assessment also requires lab tests like urine tests or blood tests. Mental nursing assessment should be performed by a registered nurse, psychiatrist, social worker, doctor or psychologist.

Mental nursing assessment is done by checking the mental related problems like depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia and depression. For performing nursing assessment, the nurses should have good experience in the field of pharmacology and mental illness. During mental assessment, the nurses will try to understand how well the patients can respond or adjust with the difficulties. The nurse should interview the patient which may consist of physical examination as well as verbal or written tests. During the interview with the patient, the nurse should pay attention to the details on how the patient behaves while asking questions.

The mood changes of the patient will be measured and noted by the nurse in the nursing assessment. Mental nursing assessment may consist of a physical examination and the doctor will go through the past medical history of the patient and the prescription medicines taken by the patient. The nurse will test the balance, reflexes and senses like touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing of the patient to know whether there is any kind of abnormalities in the behavior and mental health of the patient. The mental assessment tests also include lab tests of urine or blood sample also. Computed tomography, electroencephalogram and MRI are done in case of any suspected problem in the nervous system. Toxicology screening, thyroid function tests and electrolyte levels are performed to find out other problems.

Mental nursing assessment also include written or verbal test in which the patient should answer questions loudly or by writing the answers on the paper. The answers of the patient is scored and rated by the nurse. Most of the questionnaires consists of about 20-30 questions which are in Yes or No format. Most of the questions are addressing specific problems such as the cognitive function of the individual. The assessment also measure how well the patient can carry out day-to-day activities like eating, drinking, shopping, banking or dressing. More extensive tests are performed in case of extreme cases. It also measures the ability to act on crisis situations. The types of depressions also are evaluated to know the extent of the illness so that accurate treatment can be provided.

Genetic Testing to Help Treat Mental Disorders

An individual's response to medicine is written in our genetic makeup, which is why there is not at one-size-fits-all medication for mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, among other mental health disorders. Genetic testing can help pinpoint which medications work best for individual patients.

When a psychiatrist can see the results of your report, he or she can understand why a person's genetic makeup affects how certain drugs may react and personalize treatment choices for that individual. For example, with ADHD, the tests will show genes that may affect a patient's response to certain antidepressant or antipsychotic medications. The report can predict the influence of genes on the drug as well as metabolism.

Our bodies contain numerous cytochrome P450 (officially abbreviated at CYP) enzymes that process medications. CYP is a large, diverse group of enzymes that can help predict drug metabolism and bioactivation. CYPs account for about 75% of the total metabolism of a drug.

The CYP2D6 genotype, for example, indicates that blood levels may be increased for a particular drug. Genotype is simply the genetic makeup of a cell or organism with specific reference to a specific characteristic. It tells the doctor how your body will metabolize a certain drug. The report indicates four categories: 1) poor metabolizer - little or no CYP2D6 function; 2) extensive metabolizer - normal CYP2D6 functioning; 3) intermediate - somewhere between poor and extensive; and 4) ultra-metabolizer - individuals with multiple CYP2D6 copies, or a duplication of the gene.

For an ADHD patient, known inhibitors by the CYP2D6 enzyme include Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine, and Strattera. The report gives psychiatrists three categories of medications to prescribe: 1) those to use as directed; 2) those to use with caution; and 3) those to use with caution with more frequent monitoring. This list is then readily available to the doctor to utilize to prescribe medications they think will work best, and which ones to avoid for a particular patient.

For an ultra-metabolizer, for example, an antidepressant to use as directed is Wellbutrin. One to use with caution is Lexapro. And one to use with caution with frequent monitoring is Cymbalta. It does not mean that Cymbalta cannot be prescribed, but it gives the doctor more information on how the individual's body will respond and that it should be monitored frequently.

Along with genotype, the report also includes phenotype information. Phenotypes result from the expression of the individual's genes as well as environmental factors and the interaction between the two. For an ultra-metabolizer, where the CYP2D6 is duplicated, a higher dosage of certain medications may be needed, because increased metabolism cannot be accurately anticipated and frequent monitoring in needed.

The induction or inhibition of commonly prescribed mental health drugs may vary from patient to patient as well as the potential for drug interactions, and a genetic test report can help the doctor predict this for an individual patient and choose the most appropriate medications. A doctor can use genetic testing reports for individual patients as a guide tailored to the specific circumstances of each patient with genotype and phenotype information. Ultimately, it is the doctor' choice to make medication and treatment decisions, but genetic testing is a useful tool to use on the basis of each patient's results.

What Is Schizophrenia and What Causes It?

The brain has one of the most complex structure and operation in the world. It is no surprise that mankind has been trying to figure out how it function for the longest time and could manage to find out only very little. This is the case of Schizophrenia as well, a mental disorder that affects one's perception of the real world. Researchers have been studying the condition for a considerably time and could only come out with relatively little findings on the causes of this mental disorder listed below.

Genetic and Environmental aspects

Genetic factors play an important role in the occurrence of Schizophrenia. Studies have proven that a person with family history of Schizophrenia is more likely to develop the mental disorder himself. Statistics in terms of propensity to develop Schizophrenia show that people with family history of Schizophrenia is rated 10% where as people without family history of Schizophrenia is rated at 1%.

However genetic factor is just an influencing factor and not a determining factor. Supporting this, 60% of people who suffer from Schizophrenia were found to have no family history of the disorder. Looking into the environmental aspect of the causes responsible for Schizophrenia, scientists have indicated that an elevated level of stress is accountable for triggering Schizophrenia, as increased stress not only causes several biochemical changes in the body but also increases the level of cortisol hormone.

Complications and insufficient care during pregnancy and delivery

Children born after complications in delivery are more likely to have Schizophrenia. If there are complications during delivery, this can lead to hypoxia in the neonatal brain resulting in higher possibility of the child getting Schizophrenia when he grows up. This finding was supported by animal model, epidemiological, molecular and genetic studies. Proper care during pregnancy to avoid stress and keep a good diet is an important factor.

Studies have shown that mothers who starve or are having malnutrition are likely to give birth to a child suffering from Schizophrenia. Through a study on pregnant ladies during Winter War of 1939, in Finland, it was elucidated that those pregnant women who knew about their husband's death during pregnancy and hence underwent a lot of stress were more susceptible to give birth to a child with Schizophrenia, than the women who knew about their husband's death after delivery.

During pregnancy, mothers who develop viral infections such as maternal genital infection are more likely to have a child who has a higher change to get Schizophrenia.

Neurological aspects

Several structural and functional changes in the brain can cause Schizophrenia. The frontal lobe, part of the brain that helps human to make decision is malfunction. Researches have long proved that people with Schizophrenia have usually large ventricles, indicating a discrepancy in their neurons.

There are still several molecular, epidemiological, genetic and animal studies going on in several laboratories and research centers to further decipher the causes behind the mental disorder like Schizophrenia. As world of medical science becomes more advance, we can gain more ground to understand this disorder and develop better treatment methods.

Bipolar Disorder - How to Get an Accurate Diagnosis

Getting an accurate diagnosis for bipolar disorder is not as easy as it looks. This is because doctors cannot simply give the answer by extracting some blood or doing a CT scan. What makes matters worse is that some of the symptoms of this illness can be confused with something else. So in order to get an accurate diagnosis, various tests need to be done.

The first step the doctor will do is conduct a physical exam and examine the patient's medical history. This is because it is possible that the individual could be suffering from AIDS, a brain or head trauma, diabetes, epilepsy, lupus, Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, neurosyphilis, sodium balance or thyroid disorder. Naturally, these have to be ruled out which is why such tests are necessary.

The doctor will also need to review the psychiatric history of the patient as mood swings associated with bipolar disorder are also present in people who are suffering from ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, due to alcohol or drug abuse, borderline personality disorder, delusional disorder, depression, eating disorders, panic disorder, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder.

Since bipolar disorder is often times genetic, the doctor will need to know if this illness has occurred to someone else in the family. If it has happened before, then there is a good indication that this could also be present in the patient.

Lastly, the doctor will also evaluate the patient based on the current symptoms because bipolar disorder will either make the person feel high or low.

As we discussed previously, some of the things to watch out for in someone who is experiencing manic episodes include increased activity or restlessness, extreme irritability; the person is easily distracted, uses poor judgment, engages in spending sprees, denies that there is anything wrong, increased sexual drive, little sleep needed and signs of aggressive behavior.

In the Garden of School (A Short Story of a Young Women With Schizophrenia Tendencies)

(Babenhausen, Germany, 1974)

They were living in Babenhausen, Germany then, and the bridge to the brewery, crossed a canal that ran from one end of the township to the other. They could see the Old Tower, built in 1714 AD from their 3rd story apartment windows. Up a ways from the center of town where they lived, was a park, and the Babenhausen, Schlosshof (where there was a café and art shows, along with small concerts, they were headed that way).

It was a town-let, sort of, where people wore-for the most part, back in the early to mid seventies-wore common and plane cloths, a hard working community, along with a hard drinking class of German stock males that filled the guesthouses almost every night of the week. There were also, a few select bars where the young folks hung out.

It was a city were folks rode their bicycles as much as they drove their cars, across the those two bridges, the second one being in the center of town, where a creek run underneath it.

He noticed off and on, kids wildly escaping the grip of their mother's hands, to run up to the few venders selling bratwursts, with mayonnaise, French Fries, and mustard on the side.

Sherwood Sullivan often drank-in those bars, cafes and guesthouses in Babenhausen during those days. Perhaps that is why they were always broke in those days, in particular, the summer of 1974, but they ate well, and he smoked two packs of cigarettes a day, and had his a six-pack of beer nightly, either at home, or as I said, at the bar, or guesthouse.

He ate breakfast at home usually; the Germans could never satisfy his American tastes in that category.

He was twenty-seven years old, she, twenty, he had met her when she was seventeen, and he had just come home from the Vietnam War.

In the middle of the night they had made love, it was quick and unemotional, a sparse event in that they only had sex once every three to four months now.

On this morning, he was not in a hurry as often he was to find a quiet place to do his writings (he was working on a book called "The Loved and the Desolate"), and so he took his wife out for breakfast with him.

He watched the cars and bicycles go by, as she buttered her sweetbread, both sitting at a table in the cafe.

"What are you thinking of?" asked Carla.

"Nothing much, why?"

"It must be something, you're kind of daydreaming it seems."

"Just feeling alone, that's all."

"How can that be, I'm here! Right here by your side:"

"Yes, you seem happy." Sherwood replied.

"I like feeling happy," she said, adding, "isn't that normal?"

"Oh...yes, of course," then hesitated, but added, "you're not happy all that much," he said almost in a whisper.

"Ah," she said, in a disappointed tone, "I don't care, I'm happy now, and we don't have to worry, or even think of anything in particular, do we?"

"Not one thing." He answered.

"What do you want to do today?" She asked frigidly.

"I don't know, you tell me."

His mind was drifting, somewhat daydreaming on an issue he hadn't brought up-not after it happened anyhow, he had put it to rest because it wouldn't do any good to belabor it: it was about her cutting up his cloths with a scissors. She had gotten mad with jealously, painted herself up like a whore, and when he come home, she was dancing about, trying to lure him into bed, saying 'You like whores, here I am!' and when he went to change cloths, he noticed all his cloths were shredded, that was two weeks ago, and he was waiting for a check to purchase more, then he'd head on up to Darmstadt, where he usually bought most things, such as stereo equipment, cloths, shoes, and so forth, that is where his mind was at the moment.

"I want to go somewhere, anywhere, I'll stay happy, I promise! Maybe to Dieburg, I like the little shops there, or to Darmstadt, no, maybe Munster, we can catch the train there and go on to Frankfurt and spend the day. Or go see that pink castle in Aschaffenburg?"

"Let's talk about it after breakfast, when we get to the park, there we can decide what to do, I'll not write today at all...!"

"No! No, no, no...I think I want to go back to the apartment and take a nap!"

"Wow! That's a sudden and new idea," he said, she adding, "You know I get these abrupt flashes of depression and agitated behavior, I'm not happy anymore, take me back home, I want to go home, you make me feel guilty for wanting to do something other than watch you write."

"Ok," he said, knowing she could be destructive. Matter-of-fact, it was just yesterday in a shop in Dieburg, a town a few miles away, she had a manic explosion in front of the clerk, who begged him to take her out of the store quickly before she called the police....

They stepped outside the guesthouse, onto the sidewalk, the morning sun was getting hotter, but there was a fresh breeze mixed into the warm air.

He gazed about for a moment, only a flash of a second perhaps or maybe ten-seconds at most, but a million bits of information flooded his cerebellum: he wished she was normal, like the majority of people, with ordinary behavior, with no ebbing consequences, no abrupt changes, that could take place in any minute of any day; he wished she'd not have to endure anymore psychological bent emotions, or schizophrenia tendencies: she was so easily angered, and frustrated. She had mood changes likened to the flick of a card in pokier, long deep sleeping spells. And if she didn't get her way, those hard looking blank, rock like eyes would appear.

He knew she didn't even like her mood swings herself, for such a young and lovely, and intelligent woman, but she had no more control over them than the man in the moon had over night and day. And so they fought back and forth like cats and dogs, and until he would leave and get drunk, that was the only thing that stopped the ongoing, enduring, squabbling, until he returned that is.

She was almost a constant shadow in his mind, he walked on egg shells when he was around her, and held his breath hoping she was asleep when he'd return from an afternoon walk, or writing period, or drinking spell; sex was a lifeless event to say the least too, it was hard to include, to produce an erection, to get excited, when being beaten over the brow with scornful and hurtful words throughout the day, hard to kiss, and make love as if nothing happened in bed in the night, it was better often to go into the bathroom and do what you needed to do, to relieve the urge, lest you feel awful afterwards, and used like an old dirty rug, to be stepped on later, with those same dirty shoes from yesterday, or that very same day the praetor used.

Oh it wasn't all her fault, he knew that, but it was as it was, nonetheless, and enduring, agonizing, never-ending, a born-again cycle of being drained of your life's resources. Therefore, he tried to allow himself daily to do some writing, usually in the park, where he could find the right setting, a calm, sedate scenery, where birds sang freely and without disruption, and the flowers seemed to reach out to him with adoration, not an expectant penitence for breathing God's air, and the butterflies circled his head as if he were a prince and they wanted to give him a crown, and the mood to write his paragraphs, descriptions, dialogue, and explanations, would flow like a kite on a breezy day, and he'd work out his plot, scheme, theme, and so forth unabated.

He took another step, another quiet ten-second rush to his cerebellum, he acquired some anxiety looking at her staring with her blue unblinking eyes, he looked at her and his mouth went dry, she had taken an abrupt lunge, her continence in her face was wild like, a hellish look drooped over it like a purple curtain. He looked back around him, he heard something, and it was the waiter in the window he was cleaning up the table they had sat at.

"Well, take good care of yourself, I'm going home," she said tiredly.

"There he stood as she started to walk away, he thought and thought, and thought, 'What sort of wife is that? She's happy one minute, the next she's unhappy.'

He watched her walking down the street, knowing the only way to quiet her down was to tire her out, but in the process-which took hours--he got fatigued.

There was a darkness in this women, one he never fully understood, he had sent her to the psychologist, saying if she'd not go, he'd send her home, that was months ago, they gave her some Minnesota test, and it came out positive for paranoia schizophrenia, among some other mentally ill classifications. At times he even felt, he was a surrogate parent, not a husband.

But the psychologist seemed to be pretty much in the right area, when he talked to them both it all seemed to fit her profile, in that her reality was interpreted abnormally, especially with her thinking that, Sherwood wanted to kill her, so she'd kill him first with his own gun, which she attempted once, and backed off just in time, thank goodness.

On the other side of the coin, she could function pretty well on daily matters, her memory was ok, but her concentration was going down hill, and her suicidal behavior up, she tried to drawn herself in the bathtub, and he told her, almost humorously, "You can't kill yourself that way, your internal system will fight against it."

He thought about that later, it was a bad thing for Carla to do, and there was no purpose in him making fun of it. That's when the doctors put her on medication.

She had told him, "I want you to have friends, men or woman, it doesn't matter, but just don't fall in love with them."

And when he'd bring them around, she'd get jealous, and spiteful.

She had told him, "I don't run around with women or men, you know that." And so that was her way of saying, she didn't want friends. On the other hand, she told her husband, "Just be with me to help me, support me, do the laundry and we can sleep together now and then."

No More Surprises

Sherwood noticed as he crossed the bridge, now in the center of it, that led to the park, an old man fishing, a few boys, seven or eight years old were in the shallow waters of the creek, playing under the surface, more at splashing, and blowing bubbles, it wasn't at all that deep, perhaps three to four feet.

There were many more people walking by, across the bridge, walking each way, some kid yelled,

"Look, the old man caught one!"

Sherwood looked, the fish seemed lean, but it was a fish. That was what life was all about, he told himself.

Several men were doing some roadwork, a few of them were on a building across the street also, kitty-corner, doing some construction work, they all had bottles of beer, large bottles of beer lying about, one took a drink, then put it back down and went back to work, this of course was a normal sight for him to see in Babenhausen, and he appreciated normality.

Then Sherwood leaned over the bridge, his elbows on the iron rail as a few more kids seemed to come out of nowhere to see the old man's fish.

"What kind is it?" asked a voice, but Sherwood couldn't make out the category the old man put the fish into, the type that is.

Next, he turned about; saw the guesthouse he had just left, the waiter saw him by himself, as he kept sweeping the edge of the street in front of his place of work. He had seen him and his wife there plenty of times, more often him though, than both of them together, and Sherwood was sure he caught their dilemma, that being, knowing they were not good for one another, yet they remained with one another.

The water in the creek looked beautiful, fresh and cool, clear as a clean glass window.

"Yes," he said talking out loud, looking over into the water, "it's so true, she's getting more dangerous to herself and to me," he said in a convincing tone.

He then lit a cigarette, mumbled, "I'm going to change," his mumble was stern, "more than change," he added, "it's for her sake, mine also. No more surprises by her, it's going to end."

Then he thought about what he said, "Maybe I shouldn't let her go, what she will do? Oh yes, it's very sad, but I thought about it long enough, and just how long is enough, and how much is enough, it's enough now, today is enough; it is something that she and I really want. It really is. Yes, it's all right!"

He was trying to convince himself to let her go, once and for all, critically thinking out loud, it zoomed to the top of his head, and out his mouth, "Good," he said, "I'll let her go, since she wants to go. Yes indeed, it's better to be alone, I'm alone anyways, that will be my surprise for her, I'll let her go this time, and not look back."

Evening Descending

He now found himself walking around the town aimlessly, as often he would, stopping at a few guesthouses, having a beer here and there a glass of red wine, ate a ham sandwich at one disco bar, listened to a Neil Diamond's song, one he became found of, 'Cracklin' Rosie,' he had heard it before, it wasn't all that new, but it was circulating throughout Germany, and popular, it made him happy, sad, and drifty in a nice kind of way, Cracklin' Rosie was his bottle of beer, or wine his lover for the night, the girl he could have, because the one at home was the one he never did have, or would have. The exchange was a reasonable one he thought, as reasonable as he'd get.

Then he up and left the bar, told himself it was time to go back home, he told himself he'd have to make sure the gun was empty when he got home, he couldn't sleep another night thinking she might be as dangerous as she says she feels.

He walked though the apartment door, "Good Evening," he told his wife, the main room was dimly lit, and he was lightly drunk.

He was very careful not to disrupt her mood.

"Go back out and get drunker," she told him, "come back when I'm sleeping, I'm going back to St. Paul, Minnesota tomorrow."

He looked at her, she was curled up in a corner of the leather couch, with a cigarette in her hand, and he noticed three burn holes in the coach.

"Look at what you're doing, I'll have to pay for the whole coach now (it was a furnished apartment)."

She looked, "I think you did that a few nights ago!" she said, indifferently, "so don't blame me for your drunkenness, you probably fell to sleep."

"Did you take your medication?" he asked.

"Can't you tell, I feel and look like a zombie?"

Sherwood reached up high on the bookcase, took his 45-automatic down, pulled the clip of bullets out.

"I see you're taking my advice, smart boy." She commented.

He had a beer in the refrigerator, he took it out, opened it up, sat in a chair, and smoked a Camel Cigarette, and dark a Beck's beer halfway down, and let out a deep hidden sigh.

He tried to write a paragraph in his new book but everything seemed complicated. He crossed this out and that out until he couldn't really see what was what, then dated it "July 5, 1974" and leaned back in his chair.

He had come to the conclusion he was powerless in helping her, and for himself, he was becoming perhaps codependent, if not her on him, him on her, or both on each other, and he was fighting for his own preservation, to keep his own identity, before she swallowed it up, and he had none. They were like two drowning souls in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean without a life raft.

"Yes," he said.

"Yes what?" she replied.

"Yes, I'll find a ride to the train station in Aschaffenburg or Munster or Dieburg, one of the three, most likely, Munster by Dieburg, it's closer, and buy your tickets for your departure, it will take you directly to 'Frankfurt am Main,' and you from there, can take a taxi to the airport, you got your passport, that's all you need, and I'll give you some money tomorrow, I'll go to the bank and take out whatever we got."

"Give me a drink of your beer," she asked. She looked happy again. She had left him before, a number of times only to call him back up, wanting to return to wherever he was. But his thinking was different now; he knew it was a one way road for her, she couldn't live on a two-way, and it would be a life of endurance, and more dangers by the passing of each year.

"I knew that would force you to send me home." She said.

"What?" he asked.

"Telling you I'm getting more dangerous."

"It's a long night until tomorrow," he said, adding, "What do you want now?"

"Let's go to bed, and do it!"

"I can't," he said.

Carla laughed heartily, "I swear you're homosexual, and you like men don't you."

He shook his head, whispered to himself, as she went into the bedroom, and he moved over to the couch to sleep the night away, "I'll wait (again the mood was dead)."

A New Morning

Sherwood woke in the morning, almost at first light, looked out the window, his legs were stiff from being crotched up in the couch. Sat on the edge, trying to wake up completely. He remembered everything that was said the previous night, and was hoping she'd had not changed her mind. He looked at her sleeping from the doorway of the bedroom, remembering how she was, her image when they first met, it was a good image. Then he went to the bathroom, took a warm shower, shaved, put on a t-shirt, and light windbreaker, a pair of slacks, and carefully looked back into the bedroom, she was awake; she stood up, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, and moved over to the door where he stood, and slammed it in his face without a word. Somehow he knew she'd be this way, she had to get her last mutiny against him out, for marrying her. He figured it would be a dreadful morning, but perhaps the last with her.

She had finished all she needed to do, suitcase and her passport in hand, and said, "Let's get on with it."

Departure

He felt fortunate she actually got on the train, she was not a simple woman, she got onto the train, never looking back at him, yet prior to getting on, she hesitated, as if she wanted him to talk her out of it, and he wanted to, but he couldn't, and I think she knew that. Not a glance was missed by either one, because they didn't want give any glances to remember the other by.

That afternoon he found himself improved with a normal heartbeat, and his breathing was back to normal, and he didn't have to worry about walking on eggshells anymore she was gone, so his nervous system was being repaired, he felt. He wrote in the park that afternoon for a long while, his inspiration was back intact.

Written February, 20 &21, 2009 "

Afterthoughts and 'The Shop in Dieburg,' added 2-22-2009

Childhood Bipolar Disorder - Does Your Child Suffer From Bipolar I?

Children can be a handful, but maybe your child is a bit more than a handful. Some people tell you that "boys will be boys," but deep down you know there is something more to your child's behavior. With the stigma of mental illness being removed, doctors are trying to diagnose children with illness at a younger age. Here are some signs that your child may have bipolar disorder.

1.) Slow to Wake

Everyone who has had a couple children knows that kids like to get up early, and they always seem refreshed in the mornings. If you child sleeps in until noon, and has a difficult time awaking to get ready for school, they most likely have a medical issue. This problem may be bipolar if some weeks they can wake up easily, and other weeks they have a difficult time, as opposed to being tired on a consistent basis.

2.) Late to Bed

Most young children hate going to bed, but bipolar children in a manic or excited phase aren't trying to be problematic, as they really as having a difficult time getting to sleep. If your child can't seem to sleep, they may be bipolar.

3.) Violent or Aggressive Behavior

Does your child constantly get in trouble for hitting or taking things from other children? While kids can play rough, bipolar children can be overly aggressive, especially during a manic phase. While children with ADHD will hit to get attention, bipolar children will become aggressive just to test the boundaries of adults who tell them no.

Are You Losing Your Mind? How to Eliminate Abnormal Behavior and Find Mental Heath

Everyone can experience distortions in the functionalism of their brain and psyche, which affect their behavior, provoking behavior abnormalities.

If you feel you are losing your mind, don't panic, because this is very common, and there is a very simple solution to this problem today.

You'll learn exactly what exists inside your brain and affects your behavior, so that you may be able to fight against absurdity, and find your mental health.

The scientific method of dream interpretation gives you an internal vision of your psychical and mental content, explaining to you what defines your behavior, and how you can control it, feeling always balanced and self-confident.

Besides having this indispensable knowledge, you'll learn much more as you care about your dreams, writing them down and translating them according to the scientific method.

All dreams contain precious messages, which show you important aspects of your life, and show you how you can overcome all your problems, so that you may find peace and mental health.

This is free psychotherapy for you, and especially safe psychotherapy, because the unconscious mind is your natural doctor and protector.

There is no human doctor that has as much knowledge as the wise unconscious mind, which shows you how to find your mental health for sure, without asking you for explanations, like the doctors who ignore who you are, and have no idea about what has happened to you do. The unconscious mind already knows everything about you and your life, and gives you all the explanations you need, showing you everything that you ignore.

You acquire an exceptional mind power once you follow the unconscious psychotherapy, since your own intelligence increases as you develop all the components of your personality, and you learn how reality works, understanding how to prepare your plans based on real facts, and avoiding all the dangers of the way.

You are losing your mind because the wild part of your conscience, which remains in a primitive condition but is still active inside you, is dominating the human, sensible and sensitive part of your conscience. This means that it is constantly bothering you, by sending you absurd thoughts and feelings, and interfering in your judgment.

With its invasion into the human side of your conscience, you start showing abnormal behavior and losing your memory, your common sense, and your sensitivity. You become totally disconnected with the external reality, which means that you start making many mistakes in your life, one after another, and then facing their bitter consequences.

This is how the anti-conscience, your wild conscience, manages to destroy your human side, and control completely your behavior. It is a wild animal that doesn't want to be tamed by your sensibility and sensitivity.

However, you will certainly win the battle against it, because the unconscious mind will show you in dreams how to eliminate its poisonous influence for good.

Right now you are afraid of everything, and very sad with the disorders that steal your mental stability, negatively influencing your behavior, but after learning how to transform the dangerous anti-conscience into a positive component of your human conscience and getting forever rid of all mental illnesses, you'll have pity on all the other people who live tortured by their wild side, without knowing how to eliminate its poisonous influence.

Bipolar Disorder Research

The primary goal of a bipolar disorder research is to determine the genetic and other factors that cause people to experience manic and depressive moods. Most individuals know that bipolar disorder tends to run in families and involves many environmental factors. Research aims to enable doctors and patients to have a better understanding of mood swings, to establish better treatments, and to provide better medical advice to sufferers.

Bipolar disorder is a serious disorder of the brain. Abnormalities in the brain biochemistry are mainly responsible for the extreme shifts in mood, thought, energy, and behavior. Since people experience mood swings from high (mania) to low (depression), bipolar disorder is often referred to as "manic-depressive illness." The illness normally begins in late teenage years or early adulthood, but in some cases it emerges earlier. The major treatments for this disorder involve a combination of medications and psychotherapy.

There are a variety of research approaches. Among the major approaches are neuroscience studies, basic science approaches to brain and behavior, genetic investigations, epidemiological studies, and clinical research. Genetic investigations reveal the involvement of genetic factors in the transmission of bipolar disorder. These studies have concluded that in the cases of many patients, a family genetic disorder underlies bipolar disorder. Researchers anticipate that recognition of these defective genes can assist with better diagnostic procedures, treatments, and preventive interventions.

Brain imaging technologies, structural imaging technologies (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging), and functional neuro-imaging technologies (e.g. positron emission tomography) are now used by researchers to learn what goes wrong in the brain to produce this mental illness.

Research studies into treatment are dedicated to improving treatments for bipolar disorder. Many patients can be cured using currently available treatments. However, many important challenges remain. Some drugs work well for years and then slowly lose their efficiency. Clinical research is a good means for determining the best use of available treatments and treatment combinations.

What is Personality? What Makes a Person Unique and How to Avoid Behavioral Disorders

Personality is a collection of characteristics that defines the person's behavior, and gives them an aspect. It is the way someone reacts before the stimuli of their environment, their personal answer to all challenges of life, their personal way to think, feel, guess and sense everything.

It is also the way they express what they are thinking or feeling. Personality is the image that defines an individual's specific behavior, giving a certain meaning to their presence, and to their actions.

Most people don't have a strong personality, because they simply follow the behavior patterns they have inherited as human beings, and the general conceptions of life that belong to the mindset of their time and civilization.

However, everyone has certain peculiar characteristics, which they have inherited depending on their psychological type. There are differences in the various personalities of our society, even when the people we are analyzing simply follow the general philosophy of life of the place where they live, without adding anything personal to their judgment. They do have their personal way to follow what everyone else does.

Everyone inherits a well-defined personality, even though everyone also already inherits many characteristics that belong to the human race.

Besides being influenced by the psychological function that is more developed in our psyche (thoughts, feelings, sensations or intuitions), each one of us has the tendency to care more about our personal judgment if we are introverted, or care more about the general approval of our judgment, if we are extroverted.

If you want to build a strong personality, avoiding behavioral disorders and becoming really unique, you have to learn how to develop the parts of your brain that belong to your primitive conscience, the anti-conscience, which is still in a wild condition, and negatively influences your behavior.

You have to learn how to set yourself free from the pre-determined behavioral patterns that are not good for you, because they were formed due to the existence of your wild side.

Translating the meaning of your dreams, you'll learn how to be as introverted as extroverted, and find psychical balance. This way your personality won't be threatened by behavioral distortions.

I was saved from schizophrenia by interpreting my dreams according to the scientific method.

I was constantly dreaming about invaders that had no blood, and where everywhere around me. They were parts of my personality. Therefore, I had no blood, because I had no feelings. I was extremely irrational.

I learned how to pay attention to my feelings, becoming sensitive, besides thinking logically. Then I helped many other people find mental health and happiness thanks to the instant translation of the meaning of their dreams.

Everyone learns what is necessary for them in order to transform their personality, becoming wiser with all the knowledge they acquire.

You can start building your unique personality today, no matter how old you are. This day will mark a new beginning for you, and give another dimension to your existence.

Write down your dreams, and begin like an artist, always looking for perfection. In a while you'll enjoy verifying how much the extraordinary power of your unique personality will give inspiration and hope to other people, because you'll be wise. They will admire you for your capacity to be always so balanced, and always find bright solutions for all problems.

The History of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an approach used by psychotherapists to influence a patient's behaviors and emotions. The key to the approach is in its procedure which must be systematic. It has been used successfully to treat a variety of disorders including eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety and personality disorders. It can be used in individual or group therapy sessions and the approach can also be geared towards self help therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a combination of traditional behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy. They are combined into a treatment that is focused on symptom removal. The effectiveness of the treatment can clearly be judged based on its results. The more it is used, the more it has become recommended. It is now used as the number one treatment technique for post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and bulimia.

Cognitive behavioral therapy first began to be used between 1960 and 1970. It was a gradual process of merging behavioral therapy techniques and cognitive therapy techniques. Behavioral therapy had been around since the 1920's, but cognitive therapy was not introduced until the 1960's. Almost immediately the benefits of combining it with behavioral therapy techniques were realized. Ivan Pavlov, with his dogs who salivated at the ringing of the dinner bell, was among the most famous of the behavioral research pioneers. Other leaders in the field included John Watson and Clark Hull.

Instead of focusing on analyzing the problem like Freud and the psychoanalysts, cognitive behavioral therapy focused on eliminating the symptoms. The idea being that if you eliminate the symptoms, you have eliminated the problem. This more direct approach was seen as more effective at getting to the problem at hand and helping patients to make progress more quickly.

As a more radical aggressive treatment, behavioral techniques dealt better with more radical problems. The more obvious and clear cut the symptoms were, the easier it was to target them and devise treatments to eliminate them. Behavioral therapy was not as successful initially with more ambiguous problems such as depression. This realm was better served with cognitive therapy techniques.

In many academic settings, the two therapy techniques were used side by side to compare and contrast the results. It was not long before the advantages of combining the two techniques became clear as a way of taking advantage of the strengths of each. David Barlow's work on panic disorder treatments provided the first concrete example of the success of the combined strategies.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is difficult to define in a succinct definition because it covers such a broad range of topics and techniques. It is really an umbrella definition for individual treatments that are specifically tailored to the problems of a specific patient. So the problem dictates the specifics of the treatment, but there are some common themes and techniques. These include having the patient keep a diary of important events and record the feelings and behaviors they had in association with each event. This tool is then used as a basis to analyze and test the patient's ability to evaluate the situation and develop an appropriate emotional response. Negative emotions and behaviors are identified as well as the evaluations and beliefs that lead to them. An effort is then made to counter these beliefs and evaluations to show that the resulting behaviors are wrong. Negative behaviors are eliminated and the patient is taught a better way to view and react to the situation.

Part of the therapy also includes teaching the patient ways to distract themselves or change their focus from something that is upsetting or a situation that is generating negative behavior. They learn to focus on something else instead of the negative stimulus, thus eliminating the negative behavior that it would lead to. The problem is essentially nipped in the bud. For serious psychological disorders like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, mood stabilizing medications are often prescribed to use in conjunction with these techniques. The medications give the patient enough of a calming effect to give them the opportunity to examine the situation and make the healthy choice whereas before they could not even pause for rational thought.

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been proven effective for a variety of problems, but it is still a process, not a miracle cure. It takes time to teach patients to understand situations and identify the triggers of their negative behaviors. Once this step is mastered, it still takes a lot of effort to overcome their first instincts and instead stop and make the right choices. First they learn what they should do, and then they must practice until they can do it.

Bipolar Disorder Medication - What Are Your Responsibilities?

If, after thorough investigation of your symptoms, patterns, and medical history, you have received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder from a mental health professional, he may have prescribed medication to assist in the treatment of this condition. It is important, however, to understand that while medication may alleviate your symptoms, it will not replace the steps that you personally must take to deal with this condition.

Talking To Your Doctor

As some mental health professionals assume that their patients are already aware of this, it is a good idea for you to bring up the subject if he does not. In addition, if he is of the opinion that medication is the only treatment you need, it would be wise to consider consulting one who does not have a medication-only bias.

While medication may be important in the treatment of bipolar disorder, behavior modification is equally necessary. For that matter, there are many patients who, if adequately informed about behavior modification and have the ability to put it into practice, will not need medication at all. This factor is one reason why you should be selective in whom you choose to oversee your health care.

Environmental Stressors

As both manic and depressive episodes, or states, can be precipitated by stressors-- in plain language: external influences -- one of the most important steps in learning how to deal with your condition is to learn to identify and regulate these stressors.

In bipolar disorder, stressors which precipitate an episode can generally be categorized as "extremes" and/or "intensity" in your everyday life or environment. The most important step you can take in dealing with bipolar disorder is to lessen your risk of having these episodes by doing whatever you can to reduce, and, whenever possible, eliminate, extremes and intensity from your everyday life.

A More Orderly Life

A second factor of importance is to reduce, and whenever possible eliminate, chaos in your everyday life. While the previously-mentioned stressors can bring on "full blown" manic and depressive episodes, the bipolar condition "thrives" on a chaotic lifestyle. What this means is even when you are not in a manic or a depressive state, chaos will cause you to feel and act unfocused, not sure of what you should be doing from one minute to the next.

The best way to reduce this problem is to keep your life as routine and orderly as possible. Such things as going to bed at approximately the same time each night, getting up at the same time every day, and having a basic plan of what you will be doing each day, will work wonders in reducing this problem.

Responsibility

When you have become able to do this, the next step is to begin taking responsibility for not only making decisions but following through on them. The chaos of indecisiveness is a very destructive factor in the bipolar condition; and, as it usually leads to being unreliable, it has quite a negative effect on a bipolar person's interactions and relationships with other people.

The key in dealing effectively with bipolar disorder is to understand that you need not be a helpless victim to it-- that you can take control of your life.

Children With Behavioral Disorders Should Be Tested For Celiac Disease

Celiac.com published an article on July 17, 2009 explaining that doctors, well versed in celiac disease, now recommend any child with behavioral disorders be tested for celiac. For those that are not familiar with celiac disease, it is a digestive disease where gluten from food damages the lining of the small intestine and creates malabsorption of nutrients (minerals and vitamins).

Celiac is referred to as a genetic disease so if one person in your family has it, it would be important for you to get tested. For some people they can go through most of their life and never have one symptom (or they never receive the right diagnosis). 1 in 133 people have it but only 3% of them are diagnosed. It is important to know there are triggers for this disease. Some triggers are: Surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection or severe emotional stress.

My celiac started up after the birth of my triplets. I started getting sick from eating processed foods and I also developed an allergy to casein (dairy) as well. I believe my daughter's celiac was most likely triggered by vaccinations (but that is hard to prove...just call it a mom's intuition).

Back to the subject at hand: It has been well documented that children with celiac disease have a greater chance of suffering from schizophrenia, depression and obsessional neurosis (if it is not treated).

Classical symptoms in children are:

• Delayed growth


• Failure to thrive as infants


• Seizures


• Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel


• Earaches


• Diarrhea


• Projectile vomiting


• Abdominal bloating/distention

Untreated celiac disease will lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition is a serious problem for anyone, but particularly for children because they need adequate nutrition to develop properly. If this is not caught early it can lead to behavioral disorders.

A recent study done by Luca Mascitelli, M.D., Francesca Pezzetta, M.D. and Mark R. Goldstein, M.D. concluded that children with psychiatric symptoms improved after they implemented a gluten-free diet. On a personal note, I "got my daughter back" after putting her on a GF/CF (gluten-free / casein-free) diet. She had horrible OCD, tantrums, was not sleeping well and was diagnosed with autism. All of her "autistic characteristics" disappeared after the diet change...and I mean 100% of them. One month after starting her on this diet my father was diagnosed with celiac disease. That was all of the confirmation I needed.

It is also important to know that you don't have to have digestive problems to have an allergy to gluten. Many people have no symptoms at all, some only have psychological issues and some have a multitude of issues. I feel that so many doctors are not fully knowledgeable on celiac disease. When my daughter was diagnosed with autism I asked the doctor if the GF/CF diet helps autistic children. She said it was, "not proven to work."

All I know is that gluten certainly gave my daughter "autistic characteristics." So much so that three psychologists easily diagnosed her with autism. After one year on the diet, a team of psychologists, neurologists and all sorts of therapists easily came to the conclusion she is NOT autistic "anymore." I am so glad I tried the diet and I hope someday it is protocol for doctors to run the celiac blood tests on all children with behavioral disorders.

If you never think of gluten as a cause to your child's behavioral disorder, then you will never test for it. My hope is that all parents of children with behavioral and/or seizure disorders will think about it. It certainly can't hurt anything. If the blood test comes back positive, just imagine how some or all of your child's issues could potentially disappear simply from a dietary change.

I never claim this diet to be the one sure bet to heal a child. I know that is sadly not true. But it has changed the life of one little girl I know and love and I know it is surely worth a try.

Over the Counter Drugs and Amphetamines

Amphetamines are a group of synthetic psychoactive drugs called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. Medications containing amphetamines are prescribed for narcolepsy, obesity, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

When amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887, by the German chemist L. Edeleano, the stimulant effects were not noticed. In the early 1930s, when amphetamine's CNS stimulant properties and use as a respiratory stimulant were discovered it was marketed as an inhaler for nasal congestion (Benzedrine©). Benzedrine is the trade name for the drug amphetamine; dextroamphetamine is marketed as Dexedrine. Methamphetamine, a potent stimulant marketed as Desoxyn, is the most rapidly acting amphetamine. Now such inhalants have been banned because of their toxicity but are still available by prescription for limited uses.

Amphetamines may produce acute systemic effects, which includes cardiac irregularities and gastric disturbances. Chronic use frequently results in insomnia, hyperactivity, irritability, and aggressive behavior.

Abuse of amphetamine began rising during the 1960s and 1970s with the discovery that the intravenous injection of amphetamines (particularly methamphetamine) produced enhanced euphoric effects with a more rapid onset than oral administration. Amphetamine is also popular with athletes in training because of the enhanced performance consequent on increased cardiac output.

Popularly known as bennies, crank, speed, pep pills, wakeups, or uppers, amphetamines are easily addictive and abused. Users run the risk of becoming psychologically dependent on the drugs and, developing a tolerance for them. This results in the requirement of increasingly larger doses for the same effect.

Addiction could end in psychosis or death from hyper-exhaustion or cardiac arrest. Amphetamine-induced psychosis shows remarkable similarity to schizophrenia, with paranoia and hallucinations.

There are no known over-the-counter drugs that contain amphetamines though a number of such drugs test false positive for amphetamine.