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.