What Is Psychopathy:

a General Overview of Psychopathy:

Psychopathy is a state known by the lack of empathy, and no regard for the rights of others.
They are insensitive and cruel and they have no regard for others. Detachment and a lack of compassion enables psychopaths to have unscrupulous control of situations and or persons. But, psychopathy is one of the worst disorders to spot.

Psychopaths can seem normal, even likable. Underneath, they lack any resemble of a person with empathy. Their antisocial core takes them most often or always towards a life of crime.

Psychopath Adult are generally resistant to any form of treatment, but there are programs to treat unemphatic, unemotional youngsters in hopes of changing them so they don’t turn into psychopaths.

Brain chemistry, make up, plus genetics, and the environment may all create the development of psychopathic personality traits.

How to Identify a Psychopath:

Psychopathy is a mental disorder that may include a range of linked conditions, sometimes also extending to include multiple symptoms and traits. There is a good way to diagnose it by using a 20-item Hare Psychopathy Checklist, which can show traits like a lack of empathy, pathological lying, and impulsive behavior, each 1 item is scored on a 3-point scale bases on whether the item does not apply (zero), applies to a certain extent (one), or completely applies (two) to the individual. The level for clinical psychopathy have a score of thirty or higher; the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy scored thirty nine.

The checklist was created in the 1970’s by a Canadian researcher named: Robert Hare. A complete assessment should be conducted by a mental health specialist.

The new version of the Hare checklist may include the following characteristics:

Glibness and a superficial charm.
Grandiosity and a very high sense of self worth.
A need for stimulation and a paranoid outlook on life.
Pathological lying, cannot tell the truth.
Deceptive or evasive and manipulative.
Lack of empathy, compassion and remorse or guilt.
Not able to feel emotions as deeply as an normal person and a slow emotional responsiveness.
Insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
Intentionally manipulative and selfish.
Lack of self control.
The practice of having many different sexual partners.
Having behavioral problems at an early age.
Lack of real goals, and long term goals.
Impulsive behavior.
Not responsible.
Not wanting to accept responsibility for their own behavior.
Multiple short-term relationships.
Juvenile delinquency and incarceration.
Major issues with the criminal justice system and serving prison time.
Living a life of crime and engaging in different types of crimes.

1 Percent of the world could be psychopaths:

There are Psychopaths in all religious groups, cultures and ethnic groups. Estimates show that approximately one percent of all males and a lesser percentage of females could be diagnosed as psychopaths. A person could show higher levels of traits connected to psychopathology and not qualify as a psychopath according to a systems of measurement such as the Hare checklist.

When does a person become a psychopathy?

A person may show early signs associated with psychopathy that can be called:

Callous or unemotional traits, as young as childhood before reaching puberty and the person can be formally diagnosed as a person with conduct disorder, But, exhibiting psychopathic symptoms in childhood may not mean that he or she will necessarily grow up to be an adult psychopath.

Why Does an Individual Become a Psychopath?

Persons suffering from antisocial personalities have shown a history and multiple traits, and their bad behavior can vary in its severity, so the term used to describe psychopaths can get a little confusing. The terms sociopath and psychopath are usually used to describe the same thing.

Sociopath and psychopath are generally used in clinical settings and in casual settings. But it must be noted that the book: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders known as the: D.S.M. does not use any of these 2 terms, as a diagnostic terms. These 2 terms are represented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as: antisocial personality disorder or A.S.P.D.

So What Are the Differences Between a Psychopath and a Sociopath?

The 2 terms of sociopath and psychopath are often used casually, but the term sociopath refers to an individual with antisocial condition that is related to an environmental factors or social factors, but psychopathic conditions are known to be more existing in one from birth. Both conditions have genetic and non-genetic cores to them, that most likely play a role in shaping the individual with antisocial conditions.

What Are the Main Differences Between Antisocial Personality Disorder and a Psychopathy?

Antisocial personality disorder might have somethings in common with psychopathy, but it is not the same mental disorder. An individual can have the same traits of antisocial personality disorder, which may mostly focus on antisocial behaviors, but not showing the major traits connected with psychopathy. It should be known that psychopaths are considered to be just a small group of people with antisocial personality disorder.

The Connection of Psychopaths and Violence:

Some call all criminals and murders as psychopaths, but in reality psychopathy much more complicated than that. Now scientists have realistically made statistical associations between psychopathy and violent behavior, and also other forms of criminal behavior. Psychopaths have higher degree of impulsiveness, and a tendency not to accept blame. Other antisocial conditions can make a psychopath more likely than others to step on moral boundaries and threaten, harm , or murder humans and animals.

But still not all psychopaths are violent. Not all psychopath individuals are murderes or shockingly even criminals. It should be known that there are other types of personality traits and other forms of pathology not just psychopathy that may exhibit major aggressive behavior.

Are All Psychopaths Killers?

It is not known what number of psychopaths exhibit major aggressive behavior. Between convicted murderes, more than a 1/4 could be psychopaths. Psychopaths are only about 1 percent of the general population. Some may estimate that there could be some evidence that psychopathic criminals individuals are more likely to keep breaking the law. But not all psychopaths have a tendency to commit violence.

Are Most Serial Killers Psychopaths?

Not all, but most serial killers show psychopathic personalities. Most all have a lack of compassion for their victims and also show no remorse for the crimes they have committed.

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder:

General Info:

Borderline personality disorder is a psychological disorder which impacts the way a person thinks and feels about them self and others, causing issues in their everyday life. which can include self-imaging issues, having a difficult time managing emotions, their behavior, and a pattern of bad relationships.

Persons with borderline personality disorder, have an intense phobia of abandonment or instability, and they may have a difficult time tolerating being alone. They also have inappropriate anger, impulsivity and constant mood swings which may push others away, even though they may want to have loving and long term relationships.

Borderline personality disorder usually begins by age 18 or older. These conditions may seem to be worse in early adulthood and may slowly get better as they get older.

People suffering from borderline personality disorder, should not get discouraged. Many individuals with Borderline personality disorder get better over time with treatment and can live better lives.

Borderline Personality Symptoms:

Borderline personality disorder affects how a person feels about them self, how they relate to others and how they act.

Visible signs and symptoms:

An intense fear of isolation, they might even take extreme measures to avoid real or imaginary separation and fear of rejection.
A long list of of unstable intense relationships, such as worshiping someone one moment and then suddenly thinking that the person is evil.
Fast changes in self-believe and self-image that include changing goals and values, and seeing them self as evil or as if they don’t even exist at all.
Going through periods of stress-related paranoid thoughts and loss of contact with the truth, lasting from a few minutes to half a day.
Impulsivity and high risk behavior, such as alcohol abuse, other substance abuse, or gambling, or reckless driving, or random unsafe sexual encounters, or spending sprees, over eating or drug abuse, or sabotaging their own success by suddenly quitting a great job or suddenly ending a good relationship.
Suicidal thoughts, threats or behavior or self-harm, often due to fear of loss, separation or rejection.
Wide range of mood changes lasting from a few hours to a few days, which can include intense joy, hypersensitivity, shame or anxiety.
False feelings of loneliness.
Unnecessary and extreme anger, such as lose of temper, sarcasm or bitterness, or physical fights.

When to Seek Professional Help:

When a person becomes aware of the signs and or symptoms mentioned above, they should consult their medical doctor or a mental health professional.

Suicidal Thoughts:

If a person is fantasizing or having mental thoughts of hurting them self or have other types of suicidal thoughts, they should get help immediately by taking one of these steps:

Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency telephone number immediately.
Or Call a suicide hotline telephone number. In the United States call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) 24 hours a day. Use that same telephone number and press just “1” to reach the Veterans Crises Line.
Or Call a mental health professional, medical doctor or other health care professionals.
Or reach out to a loved one, a family member, a close friend, a trusted person, or a co-worker.
Or contact someone from their religious community.

If someone notices signs, issues or symptoms of borderline personality disorder in a loved one or a friend, they should talk to the person to see a medical doctor or mental health professional. No one can force another to get help. If the relationship with the borderline personality disorder person is causing significant stress, one may find help by seeing a psycho-therapist them self.

Causes of Borderline Personality Disorder:

As with other mental health illnesses, the main causes of borderline personality disorder are unknown. There could be environmental factors, like a history of childhood physical, and mental abuse or neglect, borderline personality disorder may also be linked to other issues such as:

Genetics. Family history. Many studies of twins and families shows that personality disorders may be genetically caused or could be connected to other mental health disorders among blood relatives.
Brain abnormalities. Some of the research shows that changes in certain parts of the brain may involve emotional regulation, impulsivity and anger. Also, some brain chemicals that assist in the regulation of mood, like serotonin, may not be functioning normally.

Risk Factors of Borderline Personality Disorder:

Certain risk factors connected to personality development can effect the risk of developing borderline personality disorder. These may include:

Hereditary predisposition. family history. Blood relatives specifically. A person may be at more of a risk if a close blood relative: like a mother, or father, or brother or sister — has the same mental health disorder.
Stressful childhood. Childhood abuse. Most people with this disorder may report being mentally, sexually or physically abused or abandoned during their childhood. Some people in their childhood may have lost or were separated from their parent or close caregiver or had parents or caregivers with substance abuse or other mental health disorders. Others have reported that they were exposed to a hostile environment and unstable family relationships.

Complications of Borderline Personality Disorder:

Borderline personality disorder can destroy many areas of a persons life. It can negatively impact close relationships, work, school, social life and self-image, that can result in:

Repeated job loss.
Not finishing their education.
Multiple issues with the law, legal issues, serving jail or prison time.
High conflict relationships, high stress marriages or even divorce.
Self-harm, like cutting, burning, hurting, and multiple hospitalizations.
Abusive relationships.
Unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, car accidents and physical fights due to lack of self control and risky behavior.
Attempts of suicide or even death by suicide.

In addition, the borderline person might have other psychological disorders, such as:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
Addiction, gambling, alcohol or drug, other substance abuse issues.
Paranoia, and Anxiety disorders.
Eating disorders, food addiction.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Bipolar disorder.
Depression.
Also other personality disorders.

Paranoia

LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

Shervan K Shahhian

Understanding Paranoia?

Paranoia is a feeling that a person is living in fear or danger without any good reason, for example: thinking that people are watching you or are all against you, and there’s no evidence that it’s true. Paranoia happens to a lot of people at some point in their life, that one knows that their concerns aren’t founded in reality. Paranoia can become troubling if it happens too often.

Clinical paranoia is more extreme. It can be a rare mental disorder, a condition in which a person believes that others are unfair to them, lying to them, or they are actively trying to harm them, where there’s no evidence of it. The paranoid person don’t think they are paranoid, because they think their feelings are true.

Anxiety or Paranoid Thoughts:

Paranoid thoughts could be a type of anxious thought. At times anxiety can cause paranoia. Which is affecting what a persons life. At the same time paranoid thoughts can also make a person anxious.

Anxiousness could be normal at times, especially if a person is going through hard times in their personal and professional life. When the paranoid person is in a large groups of people, they may worry that others will hurt them, or they are after them, or they are judging them, etc. These paranoid thoughts may effect their actions, clothing, behavior. Eventually the paranoid person might decide to isolate.

Some people name this paranoia, but it could be founded on facts. Just because a person is suspicious about others or things doesn’t mean they have a mental illness. Clinical paranoia happens when a person is 100% convinced of it, even when the evidence shows other wise.

If one is worried that they are paranoid, the person could be experiencing anxiety rather than paranoia. If a person is anxious and it never seems to improves or go away for good, one may need to seek treatment or consultation with a professional. Panic and anxiety that lasts a long time or it gets in the way of ones daily life, could be symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Symptoms of paranoia may be more serious than anxiety.

Paranoid Symptoms:

The symptoms of paranoia:

Being angry, hostile, defensive, and aggressive behavior.
Being easily resentful or annoyed.
The paranoid person believes that they are always right and they cannot relax or let it go.
Not being able to agree, forgive, or accept blame when they are wrong.
Not being able to trust or to share thoughts with others.
Thinking others have a hidden agenda, when that is not true.

What Causes Paranoia:

Lack of sleep:

One bad and restless night won’t cause paranoid thoughts. But if a person goes without sleep, night after night things can start to go wrong. People suffering from insomnia might not think as clearly, and they are more likely to argue with others or fail to understand others correctly. The paranoid person might think that people are out to get them, when it’s not true. If a person goes without sleep for long time, they could start to feel, see, hear and smell things that are unrealistic, it can even seen as hallucinations by psychiatrist. Adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep a night to be able to stay mentally alert and mentally healthy.

Excessive Stress:

When the stress level goes up in a persons life, they could start to feel more and more suspicious of others. The stressors do not have to be something major but they could still cause paranoid symptoms. Even a during happy times, like at parties, the stress can create major stress that could cause paranoid thoughts and decrease joy.

To help reduce tension:

The person needs time off to relax and to take a break.
Spending time with loved ones and close friends.
Humor therapy can be helpful.
Physical activity and exercise can help.
Meditation can help.

Mental Health Disorders:

One of the mental health condition is paranoid personality disorder, which can make it hard to trust others. Paranoid personality disorder can cause negative thoughts about others that just aren’t true, For example “other people don’t like me,” “They’re putting me down,” or even “They want to hurt me.” In many cases, no evidence will convince the paranoid person, which can lead to clinical paranoia. Even if the person might not believe all their unrealistic thoughts, and only believes some of their thoughts.

Schizophrenia is another major mental disorder, that can make it very hard to tell what’s real and what’s unreal. Most of the time, a schizophrenic might simply don’t know when their thoughts have become paranoid thoughts. Relatives, Friends, loved ones, or medical professionals often have to try very hard to get them into treatment.

Borderline personality disorder, is where a person might have emotional swings that they can worship someone one day and hate them the next day, it can also cause paranoid thoughts and even clinical paranoia in some.

Just because a person feels paranoid or worried about what others think about them at times might not mean that they have a mental disorder. The fact that one knows their thoughts don’t make any sense could be a sign of a mentally healthy person. But when paranoid feelings keep happening all the time or they start to get in the way of their relationships and or work life, one needs to speak to a mental health professional or their medical doctor to get help or a referral.

Drug Abuse:

Known Drugs like THC or marijuana, hallucinogens like LSD, psychotropic mushrooms, and uppers like cocaine, and methamphetamine have chemicals in them that make many people paranoid for short periods of time. Once these chemicals leave the persons system, the paranoia might go away. Long term alcohol and drug abuse can also cause paranoia. Long term substance abuse can cause life long paranoia and at times hallucinations.

If paranoid thoughts are making a person anxious or if they have minor symptoms of depression, drugs can make everything much worse. In some , drug abuse can trigger a psychiatric disorder with true clinical paranoia as a symptom.

Alcohol abuse can also worsen paranoia. It can make a person less inhibited, which makes it harder to control there actions, thoughts and feelings.

Loss of Memory:

There are different forms of dementia, one of them is Alzheimer’s disease which is more likely in older adults, which can change the brain in ways that can make a person more paranoid of others. One might see that a loved one with dementia starts all of a sudden hiding their valuables or becomes sure that people have bad intentions toward them. These symptoms could be part of the Alzheimer’s disease. Their medical doctor might be able to help them manage these Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Treatments for Paranoia:

If a person feels that they are losing touch with reality, contacting a medical doctor or psychotherapist could be a great place to start, only If the paranoid person can still tell that their thoughts are not reasonable.

A good diet, exercise and good sleep can do miracles. All of these things are part of a balanced life style that can help keep paranoid thoughts away.

After all , talking to a mental health professional about paranoid thoughts can really help. Talk therapy can work only while the paranoid person can still tell that their thoughts are not true. One needs to keep it real. A paranoid person might think of them self as crazy or abnormal, but sometimes the most unrealistic thoughts could be true?

Even if a person does not think they are mentally ill, but they are paranoid or suffer from irrational thoughts that gets in the way of living a normal life, they need to speak to a psychotherapist, counselor, medical doctor, psychologist or a psychiatrist. Therapy and certain psychiatric medications can help a person feel better.

Most of the time people who are feeling paranoid don’t receive treatment because they don’t realize their thoughts are not real. If a person is worried about a loved one, a friend or a family member, they should talk to a mental health professional, in any emergency they should call 9-1-1. They can also look into resources such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org, 800-950-NAMI) or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment, 800-662-HELP)

Understanding Depression

Depression is a major depressive disorder

a General Description:

Depression is a depressive and a mood disorder that causes a none stop feeling of sadness and loss of interest in life. Also depression is called major depressive disorder or even clinical depression, it can affect how a person feels, thinks and behaves and can even cause a variety of physical/medical and emotional problems. One may have a problem doing normal every day activities, and at times a person may feel as if their life is worthless.

More than just feeling sad, depression is not a form of weakness and a person can’t just snap out of it. Depression at times might require a long-term treatment plan. But people who suffer from depression should not get discouraged. Most people suffering from depression may feel better with psychiatric medications, and psychotherapy.

Symptoms of Depression:

Depression may occur once during in a life time, but people might have multiple episodes. During these depressive episodes, symptoms occur all day long, and it may include:

Feelings of weakness, hopelessness, sadness, tearfulness, or even emptiness.
Small matters might cause the depressed person to become angry, having outbursts, being irritable or even frustrated.
Loss of interest or pleasure in intimacy, most everyday activities, work, hobbies or even sports.
Sleep disorders, insomnia, hypersomnia.
Getting tired quickly, and low energy.
Weight loss due to a lack of appetite or even increased appetite and weight gain.
Restlessness, agitation, and anxiety.
Slow thinking, slow speaking or and slow body movements.
A person might feel worthless or guilty, fixating on past negative issues or blaming one self for all negative events in everyday life.
Troubled thinking, lack of concentration, not making decisions and forgetting things.
Constant or frequent thoughts of death and dying, thoughts of self harm, suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts or at the end death from suicide.
Unexplained medical/physical issues, stomach pain, such as back pain or headaches.

For most people suffering from depression, symptoms usually can be major that can cause noticeable issues in everyday activities, such as social activities, school, work, or personal relationships. Some persons may even feel miserable or not happy without any reason.

Symptoms of Depression in Children and Teens:

Most signs and symptoms of depression in children and teens are almost the similar of those of adults, but there can be different:

In smaller children, symptoms of depression may be sadness, unusual attachment, moody, clinginess, unnecessary worries, unexplainable pains, not wanting to go to school, and or being underweight due to lack of appetite.
Teenagers, might have symptoms of use and abuse of recreational drugs and or alcohol, eating disorder, anger, sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling not understood and unusual sensitivity, sleeping disorder, self-harm, loss of interest in life, and avoiding others.

Depression Patterns in Older Adults:

Many don’t understand that depression is not a normal part of growing old, and it should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, depression is often undiagnosed and not treated in the elderly. Older adults might not want to seek help. Some symptoms of depression may be different or not really obvious in the elderly:

Issues of memory loss or personality changes.
Unexplained Physical pain and aches.
Low energy, Fatigue, not wanting to eat, sleep disorders or loss of interest in intimacy which is not caused by medical conditions or medication.
Wanting to stay at home most of the time, not wanting to socialize or trying new things.
Suicidal thoughts or feelings, usually are more intense in older males.

When should a Person Seek Professional Help?:

If one is feeling depressed, they should make an appointment to see their psychiatrist, medical doctor or mental health specialist as soon as possible. If a person is reluctant to get help, they should talk to a close friend or a loved one, or call a mental health help line, or their clergy, or someone that they trust.

When Should a Person Seek Emergency Help:

If they think they are going to hurt them self or attempt suicide, they need to call 9-1-1 or their local emergency telephone number right away.

Also one should consider the options below if they are having suicidal thoughts:

The Suicidal person should call their medical doctor or mental health professional right away.
The Suicidal person should call a suicide help line telephone number, (if in the United States): National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), To reach the Veterans Crisis Line one should use that same number and press number “1” to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
The Suicidal person should reach out to a loved one, a relative or a close friend.
The Suicidal person should contact a religious minister, or a spiritual leader or someone else in their religious congregation.

If a person has a loved one who is in danger of committing suicide or has made a suicidal plan or attempt, they should make sure someone stays with the suicidal person at all times and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency telephone number right away. Or, one should take the suicidal person to the nearest hospital emergency room if possible.

Possible Causes:

It’s not exactly known what is the cause of depression. Like most mental health disorders, there are many different factors that could be involved, such as:

Biological differences. People who have depression might appear to have changes in the shape of their brain. The reasons of these changes are still unknown, but may one day help pinpoint causes.
Brain chemistry. There are neurotransmitters that are naturally occurring in the brain chemistry that are likely to play a role in depression. Recent researchers findings show that changes in the functionings and effect of the neurotransmitters and how they connect with neurocircuits that could be involved in maintaining mood stability or instability that may play a significant role in depression and the treatment of depression.
Hormones. imbalances in the body’s hormones may be causing or triggering the depression. Hormonal changes can be caused by pregnancy and weeks or months after delivery which is called postpartum depression, from thyroid issues, menopause or a number of other factors.
Inherited traits. Depression is more common in people with a family history of depression. People with blood relatives whom also have depression have a much higher chances of becoming clinical depressed. There are researchers that are trying to find genes that may be causing depression.

Risk Factors of Depression:

Depression can begin in the teenagers,but it can happen to anyone at any age. There are more women than men that are diagnosed with depression, but this statistics may be due in part because women are more open to seek treatment than men.

Some factors that seem to increase the chances of developing or triggering depression:

Specific personality traits, such as people with low self-esteem, those who are too dependent on others, those who are self-critical or pessimistic.
Certain major traumas or even stressful events, such as physical abuse or rape, molestation, mental abuse, the death or loss of a loved ones, difficult relationships, or financial issues.
Persons with blood relatives with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse or suicide.
LGBTQ persons or persons having variations in the development of genital organs that aren’t clearly male or female known as intersex in an unsupportive environment.
Persons with a history of other different types of mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD, anxiety disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders.
Persons suffering from major and long term illnesses, including chronic pain, cardiac disease, cancer, stroke.
Certain types of medications, like some high blood pressure medications or sleeping medications,.
Please note:
All persons should advice their medical doctor before stopping any kind of medication.

Complications of Depression:

Depression is a major mental health disorder that can be terrible on the depressed and their loved ones. Depression can often get worse if it goes untreated, it can cause emotional, behavioral and medical issues that affect every part of a persons life.

Examples of complications connected to depression may include:

Excess weight gain or obesity, which can lead to serious medical problems.
Physical pain or physical illness.
Substance abuse and addiction.
Anxiety disorder, panic disorder or social issues.
Relationship conflicts, family problems, and work or school issues.
Social anxiety and isolation.
Suicidal thoughts, feelings, attempts or death from suicide.
Self-harm, self mutilation, and cutting.
Early death, a short life span due to medical conditions.

Possible Prevention:

There is no guaranteed way to prevent depression. However, these ways could help:

Taking steps to control and reduce stress, to increase ones capacity and boosting ones self-esteem.
Reaching out to loved ones and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help a person pass the hard times.
Getting treatment as soon as seeing signs of a problems to help prevent depression from getting worse.
Getting a long-term maintenance treatment plan to help prevent a return of symptoms of depression.

Understanding Psychology

Liberty Psychological Association

Understanding Mental Illness:

Mental illness, also known as Psychological disorders, it can refer to a many types of mental health issues and disorders that may affect ones mood, thoughts and actions. Examples of mental illness can include Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders , Depression, schizophrenia, and addictive behavioral issues.

There are many people in the world that could have have mental health concerns. But a Psychological and mental health concern becomes a true mental illness when there are signs and symptoms which may cause frequent issues, stress and negative affects in a person’s ability to live a normal life.

A Psychological and a mental illness can make a person’s life miserable and can cause he or she to have problems in their daily lives, such as at their profession, school or home life or in relationships. In most situations, symptoms can be managed with a combination of Psychiatric medications and Psycho-Therapy.

Possible Symptoms:

Issues, signs and symptoms of Psychological and mental illness can be different, depending on the disorder, situation, issues, complaints, circumstances and other important factors. Psychological and mental illness symptoms can affect speech, emotions, thoughts and actions.

Some examples of the issues, signs and symptoms may include:

Unusual sadness.
Confused thoughts and or not being able to concentrate.
Unusual fears or worries, or excessive feelings of guilt
Major mood ups and downs.
Staying away from family, friends and usual activities.
Unusual tiredness, lack of energy and or problems with sleep.
Feelings of detachment from normal reality (delusions), paranoia, (unusual suspiciousness) or hallucinations (sensory experiences that appear real but they are made up by the person’s mind)
Not being able to handle daily and usual problems or stressors.
Having a hard time understanding and relating to normal situations and to other people.
Issues with substance abuse, alcohol or drug abuse.
Major alterations in eating habits.
Sex drive alterations.
Major anger, hostility or violence.
Suicidal thoughts and attempts.

There are times that symptoms of a Psychological and mental health disorder may appear as physiological illness, such as headaches and or stomach pain, and or back pain, and or not being able to talk or walk and or other unexplained aches and pains.

When does a person need to seek professional help:

If he or she has any issues, signs or symptoms of a Psychological and mental illness, they should go and see their medical primary care specialist or a their Psychologist, Psychotherapist, and other mental health professionals. Psychological and mental illnesses might not get better on their own, and if they go untreated, a Psychological and mental illness may get much worse over time and cause serious issues and problems.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors:

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors maybe common with certain types of Psychological and mental illnesses. If a person is having Suicidal thoughts or they are thinking of ending their life or hurting themselves or others or they have attempted suicide, They Need To Get Help Immediately:

By Calling 911 or their local emergency telephone number right away.
And to call their Psychological mental health specialist.
And to call a local suicide hotline number. If they are in the United States they can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use its webchat on suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.
And or they can ask for help from their medical primary health care specialist.
They can even contact a family member or a close friend or a loved one.
They can even contact a religious clergy , or their spiritual minster or someone else in their religious circle.

Suicidal thoughts will not get better by them self, there is always help when a person reaches out to the appropriate people or organizations mentioned above.

When Helping a Loved One:

If someone you know or love has symptoms, signs of Psychological and mental illness, try to have an open and a honest talk with them regarding your concerns. One may not be able to get another to seek professional help, but he or she can offer support and encouragement. A person can also help another by searching for a qualified Psychologist, Therapist, or a mental health professional and help them by making an appointment for them. One may even want to go with them to their appointment.

If your loved one has done self-harm or is considering doing so, take the person to the local emergency room, hospital or call for emergency assistance.

Possible Causes:

Psychological and Mental illnesses, generally, are known to be caused by a different genetic factors and environmental issues:

Genetic traits. Psychological and Mental illness maybe more usual in persons who have blood relatives with a mental illness. Specific genes may increase a person’s risk of getting a mental illness, and a certain life situation may bring it out.
Environmental issues before birth. Exposure to environmental issues, stressors, inflammatory situations, being close to toxins, consumption of alcohol and or drugs while the baby is in the womb may sometimes be connected to mental illness.
A person’s brain chemistry. There are Neurotransmitters that are naturally occurring brain chemicals that have signals to other parts of a person’s body and brain. When these neural networks are involved with these chemicals that could cause it to be impaired, the abilities of the nerve receptors and nerve network alters, and it can lead to emotional disorders and depression.

What are the Risk factors:

Specific risk factors may increase a person’s risk of becoming mentally ill, which can include:

A family history of mental illness (a blood relative), such as a parent or brothers and or sisters.
Stressful life events, such as: divorce, financial issues, and death of loved ones.
A long lasting or chronic medical condition, such as cancer and diabetes
Brain damage as a result of a serious injury such as traumatic brain injury, for example a violent strike to the head.
Major traumatic experiences, such as rape, victim of a major crime or military combat.
Use and abuse of drugs, alcohol or other mind altering substances.
Childhood history of neglect and abuse.
Lack of friends or few healthy relationships
A history of mental illness.

Mental illness maybe common in about 1 out of 5 adults. Mental illness can start at any age, but in most cases it might begin early in life.

The side effects of mental illness can last for a short time or it could be long lasting. A person might have multiple mental health disorders at the same time. For example, a person may be Bipolar and have a substance use disorder as well.

Possible Complications:

Some of the research shows that mental illness could be the leading cause of disability. When a person does not get help for their mental illness it can cause major emotional, behavioral and physical health issues. Some of the complications that can possibly be linked to mental illness may include:

Decreased enjoyment of life and sadness.
On going family conflicts and problems.
Relationship issues.
Lack of friends and social isolation.
Addiction issues with drugs, and or tobacco, and or other substances, and or alcohol.
Missed days at school, or work, or important appointments.
Financial and or legal problems
Major poverty and homelessness.
Harming one self and or harming others, including murder and or suicide.
Low immune system, the person body might have difficulty stopping infections.
Blood pressure issues, cardiac disease and other medical conditions.

How to Prevent:

There is no guaranteed way to stop mental illness. But, if a person who has a mental illness, takes measures to control their stress, increase their resilience and to increase ones low self-esteem may help keep your symptoms under control. A person needs to follow these steps:

Look at the warning signs. Seek professional help and work with psychologist and or therapist and or medical doctor to understand what are the persons triggers. A person needs to make a plan so that they understand what measures to take if the symptoms returns. A person needs to follow up with their therapist, doctor or psychologist if they feel any alterations in their symptoms. One may consider asking their loved ones to look for warning signs.
Receive on going medical care. One should get regular checkups and not to skip visits to your primary health care specialist, especially if one is not feeling good. One may have a new health issue that needs to be attended to, or they could be feeling side effects of their medications.
Receive help when is needed. Mental health disorders just like medical problems maybe get harder to treat if one waits until issues get worst. A long-term maintenance treatment plan may help to prevent a return of symptoms.
Good self care. Getting a good amount of sleep, staying physically active, a healthy eating habit can be important. A person needs to have a regular schedule in their life. A persons should be in contact with their primary health care specialist if they are experiencing problems with sleep and or if they have any other concerns, questions regarding their symptoms, eating habits and or physical well being.

shervanshahhian.com

LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

This is website is a blogging website regarding Psychology.

Different Psychological Disorders will be discussed.

Purpose?

To give my readers information about Psychology and psychological disorders.

If we want to understanding others, first we need to understand ourselves better.

Us and not just I.

We and not just me.

Shervan K. Shahhian

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.