Liberty Psychological Association

Many could have passing intrusive thoughts that seem to be out of their control: The content may feel scary, absurd, or threatening, and may go away after a few minutes. Intrusive thoughts can be scary and worrisome about what might go very wrong in ones life or in the in the life of the ones we care about, or terrible embarrassing impulsive behavior that one might possibly act out.

For some, intrusive thoughts might cause overwhelming anxiety. These kinds of intrusive thoughts might feel scary. So, for example, one might think, “What if I die now?” in the middle of a panic attack, Or one might think that they could hurt others as they are driving down a busy street.

There are other types of intrusive thoughts: Unwanted intrusive thoughts. These are sticky thoughts that may cause great anxiety. They could come from nowhere, arrive with a distressing pain, and cause fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, panic, and misery. The content of these unwanted intrusive thoughts can focus on sexual discus or dangerous, illegal, or socially unacceptable images. Typical examples include murdering someone, hurting a pet, stabbing and attacking a child, throwing people or self out of a window of a high rise building or in front of a speeding train, molesting others, walking out nude in public, grabbing a stranger’s chest, etc. Some might have sudden doubts, like “Did I just punch that guy? or did I just made a fool out of my self? and I didn’t realize it?” “What if I am not alive?” The list goes on and on. These some examples of what are unwanted intrusive thoughts.

Some who experience unwanted intrusive thoughts can become so afraid of committing bad acts that they picture in their mind that they can start sweating excessively, and also fear that their thoughts say something terrible about them. Some others can become ashamed and worried about these intrusive thoughts, so they keep them a secret.

Many of these unwanted intrusive thoughts have more unharmful content like having unfounded doubts about their relationships, their decisions, their sexuality or their identity, about their personal safety, their religion, or dying, or worries about unrealistic questions that cannot be answered.

There are many roamers out there about unwanted intrusive thoughts. One of the most distressing roamer is that having such intrusive thoughts means that one unconsciously wants to do the things that come into their mind. These roamers are not true. It is the effort people put in to fight these unwanted thought that makes it stay and fuels its return. People fight these intrusive thoughts because the content seems foreign, unwanted, and different than who they are. Usually, people with violent, uninvited intrusive thoughts are gentle people. Person’s who have unwanted intrusive thoughts about suicide love their life, and those people who have intrusive thoughts of yelling blasphemies in their temple value their religion. 

A second roamer is that every thought we have is worth dissecting. In truth, these intrusive thoughts are not notices, red flags, or warning signs, despite how one feels about them. They are just unwanted thoughts that need to be left alone.

Their are possibly more than 6 million people in the United States of America that are troubled by unwanted intrusive thoughts that might feel very threatening, that’s because nervousness takes over them. These evil thoughts could be disgusting, and they seem to have a lot of power. People tend to try desperately to get away from them. But all they are, are unwanted thoughts that are just absurd. The more one tries to push them away, by distracting them selves, or substitute them with other thoughts, the worst they become.

People who suffer from intrusive thoughts need to understand that their content is irrelevant and unimportant. Possibly everyone has occasional uncomfortable, weird, bizarre, bad, socially improper, annoying, or violent thoughts. The mind sometimes creates bad thoughts, and these are just part of our stream of consciousness. Intrusive thoughts are baseless. If one does not take them seriously or get into it, it can disappear and get wiped out in the flow of consciousness.

In reality, thoughts even a very bad thoughts are not an impulse. People who suffer from unwanted intrusive thoughts don’t have a issue with impulse control. The opposite their main problem is trying to control them. They are trying to hard to control their thoughts. Most of us know what happens when we try too hard not to think of a thing, it just gets worst. However, those who suffer from unwanted intrusive thoughts might lock themselves in the prison of their own mind. The more desperation, the worst it gets. The proper way to truly deal with unwanted intrusive thoughts is to stop fighting them. Excessive need for reassurance is not the solution.

Unwanted intrusive thoughts are reinforced by getting deep into them, giving them too much time, fighting them, and trying to force them away. One must leave those thoughts alone, and try to treat them as they are nothing, and then they will eventually fade away.

Steps for Changing Ones Attitude and Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts:

• In ones mind they should be labeled as “unimportant thoughts.”
• One needs to remind his or her self that these intrusive thoughts are automatic, and baseless.
• One should let the thoughts into their mind, and not try to push them away.
• One should relax and learn to let them pass.
• One should not forget that: less is more, calm down, give it time. Remembering that a sense of urgency will reinforce them.
• If the thoughts came back again, don’t be surprised and let them float.
• One should keep doing whatever they were doing before the intrusive thoughts arrived and allow them in. More attention, means more intrusive thoughts.

One Should:

• Do not get involved with the thoughts in any way.
• Try not to put the thoughts out of ones mind.
• Do not spend time to figure out what the thoughts “are all about.”
• Do not try to see what technique works better.

The above particular approach can be difficult to use. But if one tries it for just a few weeks, there can be an excellent chance that they could possibly see a reduction in the intensity and frequency of unwanted intrusive thoughts.

By; Shervan K. Shahhian

Liberty Psychological Association

Liberty Psychological Association

by: Shervan K Shahhian

an Overview:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (O.C.D.) features a series of unwanted thoughts and phobias or obsessions that can lead a person to do repetitive and compulsions behaviors. These obsessive compulsions can interfere with ones daily life and can cause the person significant distress.

One can try to stop or ignore these obsessions, but the problem is that it only increases and causes unwanted anxiety and distress. Finally, one will feel forced to perform compulsive behaviors so they can ease the stress. Despite all the efforts to let go or get rid of the bothersome and non-stop thoughts or stressful urges, that don’t go away. These types of obsessive urges leads to more and more ritualistic behavior. This is the vicious cycle of O.C.D.

O.C.D. is often connected to certain type of ritualistic behavior. as an example, an excessive phobia or getting contaminated by bacteria. To calm these contamination fears, one might compulsively wash hands, and shower until they bleed or their skin gets red or chapped.

If one has O.C.D, they may be embarrassed and ashamed about their obsessive condition, but medication and therapy treatment can be help them.

Symptoms of O.C.D:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder generally includes both compulsions and obsessions. But some might only have obsessive symptoms or only compulsive symptoms. One might understand or not understand that their compulsions and obsessions are unreasonable, excessive, it takes a great deal of their time, interfere with their daily life, work functioning, social functioning, and school.

O.C.D.  Symptoms:

O.C.D. obsessions are repeated, ongoing and not wanted thoughts, impulsiveness or images and cause the person distress or even anxiety. One might try not to pay attention to them or get away from them by performing a ritualistic compulsive behavior. These obsessions typically are intrusive, and when one is trying hard to think of or do other things.

Themes of Obsession are such as:

• Fear of getting sick, contaminated or getting dirty.
• Doubting ones self or others and having a hard time with tolerating uncertainty.
• Extreme order, wanting things done in an orderly fashion and following an exact system.
• Extreme fear of loss of control, or horrific or aggressive thoughts about losing control and harming others or themselves.
• Constant unwanted thoughts, that can be: religious, aggressive, or sexual in nature.

Some examples of obsession symptoms and signs may include:

• Fear of being infected by touching objects that others have touched before them.
• Having constant doubts about: if they have locked the door or not?, or did they turned off the oven or not?
• Overwhelming stress when things aren’t in a certain order or positioned in a certain way.
• Scary mental images of driving a car into a crowd of innocent people.
• Intrusive thoughts about causing an embarrassment, or shouting obscenities or acting like a fool in public.
• Having unpleasant mental sexual images.
• Staying away from situations that can trigger obsessions, such as getting contaminated by shaking hands of others.

Compulsion O.C.D. Symptoms:

O.C.D. compulsions are ongoing set of behaviors that can make a person feel driven to perform.

Ones O.C.D. behavior or mental acts are meant to reduce discomfort and anxiety related to their compulsive obsessions or to get them to stop something bad from happening. However, continuance of these compulsions brings the effected person no pleasure and may offer only a short relief from anxiety.

One may make up different rules and or rituals to follow that they think it can help calm their anxiety, when one is having obsessive thoughts. When these obsessive compulsions are extreme and not realistic they solve no problems that they are intended to fix.

The themes of these obsessions, compulsions typically are:

• Excessive washing and cleaning.
• Doubting and checking.
• Contentious counting.
• Extreme order.
• Constantly following a strict routine.
• Constant demand for reassurance.

Some examples of compulsion, their signs and symptoms may include:

• Washing hands until their skin becomes raw and it bleeds.
• Checking doors over and over again to make sure that they’re locked.
• Checking the oven over and over again to make sure it’s off.
• Constantly counting in specific patterns.
• Constantly and silently preoccupied with repeating a certain prayer, word or phrase.
• Arranging the canned foods to face the same direction.

The intensity may vary:

O.C.D. it typically begins in the teens or younger adulthood, but it can even start in childhood. Signs, symptoms usually starts gradually as they tend to vary in intensity throughout a person’s life. The types of compulsion and obsessions that one may experience can also change over a person’s life time. Symptoms may generally worsen when they experience more stress. O.C.D, is usually considered a whole life disorder, meaning it will take over the person’s life and it will last their whole life time. O.C.D, can in some have mild to moderate symptoms or in others can be very severe and time demanding til it becomes debilitating.

When Should a Person Seek Professional Help:

Perfectionist are very different than people suffering from O.C.D. Because perfectionist are those who require flawless outcomes or results. O.C.D. obsessive thoughts are not just worries about real life problems, or having clean things around or in order.

If a person compulsions and obsessions are affecting their quality of life, they should see medical doctor or mental health specialist.

What Are the Causes of O.C.D:

The total causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder are not fully understood at this time. But the main theories may include:

• Biological factors: O.C.D. may be a result of alterations in the body’s own natural chemistry or brain functions.
• Genetically effected: O.C.D. may have a genetic factors, but specific genes have not yet been identified.
• Learned Behaviors: Obsessive phobia’s and compulsive behaviors can be learned from observing family members obsessions which gradually learned over time.

Risk Factors of O.C.D:

Risk factors that may push the risk higher till a person develops or triggers obsessive-compulsive disorder may include:

• Family history of O.C.D: Having parents, siblings or other family members with the same disorder can increase a person’s risk of developing O.C.D.
• Stressful events in life: If a person experiences stressful or traumatic events, the risk can increase. This reaction can, (for an unknown reason) trigger obsessive rituals, trigger the intrusive thoughts, and emotional distress characteristic of O.C.D.
• A combination of other mental health disorders: O.C.D. may be related to other mental health disorders, or an combination of different mental health disorders such as: anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, depression, substance abuse or tic disorders.

Complications of O.C.D:

Issues resulting from (O.C.D.) obsessive-compulsive disorder can include, among others things:

• A lot of time spent engaging in ritualistic behaviors.
• Medical health issues, such as skin disorders and: contact dermatitis from frequent hand-washing and or showering.
• Difficulty going to work, school and or social activities.
• Relationships issues.
• Overall low quality of life resulting from their realistic, compulsive and obsessive thoughts and behaviors.
• Suicide as a very unfortunate means to end the suffering, Suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Prevention of O.C.D:

There’s no known sure plan to prevent (O.C.D.) obsessive-compulsive disorder. But, getting professional treatment as soon as possible may help prevent O.C.D. from getting worse and improving ones quality of life.

CON-20199571

by: Shervan K Shahhian, Liberty Psychological Association

Symptoms of Psychosis:

A person who develops psychosis will have their own unique group of symptoms and feelings, and experiences, according to their own circumstances.

There are 3 main symptoms that are connected with a psychotic episode:

• Confused and disturbed thoughts.
• Delusions.
• Hallucinations.

Hallucinations that are associated to Psychosis:

Hallucinations are where someone feels, sees, smells, hears, or tastes things that are false and do not exist outside their mind:

• Sight: seeing colors, shapes or people that do not exist.
• Sounds: hearing voices or other sounds that do not exist.
• Touch: a false feeling of being touched when there is nobody there.
• Smell: an odor that other people cannot smell and that does not exist.
• Taste: a false taste, or where there is nothing in the mouth.

Delusions that are associated to Psychosis:

A delusion is where a person has an solid belief in something untrue and does not exist.

A person with persecutory delusions may believe that there are individuals or groups of people that have plans to hurt or even kill them.

An individual with grandiose delusions that believes they have a lot of power and or authority. As an example, they may think they’re the supreme leader of a country or they have the power to bring the dead back to life.

People who do experience psychotic episodes are often unaware that their hallucinations or delusions are not real, which may cause them to feel scared or distressed.

Confused and Disturbed Thoughts that are associated with Psychosis:

An individual with psychosis may experience disturbed thoughts, confusion, and disrupted cycle of thought. These signs may include:

• Fast and constant speech.
• Disturbed speech: For example, they may jump from one topic to another at mid-sentence, they are very hard to follow.
• All of a sudden loss of their train of thought, resulting in an sudden pause in their talk or activity.

Postnatal Psychosis:

Postnatal psychosis, also known as puerperal psychosis, is a very serious form of postnatal depression. this is a type of depression that some women may experience after giving birth.

It’s estimated that postnatal psychosis affects one woman out of one thousand women after giving birth. This type of depression most commonly occurs during the 1st couple of weeks after giving birth.

Postnatal psychosis could generally affect women who already have a mental health issues, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

As a combination of symptoms of psychosis, symptoms of postnatal psychosis may also include changes in the person’s mood:

• A high, up mood known as mania, for example, feeling elevated, talking too much, and thinking too much or too rapidly.
• A low, down mood, for example, feeling down, sad, a lack of energy, loss of appetite, and not being able to fall asleep.

One should contact their General Practitioner, (M.D.) immediately if a person or a loved one may be having developed postnatal psychosis as this is a Medical Emergency. If seeing their General Practitioner is not possible, one should Call 9-1-1 or call their local Emergency Services.

If one think there’s an immediate danger of harm or self harm, they must Call 9-1-1 and ask for Help.

Psychosis and Psychopath Are Not the Same:

The terms “psychopath” and “psychosis” sound similar, but should not be confused.

A person with psychosis has a short-term or an temporary or an acute situation that, if treated, can often lead to a complete recovery.

A psychopath is a person with an antisocial personality disorder which is a much more serious condition, which means:

• Psychopaths don’t feel empathy for humans and animals, they don’t have the capacity to understand how others feel.
• Psychopaths are manipulative in nature.
• Psychopaths often do not care for the consequences of their actions.
• Psychopaths often lie.

Individuals with an antisocial personality may sometimes be a physical threat to society, because they can be criminally violent like murders, mass murders and terrorist. Most people with psychosis usually tend to harm themselves and not others.

Liberty Psychological Association

An Overview of the Disorder:

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health illness or disorder which is a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, like mood disorder, hallucinations or delusions, and, depression or mania.

There are 2 types of schizoaffective disorder, both may include some symptoms of schizophrenia.

• Bipolar type of schizoaffective disorder which includes symptoms of mania and at times major depression.
• Depressive type of schizoaffective disorder, which has only one major depressive symptoms.

Schizoaffective disorder may be different in each affected person.

Untreated schizoaffective disorder may lead to issues like: functioning at work, at school and in social situations, causing feelings of isolation and trouble holding down work or keeping up with school. People affected with schizoaffective disorder may need help and support with every day functioning. Talk therapy can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life of the affected person.

Symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder:

Schizoaffective disorder symptoms may vary in different people. Individuals with this condition may experience psychotic symptoms, mood disorder, such as hallucinations or delusions. The bipolar type which has episodes of mania and sometimes feeling depressed or depressive type that has episodes of depression.

Although the development and the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder may be different, major features may include a major mood episode that is depression or manic mood and at least a 2 week periods of psychotic symptoms when there is not a major mood episode present.

Symptoms and signs of schizoaffective disorder may depend on the type of disorder:

Bipolar or the depressive type and may also include, among other things:

• Delusions: having false, fixed beliefs, without evidence to proof it.
• Hallucinations: such as hearing voices, feeling things on their body, smelling things, or seeing things that do not exist.
• Impaired communication: and speech, like being incoherent.
• Bizarre: or unusual behavior and actions.
• Symptoms of depression: like feeling empty, hopeless, sad or worthless.
• Periods of manic mood: with more energy and not needing much sleep for many days, and behaviors that are not normal for the affected person.
• Impaired occupational: falling grades in school and decreased social functioning.
• Problems with managing personal care: bad personal hygiene, not showering and shabby physical appearance.

When to get help:

If one thinks someone they know may have schizoaffective disorder symptoms, they should talk to that affected person about their symptoms. Although one may not force another to get professional help, one can offer advice and support for them to get help and find a qualified medical doctor or mental health specialist.

If a loved one can’t provide: food for him or her self, shelter, clothing or if their safety is a concern, one should call 9-1-1 or activate emergency services for assistance, so the person in question can be evaluated by a mental health specialist.

Suicidal Thoughts, Attempts or Behavior:

If a schizoaffective disorder person is Talking about suicide or exhibiting suicidal behavior they need to get help right away. If a loved has attempted suicide or has made a suicide plan, one needs to make sure someone stays with the suicidal person, and then they should Call 9-1-1 immediately or their local emergency services telephone number right away. Or, if possible one should safely, take the suicidal person to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Causes of Schizoaffective Disorder:

The actual causes of schizoaffective disorder are still being researched, but genetics could be a major factor.

Risk Factors of Schizoaffective Disorder:

Factors that may increase the chances of developing schizoaffective disorder may include:

• Having a close blood relative: such as a father, mother or a sibling with schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
• Stressful occurrences that may trigger schizoaffective disorder symptoms.
• Using and abusing mind-altering drugs, alcohol abuse which will worsen symptoms of schizoaffective disorder when an underlying disorder already exist.

Complications of Schizoaffective Disorder:

People suffering from schizoaffective disorder are also at an increased risk of:

• Suicide, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts.
• Social isolation, loneliness.
• Family issues and interpersonal problems.
• Unemployment, job loss or not being able to get hired.
• Anxiety disorders and nervousness.
• Alcohol or drugs and other substance use and abuse problems.
• Significant health and medical problems.
• Homelessness, and poverty.

LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

a General Overview:

Intermittent explosive disorder involves angry verbal outbursts, or on going, repeated, sudden episodes of impulsive behavior , aggressive behavior, violent behavior in which a person reacts excessively and a out of proportion reaction to a given situation. Some these examples are: Road rage, domestic abuse, throwing things, and or breaking things, and or other types of temper tantrums could be signs of intermittent explosive disorder.

These intermittent explosive outbursts may cause the person and his or her loved ones significant distress, may destroy relationships, work and school, and they can have serious legal and financial repercussions.

Intermittent explosive disorder can be a life long disorder that can go on for years, although the seriousness and the degree of outbursts may go down with age. Treatment may involve medications, talk therapy/psychotherapy to help a person to control his or her aggressive impulses.

Symptoms of Intermittent Explosive Disorder:

Explosive out breaks may occur suddenly, with very little or no warning signs, and possibly may even last less than 30 minutes. These explosive episodes may occur frequently or sometimes separated by weeks or months of nonaggression. Less serious verbal outbursts may occur in between Intermittent explosive disorder episodes of physical aggression. One may be impulsive, aggressive, irritated, or chronically angry most of the day and night.

Aggressive and impulsive episodes may be followed or accompanied by:

• Chest tightness, chest pain.
• Impulsivity, Irritability.
• Increased energy due to extreme anger.
• Rapid, and racing thoughts.
• Tingling feelings.
• Shaking, tremors.
• Heart palpitations.
• Rage, and anger.

The explosive and aggressive verbal and behavioral outbursts are usually blown out of proportion regardless of the situation, with no thought of consequences, and may include:

• Threatening and or assaulting people and or animals.
• Physical fights.
• Shouting.
• Heated arguments.
• Slapping, shoving or pushing due for no good reason.
• A prolonged outbursts, being bitter, outspoken denunciations.
• Property damage.
• Temper tantrums.

One may feel a sense of relief at times and tiredness at other times after an explosive episode. After words one may even feel sorrow, remorse, regret and embarrassment.

When Does One Needs to Professional Help:

If an individual recognize their own behavior to be the description of intermittent explosive disorder, one needs to talk with a psycho-therapist regarding treatment options or ask their medical doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist.

What Causes Intermittent Explosive Disorder Symptoms:

Intermittent explosive disorder can start in childhood, possibly after the age of six years or during the difficult teenage years. This is more seen in young adults rather than in the elderly. No one is sure of the exact cause of this disorder, but it could be caused by different environmental and biological issues.

• Environmental: Most individuals with this disorder grown up in families that where explosive in behavior and words, where physical fights were very normal. Being exposed to this type of explosive violence at a young age can make kids exhibit the same explosive behavior as they get older.
• Genetics: Genetics is always a factor. There may be a genetic link, causing this disorder to be passed down from parents to their children.
• Differences in how the brain works: There could be some differences in the structure, the function and the chemistry of the brain of the people with intermittent explosive disorder compared to others who don’t have this disorder.

Risk factors of Intermittent Explosive Disorder:

These risk factors are increased when it comes to the risk of developing intermittent explosive disorder:

• History of physical abuse: The individuals who were abused as children or have experienced more than one traumatic event have more chances of developing intermittent explosive disorder.
• History of other mental health disorders: Individuals who already have antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder or other disorders that include disruptive abnormal behaviors, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), might already have intermittent explosive disorder.

Complications of Intermittent Explosive Disorder:

Person’s with intermittent explosive disorder have an increased risk of:

• Impaired interpersonal relationships: They’re often seen by others as always being upset and angry so they might stay away from them. They may have many verbal fights and or be physically abusive. These abusive actions can and will cause relationship problems, separation, divorce and family issues.
• Trouble at work, home or school: Other problems associated to intermittent explosive disorder may also include loss of work, getting suspended from school, automobile accidents, financial issues and or getting in trouble with the law.
• Problems with mood: Moodiness, mood disorders such as anxiety, and depression usually occurs with intermittent explosive disorder.
• Problems with alcohol and other substances : Drug and or alcohol addiction/abuse often occurs with intermittent explosive disorder.
• Physical, medical health problems: Medical problems are more usual and may include: ulcers, chronic pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart disease and stroke.
• Self-harm: Intentional self injuring behavior or suicide attempts could occur.

Prevention Could Save Lives and Relationships:

If one already has intermittent explosive disorder, prevention is the best solution by getting treatment from a mental health professional. A Combination of talk therapy, medication therapy and these suggestions may help a person prevent some incidents from getting worst and getting out of control:

• One needs to stick with to their treatment plan.: Attending all therapy sessions, learning and practicing coping skills, and taking their prescribed medications correctly. The prescribing doctor may suggest maintenance medications to stop recurrence of explosive episodes and behavior.
• Practicing relaxation techniques: Constant practice of calm deep breathing, self relaxing by imagery and or tai chi, yoga may help a person stay more relaxed.
• Developing new ways of thinking (cognitive self restructuring): Altering the way one thinks about a bad situation by having reasonable expectations, rational thoughts, and logic may improve how a person views and reacts to a frustrating event.
• Using problem-solving techniques: Making a plan to find a better way to solve a bad problem. Even if one can’t fix the problem immediately, having a good plan can improve the out come.
• Learning ways to improve ones communication: Listening to what others are saying, or trying are trying to share, and then thinking about the best answer rather than exploding and saying the first thing that that comes to mind.
• Changing ones environment: When it’s possible, one should leave and or avoid a bad situations from getting worst. Also, finding personal time may enable a person to get a better handle on things, and getting ready for an upcoming and a stressful event and or a bad situation.
• Avoid mood-altering substances: Staying sober and away from illegal drugs, alcohol, and or even caffeine. Staying legal.

What is Delusional Disorder?

Delusional disorder, used to be called paranoid disorder. This is a serious mental illness which is called a psychosis, where an individual cannot tell what is real from what is not real. The main part of this mental disorder is the fact of delusions, which are unchangeable beliefs in something that is not true. Pearson’s suffering from delusional disorder experience non-bizarre delusions, which may involve certain situations that could occur in normal life. Some of the examples could be: being followed, poisoned by someone, someone has deceived them, some have conspired against them, or a long distance love affair. These delusional thoughts mostly involve the misinterpretation of certain perceptions or certain experiences. In real life, these delusional situations could be either not true at all or highly exaggerated.

Person’s with delusional disorder often are able to socialize and function in society quite normally, apart from the issues of their delusion, and mostly do not act in an obviously abnormal or in a bizarre manner. They are unlike people with other psychotic mental disorders, which also might have delusions as a part of their disorder. In certain cases, which, person’s with delusional disorder can become very preoccupied with their delusions that their lives may become interrupted.

Although delusions could be a part of more known disorders, such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder by itself is rare. Delusional disorder most often occurs in middle age and in older adults.

How Many Types Of Delusional Disorder Are There?

There are multiple types of delusional disorders depending on the main theme of the delusions that the individual is experiencing. Some the kinds of delusional disorder may include:

• Erotomanic: A person with erotomanic kind of delusional disorder may believe that others, especially important and or famous people, are in love with them. The delusional person might attempt to contact the person who is the object of their delusion, and even stalk them, this behavior is not unusual.
• Grandiose: A person with this type of grandiose delusional disorder has an over-stated sense of self worth, identity, power, and or knowledge. The delusional person could believe she or he is very talented or has made important discoveries.
• Jealous: A person with this kind of delusional disorder may believe that their spouse or sexual partner is cheating on them.
• Persecutory: Person’s with this type of delusional disorder may really believe that they are or others close to them are being abused, or mistreated. They can also think that people are spying on them. They may also think that others are planning to harm them. It is usual for delusional people with this type of delusional disorder to make unfounded complaints to the police over and over again.
• Somatic: A person with this kind of delusional disorder may believe that they have physiological issues or even medical problems.
• Mixed: Person’s with this kind of delusional disorder have 2 or even more kinds of delusions listed above.

What Things Could Cause Delusional Disorder?

Like other psychotic disorders, the exact reason or reasons of delusional disorder is not known at this time. There are researchers that are working to find the cause or causes of delusional disorders , however, one should look into the role of family history/genetic factors, biological factors, environmental factors and psychological factors.

• Genetic: Delusional disorder is more common in person’s who have other family members with delusional disorder or schizophrenia. This fact may suggest that there could be a genetic link involved. Many believe that, similar to other mental disorders, a possibility of developing delusional disorder could be passed on from parents to their kids.
• Biological: There are researchers that are studying how abnormalities of some parts of the brain could be involved in the development of delusional disorders. Delusional people could have an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, they could also have been shown to be connected to the development of delusional symptoms. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that assist nerve cells in the brain to send messages to one other. A chemical imbalance in the brain can interfere with the transmission of messages, which might lead to symptoms.
• Environmental and psychological: Certain evidence may suggest that delusional disorder can be caused by stress. Substance abuse might make the delusions worse or even create them. People who prefer to be alone, like: the disabled, immigrants or those with bad sight and hearing, could be more vulnerable to develop delusional disorder.

What are Some of the Symptoms Delusional Disorder?

Non-bizarre delusions is the most well known symptom of this disorder. Some of the other symptoms that could appear may include:

• Irritability, angry issues, or low mood.
• Experiencing hallucinations like: seeing things, hearing things, or feeling things that are not real or don’t exist, that are connected to their delusion such as: a person that believes that he or she has a certain bad odor, which is not true.

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.

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.

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)

Depression is a major depressive disorder

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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.