1. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Post) (400 words) (APA format)
Topic: Suicide and Suicide Prevention
In your post, address the following prompts:
What factors are related to suicide?
How did your reading of the text change your ideas about how you might deal with a suicide threat by a friend or loved one?
What steps would they take in response to being aware of a friend’s potential suicide?
2. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Replies) (300 words) (APA format)
Topic: Suicide and Suicide Prevention
Alishia Sandecki posted Sep 18, 2024 10:41 PM
Warning. My post talks about a real suicide, please only read if not triggered.
Hello Class,
This week’s readings on suicide were shocking and very sad. Factors related to suicide seem to be overwhelming stress, mania and depression. In our text, Essentials of Abnormal Psychology (Duram et. al., 2019) states that “more than 80% of people who commit suicide suffer from a psychological disorder, usually a mood disorder, substance abuse, or impulse disorder.” (pg. 238).
Mood disorders such as bi-polar, go to two extremes of emotions such as mania and depression. People who commit suicide who have substance abuse disorders tend to abuse alcohol and opioids. And impulse disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, seem to be at a higher risk of self-harm and suicidal tendencies.
I recently had a death in my family, it was my niece’s dad. He was an alcoholic who had recently gone though inpatient rehab, and he was prescribed meds. Once he returned home, he relapsed, and he then committed suicide a day before father’s day just this year. It fit the statistics that I read about in the text that men tend to perform more violent forms of suicide, as he had a suicide attempt, took photos of his bloody face, sent them to my sister, who he had a child with and then tried again shortly after. It was his second attempt that he succeeded. There were obvious signs of distress in his Facebook posts and the last time I had talked to him just a week before I told him that I was worried for him and that he seemed like he was crying for help in the tones of his social media posts.
The night he hung himself he tagged me in a final post that was a poem about “a father who will always love his child”. He asked me in his post to let my niece know he always loved her. My sister and I were very surprised to discover that he had in fact followed through with this act. I cried and realized that when I see someone going through something that I should check in on them and see if I can offer them some kind of support.
When reading the test my idea of suicide changed because I thought that teens and adults committed suicide. However, that is not always the case, suicide is the “fifth leading cause of death from ages 5-14” (Duram et. al., 2019, p. 236). Typically, this behavior can run in families, it can be biological and learned behavior. According to our text there are suicidal ideations, suicidal plans where actual plans are made and fully thought through, and suicidal attempts (Duram et. al., 2019, p 236).
Suicide seems to happen due to a sense of hopelessness, or perception of being a burden, and a diminished sense of self. Suicide can also be used as a way to punish people they were hurt by during their life.
When someone in the family commits suicide, teens are more likely to imitate that form of suicide. About 5% of teens that commit suicide tend to imitate their family’s act in the same way. So this made me worried for my niece. Not only did she go through something horrific as her dad committing suicide in such a harsh way, but she is at an impressionable age where she is experiencing a diminished sense of self.
I realized that giving attention and making a person feel validated for their perceived stress can help bring someone closer, it can also help them find hope in a hopeless place in their life. I never make any of my family feel like a burden. I try to extend love and compassion to all, regardless of their place in my life. I am happy that my last words to Joey, my niece’s dad, were words of love and respect and concern.
Rest in peace Joey Iano.
Do you feel that maybe it can be the sudden changes of medications and substance abuse, along with their perceived interpretation of life stressors that lead them to suicide?
Thanks for reading,
~Ali
Reference
Durand, V. W., Barlow, D.H, Hoffman, S. (2019). Essentials of abnormal psychology. (8th edition). Cengage Text.
3. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Replies) (300 words) (APA format)
Topic: Suicide and Suicide Prevention
Ashley Murphy posted Sep 19, 2024 8:29 PM
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There are several factors that are related to suicide and suicidal ideation. Many believe that those who complete the act of suicide are simply depressed. Though depression is certainly linked to suicidal ideation, it is rarely the sole cause of a person being suicidal. Many who suffer with suicidal ideation have more than just depression to deal with. Individuals that have impulse control disorders, high levels of anxiety, and general hopelessness are at a very high risk of being suicidal.
Additionally, substance use is certainly a contributing factor for suicidal ideation. An example of this could be a chronic alcoholic, who does not see any hope of sobriety, but does not want to wait to die a slow death from drinking, may become suicidal. This person may have begun drinking as a coping mechinizim for dealing with stress, or depression. This person may believe that alcohol numbs them to the emotional pain they feel, not realizing that it is causing their depression or mood disorder to worsen. Along with the prolonged substance issues, alcohol also lowers inhibitions, allowing a person to be very impulsive in their actions, thus making the completion of the act of suicide more likely.
I have a very adverse reaction to the subject of suicide. For me, I have never reached the levels of sadness, despair, loneliness to have ever considered taking my own life. That being said, I was surprised to learn that depression, even chronic depression alone does not necessarily lead a person to being suicidal. I now understand that there are several factors that contribute to a person’s thoughts and feelings toward being suicidal. I was also surprised to learn that people who do not suffer from any diagnosed mood disorders also make up a large portion of individuals that complete the act of suicide.
If I had a friend or family member that presented as being suicidal, I would encourage them to speak about what is going on inside their heads. In many cases, it only takes one person to make a connection that lasts long enough to change the thought process of someone that is suicidal. I have helped people close to me in times of crisis and very low points in their lives. As I gain in knowledge of the intricacies of the human psyche, I have learned to be a better listener, and allow those people a friendly ear that will not judge, or offer solutions in a matter than makes them feel like it is simple to just not feel that way. I would also take steps to insure that person’s safety, up to and including law enforcement involvement, and hospitalization. However, letting someone know that they are not alone, that their life has value, and that there is still hope if they look for it, may be all they need to hear in that moment.
References:
Durand, V. M., Barlow, D. H., & Hofmann, S. G. (2019). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
4. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Post) (400 words) (APA format)
Topic: Understanding Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are among the most common psychological disorders, and the risk of developing them is increasing worldwide, particularly in younger people. Two fundamental experiences can contribute either singly or in combination to all specific mood disorders: a major depressive episode and a manic episode. A less severe episode of mania that does not cause impairment in social or occupational functioning is known as a hypomanic episode. An episode of mania coupled with anxiety or depression is known as a mixed episode or mixed state. In considering the aspects of mood disorders, answer the following in the discussion forum: How might a hypomanic episode be a help and a hindrance?
5. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Replies) (300 words) (APA format)
Topic: Understanding Mood Disorders
Alishia Sandecki posted Sep 18, 2024 11:04 PM
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Hello Class,
There are many forms of mood disorders: Bi-polar type I and type II, major depressive disorder, hypomania, unipolar, mixed features, persistent depressive disorder, premenstrual depressive disorder, disruptive mood disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. All were touched on in this week’s readings.
Hypomania is distinct because it is a mild version of a unipolar mania. Hypomania does not cause a marked impairment in social or occupational functioning and lasts about four days long.
Although hypomania does not seem to impair normal activities, it still adds to impulsivity. Also due to its short duration it may go undiagnosed and untreated. After a hypomania episode feeling of hopelessness and diminished sense of self still occur. Impulsive actions lead to risky behaviors and can be self-destructive like leading to substance abuse. This can lead to accidental suicide, suicide, or self-harm.
It’s common that in mood disorders, specifically bi-polar or borderline personality disorder, mania is preferred over depressive episodes. These episodes can be managed with medications and therapy. However, due to the enjoyment one feels during a manic episode most people will refuse medications, such as lithium that are known to help manage mania.
Quitting mind altering medications has an effect on the psychophysiology of the prescribed individual, which can create more issues. Also our text stated that once the disorder begins a cycle, it is ensuring that the disorder will continue. When the disorder continues it will increase the two factors that describe mood disorders such as chronicity and severity.
I found an interesting article that discusses what one may feel after a hypomania episode. Hypomania and mania (N.A, 2023) states that people can experience feeling very unhappy or ashamed about how they behaved. They may have taken on more commitments than they can handle, which adds to life stressors and diminished sense of self. Some can even have unclear memories about things said or done. And due to lack of sleep they may feel tired and feel like they need to reset to become normal again.
I don’t see any long-term benefit of experiencing episodes of mania.
Have you ever experienced episodes of mania or observed someone experiencing episodes of mania?
Thanks for reading,
~Ali
6. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Replies) (300 words) (APA format)
Topic: Understanding Mood Disorders
April Mendez posted Sep 20, 2024 12:02 AM
Coincidentally, during the same week as this prompt, I have been managing my sister’s hypomania episode, which is a frequently occurring comorbid disorder among individuals with autism (Dell’Osso et al., 2019). The biggest hindrance to her experiencing this is her therapist and psychiatrist not acknowledging the symptoms since it not at the level of mania. After bringing it to their attention, along with the mention of the family’s Bipolar history, I was met with the dismissive response that her spending did not reach the level of “thousands of dollars,” thus implying that it was not a matter of concern. Only now have they begun to acknowledge the existence of this problem, which is evident from her rapid and increasingly unintelligible speech, along with the exacerbation of other symptoms.
Hypomania has the advantage of being less intense than mania. Our father’s bipolar disorder manifested in manic episodes, rendering communication futile during those states. The primary issue arose from several days of sleep deprivation, leading to potential hallucinations and subsequent unpredictability. Fortunately, hypomania is a more manageable state as it allows for a greater level of functionality in comparison to manic episodes. To illustrate this, let’s consider the example of my sister. Unlike our late father, she is able to get some sleep. Nevertheless, I consistently remind her to go to bed earlier to mitigate the symptoms even more.
Despite my sister’s inability to recognize the symptoms at the beginning, she retains her presence of mind and heeds my observations when an episode starts. As a result, she can engage in a range of self-care and preventative actions. The incorporation of grounding techniques, additional sleep, and consistent check-ins prove to be immensely helpful. She has also started to limit her spending which was a huge issue before.
The primary advantage of hypomania, from my sister’s point of view, is the boost in motivation. Similar to my parents, she has grappled with depression for a significant portion of her life, a genetic predisposition that we were cognizant of. She grappled with comprehending and experiencing motivation…until the occurrence of a hypomanic episodes. Nevertheless, the primary challenge is to channel her motivation in a suitable manner. This may result in her abstaining from spending $300 on plants for a garden that she will inevitably lose interest in after a week. But, rather, plan her time and commitment with goals before making big purchases. As you can see, spending is a huge hindrance to the hypomania. Particularly if one lacks awareness due to being in a functional state.
How would you approach a loved one who is showing symptoms of hypomania? This was a difficult topic for my sister to accept. She was in denial for months and not getting help sooner hurt her more than helped, especially financially. What do you think is a good approach for a sensitive topic for those, especially with family history?
Reference
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
7. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Post) (400 words) (APA format)
Topic: Dissociative Identity Disorder
The rise in reported cases of dissociative identity disorder (DID) is astounding. Prior to 1980, only about 200 cases were reported worldwide; now thousands are reported annually. Your textbook discusses the controversies surrounding DID. What do you think? Review the controversy over dissociative disorders and share whether you believe the disorders are real or invented.
8. Psychological Disorders
(Discussion Board) (Discussion Board Replies) (300 words) (APA format)
Topic: Dissociative Identity Disorder
Jennifer Cerer posted Sep 23, 2024 2:17 AM
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Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is often argued as being fake, either a lie or a confusion brought on by professionals and the self. This is not true. Dissociative identity disorder is described as, “a disturbance in the normally integrative functions in identity, memory, and consciousness,” and must consist of two or more identities, called alters (Scott et al., 2023, p. 397). As with any disorder, there are always going to be those who are making it up or confused, but this does not mean that it is the majority of individuals diagnosed. The DSM-5 adds that DID, “can affect any aspect of an individual’s functioning”(American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Thus, dissociative identity disorder is real and very difficult for those suffering from it. To argue that it is created by a victim is awful. This disorder absolutely has genuine symptoms.
Academics and professionals have found that dissociative identity disorder cannot be faked when comorbid disorders are present. “Comorbid depression, anxiety, [and] substance abuse,” are just a few of the disorders connected to DID, as well as, “functional neurological symptoms,” like seizures (Scott et al., 2023, p. 403). When responses to dissociative identity disorder are more than just psychological, and cross over into physical and biological symptoms, individuals will have a harder time lying.
For the very small amount of people who do not genuinely have DID, it is possible that, “alters are created in response to leading questions from therapists… [or] simulated purposefully for individual gain” (Durand et al., 2019, p. 189). There are a couple ways of distinguishing this. Those who do not suffer from a mood disorder, but suddenly have symptoms following a session with a new therapist, could be convincing themselves of more symptoms than they are really experiencing. On the other hand, those who are simply being dishonest for some kind of personal gain are going to describe details or symptoms that are inconsistent with genuine dissociative identity disorder (Scott et al., 2023, p. 404). Therefore, there needs to be more research done on the severity of genuine dissociative identity disorder. This is a good way to erase the idea that is it not real, while also denying those who are faking the attention they seek. If you were a therapist, how would you confirm diagnosed DID?
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.