The Images come flooding back in Vivid Detail

Alrighty, lesson 4: Post traumatic stress disorder. This is a really serious disorder that many of our nations hero’s are coming back from war with. I heard from a guy in my psychology class that when they came back from Iraq they have to see a counselor about it. It’s insane how many vet’s have/and get it. So, to begin PTSD does fall under the anxiety disorder umbrella, and it’s scary stuff for the guy who has it. I hope this blog will help you better understand how serious this is, and I ask that you please don’t brush it off as being made it cause it totally isn’t. I’m not saying you will but I know people who do. As some of you don’t know PTSD can happen at any time, even when someone’s a kid. It’s is usually caused by a traumatic event. Such as war, a natural disaster (Hurricane Katrina is a good example), or being in an abusive relationship. It would be common for someone who was married to a wife beater to be diagnosed. The symptoms of PTSD are as follows: Anxiety, depression, re-experiencing the event (recurring thoughts, memories, dreams, or nightmares), avoidance (they might avoid people or activities that will remind them of what happened. For instance someone who just got back from war probably wouldn’t want to go paint balling), reduced responsiveness (liked having depression they would feel detached from people), and finally they might feel a increased arousal, anxiety or guilt. Meaning that they are easily startled. Here’s a story for you- when my great-uncle was in World War II he was gassed in a gas chamber. When he got home from the war he would hear something like thunder, or a gunshot and he would physically throw my great-aunt on the floor and tell her to get down that she was going to get shot. He died shortly after...that story doesn’t exactly have a happy ending but this isn’t a happy disorder.

Here’s a fun fact: Women are at least twice as likely as men to develop a stress disorders (including PTSD). This is because 20% of women who are exposed to such an event will be diagnosed, compared to 8% of men. To prevent trauma, Japan even has “women only” subway cars.

Alright, that was blog number 4!! 

Fear is the Mind Killer

This blog is particularly short in account that there isn’t much to say about phobias. So, therefore I’ll talk about panic disorder (panic attack) as well! Enjoy!

Lesson number 3 class...Phobia’s. I hate having to use myself as an example, but I’m sure all of you know that I am DEATHLY afraid...and I mean afraid of clowns. To use the words of Madelyn Kahn, I hate them, SO much. Fla- Flames!! Flames on the side of my face! Breath- heavy breathing! I’m sure you can imagine. Before we get this shin-dig dug, you all should know the difference between a phobia and a fear. A phobia is a strong irrational fear of something, usually a specific object or situation. A number of people can be afraid of heights. . .which is normal, and it keeps us from falling over the edge of a cliff or something. It becomes a phobia when the fear of heights keeps you from going up to the second floor or even up the stairs, or in my mom’s case a step-ladder. Here’s some food for thought: There are 4 categories of phobias that certain phobias fall into. 1. The fear of specific situations, like flying, driving, elevators, crowds, the mafia, and the like. 2. Fear of natural environments, heights, water, storms, blah blah blah. 3. Fear of injury, this includes needles, and medical or dental procedures. And finally, 4. Fear of insets or animals: spiders, bugs, snakes, rodents of unusual size, you get the picture.

Okay, sense some people have a tendency to get panic attacks due to certain phobias, we’ll have discussion about those too! Everyone get out your monocles and your top hats! Panic disorder, also known as Panic Attack is a “sudden episode of extreme anxiety that rapidly escalates in intensity” and they are normally frequent and unexpected. Say for example, I see a clown on T.V. or in a magazine I could have a panic attack. Luckily that has never happened to me but I can’t be too careful. According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) you have to have four or more of the following for it to be considered a panic attack. But usually people can have all of the above. 
Reach the peak of the panic attack within 10 minutes. After that you start hyperventilating and feeling woozy and start seeing the room spin.
Pounding heart
Sweating
Shaking
Feeling smothered (This is what causes people to hyperventilate)
Chest Pain (A panic attack is often mistaken for a heart attack! Scary)
Upset stomach
Dizzy
Numbness
And finally chills or hot flashes. 
All of you fine people should be aware that id does have a tendency to run in families, and for the person who’s having the panic attack they kinda tend to think they’re dying so be nice. Here’s some more food for though: Agoraphobia is not the fear of leaving your house, it’s the fear of having a panic attack in a public place. Interesting. 

The Space between "Now" and "Then"

Keep in mind that I am not an expert, or a professional psychologist. This comes from myself and text I get my facts from. 
This..is your next lesson if you choose to accept it:

ANXIETY
IF you are a working/college kid/dealing with kids American, then I'm pretty sure you experience some form or another of anxiety. One of the biggest ones is test anxiety and for me when I know I got a test comin' up, my pencil is flattened with teeth marks. When you get finished reading this lesson about anxiety you're probably going to think "crap! I have generalized anxiety disorder!! AAHHHHHH *puches the person nearest to you and screams* Okay, you probably won't take it that far but none-the-less let me assure you that unless you are clinically diagnosed by a professional, chances that you have this are about 50/50. So to prevent you from diagnosing yourself (please refrain) I have developed a list that differentiates normal anxiety vs. abnormal anxiety. So from the top: There are 3 thought features that distinguish the two. 1. You have crazy-ass (pardon my french) thoughts... totally irrational. Say for example, I call Tyler and he doesn't answer. The normal thing to do is to think, "oh he's sleeping, he's in the shower, he's doing something completely normal that people usually do everyday" you get the point. But if I have an anxiety disorder I'll automatically assume the worst. "Oh my gosh he got in a car wreck, he's dead lying in a ditch somewhere, he's wearing concrete over shoes!!" 2. The thoughts are uncontrollable! So until he calls me back or answers the phone I'm going to FREAK OUT!!!! And finally, the thoughts are disruptive. It's all I'll think about for like... Hours. 
Okay, now kids remember what I said about diagnosing yourself, I know it's tempting but please try not to. Here is what generalized anxiety looks like: 
1. Excessive worry and apprehension everyday for at least 6 MONTHS. That's finally when a therapist will let you know that yes, you do have an anxiety disorder.
2. I (again using myself as an example) find it difficult to control the worry. Like I said early I will freak if he doesn't answer the bloody phone.
3. Restlessness. I can't sit still (yes I know I already have that issue...don't remind me) Even just sitting still it's way too hard, and I have to do something constantly
4. Easily Fatigued. It's 3 o'clock and I want to go to bed what's going on?
5. Difficulty concentrating. I can't even read a paragraph in a book without have to read it again and again and again! It sucks
6. Irritability. I'll beat the crap out of you for looking at me the wrong way. 
7. Muscle tension. My muscles in my back and neck will kill me for weeks
8. Sleep disturbance. I will wake up constantly during the night. If I go to sleep at 12, and get up at 8 I'll get like maybe 5.5 hours of sleep.
Here's a side note to remember- This disorder and these symptoms are NOT related to the use of substance or medication. Alright here ya go! Blog number 2! Thanks again for reading!! Lesson 3: Phobias!

Let's Talk Schizto

Hola amigos! This is my lovely little blog about all things abnormal psychology. My plan is that everyday, all of you fine people will get a little taste of an abnormal psychology "lesson" so-to-speak, by yours truly. Keep in mind that I am not an expert, or a professional psychologist. This comes from myself and text I get my facts from. Here...is your first lesson:


The definition of schizophrenia is a “psychological disorder that involves severely distorted beliefs, perceptions, and thought process.” This is one disorder that I think EVERYONE knows. You know, the crazy guy at the bus stop walking in circles, mumbling to himself, thinking that everybody is out to get him. Most of them are indeed homeless, which makes it pretty freaky, grant it that a very small percentage of those people are dangerous. What most of you don’t know is that there are four kinds of schizophrenia. 1- Paranoid! Delusions, grandeur, hallucinations and not to mention loose associations (A.K.A. flight of ideas). All that fun stuff. Now kiddy’s here’s an example: I was in Seattle (it’s like the homeless capitol of WA) with a few of my friends and it was like 6 o’clock, waiting for the bus, in the rain. When this old man walks up to me and goes “I have a dog his name is Frank is my brother and I like pie don’t you think that’s right?” And then he walks away. That, ladies gents is what is called loose association. I have learned that over half of the people in the U.S. that are schizophrenic are homeless. That’s pretty depressing to me. The other kind of schzto there is, is Catatonic! This is crazy and totally rare, but if you have this you got all sorts of bizarre: you got disturbed movements or actions, bizarre body posture, and waxy flexibility. So you stand in one spot with your arm up for DAYS and people can just move you....like gumby. Numbero 3- Disorganized! This is the crazy guy at the bus stop: silliness, laughing for no reason, flat affect (super monotone) and talking to self. Yep, laugh now but the poor champ who’s got this is totally uncomfortable in their own skin, and freaked out ALL the time. And finally: Undifferentiated type. Which means exactly what you think it means! Haha! It’s a combo of both things.

Okay, example 2: Every place has the town “luny” (forgive the phrasing). In my case, it’s the tupperware man. I grew up in *coughs* Yelm, and when I lived there we had this guy (all you Yelmites know exactly who I speak of) who would walk all around Yelm with this empty tupperware container in his arm. I felt so bad for the guy because no one new what was wrong with the poor man but he would walk all over talking to himself. Now, the rumor was/is, was that someone put acid on his pizza at good ol’ Yelm high school and he was never the same since. And this leads me to my next topic of the lesson which is...drum roll please...Theories!!! Just a couple here, the first theory, that is true- is that schizophrenia is genetic. Ye be warned that just because your mom has it does not necessarily mean that you will get it. Also it is spotted between the ages of 18 and 25 and is rarely seen between before or after that “golden age.” Theory number 2 is that overuse of drugs causes it. Drugs like, acid, angel dust, pot, (any hallucinogens) and dat da da daa!!! Bam you got schizophrenia. It’s not just because of the drug, they think that people who do drugs like the ones mentioned above, will then activate the gene in your system and then there you have it. 

Alright guys, thanks for readin’ the first “blog” about schizophrenia, hopefully I satisfied the hunger you had for this disorder, if you have any questions I would be obliged to attempt to answer them. So if you come home from your first year in college and you think that your mom is Hitler reincarnated or that your dog is the antichrist you might want venture down to your local therapist and get some advise. Thanks again you’ve been a wonderful audience, and good-night!!