“People think depression is about being sad. They think its just when you ‘feel down’ It’s not. It’s like a darkness that creeps over you and fills you. It drains all your emotions. It takes everything from you, and leaves you feeling hollow and numb. It’s not sadness, it’s not anger, it’s hopelessness. Imagine waking(…)
Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. True clinical Depression is a Mood Disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer. Depression can change(…)
“I can’t promise to fix all your problems, but I can promise you won’t have to face them all alone.” It’s hard to not ignore the attempt of friends making their best efforts to fix you, to solve the problem. When we love someone, it’s easy to believe we are of best use to that person(…)
Psychological projection or projection bias is a psychological defense mechanism where a person subconsciously denies his or her own attributes, thoughts, and emotions, which are then ascribed to the outside world, usually to other people. Thus, projection involves imagining or projecting the belief that others originate those feelings. Projection reduces anxiety by allowing the expression of the unwanted unconscious impulses or desires without letting the conscious(…)
Some months ago I talked about the Vicious Cycle in treating forms of Depression. I learned that medication is effective in treating the most severe symptoms. But it is intended as a band-aid while you work on the source of the illness. That begs the question, “What is the source?” Recently, my therapist shed some(…)
Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is characterized by extreme expressions of anger, often to the point of uncontrollable rage, that are disproportionate to the situation at hand. It is currently categorized as an Impulse Control Disorder. Impulsive aggression is unpremeditated, and is defined by a disproportionate reaction to any provocation, real or perceived. Some individuals have reported(…)
It’s strange the word Disorder is attached to the word Personality. We want to believe our Personality shapes who we are. But from some, it may be a trait that feels uncontrolled and affects life experiences. I’ve read it described as: Set of enduring behavioral and mental traits that distinguish human beings Personality disorders are(…)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD, also known as Dysmorphophobia) You can’t stop thinking about a flaw with your appearance — a flaw that is either minor or imagined. But to you, your appearance seems so shameful that you don’t want to be seen by anyone. Body Dysmorphic Disorder has been called imagined ugliness. Manifested as excessive(…)
Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry. Resulting in repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety. The frequent upsetting thoughts are called Obsessions. Obsessions are thoughts that recur and persist despite efforts to ignore or confront them. To try to control them (the upsetting(…)
Glutamate and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) are the brain’s major “workhorse” neurotransmitters. Over half of all brain synapses release Glutamate, and 30-40% of all brain synapses release GABA. GABA and Glutamate regulate action potential traffic. GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, stops action potentials. Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, starts action potentials or keeps them going. Since GABA is(…)
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